Guillermo Stitch's Blog - Posts Tagged "review"
Review from Tropical Mary
A fabulous, highly engaged and engaging review just in from Tropical Mary.
"Mr Stitch did very well, and I commend him on creating relatable characters, ones that the reader will love to hate, and easily recognise without them feeling like tropes or caricatures."
"I have to mention the author’s world building skill. Set in a dystopian, near-future, Literature® has just enough of the familiar and different to keep the reader’s eye plastered to the pages."
"I could break down the various themes in the book, like the commoditisition of art, consumerism, radicalisation, terrorism, subjectivity, etc. but I won’t. This story is so artfully written that I think each person who reads it will take something different from it."
Check out the site for Tropical Mary's fastidious, eagle-eyed reviewing style.
https://tropicalmary.com/2018/07/04/b...
"Mr Stitch did very well, and I commend him on creating relatable characters, ones that the reader will love to hate, and easily recognise without them feeling like tropes or caricatures."
"I have to mention the author’s world building skill. Set in a dystopian, near-future, Literature® has just enough of the familiar and different to keep the reader’s eye plastered to the pages."
"I could break down the various themes in the book, like the commoditisition of art, consumerism, radicalisation, terrorism, subjectivity, etc. but I won’t. This story is so artfully written that I think each person who reads it will take something different from it."
Check out the site for Tropical Mary's fastidious, eagle-eyed reviewing style.
https://tropicalmary.com/2018/07/04/b...
Press
Anne Cunningham (Irish Independent, Independent on Sunday, Irish Times and Sunday Times) has reviewed Literature®.
"Imagine a world, sometime in the not-too-distant future, where fiction is banned. Imagine that all of the great novels and short stories in the world have been destroyed. Imagine a world where reading a work of fiction – only available from a secret underground “terrorist” network – is considered an act of sedition, punishable by execution. And if all of that seems too unlikely for words, just stop and think for a second; how many books do you imagine Donald Trump has read in his lifetime…? And who does he feel most threatened by, the likes of “Rocket Boy” or the intellectuals of America and the Western world?
Billy Stringer is a young sports reporter who has been born into this fiction-free future. And he’s doing OK in a kind of you-can’t-miss-what-you-never-had sort of way. Things change, though, when his girlfriend’s slightly wacky brother slips Billy a book. A novel. And tells him to be careful. But it seems Billy hasn’t been careful enough. He’s developed a “literary bent” and the authorities are onto him.
This slim novella is one of the cleverest stories I’ve read this year. It’s not strictly science fiction, not strictly dystopian and it’s not strictly Philip Marlowe either, although I think it could be described as a smashup of all of these influences. It’s whip-smart, well-paced, deeply satirical and dappled with just enough dark and light to keep the reader riveted.
Currently available on Amazon, Literature®deserves to be published mainstream and I do hope that happens. Soon."
The review appears in this week's edition of The Meath Chronicle.
Deep thanks.
"Imagine a world, sometime in the not-too-distant future, where fiction is banned. Imagine that all of the great novels and short stories in the world have been destroyed. Imagine a world where reading a work of fiction – only available from a secret underground “terrorist” network – is considered an act of sedition, punishable by execution. And if all of that seems too unlikely for words, just stop and think for a second; how many books do you imagine Donald Trump has read in his lifetime…? And who does he feel most threatened by, the likes of “Rocket Boy” or the intellectuals of America and the Western world?
Billy Stringer is a young sports reporter who has been born into this fiction-free future. And he’s doing OK in a kind of you-can’t-miss-what-you-never-had sort of way. Things change, though, when his girlfriend’s slightly wacky brother slips Billy a book. A novel. And tells him to be careful. But it seems Billy hasn’t been careful enough. He’s developed a “literary bent” and the authorities are onto him.
This slim novella is one of the cleverest stories I’ve read this year. It’s not strictly science fiction, not strictly dystopian and it’s not strictly Philip Marlowe either, although I think it could be described as a smashup of all of these influences. It’s whip-smart, well-paced, deeply satirical and dappled with just enough dark and light to keep the reader riveted.
Currently available on Amazon, Literature®deserves to be published mainstream and I do hope that happens. Soon."
The review appears in this week's edition of The Meath Chronicle.
Deep thanks.
More Press!
Diane Donovan, senior reviewer for the Midwest Book Review, has completed her review of Literature® and I couldn't be happier with it.
"Literature® blends speculative fiction with a dystopian mystery's noir atmosphere in a production that opens with a reflection on how literature was defined in the First Era, before the Disaster that changed everything.
In this world, book burning ceremonies are common, literature is reviled, and protagonist Billy is a secret bookworm in a society where fiction has been banned. Therefore, he believes someone is out to kill him.
A single day in the life of this protagonist as he navigates an uncertain world outlines the perils and possibilities of love, death, and redemption in a society where modern literature has fostered a Second Enlightenment which has left fiction behind in favor of something less independent and more unsettling.
There are many intriguing references that become clear as the story unfolds: Pinpoint®, Cog® power, Gripping Tails®, Applied Lit®. The satire involved is so delicate that initial references might slip by readers at first; but as the story progresses, these insights and references become tangible, recognizable parts of a plot that readers will come to anticipate with delight. Woven within the dystopian saga of a rebel book reader are comments on social mores, the evolution of thinking trends and altered perceptions, the roots of rebellion, and the fostering or suppression of independent thinking which will provide modern literary audiences with much food for thought.
Literature is facing its "full optimization" as a brand, but not in any form Billy will accept as a replacement for his forbidden passion. In a world where everything is branded, what place is inhabited by the rebel, the independent thinker, and the real literature buff?
Art, alienation, and consumer culture evolution and rules lie at the heart of a story that continually piques readers, inviting them to think about issues of control, manipulation, and forces of change challenging their own independent thinking processes.
Billy's unexpected venture into murder is only one aspect of a frightening story that poses many questions about evolving social change. A series of complex and unexpected faux pas move Billy to the brink of trouble, but with a wry injection of satirical humor throughout.
Literature® is a literary piece that may be hard to identify with a particular genre; but which provides a satisfying blend of literary inspection, social commentary, dystopian world analysis and individual dilemmas to keep readers guessing and thinking to the end of Billy's perplexing, fast-paced day. It's highly recommended for its multifaceted themes, social inspection, wry insights, and unexpectedly fun approach."
The review will be published in the August 2018 edition of The Midwest Book Review.
Deep thanks.
"Literature® blends speculative fiction with a dystopian mystery's noir atmosphere in a production that opens with a reflection on how literature was defined in the First Era, before the Disaster that changed everything.
In this world, book burning ceremonies are common, literature is reviled, and protagonist Billy is a secret bookworm in a society where fiction has been banned. Therefore, he believes someone is out to kill him.
A single day in the life of this protagonist as he navigates an uncertain world outlines the perils and possibilities of love, death, and redemption in a society where modern literature has fostered a Second Enlightenment which has left fiction behind in favor of something less independent and more unsettling.
There are many intriguing references that become clear as the story unfolds: Pinpoint®, Cog® power, Gripping Tails®, Applied Lit®. The satire involved is so delicate that initial references might slip by readers at first; but as the story progresses, these insights and references become tangible, recognizable parts of a plot that readers will come to anticipate with delight. Woven within the dystopian saga of a rebel book reader are comments on social mores, the evolution of thinking trends and altered perceptions, the roots of rebellion, and the fostering or suppression of independent thinking which will provide modern literary audiences with much food for thought.
Literature is facing its "full optimization" as a brand, but not in any form Billy will accept as a replacement for his forbidden passion. In a world where everything is branded, what place is inhabited by the rebel, the independent thinker, and the real literature buff?
Art, alienation, and consumer culture evolution and rules lie at the heart of a story that continually piques readers, inviting them to think about issues of control, manipulation, and forces of change challenging their own independent thinking processes.
Billy's unexpected venture into murder is only one aspect of a frightening story that poses many questions about evolving social change. A series of complex and unexpected faux pas move Billy to the brink of trouble, but with a wry injection of satirical humor throughout.
Literature® is a literary piece that may be hard to identify with a particular genre; but which provides a satisfying blend of literary inspection, social commentary, dystopian world analysis and individual dilemmas to keep readers guessing and thinking to the end of Billy's perplexing, fast-paced day. It's highly recommended for its multifaceted themes, social inspection, wry insights, and unexpectedly fun approach."
The review will be published in the August 2018 edition of The Midwest Book Review.
Deep thanks.
Continued support from book bloggers
Scarlett of scarlettreadzandrunz.com has weighed in with her own take on Literature®.
"Gritty, page turning suspense."
"The thought provoking concept adds depth to the premise while the plot delivers unforeseeable twists."
"A mighty piece of fiction."
See the full review and Scarlett's other reviews at
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/new-...
Deep thanks
"Gritty, page turning suspense."
"The thought provoking concept adds depth to the premise while the plot delivers unforeseeable twists."
"A mighty piece of fiction."
See the full review and Scarlett's other reviews at
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/new-...
Deep thanks
The forums are buzzing...
"ZlodeyVolk", at SFF Chronicles, has posted on Literature® and it's a zinger...
"Wow. Just wow."
"Literature® is the best new work of speculative fiction I have read since the 20th Century."
"Literature® is, moreover, laced with enough scalpel-sharp wit and dark humour that you'll never notice the satire sliding into your awareness until it's too late to feel any real discomfort."
See the full review at https://www.sffchronicles.com/threads...
Deep thanks
"Wow. Just wow."
"Literature® is the best new work of speculative fiction I have read since the 20th Century."
"Literature® is, moreover, laced with enough scalpel-sharp wit and dark humour that you'll never notice the satire sliding into your awareness until it's too late to feel any real discomfort."
See the full review at https://www.sffchronicles.com/threads...
Deep thanks
Review on Dystopic.co.uk
A great review just in from E.J. Babb of the excellent Dystopic.co.uk.
"The result is a fast-paced, witty satire that is a breath of fresh air for the dystopian genre. Dark, funny and beautifully written, Literature® is a must-read, no matter if you’re a lover of sci-fi or more of a literary fic fan."
See the full review and check out the website at
http://www.dystopic.co.uk/literature-...
Deep thanks
"The result is a fast-paced, witty satire that is a breath of fresh air for the dystopian genre. Dark, funny and beautifully written, Literature® is a must-read, no matter if you’re a lover of sci-fi or more of a literary fic fan."
See the full review and check out the website at
http://www.dystopic.co.uk/literature-...
Deep thanks
Novel of the Year nomination
Underground Book Reviews have published their review of Literature®, nominating it for their Novel of the Year award and granting it Top Pick status, their highest accolade.
"Freaking amazing. Any agent or publishing house that passed this up made a big mistake. Captivating and timely, with a perfect bittersweet ending."
See the review at
https://www.undergroundbookreviews.or...
Deep thanks.
"Freaking amazing. Any agent or publishing house that passed this up made a big mistake. Captivating and timely, with a perfect bittersweet ending."
See the review at
https://www.undergroundbookreviews.or...
Deep thanks.
Review in Interzone
Interzone have reviewed Literature® — the magazine is available for Kindle but not published online, so here are some excerpts:
"A smart satire, crammed with compelling ideas, and it confronts the corrosive influence of philistinism head-on."
"A witty celebration of the transformative power of fiction and a tour de force of laconic pastiche."
"The story belts along with astonishing energy. There are some impressive touches: for example, Billy’s dialogue sounds overly arch at first, but it soon becomes clear his speech is a symptom of his burgeoning engagement with the world of storytelling. There are arresting visual set pieces, such as the vast spaces of the Gripping Tails® factory, and some thoroughly absorbing ideas, such as text-driven vehicles. And there are genuine surprises as the narrative unfolds, some of which force significant revisions of the readers understanding of plot and character."
Deep thanks.
"A smart satire, crammed with compelling ideas, and it confronts the corrosive influence of philistinism head-on."
"A witty celebration of the transformative power of fiction and a tour de force of laconic pastiche."
"The story belts along with astonishing energy. There are some impressive touches: for example, Billy’s dialogue sounds overly arch at first, but it soon becomes clear his speech is a symptom of his burgeoning engagement with the world of storytelling. There are arresting visual set pieces, such as the vast spaces of the Gripping Tails® factory, and some thoroughly absorbing ideas, such as text-driven vehicles. And there are genuine surprises as the narrative unfolds, some of which force significant revisions of the readers understanding of plot and character."
Deep thanks.
Thumbs up from Publishers Weekly
I'm very pleased to have had the book reviewed in Publishers Weekly and to get the thumbs up from them, calling it a "zippy debut" and stating that it "will keep readers turning pages."
https://booklife.com/project/literatu...
Deep thanks
https://booklife.com/project/literatu...
Deep thanks
Love from Bizarroland
The book has been reviewed by bizarro maven Zé Burns and it is really quite moving to read.
"This is the type of book I adore: intelligent, whimsically hilarious, and unapologetically bizarre. It is everything I love about surrealism and bizarro put together in one masterpiece."
https://zeburns.com/2020/03/28/lake-o...
Deepest thanks.
"This is the type of book I adore: intelligent, whimsically hilarious, and unapologetically bizarre. It is everything I love about surrealism and bizarro put together in one masterpiece."
https://zeburns.com/2020/03/28/lake-o...
Deepest thanks.
