The Harvest, A "Science-Politico" Novel (Kindle Edition)

by Perry Brass (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

(from "Literature in 1997: Brilliance and Boredom.") "The Harvest," by Perry Brass, is about a budding gay romance in a hateful futuristic America. It is one of the ten best books of 1997. -- Steven Lavigne in Lavender Magazine, Minneapolis, MN, Dec. 19, 1997

Perrry Brass is a man of many literary talents and his writings run the gamut from poetry to drama to the heavy-duty Smoky George gayrotic stories. However, if his published works are any indications, Brass's speciality is science fiction. In the "Ki Trilogy"-"Mirage," "Circles," and "Albert"-Brass created a alternate world of men-loving men at odds with our own homophobic society. But as good as the "Ki" books are, Brass clearly outdid himself in "The Harvest," his latest and best. In the "Ki" books, Brass created a homoerotic Utopia. In "the Harvest," Brass created the opposite-a society that's dysfunctional through and through. . . . In George Nader's "Chrome" the hero dared to love a robot. In "The Harvest," (a vastly superior novel) Chris Turner falls in love with a vacco, Hart256043, who realizes his humanity and seeks to escape his fate. . . . Brass uses his future world as a way to comment on our present one, and sets his sights on Big Government, multinational corporations, Christian communes, police corruption, and the popular mania for "law and order." The Harvest looks at what could happen when science goes amuck and humans allow the almight State (or the Almighty Corporation) to control their lives. It is a cautionary tale, and an exciting one, the kind of story the Corporation would not allow its citizens to read but one which we are fortunate to enjoy. -- Jesse Monteagudo writing in The Weekly News, Miami, FL, Dec. 17, 1997

Perry Brass is a hero to gay horror fans and you will not be disappointed by The Harvest. Set in an all-too-familiar future, one all-powerful corporation runs America and guarantees health, happiness, and prosperity. Transplants are the the norm but the organs are removed from laboratory-produced humans. 'Hunky' Hart escapes and how can any self-respecting gay man resist his most valuable asset? -- Jeffrey Baines in Gay Times, London, England, Nov. 1997

Perry Brass's latest book revives the politics of George Orwell and the futurism of A Clockwork Orange and sets them in the midst of the contemporary cloning controversy. The Harvest begins with Chris Turner, a designer for the Corporation, the political machine responsible for societal conformity and, even more grisly, the harvesting of vaccos: living, cloned cadavers who feed the economy by existing soley as involuntary donors for organ tranplants. When Hart, one of the brighter vaccos, escapes and falls in love with Chris, they defy the Corporation by attempting to steal the drugs to keep Hart alive. Brass's brilliant writing explores questions of sexuality, indentity, class structure, and religion. The Harvest is an artistic and terrifyingly prophetic depiction of science merging with politics and its universal consequences. -- John Pruitt writing in Icon Magazine, Toronto, Ontario, April, 1998

Product Description

A classic novel whose truths never seem out of date, The Harvest is a universal story of human love against all odds, even if one of the lovers is not fully human. Nonstop action, incendiary eroticism, and a stark, well-thought-out scientific and political background make this an unforgettable reading experience.
In the not-so-distant future, one Corporation, combining government and business, will rule America (in other words, the real "Bail Out" is here). Food, shelter, and above all, health, will be prioritized as an old elite Corporate class rises again, behind a mask of “universal health and happiness.” Much of the “Corp’s” wealth will be invested in the production of vaccos, living human analogues, “Corporate cadavers,” raised on isolated ranches as sources for organ and tissue transplants. Drugged on “euphorics,” the vaccos will be regularly euthanized, or “harvested,” for organs scheduled for a waiting list of patients.
One such vacco, the valuable “Corporate property” Hart256043, will escape. At an underground bar specializing in illicit sex and drugs, he meets Edgar Devereaux, a successful designer and adopted son of Joshua Morgan Devereaux, a member of the Corporate board. But Edgar has a secret: he was born Chris Turner, a lower-class renegade—and can never shake his origins or a desire to retaste his wild youth. Chris and Hart bond. They discover within each other compassion, fulfillment, and a completeness outside the boundaries of “Corp” life. Edgar will reject his stepfather’s lifestyle, and join with Hart to do anything—including kill—to ensure the vacco’s survival. And Hart, one of the most appealing characters to appear in contemporary fiction, will find in the reborn Chris Turner the humanity he needs to survive.
Another pulse-pounding novel from Perry Brass, author of the gay science fiction classic, Mirage, and its sequels, Circles and Albert or The Book Of Man , about which New York’s Men’s Style magazine said: “Depth of vision and a mastery of solid prose, Brass gives us a book where lesser writers have only a premise.” With non-stop action, gothic “Frankenstein” elements, white-hot gay eroticism, and a political slant for our times, The Harvest will be one of the most talked about gender-topic books of any season. “Facinating . . . adventurous.” London Gay Times. “One of the Ten Best Books of 1997,” Lavender Magazine, Minneapolis. “In George Nader’s Chrome, the hero dared to fall in love with a robot. In The Harvest—a vastly superior novel, Chris Turner falls in love with a vacco, Hart256043.” Jesse Monteagudo, The Weekly News, Miami, Florida. Finalist, 1998 Lambda Literary Award, Gay and Lesbian Science Fiction.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 340 KB
• Print Length: 216 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Belhue Press; Kindle edition edition (January 30, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001R4BTRG
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #109,487 in Kindle Store (See Bestsellers in Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars flawed and depressing, October 5, 2006

By	Furio (Genova - Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Harvest: A Novel (Paperback)

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.

4.0 out of 5 stars Low-life hustler proves his worth, January 4, 2007

By	Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Harvest: A Novel (Paperback)

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.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Page-Turner! So Many Layers!, March 11, 2008

By	Jane (Canada) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Harvest: A Novel (Paperback)

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,