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HardCell #1
Grown Men
Every future has dirty roots.
Marooned in the galactic backwaters of the HardCell company, colonist Runt struggles to eke out an existence on a newly-terraformed tropical planetoid. Since his clone-wife died on entry, he’s been doing the work of two on his failing protein farm. Overworked and undersized, Runt’s dwindling hope of earning corporate citizenship has turned to fear of violent “retirement.”
When an overdue crate of provisions crashes on his beach, Runt searches frantically for a replacement wife among the tools and food. Instead he gets Ox, a mute hulk who seems more like a corporate assassin than a simple offworld farmer.
Shackwacky and near-starving, Runt has no choice but to work with his silent partner despite his mounting paranoia and the unsettling appeal of Ox’s genetically altered pheromones. Ox plays the part of the gentle giant well, but Runt’s still not convinced he hasn’t arrived with murder in mind.
Between brutal desire and the seeds of a relationship, Runt’s fears and Ox’s inhuman past collide on a fertile world where hope and love just might have room to grow.
Marooned in the galactic backwaters of the HardCell company, colonist Runt struggles to eke out an existence on a newly-terraformed tropical planetoid. Since his clone-wife died on entry, he’s been doing the work of two on his failing protein farm. Overworked and undersized, Runt’s dwindling hope of earning corporate citizenship has turned to fear of violent “retirement.”
When an overdue crate of provisions crashes on his beach, Runt searches frantically for a replacement wife among the tools and food. Instead he gets Ox, a mute hulk who seems more like a corporate assassin than a simple offworld farmer.
Shackwacky and near-starving, Runt has no choice but to work with his silent partner despite his mounting paranoia and the unsettling appeal of Ox’s genetically altered pheromones. Ox plays the part of the gentle giant well, but Runt’s still not convinced he hasn’t arrived with murder in mind.
Between brutal desire and the seeds of a relationship, Runt’s fears and Ox’s inhuman past collide on a fertile world where hope and love just might have room to grow.
95 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2011
11 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Damon Suede
21 books2,224 followersDamon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. He has lived all over and along the way, he’s earned his crust as a model, a messenger, a promoter, a programmer, a sculptor, a singer, a stripper, a bookkeeper, a bartender, a techie, a teacher, a director... but writing has ever been his bread and butter. He has been happily partnered for over a decade with the most loving, handsome, shrewd, hilarious, noble man to walk this planet.
Beyond romance fiction, Damon is an award-winning author who has been writing for print, stage, and screen for over three decades, which is both more and less glamorous than you might imagine. He's won some awards, but he counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year.
Damon would love to hear from you... you can get in touch with him here.
DamonSuede.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 21, 2022
3.5 Stars
Livro com um tema legal , o grande problema dele é que é muito pequenooo, merecia mais capítulos. Gostei de Runt e Ox, mas quando a história ficou boa... Foi e acabou! Cria uma história interessante e manda poucos capítulos? É por isso que tenho receio de livros com menos de 200 páginas, quando gosto da história, ela vai e The End ( que crueldade 😭😭😭😭😭)
Livro com um tema legal , o grande problema dele é que é muito pequenooo, merecia mais capítulos. Gostei de Runt e Ox, mas quando a história ficou boa... Foi e acabou! Cria uma história interessante e manda poucos capítulos? É por isso que tenho receio de livros com menos de 200 páginas, quando gosto da história, ela vai e The End ( que crueldade 😭😭😭😭😭)
June 7, 2017
3.5 Stars
Definitely original. Wholly interesting with an intriguing setup.
Runt is barely getting by. He’s contracted with “big corporate” to farm a planet for future colonization. With seven years of service he hopes to succeed in order to become a shareholder. However, Runt is down on his luck, profitability slowly slipping through his fingers as he’s forever falling behind, trying to do a multitude of tasks meant for two.
Fortuitously, supplies finally land, and instead of a new wife, he gets the hulking mute beast, Ox. Paranoia runs rampant in Runt’s brain, wondering if Ox is there to terminate his contract due to his subpar performance. However, Ox is nothing but above board, and they figure out a tentative partnership, working in sync to get the farm in order.
What follows is the synergy of how these two cohabitate, complementing each other quite well despite, or because of, their differences. What also unfolds slowly is the awkward, uneasy, but palpable sexual tension.
I’m a goner for gentle giants, and apparently mutism really ups the ante. Admittedly, I wanted more explanations and fleshing out the background stories. What was present though, kept my attention. Especially unique was how these two made up for their size differences with creative ways in the bedroom (titillating to say the least). Overall, a sweet, scifi take, with a couple dashes of smexy, on the evolution of changing one’s expectations to find a happiness they didn’t know they wanted.
Definitely original. Wholly interesting with an intriguing setup.
Runt is barely getting by. He’s contracted with “big corporate” to farm a planet for future colonization. With seven years of service he hopes to succeed in order to become a shareholder. However, Runt is down on his luck, profitability slowly slipping through his fingers as he’s forever falling behind, trying to do a multitude of tasks meant for two.
Fortuitously, supplies finally land, and instead of a new wife, he gets the hulking mute beast, Ox. Paranoia runs rampant in Runt’s brain, wondering if Ox is there to terminate his contract due to his subpar performance. However, Ox is nothing but above board, and they figure out a tentative partnership, working in sync to get the farm in order.
What follows is the synergy of how these two cohabitate, complementing each other quite well despite, or because of, their differences. What also unfolds slowly is the awkward, uneasy, but palpable sexual tension.
I’m a goner for gentle giants, and apparently mutism really ups the ante. Admittedly, I wanted more explanations and fleshing out the background stories. What was present though, kept my attention. Especially unique was how these two made up for their size differences with creative ways in the bedroom (titillating to say the least). Overall, a sweet, scifi take, with a couple dashes of smexy, on the evolution of changing one’s expectations to find a happiness they didn’t know they wanted.
October 3, 2014
Pioneer life in space.
Runt has been slotted to terraform a section of a planet located on the edges of everywhere. He's been alone for awhile due to a landing issue and managed to keep it together. He's a bit gruff and unrefined, but likable enough. Still, life is rough and lonely.
That all changes with the next drop shipment. Runt gets more than he bargained for, and now he's got a mystery. Loved the way Runt and Ox were able to communicate, the organic growth of their friendship, and the honestly, loved the world building. All the details of their settlement and farming were great. Runt and Ox, well that's an interesting pair and let's just say that they managed to do just fine with the issues of scale. A bit crude, but sweet and gotta say the ending made me go, "Awww..". Took the rating from 3.5 to 4.
Suede has a habit of giving you a twist of the tail, and this one doesn't disappoint. There's some scathing rhetoric about cross promotions and corporate overlords; it's funny even though it is the ugly truth. Nice mirroring of the present in the commentary, one of my favorite aspects of science fiction.
Overall, an unexpected, crudely sweet romance in paradise
Favorite quote, it was blah, blah, blah kitty at the start of the book, but halfway through it was hysterical:
Runt has been slotted to terraform a section of a planet located on the edges of everywhere. He's been alone for awhile due to a landing issue and managed to keep it together. He's a bit gruff and unrefined, but likable enough. Still, life is rough and lonely.
That all changes with the next drop shipment. Runt gets more than he bargained for, and now he's got a mystery. Loved the way Runt and Ox were able to communicate, the organic growth of their friendship, and the honestly, loved the world building. All the details of their settlement and farming were great. Runt and Ox, well that's an interesting pair and let's just say that they managed to do just fine with the issues of scale. A bit crude, but sweet and gotta say the ending made me go, "Awww..". Took the rating from 3.5 to 4.
Suede has a habit of giving you a twist of the tail, and this one doesn't disappoint. There's some scathing rhetoric about cross promotions and corporate overlords; it's funny even though it is the ugly truth. Nice mirroring of the present in the commentary, one of my favorite aspects of science fiction.
Overall, an unexpected, crudely sweet romance in paradise
Favorite quote, it was blah, blah, blah kitty at the start of the book, but halfway through it was hysterical:
HardCell means business!
October 29, 2011
I read the short Seedy Business first, which centers around something which happened to Ox - one of the protagonist - before we meet him in this book, even if he is just mentioned,and I still don't know if I was happy for having read it or not, so I can't give you any meaningful advice. On one hand it helped me understand a little bit of Ox's mystery, but on the other hand I would have enjoyed to discover Ox's secrets little by little like Runt does.
I also agree with other reviewers which felt that there was little happening in the middle of the book. I enjoyed the slower pace and also the little things which made us see how Runt and Ox got closer. I think it would have been difficult to convey this approaching proximity in another way without loosing the sweetness of Runt and Ox's friendship. What was lacking, in my opinion, was an external conflict. In the last third of the book, there is a dramatic moment which helps bring the characters finally close, but it was still something within their world, while I was expecting the real menace from the outside (probably because I had read the short story). This is my only criticism for a book which has a lot of good qualities: heart, imagination, humor, excellent writing.
Runt is living on a planet he has to colonize. He is alone, since his female companion was killed while they were being shipped to their destination planet. It's hard for Runt to achieve the goals set by the company who owns the planet. The planet is a mixture of penal colony and frontier: Runt has lead a difficult life in the fringes and he hopes to achieve citizenship and therefore a social status through his farming on the planet assigned to him.
When a cargo is shipped to him, instead of a wife, he finds Ox, a titanic mute man with an unknown past. Maybe because of this frontier feeling and almost mail-order-bride theme, it was like I was reading a historical romance in a sci-fi setting. Ox and Runt work hard to mold nature to meet the specs of the company that has sent them there. Runt is a bit unsettled by Ox, at the beginning, because the two have a limited way to communicate, but Ox is an easy man to work and live with. Slowly Runt starts to feel comfortable with Ox, to understand what upsets or relaxes his co-worker, they share meals, jokes and finally the bed, but only to sleep. Ox's masculinity registers since the beginning with Runt, but as time passes, it becomes more and more evident to Runt that there's attraction between them.
The world building is very interesting, but there's no info dumping, in a way information is almost scarce. Runt is so involved in what he's doing, that he has a very limited vision. Ox carries inside himself more information, but on one hand he can't speak, on the other hand he probably carries knowledge he doesn't want to share.
I liked the contrast between the two men and the contrast in Ox himself. Ox is scary in his hugeness, he is strong and probably deadly, but he is also sweet and caring, generous, a mountain of a man who needs to be petted and tended now and then. An adorable-ugly guy who slowly becomes handsome to the eyes of his friend.
There was something that I really liked in the writing. The author often writes, either at the beginning of a chapter or at the end of it, a short sentence which in a single line anticipates what will happen in the next chapter. It's something that gives a sort of rhythm and structure to the reading and that I learned to expect during the reading and it made it hard for me to put the book down.
I am looking forward for more stories in this world.
I also agree with other reviewers which felt that there was little happening in the middle of the book. I enjoyed the slower pace and also the little things which made us see how Runt and Ox got closer. I think it would have been difficult to convey this approaching proximity in another way without loosing the sweetness of Runt and Ox's friendship. What was lacking, in my opinion, was an external conflict. In the last third of the book, there is a dramatic moment which helps bring the characters finally close, but it was still something within their world, while I was expecting the real menace from the outside (probably because I had read the short story). This is my only criticism for a book which has a lot of good qualities: heart, imagination, humor, excellent writing.
Runt is living on a planet he has to colonize. He is alone, since his female companion was killed while they were being shipped to their destination planet. It's hard for Runt to achieve the goals set by the company who owns the planet. The planet is a mixture of penal colony and frontier: Runt has lead a difficult life in the fringes and he hopes to achieve citizenship and therefore a social status through his farming on the planet assigned to him.
When a cargo is shipped to him, instead of a wife, he finds Ox, a titanic mute man with an unknown past. Maybe because of this frontier feeling and almost mail-order-bride theme, it was like I was reading a historical romance in a sci-fi setting. Ox and Runt work hard to mold nature to meet the specs of the company that has sent them there. Runt is a bit unsettled by Ox, at the beginning, because the two have a limited way to communicate, but Ox is an easy man to work and live with. Slowly Runt starts to feel comfortable with Ox, to understand what upsets or relaxes his co-worker, they share meals, jokes and finally the bed, but only to sleep. Ox's masculinity registers since the beginning with Runt, but as time passes, it becomes more and more evident to Runt that there's attraction between them.
The world building is very interesting, but there's no info dumping, in a way information is almost scarce. Runt is so involved in what he's doing, that he has a very limited vision. Ox carries inside himself more information, but on one hand he can't speak, on the other hand he probably carries knowledge he doesn't want to share.
I liked the contrast between the two men and the contrast in Ox himself. Ox is scary in his hugeness, he is strong and probably deadly, but he is also sweet and caring, generous, a mountain of a man who needs to be petted and tended now and then. An adorable-ugly guy who slowly becomes handsome to the eyes of his friend.
There was something that I really liked in the writing. The author often writes, either at the beginning of a chapter or at the end of it, a short sentence which in a single line anticipates what will happen in the next chapter. It's something that gives a sort of rhythm and structure to the reading and that I learned to expect during the reading and it made it hard for me to put the book down.
I am looking forward for more stories in this world.
December 1, 2011
Well, Damon Suede is now on my must-read list. Grown Men was exquisitely descriptive. I was totally drawn into the world Suede has created-- it felt both highly inventive and plausible, and that doesn't always come together in works like this. The world-building seemed effortless.
What really got me on board, though, was the use of language. I love when authors create their own lexicon to support a work-- and you kinda need to take that liberty when you are created alternative worlds, right? Suede has introduced some words and phrases that I will be repeating to friends and family (how annoying is that...but oh so fun).
Actually, communication plays a big part in my enjoyment of this story. Ox, for all intents and purposes, is mute and must use other means to convey his thoughts and feelings. This is where Suede shines-- so much is shared through the senses, what we "see," the touch, the sounds. And I like that Suede doesn't give in and speed up the communication process as some authors do where suddenly everyone understands and speaks sign language, or that the impediment is suddenly (and unrealistically) remedied. In end, it is the ways in which these two people "speak" with the most intimate (and incongruous) parts of their bodies that "says" the most.
This was not a perfect book (I had some doubts about the relationships as it progressed-- but then I always have doubts about that, don't I? Oh, and dear Goddess, the sex!??!) but it was rather entertaining and I can't wait for the series to continue. After finishing Grown Men I looped back and read Seedy Business, which I also enjoyed, for perfectly different reasons than those here. Yeah, can't wait for the next "transmission." Good job, Mr. Suede!
What really got me on board, though, was the use of language. I love when authors create their own lexicon to support a work-- and you kinda need to take that liberty when you are created alternative worlds, right? Suede has introduced some words and phrases that I will be repeating to friends and family (how annoying is that...but oh so fun).
Actually, communication plays a big part in my enjoyment of this story. Ox, for all intents and purposes, is mute and must use other means to convey his thoughts and feelings. This is where Suede shines-- so much is shared through the senses, what we "see," the touch, the sounds. And I like that Suede doesn't give in and speed up the communication process as some authors do where suddenly everyone understands and speaks sign language, or that the impediment is suddenly (and unrealistically) remedied. In end, it is the ways in which these two people "speak" with the most intimate (and incongruous) parts of their bodies that "says" the most.
This was not a perfect book (I had some doubts about the relationships as it progressed-- but then I always have doubts about that, don't I? Oh, and dear Goddess, the sex!??!) but it was rather entertaining and I can't wait for the series to continue. After finishing Grown Men I looped back and read Seedy Business, which I also enjoyed, for perfectly different reasons than those here. Yeah, can't wait for the next "transmission." Good job, Mr. Suede!
November 5, 2011
Runnan (Runt) is a terraformer - sharecropper/indentured servant/corporate slave to a galactic mega-corporation that transforms uninhabitable planets into new frontiers. In exchange for his 7+ year commitment, Runt will spend his life hammering out an existence while assisting the newly formed planet into growth. At his side, his cloned mate...only she didn't make it to the planet alive, and the corporation has left him alone to struggle.
When Runt's supply shipment lands unexpectedly, he is surprised to find loads of food, crops, and...Ox.
Ox if a giant - muscle bound, mute, and obviously a force to be reckoned with. Is he a silent killer, sent to downsize Runt, or is he running from something? The genetic manipulation of his masculine pheromones may drive Runt crazy. Alone and lonely, will they turn to each other as more than friends?
Mr. Suede has crafted the beginnings of something very intriguing here. His universe in making has a lot of potential. However, this brief tale leaves too much unanswered to be fully satisfying. It is obvious that Ox has a huge backstory, but very little of it is touched on in more than passing. And to fit into the m/m genre, the intimacy that the two characters share is sweet, but the sex, honestly, left me high and dry. The physical differences aside, the over-the-top description of Ox and the obvious limitations that the two will have left me struggling.
I like this tale as a start, but I think it should have been fleshed out more fully. It seems almost more a novella than a well thought out stand alone piece, and while I liked it a lot - Mr. Suede has a real ear for dialogue (one-sided as it may be) and a gift for tone and subtlety - there just wasn't enough meat on the bones of this tale.
Read it, and let's keep our eyes open and hopes up for more from this strange new world.
Tom
When Runt's supply shipment lands unexpectedly, he is surprised to find loads of food, crops, and...Ox.
Ox if a giant - muscle bound, mute, and obviously a force to be reckoned with. Is he a silent killer, sent to downsize Runt, or is he running from something? The genetic manipulation of his masculine pheromones may drive Runt crazy. Alone and lonely, will they turn to each other as more than friends?
Mr. Suede has crafted the beginnings of something very intriguing here. His universe in making has a lot of potential. However, this brief tale leaves too much unanswered to be fully satisfying. It is obvious that Ox has a huge backstory, but very little of it is touched on in more than passing. And to fit into the m/m genre, the intimacy that the two characters share is sweet, but the sex, honestly, left me high and dry. The physical differences aside, the over-the-top description of Ox and the obvious limitations that the two will have left me struggling.
I like this tale as a start, but I think it should have been fleshed out more fully. It seems almost more a novella than a well thought out stand alone piece, and while I liked it a lot - Mr. Suede has a real ear for dialogue (one-sided as it may be) and a gift for tone and subtlety - there just wasn't enough meat on the bones of this tale.
Read it, and let's keep our eyes open and hopes up for more from this strange new world.
Tom
Want to read
August 11, 2011Another book by Damon? Oh, hell yeah, sign me up now!!
December 7, 2011
After reading Hot Head, I was excited to read more of Damon Suede. I read "Seedy Business", the free short that serves as a sort of prequel to Grown Men, and I really enjoyed it, even though most of it was gross (on purpose). I mean, SPERM PIRATES. The sense of humor and the language-play were absolutely fantastic, and the cyberpunk-type world it took place in was fascinating. Have you ever seen that section of Ice Pirates where the heroes get strapped to an assembly line and animated dentures attempt to chomp their nuts off? "Seedy Business" reminds me of that scene.
I went into Grown Men forewarned for freaky sperm stuff, but it turns out the story is calmer, more serious and doesn't lay on the surreal humor too thick. I'm really impressed at how everything I've read from this author has been different in tone and style. Grown Men follows the story of a colonist desperate to succeed at establishing his island farm on an alien planet. Instead of the expected clone-wife, he gets sent a mute, naked giant man who ends up becoming his friend and lover.
As with Hot Head, the physicality -- not just for sex scenes, but in any scene involving intimacy -- was incredibly concrete and vivid. I loved that on a technical basis, even when the sex itself wasn't really my thing… the size difference between the two men was a huge (ahem) part of the sex, and handled in a really interesting and sophisticated way.
My problems with the story were fairly minor, and I'm listing them because the story works on both a romance and science fiction basis, so I held it to some high science fiction standards.
First, a nitpick about the eels. My mom got a live eel once, cut its head off, skinned it, and marinated it in a bowl of soy sauce overnight. It was still twitching in the morning. An eel is an incredibly primitive animal and you can't kill it just by snapping its neck!
Second, the overall portrayal of the dystopia run by horrible corporations. Some of my favorite parts were subtle touches that show how this influences the characters' worldviews, like the interactive TV shows they watch. But some things didn't fit together for me. What's the role of women in this world? They breed clone-wives but not clone-husbands? Why don't Ox and Runt communicate by writing more… is it because they've been raised in such a visual-media-intensive way that they're only semi-literate?
I'm awaiting the answers to these and other questions in further "HardCell" books. The world has a potential for some fascinating social commentary on our current world in the same vein as the science fiction classic by Pohl and Kornbluth, The Space Merchants. But with a lot more sperm.
Overall, an awesome and unique novella; highly recommended if you love science fiction.
I went into Grown Men forewarned for freaky sperm stuff, but it turns out the story is calmer, more serious and doesn't lay on the surreal humor too thick. I'm really impressed at how everything I've read from this author has been different in tone and style. Grown Men follows the story of a colonist desperate to succeed at establishing his island farm on an alien planet. Instead of the expected clone-wife, he gets sent a mute, naked giant man who ends up becoming his friend and lover.
As with Hot Head, the physicality -- not just for sex scenes, but in any scene involving intimacy -- was incredibly concrete and vivid. I loved that on a technical basis, even when the sex itself wasn't really my thing… the size difference between the two men was a huge (ahem) part of the sex, and handled in a really interesting and sophisticated way.
My problems with the story were fairly minor, and I'm listing them because the story works on both a romance and science fiction basis, so I held it to some high science fiction standards.
First, a nitpick about the eels. My mom got a live eel once, cut its head off, skinned it, and marinated it in a bowl of soy sauce overnight. It was still twitching in the morning. An eel is an incredibly primitive animal and you can't kill it just by snapping its neck!
Second, the overall portrayal of the dystopia run by horrible corporations. Some of my favorite parts were subtle touches that show how this influences the characters' worldviews, like the interactive TV shows they watch. But some things didn't fit together for me. What's the role of women in this world? They breed clone-wives but not clone-husbands? Why don't Ox and Runt communicate by writing more… is it because they've been raised in such a visual-media-intensive way that they're only semi-literate?
I'm awaiting the answers to these and other questions in further "HardCell" books. The world has a potential for some fascinating social commentary on our current world in the same vein as the science fiction classic by Pohl and Kornbluth, The Space Merchants. But with a lot more sperm.
Overall, an awesome and unique novella; highly recommended if you love science fiction.
March 19, 2014
Suede has set himself an impressive challenge here: a two person story, with no side characters or even a single back-story character, in which one cannot speak at all. It's a very risky move and it repeatedly pushes the story in unexpected directions. The pacing, focus, plot development, relationship are all off--in the good sense of 'not the usual.' If you're a fan of "undemanding" reading as I am, it forces you to let go of your usual reliance on generic cues and conventions and just follow this story where it goes. There are quite of few more obvious plot lines Suede could have followed here, but he didn't.
The minor downside, for me at least, was that the love story was more sweet than hot.
Instead of the man-love and sex aspects, I ended up more intrigued by the sci-fi. I loved all of the details on their terraforming life--the eels, the bio-engineered Bee-moths (clever play on behemoth), the food, their relationship to Hard Cell. The corporate logo "Hard Cell means business" runs through the text like a musical motif. The vision of a corporate-dominated future is compelling. Just the references to "Advertainment" and "spokestars" were so rich and clever. Suede's a terrifically talented writer, with a gift for punchy, memorable turns of phrase. Favorite example: "Not only had his bosses openly called him a misfit, they'd sent this fucking XYY troglodyte with a meter on him in height and enough testosterone for four colonists to kick his ass with size twenty-two boots." Seriously--what a fantastic sentence.
But for all my enjoyment of 'Hard Cell means business' and eel-farming, I did miss the romance. It doesn't feel totally fair, but the truth is that I'll tolerate/overlook a lot of problems in a text if I like the dynamic between the main couple--and, to be totally candid, if I find the sex hot. As I said before, this was definitely sweet and unusual, but I wouldn't call it intense or passionate--more affectionate.
Bottom line: I really liked it, but not for the usual reasons.
The minor downside, for me at least, was that the love story was more sweet than hot.
Instead of the man-love and sex aspects, I ended up more intrigued by the sci-fi. I loved all of the details on their terraforming life--the eels, the bio-engineered Bee-moths (clever play on behemoth), the food, their relationship to Hard Cell. The corporate logo "Hard Cell means business" runs through the text like a musical motif. The vision of a corporate-dominated future is compelling. Just the references to "Advertainment" and "spokestars" were so rich and clever. Suede's a terrifically talented writer, with a gift for punchy, memorable turns of phrase. Favorite example: "Not only had his bosses openly called him a misfit, they'd sent this fucking XYY troglodyte with a meter on him in height and enough testosterone for four colonists to kick his ass with size twenty-two boots." Seriously--what a fantastic sentence.
But for all my enjoyment of 'Hard Cell means business' and eel-farming, I did miss the romance. It doesn't feel totally fair, but the truth is that I'll tolerate/overlook a lot of problems in a text if I like the dynamic between the main couple--and, to be totally candid, if I find the sex hot. As I said before, this was definitely sweet and unusual, but I wouldn't call it intense or passionate--more affectionate.
Bottom line: I really liked it, but not for the usual reasons.
January 5, 2012
Re-Read Jan 2012
I will now rate this 4.5 Stars after rereading the story. I enjoyed it even more then the first time and I didnt think that possible. While I stand by my original review I can now state that this is a story that you can keep reading over again and finding more to love.
This book is hard to review.
In some ways I really love it but in other ways I thought it didnt live up to full potential.
I loved the world building, at first it was a little slow and confusing but it soon developed into a fascinating world. I like how there was uncertainty between the two of them or I should say from Runts point of view. His instincts were telling him one thing about Ox but evidence and questions caused him to doubt himself.
The story isnt all about sex. In fact there is no sex until the last chapter. I will also admit to being slightly unsettled about the scene, it was hot but a bit freaky. I cannot say more but you will know what I mean when you read it. However I loved the build up to the sex scene. It was like a slow awakening for Runt because he had never even considers m/m sex before. Watching Runt fall for Ox was truly delightful.
I am really interested to see where this series leads. At this moment in time I am filled with more questions then answers. I think that is why I feel this story doesnt get that final star from me. But I loved Damons previous work so I am going to trust in him. I am hoping for some serious answers and some more romance between Ox and Runt, they have the potential to be an AMAZING m/m couple.
I think anyone that liked Hot Head will enjoy this story. Just remember that its the first in a series so expect to be left hanging with alot of questions.
I will now rate this 4.5 Stars after rereading the story. I enjoyed it even more then the first time and I didnt think that possible. While I stand by my original review I can now state that this is a story that you can keep reading over again and finding more to love.
This book is hard to review.
In some ways I really love it but in other ways I thought it didnt live up to full potential.
I loved the world building, at first it was a little slow and confusing but it soon developed into a fascinating world. I like how there was uncertainty between the two of them or I should say from Runts point of view. His instincts were telling him one thing about Ox but evidence and questions caused him to doubt himself.
The story isnt all about sex. In fact there is no sex until the last chapter. I will also admit to being slightly unsettled about the scene, it was hot but a bit freaky. I cannot say more but you will know what I mean when you read it. However I loved the build up to the sex scene. It was like a slow awakening for Runt because he had never even considers m/m sex before. Watching Runt fall for Ox was truly delightful.
I am really interested to see where this series leads. At this moment in time I am filled with more questions then answers. I think that is why I feel this story doesnt get that final star from me. But I loved Damons previous work so I am going to trust in him. I am hoping for some serious answers and some more romance between Ox and Runt, they have the potential to be an AMAZING m/m couple.
I think anyone that liked Hot Head will enjoy this story. Just remember that its the first in a series so expect to be left hanging with alot of questions.
October 28, 2011
The newest addition to the HardCell world really took me by surprise. I think I expected something gritty and slightly twisted (see Seedy Business). Instead, Grown Men is a tender, moving love story about two very different men who slowly learn to depend on one another, become friends, and eventually realize that their true home is with each other.
One of the aspects of the novella that I truly enjoyed is how well Runt develops over the course of the narrative. Runt initially comes off as very self-absorbed, paranoid, and a bit of an ass. However, as he starts to work with, care for, and becomes attracted to Ox, he develops into a much more interesting narrator. Ox, in contrast was easy for me to adore from the beginning (possibly because I was already familiar with his history).
Grown Men is really a great addition to the HardCell world, and I hope Damon will continue to write about this fascinating universe. I feel that these two offerings have really only scratched the surface of the tales that could be told. Overall, this was an incredible read, sweet, hot, and with characters and a world that is truly intriguing and unique.
One of the aspects of the novella that I truly enjoyed is how well Runt develops over the course of the narrative. Runt initially comes off as very self-absorbed, paranoid, and a bit of an ass. However, as he starts to work with, care for, and becomes attracted to Ox, he develops into a much more interesting narrator. Ox, in contrast was easy for me to adore from the beginning (possibly because I was already familiar with his history).
Grown Men is really a great addition to the HardCell world, and I hope Damon will continue to write about this fascinating universe. I feel that these two offerings have really only scratched the surface of the tales that could be told. Overall, this was an incredible read, sweet, hot, and with characters and a world that is truly intriguing and unique.
November 20, 2011
This review was originally posted on my blog Joyfully Jay
Runt has been alone on a deserted island for over a year, sent there by the HardCell conglomerate to terraform a remote planet. If he successfully completes his seven years of servitude, Runt will one day own a piece of the farm and become a HardCell shareholder, a hard won victory in a difficult world. Runt was supposed to have a partner, a clone wife who would help him work the farm and start a family. However, the clone wife was destroyed upon entry to the planet, and Runt has been alone and struggling since he arrived.
One day Runt is thrilled to see a huge package of supplies has landed on the beach. He has been hoping for a replacement wife, but sadly HardCell hasn't sent one. On the upside, he is excited that the package includes food, tools, and desperately needed farming supplies. Runt knows if he doesn't increase his production on the farm, HardCell with "retire" him permanently and replace him with someone else. But Runt is most shocked to find something else in the box--an enormous giant of a man named Ox.
Runt immediately assumes that Ox has been sent to kill him and take over the failing farm. His first instinct is to kill Ox first, yet he finds the gentle giant's smile and pleasant demeanor make it impossible to harm him. Still he is not thrilled to find that instead of his hoped for wife, he has ended up with an enormous man who doesn't speak. Yet slowly the men find a way to work and grow together. Runt is surprised to find how seamlessly he and Ox adapt to their shared life. As the only two inhabitants of the island, they live and work together, rebuilding the farm and making it a huge success. Although Ox doesn't speak, the men communicate well, form an incredibly close bond, and become best friends. Yet Runt is always a bit wary of Ox, not understanding why this incredibly strong and physically impressive man would be used by HardCell for such a menial job. And Runt becomes even more concerned when he finds a "kill kit" that Ox has brought along and hidden.
I really loved the story and its theme of growth. I think Suede does a great job of carrying that idea throughout the book. When the book opens, the farm is failing and withered. Runt is alone and starving and barely holding things together. When Ox arrives, the message from HardCell tells Runt that because he is only using 37 percent of the space, they are sending someone to fill the remainder, "an optimal solution for all employees concerned. HardCell means business!"
Right from here we get the first sense of two people coming together to complete a whole. Runt and Ox are such physical opposites, yet they compliment one another and work well together. By the end of the story they have each grown to fill their space and create something new and thriving.
I really liked both Ox and Runt. Despite being small, Runt is determined to succeed and never lets his size get in the way of his determination. He is brave and tough, but also caring and kind. And Ox is truly a gentle giant. Even with his massive size he is always cautious about physically overwhelming Runt. It is clear that he is hurting inside from something in his past, and Runt takes care of Ox mentally as much as Ox helps Runt physically.
I think Suede does a beautiful job conveying what Ox is thinking and feeling even though he doesn't speak. The story is told from Runt's point of view and I was amazed how much I could understand about Ox even without him talking. He and Runt are able to communicate nonverbally and even as a reader I felt I could understand and know him as well.
I will admit I am not usually much of a science fiction reader but I had no trouble jumping into this story. The book is the first in the HardCell series, but Suede wrote a short story, Seedy Business, that also takes place in this world and features Ox's brother. You don't need to read that first, but it does provide some backstory on Ox that is not covered in this book in as much detail. (It is a free download on Goodreads.) My only criticism of this story would be that I did want a bit more detail on the HardCell world. Who is this company? Why do they have so much power? More may come to light in future books in the series, but I am a person who always likes to understand everything so I missed that a bit.
Overall though I thoroughly enjoyed Grown Men. I loved the slow development of the relationship between Runt and Ox. And I thought the themes of growth and the blending of two lives together were beautifully done. I can't wait for the rest of the series and highly recommend Grown Men.
Runt has been alone on a deserted island for over a year, sent there by the HardCell conglomerate to terraform a remote planet. If he successfully completes his seven years of servitude, Runt will one day own a piece of the farm and become a HardCell shareholder, a hard won victory in a difficult world. Runt was supposed to have a partner, a clone wife who would help him work the farm and start a family. However, the clone wife was destroyed upon entry to the planet, and Runt has been alone and struggling since he arrived.
One day Runt is thrilled to see a huge package of supplies has landed on the beach. He has been hoping for a replacement wife, but sadly HardCell hasn't sent one. On the upside, he is excited that the package includes food, tools, and desperately needed farming supplies. Runt knows if he doesn't increase his production on the farm, HardCell with "retire" him permanently and replace him with someone else. But Runt is most shocked to find something else in the box--an enormous giant of a man named Ox.
Runt immediately assumes that Ox has been sent to kill him and take over the failing farm. His first instinct is to kill Ox first, yet he finds the gentle giant's smile and pleasant demeanor make it impossible to harm him. Still he is not thrilled to find that instead of his hoped for wife, he has ended up with an enormous man who doesn't speak. Yet slowly the men find a way to work and grow together. Runt is surprised to find how seamlessly he and Ox adapt to their shared life. As the only two inhabitants of the island, they live and work together, rebuilding the farm and making it a huge success. Although Ox doesn't speak, the men communicate well, form an incredibly close bond, and become best friends. Yet Runt is always a bit wary of Ox, not understanding why this incredibly strong and physically impressive man would be used by HardCell for such a menial job. And Runt becomes even more concerned when he finds a "kill kit" that Ox has brought along and hidden.
I really loved the story and its theme of growth. I think Suede does a great job of carrying that idea throughout the book. When the book opens, the farm is failing and withered. Runt is alone and starving and barely holding things together. When Ox arrives, the message from HardCell tells Runt that because he is only using 37 percent of the space, they are sending someone to fill the remainder, "an optimal solution for all employees concerned. HardCell means business!"
Right from here we get the first sense of two people coming together to complete a whole. Runt and Ox are such physical opposites, yet they compliment one another and work well together. By the end of the story they have each grown to fill their space and create something new and thriving.
I really liked both Ox and Runt. Despite being small, Runt is determined to succeed and never lets his size get in the way of his determination. He is brave and tough, but also caring and kind. And Ox is truly a gentle giant. Even with his massive size he is always cautious about physically overwhelming Runt. It is clear that he is hurting inside from something in his past, and Runt takes care of Ox mentally as much as Ox helps Runt physically.
I think Suede does a beautiful job conveying what Ox is thinking and feeling even though he doesn't speak. The story is told from Runt's point of view and I was amazed how much I could understand about Ox even without him talking. He and Runt are able to communicate nonverbally and even as a reader I felt I could understand and know him as well.
I will admit I am not usually much of a science fiction reader but I had no trouble jumping into this story. The book is the first in the HardCell series, but Suede wrote a short story, Seedy Business, that also takes place in this world and features Ox's brother. You don't need to read that first, but it does provide some backstory on Ox that is not covered in this book in as much detail. (It is a free download on Goodreads.) My only criticism of this story would be that I did want a bit more detail on the HardCell world. Who is this company? Why do they have so much power? More may come to light in future books in the series, but I am a person who always likes to understand everything so I missed that a bit.
Overall though I thoroughly enjoyed Grown Men. I loved the slow development of the relationship between Runt and Ox. And I thought the themes of growth and the blending of two lives together were beautifully done. I can't wait for the rest of the series and highly recommend Grown Men.
November 4, 2011
Fans of author Damon Suede’s wild and luscious creativity are in for another wonderful experience with this novella.
The world building is excellent, the real-life setting accurate within the science fiction one. I live in a tropical island, have bathed in a soupy warm ocean, sat on the cool sand at night and gazed at the starry sky, enjoyed falling asleep to the lullaby of the warm breeze rustling the palm trees and the ocean waves washing onto the shore in the inexorable rhythm of the tides. Yes, mangoes make a great combination with seafood. I was there with Ox and Runt, in the form of one of the bee-moths fluttering around the light of the fading campfire.
The characters are unique, the contrast in their physical attributes almost comical. Their development throughout the story is slow and steady, with lyrical lines of text signaling the milestones of growth towards each other, as unlikely and different as they are. For example: “With his friend beside him, Runt didn’t feel small anymore”, “they dozed off under twin suns on an ivory scimitar of sand”, or the one line that stopped me on my tracks and made me read the scene several times: “teasing his pleasure to the surface like it was made of spun glass.”
*If you want some background on Ox, and a longer look at the alternate universe in this story, read Seedy Business first. Be warned: the writing and tone are different, but it’s a down and dirty, fun read.
The dialog, if it can be called that with one of the MC’s being mute, brings to life their individuality, making the reader relate to the characters on a personal basis. These two guys communicate better than most people I know in real life.
The story is refreshingly original, there is no insta-love here, and circumstances are completely reasonable for feelings to develop between the men. Have you ever thought about your answer to that notorious question: “What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island with only one other person?” These guys are both there more or less voluntarily, but the reality of the situation is no less compelling.
The one thing that made this less than a 5-star read for me was the long-awaited and feverishly anticipated sex scene at the end of the story. It’s not that I didn’t like it, but that’s precisely it, I didn’t love it. The previous “almost” sex scenes, the ones that built the sexual tension between the guys, were hotter and more erotic than when they actually got down to it at the end. So much potential…*sigh*
On a side note, notice how the movies are “advertainment” and the actors are “spokestars”? The Andromeda myth, as explained by Runt, had me ROTFL. Knowing that the author’s main occupation is screenwriting, I believe we got a not-so-subtle hint of his opinion on that industry and the increasing, undue influence business and government have on it. Anyone who has watched the Bourne films and others like them can see this is true. If I’m right, kudos to DS for the way the criticism was cunningly worked into the story. Otherwise, if I’m finding meaning that isn’t there, please accept my apologies. Overactive imagination is my only excuse, and the author has plenty of it, too.
The story, then, is a solid 4-star for me. There is so much more to tell about this world and characters. It will be a challenge to wait for the “Next Transmission”.
The world building is excellent, the real-life setting accurate within the science fiction one. I live in a tropical island, have bathed in a soupy warm ocean, sat on the cool sand at night and gazed at the starry sky, enjoyed falling asleep to the lullaby of the warm breeze rustling the palm trees and the ocean waves washing onto the shore in the inexorable rhythm of the tides. Yes, mangoes make a great combination with seafood. I was there with Ox and Runt, in the form of one of the bee-moths fluttering around the light of the fading campfire.
The characters are unique, the contrast in their physical attributes almost comical. Their development throughout the story is slow and steady, with lyrical lines of text signaling the milestones of growth towards each other, as unlikely and different as they are. For example: “With his friend beside him, Runt didn’t feel small anymore”, “they dozed off under twin suns on an ivory scimitar of sand”, or the one line that stopped me on my tracks and made me read the scene several times: “teasing his pleasure to the surface like it was made of spun glass.”
*If you want some background on Ox, and a longer look at the alternate universe in this story, read Seedy Business first. Be warned: the writing and tone are different, but it’s a down and dirty, fun read.
The dialog, if it can be called that with one of the MC’s being mute, brings to life their individuality, making the reader relate to the characters on a personal basis. These two guys communicate better than most people I know in real life.
The story is refreshingly original, there is no insta-love here, and circumstances are completely reasonable for feelings to develop between the men. Have you ever thought about your answer to that notorious question: “What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island with only one other person?” These guys are both there more or less voluntarily, but the reality of the situation is no less compelling.
The one thing that made this less than a 5-star read for me was the long-awaited and feverishly anticipated sex scene at the end of the story. It’s not that I didn’t like it, but that’s precisely it, I didn’t love it. The previous “almost” sex scenes, the ones that built the sexual tension between the guys, were hotter and more erotic than when they actually got down to it at the end. So much potential…*sigh*
On a side note, notice how the movies are “advertainment” and the actors are “spokestars”? The Andromeda myth, as explained by Runt, had me ROTFL. Knowing that the author’s main occupation is screenwriting, I believe we got a not-so-subtle hint of his opinion on that industry and the increasing, undue influence business and government have on it. Anyone who has watched the Bourne films and others like them can see this is true. If I’m right, kudos to DS for the way the criticism was cunningly worked into the story. Otherwise, if I’m finding meaning that isn’t there, please accept my apologies. Overactive imagination is my only excuse, and the author has plenty of it, too.
The story, then, is a solid 4-star for me. There is so much more to tell about this world and characters. It will be a challenge to wait for the “Next Transmission”.
Read
October 31, 2011Upon finishing this novel, is someone is wondering like me why it was so short, well you can console yourself with that “first transmission” in the title, meaning that I think the author has more in storage for these “grown men” of his.
Runt is already wondering if he did the right choice when he signed for being a colonist on Andromeda; there is nothing resembling home in this land and the promised cloned wife didn’t survive the landing. So Runt is not only hungry of food he is also starving from isolation and he would welcome everyone in his little piece of lost paradise… other than a more than 2 meters tall giant. Even if Ox, the giant, is more like an oversized teddy bear than an ogre, nevertheless Runt is not comfortable: in the very faraway chance something more than friendship will blossom between them, Runt has no intention at all to play the submissive role, and with Ox there would be no other option. That would be quite true if not for the fact that I had the feeling Ox is not 100% grown… and no, there is no double meaning in my sentence: Ox is more than grown considering the “exterior”, but he is more or less like a baby on the “interior”. It’s like they shaped him with the body of an assassin to then matching the heart, and mind, of a pacifist; actually in some aspect Ox is more like a puppy than a watchdog, and I was almost expecting for him to turn up his belly for a scratch from Runt. Runt himself gave me the idea of a stray dog, all wiry muscle and guarded attitude, in a way, even if he was smaller than Ox, he was way more dangerous.
The setting was more or less simple: even if there is a sci-fi theme, they are stranded in an isolated land, and the environment is “bared”, without much furnishing. There is a bit of world building, even a little of social criticism, see the reference to the “advertisement” that replaced the old fashioned movie: you no more see movies with ad breaks, you see a continuous ad that is the movie itself.
The sex is good but arrives almost at the end, so that the reason why I hope the author is planning the following instalment in the series always with Runt and Ox as main heroes, I don’t feel like they had a closure for their story, above all Ox. There is still more to explain and even more for them to try, both in than out of the bed. And then it would be interesting to know how they will solve the “genetic” issue of not being able to procreate between the two of them.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0060NP4UC/?...
Runt is already wondering if he did the right choice when he signed for being a colonist on Andromeda; there is nothing resembling home in this land and the promised cloned wife didn’t survive the landing. So Runt is not only hungry of food he is also starving from isolation and he would welcome everyone in his little piece of lost paradise… other than a more than 2 meters tall giant. Even if Ox, the giant, is more like an oversized teddy bear than an ogre, nevertheless Runt is not comfortable: in the very faraway chance something more than friendship will blossom between them, Runt has no intention at all to play the submissive role, and with Ox there would be no other option. That would be quite true if not for the fact that I had the feeling Ox is not 100% grown… and no, there is no double meaning in my sentence: Ox is more than grown considering the “exterior”, but he is more or less like a baby on the “interior”. It’s like they shaped him with the body of an assassin to then matching the heart, and mind, of a pacifist; actually in some aspect Ox is more like a puppy than a watchdog, and I was almost expecting for him to turn up his belly for a scratch from Runt. Runt himself gave me the idea of a stray dog, all wiry muscle and guarded attitude, in a way, even if he was smaller than Ox, he was way more dangerous.
The setting was more or less simple: even if there is a sci-fi theme, they are stranded in an isolated land, and the environment is “bared”, without much furnishing. There is a bit of world building, even a little of social criticism, see the reference to the “advertisement” that replaced the old fashioned movie: you no more see movies with ad breaks, you see a continuous ad that is the movie itself.
The sex is good but arrives almost at the end, so that the reason why I hope the author is planning the following instalment in the series always with Runt and Ox as main heroes, I don’t feel like they had a closure for their story, above all Ox. There is still more to explain and even more for them to try, both in than out of the bed. And then it would be interesting to know how they will solve the “genetic” issue of not being able to procreate between the two of them.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0060NP4UC/?...
December 19, 2011
Really really good sci-fi m/m story between a highly unlikely duo. I absolutely loved Ox and his gentle giant ways. Runt, who is the narrator of the story, also grew on me and was endearing in his insecurities and doubt over the motives of his oversized partner. Although Ox is mute, his actions are so sweet and loving, and I just wanted to give him a huge bear hug because he was so adorable. He just goes to show that you really don't need words to show your love - actions speak clearly enough.
The world-building is really well done and creative. Diminutive dynamo Runt (~5'6") has been cultivating a new habitat on a distant planet, and he's been struggling on his own for months, ever since his intended clone-wife was destroyed in transit to the planet. He's grateful when a crate of provisions finally shows up...and bewildered and suspicious when he discovers the gigantic ~7' tall Ox included in the crate. Runt suspects Ox has been sent there to exterminate Runt, but Ox soon makes it clear through his gentle mannerisms and hard work ethic that he has nothing but good and pure intentions. They build a successful working partnership, and through the weeks and months, they develop a growing friendship and, as we see from Runt's perspective, a certain attraction for each other. It's really a great story with solid relationship development, and Oi! Ox with his eel really really made me "awwwwww" at how he was able to show his feelings without words.
By the way, there is a related story, and I definitely recommend reading the (free!) prequel, Seedy Business (featuring a little backstory to this short novel), before diving into Ox and Runt's story. For this book, I note that I thought it was a bit pricey for the length of the novel, and there were a few consistency errors that, while minor, nevertheless took me a bit out of the story. Even so, it was ultimately a worthwhile read that transported me to the far-off Andromeda galaxy and Runt and Ox's little corner therein.
On a random sexytimes note, I was a little surprised that, given the size difference and that both are *ahem* uncut, there was no cock-docking in this one. Yes, I recently learned what this was, and now I'm curious to see where else it might show up. Then again, Runt and Ox are new to their physical love, so we'll see what they discover in their future... *winks*
The world-building is really well done and creative. Diminutive dynamo Runt (~5'6") has been cultivating a new habitat on a distant planet, and he's been struggling on his own for months, ever since his intended clone-wife was destroyed in transit to the planet. He's grateful when a crate of provisions finally shows up...and bewildered and suspicious when he discovers the gigantic ~7' tall Ox included in the crate. Runt suspects Ox has been sent there to exterminate Runt, but Ox soon makes it clear through his gentle mannerisms and hard work ethic that he has nothing but good and pure intentions. They build a successful working partnership, and through the weeks and months, they develop a growing friendship and, as we see from Runt's perspective, a certain attraction for each other. It's really a great story with solid relationship development, and Oi! Ox with his eel really really made me "awwwwww" at how he was able to show his feelings without words.
By the way, there is a related story, and I definitely recommend reading the (free!) prequel, Seedy Business (featuring a little backstory to this short novel), before diving into Ox and Runt's story. For this book, I note that I thought it was a bit pricey for the length of the novel, and there were a few consistency errors that, while minor, nevertheless took me a bit out of the story. Even so, it was ultimately a worthwhile read that transported me to the far-off Andromeda galaxy and Runt and Ox's little corner therein.
On a random sexytimes note, I was a little surprised that, given the size difference and that both are *ahem* uncut, there was no cock-docking in this one. Yes, I recently learned what this was, and now I'm curious to see where else it might show up. Then again, Runt and Ox are new to their physical love, so we'll see what they discover in their future... *winks*
November 21, 2011
Terrafarmer Runt is working off a seven year contract on a newly-formed planet. Alone and desperate, he is eagerly awaiting a long over-due cargo package. When the crate finally arrives, Runt is beyond thankful at the amount of provisions inside. Where he had hoped to find his new clone-wife (the previous Mrs. Runt disintegrated enroute) he is astonished to find a rather overly-large male, staring up at him.
What got me was the first smile the new arrival offered Runt. Not a sinister, yeah-its-game-on-baby-kind of smile but one of sweet hope. Unable to help himself, Runt smiled in return. Runt discovers that his new co-farmer, named Ox, is not only mute but has abilities that threaten not only Runt’s ego but his peace of mind as well.
Runt is suspicious, paranoid, sarcastic and hilarious. Ox is gentle, kind and sweet, the perfect complement to Runt’s almost-fanatical musings. As their relationship unfolds, Runt and Ox become more and more dependent on each other, not only professionally but emotionally. Its a nice change to see a relationship build over a course of a story, instead of the instant attraction followed by an explosive bump and grind. Mr. Suede strikes a delicate balance between both characters which works beautifully.
I love world-building. Its something that I’m trying to improve on and when I come across an author who can pull you right into the world that they have created, I am instantly hooked. A far off planet with two suns, digital queens, giant eels and crazy holo-vids have me wishing like crazy that this was a longer story. I haven’t read any of Mr. Suede’s other work but I plan to correct that shortly. At ninety-five pages, Grown Men is a teasing novella of what I hope will be a long series.
On a side note, the cover would make a nice tattoo, wouldn’t it? :)
What got me was the first smile the new arrival offered Runt. Not a sinister, yeah-its-game-on-baby-kind of smile but one of sweet hope. Unable to help himself, Runt smiled in return. Runt discovers that his new co-farmer, named Ox, is not only mute but has abilities that threaten not only Runt’s ego but his peace of mind as well.
Runt is suspicious, paranoid, sarcastic and hilarious. Ox is gentle, kind and sweet, the perfect complement to Runt’s almost-fanatical musings. As their relationship unfolds, Runt and Ox become more and more dependent on each other, not only professionally but emotionally. Its a nice change to see a relationship build over a course of a story, instead of the instant attraction followed by an explosive bump and grind. Mr. Suede strikes a delicate balance between both characters which works beautifully.
I love world-building. Its something that I’m trying to improve on and when I come across an author who can pull you right into the world that they have created, I am instantly hooked. A far off planet with two suns, digital queens, giant eels and crazy holo-vids have me wishing like crazy that this was a longer story. I haven’t read any of Mr. Suede’s other work but I plan to correct that shortly. At ninety-five pages, Grown Men is a teasing novella of what I hope will be a long series.
On a side note, the cover would make a nice tattoo, wouldn’t it? :)
November 27, 2011
I've always enjoyed sci-fi and when there's a chance to read it in the m/m world, I consider it an indulgent treat. There's just not enough of it with a romance attached to it. I had a few issues with this one in that I should have finished it rather quickly but found myself re-reading passages to better understand what was being said. When the writing is good without being overly clinical, it makes for a more enjoyable read for me (especially since I read for pleasure not insight). Found myself editing for content in the beginning and that's not always a good thing. I think the book actually started half-way through the first chapter and didn't really come to life until Ox's birth on the beach. Loved the symbolism there, by the way.
A few things I felt were not explained and left me feeling adrift: Where DID Ox come from? Runt asks but never gets a real answer and if he did, the reader certainly didn't get a clear answer. What kind of a past did he have? Why was he mute? Really, these were asked by Runt but I can't say I understood the answer.
There were many highlights to the book though like the symbolism behind their rebirth in a marooned planet, the way love can grow from the most unlikely places and, of course, the hot sex! I would have liked a little more sexual tension but the build up was a yummy simmer sending me to the conflict and climax of the story. Yes, it felt a little too short for my sci-fi tastes but Damon has the uncanny ability to make you feel sated with even the tiniest morsels of yummy goodness he gives you.
A few things I felt were not explained and left me feeling adrift: Where DID Ox come from? Runt asks but never gets a real answer and if he did, the reader certainly didn't get a clear answer. What kind of a past did he have? Why was he mute? Really, these were asked by Runt but I can't say I understood the answer.
There were many highlights to the book though like the symbolism behind their rebirth in a marooned planet, the way love can grow from the most unlikely places and, of course, the hot sex! I would have liked a little more sexual tension but the build up was a yummy simmer sending me to the conflict and climax of the story. Yes, it felt a little too short for my sci-fi tastes but Damon has the uncanny ability to make you feel sated with even the tiniest morsels of yummy goodness he gives you.
August 27, 2012
It was cute, fun, and different - as long as you are ok with extremely explicit erotic gay male sex.
This is a short novel - maybe a third of the length of a regular novel. I believe sequels are coming. The prequel is “Seedy Business” a free download from Goodreads and the author’s website. It’s not necessary to read both together, but it did provide a little back story. I gave 4 stars to “Seedy Business.”
Runt is a short man alone on a planetoid, overseeing terraforming transformation. He works for the galactic-mega-corporation HardCell. A shipment of supplies arrives which includes Ox, a giant mute man. Runt doesn’t know if Ox is there to help him or kill him. The story is about their working and living together.
I love this author’s clever and amusing terms. I enjoyed the story. It’s different. I wish it was longer.
The Negatives:
Some questions were never answered, for example who sent the kill kit and why. I wanted to know a lot more about Ox, his past and why he was brought here. The entire story is told from Runt’s point of view. Therefore I didn’t see any of Ox’s thoughts, motivations, or emotions, which I wanted to know. Some of this could have been accomplished if Ox would have answered Runt’s questions. But Ox did not.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person Runt. Kindle count story length: 1,643 (282 KB). Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: about 4. Setting: unknown time on a planetoid. Copyright: 2011. Genre: erotic sci fi gay male fiction.
This is a short novel - maybe a third of the length of a regular novel. I believe sequels are coming. The prequel is “Seedy Business” a free download from Goodreads and the author’s website. It’s not necessary to read both together, but it did provide a little back story. I gave 4 stars to “Seedy Business.”
Runt is a short man alone on a planetoid, overseeing terraforming transformation. He works for the galactic-mega-corporation HardCell. A shipment of supplies arrives which includes Ox, a giant mute man. Runt doesn’t know if Ox is there to help him or kill him. The story is about their working and living together.
I love this author’s clever and amusing terms. I enjoyed the story. It’s different. I wish it was longer.
The Negatives:
Some questions were never answered, for example who sent the kill kit and why. I wanted to know a lot more about Ox, his past and why he was brought here. The entire story is told from Runt’s point of view. Therefore I didn’t see any of Ox’s thoughts, motivations, or emotions, which I wanted to know. Some of this could have been accomplished if Ox would have answered Runt’s questions. But Ox did not.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person Runt. Kindle count story length: 1,643 (282 KB). Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: about 4. Setting: unknown time on a planetoid. Copyright: 2011. Genre: erotic sci fi gay male fiction.
February 8, 2012
One of the things I love about sci-fi is you can always expect the unexpected. It's a grand stage for something new and different. And that's what I liked most about this story.
The world-building is nicely done, and the characters grow on you quickly with Runt named for his small stature and Ox his enormous height and brawn. And if you're curious about Ox, yes THAT too is enormous.
The relationship builds slowly as Runt was expecting a wife to be provided not a giant man who is mute. But as they work together daily on the their outpost farm, they grow very close and eventually their "needs" assert themselves.
A thoroughly enjoyable read with a rewarding ending that requires a sequel to answer some of the questions left dangling. I hope to see more of these two in the near future. Well done!
The world-building is nicely done, and the characters grow on you quickly with Runt named for his small stature and Ox his enormous height and brawn. And if you're curious about Ox, yes THAT too is enormous.
The relationship builds slowly as Runt was expecting a wife to be provided not a giant man who is mute. But as they work together daily on the their outpost farm, they grow very close and eventually their "needs" assert themselves.
A thoroughly enjoyable read with a rewarding ending that requires a sequel to answer some of the questions left dangling. I hope to see more of these two in the near future. Well done!
October 29, 2011
I'm kind of at a loss for words. I'd like to gush about how wonderful this story is, but I can't figure out where to start. The world building is some of the most clever and dynamic I've ever read, and how you can take a book with only two characters and have one of them mute, and make it work...boggles my mind. But it did work. Beautifully.
It was interesting seeing the HardCell world from Runt's point of view. In fact, I liked Runt more and more as the story progressed. And Ox, the big lug, was really quite adorable.
It was interesting seeing the HardCell world from Runt's point of view. In fact, I liked Runt more and more as the story progressed. And Ox, the big lug, was really quite adorable.
October 29, 2011
Wonderful slow, sexy ride and the world is so damn intriguing. I usually skip descriptions, skimming for details to hang my mental picture on, but no way, not with this story. Quite lyrical here. Lovely. Adored Ox and the easy glide of the building romance.
Looking forward to more in the HardCell universe!
Looking forward to more in the HardCell universe!
Want to read
October 2, 201475% price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US this week only! 10/1/14
http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/g...
http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/g...
November 15, 2011
Due to my ignorance, I read Grown Men before reading Seedy Business... Thankfully, it worked out for the best as I was forced to see Ox through Runt's eyes. Not having any background info on Ox made me appreciate Runt's thoughts and questions regarding the gentle behemoth.
I really recommend reading Grown Men, before Seedy Business. I think it really affects the feel of the series for the better.
Now for the Review.
Despite it's short length, Grown Men gives a surprisingly slow and drawn-out feeling. It definitely didn't feel rushed or quick paced. A lot of the shorter stories have that horrible part where the main characters are completely indifferent to each other in one passage and the in next, they realize they are in "LOVE" with each other. While that is something I can deal with, It completely gives me the "slam-on-the-breaks-to-a-screeching-half" feel and takes all the credibility of the story for me. So am happy to say that Grown Men did not go to that direction (Thank F***!). The romance here really comes by slowly and happens near the end of the story, but because of the way it was drawn out, It felt completely natural and very exiting when it finally happens.
I want to give Damon props on the execution of his characters too. They truly feel like people, not "characters". Nowhere in the book did I feel Runt and Ox were unrealistic in the way that they behaved... despite the nature of some of the scenes (I was a little shocked yet thrilled what Runt ended up doing to Ox :) ).
I really hope Damon continues this series. It would be a shame not to see where Runt and Ox will end up in the future and it would be quite the spectacle to have Ox, Beirn, Runt and Zed all in the same space.
... Ahh! Who am I kidding, I really fell for Runt. I think I would read an entire book with just him stranded on a deserted planet with nothing but his inner thoughts lol.
I really recommend reading Grown Men, before Seedy Business. I think it really affects the feel of the series for the better.
Now for the Review.
Despite it's short length, Grown Men gives a surprisingly slow and drawn-out feeling. It definitely didn't feel rushed or quick paced. A lot of the shorter stories have that horrible part where the main characters are completely indifferent to each other in one passage and the in next, they realize they are in "LOVE" with each other. While that is something I can deal with, It completely gives me the "slam-on-the-breaks-to-a-screeching-half" feel and takes all the credibility of the story for me. So am happy to say that Grown Men did not go to that direction (Thank F***!). The romance here really comes by slowly and happens near the end of the story, but because of the way it was drawn out, It felt completely natural and very exiting when it finally happens.
I want to give Damon props on the execution of his characters too. They truly feel like people, not "characters". Nowhere in the book did I feel Runt and Ox were unrealistic in the way that they behaved... despite the nature of some of the scenes (I was a little shocked yet thrilled what Runt ended up doing to Ox :) ).
I really hope Damon continues this series. It would be a shame not to see where Runt and Ox will end up in the future and it would be quite the spectacle to have Ox, Beirn, Runt and Zed all in the same space.
... Ahh! Who am I kidding, I really fell for Runt. I think I would read an entire book with just him stranded on a deserted planet with nothing but his inner thoughts lol.
May 25, 2012
3.5 stars. Rounded up for Goodreads.
I really enjoyed Damon Suede's debut m/m romance novel, Hot Head. It wasn't my favorite m/m novel, but it definitely stuck with me because Suede's writing style is so individual. But as much as I liked Hot Head, it doesn't compare to the fantastic sci-fi world building and unique, memorable characters in Suede's HardCell series. The free short Seedy Business is delightfully f-ed up fun, and Grown Men is even better.
It takes a reasonable amount of skill to write a 100-page novella featuring only two characters on an otherwise deserted island, and it takes even more skill to keep things interesting when one of those characters happens to be mute. Damon Suede manages it beautifully in Grown Men, bringing both the small, chatty Runt and the towering, mute Ox to life. They are both likable characters, and they have great chemistry. The story is actually pretty uneventful; it is mostly about the development of a friendship - and then something more - between colonist Runt and his new companion, Ox. But I never lost interest in the story, in spite of its simple plot. The world building and character development held my attention from start to finish.
I definitely recommend Grown Men for science fiction enthusiasts. For the adventurous, I also recommend the short prequel, "Seedy Business," which is available for free download from Goodreads.
I really enjoyed Damon Suede's debut m/m romance novel, Hot Head. It wasn't my favorite m/m novel, but it definitely stuck with me because Suede's writing style is so individual. But as much as I liked Hot Head, it doesn't compare to the fantastic sci-fi world building and unique, memorable characters in Suede's HardCell series. The free short Seedy Business is delightfully f-ed up fun, and Grown Men is even better.
It takes a reasonable amount of skill to write a 100-page novella featuring only two characters on an otherwise deserted island, and it takes even more skill to keep things interesting when one of those characters happens to be mute. Damon Suede manages it beautifully in Grown Men, bringing both the small, chatty Runt and the towering, mute Ox to life. They are both likable characters, and they have great chemistry. The story is actually pretty uneventful; it is mostly about the development of a friendship - and then something more - between colonist Runt and his new companion, Ox. But I never lost interest in the story, in spite of its simple plot. The world building and character development held my attention from start to finish.
I definitely recommend Grown Men for science fiction enthusiasts. For the adventurous, I also recommend the short prequel, "Seedy Business," which is available for free download from Goodreads.
October 30, 2011
Runt is a small and scrappy terraformer toiling away on a corporately owned island. After seven years he'll own part of the place and be a stockholder. When a shipment of provisions drops onto Runt's island there's a big surprise hiding inside. Ox is a mysterious giant. Runt is left to find out why he's been sent a mute behemoth of a man instead of a clone wife.
This book starts out strong. Damon Suede writes some amazing imagery. 3D movies and holovids, double suns in the sky, sweaty work in a muggy tropical paradise, itchy balls, clouds of pheremones and endless boners, and so much more. The beginning is also pretty tense, with Runt thinking that Ox was sent by the corporation to kill him. You see, Runt's behind in his work and pretty sure that Ox was sent to "retire" him.
All of this talk of corporate assassins had me chomping at the bit for some action. I read the words "Kill Kit" and I was all ready for the slice & dice.
Instead of action though, things slow way down in the middle of the book and it becomes a slow and gentle tale of how Ox and Runt form a friendship; how they become two halves of a whole. While I liked the characters and it was so sweet to watch them bond, I felt as if the beginning of the book had a completely different tone to it than the middle. The two parts of the story didn't really seem to gel. Still, I adore a sweet story, so the book didn't totally lose me.
All in all, I liked this book and will read the next installment.
This book starts out strong. Damon Suede writes some amazing imagery. 3D movies and holovids, double suns in the sky, sweaty work in a muggy tropical paradise, itchy balls, clouds of pheremones and endless boners, and so much more. The beginning is also pretty tense, with Runt thinking that Ox was sent by the corporation to kill him. You see, Runt's behind in his work and pretty sure that Ox was sent to "retire" him.
All of this talk of corporate assassins had me chomping at the bit for some action. I read the words "Kill Kit" and I was all ready for the slice & dice.
Instead of action though, things slow way down in the middle of the book and it becomes a slow and gentle tale of how Ox and Runt form a friendship; how they become two halves of a whole. While I liked the characters and it was so sweet to watch them bond, I felt as if the beginning of the book had a completely different tone to it than the middle. The two parts of the story didn't really seem to gel. Still, I adore a sweet story, so the book didn't totally lose me.
All in all, I liked this book and will read the next installment.
November 8, 2011
I bought this late last night and stayed up until my eyes were (literally) closing on me. Then I woke up and finished it before work!
Amazing sci-fi world (I think the 'advertainers' were the most fascinating thing to me for some reason). I read the free story, Seedy Business' right before, and while you don't need to read it, I think it definitely enhanced it.
My only issue was it was too short! I wanted to see more of Ox and Runt together and read how they manage to overcome more obstacles (like Ox's past). Glad this is part of a series because the next book is already on my 'to-buy' list.
Amazing sci-fi world (I think the 'advertainers' were the most fascinating thing to me for some reason). I read the free story, Seedy Business' right before, and while you don't need to read it, I think it definitely enhanced it.
My only issue was it was too short! I wanted to see more of Ox and Runt together and read how they manage to overcome more obstacles (like Ox's past). Glad this is part of a series because the next book is already on my 'to-buy' list.
November 7, 2011
I love the world Damon has created. I love that he gave such in depth detail about it. I love Runt and Ox. And I'm really hoping that this isn't the last we see of them and their part of that world either. LOVE this book!!
December 31, 2015
Loved the characters, esp. the silent gentle giant. Writing without much dialogue isn't easy, but Suede makes it seem effortless.
November 2, 2011
So sexy. This story reminds me to speak less and communicate more with my lover.
Series?
Series?
December 21, 2011
Woefully underskilled for the task he's taken on in terraforming, Runt is starving in the midst of plenty. Maybe he's streetsmart from his upbringing in spaceport alleys, but when he intercepts a big crab trying to carry off a mealpack, he eats the mealpack, not the crab. He's not TSTL, he just doesn't have the necessary skill set, and the clone wife who didn't survive the landing may or may not have been able to make up the deficiencies in wildlife recognition and machinery repair, but we'll never know. Equally mysterious is why he's out here at all, aside from the lure of riches once he's homesteaded his island. HardCell means business, we are told, but Runt isn't really a good prospect for a grubstake and doesn't have the necessary capital to buy in. If HardCell is so hardcore as to choose colonists only for their willingness to be dumped out in the back-ass of beyond, they don't need to kill off the underperformers; the world will take of that for them. Runt doesn't have the skills to teach the offspring he hopes to have to populate this new world.
Ox, the giant mute man who came with the supply drop, is equally a mystery, and while his backstory is explained elsewhere (a free short on the author's website), he at least comes with some skills that make all the difference between subsistence and prosperity. He also comes with some jacked-up pheromones, creating havoc with Runt's sex drive. Even as Runt and Ox have to come to a working arrangement as farmers, they have to come to some understanding about Runt's physical reactions. Runt's paranoia, fueled by a surprise in the supply shipment, is strictly his problem.
Ox doesn't come through very clearly on the page, with brief mentions of traits that don't get clearly shown. Something like this:
The giant wasn’t quick to adapt, but he had a knack for thoughtful strategy when he stayed calm.
shouldn't be a throwaway line: what happens when he doesn't stay calm? Rubbing calms him, humming or rumbling calms him, but he doesn't get agitated or anxious first. There's another throwaway remark about Ox liking to play practical jokes, but no illustration of a prank.
I enjoyed the evolving relationship between the men; they communicate pretty well despite Ox's muteness, resorting to writing only once in a while. When they take the final plunge into sex, it makes perfect sense. The underlying current of small equals weak, big equals strong, big equals more work than small can do was really aggravating early on, but as the men's teamwork evolves, this irritant resolves.
The worldbuilding, while laid out on the page, doesn't make so much sense. Two suns and three moons are going to create extreme weather and hellacious tides, (plus really screwy shadows) but HardCell has been able to engineer these things away. The tropical climate they have should lend itself to a mostly outdoor life with palapas or ramadas to keep off the sun, but Runt and Ox lead a mostly indoor existence when not actually farming. An evening under the stars is so rare as to merit an entire chapter.
The society building is stronger—HardCell has a prepackaged, predigested way of life to sell to the galaxy, which comes through very strongly. Runt retells an ancient Greek story to Ox, recast in the corporate mold, illustrating the technological grip. The story raises some horrifying questions. What are clone wives, why do they exist in this society and what is their place? Are they human or property? Intelligent? Is there a shortage of desperate, risk-taking women, or why else go for engineered colonists? Cloned men are common, genetic engineering for humans is so routine that Runt bemoans his parents' lack of foresight in the matter, but the clones don't seem to be considered entirely human.
The one big sex scene is definitely a step out of the ordinary, taking account of the differences in size between Runt and Ox, and of Ox's oversize equipment. (Forty centimeters is about sixteen inches, FYI, and eighteen cm around is roughly a medium-sized wrist.) It was different, and it was hot, even if I did have to figure out who was where and how at one point. It was also a technical problem, coming on the heels of a near-death experience for Ox.
The plot twines around in a full circle with a twist, very nice. The writing is smooth and evocative; Runt's voice is very distinctive, and this is almost enough to soothe me past the story problems. The incomplete characterization of Ox, the partially explained society, the partial worldbuilding, and some continuity errors (eg a cleaned floor that is suddenly bloody, then clean again) keep me from being entirely in love with this story. 3.75
Ox, the giant mute man who came with the supply drop, is equally a mystery, and while his backstory is explained elsewhere (a free short on the author's website), he at least comes with some skills that make all the difference between subsistence and prosperity. He also comes with some jacked-up pheromones, creating havoc with Runt's sex drive. Even as Runt and Ox have to come to a working arrangement as farmers, they have to come to some understanding about Runt's physical reactions. Runt's paranoia, fueled by a surprise in the supply shipment, is strictly his problem.
Ox doesn't come through very clearly on the page, with brief mentions of traits that don't get clearly shown. Something like this:
The giant wasn’t quick to adapt, but he had a knack for thoughtful strategy when he stayed calm.
shouldn't be a throwaway line: what happens when he doesn't stay calm? Rubbing calms him, humming or rumbling calms him, but he doesn't get agitated or anxious first. There's another throwaway remark about Ox liking to play practical jokes, but no illustration of a prank.
I enjoyed the evolving relationship between the men; they communicate pretty well despite Ox's muteness, resorting to writing only once in a while. When they take the final plunge into sex, it makes perfect sense. The underlying current of small equals weak, big equals strong, big equals more work than small can do was really aggravating early on, but as the men's teamwork evolves, this irritant resolves.
The worldbuilding, while laid out on the page, doesn't make so much sense. Two suns and three moons are going to create extreme weather and hellacious tides, (plus really screwy shadows) but HardCell has been able to engineer these things away. The tropical climate they have should lend itself to a mostly outdoor life with palapas or ramadas to keep off the sun, but Runt and Ox lead a mostly indoor existence when not actually farming. An evening under the stars is so rare as to merit an entire chapter.
The society building is stronger—HardCell has a prepackaged, predigested way of life to sell to the galaxy, which comes through very strongly. Runt retells an ancient Greek story to Ox, recast in the corporate mold, illustrating the technological grip. The story raises some horrifying questions. What are clone wives, why do they exist in this society and what is their place? Are they human or property? Intelligent? Is there a shortage of desperate, risk-taking women, or why else go for engineered colonists? Cloned men are common, genetic engineering for humans is so routine that Runt bemoans his parents' lack of foresight in the matter, but the clones don't seem to be considered entirely human.
The one big sex scene is definitely a step out of the ordinary, taking account of the differences in size between Runt and Ox, and of Ox's oversize equipment. (Forty centimeters is about sixteen inches, FYI, and eighteen cm around is roughly a medium-sized wrist.) It was different, and it was hot, even if I did have to figure out who was where and how at one point. It was also a technical problem, coming on the heels of a near-death experience for Ox.
The plot twines around in a full circle with a twist, very nice. The writing is smooth and evocative; Runt's voice is very distinctive, and this is almost enough to soothe me past the story problems. The incomplete characterization of Ox, the partially explained society, the partial worldbuilding, and some continuity errors (eg a cleaned floor that is suddenly bloody, then clean again) keep me from being entirely in love with this story. 3.75
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