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Korean Road
Facing the horrors of the past, Dick realizes the frozen hell he survived generations before is a battleground he can never leave. Tortured by the ghost of a fallen Marine, he is faced with the truth, it may be too late for the ones he loves. Hell is cold, and Death stands at the end of his road, the Korean Road.
89 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
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136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 15, 2018
4.0 Stars
This is powerful piece of short fiction with strong characters and emotional depth. The narrative was well paced and engaging throughout the entire novella. While this story does center around the Korean War, the story has appeal for readers who do not typically read military fiction. Instead, this is a character story, which explored how war affects people. Struggling with undiagnosed PTSD, the main character was well developed, complex and memorable. Dick was purposely written as an unlikeable character. He was opinionated, curmudgeonly and racist. Primarily grounded in reality, this story explores the dark side of humanity through elements of realistic horror. Given the subject matter, the tone was rather grim and depressing. As a result, the story ended up being quite harrowing with a dark climax that packed an emotional punch.
I receive a copy of this novella from the author.
This is powerful piece of short fiction with strong characters and emotional depth. The narrative was well paced and engaging throughout the entire novella. While this story does center around the Korean War, the story has appeal for readers who do not typically read military fiction. Instead, this is a character story, which explored how war affects people. Struggling with undiagnosed PTSD, the main character was well developed, complex and memorable. Dick was purposely written as an unlikeable character. He was opinionated, curmudgeonly and racist. Primarily grounded in reality, this story explores the dark side of humanity through elements of realistic horror. Given the subject matter, the tone was rather grim and depressing. As a result, the story ended up being quite harrowing with a dark climax that packed an emotional punch.
I receive a copy of this novella from the author.
April 5, 2018
Wow. I don't often say this of indie books, mainly because so many are poorly done, but this was an absolute gem of a novella! I was blown away by where the story took me. I went into it thinking it would just be about a poor guy suffering PTSD and this young man getting a story out of him and some melodrama. I was expecting to enjoy it on that level as well. But this turned into a fast-paced bloodbath, and my jaw was hanging open at the end.
I won't go into the details for fear of spoilers, but also because I hope you'll come away from this review and RUN to purchase a copy of this book. It's very short as well, but you don't walk away feeling you missed out on anything or that the story was underdeveloped. Again, I was blown away. You NEED to read this book. You NEED to listen to the audio version. It's that good.
SW Salzman did the narration in the audiobook, and he knocked it out of the park. I've listened to a few of his narrations, and he always does a good job, but this was his best performance thus far, IMHO.
Get this book. You'll find a dark treasure within.
I won't go into the details for fear of spoilers, but also because I hope you'll come away from this review and RUN to purchase a copy of this book. It's very short as well, but you don't walk away feeling you missed out on anything or that the story was underdeveloped. Again, I was blown away. You NEED to read this book. You NEED to listen to the audio version. It's that good.
SW Salzman did the narration in the audiobook, and he knocked it out of the park. I've listened to a few of his narrations, and he always does a good job, but this was his best performance thus far, IMHO.
Get this book. You'll find a dark treasure within.
December 18, 2017
Stunning writing here, in this novella Brian Scutt deals with some dark material. The main character “Dick” went through some horrors in the Korean war, he had to do some terrible things to survive and this guilt lives with him forever. At the time of this happening PTSD wasn’t recognised so Dick didn’t get the help he needed. Now he is an old man and a series of events has lead him to fighting for his life again, unfortunately his old brain can’t stay focused and he keeps slipping back to Korea.
This is a fantastic book, very gripping and emotional, Dick is a brilliant character. The plot is top notch but it does deserve to be longer, at times it feels a bit rushed and I had to reread a few pages as a sudden twist happened. If the book was stretched out to double the number of pages and a bit more time spent on each scene then I reckon this could be a great book.
Full Blog review here> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2017...
This is a fantastic book, very gripping and emotional, Dick is a brilliant character. The plot is top notch but it does deserve to be longer, at times it feels a bit rushed and I had to reread a few pages as a sudden twist happened. If the book was stretched out to double the number of pages and a bit more time spent on each scene then I reckon this could be a great book.
Full Blog review here> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2017...
December 5, 2017
Great book. First chapers really make you feel how the main character 'Dick' struggles with his memories from war. Very well written, love the american slang Brian Scutt uses. The plot and character development are excellent. The story holds your attention all the way through. I would definately recommend this book.
October 27, 2018
This was pretty good. It was a little clunky in parts, but I liked the concept and it was written well (minus the clunks). Looking forward to seeing what else this author can do.
April 22, 2020
A very powerful, well constructed, emotional book deep with tension.
A heart rendering example of how war affects the people involved and how important it is that the military involved should receive help for their mental state upon return to civilian life if needed.
The length made it feel little rushed and I lost my way a couple of times with which character was speaking. But the tale had me drawn in and the memories, hallucinations and torment of Dick our main character war veteran from his time in Korea was so raw.
A book I would recommend.
A heart rendering example of how war affects the people involved and how important it is that the military involved should receive help for their mental state upon return to civilian life if needed.
The length made it feel little rushed and I lost my way a couple of times with which character was speaking. But the tale had me drawn in and the memories, hallucinations and torment of Dick our main character war veteran from his time in Korea was so raw.
A book I would recommend.
September 2, 2018
This is a novella that reads like a novel. There is so much story packed into these few pages that you feel like you’ve read a full length novel. A story that grounds itself in real life horror with a twist, there is an amazing amount of character and story development that just blew me away. I usually pass over “war stories”, which is one of my own shortcomings. Do not make that mistake and check out this story. I am looking forward to this authors next work.
September 7, 2018
Mesmerizing! This is a short story, but it's packed with raw emotion, expressive characters and an unexpected storyline, oh, and great writing. I finished it quickly, but parts of didn't leave my mind for many days afterward. I was drawn into the tormented mind of the main character and felt the horror of the hallucinations. I look forward to reading more of Author Brian Scutt's books.
February 13, 2019
Wow! This is a chilling book about a haunted character. Haunted by his past, that is. And not one I’ll soon forget. Bravo!
December 1, 2017
This was a very haunting novel, for both the main character Dick, and the reader. I found the story to be well paced and it really drew me into it. I’m looking forward to reading more of Brian’s work in the future.
September 24, 2018
This was a deeply dark story that dealt with some serious issues. It read fast but there is a lot in there. I loved the descriptions; so real and creepy. Well done!
November 20, 2018
There are so many different types of horror stories. Cosmic, giant monsters, ghosts, insects and many more that have popped up over the years. But sometimes, the worst horror of all is that which is right here in the real world.
Brian Scutt has written a compelling novella that will hit home with a lot of readers. This is a tale of a Veteran, a Korean War Veteran to be exact. He is battling ghosts from his time at war that have not diminished with his long time at home. Now as he nears the end of his life, he leaves the retirement home he was put into and prepares to face his ghosts head on and finally lay the war to rest.
This is a tale of war, of family, of tragedy and betrayal and in the end a sort of redemption. There is bloodshed along the way and the main character's decline through the story is heartbreaking to behold.
At its heart though, this is a tale of a man who never really came home from war, or could forget the horrors he saw there. Dick, like so many of our real world veterans, suffers from some form of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) that has wreaked havoc on himself and his family. At times Dick does not know what is real, is it ghosts from his past or just his own mind unable to cope with the memories of war. To me this can be scarier than any monster tale. This is something real that affects so many people and Brian Scutt has handled the topic perfectly. He does not go "over-the-top" making his character super crazy like in some movie portrayals. The main character is just a man, dealing with loss, heartache and the feeling of being lost in his own memories of a time that changed his life forever.
You do not want to miss this well-crafted story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and also make you think about what some of our Veterans must deal with in their lives.
I look forward to reading more of Brian Scutt's work and am excited for what he has to bring us in the future.
I have recommended this novella to a few of my friends who are Veterans and look forward to hearing their feedback on it.
PTSD is a very serious mental illness that affects thousands. Not only Veterans, but Police Officers, Fire Fighters, Nurses and others in highly stressful and dangerous jobs. If you want to learn more about PTSD and its causes/symptoms please visit this helpful page HERE. If you are a Veteran or anyone else suffering please know there are lots of people out there that can help. A great site to visit for information is HERE. (Sorry, hotlinks are not avaialable on Goodreads site. Please visit oneleggedreviews.blogspot.com for links to services)
Brian Scutt has written a compelling novella that will hit home with a lot of readers. This is a tale of a Veteran, a Korean War Veteran to be exact. He is battling ghosts from his time at war that have not diminished with his long time at home. Now as he nears the end of his life, he leaves the retirement home he was put into and prepares to face his ghosts head on and finally lay the war to rest.
This is a tale of war, of family, of tragedy and betrayal and in the end a sort of redemption. There is bloodshed along the way and the main character's decline through the story is heartbreaking to behold.
At its heart though, this is a tale of a man who never really came home from war, or could forget the horrors he saw there. Dick, like so many of our real world veterans, suffers from some form of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) that has wreaked havoc on himself and his family. At times Dick does not know what is real, is it ghosts from his past or just his own mind unable to cope with the memories of war. To me this can be scarier than any monster tale. This is something real that affects so many people and Brian Scutt has handled the topic perfectly. He does not go "over-the-top" making his character super crazy like in some movie portrayals. The main character is just a man, dealing with loss, heartache and the feeling of being lost in his own memories of a time that changed his life forever.
You do not want to miss this well-crafted story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and also make you think about what some of our Veterans must deal with in their lives.
I look forward to reading more of Brian Scutt's work and am excited for what he has to bring us in the future.
I have recommended this novella to a few of my friends who are Veterans and look forward to hearing their feedback on it.
PTSD is a very serious mental illness that affects thousands. Not only Veterans, but Police Officers, Fire Fighters, Nurses and others in highly stressful and dangerous jobs. If you want to learn more about PTSD and its causes/symptoms please visit this helpful page HERE. If you are a Veteran or anyone else suffering please know there are lots of people out there that can help. A great site to visit for information is HERE. (Sorry, hotlinks are not avaialable on Goodreads site. Please visit oneleggedreviews.blogspot.com for links to services)
December 31, 2018
This is a brutal psychological look at PTSD and the ramifications that can result from the ravages of war going unchecked.
I've seen this novella on a few different social media sites, and the reviews have been fantastic, so I snagged this one a while back.
The story starts out basic enough. Alan is a sheltered 16 year old kid, whose mother wants him to spend some time with a war vet, to earn his last scout badge. What Alan doesn't know, is he gets paired up with Dick, a Korean War vet who himself is running from demons left unchecked.
The writing is great, the story moves along nicely, and the horrifying plot lines introduced work really well to compliment Dick's back story.
Definitely suggest you give this a read!
I've seen this novella on a few different social media sites, and the reviews have been fantastic, so I snagged this one a while back.
The story starts out basic enough. Alan is a sheltered 16 year old kid, whose mother wants him to spend some time with a war vet, to earn his last scout badge. What Alan doesn't know, is he gets paired up with Dick, a Korean War vet who himself is running from demons left unchecked.
The writing is great, the story moves along nicely, and the horrifying plot lines introduced work really well to compliment Dick's back story.
Definitely suggest you give this a read!
December 11, 2018
I read Korean Road in one sitting. It is a taut, eerie tale. When a young teenager needs to earn a final badge for scouts he decides talking with an old vet will get him the story required. Nothing goes as planned.
Filled with a variety of haunted ghosts, shrouded in survivor's guilt, and doomed by family secrets, Scutt has penned a heartbreaking and frantic novella!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of the crime novel, YOU CHOOSE
Filled with a variety of haunted ghosts, shrouded in survivor's guilt, and doomed by family secrets, Scutt has penned a heartbreaking and frantic novella!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of the crime novel, YOU CHOOSE
September 5, 2018
My Grandfather served in Korea and came back with too many horror stories to count. I feel the hell described in Korean Road would be in line with what my Grandfather actually experienced. This grueling ghost story is riveting, fast-paced, and deeply emotional. Brian Scutt delivers the story with bold and efficient writing. I highly recommend this novella.
September 4, 2018
Fantastic novella, atmospheric, well written, and engrossing. I read it in one sitting as I needed to know what happened next. Highly recommended.
August 26, 2018
Loved this
Korean Road is an eerie, haunting and well constructed book that I read through in one sitting. The main character, Dick, lives and breathes on the page and I could almost feel the bitter wind on my face and see the blood in the snow, every time we were thrust into the horrors of battle.
Great little read.
Korean Road is an eerie, haunting and well constructed book that I read through in one sitting. The main character, Dick, lives and breathes on the page and I could almost feel the bitter wind on my face and see the blood in the snow, every time we were thrust into the horrors of battle.
Great little read.
October 4, 2018
Don't let the title mislead you. You don't have to be a war veteran to experience the pulse-pounding narrative of this novella. What the story does however, is suck you in to the deep, dark and dangerously depraved mind of the main character who is relentlessly haunted by ghosts of past deeds/misdeeds however you wish to interpret them. In here you will meet Dick a tired and weary Korean war veteran wracked by memories of his past, and Alan, a young boy seeking to earn his American Heritage Merit badge by gleaning from this broken curmudgeon the sordid and horrifying details of Dick's experiences at war. Then there's Doris, Dick's long suffering wife and Ronald, Dick's estranged son..all single threads of life battling demons of their own. The "Korean Road" is a short fast-paced page turner that will lead you into one of the darkest realms of insanity you will ever encounter. A 3 hr read that will have you thinking for days after. Excellent read Brian!
November 25, 2018
This novella is from one of my most admired authors. The story is dark and compelling, absolutely brilliantly written. Worth a read!
December 23, 2018
What a heartbreaking, character driven story of one man's demons that come back with him from the Korean War. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoy stories of war or just a great tale.
June 7, 2020
Brilliant! If you love The Shining then you’ll love Korean Road.
Alan is a teenage boy in need of a story to obtain his final scout badge. So when he finds Dick, an ageing veteran who fought in the Korean war, he thinks his troubles are over.
Dick suffers from PTSD. His story recounts his experiences out in Korea and the loss of his friend Ronald. And, in later years, the after effects of war. It examines how a man’s demons cannot only turn him into a monster, but it also looks at its terrifying consequences and the fatalistic effects it can have on a wife and child.
This a solid story that grips from the very beginning until the very end. The character’s are well-developed and there are times when you feel both pity and understanding for what he went through and yet, anger and sadness for the horror that Dick becomes.
The prose is very well-written making this a fluid read. And the narrative is excellently structured as we jump between different periods of Dick’s timeline. It flows effortless when read.
Highly recommend this novella. Your missing a treat if you don’t read it. A great achievement by author Brian Scutt.
Alan is a teenage boy in need of a story to obtain his final scout badge. So when he finds Dick, an ageing veteran who fought in the Korean war, he thinks his troubles are over.
Dick suffers from PTSD. His story recounts his experiences out in Korea and the loss of his friend Ronald. And, in later years, the after effects of war. It examines how a man’s demons cannot only turn him into a monster, but it also looks at its terrifying consequences and the fatalistic effects it can have on a wife and child.
This a solid story that grips from the very beginning until the very end. The character’s are well-developed and there are times when you feel both pity and understanding for what he went through and yet, anger and sadness for the horror that Dick becomes.
The prose is very well-written making this a fluid read. And the narrative is excellently structured as we jump between different periods of Dick’s timeline. It flows effortless when read.
Highly recommend this novella. Your missing a treat if you don’t read it. A great achievement by author Brian Scutt.
April 11, 2018
I received audiobook version of this book for free from the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review.
I am typically wary of indie / self published books, specially short novellas. But I'm glad that I took a chance with this one. This is one haunting tale of a veteran suffering from PTSD and his horror of a life years later. Its not a pity party or it doesn't try to create melodrama out of the situation. Instead, it is a powerful story that keeps you riveted and hits you hard. Kudos to Brian Scutt. And to S. W. Salzman for his performance of the narration. It was spell binding. You've got to listen to this.
My only complaint with this book is that I feel it needed to be longer than it is. With a run time of just 2 hours, it felt slightly rushed.
I am typically wary of indie / self published books, specially short novellas. But I'm glad that I took a chance with this one. This is one haunting tale of a veteran suffering from PTSD and his horror of a life years later. Its not a pity party or it doesn't try to create melodrama out of the situation. Instead, it is a powerful story that keeps you riveted and hits you hard. Kudos to Brian Scutt. And to S. W. Salzman for his performance of the narration. It was spell binding. You've got to listen to this.
My only complaint with this book is that I feel it needed to be longer than it is. With a run time of just 2 hours, it felt slightly rushed.
November 22, 2017
I was drawn to this book out of curiosity, it’s a genre I’ve never explored. I’m more into chick lit. I was intrigued, appalled and gripped by the horrors that unfolded yet at the same time a sense of sympathy and understanding for all the characters. War affects everyone this book tells you how. Powerful.
December 16, 2017
5 Stars
An intense, fast paced read that will keep you riveted. The tragic tale of a Veteran's war experiences and the long lasting effects of the PTSD he suffers. The book is well written and I look forward to reading more works from Brian Scutt. I highly recommend this book to all.
January 17, 2018
Riveting
I thought this novella had it all. Well written storyline. I enjoyed the flow and the development of the characters. The demons we carry within us is real. Looking forward to more from this author
I thought this novella had it all. Well written storyline. I enjoyed the flow and the development of the characters. The demons we carry within us is real. Looking forward to more from this author
November 28, 2017
Very good story. Crescendo intensity throughout, easy to plow through in a couple sittings because you get pulled into the story quickly, and it just keeps pulling. I really enjoyed this story.
March 15, 2021
Quick pace, interesting characters...a sprint finish novella that asks some interesting questions around ptsd and dementia.
September 2, 2018
Haunting story
Very engrossing tale, i felt the pain and guilt of the old vet's life. Hearing actual stories from Korean war vets, this rings true. Read this!
Very engrossing tale, i felt the pain and guilt of the old vet's life. Hearing actual stories from Korean war vets, this rings true. Read this!
May 5, 2022
Decent quick read. Trauma heavy and intense.
January 30, 2018
This is the second story I’ve read by Brian Scutt and I have to say, it is just as good, if not better than the first. Admittedly, the two are very different in their subject matter but both possess the same strong writing style and edge of the seat tension.
Alan is a 16-year-old boy looking for a story that will gain him his last Boy Scout badge and get his Mom off his back. When he visits the nursing home and meets Dick, he gets far more than he realizes.
Dick is an aging Koren Conflict veteran and wants nothing more than to escape the haunting nightmare memories of his stint in Korea, the nursing home, and to see his wife, Doris. When he meets Alan, he sees an opportunity.
The rest of the story is a disturbing and tense ride through the terrifying memories of his past, his guilt, and his confusion about what is real. That confusion sucked me in and I came away with a horrible feeling that this is exactly how Alzheimer’s patients feel. The reality made the character's state more awful.
Admittedly, this is not a story I’d normally pick up. I studied History in college but war history never held any interest for me. Scutt has overcome the boredom of dry history with a story that focuses on the impact that un-war had on a single soldier and its effect on his whole life and the lives of those he loved. It is a story of how the past is never really past for the men who live through hell. Scutt manages it in less than 100 pages.
I have to give Scutt 5 stars for this one. There wasn’t anything I could ding him on. In one chapter there was some head jumping but the pace and tension of the story were so powerful, I plowed on and let it slide.
Great job. I think, no, I hope this writer has more great tales to tell.
Alan is a 16-year-old boy looking for a story that will gain him his last Boy Scout badge and get his Mom off his back. When he visits the nursing home and meets Dick, he gets far more than he realizes.
Dick is an aging Koren Conflict veteran and wants nothing more than to escape the haunting nightmare memories of his stint in Korea, the nursing home, and to see his wife, Doris. When he meets Alan, he sees an opportunity.
The rest of the story is a disturbing and tense ride through the terrifying memories of his past, his guilt, and his confusion about what is real. That confusion sucked me in and I came away with a horrible feeling that this is exactly how Alzheimer’s patients feel. The reality made the character's state more awful.
Admittedly, this is not a story I’d normally pick up. I studied History in college but war history never held any interest for me. Scutt has overcome the boredom of dry history with a story that focuses on the impact that un-war had on a single soldier and its effect on his whole life and the lives of those he loved. It is a story of how the past is never really past for the men who live through hell. Scutt manages it in less than 100 pages.
I have to give Scutt 5 stars for this one. There wasn’t anything I could ding him on. In one chapter there was some head jumping but the pace and tension of the story were so powerful, I plowed on and let it slide.
Great job. I think, no, I hope this writer has more great tales to tell.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews