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Homo Superiors
Two college seniors: Noah, frail like the hollow-boned birds he enjoys watching, caged by his intellect, and by his sense that the only boy as smart as himself is his best friend; Ray who has spent years aping leading men so that his every gesture is suave, but who has become bored with petty cheats and tricks, and now, during summer break in Chicago, needs something momentous to occupy himself.
Noah’s text says, I’ve found some candidates for murder. Ray chuckles and knows that Noah sent the message to cheer him. Both boys realize they stand apart from others their age. One lacks social graces, the other has perfected being charming. Both are too willing to embark on a true challenge of their superiority but neither realizes what such a crime will do because no matter how they see themselves, how they need one another, they still possess the same emotions of H. sapiens.
Noah’s text says, I’ve found some candidates for murder. Ray chuckles and knows that Noah sent the message to cheer him. Both boys realize they stand apart from others their age. One lacks social graces, the other has perfected being charming. Both are too willing to embark on a true challenge of their superiority but neither realizes what such a crime will do because no matter how they see themselves, how they need one another, they still possess the same emotions of H. sapiens.
- GenresM M RomanceFictionLGBT
176 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Fields
32 books23 followersCat person, MFA, author of The Disorder Series (Rebel Satori Press), the Lambda Literary Award finalists My Dear Watson and Homo Superiors (Lethe Press), as well as works of scholarship, short fiction, and erotica.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 25, 2020
Audiobook - 4 stars
Story - I will give this one 3.75 stars.
Days after finishing this, i still don't get what was going on. 😖🙈 The writing is so good but the story telling was a bit confusing for me. This is based on the story of Leopold and Loeb, I am familiar with the story and was happy the route the author took to tell this story. It was interesting to keep going until the end.
Noah and Ray are two very unlikable characters. Rich, bored, smart psychopaths with a lot of time on their hands, these two decided to seek thrills the best way they knew how. The story is told in such a way you can't help but be facinated by Noah and Ray even though you want to smack them hard at the same time.
This story is character driven, we get to know Ray and Noah. I was glad that the author didn't force issues by trying to make them lovable Anti heroes. You either hate them or just tolerate them. No lovable Dexter or Walter here.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. That ending sucked. Where the heck is the rest of the story?
Story - I will give this one 3.75 stars.
Days after finishing this, i still don't get what was going on. 😖🙈 The writing is so good but the story telling was a bit confusing for me. This is based on the story of Leopold and Loeb, I am familiar with the story and was happy the route the author took to tell this story. It was interesting to keep going until the end.
Noah and Ray are two very unlikable characters. Rich, bored, smart psychopaths with a lot of time on their hands, these two decided to seek thrills the best way they knew how. The story is told in such a way you can't help but be facinated by Noah and Ray even though you want to smack them hard at the same time.
This story is character driven, we get to know Ray and Noah. I was glad that the author didn't force issues by trying to make them lovable Anti heroes. You either hate them or just tolerate them. No lovable Dexter or Walter here.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. That ending sucked. Where the heck is the rest of the story?
May 4, 2017
29th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalist - Gay Mystery
Initial thoughts:
THAT is not your usual mystery.
THAT is hardly a mystery at all! IMO.
I'm wondering what this novel is doing in this category....But it doesn't make it less brilliant.
Well...it is good to have GR friends who can contribute to cultural enhancement and learning
(Nick
!)
I can save myself the effort of writing an enigmatic review, trying not to give away the details of the story. It looks like everyone knows THIS story except moi.
But I know now too - these two guys DID really exist. This fact made this novel though even more fascinating, because you HAVE to be a VERY good writer to deliver such an ingenious character-driven plot. The ending in this context has even MORE meaning for me now. I found it brilliant when I finished it without having a clue, but now I think it was pretty spectacular. ( I can though admit that some of you can find it VERY abrupt)
If you have never heard about Leopold and Loeb case, I would recommend you to read about it AFTER you read the book. I am the one who knew nothing about this case– even if it doesn’t cast me in a positive light – I’m glad I read this book BEFORE I studied this article on Wikipedia.
As I’ve already said, you have to be a REAL character-junkie to understand and appreciate all fine nuances of the inner conflict of the characters here, to enjoy this great psychological spectacle and the writing style that exposes multiple layers of THESE characters as the story develops. But be warned: The mystery aspect won't appear until the very end, it is blur and hidden, but when it comes into the light, its impact is even more impressive.
This case has inspired many works of film, theatre, and fiction. Now I now why I had a feeling, I’m afraid, I know where the story is going on. But even for those who know it, I’d highly recommend this novel.
The author put them in the present, and of course made her own interpretation of the story.
And even if I haven't still totally got, what this novel is doing among the LAMBDA finalists in the category Gay Mystery (the real case is one thing, the written novel is a different thing) – for me it belongs in the category Gay Fiction. (hmm…besides, it is not necessarily gay here), but nevertheless this book deserves some awards, and I have no a tiny doubt it will get some…
Initial thoughts:
THAT is not your usual mystery.
THAT is hardly a mystery at all! IMO.
I'm wondering what this novel is doing in this category....But it doesn't make it less brilliant.
Well...it is good to have GR friends who can contribute to cultural enhancement and learning
(Nick
!)I can save myself the effort of writing an enigmatic review, trying not to give away the details of the story. It looks like everyone knows THIS story except moi.
But I know now too - these two guys DID really exist. This fact made this novel though even more fascinating, because you HAVE to be a VERY good writer to deliver such an ingenious character-driven plot. The ending in this context has even MORE meaning for me now. I found it brilliant when I finished it without having a clue, but now I think it was pretty spectacular. ( I can though admit that some of you can find it VERY abrupt)
If you have never heard about Leopold and Loeb case, I would recommend you to read about it AFTER you read the book. I am the one who knew nothing about this case– even if it doesn’t cast me in a positive light – I’m glad I read this book BEFORE I studied this article on Wikipedia.
As I’ve already said, you have to be a REAL character-junkie to understand and appreciate all fine nuances of the inner conflict of the characters here, to enjoy this great psychological spectacle and the writing style that exposes multiple layers of THESE characters as the story develops. But be warned: The mystery aspect won't appear until the very end, it is blur and hidden, but when it comes into the light, its impact is even more impressive.
This case has inspired many works of film, theatre, and fiction. Now I now why I had a feeling, I’m afraid, I know where the story is going on. But even for those who know it, I’d highly recommend this novel.
The author put them in the present, and of course made her own interpretation of the story.
And even if I haven't still totally got, what this novel is doing among the LAMBDA finalists in the category Gay Mystery (the real case is one thing, the written novel is a different thing) – for me it belongs in the category Gay Fiction. (hmm…besides, it is not necessarily gay here), but nevertheless this book deserves some awards, and I have no a tiny doubt it will get some…
Want to read
July 2, 20187/1/18 Currently FREE via the Smashwords summer sale: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
September 28, 2024
This was SO good, I had such a good time reading this and have no idea how this doesn't have more reviews.
Homo Superiors is a modern retelling of the Leob and Leopold murder but stands on its own. They rely on each other and desperately need each other but how much do they even like each other? It's queer but not in the way you'd expect. The characters are horrible and even when they're being likeable, there's a dissonance.
Highly recommend this to anyone who likes These Violent Delights (gay), but want a Secret Third Thing rather than an overtly romantic nature to the Leob/Leopold dynamic.
The book cuts off right before the murder and it worked really well for me. It's so faithful to the dynamic that you know what is coming next. But there's a sequel in the works so now is literally the best time to have discovered it.
Homo Superiors is a modern retelling of the Leob and Leopold murder but stands on its own. They rely on each other and desperately need each other but how much do they even like each other? It's queer but not in the way you'd expect. The characters are horrible and even when they're being likeable, there's a dissonance.
Highly recommend this to anyone who likes These Violent Delights (gay), but want a Secret Third Thing rather than an overtly romantic nature to the Leob/Leopold dynamic.
The book cuts off right before the murder and it worked really well for me. It's so faithful to the dynamic that you know what is coming next. But there's a sequel in the works so now is literally the best time to have discovered it.
July 7, 2016
You will think you know where this book is going but just when it looks like that idea you started with will pay off, the book takes a wicked sharp right turn. What I was most impressed with is the author's depiction of voice--I've heard these characters before in hotel elevators or at the next table over in a restaurant (and so have you). Chillingly plausible. Recommended.
May 8, 2017
Chilling & disturbing take on a real life story, this is a different perspective. Psychological suspense (to a degree) The writing if the M/C's is incredible, IMO a bit scary.
April 1, 2017
Combines the emotional snap and burn of the best fanfiction with the polished prose and nuance of a professional. If that's the kind of thing you like, you will like this kind of thing.
Here be spoilers...
I took a bit to turn the ending over in my mind. At first glance it seems like a cop-out that avoids confronting the boys' cruelty, the suffering of their victim, and the sadness of what has to happen after. However, I do think there's a kind of storytelling wisdom in prolonging the question of whether history will repeat itself in this bit of fiction as long as possible - because it's the story of the relationship, so it's the old questions of 'will they or won't they?' Once the decision is made that part of the story, at least, is over.
Here be spoilers...
I took a bit to turn the ending over in my mind. At first glance it seems like a cop-out that avoids confronting the boys' cruelty, the suffering of their victim, and the sadness of what has to happen after. However, I do think there's a kind of storytelling wisdom in prolonging the question of whether history will repeat itself in this bit of fiction as long as possible - because it's the story of the relationship, so it's the old questions of 'will they or won't they?' Once the decision is made that part of the story, at least, is over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2017
We are told that these two young men are the geniuses of their peer groups—One popular, the other not so. They want to up their boredom by killing someone. Sound familiar? Ending really lame.
May 7, 2017
I don't know which is more terrifying; this book or the real events..
probably-not-but-freebie
July 10, 2018Freebie at smashie right now: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
April 19, 2024
Noah and Ray, the two main characters in the twisted, intriguing novel, "Homo Superiors," by L.A. Fields, aren't exactly scale model friends. They don't really trust or even like each other that much, yet they depend on each other, desperately.
Noah knows he's different from day one, has no desire to fit in and is really only concerned about himself. Ray, meanwhile, manages to win everybody over with his charm and good looks. Yet these two young men are immediately drawn to each other, not because they're the youngest at their school, but because they're intellectual equals, with a combined intelligence that can only be described as deadly.
In this clever, modern day retelling of Leopold and Loeb, Noah and Ray are polar opposites who are seemingly destined to make each other's acquaintance. Both are from the same Chicago neighborhood but manage to avoid each other until their paths cross at a college party, and as soon as they realize what they have in common, including a desire to wreak havoc upon those not as adept and capable as they are - which is almost everyone - the ensuing carnage is horrifying.
But what's more disturbing is how shamefully and unapologetically they use each other. Noah is especially ambitious and knows he will one day be a successful lawyer, whereas the self-destructive Ray, who has an affinity for gambling and stalking complete strangers, persuades his friend to follow him from the University of Chicago to the University of Michigan.
When Ray disowns Noah for his fraternity brothers, Noah returns to Chicago and attempts to disavow Ray, until the two establish a rapport where they exchange criminal acts for sexual favors. Ray is well aware of the power his physical presence has over Noah and he outwardly uses it to his advantage.
Neither character is remotely likeable and their story is deeply unsettling - and at its core, very sad, because these are two smart boys with immeasurable potential - yet "Homo Superiors" is a compelling, powerful read. The fresh, witty albeit perverse dialogue between Noah and Ray keeps the pages turning, and while it's easy to sense their story will undoubtedly end badly, you can't help but wonder what deplorable act they'll come up with next.
Noah knows he's different from day one, has no desire to fit in and is really only concerned about himself. Ray, meanwhile, manages to win everybody over with his charm and good looks. Yet these two young men are immediately drawn to each other, not because they're the youngest at their school, but because they're intellectual equals, with a combined intelligence that can only be described as deadly.
In this clever, modern day retelling of Leopold and Loeb, Noah and Ray are polar opposites who are seemingly destined to make each other's acquaintance. Both are from the same Chicago neighborhood but manage to avoid each other until their paths cross at a college party, and as soon as they realize what they have in common, including a desire to wreak havoc upon those not as adept and capable as they are - which is almost everyone - the ensuing carnage is horrifying.
But what's more disturbing is how shamefully and unapologetically they use each other. Noah is especially ambitious and knows he will one day be a successful lawyer, whereas the self-destructive Ray, who has an affinity for gambling and stalking complete strangers, persuades his friend to follow him from the University of Chicago to the University of Michigan.
When Ray disowns Noah for his fraternity brothers, Noah returns to Chicago and attempts to disavow Ray, until the two establish a rapport where they exchange criminal acts for sexual favors. Ray is well aware of the power his physical presence has over Noah and he outwardly uses it to his advantage.
Neither character is remotely likeable and their story is deeply unsettling - and at its core, very sad, because these are two smart boys with immeasurable potential - yet "Homo Superiors" is a compelling, powerful read. The fresh, witty albeit perverse dialogue between Noah and Ray keeps the pages turning, and while it's easy to sense their story will undoubtedly end badly, you can't help but wonder what deplorable act they'll come up with next.
May 18, 2017
Slow reading.
Trite old story line.
Trite old story line.
February 15, 2025
I actually really enjoyed this and then the ending happened. There is no ending the book just suddenly ends.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews