What do you think?
Rate this book
Fight the Rooster
The story of one man’s attempt to ruin his career in order to save his life.
The Great Director is a man convinced that the movies he’s pouring his heart and soul into are killing him. After a series of dubious therapy sessions, he becomes convinced—while eating a pretzel—that he must do the unthinkable to save his life: he must ruin his next picture. Instead of filming a masterpiece, he intends to shoot the equivalent of Brad Pitt reading the telephone book, except without Brad Pitt.
But mayhem and destruction are not so easily accomplished. Slacker producers, a has-been cinematographer, a junkie gambler action hero who’s run out of credit, smarmy players looking to bend any concept into next summer’s blockbuster, and a cast of grumbling, griping, hardworking malcontents do everything in their power to prevent the Great Director from wrecking his movie and escaping the business alive.
Part Catch-22, part The Player, Fight the Rooster is an eclectic, funny, and unpredictable thrill ride through life and Hollywood.
The Great Director is a man convinced that the movies he’s pouring his heart and soul into are killing him. After a series of dubious therapy sessions, he becomes convinced—while eating a pretzel—that he must do the unthinkable to save his life: he must ruin his next picture. Instead of filming a masterpiece, he intends to shoot the equivalent of Brad Pitt reading the telephone book, except without Brad Pitt.
But mayhem and destruction are not so easily accomplished. Slacker producers, a has-been cinematographer, a junkie gambler action hero who’s run out of credit, smarmy players looking to bend any concept into next summer’s blockbuster, and a cast of grumbling, griping, hardworking malcontents do everything in their power to prevent the Great Director from wrecking his movie and escaping the business alive.
Part Catch-22, part The Player, Fight the Rooster is an eclectic, funny, and unpredictable thrill ride through life and Hollywood.
- GenresFiction
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2016
47 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Nick Cole
184 books622 followersNick Cole is a working actor living in Southern California. When he is not auditioning for commercials, going out for sitcoms or being shot, kicked, stabbed or beaten by the students of various film schools for their projects, he can often be found as a guard for King Phillip the Second of Spain in the Opera Don Carlo at Los Angeles Opera or some similar role. Nick Cole has been writing for most of his life and acting in Hollywood after serving in the U.S. Army.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 23, 2016
I finished this book today during my lunch break, after having read it feverishly into the wee hours the last few nights. I am unexpectedly sad that it’s over. This book was, against my expectations, absolutely wonderful.
Just for posterity, I am a big fan of Nick Cole’s writing. His insights and page-turner style are very appealing to my tastes as a reader and I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of his books that I’ve read. But, I had a hard time getting started with this book.
This is not a usual “Nick Cole” book. No robots, no gamers, no dystopian madness, no zombies. Heck, for a good 25% of the book, I don’t think any of the characters even had proper names! Instead, it was about a whole different kind of desperate madness: Hollywood.
10% in I was going to lay it down, but other reviews were coming in about how great it was, and, like I said, I’m a big Nick Cole fan, so I was willing to keep pushing through.
I’m very glad I did. Around the 25% mark things started to turn around and by 40% I was absolutely hooked and, literally, driven to keep turning pages well past midnight to see what happened to these characters.
The story centers around “The Great Director”, a Spielberg-esque figure who is having serious scares about his mortality and has become convinced that he needs to escape Hollywood in order to save his life. But, being who he is, the only way to truly escape, to make it so no one will ever call him to make another movie, he has to utterly destroy the blockbuster he is currently working on.
As we follow along while he tries over and over to slay this dragon of a film, the reader gets a front row seat into the abject absurdity of the movie business from a skilled writer who has lived it.
This is not a typical Nick Cole book, but it may, incredibly, be his best so far. Very highly recommended.
Just for posterity, I am a big fan of Nick Cole’s writing. His insights and page-turner style are very appealing to my tastes as a reader and I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of his books that I’ve read. But, I had a hard time getting started with this book.
This is not a usual “Nick Cole” book. No robots, no gamers, no dystopian madness, no zombies. Heck, for a good 25% of the book, I don’t think any of the characters even had proper names! Instead, it was about a whole different kind of desperate madness: Hollywood.
10% in I was going to lay it down, but other reviews were coming in about how great it was, and, like I said, I’m a big Nick Cole fan, so I was willing to keep pushing through.
I’m very glad I did. Around the 25% mark things started to turn around and by 40% I was absolutely hooked and, literally, driven to keep turning pages well past midnight to see what happened to these characters.
The story centers around “The Great Director”, a Spielberg-esque figure who is having serious scares about his mortality and has become convinced that he needs to escape Hollywood in order to save his life. But, being who he is, the only way to truly escape, to make it so no one will ever call him to make another movie, he has to utterly destroy the blockbuster he is currently working on.
As we follow along while he tries over and over to slay this dragon of a film, the reader gets a front row seat into the abject absurdity of the movie business from a skilled writer who has lived it.
This is not a typical Nick Cole book, but it may, incredibly, be his best so far. Very highly recommended.
July 18, 2016
Nick billed this story - Fight the Rooster - as something different but I’d have to say it’s the same old Nick – awesome! - just without any killer robots and not in a futuristic apocalyptic world.
I was prepared to be entertained and I was not disappointed. I could almost feel the back and forth “scenes” as we moved – a movie of a movie was playing out. There’s a sarcastic mix, an off-spring of Josh Judge and an old Woody Allen, probably in Black and White, Hollywood expose. It’s a laugh out loud dramatic play throughout the entertainment industry.
Nick the writer/working actor has again pulled out the stops and dug deep(er) as a storyteller using the archetypes of his world which is whether by surprise or design – really telling the stories of the you’s, me’s, that guy over there on the corner, even that gal down the street – The Us of the world. This is all to say that he’s really telling us the audience – whether you want to call them analogies or parables or archetypes – Nick Cole gets his storytelling done by telling us our own stories or of that of someone we know, to show all the connections of characters – you and me – in his world and in ours.
I for one am glad to be connected to Nick Cole and am already looking forward to his next story.
I was prepared to be entertained and I was not disappointed. I could almost feel the back and forth “scenes” as we moved – a movie of a movie was playing out. There’s a sarcastic mix, an off-spring of Josh Judge and an old Woody Allen, probably in Black and White, Hollywood expose. It’s a laugh out loud dramatic play throughout the entertainment industry.
Nick the writer/working actor has again pulled out the stops and dug deep(er) as a storyteller using the archetypes of his world which is whether by surprise or design – really telling the stories of the you’s, me’s, that guy over there on the corner, even that gal down the street – The Us of the world. This is all to say that he’s really telling us the audience – whether you want to call them analogies or parables or archetypes – Nick Cole gets his storytelling done by telling us our own stories or of that of someone we know, to show all the connections of characters – you and me – in his world and in ours.
I for one am glad to be connected to Nick Cole and am already looking forward to his next story.
December 17, 2016
This kind of book deserves an essay on what it means to live, how we struggle to make our dreams a joy and not a burden, and then also how we recover when we feel like our dreams have driven us from those we love and our ability to love ourselves.
You'll be better off reading this novel over that essay. Nick has a way of showing people in moments that seem normal but which capture the changing of their hearts. This is a story about a director in Hollywood who is desperate to ruin his career before it ruins him, but really, it is the story of many people, and myself.
I really hope you decide to open these pages. It will be a blessing to count among your favorites between the covers of a book.
You'll be better off reading this novel over that essay. Nick has a way of showing people in moments that seem normal but which capture the changing of their hearts. This is a story about a director in Hollywood who is desperate to ruin his career before it ruins him, but really, it is the story of many people, and myself.
I really hope you decide to open these pages. It will be a blessing to count among your favorites between the covers of a book.
July 13, 2016
'“I think it is to be okay,” announced Goreitsky quietly. Everybody stopped. “I think it will be… okay,” said the Great Goreitsky again, raising his arms to get their attention.'
It was more than OK, in fact this story is quite profound and deeply moving. The characters are all as large as life, with their quirks and idiosyncrasies. If this is the craziness that is Hollywood then I'm content to simply read about it, rather than be part of it.
It was a little odd at the beginning but then the stars aligned and the plans became clear as everyone played their part in the intricate web. The ending was perfect and left me with a smile.
Absolutely fascinating and unlike anything I have ever read before.
*This was an ARC, my opinions are my own.*
It was more than OK, in fact this story is quite profound and deeply moving. The characters are all as large as life, with their quirks and idiosyncrasies. If this is the craziness that is Hollywood then I'm content to simply read about it, rather than be part of it.
It was a little odd at the beginning but then the stars aligned and the plans became clear as everyone played their part in the intricate web. The ending was perfect and left me with a smile.
Absolutely fascinating and unlike anything I have ever read before.
*This was an ARC, my opinions are my own.*
July 12, 2016
FOLKS, a bloody excellently crazy mofo of a book just went live from Nick Cole! An author who just recently was freed from the constraints of his publishing house and is blossoming as a full-blown indie writer.
Whilst reading this tall tale I had been getting weird looks from peeps (more than usual) ..... "Why's he laughing so loud Mum?"..... & that's just my children!!
This book is so hilarious, clever and packed full of moments that left me jaw dropped and asking yourself "Did I just read that?". It has also the most funny moment concerning a 5 hour 'Bass-fishing Epic'?!
Nick has just and upped the ante!
Whilst reading this tall tale I had been getting weird looks from peeps (more than usual) ..... "Why's he laughing so loud Mum?"..... & that's just my children!!
This book is so hilarious, clever and packed full of moments that left me jaw dropped and asking yourself "Did I just read that?". It has also the most funny moment concerning a 5 hour 'Bass-fishing Epic'?!
Nick has just and upped the ante!
July 12, 2016
Even though Fight The Rooster is not my usual genre I really enjoyed this book.Nick Cole is extremely talented at creating well developed characters and in depth world building.I found that i could fully immerse myself in the Hollywood world he developed,and thought the characters quite relatable.As with all of Nick Cole books it's about the human condition and the struggle to make a lasting connection with others.All while the characters are fighting their own inner demons.I also enjoyed the feeling of getting a peek into the acting world that the author is also a part of.I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2016
Fight the Rooster isn’t a typical Nick Cole book, but if you enjoy the way he tells stories, then don’t pass this one up. The author paints a rich tapestry of characterization, scenery, nostalgia, and emotion. I can’t get the Astro Lodge out of my head, and frankly, I don’t want to. It transported me back to a yesteryear that I can still recall. Nick, thank you for this beautiful book.
August 25, 2016
I'm not sure how to describe this book, so I'll let other reviewers do that. But I can say I was hooked from page one, and it only got better from there. This was my first Nick Cole book, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
July 14, 2016
Nick Cole has brought together the most eclectic bunch of characters in this book and they each play the role of their name to a "T", right down to the poor "Great Director", who is convinced his next movie is going to kill him. So the Great Director is hell bent on sabotaging this movie to save his life, meanwhile, everyone else is trying their best to prevent the Great Director from killing them, career wise of course.
Nick Cole takes you on a wild ride called, show business, and while we would think it could never possible be this bad, I am sure there are plenty of actors, and other behind the scenes people that can probably relate to this and worse. This ride was funny at times, sad at times, but overall just plain fun. So take your chance and fight the rooster.
Nick Cole takes you on a wild ride called, show business, and while we would think it could never possible be this bad, I am sure there are plenty of actors, and other behind the scenes people that can probably relate to this and worse. This ride was funny at times, sad at times, but overall just plain fun. So take your chance and fight the rooster.
July 12, 2016
"The Pretzel of Doom ...the biggest if wigs"
Rarely has a book so loudly screamed, "Make the film, NOW". At times funny, sometimes poignant, fantastic fast paced style, brilliant protagonists with great dialogue and characterisation, and a story so unexpected it figuratively bounces from the page, this is a terrific and very visual read. To say anything about the story beyond what has already been given would spoil the sheer delight of discovery of this quirky tale. Get it, read and become absorbed into this bizarre world of picture making and it's even stranger protagonists.
And film companies - get your contracts ready for signing now.
Rarely has a book so loudly screamed, "Make the film, NOW". At times funny, sometimes poignant, fantastic fast paced style, brilliant protagonists with great dialogue and characterisation, and a story so unexpected it figuratively bounces from the page, this is a terrific and very visual read. To say anything about the story beyond what has already been given would spoil the sheer delight of discovery of this quirky tale. Get it, read and become absorbed into this bizarre world of picture making and it's even stranger protagonists.
And film companies - get your contracts ready for signing now.
July 28, 2016
An evocative symphony of words and hope
Fight the Rooster is everything you hope for in a novel: deeply compelling characters, humor and wit, and hope. Hope that tomorrow will be better than today. Hope that the fears you have been feeling don't mark you alone but unite you with the world all around. Hope that when when you kiss your wife goodnight, or encourage a failing student to not give up, or even placing your trust in someone who has had too many second chances, hope that this life will add up to something in the end.
This novel has stayed with me in all the hours I was not reading it and it will definitely stay with me in the years to come.
Fight the Rooster is everything you hope for in a novel: deeply compelling characters, humor and wit, and hope. Hope that tomorrow will be better than today. Hope that the fears you have been feeling don't mark you alone but unite you with the world all around. Hope that when when you kiss your wife goodnight, or encourage a failing student to not give up, or even placing your trust in someone who has had too many second chances, hope that this life will add up to something in the end.
This novel has stayed with me in all the hours I was not reading it and it will definitely stay with me in the years to come.
July 24, 2016
Like some others, Fight The Rooster did not hit me as a typical Nick Cole story. I had a little trouble getting into the book but soon fell into the world that Nick created. I found myself laughing, smiling and nodding my way thru chapter after chapter.
I feel like I might need to read this book a couple more times to find all that Nick has created.
I was given a free Advance Review copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. I also purchased the book because I believe in supporting the authors I like.
I feel like I might need to read this book a couple more times to find all that Nick has created.
I was given a free Advance Review copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. I also purchased the book because I believe in supporting the authors I like.
August 11, 2016
As I've come to expect from Nick Cole, this was a great read. It took me a while to get into it but then I was hooked. Definitely worth a read.
September 6, 2016
Great read, fast paced. I found myself worrying about how it was going to end for the Great Director on a continuous basis.
August 1, 2018
Before going on vacation I had dinner with the dean of the international law school across the street from my school. He said he likes to read wild mind numbing fiction when he’s on vacation to clear his head. He recommended this author and this book to me. It’s about a movie director who starts to have an existential crisis, cultivate a deep fear of death, and then try to sabotage his current film project so that he’ll be fired, kicked out of the industry, and go to Alaska to live among bears and become a fisherman. It is strange, it is weird, and it is often quite meandering. But, I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion, and I feel I’ve learned quite a bit about film production. Nick Cole is a Christian and makes a lot of biblical references. The title is in reference to the rooster who crowed after Peter’s third sin. At one point in the book the director has a vision of a conversation with Orson Wells who tells him that he is like Judas, but the director argues he’s more like Peter who lost his way, and he’ll fight the rooster who revealed his shame. 442 pages of meandering narrative tangents and trippy pulp fiction that has moments of clarity and humor.
May 16, 2022
Fantastic Book
This is much different than you may be used to, if you know Nick’s writing from Wasteland or Galaxy’s Edge. It’s phenomenal. I can’t describe it, but here’s what I wrote after starting it:
I’m 27% done with Fight the Rooster. I’m only dimly aware of what the plot might be. Reading it, I wonder if maybe this is what dropping acid is like. I’m absolutely loving it. I have no idea how the psychiatrist fits in, but I was mesmerized. Incredible book. Nothing I’ve read from Nick Cole has prepared me for this. I imagine this book being taught in a college course, if college courses were worth the powder to blow them all to hell. It’s been a long time since I read a book that surprised and delighted me like Fight the Rooster has.
The plot gets easier to figure out shortly after that, but still blends humor and unexpected, bizarre scenes and extremely colorful characters into a compelling and satisfying novel about fear and redemption.
Highly recommend!
This is much different than you may be used to, if you know Nick’s writing from Wasteland or Galaxy’s Edge. It’s phenomenal. I can’t describe it, but here’s what I wrote after starting it:
I’m 27% done with Fight the Rooster. I’m only dimly aware of what the plot might be. Reading it, I wonder if maybe this is what dropping acid is like. I’m absolutely loving it. I have no idea how the psychiatrist fits in, but I was mesmerized. Incredible book. Nothing I’ve read from Nick Cole has prepared me for this. I imagine this book being taught in a college course, if college courses were worth the powder to blow them all to hell. It’s been a long time since I read a book that surprised and delighted me like Fight the Rooster has.
The plot gets easier to figure out shortly after that, but still blends humor and unexpected, bizarre scenes and extremely colorful characters into a compelling and satisfying novel about fear and redemption.
Highly recommend!
May 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book so much that I felt I needed to actually write a review. I was looking for something a little different to read and had little if any exceptions of this book. It was funny, poignant, and though I know very little of the film industry in which is is set, it felt real. The anxiety of lives off track even though appearances are to the contrary was so, I don't know, perfect. I was also impressed that the ending didn't let me down at all, it just all felt right. In short, I am so glad I gave this book a read based almost solely on the odd title, which is also pretty damn perfect.
June 2, 2017
Great Read!
I have read much of the works of Mr Cole and I feel that this is the best so far. Nick's writings constantly surprise me with their vast differences and deep understanding and portrayals of the human condition.
Amazing storytelling and fascinating insights into truly interesting characters' lives and dreams in every tale.
Keep up the great work, Nick!
I have read much of the works of Mr Cole and I feel that this is the best so far. Nick's writings constantly surprise me with their vast differences and deep understanding and portrayals of the human condition.
Amazing storytelling and fascinating insights into truly interesting characters' lives and dreams in every tale.
Keep up the great work, Nick!
December 15, 2017
Nick Cole always satisfies.
April 8, 2017
This one is unlike other of his books. Wasn't quite what I was expecting, but was not disappointed.
The story of the disillusioned "Great Director" who thinks his job is killing him sets the baseline. He wants to escape from his career, but isn't allowed to. So he sets about ruining his latest movie.
Reading through this I thought I had figured out the predictable story arc. I was wrong. Quite different than I imagined and this is to the better. Enjoyed the characters and the story and greatly appreciated the ending.
The story of the disillusioned "Great Director" who thinks his job is killing him sets the baseline. He wants to escape from his career, but isn't allowed to. So he sets about ruining his latest movie.
Reading through this I thought I had figured out the predictable story arc. I was wrong. Quite different than I imagined and this is to the better. Enjoyed the characters and the story and greatly appreciated the ending.
April 11, 2017
I liked it.
I ended up liking this book a fair amount. I had a hard time with the beginning, then it was amusing and interesting. I apologize to the author for mostly skipping over the Welles part and promise to go back and read the whole thing again. There were many lovely little moments that I loved, and little truths that spoke to me.
I ended up liking this book a fair amount. I had a hard time with the beginning, then it was amusing and interesting. I apologize to the author for mostly skipping over the Welles part and promise to go back and read the whole thing again. There were many lovely little moments that I loved, and little truths that spoke to me.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews