Fellow Travelers Paperback – 6 May 2008

I've read the book and watched the tv series. Some major differences but equally complimentary.The tv series wonderfully highlights the heartbreakingly beautiful love story between Hawk and Skippy, in an era where it was a crime to have any relationship with a same sex partner. The ramifications were far reaching.I loved the innocent sweet catholic boy that was Tim/Skippy, who grew up and went through so much heartache and pain, because of, but stayed true to his one great consuming and powerful love, that was Hawk. My heart broke for him over and over and I just wanted to hug skippy to make him feel better.I have such mixed feelings for Hawk. It’s easy to say he did not deserve Skippy and let’s be clear, he was terrible to Skippy in many ways; but I try to understand that Hawk loved only the way he knew how and could.“Sometimes self-preservation is a stronger force than love, and fear is understandable in an era steeped in hate crimes and legal discrimination. Hawk loved Tim enough to protect him from society.”“…He wasn't my friend; he was the man that I loved.” - Hawk.A heartfelt and moving confession from Hawk after a lifetime almost, of hiding in the shadows.The side characters added a richness to the whole story.Beautiful book & show.

I wanted to read this before watching the TV show and I'm glad I did. It's phenomenal, truly phenomenal. Slight differences between the book and TV series but that's expected. The rawness of the way the truth is written is just outstanding. This is a book that will stay on my shelf forever.

Set in the McCarthy era of the 1950s, this is a fascinating reenactment of the tensions and compulsions fuelling US politics at the time. It took me a bit to get my head round the large cast of characters but the evocation of the nastiness and stupidity of the McCarthy hearings and the witch hunt against gay men in government service is vivid and enthralling. At the heart of the story is a spasmodic affair between Tim, a young, right-wing, gay graduate (working for a senator on the Hill) and Hawkins Fuller, a rising State Department Official. The story plays the infatuation of Tim against the cynical exploitation of him by Fuller. Fuller is the supremely self-confident survivor, Tim young, vulnerable but determined. Yet the relationship between the two men is a love story and it is told with exquisite skill.

Absolutely amazing book. You’ll need at least a certain level of interest in American politics and history but, if you do, it’s fantastic. The love story is beautifully and heartbreakingly told. Strong recommendation!

Kudos to the TV series creators for making the changes they did. Book has NOT aged well.

Questa non è una recensione sul romanzo stesso ma sul libro come oggetto. Viene mostrato come un edizione originale americana ma è in realtà stampato da amazon, quindi la stampa è estremamente scadente.L'ho tenuto perche volevo leggerlo, il contenuto è ovviamente originale, pero avrei preferito saperlo prima.

I found it intriguing, that after reading Secret City by James Kirchick, that this book although a novel as opposed to non fiction, would tell a similar story to the intrigue and paranoia of America in the second and third quarters of this century. Travelers though doesn't deal so much with the persecution of gays in the government as it does with the communist scare.I wasn't sure if I liked Hawkins Filler very much. Seems to me he used people where he could when it suited him. Tim was not a weak man but not very strong. He really wanted to be loved but wouldn't admit that to himself.Generally enjoyable.

Very touching story; well written. The developpment of the carackters is captivating. And the description of the social and political environment is rich and lively.

I must admit that while I loved Fellow Travelers, it was a bit of a struggle at times. I would have like to have seen more of the relationship between Fuller and Laughlin and less of the daily intricacies of politics. Mallon does a terrific job of recreating one of my favorite time periods and while the story is often riveting, it does occasionally stall with too many filler-like political divergences. But there of so few stories like this that I can’t help but go with four stars. The relevance of the story and the emotional impact it eventually delivered were exactly what I had hoped for.

An interesting read.