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Boy versus Self
Sometimes art kills.
There are moments when a creation pushes its creator to the brink of their imagination, to the fine line between true ingenuity and blistering insanity. Boy is such an artist, an artist who can't seem to shake the demon he has himself created – Glass Wings. With his career taking off, will Boy overcome the darkness within? Will he reconcile with his family, his sister, his demons? And the people surrounding him – his erotic novelist girlfriend with violent night terrors, his drug dealer friend, the married Irish woman who brings him to New York, the mysterious Japanese man financing his art – where do they fit in all this? Will he ever be able to tell them the truth?
A serrated existence that runs from Texas to Mexico, New York to Tokyo, BOY Versus SELF is a disquieting journey into the mind of a penniless artist as he struggles with shocking hallucinations that could kill him. The novel is a psychological coming of age story full of suspense, horror, struggle and ultimately, triumph.
True fear is easily created and rarely destroyed. True art is always the opposite.
Advanced review copies are available. Send me an e-mail at writer.harmoncooper@gmail.com
There are moments when a creation pushes its creator to the brink of their imagination, to the fine line between true ingenuity and blistering insanity. Boy is such an artist, an artist who can't seem to shake the demon he has himself created – Glass Wings. With his career taking off, will Boy overcome the darkness within? Will he reconcile with his family, his sister, his demons? And the people surrounding him – his erotic novelist girlfriend with violent night terrors, his drug dealer friend, the married Irish woman who brings him to New York, the mysterious Japanese man financing his art – where do they fit in all this? Will he ever be able to tell them the truth?
A serrated existence that runs from Texas to Mexico, New York to Tokyo, BOY Versus SELF is a disquieting journey into the mind of a penniless artist as he struggles with shocking hallucinations that could kill him. The novel is a psychological coming of age story full of suspense, horror, struggle and ultimately, triumph.
True fear is easily created and rarely destroyed. True art is always the opposite.
Advanced review copies are available. Send me an e-mail at writer.harmoncooper@gmail.com
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2015
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Harmon Cooper
142 books363 followersHarmon Cooper is the author of over sixty fantasy works. His bestselling series include Pilgrim, War Priest, Cowboy Necromancer, and Tokens and Towers.
His series, The Feedback Loop, is one of the earlier GameLit works first published in 2015. An earphone award winner for the series Death's Mantle, Harmon won the LitRPG/GameLit Audiobook of the Year award for Sacred Cat Island, narrated by Legends and Lattes author Travis Baldree.
Harmon write progression fantasy, cultivation fantasy, and LitRPG/GameLit.
His series, The Feedback Loop, is one of the earlier GameLit works first published in 2015. An earphone award winner for the series Death's Mantle, Harmon won the LitRPG/GameLit Audiobook of the Year award for Sacred Cat Island, narrated by Legends and Lattes author Travis Baldree.
Harmon write progression fantasy, cultivation fantasy, and LitRPG/GameLit.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 8, 2025
My Review and Thoughts:
As the great Inspector Gadget would say: “Wowsers!”
First off, I was contacted by the author to give an honest review. Sometimes I really am not enthused by this idea, because I hate giving bad reviews. Thankfully that is not the case with Boy versus Self. I have become a new instant fan of Harmon Cooper. This is a unique, different and absolutely brilliant story of imaginative writing. Cooper knows how to grab you, hold you and never let you go, through his fresh, original, and artful word play on each page.
I must be honest, I had never read anything by Mr. Cooper, but now that I read this one, it’s a shame that I had not discovered him before. He has a deep understanding of characters, and he gives those characters their own deep understanding. I think this is one of the oddest character weaved stories I have read in a long time. The situations, and those characters that are vividly displayed on page, become a reality in their own ways. These unique and odd characters become a part of you, and you find yourself thinking that they are real. The writing is so well displayed through imaginative means, that you as the reader can’t help but believe what is happening, or at least, you wish to turn the page to find out what happens next.
I have been discovering, or at least contacted lately by a lot of unique writers. Some of these writers end up reminding me of writing legends, yet they themselves are totally new, fresh and original. Cooper can express his unique visionary creation, not in just word play, but he gives it a sense of reality that makes you understand, or become a part of those characters, as if they are real.
I think Cooper has a natural talent in allowing his characters to breath as real people. The best way I can describe Cooper’s writing is a splash of Chuck Palahniuk, mixed with Kurt Vonnegut and a whole new realm of truly original reality that only Cooper has in creating his world, personas and his personal reality on page.
The character of BOY creates an excitement inside my book loving reality, and in away BOY makes me think of one of my favorite characters of all time, Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. The character of BOY has that ability to be remembered as a unique, one of a kind character. That is what makes this book stand out above and beyond a lot of books.
I found this to be an awesome journey. Fresh, new, unique and truly, a one of a kind stories that transcends off the page. This story begs to be read. The story begs to be remembered. A trip into an emotional disturbing experience. A psychological mind trip. A character driven mastery laced with a strychnine of word play that only Harmon Cooper could fathom.
Truly a reading experience that I will not forget.
My Rating: 4 out of 5
As the great Inspector Gadget would say: “Wowsers!”
First off, I was contacted by the author to give an honest review. Sometimes I really am not enthused by this idea, because I hate giving bad reviews. Thankfully that is not the case with Boy versus Self. I have become a new instant fan of Harmon Cooper. This is a unique, different and absolutely brilliant story of imaginative writing. Cooper knows how to grab you, hold you and never let you go, through his fresh, original, and artful word play on each page.
I must be honest, I had never read anything by Mr. Cooper, but now that I read this one, it’s a shame that I had not discovered him before. He has a deep understanding of characters, and he gives those characters their own deep understanding. I think this is one of the oddest character weaved stories I have read in a long time. The situations, and those characters that are vividly displayed on page, become a reality in their own ways. These unique and odd characters become a part of you, and you find yourself thinking that they are real. The writing is so well displayed through imaginative means, that you as the reader can’t help but believe what is happening, or at least, you wish to turn the page to find out what happens next.
I have been discovering, or at least contacted lately by a lot of unique writers. Some of these writers end up reminding me of writing legends, yet they themselves are totally new, fresh and original. Cooper can express his unique visionary creation, not in just word play, but he gives it a sense of reality that makes you understand, or become a part of those characters, as if they are real.
I think Cooper has a natural talent in allowing his characters to breath as real people. The best way I can describe Cooper’s writing is a splash of Chuck Palahniuk, mixed with Kurt Vonnegut and a whole new realm of truly original reality that only Cooper has in creating his world, personas and his personal reality on page.
The character of BOY creates an excitement inside my book loving reality, and in away BOY makes me think of one of my favorite characters of all time, Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. The character of BOY has that ability to be remembered as a unique, one of a kind character. That is what makes this book stand out above and beyond a lot of books.
I found this to be an awesome journey. Fresh, new, unique and truly, a one of a kind stories that transcends off the page. This story begs to be read. The story begs to be remembered. A trip into an emotional disturbing experience. A psychological mind trip. A character driven mastery laced with a strychnine of word play that only Harmon Cooper could fathom.
Truly a reading experience that I will not forget.
My Rating: 4 out of 5
January 1, 2017
My feelings on this book are mixed. At first, I had a really hard time getting into it. For the first half, I found the main character, known simply as Boy, hard to like, and his demons too freakish. I was oh-so-close to putting it aside, and not finishing.
Then, about halfway through, circumstances changed for Boy, and as he gained focus on his work, he became immeasurably more likeable and relatable, and his attempts to combat those freakish demons more understandable. Having chosen to finish the book, the second half of it went by in two days, a pretty good indicator of how much better I found it.
I'm glad I continued reading, but I find the need to get halfway through a book before it becomes worth the time more than a little disappointing.
Then, about halfway through, circumstances changed for Boy, and as he gained focus on his work, he became immeasurably more likeable and relatable, and his attempts to combat those freakish demons more understandable. Having chosen to finish the book, the second half of it went by in two days, a pretty good indicator of how much better I found it.
I'm glad I continued reading, but I find the need to get halfway through a book before it becomes worth the time more than a little disappointing.
August 26, 2024
Weird & Wonderful
How does mental health change how we see the world, artistic licence, hauntings, where does reality meet what we imagine and what we see. It is a very different take, which speaks to deeper meanings, so not for all fans of Harmon but an interesting read, especially if you carry on past the 20% mark.
How does mental health change how we see the world, artistic licence, hauntings, where does reality meet what we imagine and what we see. It is a very different take, which speaks to deeper meanings, so not for all fans of Harmon but an interesting read, especially if you carry on past the 20% mark.
March 22, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, This writer has serious 'issues', reviews are reader's way of saying ya need help sparky, just wait and write some more first.
The Feedback Loop: (Book One) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) - Steampunk is Dead: (Book Two) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 2) - High Fantasy: (Book Three) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 3
The Feedback Loop (3-Book Box Set): (Scifi LitRPG Series)
Reapers and Repercussions: (Book Four) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 4) - The Mechanical Heart: (Book Five) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 5) - Cyber Noir Redux: (Book Six) (The Feedback Loop 6)
Dear NSA: A Collection of Politically Incorrect Short Stories
Zombie Lolita: (A Collection of Short Stories)
Tokyo Stirs {Short Stories}
Boy versus Self
The Feedback Loop: (Book One) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) - Steampunk is Dead: (Book Two) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 2) - High Fantasy: (Book Three) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 3
The Feedback Loop (3-Book Box Set): (Scifi LitRPG Series)
Reapers and Repercussions: (Book Four) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 4) - The Mechanical Heart: (Book Five) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 5) - Cyber Noir Redux: (Book Six) (The Feedback Loop 6)
Dear NSA: A Collection of Politically Incorrect Short Stories
Zombie Lolita: (A Collection of Short Stories)
Tokyo Stirs {Short Stories}
Boy versus Self
July 22, 2015
I was recently introduced to Cooper's works and I have enjoyed the ride thus far. It is mostly 'out there' and this book fits into the category pretty well. Although it is quite different from the Life is a Beautiful Thing series, Boy versus Self still explores the strange. To call this book a paranormal tale wouldn't do it justice.
Boy. Girl. Mom. Friend. Although they don't have equal billing, they tend to be the most important characters; at least for Boy. The other primary characters have names, but many are fleeting, or at least, build upon the whole of Boy and his journey. I will say, I immediately thought of George Takei as the super-rich lover of art. If you choose to read, I think you may agree.
Boy lives a [censor]-up life: Artist. Uncertainty. Fragmented. Courageous. Fearful. Ghosts. Demon.
I liked Boy and Friend. Friend is an easy-going doper and pill-pusher with a golden heart. The bond between the two provide some foundation through the chaos. Glass Wings is a trip and the variety of ghosts; with or without sexual interactions, are all unique.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ: I don't feel this contains SPOILERS, but proceed with caution.
This is a stand-alone book, and has an anti-conclusion. There are hints to sway, but upon concluding the read, I thought “Did the top fall?” Yes, a reference to the maddening conclusion of “Inception.” I raced to finish the book to see what was reality, but at the end you will have to choose. This drives me nuts in too many ways. I strongly considered knocking off a star, but the end isn't swift or loose. Cooper leaves it to you, by design. I just happen to [censor] hate that.
I received an advance copy for review. This one is a longer book and I'm taking a break from the 'out there', philosophical, strange existentialism and reading a short book geared toward kids. I'll jump back in the ring after I decompress a bit.
Boy. Girl. Mom. Friend. Although they don't have equal billing, they tend to be the most important characters; at least for Boy. The other primary characters have names, but many are fleeting, or at least, build upon the whole of Boy and his journey. I will say, I immediately thought of George Takei as the super-rich lover of art. If you choose to read, I think you may agree.
Boy lives a [censor]-up life: Artist. Uncertainty. Fragmented. Courageous. Fearful. Ghosts. Demon.
I liked Boy and Friend. Friend is an easy-going doper and pill-pusher with a golden heart. The bond between the two provide some foundation through the chaos. Glass Wings is a trip and the variety of ghosts; with or without sexual interactions, are all unique.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ: I don't feel this contains SPOILERS, but proceed with caution.
This is a stand-alone book, and has an anti-conclusion. There are hints to sway, but upon concluding the read, I thought “Did the top fall?” Yes, a reference to the maddening conclusion of “Inception.” I raced to finish the book to see what was reality, but at the end you will have to choose. This drives me nuts in too many ways. I strongly considered knocking off a star, but the end isn't swift or loose. Cooper leaves it to you, by design. I just happen to [censor] hate that.
I received an advance copy for review. This one is a longer book and I'm taking a break from the 'out there', philosophical, strange existentialism and reading a short book geared toward kids. I'll jump back in the ring after I decompress a bit.
February 21, 2016
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review *
Boy Versus Self is a part psychological horror, part paranormal novel. The protagonist, known only throughout the novel as Boy, is an artist who is tormented by visions of ghosts and a terrifying monster whom he calls Glass Wings. Glass Wings first appears as an apparition devouring his sister’s glass collection, but as the novel progresses Boy is continuously haunted by its presence.
Boy Versus Self is a very original and cleverly developed novel. The main character and those supporting characters who are closest to him are referred to only as Boy, and Mom, Girl (his sister) and Friend. Not knowing the real names of the characters isn’t really that critical and the lack of them actually adds to the atmosphere and tone of the story. Told entirely through Boy’s eyes you get a real sense of his struggle against his visions and also his real life problems to do with his family and relationship.
I really enjoyed reading Boy Versus Self. It is a very unique, compelling and dark read. The ending is left open, but not frustratingly so, and I highly recommend Boy Versus Self to lovers of horror and paranormal novels.
Boy Versus Self is a part psychological horror, part paranormal novel. The protagonist, known only throughout the novel as Boy, is an artist who is tormented by visions of ghosts and a terrifying monster whom he calls Glass Wings. Glass Wings first appears as an apparition devouring his sister’s glass collection, but as the novel progresses Boy is continuously haunted by its presence.
Boy Versus Self is a very original and cleverly developed novel. The main character and those supporting characters who are closest to him are referred to only as Boy, and Mom, Girl (his sister) and Friend. Not knowing the real names of the characters isn’t really that critical and the lack of them actually adds to the atmosphere and tone of the story. Told entirely through Boy’s eyes you get a real sense of his struggle against his visions and also his real life problems to do with his family and relationship.
I really enjoyed reading Boy Versus Self. It is a very unique, compelling and dark read. The ending is left open, but not frustratingly so, and I highly recommend Boy Versus Self to lovers of horror and paranormal novels.
August 17, 2015
A fantastically surreal, frightening insight into the mind of an artist known only as Boy.
I loved this book so much! Perhaps it is because I could relate to parts of it personally, and also having worked with creative souls of all descriptions I could see the hell they put themselves through painstakingly mirrored within these pages.
Whether this was real or imaginary, whilst reading I believed it, I saw them, I felt Boy's confusion and terror, I felt each one of Girl's cuts, I felt the fear. Open your eyes and read this!
Horrifically beautiful from a talented writer who puts his whole soul into every word.
I loved this book so much! Perhaps it is because I could relate to parts of it personally, and also having worked with creative souls of all descriptions I could see the hell they put themselves through painstakingly mirrored within these pages.
Whether this was real or imaginary, whilst reading I believed it, I saw them, I felt Boy's confusion and terror, I felt each one of Girl's cuts, I felt the fear. Open your eyes and read this!
Horrifically beautiful from a talented writer who puts his whole soul into every word.
July 18, 2015
I got this in exchange of an honest review, and I rarely do reviews for this kind of books, I do not know myself why but this one intrigued me so I went for it. I was surprised that I was hooked on it from the start. It was surprisingly unique and fresh for my brain. I have never knew him at all but after this I am interested in reading more of his work since this one was just so captivating and alluring a lot. The characters themselves where more alive and you could feel them next to you. For those who like me have never read is work start you will not be disinterested.
July 20, 2015
This genre is really not what I normally read. I normally read mysteries but not alot of suspense/ thrillers but from the first chapter I was hooked. The book starts with Boy, Girl and Mom and tells the story from Boy's point of view. Harmon Cooper is a truly talented storyteller that has a gift of words. Boy versus Self is a different sort of suspense but well with the reas.
May 30, 2016
So many twists and turns. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews