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Scott Spires's avatar

The "approaches-to-bangs" ratios listed here seem to evoke a debut novelist without connections attempting to get his MS accepted by a publisher or agent. Perhaps it's fitting that this is a self-published novel. After all, publishing also requires you to be "a persistent, goal-oriented individual."

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Elmer's avatar
3hEdited

Pathetic. I could write a funny novel about the 10000 beautiful young women I squeezed on the dance floor but that involved some work in learning Ballroom Dance and improving my etiquette, so would not resonate with young men who prefer their negative outlook to be celebrated. Bring back the Draft dammit.

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Tina Rogers's avatar

Crikey, this was a brilliant though disturbing, read. I’m glad the author read the book so I don’t have to tbh.

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Tom Myron's avatar

Well said.

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Tina Rogers's avatar

Thanks Tom

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Dragoneye's avatar

Thank you for hipping us to Han's work. Very interested in the subject too. I am always comparing today with the time that I came of age during the Summer of Love.

This story of current generations of young men (and where they came from and/or will help lead us) tends in the directions I've thought that I've observed. How we perceive our roles in our relationships has always been factors in history. Given the gravity of this subject to the alternative courses of our futures this is of significant concern.

As we move ahead through the ether of the information age, how we love each other will be of vital concern and fascinating to behold. Thanks again!

P.S. BTW, also I think worth reposting is this idea I snipped (and added to) from your essay. Brilliant premise!

"...One day, after filling the gaps in our knowledge, (science) will render the entire discipline (of fiction...) obsolete..."

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Anne Marie Corrigan's avatar

Excellent review!

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Alex's avatar

Definitely want to check this out thanks for the review!

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Darren Haber's avatar

Well written review.

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Peter James's avatar

I really loved this book. Han does an excellent job of showcasing both the narrator's interior monologue, how people react to him, and how he reacts to those reactions. Ultimately, it paints a vivid picture of the sad, scared boy underneath it all. His rationalizations and game theory can only take him so far, and he's forced to come to a powerful conclusion in order to survive. Stellar stuff, looking forward to more from him.

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Tom Myron's avatar

What a terrific piece of writing. Thank you!

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