Customer Reviews

The Harvest

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This will probably be my last Perry Brass novel. Full of basic flaws such as continuos flashbacks and explanations of states of mind, it still retains a good sense of story building and telling. But what kind of story are we faced with? A very depressing one, and the only way one can bear such a thing is through an amazingly good writing, which is not the case here.
Halfway between horror and sf the plot is based on two wrong assumption: such a society as it is described could not care less about the sexual orientation of its members; a society owning such refined genic techniques would certainly not need to breed human-like beings to get spare organs.
I am under the impression that while writing this novel Mr Brass wanted to highlight how de-humanizing our society is becoming and is likely to become even more. Nice try, but a try nonetheless.

The Harvest is set around the middle of the twenty first century, at a time when all government and business is in the hands of the omnipotent Corporation (Corps) which exerts an all invasive influence on everyone's life, and whose prime concern is to ensure prosperity by controlling inflation and at the same time keep the population happy by providing quality heath care for those that matter, but at a price. People are classified according to their ability, which in effect means their usefulness to society; those who are of little use being largely ignored. Born into this latter category is the handsome Christopher Turner, son of Steve Taylor; however Chris is also Edgar Morgan Devereaux, the adopted son and heir of Joshua Devereaux, a very wealthy businessman and influential and integral part of the Corps. The circumstances of this adoption become apparent as the story unfolds.
To maintain the health and the prolong life of the people, the Corps uses vaccos, laboratory produced humans which are, at the appropriate time, harvested for their organs which are then used in transplants. Supposedly mindless and incapable of emotion, and suppressed with the use of dugs, one of these vaccos manages to escape; going by the name of Hart256043, this escapee proves the widespread beliefs otherwise. While on the run he encounters Chris, and the two sense an immediate connection. Chris uses his influence to provide cover for and protect Hart while at the same time taking him to his bed, and any other place that they can enjoy one another. Of course it is not quite that simple, and so follows a thrilling adventure as the two lovers try to conceal Hart's identity and freedom, and at the same time secure the drugs necessary to keep him stable and alive.
Chris, who has always enjoyed the gay bars and shallow pretty boys of the low-life area of the city now finds this need replaced by the feelings he has for the supposedly, but clearly not, low-life form of Hart.
Chris is torn between the love for his step-father Joshua, his real father Steve, and his devoted Hart. Never sure who to trust, he uses all his influence, along with his abilities as a teenage thief and hustler acquired before his adoption by Joshua, to try to maintain Hart's freedom and secure a meaningful life for the two of them. This is a tense and unpredictable story, driven by the complete love and devotion Chris and Hart have for each other.

This is my first Perry Brass novel and it will be my last. The writing is mediocre and there is not a single sympathetic character in the first half of the book. I say "the first half of the book" because that is all the time I will give it and that time was wasted.

This is the third Perry Brass Book I have read and loved!
Set some years into the future, laboratory-produced humanoids called vaccos, are created and kept for their body parts. 'The Corporation' controls everyone's lives and Joshua Devereaux controls The Corporation.
He adopts a 15 year old young man,Chris Turner, who was born on the wrong side of town, abused by his father, a hustler of old men, a car thief and finally is incarcerated in 'the hole.'
The mega-wealthy Joshua Devereaux, gives Chris a new home and a new name,Edgar. He also sexually abuses him.
Chris/Edgar now has everything money can buy...except real love and a permanent relationship.Something his adopted-father has forbade him.
Chris crosses paths one night with a man who begs for his help. He will save this man-only to find he is a 'vacco'. Chris?Edgar's indolent lifestyle given to him,suddenly takes on a meaning,and purpose.
He bonds with Hart 256043.
Together, Hart and Chris will do everything possible for their mutual survival,their mutual love.But the cost will be dear.
They have something that no man,no corporation,no Joshua Devereaux will put asunder.
erotic, unbelievable,exciting,

As a relatively new reader of sci-fi, I have found Perry Brass has a way of keeping the reader on the edge of his seat. His trilogy of Mirage, followed by the sequel Circles and concluded with Arthur were beautifully written, as well as erotically stimulating and his imagination unique. He continues his ability to stimulate, excite, and scare the pants off his reader with his book The Harvest. It's not a book one can review in a few lines, it's a book that needs to be read to be appreciated