The Perils of Fishboy: A Tale Split in Two

by Cory Basil

Before he had even hatched, Finnegan Blink's perilous journey began. Our first tale sets sail with the devious headmaster of the prestigious Hero Hatchery Schoolhouse plotting to prevent the safe arrival of new students. However, it s an ordinary delivery driver, Sam Crawfish, who holds the fate of Finnegan in his aging claw. The question is, will Sam be able to keep his wits about him long enough to save the day?

In the second of our two tales, young Fishboy is forced to grow up behind the stoic walls of the Hero Hatchery Schoolhouse, where he is ridiculed for his differences and slow development. Here, he experiences all the difficulties of growing up -- but with one additional problem: his tail fin is revealed to not be a fin at all, but legs like that of a human. As a unique creation stuck in a strange cycle of evolution, Fishboy is uprooted from his home and forced to find a place where he belongs. Within his newfound life, curiosity begets adventure, and he embarks upon a dangerous journey, chasing purpose and mystery. One by one each perilous adventure proves to be a character building step towards self discovery, as he crosses over from water to land a feat never before accomplished by any fish in the deep blue sea.

350 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Cory Basil is an American author, painter and filmmaker. Blending gothic romanticism with modern poetic rhythm, Basil's poems trust emotional honesty over the dubious truths to be gleaned from appearances. This philosophy also reigns in his paintings, where he conjures with a renaissance artist's reverence for colour and light, revealing the soul of a baroque spectacle.

Raised in Phoenix, Ariz., Basil is a lifelong poet, artist and student of the human experience. His first collection of poetry and prose, Skinny Dipping in Daylight (2012), rose from the ashes of several scorned selves - husband, scared child, devout Christian - and the ensuing fight to forge something new from the wreckage. He currently lives in Nashville, Tenn.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a lucky day for me when I won this book in a goodreads.com giveaway. What a treasure it is.

Delightful, insightful, enjoyable... I don't have enough words to properly praise this book. The writing is friendly and welcoming and the world beneath the waves is perfectly described. I felt as if I were there. And there's a nifty map!

Finnegan Blink's quest for adventure and to find his place in the world is told in a gentle tale that manages to not be dull.

I wasn't sure if this was a children's book (as it is quite thick) or a book for all ages and, frankly, it doesn't matter to me. I love it and will wait impatiently for the next book.

A perfect bedtime story, too, with a smattering of lovely pencil drawings, placed like little jewels throughout the book.

"The Perils of Fishboy: A Tale Split in Two" is filled with quirky characters, romance, and mystery. Finnegan, Sam, Elie and Norbert are part of my life now and I love them.

If you are in the mood for a satisfying read, reach for this book. You will not be disappointed.

[Kelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway from goodreads.

This is a pretty good book. I entered the giveaway because I thought that my little girl would like this book. Of course, being the awesome parent that I am, I had to read it first to make sure that it was age appropriate.

I am proud to announce that The Perils of Fishboy is appropriate for all ages. What a great book! At first, I thought it might be a little too Spongebob for me. What with all the undersea anthropomorphic creatures. However, this was not the case at all. The characters are very much their own animal (ha ha).

As for the actual composition, the writing is very clear and accessible. It is enjoyable. Like all good writing, character development and plot are intertwined. There are not long breaks in the stories progression just to describe some personal trait. It all flows together, keeping things readable and quite enjoyable.

It was also an interesting idea to split the book into two parts. The first part being the tale of Fishboy's arrival in the world, and the second being a story about Fishboy's exploits.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantastic stories or just plain creative, different stories that do their own thing.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is built on the weirdest, most creative kids-book premise I've seen in a while. The storyline is half superhero origin story, half Arthurian adventure, but with a steampunk-ish backdrop and a down-to-earth, American flavor. Moves at a slow and steady pace for the most part, and ends with some major questions unresolved, ripe for a sequel. The overall message is good, the main characters are friendly and likable, the bad guys are cruel and unusual, and the illustrations are absolute perfection. Basically, it's a pretty cool book! It could have benefited, I think, from a more careful editor (there are weird little typos here and there, and phrases whose clarity could be improved), but the bones (pardon the pun) are good enough that I think it would be totally worth it for a publisher to put out a second edition with any minor issues corrected. The author's voice comes through with the right amount of seriousness or funniness or explanation at the right times, but fades back to let the characters and their surroundings speak for themselves. After reading this book, I'm left wanting to know more about Fishboy and his intriguing, well-crafted universe, and I hope Cory Basil writes more about them soon!

[Amy Neftzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fishboy has a problem: he's evolving. Well, the problem isn't really that he's evolving; it's that the other fish aren't and it makes him look like a freak. He doesn't feel like he fits in very well, most of the other fish don't understand him so he doesn’t have friends his own age, and the headmaster of the prestigious school he attends wants him dead. Those are his real problems.

However, Fishboy also has friends and an unbeatable spirit of adventure. This is a book for anyone who has ever been bullied or felt like a misfit. Nicely written an beautifully illustrated. This is a book that will appeal especially to young boys or to those who love the sea.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the author.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going through a bunch of books that I have read but not reviewed on goodreads... Cory Basil has quickly become one of my favorite writers. I encourage everyone to check out his website www.hereliescorybasil.com He is a writer, artist, musician and a lot more.

Just looking at his writing he already has a poetry book (another on the way), The Perils of Fishboy (this book), the sequel coming out shortly and recently put out a reader that has poetry, short stories and even photography.

This book is pretty amazing. The world that is created in this book is really incredible. Kids will enjoy it, but adults will find themselves lost in it as well. It is funny, dramatic, and tough to put down. I literally can't wait for Part 2!!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here I am, reading Fishboy for the second time! It is that good.

Although this is a “childrens novel”, it certainly does not feel simplistic. Rather, the twists and turns are enchanting and the child-like wonder feels so refreshing. I find myself wrapped up in the story, and I can’t put the book down.

I’ve been a fan of Cory’s poetry for quite some time now. “The Perils of Fishboy” seems like a natural extension of his unique voice.

Cory’s imaginative story not only captures the reader in the suspense, but develops a connection with the characters that keeps reader…well, hooked.

[Reed]

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