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They Tell Me I'm The Bad Guy
Work. Home. Work. Home. Drink. Smoke. Work. Home. It's a routine that's kept Donnie Guillory a free man ten years after one of the most shocking acts of Post-Human devastation the world had ever seen. Control, caution and a factory time clock run his life, his fireproof suit long ago moth-balled along with hazy drunken memories of tearing up Europe. But someone with abilities like his can't stay forgotten forever, and when he's dragged back into the murky life of manipulation and violence he's come to hate, he'll have the powers on both sides of the law shaking the earth to put him under their thumb. But if there's one thing Donnie's misspent youth taught him, it was that few problems can't be solved with cigarettes, felonies and a well-placed inferno.
New Revised Edition uploaded 10/20/2012
New Revised Edition uploaded 10/20/2012
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2011
6 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
R.D. Harless
2 books13 followersR. D. Harless is a husband and father currently living in Georgia. All work and no play makes him a dull boy, as evidenced by every page of the book he is currently working on. He enjoys referring to himself in the third person for internet profiles and may consider expanding it to everyday social situations in the future.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 21, 2014
You are following Don, a "post human" (poster) pyrokinetic trying to reform his life after years of petty violent crime. He is an all around unlikeable person, but you still can't help but root for his sorry selfish lying ass as he struggles to do the right thing, if only for his own selfish reasons.
The book is chalk full of action and sometimes it is hard to take a breath. Grammar is a bit of distraction at times, but bearable.
The book is chalk full of action and sometimes it is hard to take a breath. Grammar is a bit of distraction at times, but bearable.
February 1, 2021
Short: Not bad. If Harless ever comes out with a sequel I'd plunk down money to read it.
Long: Most of the characters are unappealing. One of the main reasons I like the protagonist, Das Biest von Feure, is that he's less of a psycho and a jerk than most of the other characters. He's still a jerk, though.
The world of the setting is crazy. Far too many people with superpowers on both sides of the law. No one planet could hold so much power. It doesn't help that many of the villains or criminals are psycho, including many or most of Das Biest's associates.
I'm not sure if the law abiding superpowered, especially the cops, were sane or if they were just as nuts as the villains. Not much info is given on how they think when they're not being police.
I like that Das Biest's super code name is German. I also like that there was this unnamed Filipino super who had lines and was mentioned to be Filipino. That was cool.
Long: Most of the characters are unappealing. One of the main reasons I like the protagonist, Das Biest von Feure, is that he's less of a psycho and a jerk than most of the other characters. He's still a jerk, though.
The world of the setting is crazy. Far too many people with superpowers on both sides of the law. No one planet could hold so much power. It doesn't help that many of the villains or criminals are psycho, including many or most of Das Biest's associates.
I'm not sure if the law abiding superpowered, especially the cops, were sane or if they were just as nuts as the villains. Not much info is given on how they think when they're not being police.
I like that Das Biest's super code name is German. I also like that there was this unnamed Filipino super who had lines and was mentioned to be Filipino. That was cool.
September 10, 2012
A fun mix of brutallish simple-ish middle-aged guy with 'Ability to manipulate molecular activity to create heat and self-sustaining fires' which basically is pyrokinetic powers.
Fun and quick read, ultra realistic, with paranoramal and x-men added for good measure.
Still, too much blasphemy, too many x-men variations stuffed in, too many repetitive phrases, I believe the f-word in various its forms was much too freaquent, phrase 'Got some use out of it' was repeated and repeated and repeated...
While I get that the author probably tried to portray someone with the vocabulary of a secondary schooler, still, it was tedious in reading.
3.5 overall, rounded up to 4 stars.
Fun and quick read, ultra realistic, with paranoramal and x-men added for good measure.
Still, too much blasphemy, too many x-men variations stuffed in, too many repetitive phrases, I believe the f-word in various its forms was much too freaquent, phrase 'Got some use out of it' was repeated and repeated and repeated...
While I get that the author probably tried to portray someone with the vocabulary of a secondary schooler, still, it was tedious in reading.
3.5 overall, rounded up to 4 stars.
November 2, 2012
Just enjoyed the f**king hell out of it. An amazing adrenaline ride. In the story there are people with superpowers called Post-Humans. Some are criminals, some help the government track down said criminals, and some try to quietly live normal lives. Our main character Don or as he is also called, Das Biest von Feure (The Beast of Fire), tries the latter but he isn't destined to be left alone. Populated with a fascinating cast of characters the story takes you on a wild ride that rarely lets up. Highly recommended, if high levels of profanity work for you.
November 15, 2020
Starts off real well then about half way through goes rapidly downhill as the plot becomes more and more ridiculous.
Cannot in good conscience recommend this book
Cannot in good conscience recommend this book
August 17, 2017
Absolutely my favorite Supers novel.
September 24, 2012
Loved this book. More urban science fiction than urban fantasy.
The Dresden Files are great. 'They Tell Me I'm The Bad Guy' is sometimes darker, faster and occasionally much crazier.
No werewolves, vampires, wizards, etc. These characters are 'post humans'. The apparent 'next step' in humans. They have a variety of random abilities and powers.
Some can communicate with dogs. The main character can set you on fire instantly by just thinking it. Other characters have more disturbing abilities. Many have extensive criminal histories. And the government is getting very interested in them.
Hard edged stuff with many rough characters. They smoke, drink, get high and usually have 'mental health' issues. By the end of the novel the nature of reality itself is questioned.
Hopefully this will be the first of many books in what becomes a series.
January 23, 2012
Donnie Guillory is a bad guy. At least that's what they say. The post-human with pyrokenetic powers is a foul-mouthed, chain-smoking, whiskey-swilling bad-ass that you cannot help but like.
When a friend talks him into one last heist, things go bad -- really bad, really fast. Then it's up to Donnie to literally save the world.
Sure, it's a sci-fi, apocalyptic genre with shady characters with strange powers, but it doesn't feel like sci-fi. The plot is all action hero.
Harless is a first-time author with chops. The story jumps off the page, grabs you by the throat, and doesn't let go until the very last sentence.
If you're into action, villains, sci-fi, bad guys, dark brooding characters, or just great storytelling, get this novel. It does not disappoint.
When a friend talks him into one last heist, things go bad -- really bad, really fast. Then it's up to Donnie to literally save the world.
Sure, it's a sci-fi, apocalyptic genre with shady characters with strange powers, but it doesn't feel like sci-fi. The plot is all action hero.
Harless is a first-time author with chops. The story jumps off the page, grabs you by the throat, and doesn't let go until the very last sentence.
If you're into action, villains, sci-fi, bad guys, dark brooding characters, or just great storytelling, get this novel. It does not disappoint.
September 7, 2012
Other reviewers have critisized this book for editing errors. I only found three major errors in the entire novel. The plot is excellent, the characters are well developed. The only issue that I have is that the protagonist is not a villain. The author implies he is a villain because he smokes, drinks, enjoys sex ,and does drugs. These superficial qualities don't make a villain.
The ending is exceptional, and the world is well developed.
If you are going to read one superhero fiction book, make it Soon I Will Be Invincible. If you read more, then They Tell Me I'm the Bad Guy is a great choice.
The ending is exceptional, and the world is well developed.
If you are going to read one superhero fiction book, make it Soon I Will Be Invincible. If you read more, then They Tell Me I'm the Bad Guy is a great choice.
November 10, 2012
This book seemed almost childish. The plot line was good, with a few interesting twists. I actually liked the ending, but almost nothing before that. I don't need a plethora of curse words and I don't need a plethora of violence to make me like or dislike someone. The main character wasn't even an anti-hero, he was a bad guy.
Tough book to read, tough book to like. I didn't. And that's odd for me.
Tough book to read, tough book to like. I didn't. And that's odd for me.
October 21, 2014
This was a much better read then I expected it to be (likely preconceptions based on a bad cover). The whole thing had a bit of a Boyd Crowder feel to it. I enjoyed the voice of the Anti-Hero, and the nature of his relationship with his friend. It all felt very natural and believable in a genre that typically feels ridiculous.
December 22, 2012
I think Donnie Guillory is one of my favorite characters ever, especially in regard to those with powers. He is foul mouthed, smart assed, angry, and drunk much of the time. I thought it was a good take on superpowers/superheroes (post humans) and very funny much of the time.
July 9, 2013
The main character, Donnie, is unabashedly a villain. He’s loyal to his friends but otherwise is strictly out for himself. Even when he’s is saving the world its more for self interest instead of the clichéd villain redemption bit.
August 23, 2016
Confusing plot line, tons of grammatical errors, no real world building, cheesy dialogue, and characters that made me wonder what they were there for. I wanted to enjoy the book, but in the end there was just too many problems for me to feel even remotely satisfied.
November 5, 2012
Super gritty, and nasty, at last a bad guy book that isn't for kids!
May 31, 2014
Incredible
Great twists around every turn
Too bad there isn't a sequel though
Great twists around every turn
Too bad there isn't a sequel though
December 28, 2014
A blue-collar supervillain's plans for a quiet life go up in flames. Good examples of the problems with teaming up with undependable criminals who think with their powers. A bit gory in bits.
July 13, 2015
If loving this fucking novel about people with fucking superpowers and dropping fucking F-bombs every other word is wrong, I don't want to be right.
June 18, 2016
Good, but not great. Pacing is a bit odd, motivations and characters could be more developed.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews