What do you think?
Rate this book
The Supersonic Phallus
148 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2025
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Steven Key Meyers
20 books4 followersI was born on a farm near Grand Junction, Colorado, raised in various Midwestern and Eastern locales, and currently live in darkest Indiana. My degrees in English literature are from City College of New York and Columbia University.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 10, 2025
Two and a half, maybe three stars. I'll tip the scales in favor of the author's effort.
Given a bit more time and work, this would have made a decent 220-250 page novel. Lots of interesting characters residing in an interesting era in our Cold War history, lots of Red Scare talk, plenty of uranium chatter, revolving around the small town of Sienna, Colorado (current real-life home to Buckley Space Force base). Two men, married and stable (but apparently curious) Sam and the dashing Dean, working for the small town's small newspaper, find themselves thrown together to cover the exploding post-Roswell story of possible flying saucers spotted in and around Sienna. Before you know it, during a night-time stakeout at a remote location in a field waiting for signs of the UFOs, the two gents become more than just casual acquaintances under a blanket to keep warm.
Fast forward, and Dean and Sam uncover the source of the local flying saucer sightings, a hoax cooked up by an enterprising local man of means, and are torn when their editor tells them to kill their expose - instead, they are to cover it as a truly unexplainable phenomenon. As the story progresses, there are suggestions that there's more to the story than the hoax.
It's a fun story, but characters are poorly fleshed out; with only Sam's POV to go by, we could at least have had a glance at his motivations - does he really want to leave his adoring-ish pregnant wife and start a life in hiding, knowing that his relationship with Dean could ruin a lot of lives?
Side characters are one-dimensional, and there's not much in the lead characters that strain two dimensions. There are also a lot of loose threads left dangling that demand a bit of closure - one example is Dean's body's natural response to the overflight of the "real" UFO. It's mentioned at the time it occurs, Sam mulls it over for about four minutes somewhat later in the novel, and then we are expected to have forgotten it.
I picture this book as a great outline that the author started to flesh out - there's some inspired writing throughout - but grew bored with. Imagine a painter trying to do justice to a lush forest, he's sketched out the trees, went in after to add paint for foliage, but left the trunks empty of any color. A bit of a disappointment.
Given a bit more time and work, this would have made a decent 220-250 page novel. Lots of interesting characters residing in an interesting era in our Cold War history, lots of Red Scare talk, plenty of uranium chatter, revolving around the small town of Sienna, Colorado (current real-life home to Buckley Space Force base). Two men, married and stable (but apparently curious) Sam and the dashing Dean, working for the small town's small newspaper, find themselves thrown together to cover the exploding post-Roswell story of possible flying saucers spotted in and around Sienna. Before you know it, during a night-time stakeout at a remote location in a field waiting for signs of the UFOs, the two gents become more than just casual acquaintances under a blanket to keep warm.
Fast forward, and Dean and Sam uncover the source of the local flying saucer sightings, a hoax cooked up by an enterprising local man of means, and are torn when their editor tells them to kill their expose - instead, they are to cover it as a truly unexplainable phenomenon. As the story progresses, there are suggestions that there's more to the story than the hoax.
It's a fun story, but characters are poorly fleshed out; with only Sam's POV to go by, we could at least have had a glance at his motivations - does he really want to leave his adoring-ish pregnant wife and start a life in hiding, knowing that his relationship with Dean could ruin a lot of lives?
Side characters are one-dimensional, and there's not much in the lead characters that strain two dimensions. There are also a lot of loose threads left dangling that demand a bit of closure - one example is Dean's body's natural response to the overflight of the "real" UFO. It's mentioned at the time it occurs, Sam mulls it over for about four minutes somewhat later in the novel, and then we are expected to have forgotten it.
I picture this book as a great outline that the author started to flesh out - there's some inspired writing throughout - but grew bored with. Imagine a painter trying to do justice to a lush forest, he's sketched out the trees, went in after to add paint for foliage, but left the trunks empty of any color. A bit of a disappointment.
December 31, 2025
Of course I picked this up on Netgalley for the title and the cover art alone - a classic flying saucer, the 1940s styling, a supersonic phallus. The book is a quick, fun read, less than 200 pages, set in the immediate aftermath of World War II, when the US had developed the bomb, the Soviets were spying for its secrets, and the UFO craze went national. All of this was great, and I enjoyed the details of the news office and printing, and especially the zany antics of the local poor man turned rich man in the Uranium King.
What I found distasteful was the callous disregard that married Sam had towards his pregnant wife as he was working and engaging in a romantic affair with his work colleague, Dean. She's ignored at home, patted on the head, and Sam jets off with his new love interest. In the few times she's mentioned in the book, she's described as "enormous" and "snoring." Dean, of course, is handsome, charming, and available, and Sam seems to have absolutely no compunctions towards leaving her home alone and heavily pregnant. On a personal level,
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this book.
What I found distasteful was the callous disregard that married Sam had towards his pregnant wife as he was working and engaging in a romantic affair with his work colleague, Dean. She's ignored at home, patted on the head, and Sam jets off with his new love interest. In the few times she's mentioned in the book, she's described as "enormous" and "snoring." Dean, of course, is handsome, charming, and available, and Sam seems to have absolutely no compunctions towards leaving her home alone and heavily pregnant. On a personal level,
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this book.
December 18, 2025
I definitely picked this with the hint of the Wincest fic, and it was enjoyable enough as its own, but not something to my usual reading taste.
Could be a fun read for sci-fi enjoyers, with the book also including some self discovery aspects.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free arc copy
Could be a fun read for sci-fi enjoyers, with the book also including some self discovery aspects.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free arc copy
August 11, 2025
Firstly - terrific title. Drew me instantly!
This tale is a lovely, humorous, and sad telling of gay experience in the 1940s, against the backdrop of UFOs and post WWII American economic and technological rise.
The cognitive dissonance required of so many in that era was beautifully juxtaposed with the ridiculousness of UFOs. The journey of discovery, fight for truth, the suppression of truth, the lives we lead, and the regrets and joys that can bring.
A short little tale that doesn’t explore characters much beyond the protagonist. Despite this, the commentary on Sam’s life for those few weeks speaks volumes and shows some of the difficulties of what being homosexual was like in an era, thankfully long gone (but dishearteningly, not gone for everyone).
What’s nice about this tale is that it really shouldn’t upset anyone by being “too depressive” or some other silly critic that more serious stories can face. There is a lightness of tone which makes this story fun to read, but if you’re open to it, a small sadness for all those generations of men and women who couldn’t love themselves or others freely.
Very grateful to Netgalley and Smash-and-Grab Press for an ARC to provide an honest review.
This tale is a lovely, humorous, and sad telling of gay experience in the 1940s, against the backdrop of UFOs and post WWII American economic and technological rise.
The cognitive dissonance required of so many in that era was beautifully juxtaposed with the ridiculousness of UFOs. The journey of discovery, fight for truth, the suppression of truth, the lives we lead, and the regrets and joys that can bring.
A short little tale that doesn’t explore characters much beyond the protagonist. Despite this, the commentary on Sam’s life for those few weeks speaks volumes and shows some of the difficulties of what being homosexual was like in an era, thankfully long gone (but dishearteningly, not gone for everyone).
What’s nice about this tale is that it really shouldn’t upset anyone by being “too depressive” or some other silly critic that more serious stories can face. There is a lightness of tone which makes this story fun to read, but if you’re open to it, a small sadness for all those generations of men and women who couldn’t love themselves or others freely.
Very grateful to Netgalley and Smash-and-Grab Press for an ARC to provide an honest review.
September 1, 2025
This unconventional novella follows a 1947 newspaper reporter Sam who's married to a woman with one child and another on the way. He meets another up and coming reporter Dean and together they investigate flying saucer sightings in their town... and fall in love. Dean is definitely only interested in men. Sam's sexuality is more fluid. The tale of the saucers -are they real? are they good or do they have the capacity to destroy? All that mirrors the journey the two men go through together. Author Meyers writing held my attention. Love a good historical gay male story. I will look out for more from him.
Bravo to illustrator Todd Engel for incredible cover art.
Thank you The Smash-and-Grab Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC.
Bravo to illustrator Todd Engel for incredible cover art.
Thank you The Smash-and-Grab Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC.
August 11, 2025
This is a neat historical tale about UFO sightings in post-war America, and the two queer journalists chasing the story, and each other. The conflict between Truth and Drama when reporting the news is perennially interesting, and realistically played out here.
Note, it's not in any way a romance, more a character study and self-discovery arc, so I had to adjust expectations once reading. I'd also say that naming two Main Characters Dean and Sam in a story with supernatural elements is a bold decision in this day and age, but it did feel more like "whatever, those are good white American names" rather than undisguised fanfiction.
I read an ARC at NetGalley, and appreciate the publisher sharing that way. All opinions are my own. 14/20, rounded up at Goodreads.
Note, it's not in any way a romance, more a character study and self-discovery arc, so I had to adjust expectations once reading. I'd also say that naming two Main Characters Dean and Sam in a story with supernatural elements is a bold decision in this day and age, but it did feel more like "whatever, those are good white American names" rather than undisguised fanfiction.
I read an ARC at NetGalley, and appreciate the publisher sharing that way. All opinions are my own. 14/20, rounded up at Goodreads.
August 24, 2025
Almost a charming novella, almost a science fiction short story, almost a romance, almost a historical fiction. A lot of almost and not a complete anything, but that’s mostly because the story’s plot was an irresolute compact mirror. It’s short, so it’s readable, but nowhere in the realm of entertaining, revealing, philosophical, or satirical. Much like the supersonic phallus, it exists but it doesn’t live or matter, even though it should. Three cheers for theme, but who even were these characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free electronic copy in advance of publication date, I’m able to provide a fair if unblushing review of another artist’s hard work.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free electronic copy in advance of publication date, I’m able to provide a fair if unblushing review of another artist’s hard work.
December 15, 2025
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: When cub reporters Dean and Sam of the Sinai, Colorado Sentinel investigate UFOs seen over Two-Mile Mesa, they have no idea of what they’re about to face—or of what they’ll end up doing. The time is July 1947—the great flying-saucer scare, when thousands of Americans suddenly report seeing UFOs over every part of the country.
Dean is gay, but Sam (our narrator) is decidedly not! But as they interview witnesses and maintain high-altitude stakeouts, Sam begins to fall in love with Dean. Are the UFOs to blame? Is Dean merely the handsomest man Sam’s ever seen, or a space alien? And are the UFOs actually Russian aircraft out to steal U.S. atomic secrets?
The Air Force sends P-51 Mustang fighters to shoot down Sinai’s aerial invaders, even as the Government insists people are just seeing weather balloons. But one night, after a veritable supersonic phallus streaks overhead, Dean and Sam risk everything to let the world know the truth.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Sam...married, kid, wife pregnant...wakes up to man sex when Dean enters his life. It's the Cold War, the Lavender Scare, and they're chasing the newly-named UFOs as sightings make the world news...are they Soviet spies, are they really aliens, is this some secret intelligence project we lifted from the recently-defeated Nazis? No one knows but Sam and Dean mean to find out.
It's all told from Sam's PoV and in his voice, which honestly feels light and humorous. I was surprised by that, as he is a man with some deeply unsettling issues to deal with. Not least really lusting after Dean; though that one's tough for anyone anytime. You want someone you're not married to, that's trouble; but they're same sex and the world, the Army, the government in general are all having fits because queers = bad, queers = spies...humor might not be everyone's first option of tone.
It's not comedy, it's not tragedy, it's a dramedy. I smiled more than I laughed, first when I found out out heroes are Sam and Dean and we're in a paranormal hunt for facts and truth. I wondered if it would be fanfic for Supernatural, but that was not my impression as I read along. I'd wondered also if we were to be treated to sex scene(s) but this too was not wher Author Meyers was headed. Sam's awakening was enough of a stretch, in that day and time. Plus when you live in a small town (Roswell is clearly the model) and are pursuing the armed forces to give you information they do not want you to have...well, first rule of surviving in the news biz is "never hand your enemy the gun."
It's a short read. I'm really glad I read it to keep my mind occupied with troubles not immediate to me or real but really grounded and relatable. What it did for me was make me aware that I live a deeply fortunate life as a gay man in the twenty-first century, and how very under threat that is.
Gratitude, meet vigilance, y'all're gonna be roommates in my skull.
Fun, light of tone and serious of purpose. Serves both masters very well indeed, and for three bucks as an ebook, you won't go wrong.
The Publisher Says: When cub reporters Dean and Sam of the Sinai, Colorado Sentinel investigate UFOs seen over Two-Mile Mesa, they have no idea of what they’re about to face—or of what they’ll end up doing. The time is July 1947—the great flying-saucer scare, when thousands of Americans suddenly report seeing UFOs over every part of the country.
Dean is gay, but Sam (our narrator) is decidedly not! But as they interview witnesses and maintain high-altitude stakeouts, Sam begins to fall in love with Dean. Are the UFOs to blame? Is Dean merely the handsomest man Sam’s ever seen, or a space alien? And are the UFOs actually Russian aircraft out to steal U.S. atomic secrets?
The Air Force sends P-51 Mustang fighters to shoot down Sinai’s aerial invaders, even as the Government insists people are just seeing weather balloons. But one night, after a veritable supersonic phallus streaks overhead, Dean and Sam risk everything to let the world know the truth.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Sam...married, kid, wife pregnant...wakes up to man sex when Dean enters his life. It's the Cold War, the Lavender Scare, and they're chasing the newly-named UFOs as sightings make the world news...are they Soviet spies, are they really aliens, is this some secret intelligence project we lifted from the recently-defeated Nazis? No one knows but Sam and Dean mean to find out.
It's all told from Sam's PoV and in his voice, which honestly feels light and humorous. I was surprised by that, as he is a man with some deeply unsettling issues to deal with. Not least really lusting after Dean; though that one's tough for anyone anytime. You want someone you're not married to, that's trouble; but they're same sex and the world, the Army, the government in general are all having fits because queers = bad, queers = spies...humor might not be everyone's first option of tone.
It's not comedy, it's not tragedy, it's a dramedy. I smiled more than I laughed, first when I found out out heroes are Sam and Dean and we're in a paranormal hunt for facts and truth. I wondered if it would be fanfic for Supernatural, but that was not my impression as I read along. I'd wondered also if we were to be treated to sex scene(s) but this too was not wher Author Meyers was headed. Sam's awakening was enough of a stretch, in that day and time. Plus when you live in a small town (Roswell is clearly the model) and are pursuing the armed forces to give you information they do not want you to have...well, first rule of surviving in the news biz is "never hand your enemy the gun."
It's a short read. I'm really glad I read it to keep my mind occupied with troubles not immediate to me or real but really grounded and relatable. What it did for me was make me aware that I live a deeply fortunate life as a gay man in the twenty-first century, and how very under threat that is.
Gratitude, meet vigilance, y'all're gonna be roommates in my skull.
Fun, light of tone and serious of purpose. Serves both masters very well indeed, and for three bucks as an ebook, you won't go wrong.
July 23, 2025
The thrill of discovering something as fantastic, as mysterious, and as possibly dangerous as UFOs serves as an apt metaphor for the way that parts of a person's sexuality, previously repressed, could emerge under the right circumstances, igniting a sense of both wonder and terror.
Sam, a young reporter with a pregnant wife and a kid, falls for a handsome colleague, Dean. Sam grapples with his unexpected attraction, all while he and Dean investigate UFO sightings in Colorado.
The great and cheeky title, “The Supersonic Phallus,” as well as its 1940s setting, suggests an homage or even an outright parody of the outrageous pulp science-fiction stories of the mid-twentieth century. But Meyers's book feels more like gay literary fiction disguised as popular sci-fi. It's sharply observed and well-plotted.
It also feels authentically rooted in a very specific time and place. We're treated to wide-eyed newspapermen chasing a hot story, Cold War paranoia, long-forgotten cultural references, and a budding gay romance between two men trapped in a more conservative era. The amount of research that must've gone into writing this must have been tremendous.
But while the story is full of nostalgia and the real-world concerns of the past, its echoes can still be heard in our present day: we still deal with homophobia, fear of foreign powers, the question of journalistic integrity, the ongoing mysteries of UFOs, and many more themes that are packed in this novel.
Recommended for fans of:
- grounded science fiction
- real UFO history
- stories about gay awakening set in the distant past
[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
Sam, a young reporter with a pregnant wife and a kid, falls for a handsome colleague, Dean. Sam grapples with his unexpected attraction, all while he and Dean investigate UFO sightings in Colorado.
The great and cheeky title, “The Supersonic Phallus,” as well as its 1940s setting, suggests an homage or even an outright parody of the outrageous pulp science-fiction stories of the mid-twentieth century. But Meyers's book feels more like gay literary fiction disguised as popular sci-fi. It's sharply observed and well-plotted.
It also feels authentically rooted in a very specific time and place. We're treated to wide-eyed newspapermen chasing a hot story, Cold War paranoia, long-forgotten cultural references, and a budding gay romance between two men trapped in a more conservative era. The amount of research that must've gone into writing this must have been tremendous.
But while the story is full of nostalgia and the real-world concerns of the past, its echoes can still be heard in our present day: we still deal with homophobia, fear of foreign powers, the question of journalistic integrity, the ongoing mysteries of UFOs, and many more themes that are packed in this novel.
Recommended for fans of:
- grounded science fiction
- real UFO history
- stories about gay awakening set in the distant past
[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
August 26, 2025
3 - was ok
This book follows journalists Dean and Sam in the small town of Sinai. There have been news lately of UFOs flying about, and they're assigned the story, and sent to get pictures as well.
At first, nothing comes of their search. But given enough time, they see the UFOs! But is everything as it seems? Are the UFOs actually real?
On top of that, despite one of them being a married man with children, their late nights lead to some dalliances between the two. Will that go anywhere? Can it go anywhere?
This book was...ok. I haven't read anything set in the 1940s or about UFOs, so that was a cool setting. But besides that, the book just felt lackluster overall. There wasn't much in the way of romance, and any frisky scenes basically happened behind closed doors, which was a great disappointment for me. The story was mildly interesting but just that: mildly interesting. There's not much about this book that stands out besides its title, which was sadly and decidedly irrelevant to the rest of the book.
Overall, I think I'd only recommend this book to people who like historical fiction, vague gay romance, and sex scenes behind closed doors.
This book follows journalists Dean and Sam in the small town of Sinai. There have been news lately of UFOs flying about, and they're assigned the story, and sent to get pictures as well.
At first, nothing comes of their search. But given enough time, they see the UFOs! But is everything as it seems? Are the UFOs actually real?
On top of that, despite one of them being a married man with children, their late nights lead to some dalliances between the two. Will that go anywhere? Can it go anywhere?
This book was...ok. I haven't read anything set in the 1940s or about UFOs, so that was a cool setting. But besides that, the book just felt lackluster overall. There wasn't much in the way of romance, and any frisky scenes basically happened behind closed doors, which was a great disappointment for me. The story was mildly interesting but just that: mildly interesting. There's not much about this book that stands out besides its title, which was sadly and decidedly irrelevant to the rest of the book.
Overall, I think I'd only recommend this book to people who like historical fiction, vague gay romance, and sex scenes behind closed doors.
ugh
December 21, 2025This review is cross posted to NetGalley, Goodreads and Storygraph.
Huge thanks to the publisher (Smash & Grab Press) (love the name!) for the chance to read this book.
DNF - PG 40
I'll be honest with you, this is the fourth time I've started this review. I have so many more well thought out words about what I expected from this book and how it was just a poor match for me right from the start (thanks to a miscommunication between me and the synopsis).
But, really, the only thing I feel compelled to say about this book is that Sam is a cheating cheater who cheats.
He is married, already has a kid with his currently pregnant wife and he is kissing and shoving his hands down another man's pants.
I do not really need to go into anything else or try to say - like I usually do when it is just a mismatch between me and the book - that there might be people out there who would enjoy this because I don't care.
You want to make me angry, cheaters are one of the three quickest ways to do it. I have no interest in reading this and I also have no interest in wording my way around to saying that 'someone may enjoy this' because I really don't care if there is or not.
Huge thanks to the publisher (Smash & Grab Press) (love the name!) for the chance to read this book.
DNF - PG 40
I'll be honest with you, this is the fourth time I've started this review. I have so many more well thought out words about what I expected from this book and how it was just a poor match for me right from the start (thanks to a miscommunication between me and the synopsis).
But, really, the only thing I feel compelled to say about this book is that Sam is a cheating cheater who cheats.
He is married, already has a kid with his currently pregnant wife and he is kissing and shoving his hands down another man's pants.
I do not really need to go into anything else or try to say - like I usually do when it is just a mismatch between me and the book - that there might be people out there who would enjoy this because I don't care.
You want to make me angry, cheaters are one of the three quickest ways to do it. I have no interest in reading this and I also have no interest in wording my way around to saying that 'someone may enjoy this' because I really don't care if there is or not.
September 7, 2025
I recieved an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest reviw.
Overall, it was an ok book. I don't regret reading it, but it wasn't all that interesting. Sure, the main character sees some UFO's but it read more like an incident report than a story. Everything happens at the same pace, in the same passive tone. The main character frustrated me, he casually cheated on his wife the whole time with another man, but also makes it clear that he is attracted to his wife and cares for her. He can't understand why Dean is bothered by the fact that he has a wife at home while he is sneaking out to hook up with some other guy. In the end, he is rewarded with a new job and lives out his life happy with his wife without her ever discovering his affair. He never seems to regret his casual affair, it is just undone by Dean leaving town. The ending didn't feel at all satisfying, he just got away with everything, there was no lesson to be learned or longterm consequences. Even the loss of his job just leads to a much better paying job in the long run.
Overall, it was an ok book. I don't regret reading it, but it wasn't all that interesting. Sure, the main character sees some UFO's but it read more like an incident report than a story. Everything happens at the same pace, in the same passive tone. The main character frustrated me, he casually cheated on his wife the whole time with another man, but also makes it clear that he is attracted to his wife and cares for her. He can't understand why Dean is bothered by the fact that he has a wife at home while he is sneaking out to hook up with some other guy. In the end, he is rewarded with a new job and lives out his life happy with his wife without her ever discovering his affair. He never seems to regret his casual affair, it is just undone by Dean leaving town. The ending didn't feel at all satisfying, he just got away with everything, there was no lesson to be learned or longterm consequences. Even the loss of his job just leads to a much better paying job in the long run.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2025
The Supersonic Phallus is bold, surreal, and unapologetically unconventional, a fearless plunge into the absurd edges of satire, identity, and cultural provocation.
Steven Key Meyers pushes boundaries with sharp wit and symbolic daring, using shock not as gimmick but as a literary device to interrogate power, masculinity, desire, and modern myth-making. At just under 150 pages, this book wastes no space, every chapter hits with intention, discomfort, and unexpected reflection.
What makes this work especially compelling is how it balances provocation with intelligence. Beneath the surreal surface lies a layered commentary on how society commodifies sex, speed, dominance, and spectacle. The humor is dark, the symbolism is relentless, and the narrative voice never plays it safe.
This is not a book for passive readers, it demands engagement, interpretation, and discussion. For readers drawn to experimental fiction, transgressive literature, and cultural critique, The Supersonic Phallus is a daring and memorable experience that lingers long after the final page.
Steven Key Meyers pushes boundaries with sharp wit and symbolic daring, using shock not as gimmick but as a literary device to interrogate power, masculinity, desire, and modern myth-making. At just under 150 pages, this book wastes no space, every chapter hits with intention, discomfort, and unexpected reflection.
What makes this work especially compelling is how it balances provocation with intelligence. Beneath the surreal surface lies a layered commentary on how society commodifies sex, speed, dominance, and spectacle. The humor is dark, the symbolism is relentless, and the narrative voice never plays it safe.
This is not a book for passive readers, it demands engagement, interpretation, and discussion. For readers drawn to experimental fiction, transgressive literature, and cultural critique, The Supersonic Phallus is a daring and memorable experience that lingers long after the final page.
October 11, 2025
I honestly don’t know how to describe this book, or how to rate it. Sam and Dean are two newspaper men who are writing a story on the UFO sightings in town. It’s part investigative, and part love story. Sam is married with a child, and one on the way, and Dean is single and interested in Sam. They get very close on their investigations and end up having to make the decisions of whether they release the truth of their findings and also what they should do about their relationship.
I don’t know how I feel about the story - the author had a good premise and it was an okay read, but some of the things just ended up being a personal ick (saying that his wife wouldn’t have time to be lonely because of their three year old child; and cheating is a trope that I don’t enjoy). It has the potential to be an amusing and enjoyable read, but it was just a couple of small things that didn’t push it up to a four star read.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book.
I don’t know how I feel about the story - the author had a good premise and it was an okay read, but some of the things just ended up being a personal ick (saying that his wife wouldn’t have time to be lonely because of their three year old child; and cheating is a trope that I don’t enjoy). It has the potential to be an amusing and enjoyable read, but it was just a couple of small things that didn’t push it up to a four star read.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book.
December 16, 2025
The Supersonic Phallus is a daring, unconventional, and intellectually provocative work that refuses to play it safe. Steven Key Meyers blends satire, symbolism, and cultural critique into a narrative that challenges readers to confront how power, masculinity, technology, and myth intersect in modern society. The book’s bold title signals its intent, but beneath the shock value lies a thoughtful exploration of human obsession, ego, and the narratives we build around dominance and identity.
What makes this work stand out is its confidence and originality. Meyers commits fully to his vision, using sharp language and conceptual risk-taking to spark conversation rather than comfort. Whether readers approach it as satire, social commentary, or experimental fiction, The Supersonic Phallus succeeds in provoking reflection and debate, an achievement few books dare to pursue so unapologetically.
What makes this work stand out is its confidence and originality. Meyers commits fully to his vision, using sharp language and conceptual risk-taking to spark conversation rather than comfort. Whether readers approach it as satire, social commentary, or experimental fiction, The Supersonic Phallus succeeds in provoking reflection and debate, an achievement few books dare to pursue so unapologetically.
July 25, 2025
Rating: 3/5
Spice: 1/5
I received this as an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A decent read especially if you want something quick and entertaining with a little mystery and budding romance.
A 1940s sci-fi following Sam and Dennis, two young and hungry news reporters thrown into figuring out the mystery of recent UFO sightings in Colorado. Sam, a married Navy vet with 2 kids, is discovering who he is in a more conservative era with Dennis, the army vet and his attractive coworker that all the woman swoon over. Can a love blossom while they uncover the mysterious that has the nation in aw, is it Aliens, communist Russia, or something more sinister?
Spice: 1/5
I received this as an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A decent read especially if you want something quick and entertaining with a little mystery and budding romance.
A 1940s sci-fi following Sam and Dennis, two young and hungry news reporters thrown into figuring out the mystery of recent UFO sightings in Colorado. Sam, a married Navy vet with 2 kids, is discovering who he is in a more conservative era with Dennis, the army vet and his attractive coworker that all the woman swoon over. Can a love blossom while they uncover the mysterious that has the nation in aw, is it Aliens, communist Russia, or something more sinister?
September 24, 2025
Thank you very much to NetGalley for the EARC of this title!
Overall I had a decent time reading this story. I thought the descriptions of the flying saucers were very cool and fun, though the chemistry between Dean & Sam really wasn't there for me. I found the frequent use of parenthesis, especially in the first half of the book, to be kind of jarring. Often the information in said parenthesis didn't add anything plot-wise. I also found the open-endedness of whether Dean ended up being some kind of alien rather disappointing. Though that says more about me as a reader than the story itself.
Overall I had a decent time reading this story. I thought the descriptions of the flying saucers were very cool and fun, though the chemistry between Dean & Sam really wasn't there for me. I found the frequent use of parenthesis, especially in the first half of the book, to be kind of jarring. Often the information in said parenthesis didn't add anything plot-wise. I also found the open-endedness of whether Dean ended up being some kind of alien rather disappointing. Though that says more about me as a reader than the story itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2025
A quick engaging read, ably written by an author with an interesting style with words. I was pulled in by the potential suggested by a sci fi novel using the UFO craze as a metaphor for understanding an evolving sexuality. I left somewhat bored and annoyed. Strongly carried by my appreciation of the author's writing and editing, I freely admit I did enjoy the UFO craze aspect of the book. But If the story says nothing new or interesting about homosexuality, it at least does so quickly enough that it was not too tedious to finish. A great appetizer, although I hoped for a meal.
This book was provided as an advanced reader copy from NetGallley
This book was provided as an advanced reader copy from NetGallley
July 28, 2025
"Even his strong nose redeemed the usual clay of the human face."
The unexplainable phenomena operating in the skies of Sinai, Colorado mirror what’s happening in the heart of our main character, Sam, as he struggles to understand and accept his own queer identity in an era of deep closets and discretion.
The Supersonic Phallus is a quick but complex read, well-suited for fans of 1940s period pieces. It’s equal parts investigative journalism, humor, and heartbreak.
I received my copy as an ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The unexplainable phenomena operating in the skies of Sinai, Colorado mirror what’s happening in the heart of our main character, Sam, as he struggles to understand and accept his own queer identity in an era of deep closets and discretion.
The Supersonic Phallus is a quick but complex read, well-suited for fans of 1940s period pieces. It’s equal parts investigative journalism, humor, and heartbreak.
I received my copy as an ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 28, 2025
Very engaging story of two male reporters reporting on suspected UFOs and becoming involved in the time of the Roswell incident. Although a novella, the book does a good job telling an interesting UFO and relationship story while also asking the question is it easier to believe in UFOs then to believe your sexuality isn't what you thought it was. Thought this book was well done.
Thank you to Netgalley and Smash-and-Grab Press for an ARC to provide an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Smash-and-Grab Press for an ARC to provide an honest review.
August 6, 2025
Thank you netgalley for the arc
I didn't know I needed a book about two reporters investigating UFO sightings during the UFO craze, with the UFO being a metaphor for the narrator's queerness, but turns out I did. It wasn't a masterpiece but it was an entertaining read from start to finish, and isn't that the point sometimes?
I didn't know I needed a book about two reporters investigating UFO sightings during the UFO craze, with the UFO being a metaphor for the narrator's queerness, but turns out I did. It wasn't a masterpiece but it was an entertaining read from start to finish, and isn't that the point sometimes?
August 24, 2025
NetGalley ARC. Grabbed this one because of the fun title and the cool retro cover. Thought it would be campy based on the title, but was actually a solid, straightforward little story of two reporters investigating UFO sightings for their local paper in the 40s. Not a romance novel but had some romantic moments. Quick read, finished in a couple of hours. Fun surprise! Four stars.
September 13, 2025
The Supersonic Phallus has a very interesting premises that has a lot of promise. However, I was unable to get through the book - I'm unsure if the 1940's slang is really just like that or if it was purposefully over the top.
That does not mean it's a bad book, just not one for me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc.
That does not mean it's a bad book, just not one for me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc.
August 30, 2025
10/10 premise, but the execution left wanting
The writing was good but I feel the book went nowhere. I liked the post-war ambiance and the historical tidbits - all the "Red Scare" made me laugh.
The main issue I have is that it failed to connect the UFO part with the gay part, both felt like a subplot. The main character only briefly contemplates that his gay urges, so to speak, were being caused by aliens and them it was just dropped completely. In short, I would appreciate if the story leaned more in either direction or were more purposeful in its premise.
The writing was good but I feel the book went nowhere. I liked the post-war ambiance and the historical tidbits - all the "Red Scare" made me laugh.
The main issue I have is that it failed to connect the UFO part with the gay part, both felt like a subplot. The main character only briefly contemplates that his gay urges, so to speak, were being caused by aliens and them it was just dropped completely. In short, I would appreciate if the story leaned more in either direction or were more purposeful in its premise.
January 1, 2026
Two reporters in Colorado in 1947 investigate UFO sightings.
This novella has the feel of a 1950s' pulp novel written with a 2020s' sensibility. I wish there was more character development and that some of the events were given more ink, but I think its limitations kind of fit with its idiom. Not a deep read, but entertaining.
Received via NetGalley.
This novella has the feel of a 1950s' pulp novel written with a 2020s' sensibility. I wish there was more character development and that some of the events were given more ink, but I think its limitations kind of fit with its idiom. Not a deep read, but entertaining.
Received via NetGalley.
October 6, 2025
A solid 3.5 stars (I am still not sure if I should round up or down, so it might change as I think about it a bit more)
An interesting novella set in 1947 about two reporters out investigating UFOs in Colorado. Sam is our narrator - young, married (with a kid and another on the way), aspiring to be a truth-teller as a journalist and nursing a massive crush on his newspaper colleague Dean. Sam's inability or maybe unwillingness to process his feelings, his identity, his reality was the center of the story for me. His feelings seemed like UFOs - there but not, elusive, difficult to comprehend, life-changing but not really in the end. He wants to tell the truth, but struggles to do it when it comes to the truth about himself (and while it was a bit frustrating for me as a reader in 21st century, it is very much period-accurate and understandable).
I would have loved to get to know Dean a bit more, but as Sam is the narrator we only see what he sees in Dean, which is beauty, charm and honesty.
The writing style is quite interesting - at times poetic, at times conversational, at times like a report written by a journalist (which makes sense as that's whose story it is). It did convey the atmosphere of the place and the personality of the main character very well. The only disconnect for me was Wilt in the middle of the novella, but that might be just me.
Overall, a short, enjoyable and bittersweet story with an outstanding title and a very pretty cover.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for giving me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
An interesting novella set in 1947 about two reporters out investigating UFOs in Colorado. Sam is our narrator - young, married (with a kid and another on the way), aspiring to be a truth-teller as a journalist and nursing a massive crush on his newspaper colleague Dean. Sam's inability or maybe unwillingness to process his feelings, his identity, his reality was the center of the story for me. His feelings seemed like UFOs - there but not, elusive, difficult to comprehend, life-changing but not really in the end. He wants to tell the truth, but struggles to do it when it comes to the truth about himself (and while it was a bit frustrating for me as a reader in 21st century, it is very much period-accurate and understandable).
I would have loved to get to know Dean a bit more, but as Sam is the narrator we only see what he sees in Dean, which is beauty, charm and honesty.
The writing style is quite interesting - at times poetic, at times conversational, at times like a report written by a journalist (which makes sense as that's whose story it is). It did convey the atmosphere of the place and the personality of the main character very well. The only disconnect for me was Wilt in the middle of the novella, but that might be just me.
Overall, a short, enjoyable and bittersweet story with an outstanding title and a very pretty cover.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for giving me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews