At Harlequin High School In 1986, Kelvin Fish was the oddball, the weird kid that no one would talk to, except for Patrick Beauchamp who was determined to learn more. When Patrick's curiosity about Kelvin leads him into a bizarre and tragic series of events, Patrick gets much more than he bargained for.
Book Description
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. Eligible products include select Books and Home & Garden items. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Rio's first novella Ellie's Boy was published in 1999, and he has since had stories published in dozens of magazines and ezines. His debut novel, End Times, was published in 2007 to outstanding reviews. Rio followed the success of End Times with his second novel, Everdead, an intense vampire story set in the vacation hotspot of Ibiza. Published by Graveside Tales, Everdead was long-listed for Best Novel at the 2009 British Fantasy Awards, and has received praise from some of the most noteworthy names in the genre. Rio is a proud member of the Horror Writers' Association. He lives in Canada with his wife Emily. Find out more about Rio and his work on his website: www.rioyouers.com.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best Stories I Read This Year,
This review is from: Mama Fish (Paperback)
If you read the back blurbs of this book, you find readers that were affected by the story Rio Youers wrote. And every one of them hit on a facet of this short, yet complex tale of emotion and fate. In truth it is two different stories that are connected, thought you never know how until the very end of Mama Fish. Both center on the main character, Patrick. One when he is a teenager, the other as paralyzed adult. The adult story line is what is meant to be followed with the teenage story line adding the mystery and suspense.
Personally, I thought the teenage story was the stronger of the the two. The bourgeoning friendship of Patrick and Kevin Fish had the same emotional impact as the friendship of George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men. I could almost se this story as a modern version of how those two characters might have become friends in the backstory of Steinbeck's classic. The emotional impact and growth of both characters happen in that story. The adult story is incredibly well written, but felt more like a social commentary than character revelation in a few spots. Never so much that I was pulled out of the story. Youers has an incredible talent of flooding you with information and ideas in just a small chapter an let it creep in under the active story. It just felt off balance with everything Youers was able to do in the other story. One of the elements that both story arcs have is an incredible sense of realism. If anyone wants to understand how a fantastical story needs to feel real to the reader in order for them to suspend their disbelief -- read this book. It's not about the setting descriptions or the details that are exactly correct for they year the story is written in. It is about the details that we all take in everyday: other people's quirks, the way a person would describe a smell or sensation because of the life they've had, background noise of life that our brain filters out what we think we need and throws out anything deemed useless. Youers is able to make that all happen in this novella, something that even some novels can't do and a challenge to any writer as the story has fewer and fewer words alloted. Mama Fish is only the first story of Rio Youers' that I have read. But based in the strength, passion, and artistry this book is brimmed with, it won't be my last and I bet there will be many more stories for a long time.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best books of 2009,
This review is from: Mama Fish (Paperback)
I sat down to read MAMA FISH knowing very little about it, and, incredibly, before I stood back up, I had finished the entire book. The fact that Youers enthralled me so thoroughly with this novella without relying on go-for-the-jugular action or in-you-face shocks is even more incredible. Instead, he relies on his talent for writing exquisite prose and trusting this unique story to unfold at its own perfect pace. The characters, too, are full realized, sympathetic and engaging. To reveal too much about the plot would cheat new readers from the mysteries that lie in wait for them, but I will say that MAMA is not who/what I expected her to be...
After winning me over with his first novel, END TIMES, Youers has created a die-hard fan in me with MAMA FISH. This guy's going to go far.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mama Fish is a great story!,
By
This review is from: Mama Fish (Paperback)
Mama Fish is a great little story with interesting twists and unexpected turns. The writing style is clean, reminiscent of Robert R. McCammon's later work. Frankly, if Rio keeps writing stories that are so well crafted he'll soon be the hottest new writer in the world. Do I recommend this book? Oh yes. I most certainly do... James Roy Daley, author of The Dead Parade - The Dead Parade
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
