Review: worth reading twice, I believe
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 17, 2011
I don't in general seek out science fiction, but I'm very glad I picked up Damon Suede's novella "Grown Men." This story of survival, hope, and friendship is more than just a good read. It is worth reading twice, I believe, because not only has Mr. Suede given us memorable characters, he has created a world with a very three-dimensional, realistic feel to it. This is a fascinating, detailed, and perhaps even believable universe controlled by corporation and commerce, where human life is worth less than corporate profit and a corporate slogan - "Hardcell means business" - can affect life and death.Instead of being a traditional romance, "Grown Men" is a story of friendship that grows into the promise of love. There is no across-a-crowded-room lightning-struck love at first sight. Instead, the heroes develop companionship and partnership and codependence as they rely upon each other to survive, and we witness their feelings gradually evolve over the course of the narrative. At one point in the story, Runt asks Ox, "am I not your friend?" and the scene is as touching as any "I love you." And while there is sex in Grown Men - quite imaginative sex, given the issues presented by the size difference between the two heroes - that is not the be-all and end-all of the story. Instead, sex cements a relationship that has been growing all along.I enjoy Mr. Suede's writing style. It is concise yet flows gracefully; it is descriptive without being wordy. He brings his setting and his characters to brilliant life from the very first page, immersing us in the world almost as if we were participants in the storyline. As I read, I felt as if I were standing right alongside the characters experiencing their lives as they wrangle eels, count the stars, and dream of the future. Mr. Suede brings us right into the psyche of his main character, Runt, sharing his hopes and desperation and fears with us in a way that makes us identity with him immediately."Grown Men" is told from the viewpoint of the character Runt. He begins his story with a bald statement of fear, which builds into a thread suspense as Runt wonders when his assassin will finally terminate him. Ox remains a bit of a mystery in the story, and that keeps us thoroughly involved and wondering as we read.Since this is subtitled HardCell Universe: First Transmission, I am going to assume that we will be seeing additional titles by Mr. Suede that take place in this universe. I certainly hope so, because my interest has been piqued by questions left unanswered. Perhaps the next HardCell transmission will fill in the blanks.Overall, I enjoyed reading "Grown Men" and thought it to be imaginative and very well-written indeed. Mr. Suede is a talented author, and he has definitely won my admiration.