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Monolith
A surgeon's hands are his livelihood, but what if they are rendered useless by pain?
It started with gentle tremors and slight exhaustion after a long day in the OR. Mark ignored the signs, and now overuse and repetitive stress have rendered his hands practically useless. It hurts even to brush his teeth.
For Mark, it seems his career is over just a couple years after it began. He sinks deeper into depression with each day, and he doesn't have high hopes for the weeklong stay in the physiotherapy clinic his mother has arranged for him. His therapist, Corey, is young and handsome, but Mark isn't looking for a boyfriend. He's looking for a friend.
It started with gentle tremors and slight exhaustion after a long day in the OR. Mark ignored the signs, and now overuse and repetitive stress have rendered his hands practically useless. It hurts even to brush his teeth.
For Mark, it seems his career is over just a couple years after it began. He sinks deeper into depression with each day, and he doesn't have high hopes for the weeklong stay in the physiotherapy clinic his mother has arranged for him. His therapist, Corey, is young and handsome, but Mark isn't looking for a boyfriend. He's looking for a friend.
ebook
First published June 11, 2015
5 people want to read
About the author
Albert Nothlit
17 books27 followers Albert Nothlit is an engineer who loves thinking about the science behind science fiction. He fell in love with literature ever since Where the Red Fern Grows made him cry as a ten-year-old. Growing up as a gay man, he realized that he had rarely been able to truly connect with the characters he read about in books because almost none of them were like him. He didn’t have any fictional role models to look up to. Now that he is a writer, he tries to convey the joy and pride of being different through his own books, celebrating the fact that each unique voice brings something special to the beautiful chorus that is human artistic creation.
He likes to think about what the future might be like with the help of science, but he has always been fascinated by that other, much more elusive corollary to scientific curiosity: the mystery of consciousness. He finds the fact that a mind can think about itself both marvelous and slightly terrifying. His books often explore how people (or aliens) grow as a result of facing hardship, which itself has taught him variable lessons through the tough portions of his life.
When he takes a break from writing, Albert loves to cook, despite his varying degrees of success when attempting to make good sushi rice.
He likes to think about what the future might be like with the help of science, but he has always been fascinated by that other, much more elusive corollary to scientific curiosity: the mystery of consciousness. He finds the fact that a mind can think about itself both marvelous and slightly terrifying. His books often explore how people (or aliens) grow as a result of facing hardship, which itself has taught him variable lessons through the tough portions of his life.
When he takes a break from writing, Albert loves to cook, despite his varying degrees of success when attempting to make good sushi rice.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 17, 2015
Delivering more LGBTQ heroes to SciFi!
I love that the author is delivering more LGBTQ heroes to Science Fiction! In this tale, Mark is a surgeon fighting the effects of carpal tunnel. He's no longer operating. In fact, he's sliding deeper into depression as he withdraws from the world. His loveable, meddling mother cuts him off at that lonely pass and drags him to a healing spa. Dr. Corey proceeds to show Mark that in time he will be able to manage, if not conquer completely, the frustrations and limitations of his carpal tunnel. An attraction and friendship builds between the men, confusing them and their doctor-patient relationship a bit. It's not until a strange monolith in the forest above the spa suddenly activates that the men realize what they mean to one another.
I'm not being cagey about their relationship. Mark's match-making mother tries her hardest to get the men together, but the author is clearly focusing on the Science and the Fiction over the romance in this title. He shows us Mark's pain as he fights with hands that he feels have betrayed him and cost him his career. He also highlighted the importance of real friends in the healing process.
If I could have asked for something more, it would have been that the author go further into the story. The reveal about the monolith felt, to me, like a starting point for a longer novel or even trilogy. It's a testament to his storytelling that I want more, and I encourage you to fall into the story!
I love that the author is delivering more LGBTQ heroes to Science Fiction! In this tale, Mark is a surgeon fighting the effects of carpal tunnel. He's no longer operating. In fact, he's sliding deeper into depression as he withdraws from the world. His loveable, meddling mother cuts him off at that lonely pass and drags him to a healing spa. Dr. Corey proceeds to show Mark that in time he will be able to manage, if not conquer completely, the frustrations and limitations of his carpal tunnel. An attraction and friendship builds between the men, confusing them and their doctor-patient relationship a bit. It's not until a strange monolith in the forest above the spa suddenly activates that the men realize what they mean to one another.
I'm not being cagey about their relationship. Mark's match-making mother tries her hardest to get the men together, but the author is clearly focusing on the Science and the Fiction over the romance in this title. He shows us Mark's pain as he fights with hands that he feels have betrayed him and cost him his career. He also highlighted the importance of real friends in the healing process.
If I could have asked for something more, it would have been that the author go further into the story. The reveal about the monolith felt, to me, like a starting point for a longer novel or even trilogy. It's a testament to his storytelling that I want more, and I encourage you to fall into the story!
July 15, 2015
A surgeon with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome meets a handsome therapist who helps him manage his condition. The premise is great. Mark and Corey are both likeable, well developed characters with good chemistry. Mark’s mother adds warmth and comic relief.
Unfortunately, it was the plot that left me bewildered. What starts as a gentle romance becomes a strange, supernatural adventure. I found it very difficult to follow the supernatural plot. I found the sequence of events unclear and I still don’t really know what happened. Oddly, I didn’t need to understand because the story ends quite abruptly - almost as if the supernatural adventure hadn’t happened.
I enjoyed the start of this story, but was increasingly baffled as the book progressed. Mark and Corey’s story does have potential. Possibly, with more development, the author could merge both storylines to create a cohesive single story.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, it was the plot that left me bewildered. What starts as a gentle romance becomes a strange, supernatural adventure. I found it very difficult to follow the supernatural plot. I found the sequence of events unclear and I still don’t really know what happened. Oddly, I didn’t need to understand because the story ends quite abruptly - almost as if the supernatural adventure hadn’t happened.
I enjoyed the start of this story, but was increasingly baffled as the book progressed. Mark and Corey’s story does have potential. Possibly, with more development, the author could merge both storylines to create a cohesive single story.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2015
I really liked the beginning of this but then it took a totally unexpected turn that I found bizarre and it lost me. so 3.5 for the beginning and 2-2.5 for the rest.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews