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Brew (versione italiana)
«Brew è un barile di oscuro divertimento. Richard Laymon lo avrebbe apprezzato. Per quanto mi riguarda l’ho mandato giù tutto d’un fiato e il giorno dopo non ho avuto postumi da sbornia.»
(Jack Ketchum, autore di The Girl Next Door e The Lost)
Siete mai stati in una cittadina universitaria di sabato sera quando c’è la partita di football? Ubriachi affollano le strade, facendo gli spacconi in gruppi rumorosi e festanti, come marinai in licenza. Quelle notti pulsano di un’energia oscura perché sotto tutti i cori e le risate si cela un sostrato di malizia.
Da questo suolo spoglio nasce Brew, una vicenda che si svolge in una sola notte apocalittica in cui gli abitanti di College Heights si trovano a sostituire birra e karaoke con incendi, omicidi e cannibalismo. Un attimo prima, tutti si stanno divertendo, facendo festa come dopo ogni vittoria della squadra di casa, quello successivo, l’intera città sembra una distesa infernale.
Un cast di improbabili eroi – tra cui un carismatico spacciatore, un veterano dell’esercito e una ragazza dura come il cuoio – lotta per sopravvivere, mentre Herbert Weston, il brillante sociopatico che ha progettato l’intera catastrofe, si gode il caos, realizzando le sue sadiche fantasie.
“Piacerà ai fan di The Walking Dead perchè nonostante non sia una storia di zombie ne ha lo spirito e la tensione. Ho pensato al mio amato Bret Easton Ellis, e non posso far altro che consigliarlo.” (DEVILISHLY STYLISH)
“Un romanzo scioccante, per certi versi, realistico e orrorifico, adrenalinico e spietato. Chi ama film cult come Arancia Meccanica non potrà che amarlo alla follia.” (WONDERFUL MONSTER)
“Dalle atmosfere molto simili a quelle del celebre film horror La Notte del Giudizio che tanto ho amato, questo romanzo sale di diritto nel mio personale Olimpo horror-splatter. Brew, signori miei, è tutto quello che avete sempre desiderato leggere e che nessuno ha mai scritto.” (LA KATE DEI LIBRI)
(Jack Ketchum, autore di The Girl Next Door e The Lost)
Siete mai stati in una cittadina universitaria di sabato sera quando c’è la partita di football? Ubriachi affollano le strade, facendo gli spacconi in gruppi rumorosi e festanti, come marinai in licenza. Quelle notti pulsano di un’energia oscura perché sotto tutti i cori e le risate si cela un sostrato di malizia.
Da questo suolo spoglio nasce Brew, una vicenda che si svolge in una sola notte apocalittica in cui gli abitanti di College Heights si trovano a sostituire birra e karaoke con incendi, omicidi e cannibalismo. Un attimo prima, tutti si stanno divertendo, facendo festa come dopo ogni vittoria della squadra di casa, quello successivo, l’intera città sembra una distesa infernale.
Un cast di improbabili eroi – tra cui un carismatico spacciatore, un veterano dell’esercito e una ragazza dura come il cuoio – lotta per sopravvivere, mentre Herbert Weston, il brillante sociopatico che ha progettato l’intera catastrofe, si gode il caos, realizzando le sue sadiche fantasie.
“Piacerà ai fan di The Walking Dead perchè nonostante non sia una storia di zombie ne ha lo spirito e la tensione. Ho pensato al mio amato Bret Easton Ellis, e non posso far altro che consigliarlo.” (DEVILISHLY STYLISH)
“Un romanzo scioccante, per certi versi, realistico e orrorifico, adrenalinico e spietato. Chi ama film cult come Arancia Meccanica non potrà che amarlo alla follia.” (WONDERFUL MONSTER)
“Dalle atmosfere molto simili a quelle del celebre film horror La Notte del Giudizio che tanto ho amato, questo romanzo sale di diritto nel mio personale Olimpo horror-splatter. Brew, signori miei, è tutto quello che avete sempre desiderato leggere e che nessuno ha mai scritto.” (LA KATE DEI LIBRI)
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 25, 2016
It was supposed to be a harmless prank to get the small college town to wake up and take notice of the environmental issues plaguing society. Just the green shits…that’s all. Unfortunately for them, the chemist involved in making the colorful poop inducing drug to spike the towns favorite Cougar piss beer had another agenda. Now the townsfolk are running amok, fucking and killing each other in a massive game day free for all of bloody mayhem.
I really enjoyed this one from Bill Braddock. It was fast paced, gory, and dark with well-drawn characters and was actually pretty funny in parts. I particularly enjoyed the scene **Major Spoiler Alert** HaHa! Damn! Ouch. Pretty flipping brutal, but also pretty funny in a karmic sort of way. Not sure what it says about me that I found that part so amusing. A Solid 4+ Stars! Very well done and Highly Recommended!
I really enjoyed this one from Bill Braddock. It was fast paced, gory, and dark with well-drawn characters and was actually pretty funny in parts. I particularly enjoyed the scene **Major Spoiler Alert** HaHa! Damn! Ouch. Pretty flipping brutal, but also pretty funny in a karmic sort of way. Not sure what it says about me that I found that part so amusing. A Solid 4+ Stars! Very well done and Highly Recommended!
September 25, 2013
Bill Braddock's BREW is a note-perfect survival horror novel that starts with a keening air horn wail like a call to prayer in Hell and steamrolls on for the next three hundred pages without mercy. This is how it is done. Braddock displays a generous sense of humor (his titular brew is locally known as "Cougar piss") and gives a clear nod to influences like Edward Lee, Jack Ketchum, and film-maker, Stuart Gordon. But don't dismiss this book as fratboy gross-out without substance. Braddock draws from Cormac McCarthy's playbook as well when he delves deep into the memory of his well-drawn characters to give the reader emotional resonance to keep the horror alive well into the last act. Don't believe me? "...he stood at the edge of the creek and stared at the changes wrought by the passing waters. Streamside trees were snapped to stumps beneath palpable vacancies where once had towered oaks and sycamores of great size and incalculable age. Below these, further change in the creek itself, where disgorged stones, massive and monolithic, canted at strange angles like pagan gods of tribes long vanished, pediment now only to muddy banks laid raw, where pendulous roots hung half-revealed, like the emboweled secrets of the world." Braddock writes with immediacy, unflinching honesty, and heart enough for the end of the world. Don't underestimate BREW because it's a book about beer that drives people crazy. This isn't just some flavorless, cheap swill; this is craft BREW, rich and made with the finest ingredients. Be warned though. It ain't lite. You better be ready for something that will knock you on your ass.
September 12, 2017
Brew is creative gold, but it did seem a bit much at points. I really set out to love this book. Set in a college football town, this story could've been pulled from the headlines. But too many characters and a horribly gratuitous scene in a fraternity, just sullied the waters and ruined it for me. There were great intentions here. I wanted to give this story another star, but in the end it just left a little too much bitter aftertaste. Three solid stars for the storyline, which seemed like a great idea. Brew just suffered from a few too many unnecessary scenes that slowed any progress being made.
January 3, 2014
I mean. WOW. Like book-length-repeated rabbit punches to the kidneys, but very, very well-written. A lot of writers have tried to imitate splatter-punk with heavy infusions of gore and bloodshed over the past few years...but the whole point of splatterpunk isn't gore at the EXPENSE of character development and pathos. The gore is (IMHO) supposed to heighten the danger and the suspense and risk and tragedy.
BREW has characters you care about - you really feel BAD when they die. Don't want to offer spoilers, but there are a handful of folks in this book you expect to make it, and they don't. That, to me, is the purpose of gore-infused violence in splatterpunk: to really enforce that vibe that maybe NO ONE is getting out alive...
BREW has characters you care about - you really feel BAD when they die. Don't want to offer spoilers, but there are a handful of folks in this book you expect to make it, and they don't. That, to me, is the purpose of gore-infused violence in splatterpunk: to really enforce that vibe that maybe NO ONE is getting out alive...
November 5, 2013
Holy smokes… you know when you read, “His eyes focused on her abdomen, just below the floating rib, where several inches of plump, externally herniated intestine shone in the light. He licked his lips. What would it taste like?”, in the first few pages, that you are in for a ride. It’s the Hell Yeah kind of ride that took me back to what I love about horror, and reminded me why I was so taken by the genre many years ago.
One minute the city of College Heights is party central and the next…well, green ooze dripping psychos are going to town on each other. BREW nails survival horror – tight pacing, blistering action, and well-developed characters (spread throughout the city/campus, natch) who are real and whose decisions throughout the course of the novel make sense (crucial). When done poorly, survival horror boils down to a handful of paragraphs detailing whatever creative deaths the author could conjure up. When done well, or as in the case with BREW, very well, you hang on every word.
One minute the city of College Heights is party central and the next…well, green ooze dripping psychos are going to town on each other. BREW nails survival horror – tight pacing, blistering action, and well-developed characters (spread throughout the city/campus, natch) who are real and whose decisions throughout the course of the novel make sense (crucial). When done poorly, survival horror boils down to a handful of paragraphs detailing whatever creative deaths the author could conjure up. When done well, or as in the case with BREW, very well, you hang on every word.
April 16, 2014
Ever read a thriller where terrible things are promised but never happen? Sometimes, we don’t want the hero to save the day before the poop hits the fan.
BREW is not like that. This zombie-ish novel by Bill Braddock and published by Permuted Press reads like a thriller but delivers the goods and then some.
In BREW, it’s Saturday night on a college campus, and the students are out in force drinking the local brew. Unfortunately, somebody spiked the brew with a drug that will make them violently insane. Then the real party will get started.
It’s a story of survival against ridiculous odds as a large majority of the population of a college goes insane at the same time.
I had the opportunity to read an advance copy and really liked it, endorsing it with the following quote: “Hell is throwing a party, and Bill Braddock is bringing the BREW.” Later, I met the man himself at the World Horror Convention, and he’s an awesome guy.
Enjoy the read, and I hope you survive the night!
BREW is not like that. This zombie-ish novel by Bill Braddock and published by Permuted Press reads like a thriller but delivers the goods and then some.
In BREW, it’s Saturday night on a college campus, and the students are out in force drinking the local brew. Unfortunately, somebody spiked the brew with a drug that will make them violently insane. Then the real party will get started.
It’s a story of survival against ridiculous odds as a large majority of the population of a college goes insane at the same time.
I had the opportunity to read an advance copy and really liked it, endorsing it with the following quote: “Hell is throwing a party, and Bill Braddock is bringing the BREW.” Later, I met the man himself at the World Horror Convention, and he’s an awesome guy.
Enjoy the read, and I hope you survive the night!
September 19, 2013
As more of his work comes out, people will begin to realise what a powerhouse of ideas this guy is; each new book will be some addition to the genre that will have people wondering why they didn't think of it. He might well be one of those writers we look back on in years to come and see that he brought new life to the form. In this case, the form is horror - a genre I'm not into - but Bill's approach is witty and adventurous and above all fun - recommended to anyone who doesn't have a stick up their arse.
November 1, 2013
*I received a free copy to review for my honest opinion.*
Wanna be a Zombie for a Day? Read Brew!
Brew starts off the morning after the last insane 24 hours. A character calling himself doc, due to being a medical doctor, wakes up wearing only boxers and sneakers in a room he doesn't recognize. He inventories his wounds, and then discovers a seriously injured woman in the hallway. As he tries to help this stranger, she obviously recognizes him and freaks out. Then two things happen: He suddenly remembers that she's a neighbor he's long admired from afar, and he really, really wants to taste her intestines—the ones she's cradling from a hole in her gut. What the hell happened yesterday? He certainly doesn't remember, and we're left intrigued and flipping pages faster than you can say zombie apocalypse.
Now that's what I call a hook. I wanted to know what happened to doc, but unfortunately he's a very minor player in his disaster. We find out, sort of, but it's a bit part and if you blink you'll miss it. The major players are Steve, Cat, Demetrius, Joel, and Herbert. Other characters weave in and out as we go along, we see some resolutions, others we don't, but overall we get a solid sense of what happens to everyone. After all, there's only so many descriptive scenes of gore and violence before the premise becomes redundant. Not that I have a problem with either--not me--but sooner or later one gets numb to the whole concept.
Speaking of gore and violence, Brew, definitely delivers. Slasher genre at its finest, this book is all about how many ways can co-eds, meatheads, and anyone standing in their way get sliced, diced, chewed up, run over, set on fire, mauled, eaten alive, and so forth. Think a rated R Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Beer Bad episode plus Zombie Apocalypse plus a Greenpeace prank plus the 24 hour flu, and you'll have a good idea of Brew.
The underlying message is about how people turn their brains off in the 21st century. People don't help people anymore; they don't connect without electronic devices; and they certainly don't think for themselves. This message, however, is somewhat lost in the rush to be a gore-fest. The villain, Herbert, is so intent on killing everyone, that if he ever had a deeper message he's forgotten it. Jessie, a member of Green, is such a minor character we never get to hear Green's message other than 'people are putting too many chemicals in their bodies'. And the heros—Steve, Cat, and Demetrius seem to sense that there's something bigger than themselves to fight for, yet again the gore-fest overwhelms them too. There's just too much going on for anything clear to be heard.
But maybe that's the message. The modern world is full of too much noise, too much crap, too many people screaming—memememe—that it's easy to lose sight of the important things and focus on the selfish gods of money and indulgence. I think that's a big reason why zombies are so popular these days. We're afraid we're becoming soulless, brainless monsters.
As for Mr. Braddock's writing, overall I found it very strong and vivid without being overdone. There's little fat in his prose. He gets right to the point, and the majority of the time you understand exactly what's happening in gory detail.
I did have a problem with a couple of plot points. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story, but it made the science less fun.
Plus Herbert as a villain was very one dimensional. I get that we really are supposed to hate him, but it would've been fun to make him a much more tortured villain. Sure we hate him, but we understand why he flipped out, maybe even have some sympathy. But he's just too easy to hate. So is Joel. So many people get very much what they deserve in this book, which is why it's hard to be upset when anyone dies, gets eaten, mauled, or beaten up. I mean… who cares?
Even Steve is a drug dealer estranged from his family. Who cares about drug dealers? You? So when Steve and Cat kind of, sort of, maybe fall in love in this 24 hours, meh, who cares? There's so much insanity going on that anything potentially pure is ruined. Which just begs the question of the modern world being too disconnected. I had fun reading the gorefest, but I wasn't shocked. I'm already jaded by my job as a medic and the world in general. This is a bad thing.
Plus
OF COURSE THEY DO! But we don't see it, because Permuted Press loves gore and violence, but they're not into graphic sex. LOL, they *cough* draw the line at *cough* graphic sex. Gee, why bother? You don't mind showing Joel getting ready to make porn and talking about erect penises and zombie-people eating the co-ed, but whatever you do DON'T show the graphic scene of two people who might, sort of, kind of, maybe be falling in insta-love having positive, life-affirming sex.
THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
Oh brother.
The hypocrisy, it burns!
Overall, Brew is an engrossing, entertaining read. For those who enjoy slasher-fests and want to turn off their brain for a day, I highly recommend Bill Braddock's Brew. It delivers the fast-paced, pulse pounding, gore and violence any true zombie fan desires with a touch of bittersweet romance to boot.
Wanna be a Zombie for a Day? Read Brew!
Brew starts off the morning after the last insane 24 hours. A character calling himself doc, due to being a medical doctor, wakes up wearing only boxers and sneakers in a room he doesn't recognize. He inventories his wounds, and then discovers a seriously injured woman in the hallway. As he tries to help this stranger, she obviously recognizes him and freaks out. Then two things happen: He suddenly remembers that she's a neighbor he's long admired from afar, and he really, really wants to taste her intestines—the ones she's cradling from a hole in her gut. What the hell happened yesterday? He certainly doesn't remember, and we're left intrigued and flipping pages faster than you can say zombie apocalypse.
Now that's what I call a hook. I wanted to know what happened to doc, but unfortunately he's a very minor player in his disaster. We find out, sort of, but it's a bit part and if you blink you'll miss it. The major players are Steve, Cat, Demetrius, Joel, and Herbert. Other characters weave in and out as we go along, we see some resolutions, others we don't, but overall we get a solid sense of what happens to everyone. After all, there's only so many descriptive scenes of gore and violence before the premise becomes redundant. Not that I have a problem with either--not me--but sooner or later one gets numb to the whole concept.
Speaking of gore and violence, Brew, definitely delivers. Slasher genre at its finest, this book is all about how many ways can co-eds, meatheads, and anyone standing in their way get sliced, diced, chewed up, run over, set on fire, mauled, eaten alive, and so forth. Think a rated R Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Beer Bad episode plus Zombie Apocalypse plus a Greenpeace prank plus the 24 hour flu, and you'll have a good idea of Brew.
The underlying message is about how people turn their brains off in the 21st century. People don't help people anymore; they don't connect without electronic devices; and they certainly don't think for themselves. This message, however, is somewhat lost in the rush to be a gore-fest. The villain, Herbert, is so intent on killing everyone, that if he ever had a deeper message he's forgotten it. Jessie, a member of Green, is such a minor character we never get to hear Green's message other than 'people are putting too many chemicals in their bodies'. And the heros—Steve, Cat, and Demetrius seem to sense that there's something bigger than themselves to fight for, yet again the gore-fest overwhelms them too. There's just too much going on for anything clear to be heard.
But maybe that's the message. The modern world is full of too much noise, too much crap, too many people screaming—memememe—that it's easy to lose sight of the important things and focus on the selfish gods of money and indulgence. I think that's a big reason why zombies are so popular these days. We're afraid we're becoming soulless, brainless monsters.
As for Mr. Braddock's writing, overall I found it very strong and vivid without being overdone. There's little fat in his prose. He gets right to the point, and the majority of the time you understand exactly what's happening in gory detail.
I did have a problem with a couple of plot points. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story, but it made the science less fun.
Plus Herbert as a villain was very one dimensional. I get that we really are supposed to hate him, but it would've been fun to make him a much more tortured villain. Sure we hate him, but we understand why he flipped out, maybe even have some sympathy. But he's just too easy to hate. So is Joel. So many people get very much what they deserve in this book, which is why it's hard to be upset when anyone dies, gets eaten, mauled, or beaten up. I mean… who cares?
Even Steve is a drug dealer estranged from his family. Who cares about drug dealers? You? So when Steve and Cat kind of, sort of, maybe fall in love in this 24 hours, meh, who cares? There's so much insanity going on that anything potentially pure is ruined. Which just begs the question of the modern world being too disconnected. I had fun reading the gorefest, but I wasn't shocked. I'm already jaded by my job as a medic and the world in general. This is a bad thing.
Plus
OF COURSE THEY DO! But we don't see it, because Permuted Press loves gore and violence, but they're not into graphic sex. LOL, they *cough* draw the line at *cough* graphic sex. Gee, why bother? You don't mind showing Joel getting ready to make porn and talking about erect penises and zombie-people eating the co-ed, but whatever you do DON'T show the graphic scene of two people who might, sort of, kind of, maybe be falling in insta-love having positive, life-affirming sex.
THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
Oh brother.
The hypocrisy, it burns!
Overall, Brew is an engrossing, entertaining read. For those who enjoy slasher-fests and want to turn off their brain for a day, I highly recommend Bill Braddock's Brew. It delivers the fast-paced, pulse pounding, gore and violence any true zombie fan desires with a touch of bittersweet romance to boot.
March 17, 2016
College Heights is a typical American college town, until a popular local microbrew gives its citizens the undesirable side effects of brutally killing, raping and eating each other (sometimes in that order). Brew is over the top in terms of sex and gore, so readers should be sure to have strong stomachs going in. This isn’t just for fans of brutality, though. It’s a clever take on (fast) zombies and an emotionally charged, character-driven survival story.
Braddock gives a realistic portrayal of a college town, complete with curious shops, school spirit, grudges between students and faculty alike, and puddles of vomit liberally decorating the nighttime streets. The materialism and hedonistic excess of students are taken to a grisly extreme. The end result is like a nightmare induced by Goya paintings and a considerably large dosage of ecstasy and PCP, a town-wide orgy of destruction and sexual deviance. The shit doesn’t hit the fan so much as barrel into it at breakneck speed.
In the middle of this is a group of diverse and sympathetic characters that are easy to like and to cheer for. The cast is large, but Braddock wisely puts focus on a select few. Since the events of the novel occur over a single night, characterization is generally achieved through flashes of memory, which all ring true and in some way directly affect actions and events throughout the story. These quiet, reflective moments are as well-written as the rest of the novel and are a welcome (if brief) respite from the chaos. They also crank up the tension when the characters are thrown back into the fray. In typical fashion for this kind of story, minor characters come and go as fodder for the crazed hordes, dying in a number of disgusting and creative ways. Main characters aren’t necessarily spared either, so be prepared for some sad and shocking surprises.
The prose is surprisingly poetic at times. Staccato bursts of harsh alliteration drive some of the more visceral scenes, gentle and evocative imagery coloring the pages when things slow down. It’s a pleasure to read in more ways than one.
Although the tone is deadly serious at times, Brew never loses its sense of fun. Braddock in some instances name-drops some of his influences and sources of inspiration. One of the characters is reading a Jack Ketchum novel; another (a gleefully sociopathic chemist) is named Herbert Weston, a not-so-subtle nod to the cult classic Re-Animator. A few street names will be familiar, too. Well-versed horror fans will get a kick out of these references in between getting their teeth kicked in by the hyper-violence.
Braddock has crafted a heady, multilayered brew, not just some cheap swill that will rot your gut. Anyone looking for refreshing survival horror or splatterpunk with brains will gladly knock this one back and be thirsty for more.
Braddock gives a realistic portrayal of a college town, complete with curious shops, school spirit, grudges between students and faculty alike, and puddles of vomit liberally decorating the nighttime streets. The materialism and hedonistic excess of students are taken to a grisly extreme. The end result is like a nightmare induced by Goya paintings and a considerably large dosage of ecstasy and PCP, a town-wide orgy of destruction and sexual deviance. The shit doesn’t hit the fan so much as barrel into it at breakneck speed.
In the middle of this is a group of diverse and sympathetic characters that are easy to like and to cheer for. The cast is large, but Braddock wisely puts focus on a select few. Since the events of the novel occur over a single night, characterization is generally achieved through flashes of memory, which all ring true and in some way directly affect actions and events throughout the story. These quiet, reflective moments are as well-written as the rest of the novel and are a welcome (if brief) respite from the chaos. They also crank up the tension when the characters are thrown back into the fray. In typical fashion for this kind of story, minor characters come and go as fodder for the crazed hordes, dying in a number of disgusting and creative ways. Main characters aren’t necessarily spared either, so be prepared for some sad and shocking surprises.
The prose is surprisingly poetic at times. Staccato bursts of harsh alliteration drive some of the more visceral scenes, gentle and evocative imagery coloring the pages when things slow down. It’s a pleasure to read in more ways than one.
Although the tone is deadly serious at times, Brew never loses its sense of fun. Braddock in some instances name-drops some of his influences and sources of inspiration. One of the characters is reading a Jack Ketchum novel; another (a gleefully sociopathic chemist) is named Herbert Weston, a not-so-subtle nod to the cult classic Re-Animator. A few street names will be familiar, too. Well-versed horror fans will get a kick out of these references in between getting their teeth kicked in by the hyper-violence.
Braddock has crafted a heady, multilayered brew, not just some cheap swill that will rot your gut. Anyone looking for refreshing survival horror or splatterpunk with brains will gladly knock this one back and be thirsty for more.
May 17, 2017
Town full of college/football (American) kids goes crazy and carnage ensues. Those who remain sane try to survive the madness. The story jumps around between several groups of "survivors" with good effect. As you would imagine it's over the top and rather silly but entertaining enough if this is your genre.
August 27, 2016
4.5 stars!
First of all – HOLY CRAP! BREW was like nothing I had ever read before. It took the horror genre to a whole new level for me. If you want a book that is brutal, and full of sex, and gore. This is the book for you. It was definitely the book for me.
Things started off a little slow as we got to know the characters and see a little bit of where they were before things started going bad. The major players in BREW are Steve, Cat, Demetrius, Joel, and Herbert. The story quickly escalates as shit hits the fan though. And the next thing you know a cop is shooting people in the street, a college kid is smashing her best friend over the head with a beer bottle, and someone is raping a dead corpse in the street. Intense right?
I think this novel was the epitome of the apocalypse, usually we get to see how the apocalypse effects one or two people and how they handle what’s going on around them. In this story we get so many perspectives and experiences from people with multiple backgrounds that it keeps you flipping pages craving to see what happens next. There are no heroes in this novel. This being one of my favorite ideals about the story. Most of Braddock’s characters are your normal Joe’s with little to no experience surviving in the face of insanity. These characters are well-developed and real, making decisions that you or I would when faced with these horrific circumstances. Or least hope that I would – you’d probably find me blockaded in my closet crying under a pile of clothes.
I also think that Braddock ended the book with perfect timing, preventing things from getting repetitive and just being a gore-fest. This story left me huddled under the covers worried that someone was going to smash my bedroom window open and slit my throat with a shard of glass! Someone remind me to never read one of his novels at 2 in the morning again.
“According to the Surgeon General, consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.’ After tonight, I guess they’ll need to update the warning label, huh? Consumption of Cougar Beer can cause other negative side effects including, but not limited to, pyromania, cannibalism, and total psychosis.” -BREW by Bill Braddock
I drove past a billboard today advertising craft beer, after reading BREW I’ll think twice before trying one!
First of all – HOLY CRAP! BREW was like nothing I had ever read before. It took the horror genre to a whole new level for me. If you want a book that is brutal, and full of sex, and gore. This is the book for you. It was definitely the book for me.
Things started off a little slow as we got to know the characters and see a little bit of where they were before things started going bad. The major players in BREW are Steve, Cat, Demetrius, Joel, and Herbert. The story quickly escalates as shit hits the fan though. And the next thing you know a cop is shooting people in the street, a college kid is smashing her best friend over the head with a beer bottle, and someone is raping a dead corpse in the street. Intense right?
I think this novel was the epitome of the apocalypse, usually we get to see how the apocalypse effects one or two people and how they handle what’s going on around them. In this story we get so many perspectives and experiences from people with multiple backgrounds that it keeps you flipping pages craving to see what happens next. There are no heroes in this novel. This being one of my favorite ideals about the story. Most of Braddock’s characters are your normal Joe’s with little to no experience surviving in the face of insanity. These characters are well-developed and real, making decisions that you or I would when faced with these horrific circumstances. Or least hope that I would – you’d probably find me blockaded in my closet crying under a pile of clothes.
I also think that Braddock ended the book with perfect timing, preventing things from getting repetitive and just being a gore-fest. This story left me huddled under the covers worried that someone was going to smash my bedroom window open and slit my throat with a shard of glass! Someone remind me to never read one of his novels at 2 in the morning again.
“According to the Surgeon General, consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.’ After tonight, I guess they’ll need to update the warning label, huh? Consumption of Cougar Beer can cause other negative side effects including, but not limited to, pyromania, cannibalism, and total psychosis.” -BREW by Bill Braddock
I drove past a billboard today advertising craft beer, after reading BREW I’ll think twice before trying one!
December 10, 2014
First off, standard disclaimer: BREW is grand guignol hardcore horror, not for everybody, not for kids or the weak of stomach, etc. etc. That said, horror fans will find a lot to enjoy in this book.
I hesitate to call BREW a zombie book because I'm a snob and I insist that my zombies be walking corpses. It does, however, fall into that milieu and is similar to infected-but-still-violent stories like "The Crazies" or "28 Days Later." Since the people of College Heights are only addled and not dead, Braddock's creations are just as obsessed with rape, murder, torture, and arson as they are with the standard zombie staple of cannibalism. It adds a whole new layer of vileness to the proceedings that gorehounds will find irresistible.
In good keeping with longstanding tradition, Braddock also does not skimp on the biting (ha!) political satire. The entire attack is orchestrated (or so they think) by a Greenpeace-like organization which is portrayed as full of hope and good ideas and yet is absolutely stymied when faced with the real world and those acting in bad faith, like the true villain of the piece.
Herbert Weston, junior anti-Christ and the puppet master behind the College Heights disaster, is a blend of the classical mad scientist (such as his namesake) and the sorts of twisted loners who become school shooters. I had to admire Braddock's bravery in tackling a third rail like mass shootings and believe me, the more time you spend reading Weston's point-of-view the more it becomes impossible to see the whole story as anything other than Aurora or Columbine writ large.
But perhaps the greatest target of Braddock's scorching satire is the myopic football culture and frat rat mentality of big college small towns...
I hope this isn't the last we see of the Brewniverse. I've already read that Braddock is considering writing a series of MICROBREWS, that is, short stories set against the backdrop of the College Heights disaster. Might I also humbly suggest a SUPER BREW, when maybe it isn't just Cougar Piss getting spiked but say all the beer at the NFL championship game?
I hesitate to call BREW a zombie book because I'm a snob and I insist that my zombies be walking corpses. It does, however, fall into that milieu and is similar to infected-but-still-violent stories like "The Crazies" or "28 Days Later." Since the people of College Heights are only addled and not dead, Braddock's creations are just as obsessed with rape, murder, torture, and arson as they are with the standard zombie staple of cannibalism. It adds a whole new layer of vileness to the proceedings that gorehounds will find irresistible.
In good keeping with longstanding tradition, Braddock also does not skimp on the biting (ha!) political satire. The entire attack is orchestrated (or so they think) by a Greenpeace-like organization which is portrayed as full of hope and good ideas and yet is absolutely stymied when faced with the real world and those acting in bad faith, like the true villain of the piece.
Herbert Weston, junior anti-Christ and the puppet master behind the College Heights disaster, is a blend of the classical mad scientist (such as his namesake) and the sorts of twisted loners who become school shooters. I had to admire Braddock's bravery in tackling a third rail like mass shootings and believe me, the more time you spend reading Weston's point-of-view the more it becomes impossible to see the whole story as anything other than Aurora or Columbine writ large.
But perhaps the greatest target of Braddock's scorching satire is the myopic football culture and frat rat mentality of big college small towns...
I hope this isn't the last we see of the Brewniverse. I've already read that Braddock is considering writing a series of MICROBREWS, that is, short stories set against the backdrop of the College Heights disaster. Might I also humbly suggest a SUPER BREW, when maybe it isn't just Cougar Piss getting spiked but say all the beer at the NFL championship game?
November 15, 2013
3 1/2 Stars
Herbert Weston is your typical overly-smart guy. He's been the butt of many jokes, always the odd man out, forever stuck in his geek-dom. A class project he has in school gives him the idea and motivation he needs to hurt all those "meatheads" on his "list" of bullies and slackers. Once his plan is in motion to poison the college brew, turning everyone who drinks it into killer-cannibals, Herbert doesn't just sit back and watch, he becomes an active player in the demise of his enemies.
This read started off with a bang and never let up. There is one scene at the beginning when the chaos starts and this chick is getting smacked up by her friend. The girl's thoughts have stuck with me for some reason. She just kept wondering why the other girl was hitting her, that the punches really hurt, and that she had never been hit like that before. I could almost feel her pain. It was intense to say the least.
Cat and Steve who just met over a potential drug deal are getting to know each other when everyone goes berserk. They're stuck in the apartment and need to find their way out. For a drug dealer, Steve is not how you'd expect him to be. The seemingly insecure Cat takes the lead and they head out into the unknown where people are munching on each other, having a gore-eous time.
There's plenty of dark humor to balance out the gore, but this is a splatter-fest so be prepared. The characters each have their own believable story and the author is not afraid to push them to the extreme and have them make tough choices. This is a survival read and only the toughest will make it. I will say that there was an excess of talking/dialogue going on that slowed the momentum at times. That's a peeve of mine.
This was a fun read and I look forward to checking out his future works.
*I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review*
Herbert Weston is your typical overly-smart guy. He's been the butt of many jokes, always the odd man out, forever stuck in his geek-dom. A class project he has in school gives him the idea and motivation he needs to hurt all those "meatheads" on his "list" of bullies and slackers. Once his plan is in motion to poison the college brew, turning everyone who drinks it into killer-cannibals, Herbert doesn't just sit back and watch, he becomes an active player in the demise of his enemies.
This read started off with a bang and never let up. There is one scene at the beginning when the chaos starts and this chick is getting smacked up by her friend. The girl's thoughts have stuck with me for some reason. She just kept wondering why the other girl was hitting her, that the punches really hurt, and that she had never been hit like that before. I could almost feel her pain. It was intense to say the least.
Cat and Steve who just met over a potential drug deal are getting to know each other when everyone goes berserk. They're stuck in the apartment and need to find their way out. For a drug dealer, Steve is not how you'd expect him to be. The seemingly insecure Cat takes the lead and they head out into the unknown where people are munching on each other, having a gore-eous time.
There's plenty of dark humor to balance out the gore, but this is a splatter-fest so be prepared. The characters each have their own believable story and the author is not afraid to push them to the extreme and have them make tough choices. This is a survival read and only the toughest will make it. I will say that there was an excess of talking/dialogue going on that slowed the momentum at times. That's a peeve of mine.
This was a fun read and I look forward to checking out his future works.
*I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review*
September 7, 2013
I ripped threw Bill Braddock's "Brew" today. I was engaged from the first paragraph, and it didn't let me go until the story was done.
"Ripped" is an excellent adjective for Braddock's prose, too... "Ripped" like the six-pack abs of a world-class Thai kickboxer... At times steroid-enhanced and brutal, only to verge on piercingly poetic a moment later.
I look forward to reading more from this author as time goes on, because I get the sense that he'll only get better. In the meantime, I'm going to look askance at microbrews.
"Ripped" is an excellent adjective for Braddock's prose, too... "Ripped" like the six-pack abs of a world-class Thai kickboxer... At times steroid-enhanced and brutal, only to verge on piercingly poetic a moment later.
I look forward to reading more from this author as time goes on, because I get the sense that he'll only get better. In the meantime, I'm going to look askance at microbrews.
March 6, 2015
Brew is the best "appocolyptic" story I have read to date. Not the best horror story I've ever read, only because there are of course better actually horror "stories". This book is amazing and I don't have any other words for it. Horror and appocolypse junkies unite, this was written
For us. Thank you Bill Braddock, this is a gem....
For us. Thank you Bill Braddock, this is a gem....
July 3, 2014
One of the bloodiest, sickest and most awesome fun-to-read horror novels in print.
Simple and effective. The story is a firehose of violence and bodyparts splattering all over your sense of deceny.
Loved it.
Simple and effective. The story is a firehose of violence and bodyparts splattering all over your sense of deceny.
Loved it.
September 1, 2013
What a crazy book! All I will say is- don't ever bully the nerdy college genius who is also a chemistry major. And if you do...don't drink the beer! A good 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
September 10, 2013
A perfect blend of gross, scary and character development. Deliciously violent. Makes me want a beer...
October 22, 2013
Not for YA! ;) This is true horror. Full of sex, gore, and action. Fun stuff!
November 13, 2017
Brew is one of the better reads of its kind - especially from a debut author - mixing fast-paced thrills with gory scenes of murder, dismemberment and sexual assaults (though not necessarily in that order).
Bill Braddock here manages to draw the reader in very quickly, establishing four or five POV characters that the reader spends a chapter with at a time, as their town is suddenly over-run by people acting completely crazy in the "lock your doors and hope to be passed by" kind of way. It turns out that an environmental group wanted to make a statement by contaminating the town's main beer, making their shit an unhealthy colour green. Only their antisocial chemist had other ideas, meaning no-one is safe, as instinctual need and accelerated rage mix to result in blood-drenched mayhem.
The first half of the book is especially impressive, though Braddock does loosen reign on certain characters in the back half. Some disappear from the narrative barely to get mentioned again; while others are introduced too late to really care about, yet Braddock spends an odd amount of time trying to make them important characters when there is so much more interesting things going on in the other storylines.
But these are relatively minor quibbles, because the meat of what is served up here is such damned good fun.
Here's to Braddock providing us with a second course in the not too distant future.
4 Ill-Advised Escape Attempts for Brew.
Bill Braddock here manages to draw the reader in very quickly, establishing four or five POV characters that the reader spends a chapter with at a time, as their town is suddenly over-run by people acting completely crazy in the "lock your doors and hope to be passed by" kind of way. It turns out that an environmental group wanted to make a statement by contaminating the town's main beer, making their shit an unhealthy colour green. Only their antisocial chemist had other ideas, meaning no-one is safe, as instinctual need and accelerated rage mix to result in blood-drenched mayhem.
The first half of the book is especially impressive, though Braddock does loosen reign on certain characters in the back half. Some disappear from the narrative barely to get mentioned again; while others are introduced too late to really care about, yet Braddock spends an odd amount of time trying to make them important characters when there is so much more interesting things going on in the other storylines.
But these are relatively minor quibbles, because the meat of what is served up here is such damned good fun.
Here's to Braddock providing us with a second course in the not too distant future.
4 Ill-Advised Escape Attempts for Brew.
March 15, 2014
Ok, give me a minute to wrap my head around this.
Phew, what a whirlwind! Dark, scary and downright brutal.
Brew is the second book I’ve read by a Permuted Press author and I’m guessing it’s not a coincidence that this was also a fast-paced, action-packed, Holy-Crap-I-can’t-believe-I-just-read-that kind of book. This is true horror, the kind of story that makes you give everyone you meet a second glance, and keeps you up at night wondering what potential dangers lurk in the shadows. Brew is a punch in the gut that you couldn’t forget even if you wanted to. The way it’s written is different from any style I’ve ever run across before. It was like listening to a group of people tell you each side of their story over a nice cold pitcher of… well, hopefully not Cougar Beer.
The story takes place in College Heights, Pennsylvania. It’s a typical Saturday night for the locals of the town. Their mission — get trashed and get laid. The story whips around from one character to the next and introduces the reader to everyone in a pretty short amount of time… and then shit gets real. Herbert Weston has devised a diabolical plan to turn this party town into a real hell on earth by tainting the local microbrew, Cougar Beer (Cougar piss, as the townies refer to it). Once they’ve consumed this special brew they turn into complete psychos, ravaging and raping and eating their victims. Herbert is one sick, twisted dude.
The violence and gore in this book is more over-the-top than I’ve ever read before. I’m pretty sure I was reading with my jaw on the floor and my hand over my heart, trying to keep it from beating out of my chest, most of the time. If you are easily offended, this book is definitely not for you. Heck, I’m not easily offended, but I’m still a bit taken aback. Brew is a very detailed, gruesome account of man-made survival horror. What kept me going wasn’t the gore, but the awesome characters. Steve is a drug dealer, yet somehow I ended up really liking him and his girl, Cat. Even though they had just met in the beginning of the story, I really wanted to see them make it out the other side of this hell together.
I recommend Brew to those fans of horror that like to see it taken to the extreme. I’m not sure you’ll want to read this at night like I did, but if you’re a brave soul.. I say go for it!
Phew, what a whirlwind! Dark, scary and downright brutal.
Brew is the second book I’ve read by a Permuted Press author and I’m guessing it’s not a coincidence that this was also a fast-paced, action-packed, Holy-Crap-I-can’t-believe-I-just-read-that kind of book. This is true horror, the kind of story that makes you give everyone you meet a second glance, and keeps you up at night wondering what potential dangers lurk in the shadows. Brew is a punch in the gut that you couldn’t forget even if you wanted to. The way it’s written is different from any style I’ve ever run across before. It was like listening to a group of people tell you each side of their story over a nice cold pitcher of… well, hopefully not Cougar Beer.
The story takes place in College Heights, Pennsylvania. It’s a typical Saturday night for the locals of the town. Their mission — get trashed and get laid. The story whips around from one character to the next and introduces the reader to everyone in a pretty short amount of time… and then shit gets real. Herbert Weston has devised a diabolical plan to turn this party town into a real hell on earth by tainting the local microbrew, Cougar Beer (Cougar piss, as the townies refer to it). Once they’ve consumed this special brew they turn into complete psychos, ravaging and raping and eating their victims. Herbert is one sick, twisted dude.
The violence and gore in this book is more over-the-top than I’ve ever read before. I’m pretty sure I was reading with my jaw on the floor and my hand over my heart, trying to keep it from beating out of my chest, most of the time. If you are easily offended, this book is definitely not for you. Heck, I’m not easily offended, but I’m still a bit taken aback. Brew is a very detailed, gruesome account of man-made survival horror. What kept me going wasn’t the gore, but the awesome characters. Steve is a drug dealer, yet somehow I ended up really liking him and his girl, Cat. Even though they had just met in the beginning of the story, I really wanted to see them make it out the other side of this hell together.
I recommend Brew to those fans of horror that like to see it taken to the extreme. I’m not sure you’ll want to read this at night like I did, but if you’re a brave soul.. I say go for it!
February 15, 2014
First off, standard disclaimer: BREW is grand guignol hardcore horror, not for everybody, not for kids or the weak of stomach, etc. etc. That said, horror fans will find a lot to enjoy in this book.
I hesitate to call BREW a zombie book because I'm a snob and I insist that my zombies be walking corpses. It does, however, fall into that milieu and is similar to infected-but-still-violent stories like "The Crazies" or "28 Days Later." Since the people of College Heights are only addled and not dead, Braddock's creations are just as obsessed with rape, murder, torture, and arson as they are with the standard zombie staple of cannibalism. It adds a whole new layer of vileness to the proceedings that gorehounds will find irresistible.
In good keeping with longstanding tradition, Braddock also does not skimp on the biting (ha!) political satire. The entire attack is orchestrated (or so they think) by a Greenpeace-like organization which is portrayed as full of hope and good ideas and yet is absolutely stymied when faced with the real world and those acting in bad faith, like the true villain of the piece.
Herbert Weston, junior anti-Christ and the puppet master behind the College Heights disaster, is a blend of the classical mad scientist (such as his namesake) and the sorts of twisted loners who become school shooters. I had to admire Braddock's bravery in tackling a third rail like mass shootings and believe me, the more time you spend reading Weston's point-of-view the more it becomes impossible to see the whole story as anything other than Aurora or Columbine writ large.
But perhaps the greatest target of Braddock's scorching satire is the myopic football culture and frat rat mentality of big college small towns...
I hope this isn't the last we see of the Brewniverse. I've already read that Braddock is considering writing a series of MICROBREWS, that is, short stories set against the backdrop of the College Heights disaster. Might I also humbly suggest a SUPER BREW, when maybe it isn't just Cougar Piss getting spiked but say all the beer at the NFL championship game?
I hesitate to call BREW a zombie book because I'm a snob and I insist that my zombies be walking corpses. It does, however, fall into that milieu and is similar to infected-but-still-violent stories like "The Crazies" or "28 Days Later." Since the people of College Heights are only addled and not dead, Braddock's creations are just as obsessed with rape, murder, torture, and arson as they are with the standard zombie staple of cannibalism. It adds a whole new layer of vileness to the proceedings that gorehounds will find irresistible.
In good keeping with longstanding tradition, Braddock also does not skimp on the biting (ha!) political satire. The entire attack is orchestrated (or so they think) by a Greenpeace-like organization which is portrayed as full of hope and good ideas and yet is absolutely stymied when faced with the real world and those acting in bad faith, like the true villain of the piece.
Herbert Weston, junior anti-Christ and the puppet master behind the College Heights disaster, is a blend of the classical mad scientist (such as his namesake) and the sorts of twisted loners who become school shooters. I had to admire Braddock's bravery in tackling a third rail like mass shootings and believe me, the more time you spend reading Weston's point-of-view the more it becomes impossible to see the whole story as anything other than Aurora or Columbine writ large.
But perhaps the greatest target of Braddock's scorching satire is the myopic football culture and frat rat mentality of big college small towns...
I hope this isn't the last we see of the Brewniverse. I've already read that Braddock is considering writing a series of MICROBREWS, that is, short stories set against the backdrop of the College Heights disaster. Might I also humbly suggest a SUPER BREW, when maybe it isn't just Cougar Piss getting spiked but say all the beer at the NFL championship game?
December 20, 2013
Full review here on my blog: http://onenovelconcept.blogspot.com/2...
Synopsis: A small college town turns into a murderous den of destruction one night after a massive football game. We follow a slew of colorful characters from the start of the devastation to the end. A "green" conservative group of radicals decides to spike the local brewery with a homemade chemical concoction that will turn the drinkers poop green. What this group does not know is that the chemist is a mad man with a revenge plot against pretty much everyone and modifies the compound to turn everyone into zombies instead. The next 24 hours turns into a survival story of epic proportions. Enjoy the ride.
My review: I loved this book. Let me preface that this book is disturbing and disgusting and fantastic. I did not know before getting into this book that it was about zombies, well flesh eating, sex-crazed, pain inflicting, 24 hour temporary zombies to be exact. Once again a zombie book where the word zombie is not used once. Great writing throughout. Great character building. I also loved that this author was willing to kill off some main characters, well almost all of them to be exact. Some of the scenes were so well written I can still picture them in my head. This is the first book written by Bill Braddock, and I hope for more books sooner rather than later. One thing I will note, as mentioned slightly above, is that this book is not for the faint of heart and is not for everyone. I love reading books that push the limits of what we think is acceptable, and this book does not disappoint. Enjoy if you dare.
My rating: 7
Pages: 273
Author website: http://www.billbraddock.com/p/home.html
Synopsis: A small college town turns into a murderous den of destruction one night after a massive football game. We follow a slew of colorful characters from the start of the devastation to the end. A "green" conservative group of radicals decides to spike the local brewery with a homemade chemical concoction that will turn the drinkers poop green. What this group does not know is that the chemist is a mad man with a revenge plot against pretty much everyone and modifies the compound to turn everyone into zombies instead. The next 24 hours turns into a survival story of epic proportions. Enjoy the ride.
My review: I loved this book. Let me preface that this book is disturbing and disgusting and fantastic. I did not know before getting into this book that it was about zombies, well flesh eating, sex-crazed, pain inflicting, 24 hour temporary zombies to be exact. Once again a zombie book where the word zombie is not used once. Great writing throughout. Great character building. I also loved that this author was willing to kill off some main characters, well almost all of them to be exact. Some of the scenes were so well written I can still picture them in my head. This is the first book written by Bill Braddock, and I hope for more books sooner rather than later. One thing I will note, as mentioned slightly above, is that this book is not for the faint of heart and is not for everyone. I love reading books that push the limits of what we think is acceptable, and this book does not disappoint. Enjoy if you dare.
My rating: 7
Pages: 273
Author website: http://www.billbraddock.com/p/home.html
September 4, 2013
Unless you’re completely dense, the title and back-cover blurbs will clue you in that this is essentially a beer-induced zombie novel. Except that they’re not really zombies and it’s not really beer. That’s about all I can say without stepping into spoiler territory. The unrelenting action begins almost immediately. The writing is superior but not for those who have a low threshold of squeam, grue, or prudery. As if zombies and blistering action aren’t enough, a very tender and realistic love story develops between the main protagonists. Cat is an amazing character and I hope to see more of her.
Most of the characters are college students and I found that refreshing. This phase of life is sorely neglected in fiction and I don’t understand why. It’s a time of exploration, introspection, freedom, and chaos and that’s a heady mix for creating protagonists and developing character.
I read this right on the heels of seeing THE WORLD’S END. I’ve never been much of a beer drinker and after this one-two punch, am even less likely to start. The author wrote this obviously under the influence of witnessing a St. Patrick’s Day or two in Chicago or Boston.
Most of the characters are college students and I found that refreshing. This phase of life is sorely neglected in fiction and I don’t understand why. It’s a time of exploration, introspection, freedom, and chaos and that’s a heady mix for creating protagonists and developing character.
I read this right on the heels of seeing THE WORLD’S END. I’ve never been much of a beer drinker and after this one-two punch, am even less likely to start. The author wrote this obviously under the influence of witnessing a St. Patrick’s Day or two in Chicago or Boston.
September 3, 2013
YAYYYYYYY! Another editing project is now (FINALLY!) a published book! Bill Braddock's BREW is now out in audio and ebook, print coming soon.
Ever been to a big college town on a football Saturday night? Loud drunks glut the streets, swaggering about in roaring packs, laughing and leering like sailors on shore leave. These nights crackle with a dark energy born of incongruity; for beneath all that smiling and singing sprawls a bedrock of malice. Erupting from this mean soil is Brew, a novel of survival horror that unfolds in a single, apocalyptic night, when hard-partying College Heights swaps beer pong and karaoke for arson, rape, murder, and cannibalism.
One minute, everyone's having a blast, partying it up after another football victory; the next minute, all those crowded bars, balconies, and house parties look like so many acres of hell. An embattled cast of unlikely heroes, including a charismatic drug dealer, a disenfranchised army vet, and a smart, tough-as-leather girl, struggles to survive, while Herbert Weston, the brilliant sociopath who engineered the entire catastrophe, strolls the chaos, fulfilling sadistic fantasies.
June 16, 2016
I waffled back and forth between two and three stars but the truth is while there is some good writing here, none of it is really related to the story. The story itself was an only mildly interesting framework used to support scene after scene of violent voyeurism.
Now I came of age during the splatterpunk era and I will vigorously defend the use of gratuitous violence if it is in the service of a compelling narrative, but the contemporary crop of extreme horror writers and their fans for the most part aren't interested in anything more than the gross-out. I dip my toe back into the pool every once in a while to see what I might be missing, but too often I feel like I'm reading masturbation fodder for people with antisocial personality disorders.
This book is hardly the worst example of this kind of writing, but I would be interested in what the author might be able to do if he tried to write something with a little more substance.
Now I came of age during the splatterpunk era and I will vigorously defend the use of gratuitous violence if it is in the service of a compelling narrative, but the contemporary crop of extreme horror writers and their fans for the most part aren't interested in anything more than the gross-out. I dip my toe back into the pool every once in a while to see what I might be missing, but too often I feel like I'm reading masturbation fodder for people with antisocial personality disorders.
This book is hardly the worst example of this kind of writing, but I would be interested in what the author might be able to do if he tried to write something with a little more substance.
October 30, 2013
Very strong debut novel for Braddock. It's a weird book, I want to pick it apart for a lot of reasons, yet I couldn't put it down once I started it, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. It's extremely graphic in nature, mean spirited, and not really a single redeeming character in the entire novel, yet you'll still find yourself rooting for them, be it to somehow make it, or meet a grisly demise. Characters are all extremely well written. One thing that really caught me off guard was having him invest 10-15 pages to bring a character to life, only to wipe them off the face of the map in a flash. You learn quick, no one is safe in this book. Minor quibble, but the character introduced in the first chapter, which is a flash forward, has no other role in the following pages, which I didn't realize until I finished and find sort of odd.
December 12, 2014
Wow. Is it wrong that I found this horror book really, really fun? It is not for the faint of heart. Think Walking Dead meets Animal House - but it's not about zombies. And hats off to an author who has no trouble killing off main characters, deserving and undeserving alike. I liked how the various story lines were interwoven, and the characters, while not too compelling (which is a good thing since you never know who is on the chopping block next), are interesting. Just a good, fun, fast read.
January 29, 2014
If you can stomach blood, gore, and profanity, but love phenomenal writing, I highly recommend Bill Braddock’s zombie thriller, Brew. And before you read on, realize I am serious. This is not for the weak hearted. But indeed promises a fun and fast read. For a more detailed Review, visit my blog The Characters might be the (Un)dead but the Writing is Alive and Kicking
September 17, 2013
Bill Braddock's Brew is a blitzkrieg of horror blended with fast action and poetic prose. The graphic horror is well balanced against a tight storyline and engaging characters, leaving the reader feeling sucker punched and bear hugged simultaneously. If you can stomach well-crafted gore, this book is definitely worth the read. Kudos on an exceptional debut, Bill!
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