Kerry Alan Denney is
The Reality Bender
Add text
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • BOOKS
    • STALKING GIDEON CAIN >
      • STALKING GIDEON CAIN - Free Sneak Preview
    • BEYOND THE VALE >
      • BEYOND THE VALE: Author C.E. Clayton review 12/24/2017
      • BEYOND THE VALE: By Rite of Word review 12/6/2017
      • BEYOND THE VALE: Desert Rose Reviews 12/28/2017
      • BEYOND THE VALE: Author Amy Shannon Review 12/23/2017
    • BEYOND THE VALE Sneak Preview
    • A MIGHTY ROLLING THUNDER >
      • A MIGHTY ROLLING THUNDER - Free Sneak Preview!
    • MARIONETTES >
      • Rave 5-star review for MARIONETTES - Sherry Fundin at Fundinmental - June 16, 2016
      • MARIONETTES Facebook Release Party - June 5, 2016
      • The Bookie Monster - Rave "5-Monster" Review for MARIONETTES May 28, 2016
      • The Reader's Hollow reviews MARIONETTES May 3, 2016
      • MARIONETTES Sneak Preview
    • DREAMWEAVERS >
      • DREAMWEAVERS: 1st Ever "Editor's Choice" at The Daily Druid - November 30, 2015
      • DREAMWEAVERS Book Release Party on Facebook - August 9, 2015
      • DREAMWEAVERS Spotlight Feature on The Bookie Monster 8/6/2015
      • DREAMWEAVERS Cover Reveal on The Bookie Monster - June 9, 2015
    • JAGANNATH >
      • JAGANNATH Spotlight Feature on The Bookie Monster 2/19/2015
      • Horror Fiction Fanatic features JAGANNATH 2/4/2015
      • JAGANNATH Cover Reveal on The Bookie Monster
      • JAGANNATH 2015 Book Blog Tour Extravaganza! >
        • 2/4/2015: Author Clarissa Johal features JAGANNATH
        • 2/7/2015: Clarissa Johal Blog features "Kerry Alan Denney Interviews Corporal Kimi Jayden, Heroine of JAGANNATH" 2/7/2015
        • 2/9/2015: Fantastic Indie Authors interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
        • 2/9/2015: Book Freebies and Giveaways features JAGANNATH with Giveaway Contest
        • 2/10/2015: Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews features JAGANNATH with Giveaway Contest
        • 2/11/2015: Cryptic Reads features Kerry Alan Denney's "Interview with Lily, teenage heroine/ protagonist of JAGANNATH"
        • 2/12/2015: Science Fiction Books & Authors features "Interview with Jason Riley, son of Lieutenant Scott Riley and hero of JAGANNATH"
        • 2/13/2015: Warrior Woman Winmill features JAGANNATH with Giveaway Contest
        • 2/16/2015: Apocalipstick: All Things End of the World features JAGANNATH & Giveaway Contest
        • 2/17/2015: Indy Book Fairy features JAGANNATH
        • 2/18 2015: Charlotte Gerber features JAGANNATH with Giveaway Contest
        • 2/19/2015: Horror and Mystery Books features "Interview with The Reaper, the monster from your darkest nightmares"
        • 2/20/2015: The Best Indie Books to Read: "5 Tips on Reaching & Engaging Your Target Audience"
        • 2/26/2015: The Complete Self-Publishing Indie Authors Resource Site interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
        • 3/2/2015: Hardcore Books, Video Games, and Readers features "5 Things You Didn't Know About Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender"
        • 3/3/2015: Horror and Slasher Film and Books features "Interview with The Reaper from JAGANNATH"
        • 3/5/2015: Bestseller Books features "Where Do I Get My Story Ideas?" article by Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
        • 3/6/2015: Satin's Bookish Corner features article "Why Do I Write?" by Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
      • JAGANNATH listing on Permuted Press
    • SOULSNATCHER >
      • Spotlight on SOULSNATCHER by The Bookie Monster September 12, 2014
    • Published Short Stories
    • Published Poems
  • MEDIA
    • Interviews >
      • Trick or Treat Thrillers interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender - August 5, 2015
      • DAB OF DARKNESS interviews Kerry Alan Denney, author of DREAMWEAVERS 8/3/15
      • Poetic Zombie "Tuesday Treat": An interview with Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender 3/24/2015
      • Kindra Sowder CEO of Burning Willow Press interview with Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender 2/26/2015
      • The Complete Self-Publishing Indie Authors Resource Site interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender 2/26/2015
      • Fantastic Indie Authors interviews Kerry Alan Denney 2/9/2015
      • authorsinterviews - Fiona McVie interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender 2/3/2015
      • The Drunken Druid - The Thursday Interview - November 27, 2014
      • Ginger Nuts of Horror Interviews Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender - November 26, 2014
      • The Bookie Monster interview - September 23, 2014
      • Dark Moon Digest interview - July 23, 2014
    • Press Releases >
      • JAGANNATH Book Anouncement Press Release
      • SOULSNATCHER Book Announcement Press Release >
        • Spotlight on SOULSNATCHER by The Book Junkie November 15, 2014
    • Appearances - Live in Person >
      • Coming Saturday March 28, 2015: The Dahlonega Literary Festival
      • Wizard World Nashville Comic Con September 27, 2014
      • 2014 Decatur Book Festival Labor Day Weekend August 29 - 31, 2014
      • SOULSNATCHER Book Launch Party Saturday, June 14, 2014
      • Gwinnett County Public Library LOCAL AUTHOR DAY Saturday, May 17, 2014
    • Appearances - Radio and Podcast >
      • The Darkness Dwells Podcast - Guests Kerry Alan Denney, Kindra Sowder, & Edd Sowder - November 6, 2016
      • The Darkness Dwells Podcast - Guest Author Kerry Alan Denney - June 5, 2016
      • The Darkness Dwells Podcast - Guest Author Kerry Alan Denney - August 30, 2015
      • LIVE interview on The Authors-First Show 2/24/2015
      • The Apocalypse Nana Show guest author appearances
      • The Doug Dahlgren Show LIVE podcast interview
    • Features >
      • Coffee With A Canine - December 28, 2015
      • Clarissa Johal Blog features "Kerry Alan Denney Interviews Corporal Kimi Jayden, Heroine of JAGANNATH" 2/7/2015
      • #1 Amazon bestselling author Stevie Kopas features Author Spotlight: Kerry Alan Denney
      • Featured Author of the Week at Facebook's "Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Group" January 30, 2015
      • The Atlanta Writers Collective writer's critique group - Top 10 Finalist in Writer's Digest Competition
    • Guest Blog Posts >
      • "5 Amazing Things To Do With A Superpower" - on Darkness Dwells May 29, 2016
      • DARKNESS DWELLS features "Thoughts on Lucid Dreaming" by Kerry Alan Denney - June 9, 2015
      • Satin's Bookish Corner features article "Why Do I Write?" by Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
      • Bestseller Books features article "Where Do I Get My Story Ideas?" by Kerry Alan Denney aka The Reality Bender
      • HORROR ADDICTS.NET features Kerry Alan Denney's "Ghosts, Monsters, Aliens, and Other Dreadful and Dangerous Creatures: Why We Love Scary Stories"
      • "Ghosts, Monsters, Aliens, and Other Dangerous and Dreadful Creatures: Why We Love Scary Stories" article on Permuted Press blog
  • AWARDS
    • 2nd Place Winner: 2014 Book of the Year - The Drunken Druids International Book Award
    • First Place Winner, the Atlanta Writers Club Fall 2013 Short Story Contest
    • Honorable Mention, L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future contest 2nd quarter 2013
    • First Place Winner, the Atlanta Writers Club Fall 2009 Poetry Contest
  • REVIEWS
    • Online Reviews of DREAMWEAVERS >
      • HORROR ADDICTS rave review of DREAMWEAVERS - August 15, 2015
      • THE READER'S HOLLOW reviews DREAMWEAVERS 8/5/2015
    • Online reviews of JAGANNATH >
      • The Drunkend Druid's rave review for JAGANNATH 4/25/2015
      • SF Book Reviews rave review for JAGANNATH 3/13/2015
      • Netanella's rave 5-star review for JAGANNATH 3/4/2015
      • THE READER'S HOLLOW gives rave review for JAGANNATH 2/28/2015
      • THE BOOKIE MONSTER gives rave "5 cookie" review for JAGANNATH 2/22/2015
      • Cryptic Reads features Kerry Alan Denney's "Interview with Lily, teenage heroine/ protagonist of JAGANNATH" Plus rave review! 2/11/2015
      • Carrie January rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH on Amazon 2/10/2015
      • Ryan Hartung's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
      • BOOK MINION rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH - 2/3/2015
      • "Mallory Heart Reviews" rave review of JAGANNATH 2/3/2015
      • David Watson at HORROR ADDICTS rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH 2/3/2015
      • Rinny Rainwind's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
      • Sandra Shrewsbury's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
      • Barbara McKinley's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
      • Kaila Karg's rave 5-star review of JAGANNATH
    • Online reviews of SOULSNATCHER >
      • Rave 5-star review for SOULSNATCHER on The Bookie Monster
      • A Drunken Druids View rave review of SOULSNATCHER November 18, 2014
      • Denise's rave 5-star review for SOULSNATCHER
      • Marinda's rave 5-star review for SOULSNATCHER
      • Netanella's rave 5-star review for SOULSNATCHER
      • Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock reviews SOULSNATCHER November 19, 2014
      • Barbara McKinley's rave 5-star review of SOULSNATCHER
    • TESTIMONIALS >
      • Rave Reviews for SOULSNATCHER
      • Quotes from Writers & Colleagues
      • More Rave Reviews for SOULSNATCHER
      • Rave Reviews on OLD COOT
      • Rave Reviews on A CLATTER OF HOOVES
  • BLOG
  • The Reality Bender Author Interview Questionnaire
  • Your Interviews - Archived Links
    • Author Clarissa Johal 2/27/15
    • Author Kindra Sowder 1/15/2015
    • Author Stevie Kopas 12/13/2014
    • Author Jeremiah Israel 11/26/2014
    • Author Deborah D. Moore 11/18/2014
    • Author Gabi Plumm 11/12/2014
    • Author James "Remo" Jackson 11/5/2014
    • Author Dawn Peers 10/30/2014
    • Author Timothy Johnson 10/29/14
  • more...
    • PHOTOS
    • CONTACT
    • Favorite Publishers and Publicity LINKS
    • Favorite Authors & Websites
    • Favorite Reviewers & Bloggers
    • Music
    • Mouth-watering Recipes >
      • Quintrado's Jambalaya
      • Quintrado's Chili
      • Quintrado's Reality-Bending Real Spaghetti

The Reality Bender Reviews New York Times Bestselling Author Steve Alten's "SHARKMAN"

11/2/2014

0 Comments

 
Another Thrilling Ride Into the Mind of a Master Storyteller

Picture
As a seasoned fan of New York Times bestselling author Steve Alten, I picked up and read his most recent novel SHARKMAN expecting to be thrilled and entertained—and I was.

I freely admit I’m a sucker for a great genetic manipulation novel — Dean Koontz’s Shadowfires and Watchers are modern favorites of mine, along with H.G. Wells’s timeless classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, among a handful of others — and Steve Alten’s SHARKMAN has just been added to that short list of my favorites. I simply could not put this book down, and read it in two sittings — losing sleep in the process, and not minding a bit. I categorize SHARKMAN as a speculative fiction-slash-science fiction thriller, and it’s perfectly suitable for both a young adult and adult audience. There were hints of similarities to Deep Blue Sea — a fun, kick-ass shark movie which I thoroughly enjoyed — but SHARKMAN was plenty fresh and unique for me. I was captivated from start to finish.

The protagonist and first person narrator 17-year-old Kwan Wilson’s tragic auto accident — which turns him into a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, and kills his mother in the process — gives Kwan a maturity beyond his years, and a unique and bitter perspective on the world’s perception of disabled people that he struggles and learns to overcome... in a distinctly new way that’s quickly revealed through the unfolding events early in his story. A cast of compassionate, sympathetic, and likable characters helps him come to dubious terms with his handicap, instantly propelling me into his story and hooking me through to the climactic conclusion. The antagonists were devious and it was difficult for me to determine their allegiances, which is an aspect I loved. I’m not providing spoilers here: these events are shown from the opening, and I don’t want to ruin the fun surprises Mr. Alten has in store for both his veteran fans and new readers.

Picture
Mr. Alten manages to share this intriguing work of speculative fiction with all “showing” and no “telling.” This made the story and characters so real and immediate to me that I was in Kwan’s head and world from the start, and left that treasured lingering satisfaction in my mind over a great read after I finished that’s difficult for modern authors to achieve. The suspense never lets up, building page by page to a shattering finale in which all the seemingly disparate events fit together like perfectly interlocking puzzle pieces. In SHARKMAN, Mr. Alten has presented a wildly audacious concept that never stretched the limits of my suspension of disbelief, another accomplishment that I consider rare in modern speculative fiction.

Although the story offers a conspiracy theory element that some self-proclaimed “patriots” may find objectionable — I won’t give that away, because it’s an integral part of the story that’s gradually and cleverly revealed the more we learn about Kwan’s family history — I will remind prospective readers that this is a work of fiction, and we fiction writers have carte blanche to take an artist’s liberties with our works. I thoroughly enjoyed SHARKMAN, and highly recommend it to all lovers of fantastic fiction.

I give SHARKMAN a solid 4.5 stars out of 5 — a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10 — and eagerly anticipate Mr. Alten’s next novel. For me, he can’t finish writing and publishing it fast enough.

I hope this review was helpful to you in making your decision to purchase and read SHARKMAN, and happy reading to you all!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Subscribe to Kerry's Mailing List

    * indicates required
    Email Format

    Archives

    January 2021
    January 2019
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    October 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2013
    November 2010
    October 2010
    April 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All
    Dogs Our Furry Friends
    Dogs - Our Furry Friends
    Public Speaking

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

      Email Kerry!

    Submit
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.