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The Patch Project
After a mysterious disaster erases most of the world, five survivors find themselves in the middle of a post-apocalyptic wasteland. A married couple are trapped in their domestic setting. Two punks wander the wasteland, pushed further west by fears of retribution. A video game designer, used to living the high life in the city, is stranded at a highway gas station.
Not only do they have hunger and loss to deal with, but some of them have developed strange new abilities that they are only beginning to understand. Their interwoven stories explore the human need for purpose and hope for a better world. In this revised edition of Brittni Brinn's introspective debut, everyone will have to face who they have become in order to survive.
Not only do they have hunger and loss to deal with, but some of them have developed strange new abilities that they are only beginning to understand. Their interwoven stories explore the human need for purpose and hope for a better world. In this revised edition of Brittni Brinn's introspective debut, everyone will have to face who they have become in order to survive.
- GenresScience Fiction
146 pages, Paperback
Published November 17, 2020
2 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Brittni Brinn
8 books20 followersBrittni Brinn writes from a tower and sometimes a cottage in Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia. Their stories appear in At the Lighthouse (Eibonvale Press), Your Flight Has Been Cancelled (Little Ghosts Books), and more! Her weird novella Misplaced is currently available through Little Ghosts Books. Brittni holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Windsor and worked in theatre for many years. Their interests include rocks kicked up by the ocean, books from friends, and comfortable sweaters.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 31, 2018
The Patch Project is a fantastic debut from Brittni Brinn. The story itself, a post-apocalyptic tale, finds a small group of survivors navigating a landscape so desolated that to call it a wasteland would be generous.
Although I liked the setting, it is two other things that make The Patch Project truly interesting.
The first are the characters. I was taken in by these people (especially May and Isak). They come off as real people dealing with an impossible situation. They are not bad ass Mad Max wannabees, but just average folks (well, not quite normal, but I don’t want to spoil anything, so we’ll just leave it at that)
The second, and what I think is the strongest part of the book, is the writing. The narrative is very metaphor heavy. It’s because of this, that The Patch Project has a deep poetic feel. This creates a kind of beauty, which is at odds with the horror surrounding everybody.
By the end of the book, I was completely engrossed, which brings me to one important thing everybody needs to know before reading; The Patch Project is part one in a two part series, and as such, reads like the first half to a story. I knew this going in, but was still caught a bit by surprise at how sudden the end arrives.
Although I liked the setting, it is two other things that make The Patch Project truly interesting.
The first are the characters. I was taken in by these people (especially May and Isak). They come off as real people dealing with an impossible situation. They are not bad ass Mad Max wannabees, but just average folks (well, not quite normal, but I don’t want to spoil anything, so we’ll just leave it at that)
The second, and what I think is the strongest part of the book, is the writing. The narrative is very metaphor heavy. It’s because of this, that The Patch Project has a deep poetic feel. This creates a kind of beauty, which is at odds with the horror surrounding everybody.
By the end of the book, I was completely engrossed, which brings me to one important thing everybody needs to know before reading; The Patch Project is part one in a two part series, and as such, reads like the first half to a story. I knew this going in, but was still caught a bit by surprise at how sudden the end arrives.
March 20, 2018
I absolutely LOVED “The Patch Project!” It was impossible to put down!
“The Patch Project” is a post-apocalyptic novella which explores the lives of different groups of survivors of “the Event.” This riveting, character-driven plot will have you hooked from the very beginning and doesn’t let you go until the final page.
The characters are exciting and fascinating. It’s easy to immediately connect to the characters; their vulnerability due to their situation allows for them to be really accessible and relatable. Their stories got me totally invested in what was going to happen next, there’s no way not to care about people who have had to go through the end of life as they knew it. Isak and May are so sweet, and kind, and them having to leave their home was devastating for me. Ed is fascinating, his past and present so vastly different. Pinot and Miller have been living hard lives, both before and after the Event; their stories of survival are engrossing. I honestly got to a point where I got really upset that I couldn’t continue reading because I needed to keep working after my lunch break! It’s the characters that make it such a riveting experience.
The world is described beautifully, with a poetic language that allows you to see every detail in your mind’s eye. I was totally absorbed in this world author Brittni Brinn created. While a little is familiar, so much is unfamiliar and that foreignness is staggeringly beautiful. As the landscape changes and you get further and further invested in the lives of the characters, you truly feel a part of this amazing world.
The science involved in The Patch Project itself was very cool. Learning about the Event made it part of the Sci-fi world and yet eerily plausible. And you learn about The Patch Project at such a perfect point in the story, and yet you still can’t fully fathom what happened and what you’re witnessing these characters are going through. It’s a brilliantly woven story which lets you now just enough but keeps you just as in the dark as the characters themselves.
Like I said before, I was totally gripped by “The Patch Project” and couldn’t put it down. You don’t have to be a lover of post-apocalyptic fiction to absolutely love “The Patch Project.”
“The Patch Project” is a post-apocalyptic novella which explores the lives of different groups of survivors of “the Event.” This riveting, character-driven plot will have you hooked from the very beginning and doesn’t let you go until the final page.
The characters are exciting and fascinating. It’s easy to immediately connect to the characters; their vulnerability due to their situation allows for them to be really accessible and relatable. Their stories got me totally invested in what was going to happen next, there’s no way not to care about people who have had to go through the end of life as they knew it. Isak and May are so sweet, and kind, and them having to leave their home was devastating for me. Ed is fascinating, his past and present so vastly different. Pinot and Miller have been living hard lives, both before and after the Event; their stories of survival are engrossing. I honestly got to a point where I got really upset that I couldn’t continue reading because I needed to keep working after my lunch break! It’s the characters that make it such a riveting experience.
The world is described beautifully, with a poetic language that allows you to see every detail in your mind’s eye. I was totally absorbed in this world author Brittni Brinn created. While a little is familiar, so much is unfamiliar and that foreignness is staggeringly beautiful. As the landscape changes and you get further and further invested in the lives of the characters, you truly feel a part of this amazing world.
The science involved in The Patch Project itself was very cool. Learning about the Event made it part of the Sci-fi world and yet eerily plausible. And you learn about The Patch Project at such a perfect point in the story, and yet you still can’t fully fathom what happened and what you’re witnessing these characters are going through. It’s a brilliantly woven story which lets you now just enough but keeps you just as in the dark as the characters themselves.
Like I said before, I was totally gripped by “The Patch Project” and couldn’t put it down. You don’t have to be a lover of post-apocalyptic fiction to absolutely love “The Patch Project.”
March 20, 2018
I was hooked the minute I started reading! I couldn't handle the suspense (I just had to know what happened next) so I read the whole book in one sitting. I loved how the novel was full of literary references and allusions. Despite the dystopian setting, the characters still managed to hold on to their humanity and contemplate existential and philosophical questions. I personally found that to be refreshing as many dystopian novels focus too much on the physical hardships or the outward action. I liked how the Patch Project explored the characters' inner emotional and psychological struggles and nuanced relationship issues as well as their physical hardships. Overall, The Patch Project is well-crafted and extremely engaging story. If you like speculative fiction/scifi/dystopian stories then I definitely recommend this book! I can't wait for the sequel!!
April 14, 2019
The Patch Project is Canadian author Brittni Brinn’s debut speculative fiction novel. It is populated with an eclectic cast of memorable characters inhabiting a dream-like post-apocalyptic landscape in search of an elusive meaning to their nightmarish world. Mysteries abound, and tantalizing hints of a global ecological disaster infuse the narrative with a perpetual tension that never lets up. Brinn adds depth to her end-of-the-world scenario by infusing her characters with uncanny abilities, suggesting an almost super-evolutionary symbolism that clashes head-on with the stark remnants of the devastated world around them.
Intelligent storytelling, intricately-developed characters, and an overwhelmingly surreal sensibility elevate The Patch Project to the upper echelon of speculative fiction. Akin to the more outré work of Samuel R. Delaney meets the literary precision in language of Phyllis Gotlieb. Recommended!
Intelligent storytelling, intricately-developed characters, and an overwhelmingly surreal sensibility elevate The Patch Project to the upper echelon of speculative fiction. Akin to the more outré work of Samuel R. Delaney meets the literary precision in language of Phyllis Gotlieb. Recommended!
November 26, 2022
An imaginative dystopian world full of melancholy
May 24, 2018
The Patch Project is not a book that holds your hand. It's well written with sweeping metaphors and tangents that explore the character's emotional reactions, but you'll have to do the work to pick out the details of the story among the poetic language.
The story itself is an interesting one, almost dream-like, following characters exploring who they are and what it means to be alive in a broken world.
Not every question is answered, but the writing and character development are worth the read. Hopefully the gaps are filled in the next book. If not, your imagination should do the trick.
The story itself is an interesting one, almost dream-like, following characters exploring who they are and what it means to be alive in a broken world.
Not every question is answered, but the writing and character development are worth the read. Hopefully the gaps are filled in the next book. If not, your imagination should do the trick.
May 9, 2018
It was OK for what it was: a novel with no beginning and no end. Just a random group of people thrown together after an apocalyptic event (?) which is never really addressed. Would have been so much more effective if the author could have come up with a complete storyline instead of just characters interacting and trying to survive, with vague references to their thoughts/feelings.
December 23, 2022
Part of a three part series that I cannot wait to continue with… The Patch Project is a post-apocalyptic exploration of people coming to terms with their new norm. Incredibly relevant right now as we all ride the waves of a worldwide pandemic coming to an end, or at the very least finding our new norm as we live with COVID. A quick, easy read (only 130 pgs) with lovely prose and an interesting cast of characters trying to figure out how to move forward once everything has changed. I’ll be reading the second instalment, A Place That Used To Be, next.
July 20, 2022
Although it’s not my go-to genre, The Patch Project was a well-written post-apocalyptic novella that follows a group of people trying to survive in a broken world. The story provokes plenty of thought and reflection; what would I do in the same situation, but I was a bit disappointed that the story didn’t end and it’s to be continued. 2.5 rounded to 3 stars
October 19, 2022
An interesting set of vignettes set in a post apocalyptic world.
April 14, 2018
Disclosure: I was given an ARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
Something odd happened to the world, the ‘Event’ they call it, and nothing was ever the same since, after most of the people vanished. May can feel the presence of others, even though she doesn’t understand it; Isak, her husband, travels through time, but only forwards and it seems to be based on events and desires rather than specific destinations; Ed can control electrical impulses with his mind; and Pinot is a troubled young girl lacking direction. These are just some of the characters in Brittni Brinn’s post-apocalyptic novella, ‘The Patch Project’.
‘The Patch Project’ is a quick and engaging read, with interesting and complicated characters. Their world is at the same time both alien and familiar, and it is slowly unveiled to both the reader and the denizens at the same time. When their sense of community and safety is threatened, they must confront what they are willing to do to survive and thrive in this world that none of them really understands anymore.
I enjoyed my read-through of the novella, but I do feel as though the ending comes on a bit abruptly. I think the story might have benefited from another ‘part’ (there are two), to give some more closure for more of the characters. As such, we will just have to wait for the second part of this story, as I have been told there is a sequel on the way.
Something odd happened to the world, the ‘Event’ they call it, and nothing was ever the same since, after most of the people vanished. May can feel the presence of others, even though she doesn’t understand it; Isak, her husband, travels through time, but only forwards and it seems to be based on events and desires rather than specific destinations; Ed can control electrical impulses with his mind; and Pinot is a troubled young girl lacking direction. These are just some of the characters in Brittni Brinn’s post-apocalyptic novella, ‘The Patch Project’.
‘The Patch Project’ is a quick and engaging read, with interesting and complicated characters. Their world is at the same time both alien and familiar, and it is slowly unveiled to both the reader and the denizens at the same time. When their sense of community and safety is threatened, they must confront what they are willing to do to survive and thrive in this world that none of them really understands anymore.
I enjoyed my read-through of the novella, but I do feel as though the ending comes on a bit abruptly. I think the story might have benefited from another ‘part’ (there are two), to give some more closure for more of the characters. As such, we will just have to wait for the second part of this story, as I have been told there is a sequel on the way.
August 19, 2020
The Patch Project by Brittni Brinn takes place in a world laid to waste by mystery means and follows the story of those left behind. Isak and May live in their home, which was once situated in a pleasant suburb. Now all their neighbours’ homes have been mysteriously wiped away. Pinot and Miller live on the fringe, which doesn’t seem much different from what may have been their lives before the wasteland. Ed lives in the rest stop he had pulled into, far from his big city life. Living off of convenience store snacks, he wonders if he is the last alive on the seemingly barren landscape that surrounds him. Through lush and personal writing, Brinn follows these lost souls as they question their lives before, what their lives have become, and what awaits them in their possible future – if anything at all. Adding to the dystopian framework is a dash of sci-fi wonderment as each character discovers a newfound ability – whether it be jumping forward in time or the power to heal. Fans of cerebral sci-fi are sure to enjoy The Patch Project.
April 17, 2018
Spoiler
To start, the concept for this novel is intriguing. A future distopia created out of a desire to fix the damage we have already done. At least as far as we know so far.
The characters are dynamic, the writing of them is done well. They are believable people with believable histories and problems. People have powers they didnt have before, And everyones experience of, and reactions to, the Event varies to match their personalities and circumstances.
As for the writing itself I found it to be a bit simplistic. While the story was interesting, and I was always looking forward to what was coming next, I never felt like I got truly invested or immersed in the characters or the events.
I hope there will be more books to come, because like jax, I want to know if the ocean is still there.
To start, the concept for this novel is intriguing. A future distopia created out of a desire to fix the damage we have already done. At least as far as we know so far.
The characters are dynamic, the writing of them is done well. They are believable people with believable histories and problems. People have powers they didnt have before, And everyones experience of, and reactions to, the Event varies to match their personalities and circumstances.
As for the writing itself I found it to be a bit simplistic. While the story was interesting, and I was always looking forward to what was coming next, I never felt like I got truly invested or immersed in the characters or the events.
I hope there will be more books to come, because like jax, I want to know if the ocean is still there.
August 21, 2018
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great ideas fleshed out delivered clearly and creatively. I would have been happy if this book was twice as long without adding any action. Being a character driven work, and being set in a post-apocalyptic world, I think there was even more room to ramble around in characters heads, really start to feel the loneliness and circular thinking that must set in with this sort of situation. The ending really threw me for a loop. So much happens in such a short amount of time and then it's just over. I will definitely be pondering and mulling over the ending for quite a while. Lots of great language and writing to enjoy. Brinn comes in to her voice more strongly about a third of the way through the book, but the beginning sets a beautiful stage for the excellent craft to follow.
February 15, 2022
This book is post-apocalypse gone quiet. Voids have swallowed large chunks of the world after the Event. Everyone left is isolated and slowly discovering that the Event didn’t just impact the world around them, it’s given them each new and unique abilities. How do you connect with other survivors in a sterile, mostly-abandoned post-apocalyptic world, and more importantly, is connection worth the risk?
The contrast between the stark, blank world and the rich humanity of these characters made for a wonderful, poetic read. Absolutely absorbed me. Wonderful examination of how a diverse group of people stripped down to their core adapt after the world has seemingly ended.
Fans of Station Eleven will love The Patch Project. It’s poetic and starkly beautiful.
The contrast between the stark, blank world and the rich humanity of these characters made for a wonderful, poetic read. Absolutely absorbed me. Wonderful examination of how a diverse group of people stripped down to their core adapt after the world has seemingly ended.
Fans of Station Eleven will love The Patch Project. It’s poetic and starkly beautiful.
April 10, 2018
I enjoyed this book! The cast of eclectic characters and their efforts to cope in a post apocalyptic environment serve as a reminder that no matter how good we (think we) are or how great our weakness(es), we still need each other to love, grow and progress in this thing we so casually call life. I already miss my new friends from "The Patch Project" and am looking forward to the next book.
September 9, 2020
In the COVID-19 era, this post-apocalyptic book resonates. Its unique narrative style, complex characters, and haunting setting draw you in, prompting you to imagine yourself in the characters' shoes. It asks tough questions, unravels like a mystery, and leaves you wanting more. Bravo Brittni Brinn!
May 13, 2021
Post -Apocalyptic fiction at its best! (My favourite genre). So happy that there is a second book (A Place That Used to Be). I went straight into that one!
October 25, 2025
Set in a post apocalyptic world (the author is Canadian, and both Kitchener, Ontario and the Rockies are mentioned, so I'm guessing it's somewhere between those two locations), the main focus of the book is the few survivors we meet in the first half, how they're surviving, and how their lives intertwine.
An enjoyable and quick read, it can get a bit confusing at parts with the lack of, well, anything. That isn't inherently a bad thing, since the point is that they have basically nothing left, but it could get a bit confusing when trying to parse the direction of activity.
I found the majority of the characters interesting, and even the ones barely mentioned felt real. It's hard to explain why without context, though.
The plot was interesting, and gave the reader only about as much information as the characters themselves had. On the one hand, that can be a bit frustrating, but ultimately that's the same sort of frustration many of the characters must be feeling, too, so it works. The ending felt a bit abrupt and sudden, but it's part of a trilogy, so that's fine. (I have mixed feelings about abrupt endings.)
Overall, a solid, quick read. I'm glad I picked this up at a Little Free Library (signed, too!)
An enjoyable and quick read, it can get a bit confusing at parts with the lack of, well, anything. That isn't inherently a bad thing, since the point is that they have basically nothing left, but it could get a bit confusing when trying to parse the direction of activity.
I found the majority of the characters interesting, and even the ones barely mentioned felt real. It's hard to explain why without context, though.
The plot was interesting, and gave the reader only about as much information as the characters themselves had. On the one hand, that can be a bit frustrating, but ultimately that's the same sort of frustration many of the characters must be feeling, too, so it works. The ending felt a bit abrupt and sudden, but it's part of a trilogy, so that's fine. (I have mixed feelings about abrupt endings.)
Overall, a solid, quick read. I'm glad I picked this up at a Little Free Library (signed, too!)
December 10, 2022
A compelling start to a character-driven post-apocalyptic story. The sense of despair and loss in the characters as they attempt to figure out their suddenly limited world and frightening new powers is palpable. It's uncomfortable to read in places because your brain wants to veer away from the feelings. The ending very much makes you want to find out what happens next.
September 25, 2019
What a dark, and at times bleak short little novel. There is a feel of helpless and hopelessness with the characters, who you feel sympathetic for as they try to come to terms with their changed world.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews