Brave Men Run - A Novel of the Sovereign Era [Paperback]

Matthew Wayne Selznick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 13, 2008

April 18, 1985-Into a world already wound tight with the desperate tensions of the Cold War comes Dr. William Donner with a startling declaration: superhumans exist, they demand autonomy, and he has the reality-bending power to enforce their status. The traditional balance of power is thrown askew by the addition of not one super-powered human, but six thousand. Before the Donner Declaration, high school sophomore Nate Charters was just an outsider and self-proclaimed freak. His unusual appearance, hair-trigger reflexes, and overactive metabolism should have made him something special, but his differences and low self-esteem have long since marked him as a target for the jocks and popular kids. Now, just as his unique nature brings him the attention of a self-assured older girl, Nate must find his place in the world. Why is he the way he is? What really happened to his long dead father? Why is his biggest rival suddenly interested in a private meeting? Is he part of a remarkable, powerful new minority... or just a misfit among misfits? Nate must discover the answers to these questions quickly, because those in power know more about him than he could ever imagine. And they're closing in...

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Swarm Press (June 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193486109X
• ISBN-13: 978-1934861097
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #556,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Matthew Wayne Selznick is a creator working with words, music, pictures and people. He is the creator of the storyworlds The Sovereign Era, The Shaper's World and Daikaiju Universe. He lives in Long Beach, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brave Men Run has very wide appeal, February 20, 2006

By 

B. Press (Ellicott City, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brave Men Run - A Novel Of The Sovereign Era (Paperback)

I've been listening to the podiobook of this book (available at www.podiobooks.com) and it has completely captivated myself, my wife, my 11 year old daughter and my 14 year old son. Told as a revealing and personal narrative, the story is dramatic, well paced, intriguing and very accessible. It's also a great blast from the past for those of us who were in high school and/or college in the fabulous 80s! Warning: Some of the content is probably more suggestive than a pre-teen should be exposed to, but it is relatively brief and easily by-passed for younger consumption.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great visit to a 'brave new world', May 8, 2006

By 

P. G. Holyfield "Author of Murder at Avedon Hill" (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brave Men Run - A Novel Of The Sovereign Era (Paperback)

You don't see many examples of "super-hero" stories in novel form (unless you are speaking of graphic novels, of course). But 'Brave Men Run' begins its existence in a non-graphic form, both written and as an audiobook (actually, the better term is podiobook in this case). I could definitely see 'Brave Men Run' as a graphic novel, but for now I am very happy to have experienced it in its current form.

As with most good novels, when you peel back the layers of 'Brave Men Run' you find more depth. On the surface it is a coming of age novel. The main character endures high-school during an alternate-Earth Reagan era. He falls in love and is transformed by the events that take place around him.

'Brave Men Run' is also an origin story, in comic-book terms. It introduces what character William Donner calls 'The Sovereign,' similar to the 'mutants' of X-Men stories. The twist here is that the story is told through the eyes of main character Nate Charters, a boy with definite differences that has no idea if he is one of these 'Sovereign.' that have announced themselves to the world.

The tone of the story is that of an outsider seeking normalcy in an 80s world. But if being a misfit in high school wasn't enough, this 'Sovereign Declaration' produces a new form of alienation for Nate Charters.

'Brave Men Run' has been called "The Breakfast Club meets the X-Men", and "Spiderman as directed by John Hughes." The 80s feel is realistic across the board, and the voice the author gives to Nate Charters (especially in the podiobook) is on the mark. Children of the 80s will enjoy the references, comic book readers will enjoy the references to the 'silver age' of comics, and the story is enjoyable to boot.

If you are unsure about purchasing the book, please take some time to listen to the free podiobook version that you can obtain from the author's website or through I-Tunes. As stated before, the voice of Matthew Wayne Selznick is perfect for the main character, and the production value of the podiobook is great for those that are hesitant to try this form of media.

A strong recommendation for this book and its companion podiobook!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for any fan of super hero style fiction, October 31, 2005

By 

Chrispian Burks (Huntsville, AL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brave Men Run - A Novel Of The Sovereign Era (Paperback)

Brave Men Run is a rare find in books today. The story of Nathan Charters is very easy to relate to and just flat out fun to read. The story is of Nathan Charters, who was born a bit different. He's got some special gifts and finds they also have a knack for getting him into trouble. The story is a coming of age story of friends, first loves and responsiblity. Brave Men Run takes place in the 80's where Nate is attending High School where being different is a curse. Nate has to learn to live with who he is before he can live up to his potential. If you like character driven stories, you'll love this book. If you like comics, you'll like this book. If you are a fan of the 80's, you'll probably like this book. Buy the book and tell your friends about it!