Community Reviews
Author addition:
Where Sunflowers Stand.
Review by reader:
Alex Curtner is in a unique situation; he must juggle his patriotic duty, his varied personal views on his own country’s strategy, intent and tactics, and the political pace of allies which dictates the ability of a nation under siege and occupation to restore its sovereignty and freedom. He sits his firm resolve for results upon that which the aggressor has brought to bear, yet he can’t help feeling that critical windows of opportunity aren’t being seized in a timely manner. Alex is unexpectedly moved by a private enterprise project, headed by one of his old Stanford buddies, and so agrees to do what he can to help get Brad’s collection of armor to the front lines. Front lines, Alex feels, the allies should have had fortified by now.
Balancing the overview, Kiril Pratov, possibly Alex’s counterpart on the opposite side of the fence, believes his country is heading in the wrong direction; back to an undesirable past. He battles an inner turmoil with respect to both his national-based obligatory patriotism and his personal patriotism as he endeavours to seek out the mole within his own government structure.
Each side races to both protect their own asset on the enemy inside while also pulling all stops to weed out their opponent’s asset in the very same position.
Most, if not all historical fiction, is based upon events well in the past, yet this work of historical fiction runs in parallel with the actual historical events. An ‘as it happens’ form of historical fiction, if we could deem it such. This concept within the genre could be said to be a rarity many authors might not consider embarking upon; or, perhaps, not have the courage to embark upon.
With Where Sunflowers Stand, as with KJ Backford’s two previous books, the reader is steered through labyrinths of multiple-level political ebb and flow, with a good dose of agency-based cloak and dagger along the way.
Where Sunflowers Stand.
Review by reader:
Alex Curtner is in a unique situation; he must juggle his patriotic duty, his varied personal views on his own country’s strategy, intent and tactics, and the political pace of allies which dictates the ability of a nation under siege and occupation to restore its sovereignty and freedom. He sits his firm resolve for results upon that which the aggressor has brought to bear, yet he can’t help feeling that critical windows of opportunity aren’t being seized in a timely manner. Alex is unexpectedly moved by a private enterprise project, headed by one of his old Stanford buddies, and so agrees to do what he can to help get Brad’s collection of armor to the front lines. Front lines, Alex feels, the allies should have had fortified by now.
Balancing the overview, Kiril Pratov, possibly Alex’s counterpart on the opposite side of the fence, believes his country is heading in the wrong direction; back to an undesirable past. He battles an inner turmoil with respect to both his national-based obligatory patriotism and his personal patriotism as he endeavours to seek out the mole within his own government structure.
Each side races to both protect their own asset on the enemy inside while also pulling all stops to weed out their opponent’s asset in the very same position.
Most, if not all historical fiction, is based upon events well in the past, yet this work of historical fiction runs in parallel with the actual historical events. An ‘as it happens’ form of historical fiction, if we could deem it such. This concept within the genre could be said to be a rarity many authors might not consider embarking upon; or, perhaps, not have the courage to embark upon.
With Where Sunflowers Stand, as with KJ Backford’s two previous books, the reader is steered through labyrinths of multiple-level political ebb and flow, with a good dose of agency-based cloak and dagger along the way.
