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Mutator
James Parry thought he moved into his dream home in the country to enjoy his retirement from a stressful life of academia. But he soon finds out the house and its former owner share a peculiar history.
There's the mysterious underground room James finds tunneled into his basement, where he discovers an otherworldly machine adorned with strange levers and flashing lights, various handwritten notebooks containing pioneering scientific theories, and crudely drawn pictures of a being that appears anything but human.
And then there's the curious silver ball that falls from the sky into his front yard, forcing him to question everything he's ever believed about the nature of the universe.
Mutator—it's come so far to dine.
There's the mysterious underground room James finds tunneled into his basement, where he discovers an otherworldly machine adorned with strange levers and flashing lights, various handwritten notebooks containing pioneering scientific theories, and crudely drawn pictures of a being that appears anything but human.
And then there's the curious silver ball that falls from the sky into his front yard, forcing him to question everything he's ever believed about the nature of the universe.
Mutator—it's come so far to dine.
- GenresHorror
68 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2014
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 17, 2014
Mutator is a novella from Gary Fry that for me pushed pretty much all the right buttons, brought a genuine feeling of unease at the beginning, was methodically paced and ended in a satisfactory conclusion.
James and his beagle Damian (great name for a dog by the way) have moved into a new secluded property and he’s just settling in, bit of gardening, the usual stuff. When he wakes up one morning to find a perfect six inch hole in his lawn. After further investigation he discovers that his cellar is a lot bigger than he realised and a secret room is where this sci-fi/creature feature story kicks off.
There is a relatively small character base, well I guess you can’t get smaller than one guy with a couple of brief appearances from a toffee nosed neighbour and a faithful dog. There were brief looks into the characters history to add some depth and if anything this could have been expanded, to dig a little deeper. For me I really enjoy getting into a character, looking at their flaws, how they communicate, everything really after all it helps to build a bigger picture and peaks your interest more. This story definitely grabbed my interest.
I won’t give any more away and my only issue, and it is a small one and may just be a me thing, is that the author occasionally goes a bit mad, over-zealous might be a better description but sometimes there appears to be a competition regarding fitting as many big words into a sentence as possible. I could give examples but I won’t bore you, just to say that it disrupted the pace a little at times, when you have to overthink something and that’s why I described it as methodical or maybe meticulous.
Overall though I quite enjoyed Mutator and rate this as my favourite of Gary Fry’s work
Mutator was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review and that is what you have.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
James and his beagle Damian (great name for a dog by the way) have moved into a new secluded property and he’s just settling in, bit of gardening, the usual stuff. When he wakes up one morning to find a perfect six inch hole in his lawn. After further investigation he discovers that his cellar is a lot bigger than he realised and a secret room is where this sci-fi/creature feature story kicks off.
There is a relatively small character base, well I guess you can’t get smaller than one guy with a couple of brief appearances from a toffee nosed neighbour and a faithful dog. There were brief looks into the characters history to add some depth and if anything this could have been expanded, to dig a little deeper. For me I really enjoy getting into a character, looking at their flaws, how they communicate, everything really after all it helps to build a bigger picture and peaks your interest more. This story definitely grabbed my interest.
I won’t give any more away and my only issue, and it is a small one and may just be a me thing, is that the author occasionally goes a bit mad, over-zealous might be a better description but sometimes there appears to be a competition regarding fitting as many big words into a sentence as possible. I could give examples but I won’t bore you, just to say that it disrupted the pace a little at times, when you have to overthink something and that’s why I described it as methodical or maybe meticulous.
Overall though I quite enjoyed Mutator and rate this as my favourite of Gary Fry’s work
Mutator was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review and that is what you have.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
October 18, 2014
Gary Fry's latest novella, MUTATOR, brings a new outlook to the science fiction/horror genres. The story sets out with the perfect set-up, a professor moving into a new neighborhood (with his beagle, Damien). A chance encounter with his neighbor gives us the first inkling that "something" was not quite right with either the house, or it's former occupant.
The pace picks up rapidly from there, leading James to discover the secrets left behind from the previous owner, and a more perplexing "threat"....
My only complaint with this story was that Fry tends to be overly-wordy at times--making what could be a relatively simple statement linger on with redundant adjectives over the course of several lines. Occasionally, this method can add to the atmosphere of the book; however, I found that it was overdone in this particular tale.
On the positive side, and what impressed me the most, was that Fry used the character of James, an educated, scientific man, and instilled within him an outlook on his situation that I simply did not expect to see. I don't want to say "how", exactly, for fear of spoiling it for others, but I found this to be a refreshing change. The story itself had a unique concept, and I found myself reading through it in no time at all.
Recommended!
The pace picks up rapidly from there, leading James to discover the secrets left behind from the previous owner, and a more perplexing "threat"....
My only complaint with this story was that Fry tends to be overly-wordy at times--making what could be a relatively simple statement linger on with redundant adjectives over the course of several lines. Occasionally, this method can add to the atmosphere of the book; however, I found that it was overdone in this particular tale.
On the positive side, and what impressed me the most, was that Fry used the character of James, an educated, scientific man, and instilled within him an outlook on his situation that I simply did not expect to see. I don't want to say "how", exactly, for fear of spoiling it for others, but I found this to be a refreshing change. The story itself had a unique concept, and I found myself reading through it in no time at all.
Recommended!
November 20, 2014
Gary Fry is a new and prolific writer whose influence of Classic horror stores is almost transparent within his own writing. This is not a bad thing, however. Indeed, this gives a much needed spice to his stores that are lacking in a lot of today's horror stories. In a way, you could say that an older style of story telling in today's horror literature scene is refreshing is a strange thing. But I don't think so. What makes it refreshing is Fry's talent for crafting these stories so that they're both modern and classic.
Mutator is no different.
James and his beagle, Damian, move into an old house in a new community. James is newly retired, if memory serves, and is looking to spend retirement gardening and spending time with his dog.
One morning soon after moving in he finds a hole in his yard that is a perfect circle with no evidence of anything having dug it – there’s no dirt around the edges. It’s just a perfect hole. This leads James into the basement where he finds a journal written by the previous owner along with a silver sphere.
The story moves along pretty fast and is a fun story with a unique monster. This one isn’t necessarily Lovecraftian, as some of Fry's other works, but it still maintains the classic horror feel of Lovecraft along with Poe and Algernon Blackwood, among others. It’s a short and fun read, and I recommend it.
Four out of five Dweller Heads!
Mutator is no different.
James and his beagle, Damian, move into an old house in a new community. James is newly retired, if memory serves, and is looking to spend retirement gardening and spending time with his dog.
One morning soon after moving in he finds a hole in his yard that is a perfect circle with no evidence of anything having dug it – there’s no dirt around the edges. It’s just a perfect hole. This leads James into the basement where he finds a journal written by the previous owner along with a silver sphere.
The story moves along pretty fast and is a fun story with a unique monster. This one isn’t necessarily Lovecraftian, as some of Fry's other works, but it still maintains the classic horror feel of Lovecraft along with Poe and Algernon Blackwood, among others. It’s a short and fun read, and I recommend it.
Four out of five Dweller Heads!
October 14, 2014
I started reading this novella at work, thinking I'd read to kill time in between tasks. After only a few chapters, I was telling myself, "Just one more chapter and then I have to get back to work." Five minutes later, I was still reading and saying the same thing! I really didn't want to put this one down, even for a moment - after a few pages of setting the scene and getting to know the characters, Fry picked up the pace of the book and kept me fascinated with the storyline through the entire book.
The characters were fantastic and believable - it was nice to see James's reaction to the alien form instead of the usual reaction so many would have. I thought that was great. And who wouldn't love an old Beagle named Damian?!
If you've enjoyed Fry's work in the past or even if you're new to it, I recommend giving this one a try. It's my favorite of his books to date. Highly recommended!
The characters were fantastic and believable - it was nice to see James's reaction to the alien form instead of the usual reaction so many would have. I thought that was great. And who wouldn't love an old Beagle named Damian?!
If you've enjoyed Fry's work in the past or even if you're new to it, I recommend giving this one a try. It's my favorite of his books to date. Highly recommended!
November 11, 2014
This is the third of 3 reviews on new releases in Darkfuse's continuing series of new novellas in the horror genre.
I have been keeping close tabs on Gary Fry's writing. He is one of those horror writers that seem to be onto something different and always experimenting. He comes across traditional but innovative at the same time. I like that. If he doesn't always hit the nail on the head he at least dents it every time he puts pen to paper.
In Mutator, he not only hits the nail on the head, he rams it through the floorboard. A professor has moved into his new country home. Problems start when he discovers a six inch hole in his yard which leads down into his basement, a basement that he finds is much larger than he thought. He finds notes and drawings that shows the previous owner was exploring this phenomenon. He also finds a six inch sphere that could have made the hole. What occurs next becomes the gist of this eerie and involving tale.
I believe this particular works really shows off some of the authors' influences. The eerie descriptions and settings of a dark mood evokes much of Ramsey Campbell's style. Most prevalent in this story is a similarity to the Lovecraftian leanings of the Lovecraft Circle. Have you ever kept thinking of a writer when you read something but you can't explain why? In this situation, I kept thinking, "Clark Ashton Smith". If Fry does not love the tales of CAS, I will be shocked. Even if the main theme of Mutator is science fiction and not supernatural, the sense of doom and dread is there especially at the beginning. But that changes. The protagonist's feeling toward the entity of the story evolves and we find ourselves involved in how that change happens. The change from a vague fear to (no spoilers) is what makes the tale different from much of the horror out there and why Gary Fry deserves to be read. Highly recommended at four and a half stars. As much as I loved this one, I am still waiting for the Fry novel that floors me. I am pretty sure it is there somewhere.
I have been keeping close tabs on Gary Fry's writing. He is one of those horror writers that seem to be onto something different and always experimenting. He comes across traditional but innovative at the same time. I like that. If he doesn't always hit the nail on the head he at least dents it every time he puts pen to paper.
In Mutator, he not only hits the nail on the head, he rams it through the floorboard. A professor has moved into his new country home. Problems start when he discovers a six inch hole in his yard which leads down into his basement, a basement that he finds is much larger than he thought. He finds notes and drawings that shows the previous owner was exploring this phenomenon. He also finds a six inch sphere that could have made the hole. What occurs next becomes the gist of this eerie and involving tale.
I believe this particular works really shows off some of the authors' influences. The eerie descriptions and settings of a dark mood evokes much of Ramsey Campbell's style. Most prevalent in this story is a similarity to the Lovecraftian leanings of the Lovecraft Circle. Have you ever kept thinking of a writer when you read something but you can't explain why? In this situation, I kept thinking, "Clark Ashton Smith". If Fry does not love the tales of CAS, I will be shocked. Even if the main theme of Mutator is science fiction and not supernatural, the sense of doom and dread is there especially at the beginning. But that changes. The protagonist's feeling toward the entity of the story evolves and we find ourselves involved in how that change happens. The change from a vague fear to (no spoilers) is what makes the tale different from much of the horror out there and why Gary Fry deserves to be read. Highly recommended at four and a half stars. As much as I loved this one, I am still waiting for the Fry novel that floors me. I am pretty sure it is there somewhere.
January 3, 2015
Fun read and very reminiscent of early 1940s type Amazing Stories/pulp short stories.
October 19, 2014
The Yorkshire Dales weather of wild winds is the setting of the story’s opening, as it is apropos my reading in the wild winds of Snowdonia although at least I’m comfy in a sunroom overlooking the misty, moisty, mountains.
The reader settles into this story beginning soothingly enough with fine setting and repartee between the retired prof and his posh mounted neighbour. Then along comes those kind of phrases that signify a Gary Fry narrative “…his words ringing in all the silence that settled around them. The countryside muttered back, a calming combination of whistling wind and rattling leaves. Trees shook at a distance…” I lick my lips and read on. Yay, a writer who knows the difference between further and farther.
His lawn’s ‘alopecic grass’ contained a newly-appeared hole. A hand’s width but deep. Love these kind of mysteries. Sometimes the story has too much detail such as when we follow every turn and opening / shutting of doors, however, this is forgivable for such creepy stories as this best read out loud.
Ah, brilliant, I discover a sphere in this story. Strange, maybe metaphysical or just physical, but it resonated for me with my Exit, Pursued by a Bee, in which several metallic spheres (many times larger than in this story) emerged from the ground causing havoc by their leaving.
A consummate wordmaster, Fry handles sensory Show superbly. Not just a nasty earthy smell but ‘bestial aroma, rough and insulting’.
Interesting reflections on how and why a reasonable intellectual finds himself defending an awful, bestial creature when perhaps he should have been running fast in the opposite direction. I like such testing and appeal to the reader’s sensibilities. A kind of Don’t think of what the monster might do to you but what You might do for it. If I am disturbed by any of the assumptions of our intrepid nearly-retired professor of psychology it is the perpetuation of the concept that humans are not animals as we label livestock, insects, etc; that our brains are significantly different, but are they? Are we not just animals with more neuron webbing? Judge for yourself whether this is what the prof means as you draw to the story’s finale.
Where Edgar Rice Burroughs’ nightmarish creatures meet M R James storytelling.
The reader settles into this story beginning soothingly enough with fine setting and repartee between the retired prof and his posh mounted neighbour. Then along comes those kind of phrases that signify a Gary Fry narrative “…his words ringing in all the silence that settled around them. The countryside muttered back, a calming combination of whistling wind and rattling leaves. Trees shook at a distance…” I lick my lips and read on. Yay, a writer who knows the difference between further and farther.
His lawn’s ‘alopecic grass’ contained a newly-appeared hole. A hand’s width but deep. Love these kind of mysteries. Sometimes the story has too much detail such as when we follow every turn and opening / shutting of doors, however, this is forgivable for such creepy stories as this best read out loud.
Ah, brilliant, I discover a sphere in this story. Strange, maybe metaphysical or just physical, but it resonated for me with my Exit, Pursued by a Bee, in which several metallic spheres (many times larger than in this story) emerged from the ground causing havoc by their leaving.
A consummate wordmaster, Fry handles sensory Show superbly. Not just a nasty earthy smell but ‘bestial aroma, rough and insulting’.
Interesting reflections on how and why a reasonable intellectual finds himself defending an awful, bestial creature when perhaps he should have been running fast in the opposite direction. I like such testing and appeal to the reader’s sensibilities. A kind of Don’t think of what the monster might do to you but what You might do for it. If I am disturbed by any of the assumptions of our intrepid nearly-retired professor of psychology it is the perpetuation of the concept that humans are not animals as we label livestock, insects, etc; that our brains are significantly different, but are they? Are we not just animals with more neuron webbing? Judge for yourself whether this is what the prof means as you draw to the story’s finale.
Where Edgar Rice Burroughs’ nightmarish creatures meet M R James storytelling.
December 3, 2014
Mutator by Gary Fry and published by DarkFuse is a story of discovery, or finding things concealed in the darkness. James Parry a retired professor moves to a new home in the country along with his instinctive beagle Damian and discovers the idyll he craves after a life of hard work in academia. The house and bucolic surroundings offer all the peace and privacy he needs. But if Gary Fry’s story takes you to a peaceful Yorkshire village you know the walls of quiet solitude will be smashed soon enough.
Often I’ll mention how shorter work ends too quickly without giving enough space to explore its themes. Or I’ll say it extended slightly when a more abrupt conclusion would have reinforced the overall story. Here Gary Fry has paced Mutator with a precise eye. The reader is introduced to the action quickly while the mysteries of the cosmic creature are unraveled with a patient yearning like unwrapping the final chocolate on Boxing Day.
Gary Fry has been called a Lovecraftian writer a lot. I think it’s time we started saying this style is Fryesque as he’s made it uniquely his own. Mutator is another example of why Gary Fry’s name is rising among the stars he fills with horrors.
Full review at http://thehorrificallyhorrifyinghorro...
Often I’ll mention how shorter work ends too quickly without giving enough space to explore its themes. Or I’ll say it extended slightly when a more abrupt conclusion would have reinforced the overall story. Here Gary Fry has paced Mutator with a precise eye. The reader is introduced to the action quickly while the mysteries of the cosmic creature are unraveled with a patient yearning like unwrapping the final chocolate on Boxing Day.
Gary Fry has been called a Lovecraftian writer a lot. I think it’s time we started saying this style is Fryesque as he’s made it uniquely his own. Mutator is another example of why Gary Fry’s name is rising among the stars he fills with horrors.
Full review at http://thehorrificallyhorrifyinghorro...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews