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The Commons #1
The Commons: Book 1: The Journeyman
“Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie—and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.”
And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons. It’s been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America—stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead.
Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son. After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them.
Three Journeys: separate but joined. One mission: to save forever.
But first they have to save themselves.
And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons. It’s been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America—stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead.
Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son. After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them.
Three Journeys: separate but joined. One mission: to save forever.
But first they have to save themselves.
382 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2014
98 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Michael Alan Peck
4 books139 followersI tell tales big and small. Life's magical, but it isn't always enough for a good story. So I make up the rest.
To me, it's not real until I've put it into story form, which means I repeat myself a lot. In fact, the phrase that passes my lips most often is, "I may have told you this before, but ..."
I've made my living writing about TV, its celebrities, and its past. (I used to pen a column called "Ask the Televisionary" for TV Guide.com.) I've also put food on the table reviewing restaurants, writing about travel, and doing SEO and content strategy.
Only the writing counts in the end.
I have a godawful memory, so I focus on the written word. I like to think that over time, I've gotten better at it--the writing, not the remembering. I forget important dates. I'm pretty good with movie lines. But after several years, I tend to tweak them. I prefer my versions over the real ones.
Funny goes a long way with me. Probably further than it should.
I grew up outside Philadelphia and have lived in New York, L.A., and San Francisco. My current home base is Chicago.
You’ll find also find me on Facebook, Google+, and a href="http://cowbird.com/michaelpeck/"....
At holiday time, the missus and I terrorize the world via The Little Drummer Boy Challenge. Please join us.
To me, it's not real until I've put it into story form, which means I repeat myself a lot. In fact, the phrase that passes my lips most often is, "I may have told you this before, but ..."
I've made my living writing about TV, its celebrities, and its past. (I used to pen a column called "Ask the Televisionary" for TV Guide.com.) I've also put food on the table reviewing restaurants, writing about travel, and doing SEO and content strategy.
Only the writing counts in the end.
I have a godawful memory, so I focus on the written word. I like to think that over time, I've gotten better at it--the writing, not the remembering. I forget important dates. I'm pretty good with movie lines. But after several years, I tend to tweak them. I prefer my versions over the real ones.
Funny goes a long way with me. Probably further than it should.
I grew up outside Philadelphia and have lived in New York, L.A., and San Francisco. My current home base is Chicago.
You’ll find also find me on Facebook, Google+, and a href="http://cowbird.com/michaelpeck/"....
At holiday time, the missus and I terrorize the world via The Little Drummer Boy Challenge. Please join us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
March 18, 2015
"Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie--and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him."
An absolutely riveting beginning for a very enjoyable story. I’ve procrastinated forever on this review, prompting me to (re)resolve to review a book as soon as I read it, and not give into temptation to start the next book. At this point, I almost feel as if I need to re-read it–and at this point, I’m about ready to. I found this through Koeur’s review and was glad I picked it up. It felt like a breath of creativity in the urban fantasy field when I needed something newish.
Paul is an orphaned seventeen year-old intent on leaving the city. Annie is an Iraqi war vet intent on getting expert help for her autistic son, Zach. They are caught in a bus crash and thrown into another world where they are meant to continue their metaphysical journeys. Mr. Brill is attempting a takeover of the world.
Characterization is well done. Paul, Annie and the almost-mute Zach were very real, and Peck did a nice job individuating their voices and narrative. Paul had a bit of that young, antagonistic youth about him, but it wore off as he went deeper into the Commons. I particularly appreciated the first time Paul meets Annie and Zach, right after they’ve recovered Zach’s precious marble:
“The boy looked back up at his mother, who seemed as flummoxed by her son”s behavior as Paul was by her. Something important was going on, but Paul had no idea what.
The mother didn’t either. She glanced from Paul to the kid, as if there was some secret they kept from her.”
The writing was one of the highlights. Despite the occasional awkward sentence, Peck does a nice job conveying meaning with structure as well as wording. This is a particularly useful technique when he takes the perspective of a special-needs, apparently autistic character. It works at other times as well, particularly during a crash:
“A thing broke. A thing tore. A thing howled.
Bright, bright light. Too much.
All was light as the snowy windshield blazed at him in lines of hot stars.
The bus imploded into white.”
The tone hits a nice balance, seriousness with moment of hope and despair. There’s some horror-like moments that move it along, along with some leavening humor:
“Porter surveyed the group. ‘Everyone all right?’
No one answered. If bloody, wet, mud-crusted and pincer-chewed qualified, than yes, they were.”
“Annie and her consciousness reached a fork in the road and chose different directions.“
Overall, it feels a bit ‘new adult’ to me, with a focus on self-discovery as much as saving the world (yes, the Orphan’s Quest), done in a way modern readers should be able to appreciate and with creativity that sets it above the norm. I highly recommend it.
My thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy, and sincere apologies for delay in writing my review!
July 28, 2016
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The Journeyman is Book one of the Commons series and is a very fascination novel in idea.
The story revolves around a troubled teen named Paul, and the beginning of the book is built around him getting onto a bus to head away from his troubled life. Before and during his snowy bus ride he encounters several other characters to include a young autistic boy name Zach and his mother. The bus is involved in a tragic crash where everyone on board dies.... or do they?
The Commons is a sort of in-between state of living, or a type of purgatory, if you will. Where life is defined by essence and the journey of the "dead" will determine their future and if this is the end of their journey of life. Paul is led by the last remaining Envoy to guide him and some unlikely friends while he faces an evil that is not readily apparent, but malicious none-the less.
My thoughts: The characters in this story are spectacular, and I even love the creation of the world of the Commons. You could really feel the passion that drove the characters in this story and feel their connections
What is lacking: I wanted more descriptions and building up of the world in my head. I had glimpses of the world that the author Michael Alan Peck has set forth, but I couldn't completely see if in my mind. I would have been able to connect more with the story if this was possible. The only other complaint I have is that there was a lot of minor "fluff" sections that either needed to be explained more or edited out. I completely get the data sections and the purpose of it, but I had a hard time trying to determine the actual layout and the visions associated with working in them. I would have liked to be able to understand the significance of this section more, because a lot of the setting up of the beginning of the fight comes into play during this time. I found myself going back and re-reading several sections, to try to connect the dots and see what i had missed. A better explanation of this part of the book would do wonders for the entire tone of the book. All in all, this is a good book, that could do with a bit of polish to really make it shine. I will continue on with the story and stand at a 3.5/5 star rating for me.
*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review through the read and review opportunity of FOR LOVE OF A BOOK.
The Journeyman is Book one of the Commons series and is a very fascination novel in idea.
The story revolves around a troubled teen named Paul, and the beginning of the book is built around him getting onto a bus to head away from his troubled life. Before and during his snowy bus ride he encounters several other characters to include a young autistic boy name Zach and his mother. The bus is involved in a tragic crash where everyone on board dies.... or do they?
The Commons is a sort of in-between state of living, or a type of purgatory, if you will. Where life is defined by essence and the journey of the "dead" will determine their future and if this is the end of their journey of life. Paul is led by the last remaining Envoy to guide him and some unlikely friends while he faces an evil that is not readily apparent, but malicious none-the less.
My thoughts: The characters in this story are spectacular, and I even love the creation of the world of the Commons. You could really feel the passion that drove the characters in this story and feel their connections
What is lacking: I wanted more descriptions and building up of the world in my head. I had glimpses of the world that the author Michael Alan Peck has set forth, but I couldn't completely see if in my mind. I would have been able to connect more with the story if this was possible. The only other complaint I have is that there was a lot of minor "fluff" sections that either needed to be explained more or edited out. I completely get the data sections and the purpose of it, but I had a hard time trying to determine the actual layout and the visions associated with working in them. I would have liked to be able to understand the significance of this section more, because a lot of the setting up of the beginning of the fight comes into play during this time. I found myself going back and re-reading several sections, to try to connect the dots and see what i had missed. A better explanation of this part of the book would do wonders for the entire tone of the book. All in all, this is a good book, that could do with a bit of polish to really make it shine. I will continue on with the story and stand at a 3.5/5 star rating for me.
*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review through the read and review opportunity of FOR LOVE OF A BOOK.
April 17, 2015
I don’t really know what to say after finishing The Journeyman… my mind is still whirring around putting things together, rehashing scenes from the start that held hidden meanings that only revealed themselves after you’ve finished the book.
My first thought was around how instantly engaging and interesting the story was, even though it began as a slice-of-life type of story. The first few chapters welcomed the reader into Paul’s world, showed a young man who had struggled through life, had been beaten to the curb time and time again.
Annie and Zach also added to the delightfully well-constructed characters. I especially liked that they were both a bit different from the traditional characters. Zach appeared to be on the spectrum, while Annie is a strong minded, single mother, data analyst and injured war veteran.
Brilliantly different and yet, someone that just about anyone could relate to on some level.
The idea of a purgatory or interim afterlife has been done before, but not with this sort of fantastical element. When the book changes from slice-of-life to The Commons the whole world is turned on its head. This left me a little lost as to what was happening, and while a little disorienting, the fast pace meant you really couldn’t stay focused on that for too long.
This will either encourage the reader to just ‘go with it’ or potentially put them off completely (which is what I’ve seen in a couple of the other reviews). For me, the unanswered questions around what was happening and who all the new people were, was more intriguing than annoying. But I can completely understand how some people would get 'over it' quickly.
My biggest criticism, and probably the only one really, is to do with the pace of the book. The action starts at chapter 5, and it does not stop until you read the last line of the book. Now, at times, this works brilliantly. The epic battles and racing through dark tunnels was fantastic at a frantic pace, but normally as a reader you need some slower parts. Parts that allow you to digest what has happened and to form intricate and emotional bonds with the characters; It’s a part that was almost missed because of the frantic pace.
The emotional impact of one of the pivotal sad moments in the story was a mere molehill to me because of my lack of emotional attachment to the characters. The reaction that should have occurred was nowhere to be seen because my level of emotional commitment to the character was still in its infancy. Had there been a few softer, quieter moments with this character, ones to forge emotional bonds with, then I’d probably have been crying like a baby at that climatic scene. I wanted to, I really did.
This isn’t to say that Michael can’t make the reader care about the characters, because he does. I really felt for little Zach and felt my heart lurch along with Annie’s as she worked her way through the puzzles along her journey, but these scenes were about characters that’d been with me the whole way through the book. I knew something of them, I wanted to read more about them and experience things with them.
When it comes to antagonists, Michael really shone. Mr Brill was insidious in his evilness and yet, still not out and out creepy. There was an intelligence about him and a polished exterior that was somewhat misleading. I also liked his little side-kick Gerald Truitt, he was an interesting character. I can see bigger things for him too.
All in all, this is a fantastic book. One that is well written, flawlessly edited and thoroughly engaging. If you want to try something that’ll get your imagination flowing, pick this book up today, you will not be disappointed.
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review**
My first thought was around how instantly engaging and interesting the story was, even though it began as a slice-of-life type of story. The first few chapters welcomed the reader into Paul’s world, showed a young man who had struggled through life, had been beaten to the curb time and time again.
Annie and Zach also added to the delightfully well-constructed characters. I especially liked that they were both a bit different from the traditional characters. Zach appeared to be on the spectrum, while Annie is a strong minded, single mother, data analyst and injured war veteran.
Brilliantly different and yet, someone that just about anyone could relate to on some level.
The idea of a purgatory or interim afterlife has been done before, but not with this sort of fantastical element. When the book changes from slice-of-life to The Commons the whole world is turned on its head. This left me a little lost as to what was happening, and while a little disorienting, the fast pace meant you really couldn’t stay focused on that for too long.
This will either encourage the reader to just ‘go with it’ or potentially put them off completely (which is what I’ve seen in a couple of the other reviews). For me, the unanswered questions around what was happening and who all the new people were, was more intriguing than annoying. But I can completely understand how some people would get 'over it' quickly.
My biggest criticism, and probably the only one really, is to do with the pace of the book. The action starts at chapter 5, and it does not stop until you read the last line of the book. Now, at times, this works brilliantly. The epic battles and racing through dark tunnels was fantastic at a frantic pace, but normally as a reader you need some slower parts. Parts that allow you to digest what has happened and to form intricate and emotional bonds with the characters; It’s a part that was almost missed because of the frantic pace.
The emotional impact of one of the pivotal sad moments in the story was a mere molehill to me because of my lack of emotional attachment to the characters. The reaction that should have occurred was nowhere to be seen because my level of emotional commitment to the character was still in its infancy. Had there been a few softer, quieter moments with this character, ones to forge emotional bonds with, then I’d probably have been crying like a baby at that climatic scene. I wanted to, I really did.
This isn’t to say that Michael can’t make the reader care about the characters, because he does. I really felt for little Zach and felt my heart lurch along with Annie’s as she worked her way through the puzzles along her journey, but these scenes were about characters that’d been with me the whole way through the book. I knew something of them, I wanted to read more about them and experience things with them.
When it comes to antagonists, Michael really shone. Mr Brill was insidious in his evilness and yet, still not out and out creepy. There was an intelligence about him and a polished exterior that was somewhat misleading. I also liked his little side-kick Gerald Truitt, he was an interesting character. I can see bigger things for him too.
All in all, this is a fantastic book. One that is well written, flawlessly edited and thoroughly engaging. If you want to try something that’ll get your imagination flowing, pick this book up today, you will not be disappointed.
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review**
December 18, 2014
Imaginative Twilight Zone'ish Adventure
So many times while reading I had the anticipatory, edge of my seat, off-kilter, dreamlike feeling -- and I loved it!
Street kid Paul ends up in a snowy bus accident and wakes up in the strangest afterlife ever.
In this afterlife, things are not how they should be (weird as that baseline would have been). Instead evil Mr. Brill is trying to bend this reality to his will. The Last Envoy still awaits his orders and after an age of no assignments, finally gets instructions to assist Paul.
Add a hodgepodge of other characters that all come together in a journey through the desert, encountering a variety of bizarreness. You've got the Envoy:
An ancient, sunglasses-wearing mummy named Ken:
A silent monk dealing with his anger issues:
A kick-ass spitfire of a girl with a shotgun:
Two others were on the bus, an Iraq War Veteran and her five-year-old autistic son. She is taken to work for the destructive, hell-bent on afterlife domination, Mr. Brill and his minions. Though drugged into a mind-numbing state to avoid rebellion, she starts emerge from her fog with the help of a watery vision of a nautilus.
In the meantime, her autistic son is left to his own devices and starts playing with a broken tape recorder and spending hours gazing into the mirror.
The evil Mr. Brill has innocents encased in webs and is aided by a shadowy figure to capture Paul and his ragtag group.
Soon everyone is on the run and assistance comes in many forms and from the oddest characters.... case in point:
The book also digs into the self-examination of the characters as well.
Some quotes:
"Simply put, you are your idea of you. And you are others' ideas of you, whether you wish to be or not."
"The next string of working bulbs revealed his catch: a grotesque combination of rat, beetle, and shrimp. It had the body of the first, the head and pincers of the second, the thick, plated tail of the third. And the temperament of a hornet. Furious, the thing waved its six legs in the air, tail lashing about and pincers clasping, wet and sharp, trying to get at his wrist. Then with a hiss, it changed tactics and went for his eyes. He flung it into the darkness."
"Beware the soft-spoken when secrets are kept, for they hear what the thunderers do not."
This is one of the most imaginative books I've read in a long time!
I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
So many times while reading I had the anticipatory, edge of my seat, off-kilter, dreamlike feeling -- and I loved it!
Street kid Paul ends up in a snowy bus accident and wakes up in the strangest afterlife ever.
In this afterlife, things are not how they should be (weird as that baseline would have been). Instead evil Mr. Brill is trying to bend this reality to his will. The Last Envoy still awaits his orders and after an age of no assignments, finally gets instructions to assist Paul.
Add a hodgepodge of other characters that all come together in a journey through the desert, encountering a variety of bizarreness. You've got the Envoy:
An ancient, sunglasses-wearing mummy named Ken:
A silent monk dealing with his anger issues:
A kick-ass spitfire of a girl with a shotgun:
Two others were on the bus, an Iraq War Veteran and her five-year-old autistic son. She is taken to work for the destructive, hell-bent on afterlife domination, Mr. Brill and his minions. Though drugged into a mind-numbing state to avoid rebellion, she starts emerge from her fog with the help of a watery vision of a nautilus.
In the meantime, her autistic son is left to his own devices and starts playing with a broken tape recorder and spending hours gazing into the mirror.
The evil Mr. Brill has innocents encased in webs and is aided by a shadowy figure to capture Paul and his ragtag group.
Soon everyone is on the run and assistance comes in many forms and from the oddest characters.... case in point:
The book also digs into the self-examination of the characters as well.
Some quotes:
"Simply put, you are your idea of you. And you are others' ideas of you, whether you wish to be or not."
"The next string of working bulbs revealed his catch: a grotesque combination of rat, beetle, and shrimp. It had the body of the first, the head and pincers of the second, the thick, plated tail of the third. And the temperament of a hornet. Furious, the thing waved its six legs in the air, tail lashing about and pincers clasping, wet and sharp, trying to get at his wrist. Then with a hiss, it changed tactics and went for his eyes. He flung it into the darkness."
"Beware the soft-spoken when secrets are kept, for they hear what the thunderers do not."
This is one of the most imaginative books I've read in a long time!
I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2014
Wow, i just finished reading the most amazing novel,The Commons: Book one: Journeyman written by Micheal Alan Peck. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. I will be brutally honest, I loved it. Micheal is a true artist going from penning a column for TVGuide.com and writing restaurant reviews it amazes me how naturally he writes fantasy. The characters were so alive I could feel them with me every step of the way.You would never know is's his first novel it flows so perfectly.
Paul Reid is a tough 17 year old having spent most of his life in foster homes or on the street, he finds himself living at new beginnings group home. Even though he has grown to love Mike Hibbets also known as Papa Mike who runs the group home. A man who taught Paul "There's no god to lift us up - we rise or fall together". He finds himself leaving to find a place in the world. Paul buys a one way ticket to San Francisco, aboard the bus he meets Annie Brucker a red headed army veteran who did two tours of Iraq and her sweet little autistic boy, who turns out to be more than he appears. Both have their own stories in the book. The bus crashes and so starts the journey to free the commons from the thief Mr Brill who holds souls and their energy known as essence for his selfish gain never allowing them to move on. Which means everybody that dies gets trapped in Mr Brill's web never to leave purgatory.
Along the way Paul meets Jonas Porter a workaholic envoy who's job is to help him complete his journey. Rain a beautiful goth girl who's hair is as dark as her eyes with an attitude to match. Ken a huge mummy with a gentle personality and Po a crazy little monk with anger issues, who when fighting reminds me of tazzy devil just a blur of arms and legs.
Together they embark on an adventure to last a lifetime. Can they free the commons from the evil that traps it?
Micheal paints a picture so clear I didn't even need to close my eyes to see it. I fell in love with the characters they rip you into their journey and a world full of mystical and magical things, you will never want the book to end.
I laughed, I cried, I pondered life and am a better person for having read this book. Inside you will find a story of growth and twists you could never predict, with many beautiful quotes one of my favourites was when Jonas told Paul he felt "Like a kitten at four am and the world my owners toes".
I urge you to read this book you wont regret it Micheal is a genius. i give this book a ten out of five. You can find it at Kobo, Itunes and Amazon for under $4 but worth so much more. Looking forward to book two.
Paul Reid is a tough 17 year old having spent most of his life in foster homes or on the street, he finds himself living at new beginnings group home. Even though he has grown to love Mike Hibbets also known as Papa Mike who runs the group home. A man who taught Paul "There's no god to lift us up - we rise or fall together". He finds himself leaving to find a place in the world. Paul buys a one way ticket to San Francisco, aboard the bus he meets Annie Brucker a red headed army veteran who did two tours of Iraq and her sweet little autistic boy, who turns out to be more than he appears. Both have their own stories in the book. The bus crashes and so starts the journey to free the commons from the thief Mr Brill who holds souls and their energy known as essence for his selfish gain never allowing them to move on. Which means everybody that dies gets trapped in Mr Brill's web never to leave purgatory.
Along the way Paul meets Jonas Porter a workaholic envoy who's job is to help him complete his journey. Rain a beautiful goth girl who's hair is as dark as her eyes with an attitude to match. Ken a huge mummy with a gentle personality and Po a crazy little monk with anger issues, who when fighting reminds me of tazzy devil just a blur of arms and legs.
Together they embark on an adventure to last a lifetime. Can they free the commons from the evil that traps it?
Micheal paints a picture so clear I didn't even need to close my eyes to see it. I fell in love with the characters they rip you into their journey and a world full of mystical and magical things, you will never want the book to end.
I laughed, I cried, I pondered life and am a better person for having read this book. Inside you will find a story of growth and twists you could never predict, with many beautiful quotes one of my favourites was when Jonas told Paul he felt "Like a kitten at four am and the world my owners toes".
I urge you to read this book you wont regret it Micheal is a genius. i give this book a ten out of five. You can find it at Kobo, Itunes and Amazon for under $4 but worth so much more. Looking forward to book two.
March 14, 2015
This book started out so brilliantly.
Peck set the story in place like a true professional, a real page turner until about halfway. And then it all fell apart for me. It was as if the author dropped acid and his imagination went off on a tangent that I can not describe as incoherent in its complexity.
The writing is very good. I love Porter, and Po the monk is just a badass. Paul, our MC, is your pretty standard protagonist, while most of the other characters follow the same vein. Annie had promise, but soon bored the heck out of me. In fact I can barely remember her plot line.
My biggest problem with this book was the lack of permanency. The plot moved so fast that nothing that happened held any weight. Supporting characters bit the dust left and right and the journey seemed to follow no logical sequence. The author seemingly had so many extraordinary ideas that he tried to jam the lot of them into one book. You could rightly remove a quarter of the book with little consequence to the plot.
I could go into specifics but I won't - there are just too many examples to name. I'm all about story flow, pace and the connection I feel to the world and characters in fantasy, and for me The Journeyman missed the boat.
I should say that about 200 pages in I was recommending this book to all my friends because of its strong foundations. The concept is amazing. I may read Peck again, just not his Commons series.
I received this book through the Goodreads Read it & Reap Program.
Peck set the story in place like a true professional, a real page turner until about halfway. And then it all fell apart for me. It was as if the author dropped acid and his imagination went off on a tangent that I can not describe as incoherent in its complexity.
The writing is very good. I love Porter, and Po the monk is just a badass. Paul, our MC, is your pretty standard protagonist, while most of the other characters follow the same vein. Annie had promise, but soon bored the heck out of me. In fact I can barely remember her plot line.
My biggest problem with this book was the lack of permanency. The plot moved so fast that nothing that happened held any weight. Supporting characters bit the dust left and right and the journey seemed to follow no logical sequence. The author seemingly had so many extraordinary ideas that he tried to jam the lot of them into one book. You could rightly remove a quarter of the book with little consequence to the plot.
I could go into specifics but I won't - there are just too many examples to name. I'm all about story flow, pace and the connection I feel to the world and characters in fantasy, and for me The Journeyman missed the boat.
I should say that about 200 pages in I was recommending this book to all my friends because of its strong foundations. The concept is amazing. I may read Peck again, just not his Commons series.
I received this book through the Goodreads Read it & Reap Program.
July 18, 2014
Hmmm. For some reason, the concept of finite plot lines pushes its way to the front of my memory every so many years. I dont know when I first learned of the concept..high school..college..both? I remember more than one discussion about there being only seven plot lines and another about there being twelve. I remember these memories every so often because I do believe that nothing is new. Everything new is just something that was created before but with a different perspective...a different aspect. And I thought the same thing while reading this book. During some parts, I said to myself, "I've been here before."
The perplexing thing is...If I've experienced this before...then why do I keep turning the pages faster? Why can't I wait to find out what's next? Most importantly, why is this book so friggin great?
I was sent this book as a member of Goodreads Reviewer Association. I read the synopsis and was intrigued but went into reading with no expectations...I've been duped before, as we all have I'm sure. But from the first page...the first sentence...I kept reading, slowly being drawn into a unique adventure. Part adventure, part pilgrimmage, part quest....part fantasy, part horror, part sci-fi....part love story, part comedy, part religious epic...the story pulls like an amusement park ride. Sure...the story has plot lines I've read before and some well worn good vs. evil storylines...but it still remains unique. Sometimes the story reminded me of King's Dark Tower series..sometimes Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide, sometimes Matheson's What Dreams May Come and sometimes Gaiman's American Gods. BUT...it's still unique. It seems you're in a familiar film but author Michael Alan Peck has got a new lens. His visions are unique... sometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt, sometimes terrifying but always breathtaking.
Plot: A troubled youth, beat up by life and the congregate care system dies in a bus crash on a wintery highway. He arrives in the afterlife...a place of purgatory called: The Commons. The Commons is slowly becoming a wasteland, an almost fractured, post-apocalyptic Hollywood studio with sets and characters jumbled in a history of America. He is soon joined by a convoy of unimaginable characters that have one goal: Save the Commons from the reign of a diabolically, evil corporate giant who is stealing The Common's life essence. A journey that will not only save the convoy, but the other bus passengers...and maybe the world.
Michael Alan Peck's writing is beautiful, funny, creative and taut. He had a vision and saw it through. A mixture of mythology, religion and pop culture...this novel is the beginning of an epic. I give it 4.5 stars and not 5 only because I wanted something more than the ending he gave...but since it's book one...I can't be upset...I'm sure he's got it all worked out.
The perplexing thing is...If I've experienced this before...then why do I keep turning the pages faster? Why can't I wait to find out what's next? Most importantly, why is this book so friggin great?
I was sent this book as a member of Goodreads Reviewer Association. I read the synopsis and was intrigued but went into reading with no expectations...I've been duped before, as we all have I'm sure. But from the first page...the first sentence...I kept reading, slowly being drawn into a unique adventure. Part adventure, part pilgrimmage, part quest....part fantasy, part horror, part sci-fi....part love story, part comedy, part religious epic...the story pulls like an amusement park ride. Sure...the story has plot lines I've read before and some well worn good vs. evil storylines...but it still remains unique. Sometimes the story reminded me of King's Dark Tower series..sometimes Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide, sometimes Matheson's What Dreams May Come and sometimes Gaiman's American Gods. BUT...it's still unique. It seems you're in a familiar film but author Michael Alan Peck has got a new lens. His visions are unique... sometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt, sometimes terrifying but always breathtaking.
Plot: A troubled youth, beat up by life and the congregate care system dies in a bus crash on a wintery highway. He arrives in the afterlife...a place of purgatory called: The Commons. The Commons is slowly becoming a wasteland, an almost fractured, post-apocalyptic Hollywood studio with sets and characters jumbled in a history of America. He is soon joined by a convoy of unimaginable characters that have one goal: Save the Commons from the reign of a diabolically, evil corporate giant who is stealing The Common's life essence. A journey that will not only save the convoy, but the other bus passengers...and maybe the world.
Michael Alan Peck's writing is beautiful, funny, creative and taut. He had a vision and saw it through. A mixture of mythology, religion and pop culture...this novel is the beginning of an epic. I give it 4.5 stars and not 5 only because I wanted something more than the ending he gave...but since it's book one...I can't be upset...I'm sure he's got it all worked out.
December 18, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/12/18...
Publisher: Michael Alan Peck
Publishing Date: June 2014
ISBN: 9780986082313
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.9/5
Publisher Description: Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie–and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.”
And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons. It’s been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America-stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead. Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son. After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them. Three Journeys: separate but joined. One mission: to save forever. But first they have to save themselves.
Review: This was an amazing read. Each character rivets you to the story-line with complimentary movement that enfolds the plot development. Paul finds himself transported away from a bus crash by a strange man when black suited commandos begin to bludgeon what seem like crash survivors. People that he had passing interactions with on the bus are not so lucky. They are captured, and placed in working servitude to Mr. Brill.
The creative imaginations are really good. Mr. Brill’s golem is fantastic. Made from the essence of souls, it is relentless in its pursuit of Paul who has become somewhat of an ignorant prophet (one of the 36). Ken the mummy along with Po (Kenpo haha) and Rain are a great supporting cast that offer disparate if not challenging world views and personal laments. Every scene is like opening up a Christmas present. Its that good. Get it. NOW!
Publisher: Michael Alan Peck
Publishing Date: June 2014
ISBN: 9780986082313
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.9/5
Publisher Description: Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie–and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.”
And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons. It’s been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America-stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead. Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son. After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them. Three Journeys: separate but joined. One mission: to save forever. But first they have to save themselves.
Review: This was an amazing read. Each character rivets you to the story-line with complimentary movement that enfolds the plot development. Paul finds himself transported away from a bus crash by a strange man when black suited commandos begin to bludgeon what seem like crash survivors. People that he had passing interactions with on the bus are not so lucky. They are captured, and placed in working servitude to Mr. Brill.
The creative imaginations are really good. Mr. Brill’s golem is fantastic. Made from the essence of souls, it is relentless in its pursuit of Paul who has become somewhat of an ignorant prophet (one of the 36). Ken the mummy along with Po (Kenpo haha) and Rain are a great supporting cast that offer disparate if not challenging world views and personal laments. Every scene is like opening up a Christmas present. Its that good. Get it. NOW!
July 16, 2016
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
Let me start by staying, this book started brilliantly. The plot, the character development and descriptions were so well developed I felt like I actually knew them all personally. Then I got about halfway through and I just sort of lost interest. It all just got so far-fetched and disjointedly complex that I spent more time trying to figure out what was going on than actually enjoying the book.
That being said, the writing was excellent. I loved the characters – Porter and Po (the monk) were just fantastic, Annie started out great, but tapered off drastically towards the end. However, I think this was due more to my thoughts/ perceptions of the overall book. Please don’t get me wrong, there is a lot that happens in this book – almost too much to be honest. There were just so many characters, and so much going on that it was all I could do to just keep up. Characters coming in and out constantly, in and out, in and out, it was exhausting. And there was just so many tangents and ideas that I never quite knew which was the book was ultimately going – I’m still not sure if this was leading anywhere or if it’s something to set up for a later book or if the book is just desperately crying out for a good editor.
I won’t go into specifics, as I don’t appreciate spoilers, I enjoyed this book, I just didn’t love it. I was really intrigued by the overall concept of the book, and I know others have rated it a full 5 stars, but for me this just missed the mark.
Let me start by staying, this book started brilliantly. The plot, the character development and descriptions were so well developed I felt like I actually knew them all personally. Then I got about halfway through and I just sort of lost interest. It all just got so far-fetched and disjointedly complex that I spent more time trying to figure out what was going on than actually enjoying the book.
That being said, the writing was excellent. I loved the characters – Porter and Po (the monk) were just fantastic, Annie started out great, but tapered off drastically towards the end. However, I think this was due more to my thoughts/ perceptions of the overall book. Please don’t get me wrong, there is a lot that happens in this book – almost too much to be honest. There were just so many characters, and so much going on that it was all I could do to just keep up. Characters coming in and out constantly, in and out, in and out, it was exhausting. And there was just so many tangents and ideas that I never quite knew which was the book was ultimately going – I’m still not sure if this was leading anywhere or if it’s something to set up for a later book or if the book is just desperately crying out for a good editor.
I won’t go into specifics, as I don’t appreciate spoilers, I enjoyed this book, I just didn’t love it. I was really intrigued by the overall concept of the book, and I know others have rated it a full 5 stars, but for me this just missed the mark.
February 21, 2015
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
First and foremost, I loved this book. I found it to be incredibly creative, well-plotted, and interesting, and it held my attention from the get-go. The prose was polished, and the author has an amazing gift for writing that leaves me wanting to read more and more and more. I could see this book as a movie, perhaps along the lines of "What Dreams May Come," or simply just an amazing Tim Burton flick, a la "Big Fish."
When we start, the main characters are on a bus heading out from Port Authority in a snowstorm. This is a situation I faced often when I commuted from the city, and I was brought right back to those days by the description of the scene. Something I always feared happens - the bus is in a wreck. From that opening tragedy, we find ourselves in another place, perhaps Purgatory, but definitely someplace where the people are connected on several different levels, including that of Essence. I'm not going to give away too much, but there is a bad guy who has been using this place for his own power, and our protagonists are left to fight against this tyrant.
As mentioned above, this story is well-plotted. The pace was excellent - I never felt like the author was rushing us along, nor did I ever feel like skipping over any section of the text to get things moving. The characters were well-rounded, with a mix of personalities, and none were all good, or all bad. The author had a great technique of throwing challenge after challenge at the characters, and leaving each section on a mini-cliffhanger, which kept me reading to find out what happened next.
The only quibble I had, which brought this to the 4-star rating, was something personal. One of the reasons I requested this copy was because one of the main characters, Annie, was described as a female Army veteran, and such characters are few and far between. As a female Army vet, I was very interested to see what the author did with this character. While I enjoyed the character for who she was, and like all the characters she was well-drawn and interesting, there were a few false notes with her right at the beginning that tainted my enjoyment. First, she was described as an "Army database manager." There is no such job. While some job specialties will utilize databases, there is no MOS (military occupational specialty) dedicated to managing databases. Also, her son is described as being treated by VA doctors. VA only treats veterans, not their children. Later, she was described as traveling in Iraq in an M113. I was wondering why she was traveling in this sort of vehicle instead of a HMMVW or MRAP, which was more common, especially for units that would be integrated by gender. Again, this is a personal quibble, and probably would go unnoticed by someone who wasn't a veteran, but I was left wondering if the author had done any sort of research before writing the character.
Other than that, again, I enjoyed the book. It is the sort of book I would read again, and if there is a sequel, I would definitely read that as well. I'm looking forward to more from the author, and definitely recommend this to all fans of speculative fiction, urban fantasy, or just a really good story.
First and foremost, I loved this book. I found it to be incredibly creative, well-plotted, and interesting, and it held my attention from the get-go. The prose was polished, and the author has an amazing gift for writing that leaves me wanting to read more and more and more. I could see this book as a movie, perhaps along the lines of "What Dreams May Come," or simply just an amazing Tim Burton flick, a la "Big Fish."
When we start, the main characters are on a bus heading out from Port Authority in a snowstorm. This is a situation I faced often when I commuted from the city, and I was brought right back to those days by the description of the scene. Something I always feared happens - the bus is in a wreck. From that opening tragedy, we find ourselves in another place, perhaps Purgatory, but definitely someplace where the people are connected on several different levels, including that of Essence. I'm not going to give away too much, but there is a bad guy who has been using this place for his own power, and our protagonists are left to fight against this tyrant.
As mentioned above, this story is well-plotted. The pace was excellent - I never felt like the author was rushing us along, nor did I ever feel like skipping over any section of the text to get things moving. The characters were well-rounded, with a mix of personalities, and none were all good, or all bad. The author had a great technique of throwing challenge after challenge at the characters, and leaving each section on a mini-cliffhanger, which kept me reading to find out what happened next.
The only quibble I had, which brought this to the 4-star rating, was something personal. One of the reasons I requested this copy was because one of the main characters, Annie, was described as a female Army veteran, and such characters are few and far between. As a female Army vet, I was very interested to see what the author did with this character. While I enjoyed the character for who she was, and like all the characters she was well-drawn and interesting, there were a few false notes with her right at the beginning that tainted my enjoyment. First, she was described as an "Army database manager." There is no such job. While some job specialties will utilize databases, there is no MOS (military occupational specialty) dedicated to managing databases. Also, her son is described as being treated by VA doctors. VA only treats veterans, not their children. Later, she was described as traveling in Iraq in an M113. I was wondering why she was traveling in this sort of vehicle instead of a HMMVW or MRAP, which was more common, especially for units that would be integrated by gender. Again, this is a personal quibble, and probably would go unnoticed by someone who wasn't a veteran, but I was left wondering if the author had done any sort of research before writing the character.
Other than that, again, I enjoyed the book. It is the sort of book I would read again, and if there is a sequel, I would definitely read that as well. I'm looking forward to more from the author, and definitely recommend this to all fans of speculative fiction, urban fantasy, or just a really good story.
August 26, 2014
Wildly imaginative and well written odyssey for modern times. Michael Alan Peck has crafted an inventive narrative taking the reader out of every comfort zone that ever existed. Seventeen year old Paul dies in a horrific bus accident along with an annoying female passenger, an army vet, and her autistic son. They find themselves in unfamiliar territory where they have to figure what they must do next. Nothing is as it seems, their new world is both unrecognizable as well as hostile. Peck creates a Purgatory that is as alarming as it is strange. Created by the minds of the inhabitants, it's a warped version of an out of control video game. Enter a corporate monster who gobbles souls with evil abandon, his black ops minions, and a twisted conclusion and you are guaranteed a frightfully unpredictable ride. It is essentially a battle between good and evil, and the strength in making the right choices. Peck is a new and refreshing voice in the world of fantasy.
February 26, 2020
I need more of this quirky weirdness.
October 13, 2015
With echoes of Dante's inferno, interesting characters, killer action and a completely new concept of the afterlife, The Journeyman, Michael Alan Peck's first novel, was a welcome surprise. He is definitely an author to watch, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
The story follows Paul Reid, a New York street kid as well as Anna, a veteran of the Iraq war, and her son Zach, who has autism. They take a bus together, but after a terrible accident they find themselves lost in a place known as The Commons - a sort of purgatory. Something called Brill is leaching energy from the souls trapped there, and Paul's Envoy, or spiritual guide through The Commons, is the last of his kind to survive Brill's invasion. Along with a polite (if violent) mummy, a mute monk with anger management problems, and a girl whose tattoos are alive, Paul must survive The Commons for as long as it takes him to complete his Journey. This will decide his fate - whether he will pass on to whatever comes next, or go back to his old life.
At first I thought the characters were a little over-the-top - a mute monk? A mummy? However, when considering that Paul's version of The Commons is a reflection of his own mind, and the fact that he likes comic books, these stylistic characters fit into that logic. I was also inclined to think that every encounter he has, and every person he meets, is a reflection of his own life, or his own character. The people he meets on his journey, like Dickens' Christmas ghosts, each have something important to teach him. For example, the silent monk is a reflection of his own struggle with self-control in the face of bullying and violence; while Paul strives to live a safe and happy life, his sense of justice often leads him to lose his temper and get involved in fights. Perhaps the monk represents his desire for self-control, while also being a bad-ass fighter: his ideal self. Likewise, Rain embodies his idea of the perfect woman - she seems familiar to him, and he finds himself attracted to her.
I found the relationship between Anna and her son to be one of the most touching aspects of the novel. Seeing her devotion to him in the first few pages got me fully hooked into the novel, and then seeing her distance from Zach once Brill had her lost in the haze of her captivity was devastating. Their emotional development was one of the most subtle, and quietly powerful parts of the book, and I appreciated the quiet, introspective side plot of it in between the action-packed fighting.
The concept of purgatory, as understood by Catholics, is that a soul who has not lived a completely perfect life will end up in this in-between stage, where they must demonstrate their repentance and goodness through acts of charity, or be purified by purgatorial fire. It was interesting that The Commons takes its form from the Journeyman's life experiences, and retains pieces of memories from people who came before: I found myself wondering what The Commons would look like to me. Like Inside Out, perhaps The Commons can give us a new way to look at ethics, in the context of a supposed afterlife. Whether you believe in something after death or not, trying to figure out what your own Journey through The Commons would be like can be an interesting thought experiment. Furthermore, the experiences of Anna and Paul within the Commons hold a mirror to their own society. Paul, living on the streets and experiencing a lot of violence during his real life, finds himself in a spectacularly violent version of the Commons, to the amusing consternation of his Envoy, Porter. The relationship between Porter and Paul was entertaining, and reminded me of Castiel and Dean's relationship in the early seasons of Supernatural: the wise, older guardian is somewhat naive when it comes to the common sense that applies to Paul's world, while having a surprising amount of power that he often refuses to use.
Another thing I appreciated about this novel is that although it can be read as an action-packed adventure through a supernatural setting, and entertainingly so, it has the added depth of references to more complicated concepts, such as the paradoxical potential energy that Brill feeds on, as well as the questions of morality and intentionality. Peck throws Jung's name around, without over-explaining to the point of boring the reader, while awaking enough curiosity that I was tempted to do a little extra reading on the subjects introduced. It could be an interesting book for philosophers, or as an introductory book to certain philosophical concepts. For example, the paradox of the phrase, "This sentence is false," which can never be true, and never be false, but hovers somewhere in the realm of impossibility. Peck mentions Jung's concept of the collective unconscious, as Paul's version of The Commons retains pieces of previous versions created by other Journeymen. He also mentions Akasha, the Hindu concept of a form of unifying energy that exists in every human being. Peck has clearly done wide reading on concepts of life and death in many cultures, and this adds a huge amount of depth to his imagined afterlife. However, it's not all serious metaphysics - Peck has a keen sense of humour and his wit brings what could be an incredibly gloomy story to life.
The Journeyman is an entertaining, action-packed adventure through the afterlife, but I felt that it had a lot more going on in layers between the words. With a wide range of cultural and philosophical aspects influencing it, as well as compelling and sympathetic characters, Peck's writing flows naturally, hooking you from the first word to the last. Mixing metaphysics with magical realism, a sense of humour, some well-written and thrilling action sequences and a creative way with words, Peck is definitely a writer to keep an eye on, and The Journeyman is an excellent debut.
To read more of my reviews, please visit my blog here
Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie - and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.
The story follows Paul Reid, a New York street kid as well as Anna, a veteran of the Iraq war, and her son Zach, who has autism. They take a bus together, but after a terrible accident they find themselves lost in a place known as The Commons - a sort of purgatory. Something called Brill is leaching energy from the souls trapped there, and Paul's Envoy, or spiritual guide through The Commons, is the last of his kind to survive Brill's invasion. Along with a polite (if violent) mummy, a mute monk with anger management problems, and a girl whose tattoos are alive, Paul must survive The Commons for as long as it takes him to complete his Journey. This will decide his fate - whether he will pass on to whatever comes next, or go back to his old life.
A thing broke. A thing tore. A thing howled.
Bright, bright light. Too much.
All was light as the snowy windshield blazed at him in lines of hot stars.
The bus imploded into white.
Bump-di-di-bump.
At first I thought the characters were a little over-the-top - a mute monk? A mummy? However, when considering that Paul's version of The Commons is a reflection of his own mind, and the fact that he likes comic books, these stylistic characters fit into that logic. I was also inclined to think that every encounter he has, and every person he meets, is a reflection of his own life, or his own character. The people he meets on his journey, like Dickens' Christmas ghosts, each have something important to teach him. For example, the silent monk is a reflection of his own struggle with self-control in the face of bullying and violence; while Paul strives to live a safe and happy life, his sense of justice often leads him to lose his temper and get involved in fights. Perhaps the monk represents his desire for self-control, while also being a bad-ass fighter: his ideal self. Likewise, Rain embodies his idea of the perfect woman - she seems familiar to him, and he finds himself attracted to her.
"The Commons is its widely used designation. Others call it Sojourn, The Roundhouse, The Way Station. It's Purgatory to the Catholics, but their model's a bit off. It's named in thousands of other languages, not all of them spoken aloud."
I found the relationship between Anna and her son to be one of the most touching aspects of the novel. Seeing her devotion to him in the first few pages got me fully hooked into the novel, and then seeing her distance from Zach once Brill had her lost in the haze of her captivity was devastating. Their emotional development was one of the most subtle, and quietly powerful parts of the book, and I appreciated the quiet, introspective side plot of it in between the action-packed fighting.
Annie didn't want to know about autism. She wanted to know about Zach. Did he suffer? Was he happy, or was he lost? Was he truly autistic, or was that the easy answer for doctors chasing a goal of how many patients to see in a day?
The concept of purgatory, as understood by Catholics, is that a soul who has not lived a completely perfect life will end up in this in-between stage, where they must demonstrate their repentance and goodness through acts of charity, or be purified by purgatorial fire. It was interesting that The Commons takes its form from the Journeyman's life experiences, and retains pieces of memories from people who came before: I found myself wondering what The Commons would look like to me. Like Inside Out, perhaps The Commons can give us a new way to look at ethics, in the context of a supposed afterlife. Whether you believe in something after death or not, trying to figure out what your own Journey through The Commons would be like can be an interesting thought experiment. Furthermore, the experiences of Anna and Paul within the Commons hold a mirror to their own society. Paul, living on the streets and experiencing a lot of violence during his real life, finds himself in a spectacularly violent version of the Commons, to the amusing consternation of his Envoy, Porter. The relationship between Porter and Paul was entertaining, and reminded me of Castiel and Dean's relationship in the early seasons of Supernatural: the wise, older guardian is somewhat naive when it comes to the common sense that applies to Paul's world, while having a surprising amount of power that he often refuses to use.
"People decide their fates here. Do you believe there's no room for human feelings - that we forget how to love?"
"It's not love."
Another thing I appreciated about this novel is that although it can be read as an action-packed adventure through a supernatural setting, and entertainingly so, it has the added depth of references to more complicated concepts, such as the paradoxical potential energy that Brill feeds on, as well as the questions of morality and intentionality. Peck throws Jung's name around, without over-explaining to the point of boring the reader, while awaking enough curiosity that I was tempted to do a little extra reading on the subjects introduced. It could be an interesting book for philosophers, or as an introductory book to certain philosophical concepts. For example, the paradox of the phrase, "This sentence is false," which can never be true, and never be false, but hovers somewhere in the realm of impossibility. Peck mentions Jung's concept of the collective unconscious, as Paul's version of The Commons retains pieces of previous versions created by other Journeymen. He also mentions Akasha, the Hindu concept of a form of unifying energy that exists in every human being. Peck has clearly done wide reading on concepts of life and death in many cultures, and this adds a huge amount of depth to his imagined afterlife. However, it's not all serious metaphysics - Peck has a keen sense of humour and his wit brings what could be an incredibly gloomy story to life.
Across the asphalt, a phalanx of tractor-trailers in a range of colors, customization, and road-worthiness surrounded a cargo scale. A painted sign, a veteran of many cycles of fading and touch-ups, advertised coffee, beer, ammo, and fireworks.
"If this place is built on my thoughts, then maybe my world's pretty scary after all," Paul said, reading the sign.
"As long as nobody's using those simultaneously," said Porter.
The Journeyman is an entertaining, action-packed adventure through the afterlife, but I felt that it had a lot more going on in layers between the words. With a wide range of cultural and philosophical aspects influencing it, as well as compelling and sympathetic characters, Peck's writing flows naturally, hooking you from the first word to the last. Mixing metaphysics with magical realism, a sense of humour, some well-written and thrilling action sequences and a creative way with words, Peck is definitely a writer to keep an eye on, and The Journeyman is an excellent debut.
To read more of my reviews, please visit my blog here
October 10, 2014
Wow. When you agree to accept a free copy of a book in exchange for writing a review of it, you always hope it will actually be good. I hate returning the author’s kindness with a negative review, but I also can’t lie to my readers (all three of them!) and tell them that something is good when it’s clearly not. If you’ve been around this blog for a while, you’ll have seen the results. If a book deserves to be skewered, I skewer it. This book? I’m not kidding you when I say that I couldn’t put it down. It was that engaging, and I heartily look forward to seeing what happens next in this universe.
Somewhere between life and death, there is the Commons. When you are on the verge of death, your soul enters the Commons, where you must complete a Journey or quest to decide your fate. Succeed, and you may be allowed to recover and reclaim your old life. Fail, and you succumb to fate and go on to judgement, for good or ill. The Commons is a shifting place, its geography and some of its inhabitants drawn from your memory and subconscious. Other inhabitants could be scraps of memory left over from other people’s Journeys, or even errant souls on their own Journeys. The Envoys serve to guide souls through this shifting landscape, helping to shield them from the worst of its dangers. Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. There is now only a single envoy still at his post, and he’s not seen an assignment since time immemorial. In the interim Mr. Brill, a corrupt corporate baron, has subverted the entire system, capturing souls and draining off their essence to fuel his own power. There are a few who remain free of his power, but even they enjoy freedom simply because they would be more effort to bring in than they are worth. Should they oppose him, that would change, and the result would not be pretty. Things look bleak for those who remember the way the Commons used to be….until Paul Reid arrives following a midnight bus crash. For some reason, Brill commits a disproportionate amount of his forces to recovering Paul’s fellow passengers from the crash, but even so Paul manages to escape with the help of Jonas Porter, the last envoy who has finally received another assignment. For some reason, Paul is special. For some reason, his Journey has the potential to put a kink in Brill’s plans for good. But with Brill committing everything he’s got, Paul’s going to need all the help he can get. He could use an army. What he’s got is an old man with a renewed sense of purpose, a silent Shaolin monk, a mummy in sunglasses, a goth girl with a living tattoo who happens to be the most beautiful thing Paul has ever seen, and behind the scenes the assistance of an Iraq vet and her autistic son. For the sake of everyone in the commons, they’ll have to be enough….
As I mentioned, I couldn’t put this down. The chapters were generally short, perfectly timed to fill a break at work, and suspenseful enough that when reading before bed I invariably spent longer than I’d intended before hitting the pillow. The characters were engaging, and even though you’re kind of thrown into things without much of an explanation, if you stick with it everything will eventually become clear. The book is written for a young adult audience, but I didn’t find that to be at all offputting. There are a number of heavy themes dealt with through the course of the story, and the book doesn’t pull any punches. It honestly reminded me of something Neil Gaiman might write, and that’s high praise indeed. As befits the first book in a series, the plot was mostly tied up, but with that one little thread leading off into the next story to keep you hooked. I thought it was very well done, especially for a book that I suspect was self-published. The publisher shares a name with a location/element from the story, and when I enter the publisher into Amazon this book is the only one that comes up. The good news? I would have had no idea if I weren’t researching the book for this review. It was that well done, even down to the professional-looking cover. Mr. Peck deserves a hearty congratulations on his achievement, and you deserve to read this book.
CONTENT: Mild language. Some violence, occasionally strong. Some sexual innuendo, notably a flashback where Paul saves one of his fellow street kids from being raped (you have to read between the lines, they were both getting beat up, and from the direction of his female friend he hears “elastic being ripped”) and some flirting, but on the whole it was pretty clean. Nearly the whole story happens in a fantasy setting, but there are some significant philosophical claims made. It’s not a Christian novel, and so the metaphysics of the story are unsurprisingly inconsistent with a Christian worldview, but I don’t believe that should disqualify it from consideration.
Somewhere between life and death, there is the Commons. When you are on the verge of death, your soul enters the Commons, where you must complete a Journey or quest to decide your fate. Succeed, and you may be allowed to recover and reclaim your old life. Fail, and you succumb to fate and go on to judgement, for good or ill. The Commons is a shifting place, its geography and some of its inhabitants drawn from your memory and subconscious. Other inhabitants could be scraps of memory left over from other people’s Journeys, or even errant souls on their own Journeys. The Envoys serve to guide souls through this shifting landscape, helping to shield them from the worst of its dangers. Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. There is now only a single envoy still at his post, and he’s not seen an assignment since time immemorial. In the interim Mr. Brill, a corrupt corporate baron, has subverted the entire system, capturing souls and draining off their essence to fuel his own power. There are a few who remain free of his power, but even they enjoy freedom simply because they would be more effort to bring in than they are worth. Should they oppose him, that would change, and the result would not be pretty. Things look bleak for those who remember the way the Commons used to be….until Paul Reid arrives following a midnight bus crash. For some reason, Brill commits a disproportionate amount of his forces to recovering Paul’s fellow passengers from the crash, but even so Paul manages to escape with the help of Jonas Porter, the last envoy who has finally received another assignment. For some reason, Paul is special. For some reason, his Journey has the potential to put a kink in Brill’s plans for good. But with Brill committing everything he’s got, Paul’s going to need all the help he can get. He could use an army. What he’s got is an old man with a renewed sense of purpose, a silent Shaolin monk, a mummy in sunglasses, a goth girl with a living tattoo who happens to be the most beautiful thing Paul has ever seen, and behind the scenes the assistance of an Iraq vet and her autistic son. For the sake of everyone in the commons, they’ll have to be enough….
As I mentioned, I couldn’t put this down. The chapters were generally short, perfectly timed to fill a break at work, and suspenseful enough that when reading before bed I invariably spent longer than I’d intended before hitting the pillow. The characters were engaging, and even though you’re kind of thrown into things without much of an explanation, if you stick with it everything will eventually become clear. The book is written for a young adult audience, but I didn’t find that to be at all offputting. There are a number of heavy themes dealt with through the course of the story, and the book doesn’t pull any punches. It honestly reminded me of something Neil Gaiman might write, and that’s high praise indeed. As befits the first book in a series, the plot was mostly tied up, but with that one little thread leading off into the next story to keep you hooked. I thought it was very well done, especially for a book that I suspect was self-published. The publisher shares a name with a location/element from the story, and when I enter the publisher into Amazon this book is the only one that comes up. The good news? I would have had no idea if I weren’t researching the book for this review. It was that well done, even down to the professional-looking cover. Mr. Peck deserves a hearty congratulations on his achievement, and you deserve to read this book.
CONTENT: Mild language. Some violence, occasionally strong. Some sexual innuendo, notably a flashback where Paul saves one of his fellow street kids from being raped (you have to read between the lines, they were both getting beat up, and from the direction of his female friend he hears “elastic being ripped”) and some flirting, but on the whole it was pretty clean. Nearly the whole story happens in a fantasy setting, but there are some significant philosophical claims made. It’s not a Christian novel, and so the metaphysics of the story are unsurprisingly inconsistent with a Christian worldview, but I don’t believe that should disqualify it from consideration.
February 25, 2015
I wanted to vlog today but the weather happened. From sixty degrees to freezing in a matter of days, we’ve got an official snow day here in North Texas. Well, “inclement weather” day. Snow is uncommon. A thing of myth and legend.
How might weather stop me from Vlogging you ask?
There are people here.
Like, people all up in my space. True, I own a house that in other parts of the world would probably fit multiple families comfortably (This is Texas. Everything is bigger in Texas except housing costs). But the fact remains: I have a live studio audience.
Yes, I vlogged before and then uploaded myself to be viewed by the masses without any sort of problem. I am aware that this makes no sense.
So instead, let me draw your attention to the latest self-pub novel I’ve had the pleasure to read: The Commons by Michael Alan Peck.
The Commons is difficult to categorize. On Amazon it is classified as Urban Fantasy and even YA. Mr. Peck’s reasoning behind the choices is sound, but The Commons is so much more. The Matrix as written by Dante might give the reader a starting point. There are no cantos – the writing is smooth and prose fluid – but that classic idea of a journey through the afterlife forms the centerpiece of Peck’s work.
Regardless what it may or may not be, this is a five star book.
Paul, a troubled young man who has drifted between street life and foster homes, is struggling to find his way. He’s found a refuge in the “New Beginnings” group home but he can’t quite let go of his past. He has unfinished business with his lost family and when he sets out on his journey, he has no idea exactly how far he’ll need to go to find them.
His search takes him to a place somewhere between life and death. An Orphean descent into an underworld littered with rest stops, diners, and mythical beings. A place where reality conforms to the personal experiences of the traveller but, in truth, is endangered by a voracious evil that seeks even greater control.
The Commons is another work of fiction that sets a bar self-publishers should strive to reach. And despite that, I can see exactly why this book might have been out of place in the traditional publishing world.
The story starts off quietly enough that you get the feeling this is not the work of genre fiction it claims to be. We meet interesting, detailed characters long before we know exactly what mystical elements may be at play. As events unfold, we aren’t given a road map. The reader is allowed to puzzle these things out on their own. By the end, we reach an almost cliche moment, but any doubt is dispelled by the expert setup which tells us this is not, in fact, your typical ending. It is another stop along the journey.
Peck allows himself to explore real characters inside the genre trappings. Strongest are a wounded combat vet, Annie, and her profoundly autistic son, Zach. At first on the edges of Paul’s journey and then inextricably intertwined, these characters undergo a full transformation of their own. They are given depth through close POV sections which several other characters benefit from as well. The only complaint may be the lack of development in some of the other supporting cast, but in the end, there is only so much space.
Of them all, Zach’s passages shine. Each time we drop into the autistic child’s view, Peck shows the reader how this disorder provides him both weakness and strength. His arc exemplifies triumph in the face of adversity and never once do you feel Peck is lecturing or resorting to shortcuts to depict his disability. Whether or not he has close personal experience with autistic children, Peck provides the necessary illusion that he does and by the time Zach is at his pivotal moment you will be on the edge of your literary seat over the boy’s fate.
Despite the fluid and expert prose, toward the end, there were changes in style which weren’t exactly welcome. However, readers will likely find themselves so engrossed in the story that they make little difference.
Most likely “unmarketable” by traditional standards, this unique blend of genre and style provides a refreshing reading experience amid the young adult landscape of dystopias and vampires. Even classifying it as young adult is misleading as the book delves into a depth of theme with a fullness of prose you don’t typically find. Regardless the murky shelving, The Commons is a work of urban fantasy that deserves to be heard.
How might weather stop me from Vlogging you ask?
There are people here.
Like, people all up in my space. True, I own a house that in other parts of the world would probably fit multiple families comfortably (This is Texas. Everything is bigger in Texas except housing costs). But the fact remains: I have a live studio audience.
Yes, I vlogged before and then uploaded myself to be viewed by the masses without any sort of problem. I am aware that this makes no sense.
So instead, let me draw your attention to the latest self-pub novel I’ve had the pleasure to read: The Commons by Michael Alan Peck.
The Commons is difficult to categorize. On Amazon it is classified as Urban Fantasy and even YA. Mr. Peck’s reasoning behind the choices is sound, but The Commons is so much more. The Matrix as written by Dante might give the reader a starting point. There are no cantos – the writing is smooth and prose fluid – but that classic idea of a journey through the afterlife forms the centerpiece of Peck’s work.
Regardless what it may or may not be, this is a five star book.
Paul, a troubled young man who has drifted between street life and foster homes, is struggling to find his way. He’s found a refuge in the “New Beginnings” group home but he can’t quite let go of his past. He has unfinished business with his lost family and when he sets out on his journey, he has no idea exactly how far he’ll need to go to find them.
His search takes him to a place somewhere between life and death. An Orphean descent into an underworld littered with rest stops, diners, and mythical beings. A place where reality conforms to the personal experiences of the traveller but, in truth, is endangered by a voracious evil that seeks even greater control.
The Commons is another work of fiction that sets a bar self-publishers should strive to reach. And despite that, I can see exactly why this book might have been out of place in the traditional publishing world.
The story starts off quietly enough that you get the feeling this is not the work of genre fiction it claims to be. We meet interesting, detailed characters long before we know exactly what mystical elements may be at play. As events unfold, we aren’t given a road map. The reader is allowed to puzzle these things out on their own. By the end, we reach an almost cliche moment, but any doubt is dispelled by the expert setup which tells us this is not, in fact, your typical ending. It is another stop along the journey.
Peck allows himself to explore real characters inside the genre trappings. Strongest are a wounded combat vet, Annie, and her profoundly autistic son, Zach. At first on the edges of Paul’s journey and then inextricably intertwined, these characters undergo a full transformation of their own. They are given depth through close POV sections which several other characters benefit from as well. The only complaint may be the lack of development in some of the other supporting cast, but in the end, there is only so much space.
Of them all, Zach’s passages shine. Each time we drop into the autistic child’s view, Peck shows the reader how this disorder provides him both weakness and strength. His arc exemplifies triumph in the face of adversity and never once do you feel Peck is lecturing or resorting to shortcuts to depict his disability. Whether or not he has close personal experience with autistic children, Peck provides the necessary illusion that he does and by the time Zach is at his pivotal moment you will be on the edge of your literary seat over the boy’s fate.
Despite the fluid and expert prose, toward the end, there were changes in style which weren’t exactly welcome. However, readers will likely find themselves so engrossed in the story that they make little difference.
Most likely “unmarketable” by traditional standards, this unique blend of genre and style provides a refreshing reading experience amid the young adult landscape of dystopias and vampires. Even classifying it as young adult is misleading as the book delves into a depth of theme with a fullness of prose you don’t typically find. Regardless the murky shelving, The Commons is a work of urban fantasy that deserves to be heard.
January 27, 2015
Alright! Everybody Do the Limbo Now!
Here's the basic premise, our hero Paul, the heroine Annie, and the heroine's possibly autistic child Zach are more or less killed in a bus crash. They appear in the Commons and must trek through it to reach their judgment day. The Commons is being terrorized by a megalomaniac villain who has figured out how to use the spirit energy of the recently departed to fuel his evil plans. Paul, with the aid of Porter, the worn out last remaining spirit guide, (and in the company of three other travelers, including Rain the cranky goth heroine), must use their wits and determination to cross the Commons, defeat the villain, and secure their happy, or at least deserved, ending.
Now, everything in this book is better than that summary would suggest. The teenage hero Paul is observant, troubled, insightful and articulate, and this book would be worth reading if all he were doing was just crossing Kansas to get home for the holidays. The heroines, (Annie and Rain) are strong, deep and multi-layered. The kid has a bit of "the Oracle said Little Neo is the one" to him, but he is developed so thoroughly you don't mind.
Secondary characters are well described and, even if some have limited roles, they all pull their weight. The worn out, burnt out, anguished angelly guide guy is usually a pretty tired convention in the hands of most authors, but here the combination of nobility, dedication, and bureaucratic pettiness is blended just right and gives us a character who could easily have been the focus of the book. As to all of the many other characters, they are combinations of all of the bits and pieces left behind from the minds of other Commons travellers, (as the guide says the Commons is like a hard drive that has never been defragmented), and so the author has felt free to create every kind of bizarre creature/character imaginable.
I've lost track of how many times I've crossed the River Styx with the characters in a book, ranging from Dante to Percy Jackson, but the Commons created here is unlike anyone else's limbo/purgatory and richly frames and colors the author's story. The tale is fairly complicated, and explanations are teased out slowly, but the reader is never left in the dark for too long on any given point. So, if you can tolerate a certain amount of "I'd explain everything but we don't have time right now", and if you're O.K. with a story that's a bit ratty around the edges, you should be fine.
At bottom, this is a thrilling adventure, a bit of a head trip, and a fantasy with some heft. Character conversations often have real depth and occasionally insight, but the book never goes touchy-feely or artsy. There is humor here, and edginess, and earnestness, and there is a good chance it will grab the reader and shake him up as the story progresses. But the book is always under control and impressed me as the product of restrained craftsmanship.
So, as fantasy/fiction/adventure afterlives go, this book's vision suited me fine. This is a worthy addition to the genre.
Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
Here's the basic premise, our hero Paul, the heroine Annie, and the heroine's possibly autistic child Zach are more or less killed in a bus crash. They appear in the Commons and must trek through it to reach their judgment day. The Commons is being terrorized by a megalomaniac villain who has figured out how to use the spirit energy of the recently departed to fuel his evil plans. Paul, with the aid of Porter, the worn out last remaining spirit guide, (and in the company of three other travelers, including Rain the cranky goth heroine), must use their wits and determination to cross the Commons, defeat the villain, and secure their happy, or at least deserved, ending.
Now, everything in this book is better than that summary would suggest. The teenage hero Paul is observant, troubled, insightful and articulate, and this book would be worth reading if all he were doing was just crossing Kansas to get home for the holidays. The heroines, (Annie and Rain) are strong, deep and multi-layered. The kid has a bit of "the Oracle said Little Neo is the one" to him, but he is developed so thoroughly you don't mind.
Secondary characters are well described and, even if some have limited roles, they all pull their weight. The worn out, burnt out, anguished angelly guide guy is usually a pretty tired convention in the hands of most authors, but here the combination of nobility, dedication, and bureaucratic pettiness is blended just right and gives us a character who could easily have been the focus of the book. As to all of the many other characters, they are combinations of all of the bits and pieces left behind from the minds of other Commons travellers, (as the guide says the Commons is like a hard drive that has never been defragmented), and so the author has felt free to create every kind of bizarre creature/character imaginable.
I've lost track of how many times I've crossed the River Styx with the characters in a book, ranging from Dante to Percy Jackson, but the Commons created here is unlike anyone else's limbo/purgatory and richly frames and colors the author's story. The tale is fairly complicated, and explanations are teased out slowly, but the reader is never left in the dark for too long on any given point. So, if you can tolerate a certain amount of "I'd explain everything but we don't have time right now", and if you're O.K. with a story that's a bit ratty around the edges, you should be fine.
At bottom, this is a thrilling adventure, a bit of a head trip, and a fantasy with some heft. Character conversations often have real depth and occasionally insight, but the book never goes touchy-feely or artsy. There is humor here, and edginess, and earnestness, and there is a good chance it will grab the reader and shake him up as the story progresses. But the book is always under control and impressed me as the product of restrained craftsmanship.
So, as fantasy/fiction/adventure afterlives go, this book's vision suited me fine. This is a worthy addition to the genre.
Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
March 9, 2015
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly, I have to confess that I have become fairly difficult to please when it comes to literature. So much of what is churned out lately is just cliches and stereotypes where the closest thing to originality is bizarre character names. It leaves me feeling rather jaded, often.
That being said, this was a refreshingly creative novel. There was so much randomness in this story that you never knew what was coming next. The characters were pretty cool, and I liked that it was split between Paul, Annie and Zach.
However, I was left feeling disappointed overall. I think perhaps there was too much randomness not properly explained, and I would often find myself reading something and thinking, 'hang on, how did we get here?' It was almost like the weird factor was just taken for granted, so it was hard for me to adjust. There was also very little on character feelings in regards to all this weirdness- too much story and not enough character development. Twists failed to take me by surprise because I was never invested in ideas or people or what was actually happening. It kind of felt like, say you're on a roller coaster but focusing so hard on holding on to the bar in front that you fail to take in any of the world around you while the ride is happening and then when the ride is over you realise you forgot to have fun. The writing is brilliant, but it's very much a story told to someone who knows all the details; I feel like maybe the author needed to add in a little more flesh but didn't realise it because it was the world was so clear in his head.
It was an intriguing read, but it got a little tedious for me towards the end as I couldn't keep up with the strangeness. So I think it just needs more emotion, more depth, and perhaps even less action. But certainly an enjoyable read for those not so fussy as I.
Firstly, I have to confess that I have become fairly difficult to please when it comes to literature. So much of what is churned out lately is just cliches and stereotypes where the closest thing to originality is bizarre character names. It leaves me feeling rather jaded, often.
That being said, this was a refreshingly creative novel. There was so much randomness in this story that you never knew what was coming next. The characters were pretty cool, and I liked that it was split between Paul, Annie and Zach.
However, I was left feeling disappointed overall. I think perhaps there was too much randomness not properly explained, and I would often find myself reading something and thinking, 'hang on, how did we get here?' It was almost like the weird factor was just taken for granted, so it was hard for me to adjust. There was also very little on character feelings in regards to all this weirdness- too much story and not enough character development. Twists failed to take me by surprise because I was never invested in ideas or people or what was actually happening. It kind of felt like, say you're on a roller coaster but focusing so hard on holding on to the bar in front that you fail to take in any of the world around you while the ride is happening and then when the ride is over you realise you forgot to have fun. The writing is brilliant, but it's very much a story told to someone who knows all the details; I feel like maybe the author needed to add in a little more flesh but didn't realise it because it was the world was so clear in his head.
It was an intriguing read, but it got a little tedious for me towards the end as I couldn't keep up with the strangeness. So I think it just needs more emotion, more depth, and perhaps even less action. But certainly an enjoyable read for those not so fussy as I.
July 31, 2015
If I were given this book and not told beforehand who wrote it, my closest guess to who the author might be would be Neil Gaiman. The writing styles are different but the landscapes and creatures found within are from equally large imaginations.
We begin the story a little ahead of ourselves. Paul lies, apparently dead, on a snowy hill. We do ultimately go back in time to see how got Paul to this point. But to take a concept from the Princess Bride, ‘He is not dead, he is just mostly dead’. Paul wakes up on that hill to a broken apart bus, bodies strewn about and the sounds of what he initially thought were rescuers, but in fact were there to collect the dead. You don’t even realize this is a fantasy story until a man named Porter appears and saves Paul by making them reappear somewhere else.
Paul soon learns that he now exists in a kind of purgatory and must take a journey through it. This will determine where his essence (spirit) will go after this stage, but as is mentioned a couple of times in the story, he is not necessarily dead. Along the way, they join up with a monk named Po, a mummy named Ken and a girl named Rain. This would have been a fun journey with just this group but within this purgatory a being is stealing the essences to give himself power. He’s now got his sights on Paul.
It was an interesting read that I think young teens and adults of all ages would enjoy. As I mentioned, it is similar to the fantastical writings of Gaiman so you have to be prepared for crazy landscapes, weird characters and the total suspension of disbelief.
We begin the story a little ahead of ourselves. Paul lies, apparently dead, on a snowy hill. We do ultimately go back in time to see how got Paul to this point. But to take a concept from the Princess Bride, ‘He is not dead, he is just mostly dead’. Paul wakes up on that hill to a broken apart bus, bodies strewn about and the sounds of what he initially thought were rescuers, but in fact were there to collect the dead. You don’t even realize this is a fantasy story until a man named Porter appears and saves Paul by making them reappear somewhere else.
Paul soon learns that he now exists in a kind of purgatory and must take a journey through it. This will determine where his essence (spirit) will go after this stage, but as is mentioned a couple of times in the story, he is not necessarily dead. Along the way, they join up with a monk named Po, a mummy named Ken and a girl named Rain. This would have been a fun journey with just this group but within this purgatory a being is stealing the essences to give himself power. He’s now got his sights on Paul.
It was an interesting read that I think young teens and adults of all ages would enjoy. As I mentioned, it is similar to the fantastical writings of Gaiman so you have to be prepared for crazy landscapes, weird characters and the total suspension of disbelief.
April 21, 2015
The Journeyman (The Commons Book 1) by Michael Alan Peck starts out strong. An orphaned street kid has a chance encounter with an injured vet and her autistic son. They board the same bus, which is in a terrible accident. They come to consciousness in the Commons, called purgatory by some religions.
The narrative grabbed me right away. I didn’t understand some of what was going on, but in an “I don’t understand this” way, not a “This isn’t understandable” way. I was intrigued by the premise and the characters.
However, the world building goes on and on … and on. I think many readers would bail before the halfway point. The two plot lines following Paul (the teenager) and Annie and Zach (the vet and son) don’t intersect until the end of the book, leaving me wondering about the connection. Paul’s journey was much more interesting.
It was hard to care about the characters when so many weren’t “real.” The plot grows very Inception-like and really falls apart by the end. There is some good writing in this book, and the author shows promise, but the originality shown at the beginning gradually gives way to cliché and confusion.
The narrative grabbed me right away. I didn’t understand some of what was going on, but in an “I don’t understand this” way, not a “This isn’t understandable” way. I was intrigued by the premise and the characters.
However, the world building goes on and on … and on. I think many readers would bail before the halfway point. The two plot lines following Paul (the teenager) and Annie and Zach (the vet and son) don’t intersect until the end of the book, leaving me wondering about the connection. Paul’s journey was much more interesting.
It was hard to care about the characters when so many weren’t “real.” The plot grows very Inception-like and really falls apart by the end. There is some good writing in this book, and the author shows promise, but the originality shown at the beginning gradually gives way to cliché and confusion.
July 8, 2014
The Commons: Book 1: The Journeyman by Michael Alan Peck
*I received this in exchange for an honest review*
I have to start this review by saying- This book was an incredible read.
If I could have given it over 5 stars, I would.
It captured me from the first page. One night when I was reading it, I turned to my clock to see it was 2 in the morning and I still kept reading!
The writing style was easy to read, it flowed well and was engaging.
The story itself was interesting, unique and kept me desperate to know what was coming next. I found myself on the edge of my seat at many points, laughing at others and even getting rather choked up at sometimes.
All of the characters were individual, had their own distinct personality and I really enjoyed the different POVs throughout. I particularly enjoyed the way they connected towards the end.
There isn’t much more I can say about this book, because it was just brilliant.
If you’re thinking of giving this book a read, I thoroughly recommend doing so.
*I received this in exchange for an honest review*
I have to start this review by saying- This book was an incredible read.
If I could have given it over 5 stars, I would.
It captured me from the first page. One night when I was reading it, I turned to my clock to see it was 2 in the morning and I still kept reading!
The writing style was easy to read, it flowed well and was engaging.
The story itself was interesting, unique and kept me desperate to know what was coming next. I found myself on the edge of my seat at many points, laughing at others and even getting rather choked up at sometimes.
All of the characters were individual, had their own distinct personality and I really enjoyed the different POVs throughout. I particularly enjoyed the way they connected towards the end.
There isn’t much more I can say about this book, because it was just brilliant.
If you’re thinking of giving this book a read, I thoroughly recommend doing so.
April 9, 2015
Exciting, fast paced story I think is the best way to describe the first book in the Commons series. I enjoyed it because it kept me thinking, what happens to the character, will they make it. I was even shouting warnings at the book, totally scaring my poor cat! The story follows three strangers who are each on a journey, one that seems them cross paths and affect another’s journey.
Sadly though I wasn’t overly keen on how the book jumped from one person to another, as I was a little confused in places as to who was where or when. It would work if this book was made into a film though.
You have to love little the little lad though, although he has special needs, he shows us that he is as clever and quick witted as any of us. I thought Michael portrayed his Autism very tastefully.
Overall a great read I’d recommend to anyone.
NB: I received this book free in return for an honest review
Sadly though I wasn’t overly keen on how the book jumped from one person to another, as I was a little confused in places as to who was where or when. It would work if this book was made into a film though.
You have to love little the little lad though, although he has special needs, he shows us that he is as clever and quick witted as any of us. I thought Michael portrayed his Autism very tastefully.
Overall a great read I’d recommend to anyone.
NB: I received this book free in return for an honest review
December 9, 2015
A brilliantly written and deeply philosophical odyssey into an afterlife where the essence of human souls are the primary currency. The first installment of Michael Alan Peck’s series, The Commons, the afterlife is an oppressive nightmare made real by the imaginations of the dead. The view of a wise monk named Po seems to sum it up best: “There is no death. It is all one Journey.” Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com
May 17, 2016
I received this book for free from For Love of a Book in return for an honest review.
This book wasn't what I thought it would be. Through just about the whole book I was very confused. Every time I thought I had it figured out it changed. By the end of the book I had some of it figured out. I got what the journey was and what it was supposed to represent. I think the author has a good idea on what he's trying to convey I just couldn't keep up with the way it was written.
Thank you for letting me read your book:)
This book wasn't what I thought it would be. Through just about the whole book I was very confused. Every time I thought I had it figured out it changed. By the end of the book I had some of it figured out. I got what the journey was and what it was supposed to represent. I think the author has a good idea on what he's trying to convey I just couldn't keep up with the way it was written.
Thank you for letting me read your book:)
September 14, 2014
4.5 stars
This book grabbed me from the get go, even when I wasn't quite sure what was going on. I'm not always a fan of "mystical" stuff, but I certainly enjoyed this. I really liked the characters and the plot is very imaginative. I'm ready for the sequel NOW.
This book grabbed me from the get go, even when I wasn't quite sure what was going on. I'm not always a fan of "mystical" stuff, but I certainly enjoyed this. I really liked the characters and the plot is very imaginative. I'm ready for the sequel NOW.
May 18, 2016
The Journeyman started out a hard book for me to read. Once I got into it it became easier. Paul was my hero he had to endure a lot to get through his journey and helped many people along the way. This genre is not one I read much but I am glad I received this book and recommend it!
June 18, 2016
I Received This Book For Free In Exchange For A Honest Review......Firstly,I Must Say I Loved The Synopsis,that Gripped Me At Once...And The Characters Were Really Great.I Did Like Paul.It Was A Great Story Right From Beginning To The End,the Plot And Setting Were Great.4 Stars For Me.
March 5, 2015
Book – The Journeyman (The Commons #1)
Author – Michael Alan Peck
Star rating - ★★★★☆
Plot – an exciting mix of contemporary and fantasy, with a little sci-fi thrown in.
Characters – unique, well developed and relate-able
Movie Potential - ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read and follow
Cover - ✔
Suitable Title - ✔
Would I read it again - ✔
** THIS BOOK WAS GIVEN TO ME, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
This book was pretty magical, to be honest. Not in story terms. The plot was a lovely mixture of contemporary (for the first few chapters) and fantasy (the rest of the book). There was even hints of steampunk/sci-fi thrown in at one point. But don't for once think that it means this book is confused about itself. Nope, this one knows exactly where it belongs and is perfectly at home there.
To me, The Commons is a little like Narnia. It's a middle ground, where a journey tests the strength, resolve and character of the individual, to decide whether the 'incident' that sent them there will send them back or not. Narnia has always been a journey towards God and a life or death decision, as to who returned and who didn't. I see The Commons in the same light – not towards God, as much, but towards Good or Evil. If they are kept in the Commons, then they died in the 'incident', which is the bug crash in this story. If they get to leave, then they've survived.
Let's start with the blurb:
““Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie—and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.”
And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons. It’s been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America—stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead.
Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son. After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them.
Three Journeys: separate but joined. One mission: to save forever.
But first they have to save themselves. ”
Let me just say that Michael Alan Peck is a genius and I will be reading anything else he's written or writes in the future. The writing style was just up my street, with enough hints and POV's to let me know what was going on, without giving everything away.
The story focuses on 4 main characters. There are a lot more than this, involved with the journey and having an impact, but these are the main 4:
Paul – the Journeyman of the title
Annie – an ex-army single mother of one
Zach – Annie's autistic son
Truitt – the evil bad guy 'Mr Brill's right hand man
The story is told through their POV's, though you will occasionally get a glimpse from Porter, the Envoy leading Paul through his journey.
The Beginning -
“Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie—and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.”
This is a brilliant quote and it's a really great hook to get you into the story. It did just that, for me.
Let's run down who is who, from the blurb -
a New York street kid – Paul
Paul, as a main character, is brilliant. I loved him right from the first. He's spunky, intriguing and street smart, which opens up a lot of doors that other MCs can't access. I found him really engaging through the whole story, relate-able and mature, for a teenager, because of his circumstances.
Paul was a hapless teenager sometimes and this all-seeing power the next.
His Journeyman, once he reaches the Commons, Porter, is just as great of a character. He's quirky, mysterious and like a librarian (in my head) with the old fashioned clothes, manner and attitude. I loved him right away, as well.
As I did for the other two main characters Annie and Zach; mother and son.
an Iraq War veteran – Annie
Annie is a mess. In the story. She starts out this dedicated, exhausted, at-the-end-of-her-rope single mother, to an autistic child. I felt her exhaustion and the stress she's under, but I also admired her for keeping it together and taking such good care of Zach. However, once Annie reaches the Commons, her life changes. She's a military girl and therefore, of use to the big bad guy of the story.
Here, my heart just about broke. Reading of Annie's struggles, under the influence of the 'pink pills' the bad guy gives her, to ease her pain and keep her mind controlled by his will, I felt every moment of hope being snatched away from her. I found it heartbreaking, to read of her new relationship with Zach, to read his POV on it and know that she had no understanding or knowledge of what she'd lost, through the power of the 'pink pills'.
her five-year-old special-needs son – Zach
Zach, as an autistic child, is incredibly well written. I've never seen anyone write a child in such amazing depth, with such an understanding of their mindset and still remembering to use child-like terms, for things that a boy of five would, literally, not know the real names of. Being autistic, Zach had a second challenge, as a character – he barely spoke. So every time he came into the story, you were as surprised and excited as he was and as the other characters were, when he did something out of his comfort zone. I knew the minute I read about him, handing his marble to Paul, that this kid was going to be something special. I wasn't disappointed.
Zach was a strong, smart, brave boy (read it and you'll see what I did there ;) )
There was such authenticity in the writing, for all the characters, even though who didn't get a big part or the main focus of the story.
shotgun-toting goth girl – Rain
Rain was the tough girl, with the attitude and a deep dark secret.
The addition of Ken and Po was genius; I didn't understand at first, but they quickly became real, heart-tugging characters.
a six-foot-six mummy - Ken
a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues – Po
the only guide left to lead them – Porter
Porter was always proper and knowledgeable, even when it wasn't always appropriate for the time or situation.
Overall, this story was original, captivating and enthralling. The more I read of Paul and Zach, the more I loved them. I even grew to appreciate horrible old June, in the end. I got some conflicting vibes about Brill's assistant, Truitt, though, because I knew he was important, but I couldn't be certain how or what part he was going to play. I couldn't even decide if he was good or bad.
So…while I've waxed lyrically about how great this book is, you might be asking yourself why it's only 4 stars and not 5. Well, that's for the ending. When their journey inside the Commons was over, it's very abrupt. The fight is over, a few minutes/hours (I'm not sure which) later, everyone is being sent to their judgement. This is when the Commons and their journey there, decides whether they've to die or whether they survive and go back to their 'real' lives.
We get 2 chapters for Paul, at the end. I'm not telling you what happens or whether they go back to their lives or whether they stay. But what happens seems is a nice way of letting us know what happens and what the judgement is, but it's also sad, because half the characters I grew to love are no longer there. I'm not telling you which half. Then, we have the Epilogue for Uncle Lights-Out. It's an intriguing epilogue, that very nicely leads into a suggestion of book 2, but it's also a little confusing. I spent the whole chapter thinking it was referring to Po, because of the suggestions it made (maybe that's my mistake – it probably is) only to find out it was about someone else. Someone much more confusing, mysterious and enigmatic. Someone who will definitely stir up trouble for book 2.
Although I can't wait to read the next part of The Commons series, I do have to remove 1 star for the confusion over the last 3 chapters and the bluntness that snapped me out of The Commons and rudely forced me back into the real world. I wasn't ready to leave yet, but maybe that's how I'm supposed to feel…
-
Favourite Quote: “All-out heart of darkness, man.”
I love that book and that reference, in the perfectly timed placing was brilliant.
I also really loved this one - “Beware the soft-spoken when secrets are kept, for they hear what the thunderers do not.”
Author – Michael Alan Peck
Star rating - ★★★★☆
Plot – an exciting mix of contemporary and fantasy, with a little sci-fi thrown in.
Characters – unique, well developed and relate-able
Movie Potential - ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read and follow
Cover - ✔
Suitable Title - ✔
Would I read it again - ✔
** THIS BOOK WAS GIVEN TO ME, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
This book was pretty magical, to be honest. Not in story terms. The plot was a lovely mixture of contemporary (for the first few chapters) and fantasy (the rest of the book). There was even hints of steampunk/sci-fi thrown in at one point. But don't for once think that it means this book is confused about itself. Nope, this one knows exactly where it belongs and is perfectly at home there.
To me, The Commons is a little like Narnia. It's a middle ground, where a journey tests the strength, resolve and character of the individual, to decide whether the 'incident' that sent them there will send them back or not. Narnia has always been a journey towards God and a life or death decision, as to who returned and who didn't. I see The Commons in the same light – not towards God, as much, but towards Good or Evil. If they are kept in the Commons, then they died in the 'incident', which is the bug crash in this story. If they get to leave, then they've survived.
Let's start with the blurb:
““Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie—and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.”
And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons. It’s been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America—stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead.
Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son. After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them.
Three Journeys: separate but joined. One mission: to save forever.
But first they have to save themselves. ”
Let me just say that Michael Alan Peck is a genius and I will be reading anything else he's written or writes in the future. The writing style was just up my street, with enough hints and POV's to let me know what was going on, without giving everything away.
The story focuses on 4 main characters. There are a lot more than this, involved with the journey and having an impact, but these are the main 4:
Paul – the Journeyman of the title
Annie – an ex-army single mother of one
Zach – Annie's autistic son
Truitt – the evil bad guy 'Mr Brill's right hand man
The story is told through their POV's, though you will occasionally get a glimpse from Porter, the Envoy leading Paul through his journey.
The Beginning -
“Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie—and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.”
This is a brilliant quote and it's a really great hook to get you into the story. It did just that, for me.
Let's run down who is who, from the blurb -
a New York street kid – Paul
Paul, as a main character, is brilliant. I loved him right from the first. He's spunky, intriguing and street smart, which opens up a lot of doors that other MCs can't access. I found him really engaging through the whole story, relate-able and mature, for a teenager, because of his circumstances.
Paul was a hapless teenager sometimes and this all-seeing power the next.
His Journeyman, once he reaches the Commons, Porter, is just as great of a character. He's quirky, mysterious and like a librarian (in my head) with the old fashioned clothes, manner and attitude. I loved him right away, as well.
As I did for the other two main characters Annie and Zach; mother and son.
an Iraq War veteran – Annie
Annie is a mess. In the story. She starts out this dedicated, exhausted, at-the-end-of-her-rope single mother, to an autistic child. I felt her exhaustion and the stress she's under, but I also admired her for keeping it together and taking such good care of Zach. However, once Annie reaches the Commons, her life changes. She's a military girl and therefore, of use to the big bad guy of the story.
Here, my heart just about broke. Reading of Annie's struggles, under the influence of the 'pink pills' the bad guy gives her, to ease her pain and keep her mind controlled by his will, I felt every moment of hope being snatched away from her. I found it heartbreaking, to read of her new relationship with Zach, to read his POV on it and know that she had no understanding or knowledge of what she'd lost, through the power of the 'pink pills'.
her five-year-old special-needs son – Zach
Zach, as an autistic child, is incredibly well written. I've never seen anyone write a child in such amazing depth, with such an understanding of their mindset and still remembering to use child-like terms, for things that a boy of five would, literally, not know the real names of. Being autistic, Zach had a second challenge, as a character – he barely spoke. So every time he came into the story, you were as surprised and excited as he was and as the other characters were, when he did something out of his comfort zone. I knew the minute I read about him, handing his marble to Paul, that this kid was going to be something special. I wasn't disappointed.
Zach was a strong, smart, brave boy (read it and you'll see what I did there ;) )
There was such authenticity in the writing, for all the characters, even though who didn't get a big part or the main focus of the story.
shotgun-toting goth girl – Rain
Rain was the tough girl, with the attitude and a deep dark secret.
The addition of Ken and Po was genius; I didn't understand at first, but they quickly became real, heart-tugging characters.
a six-foot-six mummy - Ken
a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues – Po
the only guide left to lead them – Porter
Porter was always proper and knowledgeable, even when it wasn't always appropriate for the time or situation.
Overall, this story was original, captivating and enthralling. The more I read of Paul and Zach, the more I loved them. I even grew to appreciate horrible old June, in the end. I got some conflicting vibes about Brill's assistant, Truitt, though, because I knew he was important, but I couldn't be certain how or what part he was going to play. I couldn't even decide if he was good or bad.
So…while I've waxed lyrically about how great this book is, you might be asking yourself why it's only 4 stars and not 5. Well, that's for the ending. When their journey inside the Commons was over, it's very abrupt. The fight is over, a few minutes/hours (I'm not sure which) later, everyone is being sent to their judgement. This is when the Commons and their journey there, decides whether they've to die or whether they survive and go back to their 'real' lives.
We get 2 chapters for Paul, at the end. I'm not telling you what happens or whether they go back to their lives or whether they stay. But what happens seems is a nice way of letting us know what happens and what the judgement is, but it's also sad, because half the characters I grew to love are no longer there. I'm not telling you which half. Then, we have the Epilogue for Uncle Lights-Out. It's an intriguing epilogue, that very nicely leads into a suggestion of book 2, but it's also a little confusing. I spent the whole chapter thinking it was referring to Po, because of the suggestions it made (maybe that's my mistake – it probably is) only to find out it was about someone else. Someone much more confusing, mysterious and enigmatic. Someone who will definitely stir up trouble for book 2.
Although I can't wait to read the next part of The Commons series, I do have to remove 1 star for the confusion over the last 3 chapters and the bluntness that snapped me out of The Commons and rudely forced me back into the real world. I wasn't ready to leave yet, but maybe that's how I'm supposed to feel…
-
Favourite Quote: “All-out heart of darkness, man.”
I love that book and that reference, in the perfectly timed placing was brilliant.
I also really loved this one - “Beware the soft-spoken when secrets are kept, for they hear what the thunderers do not.”
November 5, 2016
The Commons, Book 1: The Journeyman
By: Michael Alan Peck
5 out of 5 stars
The story The Commons, Book 1: The Journeyman by Michael Alan Peck is a paranormal/urban book. Paul Reid died at seventeen. He awoke in a place called The Commons, which is the afterlife. It has been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. In this landscape our heroes find themselves. Paul, Annie and her child Zach are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Can they save themselves as well as The Commons?
I have to be honest. I didn’t know exactly what I was in for when I started reading. I would say that within about the first two to three chapters this book had me so that I could not put it down. Characters are very important in any book I read and this story has plenty. They show both sides of the coin, the good and the bad. As you read the pages you are transformed to a world that is hard to get out of once you stop reading. Anticipation of what comes next and the struggles each character must go through made this book unforgettable.
Please don’t let the size of the book keep you from reading. Once you start, it goes so quickly that you are left wondering how you read it so fast. I highly recommend to anyone who loves the paranormal. This is book one, so I am hoping for another book soon. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
By: Michael Alan Peck
5 out of 5 stars
The story The Commons, Book 1: The Journeyman by Michael Alan Peck is a paranormal/urban book. Paul Reid died at seventeen. He awoke in a place called The Commons, which is the afterlife. It has been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. In this landscape our heroes find themselves. Paul, Annie and her child Zach are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Can they save themselves as well as The Commons?
I have to be honest. I didn’t know exactly what I was in for when I started reading. I would say that within about the first two to three chapters this book had me so that I could not put it down. Characters are very important in any book I read and this story has plenty. They show both sides of the coin, the good and the bad. As you read the pages you are transformed to a world that is hard to get out of once you stop reading. Anticipation of what comes next and the struggles each character must go through made this book unforgettable.
Please don’t let the size of the book keep you from reading. Once you start, it goes so quickly that you are left wondering how you read it so fast. I highly recommend to anyone who loves the paranormal. This is book one, so I am hoping for another book soon. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
November 28, 2016
What a far out concept for a book. What happens if someone takes over purgatory? Well, this book explains that. A power hungry soul takes over purgatory and is taking over, using the power he is getting from the essence of the souls.
In the past, the Journeymen would assist souls in their journey to see if they can enter into paradise or hell. They all but have disappeared now except one Journeyman still on the job. He's been in the office forever and has rarely been in the field. When he gets a notice of a soul in need of assistance.
Paul, Anne and Zach are on a bus ride when a crash happens, killing most of the passengers. Paul watched as Anne and Zach are stuffed into bags and thrown into a van. He tries to run from them but finds Porter in the woods. Porter tells him he's there to help him escape. This starts Paul's journey. He, another lost soul, the Envoy (Porter) a mummy and a samari warrior all are helping Paul to find his way, seeing as his Envoy is a little out of practice and doesn't know the landscape anymore.
I really enjoyed this story. The writer has put a lot of scenic and descriptive styles into his story that you actually feel like you know the characters and you can see the story play out in your head.
In the past, the Journeymen would assist souls in their journey to see if they can enter into paradise or hell. They all but have disappeared now except one Journeyman still on the job. He's been in the office forever and has rarely been in the field. When he gets a notice of a soul in need of assistance.
Paul, Anne and Zach are on a bus ride when a crash happens, killing most of the passengers. Paul watched as Anne and Zach are stuffed into bags and thrown into a van. He tries to run from them but finds Porter in the woods. Porter tells him he's there to help him escape. This starts Paul's journey. He, another lost soul, the Envoy (Porter) a mummy and a samari warrior all are helping Paul to find his way, seeing as his Envoy is a little out of practice and doesn't know the landscape anymore.
I really enjoyed this story. The writer has put a lot of scenic and descriptive styles into his story that you actually feel like you know the characters and you can see the story play out in your head.
October 28, 2017
Imaginative, well written with the three main characters well fleshed out. It does not take long before this book’s pace heats up and keeps moving at a fast, dizzying speed. You grab on and go with it or get left behind.
The author pushes his readers beyond the comfort zone of expected & structured fantasy journey and tumbles the fantasy world around us. You will feel a sense of vertigo, but the ride is worth it. We experience the sense of not knowing where we are going along with the main characters, and like them, have to trust that we are moving towards a satisfying ending.
With multiple characters and viewpoints, this book requires some commitment and desire to explore an inventive fantasy, so I imagine those hunting for an easy reading experience will not enjoy its demands. To everyone else, it will be a welcome way to enjoy the written word and the author’s imaginative storytelling experience.
The author pushes his readers beyond the comfort zone of expected & structured fantasy journey and tumbles the fantasy world around us. You will feel a sense of vertigo, but the ride is worth it. We experience the sense of not knowing where we are going along with the main characters, and like them, have to trust that we are moving towards a satisfying ending.
With multiple characters and viewpoints, this book requires some commitment and desire to explore an inventive fantasy, so I imagine those hunting for an easy reading experience will not enjoy its demands. To everyone else, it will be a welcome way to enjoy the written word and the author’s imaginative storytelling experience.
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