Ricky Takes Charge - A review

[Cainanite (imported)]

If you're not familiar with C van D's universe by now, this review won't make much sense to you. I'll try to get you up to speed anyhow.

In what has become affectionately known as the "Simon Series" (named for C van D's favorite character), the concept of neutering young boys has become commonplace. In this world, it seems that boy children have a less than 50% chance of making it to adulthood with all their bits intact. Orphans, runaways, child delinquents, wards of the state, children with overbearing mothers, poor children, children with bad grades, or children just in the wrong place at the wrong time, all get a little procedure that leaves them unable "to do the thing with a girl that starts a baby."

C van D favors the Neutersol method of castration in his stories, and describes the method with the casual appreciation of a childhood inoculation. Boys refer to it as, "having their balls pricked." Neutersol, in C van D's world has the added effect on the boy of destroying the erectile tissue and/or erectile nerves, making sure the boys are not only infertile, but even if they ever get HRT, they still won't ever be able to be, "a mischief with the girls."

C van D has been shifting his stories away from Simon as of late, and has been focusing on his new favorite boy, Ricky Silva. Ricky was introduced in a story called, "Doctor Geller Goes Into Partnership." He is a half American, half Chinese lad, with Asian features, but blue eyes and blonde hair. He's had quite a few adventures to date, including Ricky and the Mad Professor, Ricky's Adventure in Cyprus, and Ricky Visits America, which was written with Paolo.

Ricky was neutered in the traditional way, surgically, but found his way to the place where C van D keeps all his most interesting boy-eunuchs, Southdown Hall. Southdown Hall is a traditional English boarding school, that has recently had to adapt to an influx of eunuch students. Further, it seems, as all of C van D's boy-eunuchs get into dangerous adventures every other day, Southdown Hall has become something of a hotbed of unusual activities. Indeed, it seems without hormones to distract them, the eunuch boys instead expend their energy disrupting kidnapping rings, unearthing mysteries, and solving crimes. Hardy Boys meet The Hardly Anything in the Pants Boys.

Ricky Takes Charge is no exception to what I've come to expect from C van D.

In this episode Simon is off working on his study and entrance exams for University, and the next most senior boy in line is Ricky. Ricky is to meet and take charge of a group of exchange students from America. Where Southdown Hall has sent their best student Rugby players to the USA, the USA has sent their best student Base-Ball players to England. Ricky has had some experience with these boys before, and briefly played on the Little League team, "The Mustangs" on a previous adventure. It seems like the perfect fit.

Of course it isn't long before things start to go pear shaped. In fact before Ricky can even supervise the switch over of players, one of the lads gets into trouble with a stranger in the public washrooms of the airport.

Soon Ricky has the American boys in hand and back at Southdown hall.

C van D lovingly describes a group of misfit boys encountering the difficulty of learning an entirely alien sport. We are also re-introduced to Roddy and Mark from previous stories, and get caught up on their activities. Then just as everything seems to be settling down to a dull roar, a mystery.

Someone has been haunting Southdown Hall. They've been peeking in windows, and burning down buildings. It seems like someone has it in for the boy eunuchs, and this time they mean business.

I won't spoil the story any further, you really should read it yourself. Instead I choose to praise C van D for his easy writing style. C van D has created an entirely believable world with characters that have become like old friends. I'm constantly interested in what they are up to, and what adventure comes next.

Of course C van D never forgets where his characters have been, and what loose ends he's left dangling. He's left those threads for a reason, and when he returns to them, he does so in an entirely satisfying way. This is one of those stories.

C van D's series of stories are entirely enjoyable to read, and to re-read. There is so much there, it can keep you busy for weeks or months. They are written with a casual air that makes them easy to get into. His tales are never overly graphic, or overly sexual, but don't shy away from hard truths either.

These are the stories I wish I could have read as a teenager. His stories suggest that just because you're not sexual, doesn't mean you're dead. It doesn't mean you don't have something to contribute. It doesn't mean you can't have relationships, or be a complete person. It doesn't mean you can't live a life full of adventure and meaning. It is a message I sorely wish I could convey to the confused lad I was. Even without such a time machine, I'm still glad to read them now.

Ricky Takes Charge is a solid contribution to the world C van D created, and I am sincerely glad to have a new story to enjoy.

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

Ah, okay, I get it now...

I didn't know what the heck was happening the first time I tried to read this story, but I guess it's just because I didn't know anything about the vast wealth of prior material that it was coming from. I've got some more reading to do, then I hope to be back with a review of my own. If I get the time, I'd ideally like to be able to review every one of the new stories.

[StefanIsMe (imported)]

It's totally fantastic that CvanD has a story for the first New Stories update.

Thank you Mr. D !! I've missed Simon et. al., and your time-accurate advancement of ages etc. really makes the whole series ring true. Of course, on that note, it matches the time-line correctness of the J.K. Rowling stories... not often do we see this sort of dedication to time-line.

Anyway, it's always a blast to read your stories, and I can only hope we will see more (While I love the 'classic' Simon tales, your "Screen-play" variations are always fun, too!).