gjtravel2a

Just revenge is a wonderful thing!

Our author's ability to believably bring hope by the hard work of Trev to overcome what would overwhelm most others is another testament to his writing skill. Thank you for your continued care and attention to details. There is no easy way out for Trev or an easy out by the author. Wonderfully written.

Following such horror and leaving Trev in such a horrible place, this is the perfect followup. The smugness of the Queen of Evil balanced by the shear joy of the new couple are such a contrast to the previous despair and again shows our author's brilliance. Knowing the suffering across the Ocean while the absolute joyous celebration is occuring is such a stark example contrasting of good and evil....

C James is a brilliant writer. This is one of the most terrifying chapters I have ever read. It captures the absolute horror of the situation. This is my second reading of the story, but this chapter has long stayed with me for the absolute and total despair that it creates. The story is brilliant as well, but this chapter is particularily memorable....

Difficult story presented with sensitivity and artistic drama......an amazing combo. The shoe is dropping....the elephant is being revealed....It needs your unique skills to bring it about. thank you.

Mark, Well worth the wait! Thank you for your continued gifts to your fans!! gj

Chapter 83 was most excellent....but that comes as no surprise!! It does, perhaps, confirm that I am a romantic. The gift of your story is, I feel, something that we your public are taken on as on a wonderful trip. While we can, within reason, comment and discuss on a particular story, we do not have the right to tell an author how or what to write or to demand creative content. That being said, I do wish to 'comment' on how I feel that the story has developed and express my appreciation (and relief!!) that you took it the way you did instead of dividing it up into the two parts with Trevor still sinking into the abyss. I shudder at that thought for you have a rare talent to not only make a story compelling, but to draw us into caring for your creations. In my opinion, it is a rare and wonderful gift. While I do hope the sharks eat Bridget, I hope that Trevor and Shane can sail into a book #2 exploring the world and each other. Their love developed in a realistic and beautiful fashion and their vulnerability also seems realistic and moving. While the story you spin regarding Lisa and Joel would be interesting, I would personally prefer a hot romance between two gay boys! A lot try for this type of writing, but Circumnavigation is one of those rare finds and a literary treat. Since I don't know what you may have in store for them, I will look forward to each install. It is an incredible tale you spin. Thank you! gj <br id="yui_3_2_0_6_131100882887745">

Yikes, with the quality of this story, you turn out amazing production! I hate to think it might be over @100...perhaps it can be book 1?!? He has a lot of life and love to give and the world to see yet!

There has been a certain amount of discussion regarding the fact that Will has become such a strong second voice in this tale. It is something I personally find enjoyable, but I digress. Ironically, from a certain socio-political standpoint, it could be said that it fits the captitalistic model where the rich (ie Will) will always supplant the poor man's son(ie: until the $ gift, Gathan - though he is still nouveau!), here it would be Will hi-jacking the story-line from Gathan. A certain irony that the rich-boy just might steal the show, eh? Of course, being a good-old fashioned Rockefeller Republican myself, I would never actively believe such a Leninistic Analysis...a downright communist plot if you ask me!! H'rumph

This Chapter closes and opens several key plots. An excellent virtual plateau that allows people to catch their breathe, re-group (or is it re-grope), and get ready for the futher adventures. Nicely done! I must admit, that as I began reading this chapter and Gathan headed to the bathroom, I was sure you would give us cliff-hanger and not let us know the truth until the next chapter! Thanks for letting us off with a single instead of a double!! Now, who is left for 'poor old Will'?!?

Brilliantly done! Realistic to the storyline, well written, hot and like Christmas almost in July! Thanks for taking the story in this direction, patiently developing the characters, and again, writing a very erotic and hot scene!

Being what I would consider to personally be a 'rabid' Bradophile, I was prepared as I began reading your thoughts, to rise to defend our fair boy. The reality is that what you present illuminates their personalities. Brad need not be the mother-protector to still be successful for I don't think an alpha can successfully offer the fulll-mother role. JP was, at least to my way of thinking, never the overly warm person. He has his moments, but emotions seem to often embarrass him. You note that w/o Brad, there may be more of a team effort, but I don't believe the team would have been motivated to achieve the financial success that Brad has provided. I would not doubt that Mark would continue to enthrall us even if the rescue was to late and Brad is right now bleeding to death in the next room; however, I believe Brad offers a richness that greatly enhances the story and I would miss him were he to take that final Lear Jet into the Sky. Yes, Robbie may not be fully self-actualized because of Brad's overpowering personality, but.....maybe Robbie is and needs the strength, protection, and overbearing pushieness of Brad for Robbie to achieve the success he has. Oy, who knows. Well for whatever direction you choose to take us Mark, we all trust we are in for a wild and challenging ride. Thanks! gj

Great Chapter! Well, it looks like the teasing about the potential of the two boys getting together on the romantic Austrailian beach might be over,,,,, but does hope spring eternal, so can Trevor help Shane discover his true self?? Oh well...I really like the way you took us in such a dramaticly different direction with the emotional breakdown. You had foreshadowed it, but I had been caught up with the expectation of evil from Florida and the teasing fom Trevor/Shane..I hope Shane wasn't just playing it up for big tip, oy. Could a spell in an Austrailian Hospital foil the evil one's Florida plans? Thanks for an excellent chapter in an amazing story. gj

Tis a remarkable chapter to an enthralling story! It is amazing to see George continue to grow through the challenges of life, relationships, and life at sea. Thanks Mark for continuing this story. You noted it may be slower, but it show to be well worth the wait. Thank you... RE: Chartley, some note he may prove to be important, which may be true, but he sure seems that it ain't no Mizzen-Mast up that tight British Arse, but a full Main-Mast!! It would take a bit to get me to begin to care for such a prick, but who knows how this fascinating tale will develop! gj

Your comment made me wonder, and being about the subject matter, I thought Wikipedia was the perfect place to seek wisdom!! As the wise and sometimes correct Wiki states: 420, 4:20 or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) refers to consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture. The notable day for these is April 20.[1] (Not to be confused with J-Day, an international protest held on the first Saturday of May.) The term was allegedly coined by a group of teenagers in San Rafael, California in 1971.[2][3] Calling themselves the Waldos, because "their chosen hang-out spot was a wall outside the school,"[4] the group first used the term in connection to a fall 1971 plan to search for an abandoned cannabis crop that they had learned about.[5] The Waldos designated the Louis Pasteur statue on the grounds of San Rafael High School as their meeting place, and 4:20 p.m. as their meeting time.[4] The Waldos referred to this plan with the phrase "4:20 Louis". Multiple failed attempts to find the crop eventually shortened their phrase to simply "4:20", which ultimately evolved into a codeword the teens used to mean pot-smoking in general.[5] High Times Creative Director Steven Hager was the first person to track down the Waldos and publish their account of the origins of the term. Hager wrote "Are You Stoner Smart or Stoner Stupid?" (October 1998) in which he called for 4:20 p.m. to be the socially accepted hour of the day to consume cannabis. "I believe 420 is a ritualization of cannabis use that holds deep meaning for our subculture," wrote Hager. "It also points us in a direction for the responsible use of cannabis." Of course, as with all things Wiki (Taken with a grain or three of salt), one must add, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story" and is seems the San Rafael story is amusing! Dude.... gj

Thanks Mark.....considering Escorial's primary export crop, is it their favorite holiday as well??

It was worth the wait! Thanks for another great chapter. The story-line is developing nicely between the two guys with a nice underlying tension. WIth Bridget giving them the money, she must be determined to plant something in Trevor's old car and have the money traced back to some drug deal. She is truly evil! Lets see how you manage to save them all!! Thanks again for your gift of story.... gj

Lots of great surprises in this edition of "As Escorial Turns", but I must say, for me, one of the best lines I have ever seen written is your line stating: "I watched that blow out any number of circuits in the part of his brain where his pre-conceived ideas lived." What a great line in the midst of an incredible story! gj

I though millenium would remain my favorite of this series, but the way the characters are developing, the interesting moral challenges, and the general movement of the story makes me suspect that this might end up topping even Millenium for me! Thanks Mark gj

This last chapter continued to amaze! Our beloved Captain, always the brilliant strategist, seemed to understand how to help Darby maneuver the dangerous shoals of grief. I would venture George was so focused on this task to honour his late beloved, as well as, still lost in his own grief, that he didn't see that he as Captain/Saviour/link to Travers would naturally become Darby's new 'idol'. It makes sense, given his own emotional turmoil, that he would not anticipate this transistion, but I wonder why it so upset him. Is he afraid to love again because he is still in mourning? Is he afraid of hurting him,,,or being hurt? Is there some sense that while both noble, Darby is a bit more noble?!? I personally love how the story is developing. Realistic history, moving well-written characters facing natural challenges of life and death, and great dramatic tension that does not devolve into operatic conventions. Thanks Mark, this is a wonderful continuation of a fascinating series... gj

Chapter 70 is another great addition to an amazing story! The Characterizations remain authentic and deepen, it seems, with each new chapter. The friendship seems authentic and the caring relationship seems to be what Trevor needs. The undercurrent of fear about 'coming out' appears to an authentic and realistic expression of what someone Trevor's age might fear. It almost seemed that the owner might be hinting at Shane having a similar story, but perhaps I am only projecting my hopes! Thanks for the continued brilliant work and the gift you freely give your readers and fans! gj

The story continues to captivate on so many levels....you 'teach' us details about sailing, geography, motivation and inter-personal relations in an exciting setting. Thanks for the continued sharing of your unique gift. There is a warmth between the boy's that is postive, but if as expected, this is yet another calm before the storm. How their relationship grows will be enlightening and you set forth several options with this latest chapter. The story continues and our interest grows! gj

Y'know, I gotta say that would be the ultimate parting shot had you been the assassin, wonderfully evil! Also, massively embarrassing either way (finished or not) for he was probably found by his mom, oy! Granted, he was departed, but what a way to be remembered......

Mark, Even more brilliantly done than usual!! Your ability to keep a story-line fresh and exciting and the amazing characterizations continue to draw us to your gift of story. Thank you so very much for what you share with us and please thank your family and 'staff' for their commitment and willingness to allow you to spend so much time on this pursuit that you so freely give to your readers. So much was revealed during this story and so many great discussions on a wide variety of topics shows how your writing affects a wide range of people. Quite the gift.... Again thank you! Gene