Barrage: A Dark Comedy

by Kirk Withrow

What do you get when you combine a blundering pothead, a beautiful woman, an ex-CIA operative, an alien parasite, and a devious conspiracy? Usually nothing, but Barrage is anything but usual.

It is the story of Keller Mann, an ordinary guy living an ordinary life...at least until he finds his girlfriend in bed with the tennis pro next door. That jarring discovery sets Keller on a path that begins with a mysterious woman and collides with an alien plot for world domination.

Love and betrayal, sex and parasites, aliens and unanticipated consequences--it's all part of the Barrage. Throw in a healthy dose of electromagnetic radiation and a dash of intergalactic warfare for good measure, and you're in for a rollicking good time.

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2016

About the author

Kirk Withrow is the author numerous books and short stories. Often dark, dystopian affairs, his writings possess a realistic slant owing to his scientific and medical background. In addition to writing, his many other creative endeavors include music, luthiery, and painting. Whenever possible, he enjoys martial arts training including jiu-jitsu, muay thai, and kali.

His first novel, Four, is a psychological/military/medical thriller. The Redivivus Trilogy—Threnody, Riposte, and Miasma—is a post-apocalyptic survival horror series about mankind's fight against a deadly pathogen. His work took a comedic turn with Barrage, a sci-fi dark comedy that begins with a transplanetary miscommunication and careens dangerously toward intergalactic annihilation. Most recently, Fun World: a Zombie Tale, explores the inevitable zombie apocalypse which just so happens to start in the middle of one of the world's most beloved theme parks.

For more information about Kirk Withrow's books, art, music, and musical instruments, go to http://www.kirkwithrow.com.

Reviews

[Mandy Wultsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sexually transmitted parasite threatens to destroy the Earth. The main character of the story, Keller Mann, is an unlikely hero; there is nothing really special about him. He does his best to save the human race, though, leading to some hilarious (and occasionally life threatening) situations.

The prologue of this book reminded me of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and I thought I might be reading a near clone of that book. However, the storylines diverge starting in the first chapter.

The humor is not as densely packed as in Douglas Adams' works, but that is a very high standard to try and live up to. That said, there is plenty of humor throughout, some of it quite dark.

There are some sexually explicit scenes and some cursing, so I would recommend this book for high school age and adults. If you like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (or light sci-fi in general), give this book a try. You won't be disappointed.

I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways program. Thank you to the author and/or publisher.