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F9
The rate of violent crime is on the rise, and nowhere is this more evident than in the state of Colorado.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...
It's called Acute High-Altitude Neuropathic Dissociation—or, more commonly, Mile High Syndrome—and Dr. Ellis Randall Harding, a neurologist, is determined to understand why. For him, it's personal. He was there on September 24th, 1994 when a gunman walked into the library and started shooting.
I once was lost, but now I'm found…
The answer is locked inside the mind of a monster who shot and killed nine people in 1968. The problem is he's in a vegetative state and incapable of communicating with anyone, except for Dr. Harding, who has figured out how to utilize medical imaging technology to amplify and interpret the killer's brain activity.
Was blind but now I see…
But as Dr. Harding learns, there are some things that mankind was never meant to understand. Chief among them, the true nature of evil.
"Relentless in its pacing…F9 is a novella you don’t want to miss." —Literary Mayhem
"McBride writes the tale with the perfect mix of suspense and horror that keeps the reader on the edge." —Examiner
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...
It's called Acute High-Altitude Neuropathic Dissociation—or, more commonly, Mile High Syndrome—and Dr. Ellis Randall Harding, a neurologist, is determined to understand why. For him, it's personal. He was there on September 24th, 1994 when a gunman walked into the library and started shooting.
I once was lost, but now I'm found…
The answer is locked inside the mind of a monster who shot and killed nine people in 1968. The problem is he's in a vegetative state and incapable of communicating with anyone, except for Dr. Harding, who has figured out how to utilize medical imaging technology to amplify and interpret the killer's brain activity.
Was blind but now I see…
But as Dr. Harding learns, there are some things that mankind was never meant to understand. Chief among them, the true nature of evil.
"Relentless in its pacing…F9 is a novella you don’t want to miss." —Literary Mayhem
"McBride writes the tale with the perfect mix of suspense and horror that keeps the reader on the edge." —Examiner
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Michael McBride
122 books480 followersMichael McBride was born in Colorado and still resides in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. He hates the snow, but loves the Avalanche. He works with medical radiation, yet somehow managed to produce five children, none of whom, miraculously, have tails, third eyes, or other random mutations. He writes fiction that runs the gamut from thriller to horror to science fiction...and loves every minute of it.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 7, 2014
F9 is another excellent novella by Michael Mcbride, the suspense and tension builds throughout as Dr Harding investigates a series of mass murders in Colorado. He secures an interview with one of the few mass murders that survived their actions, all be it in a coma but the fact that they all link together by the song Amazing grace gives him something solid to work with, he just has to find what ties the perpetrators together.
Using a scientific and technological approach he attempts to question suspect F0, by monitoring his brain patterns and activity, and amazingly during this interview facts come to light and doors open rapidly in his quest to find answers.
All does not turn out as expected for the Dr in this superb techno thriller and he finds his answers just a touch too late to act on them, a short read but very clever and the killing, has to carry on.
Michael Mcbride certainly does a tremendous amount of research and his attention to detail is impressive, I think he would be perfect for any pub quiz team but seriously I did enjoy this and was sucked in by the premise of mass murder being a condition somehow passed on to others.
Using a scientific and technological approach he attempts to question suspect F0, by monitoring his brain patterns and activity, and amazingly during this interview facts come to light and doors open rapidly in his quest to find answers.
All does not turn out as expected for the Dr in this superb techno thriller and he finds his answers just a touch too late to act on them, a short read but very clever and the killing, has to carry on.
Michael Mcbride certainly does a tremendous amount of research and his attention to detail is impressive, I think he would be perfect for any pub quiz team but seriously I did enjoy this and was sucked in by the premise of mass murder being a condition somehow passed on to others.
Want to read
July 10, 2017This mini-hardcover is copy 17 of 100 printed and is signed by Michael McBride.
June 9, 2013
F9 is a novella that really packs an emotional punch! It takes science and mixes it with just the right amount of speculation, giving us reasons to pause and consider the implications unveiled.
Some of the more technical parts had me re-reading several sections, but I quickly latched on and found the science behind it absolutely fascinating. Once I was there, I couldn't detach myself from the words unfolding before me. Michael McBride is an absolute genius in bringing us this novella that will have readers looking at these seemingly senseless acts of violence and wondering, "what if......?"
Highly recommended!!
Some of the more technical parts had me re-reading several sections, but I quickly latched on and found the science behind it absolutely fascinating. Once I was there, I couldn't detach myself from the words unfolding before me. Michael McBride is an absolute genius in bringing us this novella that will have readers looking at these seemingly senseless acts of violence and wondering, "what if......?"
Highly recommended!!
June 23, 2013
3.5 stars!
I enjoyed this techno/mystery/serial killer/scientific story. It got a bit too heavy on the science side for my liking.
On the other hand, the tension built up quite nicely and I was surprised at the turns taken by this story.
All in all, a quick, fun, good read. Recommended!
I enjoyed this techno/mystery/serial killer/scientific story. It got a bit too heavy on the science side for my liking.
On the other hand, the tension built up quite nicely and I was surprised at the turns taken by this story.
All in all, a quick, fun, good read. Recommended!
October 9, 2017
Dr Harding has been personally touched by the increasing rate of violence in society and wants to find out why this is occurring. He wishes to interview one of the first mass murderers, however the man responsible for 9 peoples deaths in 1968 is in a vegetative state. With the use of medical technology, Dr Harding is able to communicate with him and attempts to obtain the answers he so desperately wants. Will he regret asking those questions?
I've read one of Mr McBride's stories before, Remains, and was really impressed with his fusion of science and horror in the novella. This same seamless fusion is evident in this read, the technology is a bit mind boggling but it's obvious that a huge amount of research has gone into this book. I would agree with some of the other reviews that state the ending was predictable, however the way it was delivered was fantastic. The ending is something I'm still pondering over, a good sign that this read has got under my skin. Recommended.
I've read one of Mr McBride's stories before, Remains, and was really impressed with his fusion of science and horror in the novella. This same seamless fusion is evident in this read, the technology is a bit mind boggling but it's obvious that a huge amount of research has gone into this book. I would agree with some of the other reviews that state the ending was predictable, however the way it was delivered was fantastic. The ending is something I'm still pondering over, a good sign that this read has got under my skin. Recommended.
July 16, 2013
Well written, pacing was brisk and propelled you along. The scene in the library was particularly well done. A clever idea that hinted at an even bigger story but it just missed the mark for me. I didn't get into any of the characters to the point where I cared about them. Opinions differ and Mr. McBride is a very talented writer, but this one lacked the emotional impact of other works of his that I have read, particularly Snowblind, which I thought was marvelous.
Just as others have stated, I figured out the ending about halfway through also, which didn't help.
Just as others have stated, I figured out the ending about halfway through also, which didn't help.
April 17, 2013
McBride! A Fast read. Excellent!
May 11, 2014
My second Michael McBride read, and though I did not enjoy it as much as Snowblind, I did get quite the kick out of a scientist's efforts to find the reason behind a spate of mass-murders in one particular region of the world. The idea was excellent - with the early scene featuring a young Harding struggling to survive a mass murder at his University particularly effective - but the execution was somewhat lacking. For example .
Having studied neuropsychiatry, the overly scientific language and technical jargon didn't cause me half as many problems as trying to remember the names of all the mass-murderers and which one fitted in where. I also picked the ending very early on (well, most of it), somewhat robbing this of the "rug being pulled out from under me" factor - which I suspect comprises much of the good will toward this short, fast read.
3 Smoking Shotgun Casings for F9.
Having studied neuropsychiatry, the overly scientific language and technical jargon didn't cause me half as many problems as trying to remember the names of all the mass-murderers and which one fitted in where. I also picked the ending very early on (well, most of it), somewhat robbing this of the "rug being pulled out from under me" factor - which I suspect comprises much of the good will toward this short, fast read.
3 Smoking Shotgun Casings for F9.
March 7, 2013
Review of F9 by Michael McBride
5 stars
Michael McBride is a very special author, with a wildly creative imaginative gift. I’m so thankful as a reader that I’ve discovered his works. “F9,” his newest novella, is an electrifying psychological suspense story, with plenty of violence for the splatterpunk aficionados, coupled with high-intellectual science and wonderfully depicted character motivation. He even edges the story with almost speculative fiction, in terms of the premise and its outworkings. “F9” literally kept me on the edge of my seat, as I raced through it in one short sitting, eager to turn the page and learn more. At the conclusion, I felt deeply emotionally and psychologically satisfied.
“F9” is the story of Dr. Harding, who “discovers” the Mile High Syndrome: a steady and astoundingly terrifying increase in violent crime—specifically mass murders, or multiple murders committed at one time in one setting—on Colorado’s Front Range. His search for environmental factors and genetic mutations leads him to study neurophysiology and neuropsychology, even to the point of examining an early killer’s brain.
5 stars
Michael McBride is a very special author, with a wildly creative imaginative gift. I’m so thankful as a reader that I’ve discovered his works. “F9,” his newest novella, is an electrifying psychological suspense story, with plenty of violence for the splatterpunk aficionados, coupled with high-intellectual science and wonderfully depicted character motivation. He even edges the story with almost speculative fiction, in terms of the premise and its outworkings. “F9” literally kept me on the edge of my seat, as I raced through it in one short sitting, eager to turn the page and learn more. At the conclusion, I felt deeply emotionally and psychologically satisfied.
“F9” is the story of Dr. Harding, who “discovers” the Mile High Syndrome: a steady and astoundingly terrifying increase in violent crime—specifically mass murders, or multiple murders committed at one time in one setting—on Colorado’s Front Range. His search for environmental factors and genetic mutations leads him to study neurophysiology and neuropsychology, even to the point of examining an early killer’s brain.
June 10, 2013
This is a really fantastic Novella by Michael McBride that delves into questions of what environmental elements may cause mass murderers. It is a well paced story that picks up speed as it moves along and has a fantastic ending I didn't see coming. It is obvious he has put much research into the medical theories involved in the story. There is a bit of info dump in the beginning which I felt was necessary and did not detract from enjoyment of the story. Overall this is a great story which is fast paced and very enjoyable
September 17, 2013
What makes a person kill? To take the life of another person? What's their motivation? Dr. Ellis Randall Harding is trying to find out why by experimenting with new technology that amplifies and interprets a killer's brain. Only he can find the answers, but do we really want to know?
The technical jargon, although I understood it, fit the story, but also took from the pacing and feel of it; it almost sterilized the read making it more stiff, for lack of a better word. I was distanced from the characters and their journey.
F9 was just an "alright" read for me.
The technical jargon, although I understood it, fit the story, but also took from the pacing and feel of it; it almost sterilized the read making it more stiff, for lack of a better word. I was distanced from the characters and their journey.
F9 was just an "alright" read for me.
June 25, 2013
Enjoyed the uber-fast pacing of this doctor studying mass murderer tale. After the first two chapters . Even though I saw what was coming, the short length of the story and the engaging writing style kept me reading.
Style-wise F9 has a hint of true crime with medical thriller vibe going which I liked. A talented writer at work here who really thrives on pacing in his tales and one I'll continue to check out in the future. 3 stars. Recommended for those who don't mind predictable endings. 1,066 Kindle locations.
Style-wise F9 has a hint of true crime with medical thriller vibe going which I liked. A talented writer at work here who really thrives on pacing in his tales and one I'll continue to check out in the future. 3 stars. Recommended for those who don't mind predictable endings. 1,066 Kindle locations.
September 2, 2017
this was a really good book, however that said, it was darn scary. read it, you'll see
May 30, 2013
Chilling, riveting and packing a lot of punch in few words, pretty much describes F9 by author Michael McBride! Dr. Ellis Randall Harding is obsessed with discovering why seemingly normal people suddenly snap and commit mass murder. Having suffered the trauma of being a survivor of one such nightmare, he has spent his life delving into the histories and minds of these infamous monsters. Is there a connection between geographic location and some other unknown force? Are the answers locked within the mind of a man who once committed such a violent attack in 1968, now lying in a vegetative state in a federally funded facility? Can Dr. Harding uncover the secrets of the mind through technology or will it be his very own undoing?
With true brilliance, Michael McBride has created a story that unflinchingly takes on the evil that lurks within, holding the reader captive to the very last page! He consistently produces tales that will chill you to the bone and have you coming back for more!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Darkfuse in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Dark Fuse
ISBN: 9781937771720
Genre: Sci-fi
Age Recommendation: Adults/New Adult
My Rating: 5 Stars
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
With true brilliance, Michael McBride has created a story that unflinchingly takes on the evil that lurks within, holding the reader captive to the very last page! He consistently produces tales that will chill you to the bone and have you coming back for more!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Darkfuse in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Dark Fuse
ISBN: 9781937771720
Genre: Sci-fi
Age Recommendation: Adults/New Adult
My Rating: 5 Stars
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
September 3, 2013
This is the story od Dr Ellis Harding. Present at a spree killing in a library as a student, he decides to change the course of his career and find out what makes mass murderers do what they do. Having spent his entire career on the subject, he finally gets the chance to 'unlock' the secrets in the comatose mind of patient F0. He may soon come to wish he hadn't however.....
This was a fantastic fast paced read that took me gently by the hand to begin with and then sat on me until the earth shattering end. I liked the link to historical events, they made the story have a ring of reality to it. The characters were solid, despite there only being three or four of them. It was a tense, taught thriller even though it was a quick read. I recommend this for people who like to immerse themselves quickly and come out gasping at the end.
This was a fantastic fast paced read that took me gently by the hand to begin with and then sat on me until the earth shattering end. I liked the link to historical events, they made the story have a ring of reality to it. The characters were solid, despite there only being three or four of them. It was a tense, taught thriller even though it was a quick read. I recommend this for people who like to immerse themselves quickly and come out gasping at the end.
June 29, 2013
Superb combination of science, factual evidence (real events, data),trauma and the unknown variable.
It ended far too soon. The actual solution was a cop out. Mcbride takes us into frankly frightening realms and then plays the easy explanation card. That didn't gel well for me, especially after the complex build up.
It had an Fallen aura about it (film D. Washington). Eerie and bordering on unbelievable and yet somehow also being plausible.
I really wanted to know whether there could be a scientific or psychological link.
Mcbride is certainly an author to watch out for. I would also like to commend his research into the thought process of victims in the situations described in this story both during and after the events in question.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.
It ended far too soon. The actual solution was a cop out. Mcbride takes us into frankly frightening realms and then plays the easy explanation card. That didn't gel well for me, especially after the complex build up.
It had an Fallen aura about it (film D. Washington). Eerie and bordering on unbelievable and yet somehow also being plausible.
I really wanted to know whether there could be a scientific or psychological link.
Mcbride is certainly an author to watch out for. I would also like to commend his research into the thought process of victims in the situations described in this story both during and after the events in question.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.
June 13, 2013
I finally got around to finishing F9, been so busy haven't had a lot of time to read. As always a very good read by MM. This was part psychological thriller, part documentary with some techno thrown in. What I liked most about the story was the way everything came together at the end . I gave F9 4 stars.
June 8, 2022
Extremely dry tale looking into the reasoning behind some violent shooters.
There wasn't a single thing to grab my interest even for a second
There wasn't a single thing to grab my interest even for a second
October 6, 2015
A fictional look inside the brains and thoughts of mass murderers all terrorizing the Colorado area
This book is a quick one at around 60 pages. It took me around an hour total to read this, and I definitely couldn't put it down. I actually was looking through DarkFuse's offerings and this one popped out at me. Then I read the description and after the very recent shooting at a community college I decided I wanted to pick this up and see what it was about.
I'm glad I did. Now, yes, there is some "hard science" within the pages of this book that I'm not sure could have been left out. The author assumes that people do not know anything about the science behind brain scans and MRIs and such. So he goes into some detail (but still incredibly short) about how the processes give these neurologists a look inside brains.
Like I mentioned before, this is a blazing fast read at 60 pages. But I promise, without giving much away, the ending will blindside you. The last 20 pages FLEW by for me, and I couldn't believe that I was at the end of the book already.
I love an author who can pull off an intriguing story off in such few pages. It is really challenging and when they do it right, you are left wishing there was more, but also, you're left feeling like you got an incredible story in such a short space. McBride definitely pulled this off.
This book is a quick one at around 60 pages. It took me around an hour total to read this, and I definitely couldn't put it down. I actually was looking through DarkFuse's offerings and this one popped out at me. Then I read the description and after the very recent shooting at a community college I decided I wanted to pick this up and see what it was about.
I'm glad I did. Now, yes, there is some "hard science" within the pages of this book that I'm not sure could have been left out. The author assumes that people do not know anything about the science behind brain scans and MRIs and such. So he goes into some detail (but still incredibly short) about how the processes give these neurologists a look inside brains.
Like I mentioned before, this is a blazing fast read at 60 pages. But I promise, without giving much away, the ending will blindside you. The last 20 pages FLEW by for me, and I couldn't believe that I was at the end of the book already.
I love an author who can pull off an intriguing story off in such few pages. It is really challenging and when they do it right, you are left wishing there was more, but also, you're left feeling like you got an incredible story in such a short space. McBride definitely pulled this off.
September 19, 2013
The story begins in 1968, after Niall Lester Davenport purposefully drove to Breckenridge, Colorado, walked inside, and opened fire on the patrons enjoying the ski lodge. Mr. Davenport killed 9 people and wounded 22 others.
From 1968 to 1994 there are a total of 10 rampage murder sprees and one man, Dr. Ellis Randall Harding, is determined to scientifically discover why this is happening. And what one case may have in common with the one before.
The main mystery throughout the story is what compelled each mass murderer to start singing "Amazing Grace" as he began to fire on his targets.
An excellent story! This kept me in my seat until the end - I had to know what was coming next. A highly recommended read.
From 1968 to 1994 there are a total of 10 rampage murder sprees and one man, Dr. Ellis Randall Harding, is determined to scientifically discover why this is happening. And what one case may have in common with the one before.
The main mystery throughout the story is what compelled each mass murderer to start singing "Amazing Grace" as he began to fire on his targets.
An excellent story! This kept me in my seat until the end - I had to know what was coming next. A highly recommended read.
June 18, 2013
I had never read anything from McBride before this title, but I had heard great things about his work. I will have to make sure I get more titles of his as this really was a great novella.
It has quite a number of technical terms that could overwhelm some readers, but those terms work well with this story and fits with the subject. This one definitely can leave you thinking about it and wondering about whether the ideas raised here could possibly be true. That, to me, is because of the research used for this, the terms used accurately, and the mood that is prevalent throughout the book all the way through to the end.
It has quite a number of technical terms that could overwhelm some readers, but those terms work well with this story and fits with the subject. This one definitely can leave you thinking about it and wondering about whether the ideas raised here could possibly be true. That, to me, is because of the research used for this, the terms used accurately, and the mood that is prevalent throughout the book all the way through to the end.
June 26, 2013
This was a chilling story that sucked me in right away. It's very science heavy in some spots, but the history of this string of mass murders, and the doctor's own connection to it, keep the story moving. It's much shorter than a full-length novel (something I wished I'd known earlier) but it works well at this length, although I did still have some unanswered questions at the end. Overall, a good read you can get through in a single sitting.
You can read an extended review on my blog:
Review: F9
(review copy received via NetGalley)
You can read an extended review on my blog:
Review: F9
(review copy received via NetGalley)
January 7, 2014
A never-ending viscous cycle!
Michael McBride does it again! This guy is simply a genius. A truly compelling and eye opening fast paced read. All the history integrated into this novella left me thinking what the hell has happened to us and the downward spiral we are taking, becoming desensitized to these mass murders because they are becoming so much more frequent. A MUST read!
Michael McBride does it again! This guy is simply a genius. A truly compelling and eye opening fast paced read. All the history integrated into this novella left me thinking what the hell has happened to us and the downward spiral we are taking, becoming desensitized to these mass murders because they are becoming so much more frequent. A MUST read!
July 14, 2013
Good storyline and all in all a well written suspenseful novella of a disturbing trend in our American Society-- the proliferation of mass murderers. Nothing is as horrific as the true face of mankind.
June 16, 2013
Really cool
July 13, 2013
Michael McBride and serial killers. Liked it. and recommend it.
June 13, 2014
A quick read that is a bit unnerving.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews