Trophy Hunters

Bystanders #2

by Phillip Murrell

Colberton barely survived the actions of Yuri Osaka. Some, like Keith Douglas-Sanders, must deal with the trauma of what they witnessed. One hero is clearly not enough to protect the city, much less the world from the Other Threat that encroaches. Abel informs Votary that he must begin recruiting additional warriors to his cause. Votary enlists a man who uses a mastery over water to aid him in his crusade against crime and injustice. Meanwhile, the residents of Colberton must deal with the threat of an unknown saboteur who uses a new explosive that can’t be detected by traditional means. This, in conjunction with the threat of a chemical attack, keeps the planet on edge as superpowered battles take place across the globe. The action spans from India, to Somalia, to Mexico. Is any place safe from the level of violence that the heroes must face?

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2017

About the author

I'm a lifelong reader and fan of stories in every medium. I started writing for fun in the second grade (I think my mom may still have my school-assigned short story "The Frozen Eyes," which I shakily wrote on lined paper). I'm also an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer in the United States Army. While on my second deployment to Iraq, I began to write again. First, I wrote screenplays, then moved on to writing novels, the first being "Bystanders."

I've been married for over sixteen years to my amazing wife. I also have three children. Thankfully, they also love sci-fi, fantasy, and roller coasters as much as I do.

During my free time I'll either be reading/watching TV/playing video games or I'll be spending my hard-earned money doing something that produces copious adrenaline, such as skydiving or whitewater rafting (neither of which are as much fun as a day riding roller coasters!).

Reviews

[Angela Panayotopulos · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an avid fan of especially Greek and Norse mythology, I found myself grinning as this book's cast of characters presented themselves in chapter one. There are many religions/faiths/legends here -- from the Hindu triumvirate to Egyptian deities to the original couple of Eden. The twist is that these heroic characters are manning a space craft in outer space, trying to flee some nasty pursuers, which is pretty darn fantastical!



TROPHY HUNTERS is nothing if not imaginative. It reminded of Avengers, actually, in that it featured a rich and diverse cast of well-known, oft-beloved heroes who don't often (if ever) cross countries/legends/genres to connect, and yet here they've banded together for a common cause (though Norse mythology certainly is real in the Marvel universe). The dynamics between some of the heroes and antiheroes (like Hades and Death) are usually very interesting, sometimes amusing, and occasionally surprisingly violent. It also surprised me how easily [somebody--no spoiler] was killed by an apple flail (but hey, I'm sure stranger things have happened in space).



An introduction of human characters about a fifth of the way provided an interesting new playing field and dimension -- literally -- though I often found myself overwhelmed by the number of characters. Maybe, however, this is because I'm reading this as a stand-along novel and not the second in a four-part series. I did love how the story ties in to the gods/heroes landing on Earth and spreading out to inhabit new homes (e.g. Mount Olympus, named after their ship) and therefore becoming the Earth-based deities we're more familiar with. I would suggest sticking with all Greek or all Roman names for the Olympians for consistency's sake (e.g. Zeus or Jupiter; Hermes or Mercury).



I feel this story has loads of potential, but it just didn't reach the level I was expecting, partially due to the screenplay-esque format of the text. Some readers might not mind, but it drew me out of the narrative; this is a format which can limit the author in the scope of visualization, description, imagery, and metaphor within an actual novel, and which evokes a greater sense of "telling" rather than "showing" within scenes, especially when written in present tense. On the one hand, this sort of writing enables a brisk pace and propels action; on the other, it doesn't immerse me into this world or familiarize me with each character as much as I desire. I think it would be a perfect style for a play or movie script or a comic book, though, so that could be something for the author to consider (especially the latter). It would be amazing to see this story illustrated!

[Ron Starke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s get this out of the way first. The symbolism in this book is in your face. Almost every god, goddess, and mythological hero had been mentioned before I made it a quarter of the way through the first chapter—no small feat considering the epic length of the first segment. From the get go, the author left me with a clear understanding: his story would begin and end with heroes.

The characters were well fleshed out, and the dialogue was a treat to read—often filled with bits of humor and snark, which are qualities I appreciate as a reader. That being said, I did struggle with the author’s writing style. In between the dialogue, the narrative often reads like a screenplay, coming across more as stage directions than attempts to paint a vivid world with text. The reader is frequently told how a particular character is feeling instead of letting that character express their emotions through actions and words. At times, I felt like I was jumping from head to head with no real focus on any character in particular.

I do want to recognize some personal bias here: I’ve never been able to make it past the first page of any screenplay I’ve tried to read, so my personal feelings could be tainting my opinion of the text. That being said, I do appreciate what the author is trying to do here. And I absolutely adore the premise. I really struggled with my rating here. But in a world where a middling star is increasingly considered bad, a cool and refreshing idea deserves a lot of credit in my book.

[Loralee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very imaginative book! I feel a little bit like I missed out some in reading this second book first which seems like it continues the story of the first rather than beginning its own plot. In case readers pick this book up first (it happens sometimes) it might be helpful to have a short recap for those who didn’t read the first book. Still, the story is very creative, even if the word choice does feel a bit awkward, and seems to me to be a bit cartoonish with exaggerated and even offensive characters, some of which don’t seem to have a purpose. The theme of social equity got close to being overly didactic which almost distracted from the main plot. The story still was quite funny, and reminded me a little of the goofy movie SpaceBalls from the 80s. Though this is not so family friendly as that movie! Readers who enjoy silly, goofy characters having a space adventure and don’t mind some off-colored humor, would enjoy this book.

[Bruce Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A highly cinematic style of writing, mashing up Avengers-style superheroes with traditional mythological elements, this book is a fast ride. It will really appeal to readers who like immediate, multi-character stories where there is always something happening.

The writer has a good ear for dialogue and I enjoyed the fast pace too. There are points where the book reads more like a film script than a novel, and the use of the present tense intensifies this. The downside of the story in my view is the sheer number of characters. It’s hard to get emotionally invested in the fate of any one character. Some of the minor characters are quite well drawn, others just seem unnecessary.

I think the book will appeal to readers who like fast-paced action-oriented books and aren’t too worried about character development.

[MaryLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Builds well on book 1 “Bystanders”. Keeps you interested in all the characters and leaves you wanting more. There are suttle clues to the identity of Votary. I have made my guess but have to wait for the rest of the series to see if I am right. Hoping book 3 is published soon.

[Spacechik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Huh?

Didn't get the concept. Read like a ya novel. Heck, maybe it's supposed to be. Silly dialogue. I couldn't get past the first two or three chapters. A big fat DID NOT FINISH.

[Mike Siedschlag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trophy Hunters is the second entry in the Bystanders four book series. The author provided the full series for review.



A good followup to the first book in the series. Still over the top action (violent action), more development of main characters and more clarity as to the motives of Votary and their team. I submit to the social justice pronoun convention here because the gender of Votary has not yet been established. This demonstrates the observation I made about the previous book; an abundance of social justice themes. We have gays and lesbians, straight people, strong women, toxic men, yada, yada, yada. Fortunately the story takes precedence over any social justice moralizing or I would be out of here. Even with social topics I may agree with, I read for entertainment not moralizing. Thankfully, while the inclusion of these themes is noticeable, I don't find them overly preachy. The main story is action.



I have to say, the first chapter is probably one of the best single chapters I have ever read in a book. It laid the foundation for the twists and turns to come. There are many different characters woven into the story and we can readily identify their place. Although there is one character whose inclusion still has me perplexed: Papa Nutmare. This character is the most offensive (or funny, depending on your particular viewpoint) "shock jock" ever. Makes Howard Stern look like Billy Graham. But I am looking forward to how he fits into the overall mosaic.



As a 64 year old reader, there are things I have to get past (Papa Nutmare, sheesh) and probably the current thing would to be to say 'Trigger warning" (hate that warning), but it's fiction, grow up.



So, is this old coot enjoying the Bystanders series, including Trophy Hunters? You betcha. Enjoy!