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Butterfly Potion
Perry wakes up in an arroyo, hungover and unsure how he got there. His wallet and cell phone missing, he walks back to the last place he remembers being before he blacked out—the bar. Fueled by alcohol and a touch of companionship, Perry is determined to find out who rolled him, but standing in his way is an accident that happened six months earlier and the struggle his life has become since. In his search for the material things taken from him, he risks walking right past something far more precious: A new beginning. This new novella by Zelazny is dark, gripping, emotional noir at its best!
92 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2012
6 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Trent Zelazny
38 books120 followersTrent Zelazny was an American author of crime, horror, and fantastical fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 26, 2012
Peter awakes not knowing where he is or how he got there. His possessions have been stripped and his last memory is clouded by distorted images; fragments of time and place. He’s suffering from self induced alcoholic amnesia. With little more than a vague recollection of a bar, he stumbles back to reality in search of those missing hours.
Trent Zelazny’s novella is a quick fire noir with all the hallmarks you’d expect of the genre. There is the man with little or nothing to his name, a femme fatale in Talia - a lush and self proclaimed ‘bitch from Muskegon’, dark descriptions and darker moods, a haunting death, and a sense of helplessness that’s counterbalanced by a two of a kind pairing.
There is a little bit of ‘The Moon in the Gutter’ feel to ‘Butterfly Potion’ by way of reference to the runoffs themselves and the correlation between a luckless man and cleansing of the poison that litters the seedy streets. The quote from Oscar Wilde “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars” sums it up perfectly.
Not to be outdone, Zelazny adds a great quote or two depicting the darker tone of noir fiction: “It was a comic book style blue-black outside and the arctic wind was in respite, which made the dirt road and then Garcia Street nothing more than odd dark passages of silence.”
As alluded to earlier, the central character, Perry is haunted by the death of a woman named Allison – the foggy details seep into the story as a warm alcoholic blanket envelopes Perry, oddly clearing his head rather than numbing it – a true sign of the experienced drinker. This adds another dimension to the story, layering Perry’s misery upon misery to include past and present conflicts. The single prospect for a better tomorrow is the coupling of a barfly (Perry) with a butterfly (Talia) though I’m not sure it’s going to end up all blue sky and warm sunshine – this is noir after all.
I read ‘Butterfly Potion’ in one sitting. As a novella, it’s lean but not without substance. The story flows quickly and includes enough of the past to provide a well rounded sense of the now. 4 stars.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
Trent Zelazny’s novella is a quick fire noir with all the hallmarks you’d expect of the genre. There is the man with little or nothing to his name, a femme fatale in Talia - a lush and self proclaimed ‘bitch from Muskegon’, dark descriptions and darker moods, a haunting death, and a sense of helplessness that’s counterbalanced by a two of a kind pairing.
There is a little bit of ‘The Moon in the Gutter’ feel to ‘Butterfly Potion’ by way of reference to the runoffs themselves and the correlation between a luckless man and cleansing of the poison that litters the seedy streets. The quote from Oscar Wilde “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars” sums it up perfectly.
Not to be outdone, Zelazny adds a great quote or two depicting the darker tone of noir fiction: “It was a comic book style blue-black outside and the arctic wind was in respite, which made the dirt road and then Garcia Street nothing more than odd dark passages of silence.”
As alluded to earlier, the central character, Perry is haunted by the death of a woman named Allison – the foggy details seep into the story as a warm alcoholic blanket envelopes Perry, oddly clearing his head rather than numbing it – a true sign of the experienced drinker. This adds another dimension to the story, layering Perry’s misery upon misery to include past and present conflicts. The single prospect for a better tomorrow is the coupling of a barfly (Perry) with a butterfly (Talia) though I’m not sure it’s going to end up all blue sky and warm sunshine – this is noir after all.
I read ‘Butterfly Potion’ in one sitting. As a novella, it’s lean but not without substance. The story flows quickly and includes enough of the past to provide a well rounded sense of the now. 4 stars.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
December 9, 2015
Despite some poor grammar involving short sentences that start the same, one after the other, this book did have its moments. It’s a short read and some scenarios played out well but overall it left too many voids. Trent Zelazny has won many awards and I am surprised this book shows up on top of his goodreads page. I’ll have to try the next one down the list.
June 14, 2012
Although it didn’t take me long to read this short but sweet work, I did have to think about the story for quite a while afterward. Perry is definitely the antihero with his alcoholism and blackouts, and the ending is fitting.
The use of stream of consciousness is artful, and I think it’s one of the aspects to this book that makes it stand out. The grief, the love, and the loss Perry endures are all vivid and carefully laid out. I rate this novella 4.5 stars.
The use of stream of consciousness is artful, and I think it’s one of the aspects to this book that makes it stand out. The grief, the love, and the loss Perry endures are all vivid and carefully laid out. I rate this novella 4.5 stars.
November 6, 2012
This is the story of a man haunted by guilt and grief, a man struggling with inner demons that refuse to let him see life as anything other than bleak and dismal, that is until he's confronted with his own mortality and, in the darkness, he finds a grain of hope. It's a gritty portrayal of a side of life that none of us ever want to examine too closely. And it is so well-written that it pulls us in and makes us look anyway. Spell-binding and awful, but beautiful and humane. A great piece of dark fiction.
September 16, 2012
This is brilliantly written, disturbing, very emotionally-driven noir. An excellent examination of what can put us in the gutter, what might keep us there and what options might exist. A very fine novella.
September 5, 2013
‘Butterfly Potion’ isn’t Fantasy or Horror, nor even Urban Fantasy – it’s a deeply moving and often searing look at alcoholism and depression, and it has to rank as one of the most memorable tales I’ve read.
The main character, Perry, is a broken man, spending his days drinking and trying to drown the pain of having lost someone powerfully dear to him. He wakes up disoriented and in pain after a hectic bender, not sure where he is or how he got there, knowing only that he has been robbed and that he desperately needs a drink.
The story has one other stand-out character, a damaged woman who is the ‘keeper’ of the Butterfly Potion of the story’s title. As he retraces his steps she allows herself to be tugged along, offering him what she can and what she feels she is worth, all the while subtly reminding him of everything he has lost. And from which he is running.
Trent does an incredible job of bringing these characters to life and paints the scenes they inhabit with a brilliant eye for just the correct amount of detail. Putting the focus on these characters -the people we usually find ourselves being disgusted by and whom we laugh at (and not always quietly) forces the reader to inhabit the skin of these people. It would have been easy to use these characters to show the reader the ugly sides of life, but Trent takes the more difficult path – leading us on an unapologetic journey into the beautiful things in life that are often hidden under the ugliness.
I was already impressed with Trent’s eye and mind for stories with the anthology, ‘Mirages – Tales from Authors of the Macabre‘, and now I can honestly say that I’m damned impressed with Trent’s ability as a storyteller – he’s a word-weaver of skill and subtlety, and shows a great capacity for sympathy and honesty.
Definitely a writer who will remain on my radar – and should be on yours!
The main character, Perry, is a broken man, spending his days drinking and trying to drown the pain of having lost someone powerfully dear to him. He wakes up disoriented and in pain after a hectic bender, not sure where he is or how he got there, knowing only that he has been robbed and that he desperately needs a drink.
The story has one other stand-out character, a damaged woman who is the ‘keeper’ of the Butterfly Potion of the story’s title. As he retraces his steps she allows herself to be tugged along, offering him what she can and what she feels she is worth, all the while subtly reminding him of everything he has lost. And from which he is running.
Trent does an incredible job of bringing these characters to life and paints the scenes they inhabit with a brilliant eye for just the correct amount of detail. Putting the focus on these characters -the people we usually find ourselves being disgusted by and whom we laugh at (and not always quietly) forces the reader to inhabit the skin of these people. It would have been easy to use these characters to show the reader the ugly sides of life, but Trent takes the more difficult path – leading us on an unapologetic journey into the beautiful things in life that are often hidden under the ugliness.
I was already impressed with Trent’s eye and mind for stories with the anthology, ‘Mirages – Tales from Authors of the Macabre‘, and now I can honestly say that I’m damned impressed with Trent’s ability as a storyteller – he’s a word-weaver of skill and subtlety, and shows a great capacity for sympathy and honesty.
Definitely a writer who will remain on my radar – and should be on yours!
May 29, 2014
BUTTERFLY POTION hat bei Goodreads so viele 5-Sterne-Rezensionen bekommen, da wollte ich das Buch unbedingt lesen - und habe es zu meinem Bedauern nun getan. Worum geht es?
Perry ist ein Alkoholiker, eine Barfly, ein Mensch, der sich regelmäßig in der Kneipe bis zum Umfallen, bis zum Blackout besäuft. Und wie die meisten Alkoholiker hat er natürlich einen guten Grund dafür, einen dramatischen, nämlich einen Schicksalsschlag. OK, wer findet, dass das ansprechend klingt, ist schon im Vorteil.
Nun braucht es noch ein wenig Handlung, und mehr als ein WENIG Handlung gönnt Zelazny seinem Leser auf knapp 100 Seiten dann auch nicht; und das Wenige besteht im Kern darin, dass Perry bei seinem letzten Blackout Geld, Handy und Schlüssel eingebüßt hat. Macht er sich also in der gegenwärtigen trunkenen Nacht auf die Suche nach seinen Habseligkeiten und findet dabei Zeit für ein Abenteuer mit der rothaarigen Talia, die nicht minder eine Barfly ist. Ich will hier nichts spoilern, aber das Ende, mein Gott, das Ende... grauenhaft schmalzig, rührselig, mir zumindest kaum erträglich. Daran, und auch an der so überstrapazierten wie abgedroschenen Metapher vom Schmetterling liegt es dann auch, dass selbst eine Kürzung um 60 - 70 Prozent aus der Handlung keine brauchbare Kurzgeschichte gemacht hätte.
Dabei finden sich, vor allem auf den ersten Seiten, durchaus immer wieder schöne Sätze: "He had forty-five cents in his pocket, which was enough to buy him nothing, and that was just fine. What he wanted was nothing." Aber solche Sätze alleine tragen keinen Text über 100 Seiten!
Fazit: Noir zum abgewöhnen, und wenn schon Säufer-Stories, dann lieber Bukowski.
Perry ist ein Alkoholiker, eine Barfly, ein Mensch, der sich regelmäßig in der Kneipe bis zum Umfallen, bis zum Blackout besäuft. Und wie die meisten Alkoholiker hat er natürlich einen guten Grund dafür, einen dramatischen, nämlich einen Schicksalsschlag. OK, wer findet, dass das ansprechend klingt, ist schon im Vorteil.
Nun braucht es noch ein wenig Handlung, und mehr als ein WENIG Handlung gönnt Zelazny seinem Leser auf knapp 100 Seiten dann auch nicht; und das Wenige besteht im Kern darin, dass Perry bei seinem letzten Blackout Geld, Handy und Schlüssel eingebüßt hat. Macht er sich also in der gegenwärtigen trunkenen Nacht auf die Suche nach seinen Habseligkeiten und findet dabei Zeit für ein Abenteuer mit der rothaarigen Talia, die nicht minder eine Barfly ist. Ich will hier nichts spoilern, aber das Ende, mein Gott, das Ende... grauenhaft schmalzig, rührselig, mir zumindest kaum erträglich. Daran, und auch an der so überstrapazierten wie abgedroschenen Metapher vom Schmetterling liegt es dann auch, dass selbst eine Kürzung um 60 - 70 Prozent aus der Handlung keine brauchbare Kurzgeschichte gemacht hätte.
Dabei finden sich, vor allem auf den ersten Seiten, durchaus immer wieder schöne Sätze: "He had forty-five cents in his pocket, which was enough to buy him nothing, and that was just fine. What he wanted was nothing." Aber solche Sätze alleine tragen keinen Text über 100 Seiten!
Fazit: Noir zum abgewöhnen, und wenn schon Säufer-Stories, dann lieber Bukowski.
April 12, 2015
Zelazny is a new writer to me and this tight novella has me adding more of his work to my to-read list. If this were published in a literary journal it would be classified as literary fiction with a dark edge to it and the writing is certainly more lush than is typical with noir. In case the hints haven't registered yet - tight, lush - this novella proceeds through an alcohol haze as our narrator wakes up in a ditch after a black out and begins a journey to piece together the missing time and also piece together his life. This is psychological noir in company with Malcom Lowry's Under the Volcano and (a Lowry influenced) David Goodis, and yes The Moon in the Gutter is explicitly alluded to. Piece works stand alone, but it is also easy to see this as the first third of a novel. As with the best stories it resolves but remains open at the end.
August 26, 2014
A Captivating Read
Zelazny captures a brief moment of time in a man`s life and delves deep into his varied thought processes. Perry is a proud, stubborn man with nothing left to lose. Realizing as much, he seeks comfort in the arms of an equally proud but jaded woman, neither of them ready to accept that this is their lot in life. After some tough love and a whole lot of tenderness, they find themselves able to embrace one another and the possibilities they see in the world around them.
Well written, perfectly paced, and quickly read, Butterfly Potion will make you think and make you wish the story would continue.
Zelazny captures a brief moment of time in a man`s life and delves deep into his varied thought processes. Perry is a proud, stubborn man with nothing left to lose. Realizing as much, he seeks comfort in the arms of an equally proud but jaded woman, neither of them ready to accept that this is their lot in life. After some tough love and a whole lot of tenderness, they find themselves able to embrace one another and the possibilities they see in the world around them.
Well written, perfectly paced, and quickly read, Butterfly Potion will make you think and make you wish the story would continue.
January 15, 2013
An alcoholic-noir study in reaching for redemption. Zelazny's barflies aren't the masterful characters of William Kennedy or Charles Bukowski, but there are powerful moments of self-effacing honesty and a right-sized (if slightly overdescribed) odyssey through a dark night of the soul. The main motif gets overplayed eventually--but Zelazny knew he was onto something. The author has room to grow but there's plenty of solid evidence of talent on display here.
February 6, 2015
This book was incredibly well written. There's not much of a story, it's basically just about a loser being a loser with his loser girlfriend. I know that doesn't make it sound like anything great, but it's so well done I could read about them all night. The character development was impeccable, so deep that you could feel Perry's misery through the whole story. Not much else to say except I'll read more from this author for sure.
October 24, 2012
the BUTTERFLY POTION by Trent Zelazny is a fascinating read. Its a well-written, dark tale that follows one man's journey down the road of despair. The emotions that this story conjures are beak and depressing, but the character is designed so well, you are drawn into his life and find yourself attached to him.
September 28, 2012
You realize this is more than a book when you start reading it. This is more than fiction. The author is bearing his soul for the reader to see and letting you into the very painful reality of the demons he fought so hard against. Trent Zelazny is a brilliant writer and has done a wonderful job of blazing his own path in the literary world.
July 18, 2012
Tragic but beautiful. A powerful story of metamorphosis. Perry is an introspective character, Talia is the perfect balance. I love everything I've read by Zelazny.
September 14, 2012
A short, painful read. Intoxicating use of language, but it hurts like a hangover.
July 23, 2024
A random novella to help me catch up on my Goodreads reading challenge.
Drunk guy drunks around for a day trying to figure out who mugged him while he was blackout drunk the night before. Nothing matters.
There's not much plot here, but I still enjoyed this, sad story that it is. It doesn't feel like it's as deep as it's trying to be, but it has its moments of poignancy.
Drunk guy drunks around for a day trying to figure out who mugged him while he was blackout drunk the night before. Nothing matters.
There's not much plot here, but I still enjoyed this, sad story that it is. It doesn't feel like it's as deep as it's trying to be, but it has its moments of poignancy.
May 17, 2017
There's a new writer in town who tells
tales about a pair of sad alcoholics battling their way through the
hellhole that is life. This is a good tale, novella-size and well worth reading
tales about a pair of sad alcoholics battling their way through the
hellhole that is life. This is a good tale, novella-size and well worth reading
February 9, 2020
This book shocked the hell out of me. It's not fantasy. It's not horror. It's not even scary in the sense of ghosts or monsters or creatures. What it is, however, is incredibly real, dark, raw, grimy and sad. Perry wakes up from a drunken stupor like he has so many times before. Everything on his person is gone. No wallet. No cell phone. He's got 45 cents in his pocket and not much else. He begins backtracking and tries desperately to recall the events from the evening before. He stumbles into the local bar he frequents and speaks with a couple of the regulars who attempt to assist in filling in the blanks for Perry. The story gets started quickly and ends almost as abruptly. At 92 pages in length, the brief synopsis is about all I'm going to divulge at the moment. Giving away anymore of the brief (but comprehensive) story would be full of spoilers
I really enjoyed Perry's character and the struggle portrayed in this story. Alcoholism has affected a couple of people very close to me including a couple of close friends and relatives. It was difficult to read the situations that Perry continuously found himself in. I'm struggling to write this review because it's forced me to think back about the times in my life that I found myself at rock bottom. We've all had those moments, right? It's not pleasant to think about except those situations have molded us and strengthened us to be the person we are today. I rooted for Perry the entire time and just kept thinking - this is going to make you stronger one day. You just have to get past this rock bottom.
I know I'm sounding overly cryptic and I swear I don't mean to. The story was fast-paced and emotional from start to finish. Like I mentioned previously, I don't want to elaborate much more on the story line aside from what is already given to you in the synopsis. Despite my review being fairly cryptic, you'll have to take my word for it. If you enjoy little novellas with intricate, highly developed characters, I'd recommend BUTTERFLY POTION. It's a real life book. It's about the not-so-happy endings and the twists and turns that life often dishes out. It's about loss and grief and coping as best as we possibly can. It's about getting beat down and then continuing to be kicked even further. I'm giving this one a solid 4-star review because it tugged on me in a few different personal ways. Awesome writing with amazing characters that were easy to identify with and even easier put yourself in their shoes. I'm looking forward to reading more of Trent Zelazny's collection and would recommend this one.
I really enjoyed Perry's character and the struggle portrayed in this story. Alcoholism has affected a couple of people very close to me including a couple of close friends and relatives. It was difficult to read the situations that Perry continuously found himself in. I'm struggling to write this review because it's forced me to think back about the times in my life that I found myself at rock bottom. We've all had those moments, right? It's not pleasant to think about except those situations have molded us and strengthened us to be the person we are today. I rooted for Perry the entire time and just kept thinking - this is going to make you stronger one day. You just have to get past this rock bottom.
I know I'm sounding overly cryptic and I swear I don't mean to. The story was fast-paced and emotional from start to finish. Like I mentioned previously, I don't want to elaborate much more on the story line aside from what is already given to you in the synopsis. Despite my review being fairly cryptic, you'll have to take my word for it. If you enjoy little novellas with intricate, highly developed characters, I'd recommend BUTTERFLY POTION. It's a real life book. It's about the not-so-happy endings and the twists and turns that life often dishes out. It's about loss and grief and coping as best as we possibly can. It's about getting beat down and then continuing to be kicked even further. I'm giving this one a solid 4-star review because it tugged on me in a few different personal ways. Awesome writing with amazing characters that were easy to identify with and even easier put yourself in their shoes. I'm looking forward to reading more of Trent Zelazny's collection and would recommend this one.
January 5, 2016
“Butterfly Potion” is a well-written novella which not only brings the reader into the story, but also forces them to reflect upon their own life. This tale has a slow pace that not only keeps everything moving along smoothly, but also prevents the reader from missing any small detail. The realism throughout, coupled with the excellent development of the primary character, made this easy to relate to as well as thought-provoking. It truly makes one think about their own thoughts on life, reality, and butterflies.
There were very few typos to note which added to my enjoyment while reading and is further proof of Mr. Zelazny's talent and Nightscape Press's quality standards.
While I was expecting something a little darker, this novella had just the right amount of darkness to keep it creepy while still staying true to the realistic approach of the author. The internal dialogue and bursts of rushing thoughts from the character was a wonderful touch that gave the character another dimension and added to the reflective feeling for the reader.
The only downside for me was the ending. It was satisfying and suiting, but I felt as though there was more to the journey –and I wanted to experience it. I guess I just wasn't ready to say good-bye to the main character yet.
All in all, I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a good read, feeling a sense of meaningless in life, or just looking for something to make them think. Thought-provoking, touching, and, most of all, real... Two thumbs up!
December 10, 2012
Let’s Try to Dream
Perry got rolled last night during a blackout. He’s looking for what he’s lost, and that’s more than his wallet and cell phone. He finds Talia; Talia finds him.
Reading Zelazny is like going on a drinking binge and waking in the gutter. But among the messy people in a sad, depressing world is existential philosophy cocooned in beautiful writing. Zelazny has a knack for turning phrases--not just on the page, but in your mind.
Along with despair, there is humor: “To Perry he looked like a kid who’d been picked on in school, which over time had given him the options of suicide, junkie, criminal, or law enforcement.” Priceless.
In the end, there is satisfaction. And thankfully, some hope. All while the butterfly watches.
Perry got rolled last night during a blackout. He’s looking for what he’s lost, and that’s more than his wallet and cell phone. He finds Talia; Talia finds him.
Reading Zelazny is like going on a drinking binge and waking in the gutter. But among the messy people in a sad, depressing world is existential philosophy cocooned in beautiful writing. Zelazny has a knack for turning phrases--not just on the page, but in your mind.
Along with despair, there is humor: “To Perry he looked like a kid who’d been picked on in school, which over time had given him the options of suicide, junkie, criminal, or law enforcement.” Priceless.
In the end, there is satisfaction. And thankfully, some hope. All while the butterfly watches.
December 30, 2012
This is the first book of Trent's that I've read, and enjoyed it very much! It's a day in the life of Perry, who drinks too much & wakes up in a ditch after being robbed. He then tries to put together what lead up to this moment, and takes the reader along on his journey.
Anyone who has ever drank a little much & found themselves wandering around in the middle of the night, trying to avoid the cops & wondering how the hell did it come to this, will appreciate this book!
Anyone who hasn't been through an episode like this in their lives, will appreciate how it reveals the sadness & regret that can lead some people into a situation they'd rather not be in, but they deal with as best they can.
I look forward to reading more of Trent's work!
Anyone who has ever drank a little much & found themselves wandering around in the middle of the night, trying to avoid the cops & wondering how the hell did it come to this, will appreciate this book!
Anyone who hasn't been through an episode like this in their lives, will appreciate how it reveals the sadness & regret that can lead some people into a situation they'd rather not be in, but they deal with as best they can.
I look forward to reading more of Trent's work!
December 30, 2012
This is the first book of Trent's that I've read, and enjoyed it very much! It's a day in the life of Perry, who drinks too much & wakes up in a ditch after being robbed. He then tries to put together what lead up to this moment, and takes the reader along on his journey.
Anyone who has ever drank a little much & found themselves wandering around in the middle of the night, trying to avoid the cops & wondering how the hell did it come to this, will appreciate this book!
Anyone who hasn't been through an episode like this in their lives, will appreciate how it reveals the sadness & regret that can lead some people into a situation they'd rather not be in, but they deal with as best they can.
I look forward to reading more of Trent's work!
Anyone who has ever drank a little much & found themselves wandering around in the middle of the night, trying to avoid the cops & wondering how the hell did it come to this, will appreciate this book!
Anyone who hasn't been through an episode like this in their lives, will appreciate how it reveals the sadness & regret that can lead some people into a situation they'd rather not be in, but they deal with as best they can.
I look forward to reading more of Trent's work!
June 28, 2013
Waking up in a ditch sucks. It’s even worse when your wallet and phone have been lifted while you slept. I won’t lie to you, Zelazny’s writing feels personal — whether it is or it isn’t — it feels like he’s done most of the things he puts his characters through. And I guess that by ‘personal’ I mean ‘believable’, too. Nothing that the main character of this novella, Perry, does sounds far-fetched. He’s gone out, got drunk and then ends up out in the middle of nowhere, far from anywhere he’d normally go, but that’s just the beginning of his journey. I can’t stress enough how Zelazny’s writing makes me feel: he does a great job of pulling me into his tale and then leaves me there… desolate when it’s over.
August 30, 2014
A delicious journey down a dark, scruffy, foggy road
"Butterfly Potion" makes me want to drink... but in a good way. It makes me want to toast Trent's talent and swirl the golden elixir around in my glass the way he has done with his words.
Like his hero, Perry, we're not sure where we're going, but unlike Perry we care, and we trust the storyteller to get us there in one piece. Trent does exactly that.
"Butterfly Potion" is a real and visceral story of one night with a young alcoholic with a spotty memory and a deep need to get back something of value that was taken from him.
"Butterfly Potion" makes me want to drink... but in a good way. It makes me want to toast Trent's talent and swirl the golden elixir around in my glass the way he has done with his words.
Like his hero, Perry, we're not sure where we're going, but unlike Perry we care, and we trust the storyteller to get us there in one piece. Trent does exactly that.
"Butterfly Potion" is a real and visceral story of one night with a young alcoholic with a spotty memory and a deep need to get back something of value that was taken from him.
January 12, 2013
I am still reeling from reading this novella. I am a mix of emotions and thoughts that this story pulls out of the reader. Once you begin reading, you can't help being engrossed in where this book is going to take you. To me, Butterfly Potion is much like the yin yang symbol: it is light and dark, it is masculine and feminine, it is happy and sad; it is the perfect balance. If you are looking for a story that has depth, realism, and soul, look no further!
January 2, 2014
I guess I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy books because I kept waiting for the monster of mythos to appear, but it didn’t. Instead it was all real, a gritty view into the main characters mind, and his shoes. I enjoyed how the story was paced, the interactions between each character and the reality of the behaviors. Glad I read this story, it was most definitely worth more than forty-five cents. I know I paid more than that.
October 1, 2013
A short, alcohol-soaked mood piece about loss (of several kinds). There is drunkenness, sad drunken sex, and some pointless violence. Ends with a hopeful note (or so I would like to think).
This was a freebie for Kindle a long time ago that I finally got around to reading. At some point I found out that the author is the son of science fiction author Roger Zelazny.
This was a freebie for Kindle a long time ago that I finally got around to reading. At some point I found out that the author is the son of science fiction author Roger Zelazny.
July 4, 2012
This novella paints some pretty vivid pictures (they're pretty AND vivid AND pretty vivid). I quite enjoyed the internal dialogue going on with Perry, the main character... there's grief and guilt and the gutter, but it's all satisfying.
Read
March 6, 2013I won this book by Trent Zelazny and since I had never read his work, didn't know what to expect. This was a very intriguing tale and I enjoyed the ride. Mr. Zelazny is a great writer! I'll have to delve into more of his work.
August 27, 2013
Not sure how this one got on my to read shelf.
A drunk guy has a repressed memory and has to drink to work it out.
My 2 star means it was ok.
A drunk guy has a repressed memory and has to drink to work it out.
My 2 star means it was ok.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews