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Watershed
Watershed is a dystopian thriller about a troubled, pregnant woman, and the two men—a snake dealer with a sideline in secret messages and a billionaire living under a false name—who vie for her. Their struggle leads them through a near-future America of anti-technology neighborhoods and illegal hospitals, where stockbrokers moonlight as assassins, nurses procure obscure pleasures, and the powers that be blow up the new World Trade Center to goose tourism. As the mystery deepens, one thing becomes clear – the future's about to be born… but who will change the diapers?
329 pages, Paperback
Published May 16, 2017
74 people are currently reading
926 people want to read
About the author
Colin Dodds
26 books97 followersColin Dodds is an award-winning author and filmmaker, whose works include Pharoni, Ms. Never and The 6th Finger of Tommy the Goose. He grew up in Massachusetts and lived in California briefly, before finishing his education in New York City. Since then, he’s made his living as a journalist, editor, copywriter and video producer. His work has appeared in Gothamist, The Washington Post and more than three hundred other publications, and been praised by luminaries such as David Berman and Norman Mailer. Forget This Good Thing I Just Said, a first-of-its-kind literary and philosophical experience (the book form of which was a finalist for the Big Other Book Prize for Nonfiction), is available as an app for the iPhone. He lives in New York City, with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 25, 2017
Thanks to Your Impossible Voice for this opportunity and to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Having never read anything by Colin Dodds before and not knowing anything about this book before I received it, I have to admit I was startled by the beginning scenes. What are these people doing on the airplane? Are they actually having sex? Wait, did he just eject her from the airplane after he was done from her? What in the world is going on here?
I worried that this character of Raquel, a prostitute, would be written as yet another character who would be a body and a plot device, not a person. But Dodds managed to make her a relatively well-rounded character and ultimately I cared more about the direction of the story than how she was portrayed. There are several characters in this story, however, and not everyone comes across as fully developed.
Upon landing, naked, after parachuting from the plane, she is picked up by Norwood, a former sculptor who now lives in a Ludlite (sic) community, shunning all new technology. These characters live in a society in which they are preparing to celebrate the first September 11 National Day of Remembrance and Unity, an event that involves the re-destruction of the World Trade Center. It's a reality not that far different from our own, or rather a reality not terribly far removed from our own. This could easily be our reality, and with a TV show host as Prez right now, we might be closer than even Dodds believed possible when he first started writing this book.
An interesting and truly unique story about the faults of technology and its effects on society. Probably written by a curmudgeon of sorts about the internet and our constant race to create new technologies, but that is totally okay. It's refreshing.
Full review to be posted at a later date.
Having never read anything by Colin Dodds before and not knowing anything about this book before I received it, I have to admit I was startled by the beginning scenes. What are these people doing on the airplane? Are they actually having sex? Wait, did he just eject her from the airplane after he was done from her? What in the world is going on here?
I worried that this character of Raquel, a prostitute, would be written as yet another character who would be a body and a plot device, not a person. But Dodds managed to make her a relatively well-rounded character and ultimately I cared more about the direction of the story than how she was portrayed. There are several characters in this story, however, and not everyone comes across as fully developed.
Upon landing, naked, after parachuting from the plane, she is picked up by Norwood, a former sculptor who now lives in a Ludlite (sic) community, shunning all new technology. These characters live in a society in which they are preparing to celebrate the first September 11 National Day of Remembrance and Unity, an event that involves the re-destruction of the World Trade Center. It's a reality not that far different from our own, or rather a reality not terribly far removed from our own. This could easily be our reality, and with a TV show host as Prez right now, we might be closer than even Dodds believed possible when he first started writing this book.
An interesting and truly unique story about the faults of technology and its effects on society. Probably written by a curmudgeon of sorts about the internet and our constant race to create new technologies, but that is totally okay. It's refreshing.
Full review to be posted at a later date.
July 23, 2018
Not for the faint-of-heart, this book surprises on a regular basis. The plot could be very disheartening but is such a wild read that I did not have time to dwell on how bleak a future the book foretold. I received this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.
May 28, 2017
‘A fugitive within a fugitive’
New York author Colin Dodds is an American author of note - and one whose novels continue to reveal that he is likely to become one of our premiere writers. His roots are in Massachusetts but he was educated and lives in New York - Brooklyn to be exact. He is a widely published poet and the author of screenplays and now four novels - `Another Broken Wizard', `The Last Bad Job', `What Smiled at Him', ‘Windfall’ and now ‘Watershed'. His topics are multifaceted, and attempting to label him with a genre is a complex task. And perhaps that is why he is so very fine at creating a new level of communication - dissecting contemporary political foibles, mystery, thrillers, paranormal aspects and autopsies of human behavior as though before a surgical theater of critical and disbelieving minds.
What happens in WATERSHED, while a mesmerizingly fascinating and addictive story, steps beyond the usual campfire cum barbershop tales spread around town or discussed in literary circles. He tackles the paranormal arena and succeeds in creating technology tangles and limits to same and prophesying where all this could lead should we not heed the information we address and the characters and story as he acts them out. The very bizarre story is summarized as ‘WATERSHED is a dystopian thriller about a troubled, pregnant woman, and the two men—a snake dealer with a sideline in secret messages and a billionaire living under a false name—who vie for her. Their struggle leads them through a near-future America of anti-technology neighborhoods and illegal hospitals, where stockbrokers moonlight as assassins, nurses procure obscure pleasures, and the powers that be blow up the new World Trade Center to goose tourism. As the mystery deepens, one thing becomes clear – the future's about to be born… but who will change the diapers?’
For this reader the important aspect of sharing thoughts here is to encourage those whose hunger for the new in writing will be stimulated to become submerged in this very contemporary landfall of a book. Colin Dodds has arrived.
New York author Colin Dodds is an American author of note - and one whose novels continue to reveal that he is likely to become one of our premiere writers. His roots are in Massachusetts but he was educated and lives in New York - Brooklyn to be exact. He is a widely published poet and the author of screenplays and now four novels - `Another Broken Wizard', `The Last Bad Job', `What Smiled at Him', ‘Windfall’ and now ‘Watershed'. His topics are multifaceted, and attempting to label him with a genre is a complex task. And perhaps that is why he is so very fine at creating a new level of communication - dissecting contemporary political foibles, mystery, thrillers, paranormal aspects and autopsies of human behavior as though before a surgical theater of critical and disbelieving minds.
What happens in WATERSHED, while a mesmerizingly fascinating and addictive story, steps beyond the usual campfire cum barbershop tales spread around town or discussed in literary circles. He tackles the paranormal arena and succeeds in creating technology tangles and limits to same and prophesying where all this could lead should we not heed the information we address and the characters and story as he acts them out. The very bizarre story is summarized as ‘WATERSHED is a dystopian thriller about a troubled, pregnant woman, and the two men—a snake dealer with a sideline in secret messages and a billionaire living under a false name—who vie for her. Their struggle leads them through a near-future America of anti-technology neighborhoods and illegal hospitals, where stockbrokers moonlight as assassins, nurses procure obscure pleasures, and the powers that be blow up the new World Trade Center to goose tourism. As the mystery deepens, one thing becomes clear – the future's about to be born… but who will change the diapers?’
For this reader the important aspect of sharing thoughts here is to encourage those whose hunger for the new in writing will be stimulated to become submerged in this very contemporary landfall of a book. Colin Dodds has arrived.
June 15, 2017
Colin Dodd’s latest novel Watershed, a gripping thriller, begins when Raquel, a pretty young escort, is thrown out of a helicopter. From there, the story only gets stranger and more complex, as Raquel meets Norwood, a former sculptor who earns his living from odd off-the-books jobs and selling snakes. Set in the near future, Norwood is a “Ludlite,” part of a community that eschews all modern technology – part hipster, part Luddite.
Click here to read the rest of our review.
Click here to read the rest of our review.
June 19, 2020
I got this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and it was a really enjoyable pageturner, with a couple of problems for me. Overall, fantastic story and well built, found myself hurrying through my workday so i could get back to the story, so props for that. The end was a bit of a letdown - it's clearly leading to another book, which is fine, but the entire finale of the book was about 2 pages so when i was getting all geared up to be excited, it was over.
The other issue that i had was that one of the characters was presented as somehow transgender, for no apparent reason except for the author's entertainment. In one spot, we're told that she became female because of an accident that removed her manly bits - not generally a cause for someone to begin presenting themselves as female and somewhat offensive just from the giddayup, but then: Throughout the story the author and the characters intentionally misgender her repeatedly. Either she IS now Wilhelmina, and therefore female or she IS still Wilhelm, and therefore male. The repeated back and forth was offputting, to say the least.
Please Colin, if you're reading this - consider a change in the upcoming sequels. Which i hope are coming soon because i want to know how the story ends.
The other issue that i had was that one of the characters was presented as somehow transgender, for no apparent reason except for the author's entertainment. In one spot, we're told that she became female because of an accident that removed her manly bits - not generally a cause for someone to begin presenting themselves as female and somewhat offensive just from the giddayup, but then: Throughout the story the author and the characters intentionally misgender her repeatedly. Either she IS now Wilhelmina, and therefore female or she IS still Wilhelm, and therefore male. The repeated back and forth was offputting, to say the least.
Please Colin, if you're reading this - consider a change in the upcoming sequels. Which i hope are coming soon because i want to know how the story ends.
January 26, 2018
Extremely Interesting
The good folks have a tough time dealing with the rotten ones. The bad guy is all about himself and he will use or kill others to get what he wants!
The good folks have a tough time dealing with the rotten ones. The bad guy is all about himself and he will use or kill others to get what he wants!
October 24, 2018
***Received via Goodreads Giveaway***
I thought it started with a bang, then got a little slow. But when it picked up again, I was racing thru it, wanting to see what came next.
There were a couple of odd parts that I think the book could have easily done without. The one thing that really bothered me was
Good story, tho.
I thought it started with a bang, then got a little slow. But when it picked up again, I was racing thru it, wanting to see what came next.
There were a couple of odd parts that I think the book could have easily done without. The one thing that really bothered me was
Good story, tho.
May 6, 2019
Watershed by Colin Dodds could, on some levels, be considered a romance. Certainly there are some tender moments between Raquel and the book’s other main character (a snake breeder, luddite and sculptor named Norwood). The story of their burgeoning relationship is what underpins the novel, but it’s not the only narrative strand to this diverse and exciting book.
Indeed, to call Watershed a love story would be to mischaracterise it. It’s first and foremost an exceptional sci-fi romp of a novel, which zigs and zags through an exotic world that resembles our own while simultaneously being terrifyingly alien. Added to that is a powerful strain of satire, the aforementioned romance, and some ultra-violent criminal shenanigans.
Full review in The Indie Book Journal.
Indeed, to call Watershed a love story would be to mischaracterise it. It’s first and foremost an exceptional sci-fi romp of a novel, which zigs and zags through an exotic world that resembles our own while simultaneously being terrifyingly alien. Added to that is a powerful strain of satire, the aforementioned romance, and some ultra-violent criminal shenanigans.
Full review in The Indie Book Journal.
January 1, 2018
Rachel is pregnant and two men are very interested in being the father, but she chooses to go with Norwood. The book is full of interesting characters that have faults as the United States disintegrates into a society where half are anti-technology and the other half cannot get enough electronics. With it brings violence, crude behaviors, sexual excesses, and antisocial tendencies. It definitely is not a fun place to live.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
September 22, 2019
When a escort is dropped naked from a plane it sends her on a new life course
From unorthodox lifestyles to reenacting 9/11 there’s plenty of factors to keep the story interesting
Well narrated with a smattering of strange I’ve come to enjoy from this author
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
From unorthodox lifestyles to reenacting 9/11 there’s plenty of factors to keep the story interesting
Well narrated with a smattering of strange I’ve come to enjoy from this author
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
September 25, 2019
This story was not too bad at all! As previously mentioned the production left things a little choppy at times. The prolonged pauses between chapters (I assume) made me stop and check to see if my audiobook was stalled out or something. A short "chapter 2" would transitioned better especially in the last 2hrs. The chapters go quicker and so there's a lot of weird pauses.
That said...The narrator did a really great job kind of personifying Norwood who it seems to be kinda telling the story at least some of the time. Cromer feels a little young but so does Norwood. He did great doing the voices of the Hurley and Willamina too for instance. Very effortless transition between voices.
While I DID final some subtitles to the story that felt a little inexperienced writing wise, they were far overshadowed by the concepts and ideas within the story. The near future America and Ludlights and the probable steps up in technology all were easy to suspend disbelief to follow the story.
Dodds literally drops us in as a naked escort out of a plane in the middle of the night for an unsuspecting Ludlight guy, Norwood to happen upon in the middle of nowhere. Now THAT'S a beginning for you! There were a few parts that seemed to fast forward suddenly leaving you to wonder why. Raquel leaving the escorts and shacking up with Norwood was abrupt and under explained I think.
The little subplots like the 9-11 anniversary. That was an interesting take on a national event and memorial day. The snakes and the odd jobs Norwood does for Willamina etc. It all weaves a web of good story making.
Things start to get a little hasty in the pursuits and double crossings and finally at the end things get weird and fast and the epilogue seems almost an afterthought but definitely necessary as far as I'm concerned.
Cool story, good narrating!
That said...The narrator did a really great job kind of personifying Norwood who it seems to be kinda telling the story at least some of the time. Cromer feels a little young but so does Norwood. He did great doing the voices of the Hurley and Willamina too for instance. Very effortless transition between voices.
While I DID final some subtitles to the story that felt a little inexperienced writing wise, they were far overshadowed by the concepts and ideas within the story. The near future America and Ludlights and the probable steps up in technology all were easy to suspend disbelief to follow the story.
Dodds literally drops us in as a naked escort out of a plane in the middle of the night for an unsuspecting Ludlight guy, Norwood to happen upon in the middle of nowhere. Now THAT'S a beginning for you! There were a few parts that seemed to fast forward suddenly leaving you to wonder why. Raquel leaving the escorts and shacking up with Norwood was abrupt and under explained I think.
The little subplots like the 9-11 anniversary. That was an interesting take on a national event and memorial day. The snakes and the odd jobs Norwood does for Willamina etc. It all weaves a web of good story making.
Things start to get a little hasty in the pursuits and double crossings and finally at the end things get weird and fast and the epilogue seems almost an afterthought but definitely necessary as far as I'm concerned.
Cool story, good narrating!
May 14, 2017
Watershed was well written, with realistic descriptions and authentic dialogue between characters, albeit in very unusual settings.
I am going to use a word I hardly ever use - random. I found this quite difficult to read as I didn’t make any connection with the plot or characters. I would read more by Colin Dodds, perhaps set in a more real-world setting.
I am going to use a word I hardly ever use - random. I found this quite difficult to read as I didn’t make any connection with the plot or characters. I would read more by Colin Dodds, perhaps set in a more real-world setting.
June 11, 2025
A Great Ride
A fun read. Great characters. The sex episode in the airplane (ejection at ejaculation) is unique! Loved it! Raquel is the bomb.
A fun read. Great characters. The sex episode in the airplane (ejection at ejaculation) is unique! Loved it! Raquel is the bomb.
January 8, 2020
I won this book through a give away here in good reads. I started reading it and was a little unsure with the first chapter but I decided to keep going. I’m glad I did! It was interesting and kept me engaged all the way until the end.
October 9, 2019
The writing is amateurish, the characters are poorly drawn, and the story is just plain weird. It's completed, but the ending feels rushed. It's simply not my kind of story.
Charles Cromer's performance is passable. He does make an effort to give distinctive voices to most of the characters, but the production lacks polish. In fact, I suspect there are missing bits, but I can't confirm that.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Charles Cromer's performance is passable. He does make an effort to give distinctive voices to most of the characters, but the production lacks polish. In fact, I suspect there are missing bits, but I can't confirm that.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
February 20, 2020
I won this book in a Goodreads contest. Yeah!
I had a hard time with the start of this book but I kept up with it and it turned out pretty good. If you are in to the dystopian type novels give it a read!
I had a hard time with the start of this book but I kept up with it and it turned out pretty good. If you are in to the dystopian type novels give it a read!
December 4, 2019
won this from goodreads. having read nothing by this author before I must say this one is strange but a compelling read. give it a try.
December 29, 2019
Very good book a must read
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews