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Fortune 69
Trigger is once again sitting at home in front of his computer; only this time, he's got a stomach full of powerful anti-depressants and gin. As an outcast that's becoming disillusioned by society's increasing addiction to social media, he decides to end it all.
He posts his suicide note on Fortune-69.com, his digital playground of choice, but things don't go exactly as planned. When Trigger unexpectedly wakes up the next morning, he quickly learns two things: at some point during the night he unknowingly posted an inspirational message that was deleted by moderators, and that he now has a legion of anonymous followers who want to follow his every command.
Trying to find a way to cope with his bizarre family history, Trigger finds himself tangled up with a sexually liberated cosplayer who pushes him to his limits and a mysterious hacker, intent on changing the world through digital anarchy.
He posts his suicide note on Fortune-69.com, his digital playground of choice, but things don't go exactly as planned. When Trigger unexpectedly wakes up the next morning, he quickly learns two things: at some point during the night he unknowingly posted an inspirational message that was deleted by moderators, and that he now has a legion of anonymous followers who want to follow his every command.
Trying to find a way to cope with his bizarre family history, Trigger finds himself tangled up with a sexually liberated cosplayer who pushes him to his limits and a mysterious hacker, intent on changing the world through digital anarchy.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2015
1 person is currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
David Heath
7 books27 followersHi! I'm Dave Heath, award-winning* creator/writer of Bilateral Comics and other works of fiction!
(*Most improved machine-pitch baseball player, 1992 little league)
A quick history: I grew up in different places (mainly Florida) and then joined the military at 18. I was a paratrooper infantryman and did combat tours in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The jet-setting life was a bit hectic, so I eventually settled down in Brescia, Italy with a sweet government job and started writing!
I normally write horror/fantasy/sci-fi fiction, but hey, it's always changing. My main focus right now is on my upcoming debut novel called 'Fortune-69'! I'll be posting updates on the self-publishing process on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, so check those out!
You can find me at www.bilateralcomics.com. You can also follow us on Twitter (@daveheath23) or 'like' us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/davidheath23) for updates!
Thanks so much for all of your support and interest, and if you have any questions, feedback or just want to chat shoot me an email at david.m.heath23@gmail.com!
(*Most improved machine-pitch baseball player, 1992 little league)
A quick history: I grew up in different places (mainly Florida) and then joined the military at 18. I was a paratrooper infantryman and did combat tours in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The jet-setting life was a bit hectic, so I eventually settled down in Brescia, Italy with a sweet government job and started writing!
I normally write horror/fantasy/sci-fi fiction, but hey, it's always changing. My main focus right now is on my upcoming debut novel called 'Fortune-69'! I'll be posting updates on the self-publishing process on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, so check those out!
You can find me at www.bilateralcomics.com. You can also follow us on Twitter (@daveheath23) or 'like' us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/davidheath23) for updates!
Thanks so much for all of your support and interest, and if you have any questions, feedback or just want to chat shoot me an email at david.m.heath23@gmail.com!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 6, 2015
This is a very conflicted review for me to write but I'll do my best to be fair. I had settled down on a Sunday afternoon with this book. I was intrigued by the idea of a young man posting something online in an anonymous Internet forum then attempting suicide only to find he wakes up very much alive and becomes a focus of attention because of what he wrote under the influence of pills and alcohol.
There were some editing issues which I pointed out to the author, I'm not one to focus on that too much in a review, I do hope it gets tidied up though as other reviewers will no doubt down grade their review because of it.
The book is easy to read and started out being very entertaining, something a bit different. A fresh feel. All was going well, I was enjoying the undercurrents of offbeat humour and the story a lot.
Then...
A scene in the book just was too much, bad taste, poor form, out of line, socially unacceptable and well...horrible. Now I read horror, dark fiction, crime with serial killers, graphic kill scenes and so on, so I'm not one that is faint hearted or easily shocked. This particular scene just made me feel sick, I don't see how it adds anything to the book and I wanted to just edit it, but it's not my book.
I had to stop reading at this scene, around the 60% mark. I strongly suspect future readers may feel the same but then others may not really care. I let Dave, the author know why I stopped reading and he explained he knew this type of book is not for everyone.
So here's my thing, the book was enjoyable, good, interesting and heading for 4 star review. A good review. One that would express how much I liked the book. Then this ugly scene is plopped into your reading enjoyment and it just ruined it for me. I stopped to think was it necessary? Did it add to the story or characters and came up with a no. The scene could have been modified.
Well dear readers, I did not finish it but was tempted to skip to the last few chapters to see the outcome, I may still do that. As others have liked the whole book maybe my perspective is unique. Maybe you need to decide for yourself.
In conclusion this really should get 2 paw prints from me for the obvious lack of proper editing and that scene of sheer bad taste but I'm rounding it up to a 2.5 which then has to be a 3 as aside from that I was enjoying it and would of happily read all the way to the finish.
That's just my honest review folks!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There were some editing issues which I pointed out to the author, I'm not one to focus on that too much in a review, I do hope it gets tidied up though as other reviewers will no doubt down grade their review because of it.
The book is easy to read and started out being very entertaining, something a bit different. A fresh feel. All was going well, I was enjoying the undercurrents of offbeat humour and the story a lot.
Then...
A scene in the book just was too much, bad taste, poor form, out of line, socially unacceptable and well...horrible. Now I read horror, dark fiction, crime with serial killers, graphic kill scenes and so on, so I'm not one that is faint hearted or easily shocked. This particular scene just made me feel sick, I don't see how it adds anything to the book and I wanted to just edit it, but it's not my book.
I had to stop reading at this scene, around the 60% mark. I strongly suspect future readers may feel the same but then others may not really care. I let Dave, the author know why I stopped reading and he explained he knew this type of book is not for everyone.
So here's my thing, the book was enjoyable, good, interesting and heading for 4 star review. A good review. One that would express how much I liked the book. Then this ugly scene is plopped into your reading enjoyment and it just ruined it for me. I stopped to think was it necessary? Did it add to the story or characters and came up with a no. The scene could have been modified.
Well dear readers, I did not finish it but was tempted to skip to the last few chapters to see the outcome, I may still do that. As others have liked the whole book maybe my perspective is unique. Maybe you need to decide for yourself.
In conclusion this really should get 2 paw prints from me for the obvious lack of proper editing and that scene of sheer bad taste but I'm rounding it up to a 2.5 which then has to be a 3 as aside from that I was enjoying it and would of happily read all the way to the finish.
That's just my honest review folks!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2015
This novel begins with the aching depression of a man who has taken to the online world as a numbing solace. Its transparencies and superficially sensationalist monotonies have come to steer Trigger’s mind to recycle the blankness of his existence. Medicated, frustrated and underwhelmed with life his residue of functionality sticks to the fleeting influence he anonymously holds on an obscure chat room. Here, each comment exists as its own entity, proud to exist for itself outside of threat of permanence or context even, thrust out to receive judgement or the harshness of indifference. With this his final avenue for expression Trigger takes his disillusionment and alienated state and drifts toward willful disengagement.
Through an effective recounting of the experience of hopelessness and of moving through the world in a automatic fog the novel introduces a well worn path that is littered with the entertaining detritus of mainstream culture. Our central characters are drawn from familiar reference points but their introductory forms grow to undermine our staged preconceptions and they make an intriguing pairing. An ambivalence determines the relationship to technology, the interconnected world as distancing device and surrogate ever present.
As Trigger struggles to fathom the true nature and implication of his situation the novel takes a nicely twisty tone, moving from horrific farce to soul sinking straightforwardness and onto quiet reflection. The story rattles along at quite a pace, the characters swept along by events turning into the inevitable and chaotically predictable consequences of any butterfly effect.
Fortune 69 goes from the brutally sad representation of someone struggling with some very unseemly and painful depths, moves on to tackling a tense and engaging tale of technological power balancing and online boundaries, and by the end asks some very worthwhile questions about how we got here and what we do about it. All the time the central thread being the never-ending quest for a feeling of unfiltered human connection, the dominant theme in so much new writing that I’ve read recently. Something’s going on! That being said, this novel gets it too and very enjoyably so.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy
Through an effective recounting of the experience of hopelessness and of moving through the world in a automatic fog the novel introduces a well worn path that is littered with the entertaining detritus of mainstream culture. Our central characters are drawn from familiar reference points but their introductory forms grow to undermine our staged preconceptions and they make an intriguing pairing. An ambivalence determines the relationship to technology, the interconnected world as distancing device and surrogate ever present.
As Trigger struggles to fathom the true nature and implication of his situation the novel takes a nicely twisty tone, moving from horrific farce to soul sinking straightforwardness and onto quiet reflection. The story rattles along at quite a pace, the characters swept along by events turning into the inevitable and chaotically predictable consequences of any butterfly effect.
Fortune 69 goes from the brutally sad representation of someone struggling with some very unseemly and painful depths, moves on to tackling a tense and engaging tale of technological power balancing and online boundaries, and by the end asks some very worthwhile questions about how we got here and what we do about it. All the time the central thread being the never-ending quest for a feeling of unfiltered human connection, the dominant theme in so much new writing that I’ve read recently. Something’s going on! That being said, this novel gets it too and very enjoyably so.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy
November 8, 2015
REVIEW BY 'SELF PUBLISHING REVIEW'. Original posted at: http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/2...
On the Internet, there is a website that caters to every depraved and bizarre interest on the planet, mundane or otherwise. Like the Wild West of old, there are no rules, except that you never let what happens there cross into real life. Here on the anonymized “Fortune 69” dot com, reality is just what you make it.
Fortune 69 is David Heath’s debut novel, previously the writing talent behind Bilateral Comics and contributor to several short story anthologies. Heath describes himself as an author of “transgressive fiction,” which is apparent within a page of this novel. The very first line of the book is an uncomfortable description of bizarre and shocking pornography, soon followed by the half-repulsing, half-heartbreaking account of a man driven to suicide by pure apathy. This man is Trigger, a 28-year-old out-and-out self-described stereotypical “loser virgin.” He discusses the depravity of his sub-mediocre existence while also graphically wallowing in the exact planned details of his suicide, from conception to graphic finality as his mother calling sweetly along to him behind a locked door.
The main arc of the plot comes soon after Trigger unexpectedly finds himself awake, and somehow finding himself slightly refreshed with the whole affair out of his system. It’s only when he checks his work e-mail that he realizes his error: a drugged-up post on his digital playground went cult viral, and he can’t even check what it said anymore. Only an e-mail from hacker “Trance” can lead Trigger into finding out what one thing he’s ever done in his pathetic life could have had any meaning to other people.
Fortune 69 is definitely a deliciously unpleasant book to match the equally juicy but unpleasant subject matter, along with dirtied characters that wrap themselves up in the whole sordid affair. The book is rife with misery and a kind of militant despair that stands evocative of the same caged-beast masculinity in books like Palahniuk’s Fight Club. The same progression from harmless expression to the whiffs of conspiracy and willful personal endangerment for petty reward are similar, although the exact conclusion to the developments between Trance and Trigger are for the reader to find out. The love-hate suicide girl stereotype is even toyed with, a powder keg lit by the mercurially hazardous Charity. It’s hard not to take cues from one of the genre’s best, admittedly, and the book makes a convincing update to the core principles of online mob tactics to make it a worthwhile one to watch.
The “transgressive” nature of the book goes beyond shock value into some solid points about modern life and politics, though never ceases to be at least mildly disturbing. The book is creepy and nerve-wrenching to the end, somehow in a creatively good way.
The presentation of the book is very pleasing, cover to cover, and the text well edited to be clear in what it communicates, though the cover somewhat masks the exact darker nature of its contents.
On the Internet, there is a website that caters to every depraved and bizarre interest on the planet, mundane or otherwise. Like the Wild West of old, there are no rules, except that you never let what happens there cross into real life. Here on the anonymized “Fortune 69” dot com, reality is just what you make it.
Fortune 69 is David Heath’s debut novel, previously the writing talent behind Bilateral Comics and contributor to several short story anthologies. Heath describes himself as an author of “transgressive fiction,” which is apparent within a page of this novel. The very first line of the book is an uncomfortable description of bizarre and shocking pornography, soon followed by the half-repulsing, half-heartbreaking account of a man driven to suicide by pure apathy. This man is Trigger, a 28-year-old out-and-out self-described stereotypical “loser virgin.” He discusses the depravity of his sub-mediocre existence while also graphically wallowing in the exact planned details of his suicide, from conception to graphic finality as his mother calling sweetly along to him behind a locked door.
The main arc of the plot comes soon after Trigger unexpectedly finds himself awake, and somehow finding himself slightly refreshed with the whole affair out of his system. It’s only when he checks his work e-mail that he realizes his error: a drugged-up post on his digital playground went cult viral, and he can’t even check what it said anymore. Only an e-mail from hacker “Trance” can lead Trigger into finding out what one thing he’s ever done in his pathetic life could have had any meaning to other people.
Fortune 69 is definitely a deliciously unpleasant book to match the equally juicy but unpleasant subject matter, along with dirtied characters that wrap themselves up in the whole sordid affair. The book is rife with misery and a kind of militant despair that stands evocative of the same caged-beast masculinity in books like Palahniuk’s Fight Club. The same progression from harmless expression to the whiffs of conspiracy and willful personal endangerment for petty reward are similar, although the exact conclusion to the developments between Trance and Trigger are for the reader to find out. The love-hate suicide girl stereotype is even toyed with, a powder keg lit by the mercurially hazardous Charity. It’s hard not to take cues from one of the genre’s best, admittedly, and the book makes a convincing update to the core principles of online mob tactics to make it a worthwhile one to watch.
The “transgressive” nature of the book goes beyond shock value into some solid points about modern life and politics, though never ceases to be at least mildly disturbing. The book is creepy and nerve-wrenching to the end, somehow in a creatively good way.
The presentation of the book is very pleasing, cover to cover, and the text well edited to be clear in what it communicates, though the cover somewhat masks the exact darker nature of its contents.
September 27, 2015
I breezed through this. It's a story from the viewpoint of an anxiety ridden, depressed loner called Trigger whose only connection with people is through a 4Chan style message board called Fortune 69. At the beginning the narrator explains how lost and suicidal he is and tries to put an end to it all. But he manages to survive his attempt and afterwards finds himself corresponding with some crazy hacker who, for reasons which are at that point unknown, looks up to our narrator. We grow to learn that this person wants to take down the internet so people can rediscover the real world. There's also a love interest, Charity, who floats through the world like the butterflies our narrator is obsessed with and a backstory of an abusive, psychotic father who's scarred by his time served in Vietnam.
This book had a neo-noirish feel to it with lots of vivid descriptions and references to a lonely life spent online, wasting years away by watching internet porn and viral videos rather than experiencing real things such as meaningful relationships and the natural world all around us. I know the author David has made comic books and at times this shone through (for example the crazy hypnotist guy, cosplay and lots of cartoon references). There were also some funny moments, but the tone was mostly one of sadness and raw honesty which was really well written and believable. There was a lot of introspection and searching which I enjoyed.
The artwork also deserves a mention. It's probably one of the best indie covers I've seen - except for mine which are just a little bit better ;-)
I can't level any real criticisms at this book. It could've been longer, but that's really a compliment. I hope David continues writing in the transgressive/ noir/ thriller genre because he does it really well.
*I received an advanced copy for the purposes of providing an honest review*
This book had a neo-noirish feel to it with lots of vivid descriptions and references to a lonely life spent online, wasting years away by watching internet porn and viral videos rather than experiencing real things such as meaningful relationships and the natural world all around us. I know the author David has made comic books and at times this shone through (for example the crazy hypnotist guy, cosplay and lots of cartoon references). There were also some funny moments, but the tone was mostly one of sadness and raw honesty which was really well written and believable. There was a lot of introspection and searching which I enjoyed.
The artwork also deserves a mention. It's probably one of the best indie covers I've seen - except for mine which are just a little bit better ;-)
I can't level any real criticisms at this book. It could've been longer, but that's really a compliment. I hope David continues writing in the transgressive/ noir/ thriller genre because he does it really well.
*I received an advanced copy for the purposes of providing an honest review*
November 27, 2015
This is an awesome and flowing work of fiction that takes off from the first sentence and carries the reader seamlessly to the last sentence! As evidenced by me reading it in a day and a half :) What a great debut!!
Equally funny, disgusting, wantonly immature, sincerely heartfelt and somehow cinematic in tone in a wonderful way :)
A gripping story about contemporary disconnection/ connection. On one hand we have all these outlets for communication, such as this one right here, and yet spend more time with impressions of each other than each other. But the internet can be our saviour of sorts, though perhaps not sending us in predictable directions or often healthy outlets for the ennui that it itself creates, as this story demonstrates. These are worthy considerations for anyone.
This is indeed a work of transgressive fiction in the vein of Palahniuk perhaps, but also has the sprawl, ennui and locked-in paranoia of Hubert Selby Jr. Authors since the beginning of time have begun where they know best: the writers whose sentence-drugs got them the highest. In the future, I look forward to Heath developing his own designer sentence drugs and making something even more exclusively Heath in style than this :D
Hey!! Check this author out!!
Equally funny, disgusting, wantonly immature, sincerely heartfelt and somehow cinematic in tone in a wonderful way :)
A gripping story about contemporary disconnection/ connection. On one hand we have all these outlets for communication, such as this one right here, and yet spend more time with impressions of each other than each other. But the internet can be our saviour of sorts, though perhaps not sending us in predictable directions or often healthy outlets for the ennui that it itself creates, as this story demonstrates. These are worthy considerations for anyone.
This is indeed a work of transgressive fiction in the vein of Palahniuk perhaps, but also has the sprawl, ennui and locked-in paranoia of Hubert Selby Jr. Authors since the beginning of time have begun where they know best: the writers whose sentence-drugs got them the highest. In the future, I look forward to Heath developing his own designer sentence drugs and making something even more exclusively Heath in style than this :D
Hey!! Check this author out!!
September 19, 2015
Wow! I enjoyed this book so much. Poor Trigger can't take any more of living with depression and anxiety, so decides that suicide is the only way out. Intent on leaving the world with a bang, he ventures out of his lonely (dis)comfort zone to get loaded on Gin before popping the pills that have been keeping him propped up for years. What happens next is a rollercoaster of events which make him reflect on his place in society as he is forced to interact with others.
There are so many twists that there is no way anyone can predict which direction Trigger is being swayed. Clever, funny and deeply sad, this is a journey that will remain with me for a long time to come.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review*
There are so many twists that there is no way anyone can predict which direction Trigger is being swayed. Clever, funny and deeply sad, this is a journey that will remain with me for a long time to come.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review*
September 22, 2015
"Social situations are the worst. You know all the right words in your head. They literally live on the tip of your tongue, and as you sit and wait for your turn to talk, you've already practiced what to say a hundred times over. But then, when the moment of truth arrives, your syllables turn to dust and nothing makes sense anymore. What you want to say is a jumbled mess stuck to the roof of your mouth."
Trigger is living in the fog of depression, a social outcast who is disconnected from the vein that feeds life into all of us. Not unlike the majority of lonely people, he spends too much time online- the only place where he seems to find signs of a life for himself. (I point this out as I am typing a review myself, ONLINE) But fear not, Trigger won't fade out as a flicker trapped in a virtual world. Enter a love interest, a hacker and off we go on a strange trip- there is just something about Indie fiction that drags us kicking and screaming to places we'd otherwise ignore to our detriment. Fortune 69 is a gritty, edgy short story but strangely a sad one too. Trudging through the heaviness that is his own mind, wanting to shake off the awkwardness of his being Trigger is hungry for connection with others. We spend a lot of time in his mind struggling for more, longing for something to give substance to his numb existence. Just what does it take to feel alive again rather than withering away- waiting for that cruelly elusive 'something'? Life is about to grab Trigger by the balls and force him out of his predictable world. Things happen with whiplash force, and we're left dizzy. There are thought provoking moments that force the reader to face the state of our current ways of navigating the world and human interaction. Anyone familiar with depression, or being an outsider will immediately connect to the rhythm of Trigger's thinking. This is a character on the edge of an abyss, reaching for someone to pull him out- sometimes it has to be oneself.
And might I add, what a gorgeous cover!
Trigger is living in the fog of depression, a social outcast who is disconnected from the vein that feeds life into all of us. Not unlike the majority of lonely people, he spends too much time online- the only place where he seems to find signs of a life for himself. (I point this out as I am typing a review myself, ONLINE) But fear not, Trigger won't fade out as a flicker trapped in a virtual world. Enter a love interest, a hacker and off we go on a strange trip- there is just something about Indie fiction that drags us kicking and screaming to places we'd otherwise ignore to our detriment. Fortune 69 is a gritty, edgy short story but strangely a sad one too. Trudging through the heaviness that is his own mind, wanting to shake off the awkwardness of his being Trigger is hungry for connection with others. We spend a lot of time in his mind struggling for more, longing for something to give substance to his numb existence. Just what does it take to feel alive again rather than withering away- waiting for that cruelly elusive 'something'? Life is about to grab Trigger by the balls and force him out of his predictable world. Things happen with whiplash force, and we're left dizzy. There are thought provoking moments that force the reader to face the state of our current ways of navigating the world and human interaction. Anyone familiar with depression, or being an outsider will immediately connect to the rhythm of Trigger's thinking. This is a character on the edge of an abyss, reaching for someone to pull him out- sometimes it has to be oneself.
And might I add, what a gorgeous cover!
September 24, 2015
If you like dark fiction, ala Chuck Palaniuk, then this book will be up your alley. It has a very engaging way of delving into the darker psychological problems of its protagonist and broaching shocking topics without leaving the reader feeling disgusted. I did feel like the gripping plot line built up the tension in a page-turning way that kept me from wanting to put the book down. However, I think that many women will not find the book nearly as enjoyable, as it will remind them too much of their clichéd sex lives'... the exciting buildup leaves the reader hanging and does not lead to a climax giving the reader any sort of satisfaction.
November 6, 2015
Fortune 69 a debut novel of David Heath gives its readers some interesting ideas to think about. The story reflects on the loneliness of 28 years old Trigger, a young scientist who is trapped in the mundane life of an administrator. His reality as he admits is a self-made one thanks to an internet forum known as Fortune 69. His life begins to change as his suicide attempt fails and he encounters a young seductive woman who works as a cosplayer on various sits on web. She is ironically called Charity. Furthermore, without remembering what he has written in his suicide goodbye letter on Fortune 69, Trigger has become the promised messiah of the cyber world. His followers want to shake humanity to its core. For the big part of the novel, Trigger has two goals: first to strike a relationship with unpredictable, but enchanting Charity. Second, he wants to make sense of the cyber war that his words had begun.
In contrast to its conventional setting the story is full of engaging turns and twists. What I particularly loved about Heath writing is that he manages to ad so much humor to such relatively dark story. In addition, the main hero, Trigger, indeed triggers something inside your mind. It makes you wonder what if his ideas were correct. What if there are so many issues in a modern world that the only way to save humanity is to reinvent the concept of life.
The other positive point is that although the work is very allegoric and critical towards our modern way of life it does not preach us to the point of nausea. Thank you Mr. Heath for this. Not to mention, the pacing is great, which convinces the reader to read more and faster to see what is really going to happen.
My only issue was with the ending as it felt a bit forced, but then again in a universe that happy endings are not any more possible a bitter sweet ending is the only way the any writer including David Heath could make his readers a bit happy.
In contrast to its conventional setting the story is full of engaging turns and twists. What I particularly loved about Heath writing is that he manages to ad so much humor to such relatively dark story. In addition, the main hero, Trigger, indeed triggers something inside your mind. It makes you wonder what if his ideas were correct. What if there are so many issues in a modern world that the only way to save humanity is to reinvent the concept of life.
The other positive point is that although the work is very allegoric and critical towards our modern way of life it does not preach us to the point of nausea. Thank you Mr. Heath for this. Not to mention, the pacing is great, which convinces the reader to read more and faster to see what is really going to happen.
My only issue was with the ending as it felt a bit forced, but then again in a universe that happy endings are not any more possible a bitter sweet ending is the only way the any writer including David Heath could make his readers a bit happy.
October 1, 2015
The first rule about Fortune 69 is that we do not talk about Fortune 69. Trigger finds himself sucked into a real life drama, forcing him to face reality beyond the site that is Fortune 69. What starts off as a slow lighthearted view of a suicidal internet native truly indifferent to life roller coasters into a dark world quite like our own. Or unlike our own, if you like looking at the world with hope and goodwill. From the first pages of a jumping narrative, much like the flitting of a drunken insect, birth a page turning journey of ups, downs, slight disgust, and mild inspiration and insight into this technologically driven and wireless world. The characters of Trigger and Charity will intrigue readers, if they stick with them beyond the opening chapters. Trigger at first reminds one of a minor character in Thomas Harris's Silence of the Lambs, one of the entomologists that did not seem to have much of a personality to lend to memorability but beat the odds. Unlike that minor character, Trigger winds his way unintentionally into the heart and subconscious of the reader. Likewise, lusty Charity and the confusion she creates in Trigger, is peeled back to reveal insight into the character of a girl looking for love and acceptance. It is the plot that mostly drives this narrative, what with a botched suicide, an inspirational internet post, and a secret society out to change the world. The plot and characters work their way to a climax that heightens the stakes to epic proportions. However, this wild ride comes with a halting stop, leaving readers wondering where they got on in the first place and where on the planet, or in the universe for that matter, it has deposited them. If you enjoy dark fiction with humorous characters and situations driven by psychological plots and sexual exploits, this book is for you. Enjoy every word.
November 4, 2015
Got to love the intrigue of the story and the imagination of the author.
28 years old virgin has nothing left to make him smile. In an attempt to suicide himself, he goes through a night of peripeties and find a girl that will maybe give him hope that maybe life is worth living. At the same time, through a anonymous website, Fortune 69, he will make himself a friend who will bring him to think the world another way.
You have to read the book to really feel the emotions of the main character. Life is made of decisions, some bads, some goods. Will he make the good ones or will he fall on the evil side?
The book as not much to do with sex, it's mostly computer hacking, a little bit of seduction and the struggles of life.
The cover is provocating and the story will make you think. The author has done a very good job with this book and I wish he will write some more.
I really got to thank David for giving me the opportunity to read his book. I got the signed book through Goodreads giveaways.
28 years old virgin has nothing left to make him smile. In an attempt to suicide himself, he goes through a night of peripeties and find a girl that will maybe give him hope that maybe life is worth living. At the same time, through a anonymous website, Fortune 69, he will make himself a friend who will bring him to think the world another way.
You have to read the book to really feel the emotions of the main character. Life is made of decisions, some bads, some goods. Will he make the good ones or will he fall on the evil side?
The book as not much to do with sex, it's mostly computer hacking, a little bit of seduction and the struggles of life.
The cover is provocating and the story will make you think. The author has done a very good job with this book and I wish he will write some more.
I really got to thank David for giving me the opportunity to read his book. I got the signed book through Goodreads giveaways.
November 10, 2015
This is one of those books that holds a reader captive from the start right to the end. It's an easy read but has a lot going on throughout to keep the reader hooked. The characters are extremely irritating at times but I think that adds substance to the whole and gives a lot more depth to the book, bringing that extra touch of reality. The plot line can be vague at times but again that lends itself to the vagaries of human nature and this lets the plot line come alive in the imagination as you read thus giving the opportunity to live the action as you read it. The twist, when it comes, will definitely surprise the reader as it is completely unexpected and brilliant in its simplicity. There are a few steamy scenes in the story but nothing over the top although having said that I would place it as a read for young adult or older.
This is a Goodreads First Read
This is a Goodreads First Read
January 21, 2016
I was followed by the author, David Heath, on Twitter and saw that this story was up for free on Amazon. Being a free story I thought "Why not?" Turns out that 'why not' was a brilliant four hour read (if you are a fast reader).
It is written in a minimalistic fashion, yet takes nothing away from being perfectly descriptive and vivid. Characters are believable, especially in this day and age, and I love how the author takes on real-world scenarios.
Perhaps our generation should all read this as a manual for the destruction of our social connectivity as opposed to our physical connection to one another.
A tale that picks up pace the further you delve in, David Heath is one that is on my watch-list for the future.
It is written in a minimalistic fashion, yet takes nothing away from being perfectly descriptive and vivid. Characters are believable, especially in this day and age, and I love how the author takes on real-world scenarios.
Perhaps our generation should all read this as a manual for the destruction of our social connectivity as opposed to our physical connection to one another.
A tale that picks up pace the further you delve in, David Heath is one that is on my watch-list for the future.
October 14, 2015
I really liked the first 75% of this walk through weirdness. It took me into the life of a young adult and his online chat room discussions with some sick people. I found the discussions that "Trigger" encountered embarrassingly interesting; taking the reader down some seedy alley-ways. Trigger's internal dialogue was equally interesting. The story lost some intensity near the end and seemed to rush to the finish. Therefore my comment about liking the first 75%. It is still a good read and I look forward to more of Dave's work.
October 9, 2015
I enjoyed this book very much...until the ending. I won't spoil anything, but the end just missed the mark for me. Regardless, the writing was great. The idea the novel tries to get across is the dependency on technology and social media among this generation. The book takes a dark approach at how to reverse that dependency. I was given a digital copy (ironic, considering the novel's remarks on tablets and phones :) ) from the author, David Heath for an early review.
November 16, 2015
If you are looking for a dark, disturbing and twist filled book then this debut novel from David Heath would be a very good place to start.
The dark, bleak world that Heath creates here really comes to life thanks to his writing style and that's one that makes me eager to see just what kind of story is going to come from his mind next.
For my full review then please visit my blog.
http://curiosityofasocialmisfit.blogs...
The dark, bleak world that Heath creates here really comes to life thanks to his writing style and that's one that makes me eager to see just what kind of story is going to come from his mind next.
For my full review then please visit my blog.
http://curiosityofasocialmisfit.blogs...
January 9, 2016
the ending was so anticlimatic. i wanted more to be explained.the whole scene with charity and trigger in the rape victim talk was .....disturbing. apart from that i really liked this book ,it had a certain charm to it.
November 27, 2017
I won a signed copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it a local library.
November 27, 2015
Tightly written transgressive fiction with a fast pace and plenty of tone.
The protagonist, Trigger, is engaging and investable, for all of his despondency, and his malaise doesn't come across as self-pitying or annoying. The inciting incident occurs good and early, so don't be put off thinking you're in for a book about someone being gloomy and suicidal the whole way through. The narrative then propels both protagonist and reader along nicely, with some nice comedic moments and on-the-money social commentary along the way. Charity is an interesting and effective counterpoint to Trigger. In spite of their ages being less than a decade apart, there's an evident generation gap between them, with her belonging clearly to a cohort that has grown up with social media and an culture of selfies whereby success is measured in terms of "likes" and online followers, while Trigger's internet dependency is all about anonymous escapism.
I would have liked a bit more on Trigger's childhood. While it didn't need to be the focus of the story, it's clear that certain events/parental issues affected him growing up, and I'd have really liked some additional material on this aspect of Trigger's development, maybe delving into the conflict he may have felt, finding out about his family's dark past, and how this might have impacted on his ability to score with girls as he got older. Similarly, there's room to go into how he got into Fortune69; maybe the desire to get away from his own genetic history was what made the anonymity of this online world so appealing. Again, this stuff didn't need to be in there, but it would have added some extra depth and texture and made the protagonist and his subsequent actions and feelings mean a little bit more.
The butterfly motif worked really well, and the stuff to do with insects was really cute. Again, I'd have liked to see a bit more of this scattered throughout the book (kind of like the multiple medical references dotted through Choke), but that's just my preference for narrative style, I guess.
The writer's voice is fluid, fluent and very easy to read, and his dialogue is naturalistic and believable. He get his characters and makes sure that the audience does, too.
There are a few quite minor formatting issues in the book, but try not to judge that too harshly; I know from painful experience that converting a doc file to Kindle format can be an agonisingly logic-defying affair, and a perfectly formatted manuscript can become bewilderingly scrambled in translation.
If you liked Survivor, Not In The Eye and Crooked Little Vein, it's worth investing your time and money in this book. I for one will be looking out for more from David Heath.
The protagonist, Trigger, is engaging and investable, for all of his despondency, and his malaise doesn't come across as self-pitying or annoying. The inciting incident occurs good and early, so don't be put off thinking you're in for a book about someone being gloomy and suicidal the whole way through. The narrative then propels both protagonist and reader along nicely, with some nice comedic moments and on-the-money social commentary along the way. Charity is an interesting and effective counterpoint to Trigger. In spite of their ages being less than a decade apart, there's an evident generation gap between them, with her belonging clearly to a cohort that has grown up with social media and an culture of selfies whereby success is measured in terms of "likes" and online followers, while Trigger's internet dependency is all about anonymous escapism.
I would have liked a bit more on Trigger's childhood. While it didn't need to be the focus of the story, it's clear that certain events/parental issues affected him growing up, and I'd have really liked some additional material on this aspect of Trigger's development, maybe delving into the conflict he may have felt, finding out about his family's dark past, and how this might have impacted on his ability to score with girls as he got older. Similarly, there's room to go into how he got into Fortune69; maybe the desire to get away from his own genetic history was what made the anonymity of this online world so appealing. Again, this stuff didn't need to be in there, but it would have added some extra depth and texture and made the protagonist and his subsequent actions and feelings mean a little bit more.
The butterfly motif worked really well, and the stuff to do with insects was really cute. Again, I'd have liked to see a bit more of this scattered throughout the book (kind of like the multiple medical references dotted through Choke), but that's just my preference for narrative style, I guess.
The writer's voice is fluid, fluent and very easy to read, and his dialogue is naturalistic and believable. He get his characters and makes sure that the audience does, too.
There are a few quite minor formatting issues in the book, but try not to judge that too harshly; I know from painful experience that converting a doc file to Kindle format can be an agonisingly logic-defying affair, and a perfectly formatted manuscript can become bewilderingly scrambled in translation.
If you liked Survivor, Not In The Eye and Crooked Little Vein, it's worth investing your time and money in this book. I for one will be looking out for more from David Heath.
May 25, 2016
Mental health and depression issues are still considered taboo and controversial. My mind cannot wrap itself around the notion that what makes us different STILL makes us strange. Acceptance and acknowledgement are two of the strongest human actions that exist, and they're still the two that people are still trying to get right. Check out #oscarsowhite. It's awful.
This is precisely why David Heath's effervescent "Fortune 69" was such a welcome and eye-opening read. It holds a flawed, depressed main character at its core, using Trigger as the catalyst to present a world that literally always has it's finger on a trigger, ready to shoot.
The aforementioned Trigger is depressed and lonely. Either one is not a truly ideal state to be in, but together, nothing good can really come of it. Embarking on a suicide attempt, Trigger decides that life is not worth living, and decides to end his life for all of social media to see and behold. It's a powerful commentary on voyeurism and our propensity to watch someone suffer.
Fortunately, the author decides to use this sad event to bring a character into the reader's lives that is at once endearing and damaged. Trigger is navigating the tough terrains of life, unsure of a lot of things, and excitable about others. His posted suicide note on Fortune-69.com, his second home online, and has found himself with devout followers who have christened him their new leader. Leader of what remains to be seen.
Peppered in are a few colorful characters that bring a spectrum of originality and tonality to the novel. The author is clearly an intelligent person, as evidenced through his witty anecdotes and witty, sly stabs at modern culture. It's an entertaining, provocative read that allows the reader to become active in their observation, even though in today's age, it's passivity that governs most of our lives.
Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
This is precisely why David Heath's effervescent "Fortune 69" was such a welcome and eye-opening read. It holds a flawed, depressed main character at its core, using Trigger as the catalyst to present a world that literally always has it's finger on a trigger, ready to shoot.
The aforementioned Trigger is depressed and lonely. Either one is not a truly ideal state to be in, but together, nothing good can really come of it. Embarking on a suicide attempt, Trigger decides that life is not worth living, and decides to end his life for all of social media to see and behold. It's a powerful commentary on voyeurism and our propensity to watch someone suffer.
Fortunately, the author decides to use this sad event to bring a character into the reader's lives that is at once endearing and damaged. Trigger is navigating the tough terrains of life, unsure of a lot of things, and excitable about others. His posted suicide note on Fortune-69.com, his second home online, and has found himself with devout followers who have christened him their new leader. Leader of what remains to be seen.
Peppered in are a few colorful characters that bring a spectrum of originality and tonality to the novel. The author is clearly an intelligent person, as evidenced through his witty anecdotes and witty, sly stabs at modern culture. It's an entertaining, provocative read that allows the reader to become active in their observation, even though in today's age, it's passivity that governs most of our lives.
Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
November 11, 2015
Depressed and disillusioned by society’s involvement with the virtual world, Trigger posts a suicide note on his website of choice fortune69.com. He has little idea that the single inspirational post has earned him thousands of followers. It soon sparks off a dramatic chain of events and pushes the entire world towards catastrophe.
Fortune69 is a thriller that shocks and entertains at the same time. Dealing with the dark realities of cyberspace and the evil it fosters, the novel tells a story which is absolutely true to life. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to shady characters and seedy web pages. It’s difficult to attempt to keep this book aside. I found the writing style quite attractive and every cliff hanger was in the right place. Once you finish reading the novel, you can’t help reflecting on the various issues it raises while telling a gripping story. I’d recommend it to thriller fans.
Fortune69 is a thriller that shocks and entertains at the same time. Dealing with the dark realities of cyberspace and the evil it fosters, the novel tells a story which is absolutely true to life. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to shady characters and seedy web pages. It’s difficult to attempt to keep this book aside. I found the writing style quite attractive and every cliff hanger was in the right place. Once you finish reading the novel, you can’t help reflecting on the various issues it raises while telling a gripping story. I’d recommend it to thriller fans.
January 13, 2016
First the good. This was an easy read and the story moved steadily forward, which is no small thing in comparison to some other ebooks I've read. The author does have a knack for telling a story and I would consider reading another by him if I got the chance. For me, that was enough to give it three stars.
My problem with it is that the story he chose to tell felt too familiar. For most of it, I was checking off the boxes that put it as just a more modern version of the Project Mayhem aspect of Fight Club. Pranks that start to go too far, check. Detached female, check. Then, while I was happy he steered clear of making any of the characters alternate personalities, the ending was pretty anti-climactic for the build up that got us there. For as extreme as the back story with the father was, it didn't mean anything and the final moment felt like a shrug from both the author and main character.
My problem with it is that the story he chose to tell felt too familiar. For most of it, I was checking off the boxes that put it as just a more modern version of the Project Mayhem aspect of Fight Club. Pranks that start to go too far, check. Detached female, check. Then, while I was happy he steered clear of making any of the characters alternate personalities, the ending was pretty anti-climactic for the build up that got us there. For as extreme as the back story with the father was, it didn't mean anything and the final moment felt like a shrug from both the author and main character.
September 6, 2016
Fortune 69 is the name of a website where all dramas begin and end. Internet is a metaphor of life as it were in which people breathe the very air that they would in real life. The protagonist himself is 'digitised'as signified by his name 'Trigger' and so is his social network and commitments. This has evolved through obsession obviously. However, this digital platform clearly rules and has paradoxically robotised our existence as it offers an alternative life online. Evolution is powerful and this technology era only confirms one thing - a future where the organic world has metamorphosised into mechanical. Whether or not it is a welcome change that still has to be deciphered.
January 16, 2016
Different to what I would normally read.
It's an very interesting read.
It's an very interesting read.
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