ADD THIS BOOK TO YOUR SHELF OR KINDLE LIBRARY NOW
Before Indie Authors, writers like William Browning Spencer hawked their books at readings, conventions, open mikes and over the radio trying to build an audience face-to-face. The Internet was barely out of diapers and AOL was the king of social media ("you've got mail"). Publishers like St. Martin's Press would recognize their talent, release their book in hard cover, and abandon them to market their work without a platform.
I knew Bill, and other Austin writers Neal Barrett Jr., Don Webb (and occasionally ran across Texas writer Joe Lonsdale). I watched them cart their books to readings and conventions, invited myself to dinner after to listen to the mysteries of becoming published. Instead I heard them discuss how their publishers basically left them to buy their own books and hawk them anywhere they could. Their main marketing tools were their voices and their faces. If they were, lucky, they would sell enough copies to get the book into paperback where they could earn a real profit. Zod Wallop did that. (Lonsdale sold a couple of his for movies).
I mention their names now to Indie Authors, and few know who they are, or of any of the other backlist authors who paved the future for indie writing. Which is a shame because they paved the way to our success, and, in many cases, their books were as good or better than the books sold on Amazon for Kindle today.
Finally, they're finding their way to Kindle.
Zod Wallop was, in my opinion, the best of that lot, the only book I still pick up and read over and over. I used to teach it in my literature classes along with Huck Finn and Love in the Ruins (two more books I return to time and again).
He can't craft finely spun prose like Percy or Hemingway, but he does weave vivid imagery. In fact, his images grapple with the psyche, compelling readers to read on and follow the story of a man who lost his child, his wife, his mind and possibly the fabric of reality.
AND NOW, THE BOOK
I must confess, writers who invoke the trope of families torn apart by the death of a child, whether in fiction or film, usually drown their work in melodrama or triteness. Only Anne Tyler, in The Accidental Tourist, and Spencer, in Zod Wallop, transcended that trap. Spenser drags his readers easily back and forth between the borders of reason and Boschian fantasy.
Harry Gainesborough, children's author and illustrator, wrote his bestseller Zod Wallop after his daughter Amy drowned, his wife Jeanne left him and he suffered a mental breakdown. Few readers know, however, that before he wrote the bestselling version—a version in which the world and it's child heroine are saved —he wrote a darker version with no redemption for anyone. That version contained demonic overlords, frost giants and flying soul-sucking manta rays called Ralewings.
Fellow inmate Raymond Story found that manuscript and decided it depicted the secret lives of the inmates who would eventually rebel against the overlords who ran the institution. Years later, after the success of the candy-coated version, Raymond and friends escape the institution and want Harry to join them on a road trip to Florida to prevent the escape of the overlords into the world. One problem, however. The Ralewings escaped the institution with them.
For real.
From this premise, Spencer weaves a world of increasing complexity, almost like the fractal images that were popular at the time he wrote—generating more and more detail with each iteration of the story. He drafts a pool of vivid characters (Raymond Story, the grotesque clown; Emily, comatose since childhood yet somehow married to Raymond, Dr. Peake, who crossed between reams where he serves as Lord Draining, evil overlord). Spencer ties them together with an experimental drug Ecknazine, originally designed to heal the patients until the corporation that owns the institution discovers its military applications.
Spenser serves up more twists than a complete volume of O'Henry stories, more fantastic creatures than a Tim Burton marathon, and enough imagery to keep your psyche on the analyst's couch for weeks. Ironically, this would have been a children's book when I was a kid, the great kind, like Huck Finn, that adults love too. But the people freak at your children hearing Huck call Jim the "n" word would suffer an Ecknazine meltdown if your kids saw a copy of Zod Wallop.
I hope I live long enough to read this book a couple more times because it's that good. Spencer delivers everything an author should deliver, imaginative prose, vivid imagery, memorable characters and a mind-blowing plot. If only St. Martin's had the balls to spend money on a real marketing campaign, this book could have been the Catch-22, or even the Wizard of Oz of my generation.
Rating system:
5 = Delicious dialogue, crisp prose, clever characters & compelling plot
4 = Great read, won't want to stop (5 for many reviewers)
3 = Worth buying but…
2 = I will tell you what audience will like this, but other readers might want to look elsewhere
1 = If I review a book this bad I felt seriously compelled to warn you
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of "Cigerets, Guns & Beer," "Raising Hell" and the new release "Seeing Jesus."
PS: Just for fun I'm attaching an image of the original dust jacket. I have copies of the book in hardcover, paper and in my Kindle library
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
One of the Best Five Books of Which You've Never Heard
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
ADD THIS BOOK TO YOUR SHELF OR KINDLE LIBRARY NOWBefore Indie Authors, writers like William Browning Spencer hawked their books at readings, conventions, open mikes and over the radio trying to build an audience face-to-face. The Internet was barely out of diapers and AOL was the king of social media ("you've got mail"). Publishers like St. Martin's Press would recognize their talent, release their book in hard cover, and abandon them to market their work without a platform.I knew Bill, and other Austin writers Neal Barrett Jr., Don Webb (and occasionally ran across Texas writer Joe Lonsdale). I watched them cart their books to readings and conventions, invited myself to dinner after to listen to the mysteries of becoming published. Instead I heard them discuss how their publishers basically left them to buy their own books and hawk them anywhere they could. Their main marketing tools were their voices and their faces. If they were, lucky, they would sell enough copies to get the book into paperback where they could earn a real profit. Zod Wallop did that. (Lonsdale sold a couple of his for movies).I mention their names now to Indie Authors, and few know who they are, or of any of the other backlist authors who paved the future for indie writing. Which is a shame because they paved the way to our success, and, in many cases, their books were as good or better than the books sold on Amazon for Kindle today.Finally, they're finding their way to Kindle.Zod Wallop was, in my opinion, the best of that lot, the only book I still pick up and read over and over. I used to teach it in my literature classes along with Huck Finn and Love in the Ruins (two more books I return to time and again).He can't craft finely spun prose like Percy or Hemingway, but he does weave vivid imagery. In fact, his images grapple with the psyche, compelling readers to read on and follow the story of a man who lost his child, his wife, his mind and possibly the fabric of reality.AND NOW, THE BOOKI must confess, writers who invoke the trope of families torn apart by the death of a child, whether in fiction or film, usually drown their work in melodrama or triteness. Only Anne Tyler, in The Accidental Tourist, and Spencer, in Zod Wallop, transcended that trap. Spenser drags his readers easily back and forth between the borders of reason and Boschian fantasy.Harry Gainesborough, children's author and illustrator, wrote his bestseller Zod Wallop after his daughter Amy drowned, his wife Jeanne left him and he suffered a mental breakdown. Few readers know, however, that before he wrote the bestselling version—a version in which the world and it's child heroine are saved —he wrote a darker version with no redemption for anyone. That version contained demonic overlords, frost giants and flying soul-sucking manta rays called Ralewings.Fellow inmate Raymond Story found that manuscript and decided it depicted the secret lives of the inmates who would eventually rebel against the overlords who ran the institution. Years later, after the success of the candy-coated version, Raymond and friends escape the institution and want Harry to join them on a road trip to Florida to prevent the escape of the overlords into the world. One problem, however. The Ralewings escaped the institution with them.For real.From this premise, Spencer weaves a world of increasing complexity, almost like the fractal images that were popular at the time he wrote—generating more and more detail with each iteration of the story. He drafts a pool of vivid characters (Raymond Story, the grotesque clown; Emily, comatose since childhood yet somehow married to Raymond, Dr. Peake, who crossed between reams where he serves as Lord Draining, evil overlord). Spencer ties them together with an experimental drug Ecknazine, originally designed to heal the patients until the corporation that owns the institution discovers its military applications.Spenser serves up more twists than a complete volume of O'Henry stories, more fantastic creatures than a Tim Burton marathon, and enough imagery to keep your psyche on the analyst's couch for weeks. Ironically, this would have been a children's book when I was a kid, the great kind, like Huck Finn, that adults love too. But the people freak at your children hearing Huck call Jim the "n" word would suffer an Ecknazine meltdown if your kids saw a copy of Zod Wallop.I hope I live long enough to read this book a couple more times because it's that good. Spencer delivers everything an author should deliver, imaginative prose, vivid imagery, memorable characters and a mind-blowing plot. If only St. Martin's had the balls to spend money on a real marketing campaign, this book could have been the Catch-22, or even the Wizard of Oz of my generation.Rating system:5 = Delicious dialogue, crisp prose, clever characters & compelling plot4 = Great read, won't want to stop (5 for many reviewers)3 = Worth buying but…2 = I will tell you what audience will like this, but other readers might want to look elsewhere1 = If I review a book this bad I felt seriously compelled to warn youPhillip T. Stephens is the author of "Cigerets, Guns & Beer," "Raising Hell" and the new release "Seeing Jesus."PS: Just for fun I'm attaching an image of the original dust jacket. I have copies of the book in hardcover, paper and in my Kindle library
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
Before Indie Authors, writers like William Browning Spencer hawked their books at readings, conventions, open mikes and over the radio trying to build an audience face-to-face. The Internet was barely out of diapers and AOL was the king of social media ("you've got mail"). Publishers like St. Martin's Press would recognize their talent, release their book in hard cover, and abandon them to market their work without a platform.
I knew Bill, and other Austin writers Neal Barrett Jr., Don Webb (and occasionally ran across Texas writer Joe Lonsdale). I watched them cart their books to readings and conventions, invited myself to dinner after to listen to the mysteries of becoming published. Instead I heard them discuss how their publishers basically left them to buy their own books and hawk them anywhere they could. Their main marketing tools were their voices and their faces. If they were, lucky, they would sell enough copies to get the book into paperback where they could earn a real profit. Zod Wallop did that. (Lonsdale sold a couple of his for movies).
I mention their names now to Indie Authors, and few know who they are, or of any of the other backlist authors who paved the future for indie writing. Which is a shame because they paved the way to our success, and, in many cases, their books were as good or better than the books sold on Amazon for Kindle today.
Finally, they're finding their way to Kindle.
Zod Wallop was, in my opinion, the best of that lot, the only book I still pick up and read over and over. I used to teach it in my literature classes along with Huck Finn and Love in the Ruins (two more books I return to time and again).
He can't craft finely spun prose like Percy or Hemingway, but he does weave vivid imagery. In fact, his images grapple with the psyche, compelling readers to read on and follow the story of a man who lost his child, his wife, his mind and possibly the fabric of reality.
AND NOW, THE BOOK
I must confess, writers who invoke the trope of families torn apart by the death of a child, whether in fiction or film, usually drown their work in melodrama or triteness. Only Anne Tyler, in The Accidental Tourist, and Spencer, in Zod Wallop, transcended that trap. Spenser drags his readers easily back and forth between the borders of reason and Boschian fantasy.
Harry Gainesborough, children's author and illustrator, wrote his bestseller Zod Wallop after his daughter Amy drowned, his wife Jeanne left him and he suffered a mental breakdown. Few readers know, however, that before he wrote the bestselling version—a version in which the world and it's child heroine are saved —he wrote a darker version with no redemption for anyone. That version contained demonic overlords, frost giants and flying soul-sucking manta rays called Ralewings.
Fellow inmate Raymond Story found that manuscript and decided it depicted the secret lives of the inmates who would eventually rebel against the overlords who ran the institution. Years later, after the success of the candy-coated version, Raymond and friends escape the institution and want Harry to join them on a road trip to Florida to prevent the escape of the overlords into the world. One problem, however. The Ralewings escaped the institution with them.
For real.
From this premise, Spencer weaves a world of increasing complexity, almost like the fractal images that were popular at the time he wrote—generating more and more detail with each iteration of the story. He drafts a pool of vivid characters (Raymond Story, the grotesque clown; Emily, comatose since childhood yet somehow married to Raymond, Dr. Peake, who crossed between reams where he serves as Lord Draining, evil overlord). Spencer ties them together with an experimental drug Ecknazine, originally designed to heal the patients until the corporation that owns the institution discovers its military applications.
Spenser serves up more twists than a complete volume of O'Henry stories, more fantastic creatures than a Tim Burton marathon, and enough imagery to keep your psyche on the analyst's couch for weeks. Ironically, this would have been a children's book when I was a kid, the great kind, like Huck Finn, that adults love too. But the people freak at your children hearing Huck call Jim the "n" word would suffer an Ecknazine meltdown if your kids saw a copy of Zod Wallop.
I hope I live long enough to read this book a couple more times because it's that good. Spencer delivers everything an author should deliver, imaginative prose, vivid imagery, memorable characters and a mind-blowing plot. If only St. Martin's had the balls to spend money on a real marketing campaign, this book could have been the Catch-22, or even the Wizard of Oz of my generation.
Rating system:
5 = Delicious dialogue, crisp prose, clever characters & compelling plot
4 = Great read, won't want to stop (5 for many reviewers)
3 = Worth buying but…
2 = I will tell you what audience will like this, but other readers might want to look elsewhere
1 = If I review a book this bad I felt seriously compelled to warn you
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of "Cigerets, Guns & Beer," "Raising Hell" and the new release "Seeing Jesus."
PS: Just for fun I'm attaching an image of the original dust jacket. I have copies of the book in hardcover, paper and in my Kindle library
One of the Best Five Books of Which You've Never Heard
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
ADD THIS BOOK TO YOUR SHELF OR KINDLE LIBRARY NOWReviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
Before Indie Authors, writers like William Browning Spencer hawked their books at readings, conventions, open mikes and over the radio trying to build an audience face-to-face. The Internet was barely out of diapers and AOL was the king of social media ("you've got mail"). Publishers like St. Martin's Press would recognize their talent, release their book in hard cover, and abandon them to market their work without a platform.
I knew Bill, and other Austin writers Neal Barrett Jr., Don Webb (and occasionally ran across Texas writer Joe Lonsdale). I watched them cart their books to readings and conventions, invited myself to dinner after to listen to the mysteries of becoming published. Instead I heard them discuss how their publishers basically left them to buy their own books and hawk them anywhere they could. Their main marketing tools were their voices and their faces. If they were, lucky, they would sell enough copies to get the book into paperback where they could earn a real profit. Zod Wallop did that. (Lonsdale sold a couple of his for movies).
I mention their names now to Indie Authors, and few know who they are, or of any of the other backlist authors who paved the future for indie writing. Which is a shame because they paved the way to our success, and, in many cases, their books were as good or better than the books sold on Amazon for Kindle today.
Finally, they're finding their way to Kindle.
Zod Wallop was, in my opinion, the best of that lot, the only book I still pick up and read over and over. I used to teach it in my literature classes along with Huck Finn and Love in the Ruins (two more books I return to time and again).
He can't craft finely spun prose like Percy or Hemingway, but he does weave vivid imagery. In fact, his images grapple with the psyche, compelling readers to read on and follow the story of a man who lost his child, his wife, his mind and possibly the fabric of reality.
AND NOW, THE BOOK
I must confess, writers who invoke the trope of families torn apart by the death of a child, whether in fiction or film, usually drown their work in melodrama or triteness. Only Anne Tyler, in The Accidental Tourist, and Spencer, in Zod Wallop, transcended that trap. Spenser drags his readers easily back and forth between the borders of reason and Boschian fantasy.
Harry Gainesborough, children's author and illustrator, wrote his bestseller Zod Wallop after his daughter Amy drowned, his wife Jeanne left him and he suffered a mental breakdown. Few readers know, however, that before he wrote the bestselling version—a version in which the world and it's child heroine are saved —he wrote a darker version with no redemption for anyone. That version contained demonic overlords, frost giants and flying soul-sucking manta rays called Ralewings.
Fellow inmate Raymond Story found that manuscript and decided it depicted the secret lives of the inmates who would eventually rebel against the overlords who ran the institution. Years later, after the success of the candy-coated version, Raymond and friends escape the institution and want Harry to join them on a road trip to Florida to prevent the escape of the overlords into the world. One problem, however. The Ralewings escaped the institution with them.
For real.
From this premise, Spencer weaves a world of increasing complexity, almost like the fractal images that were popular at the time he wrote—generating more and more detail with each iteration of the story. He drafts a pool of vivid characters (Raymond Story, the grotesque clown; Emily, comatose since childhood yet somehow married to Raymond, Dr. Peake, who crossed between reams where he serves as Lord Draining, evil overlord). Spencer ties them together with an experimental drug Ecknazine, originally designed to heal the patients until the corporation that owns the institution discovers its military applications.
Spenser serves up more twists than a complete volume of O'Henry stories, more fantastic creatures than a Tim Burton marathon, and enough imagery to keep your psyche on the analyst's couch for weeks. Ironically, this would have been a children's book when I was a kid, the great kind, like Huck Finn, that adults love too. But the people freak at your children hearing Huck call Jim the "n" word would suffer an Ecknazine meltdown if your kids saw a copy of Zod Wallop.
I hope I live long enough to read this book a couple more times because it's that good. Spencer delivers everything an author should deliver, imaginative prose, vivid imagery, memorable characters and a mind-blowing plot. If only St. Martin's had the balls to spend money on a real marketing campaign, this book could have been the Catch-22, or even the Wizard of Oz of my generation.
Rating system:
5 = Delicious dialogue, crisp prose, clever characters & compelling plot
4 = Great read, won't want to stop (5 for many reviewers)
3 = Worth buying but…
2 = I will tell you what audience will like this, but other readers might want to look elsewhere
1 = If I review a book this bad I felt seriously compelled to warn you
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of "Cigerets, Guns & Beer," "Raising Hell" and the new release "Seeing Jesus."
PS: Just for fun I'm attaching an image of the original dust jacket. I have copies of the book in hardcover, paper and in my Kindle library
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2011
id hate to say im resposible for this book coming out out kindle
but sheesh i hit that would like to see this book on kindle about 500 times over the past few years
so much so that about a year ago after getting my kindle and going back over old books ive read that i would like to read again this title was the first on that list
i read about three books a week and love not having to carry a hardcover or even a paperback for that matter during my commute so the kindle was my way to go and since have not read an actual "book" in years
but every week id go on amazon looking for something to throw on the kindle and with out fail every time id look to see if my "Zod Wallop" was there
it was bordering on a ritualistic impulse to check
so back to about the time i started looking for this book on the amazon site in kindle form i found amazon sellers selling hard covers of the book in decent shape and had to have one
well i bought three actually
this is a really special book! :)
so about two weeks after the fustration of still never finding my "Zod Wallop" in kindle form i broke all tradition and carried around the hard cover to get my fix i only remembered from its original publication date of the paperback years and years ago
it was just as amazing as i remembered it and not two weeks later
here it is relased on kindle
thanks i guess
now the third time of reading this wont have me breaking my tradition
this is the fifth copy of this book ive purchased in three different forms
and who knows whatthe future will hold but ill be sure to want my first download/implant or what have you to be my "Zod Wallop"
thanks William Browning Spencer
This books rocks!!!
but sheesh i hit that would like to see this book on kindle about 500 times over the past few years
so much so that about a year ago after getting my kindle and going back over old books ive read that i would like to read again this title was the first on that list
i read about three books a week and love not having to carry a hardcover or even a paperback for that matter during my commute so the kindle was my way to go and since have not read an actual "book" in years
but every week id go on amazon looking for something to throw on the kindle and with out fail every time id look to see if my "Zod Wallop" was there
it was bordering on a ritualistic impulse to check
so back to about the time i started looking for this book on the amazon site in kindle form i found amazon sellers selling hard covers of the book in decent shape and had to have one
well i bought three actually
this is a really special book! :)
so about two weeks after the fustration of still never finding my "Zod Wallop" in kindle form i broke all tradition and carried around the hard cover to get my fix i only remembered from its original publication date of the paperback years and years ago
it was just as amazing as i remembered it and not two weeks later
here it is relased on kindle
thanks i guess
now the third time of reading this wont have me breaking my tradition
this is the fifth copy of this book ive purchased in three different forms
and who knows whatthe future will hold but ill be sure to want my first download/implant or what have you to be my "Zod Wallop"
thanks William Browning Spencer
This books rocks!!!
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2011
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2015
