Kevin's Watch

Cail wrote:Thanks to the film The Sixth Sense, consumers of all fictional media; be it TV, films, or books, have come to expect a plot twist at the climax of the story. Some, like the aforementioned film, become the stuff of legends; a part of the shared social lexicon. Others are doomed to be pedestrian copycats; pale imitations of the truly creative.

The Flower of Doom, a new short novel from Thomas Cummins and Danny Southard is firmly in the former group. It is, of course, not surprising that there's a plot twist (and I won't dare spoil it for the uninitiated). What is shocking is how well the twist is integrated into the narrative. When it comes, it is completely unexpected, yet seamlessly works with the story (unlike, say The Village).

Without giving away the secret, I can say that the cast of characters is large but well fleshed-out (especially the marvelously realized Larry Pernish), the locations are breathtakingly drawn, and the scope of the story can only be described as epic.

Like The Sixth Sense, I found myself starting the journey again the second I finished it, breathlessly looking for clues to the devious twist. Repeated readings do not diminish the impact of the story in the least.

And I think that's the highest praise you can give a book. No twist here, I highly recommend the engaging The Flower of Doom.

Friends and Enemies

Ralph got to work promptly at 6:55 in the morning, and punched his time card as the work bell went off. His co-worker, Sam, greeted him with a sleepy “Good morning, Ralph”, and Ralph replied in a likewise manner. Ralph and Sam walked out to the work site. Sam headed to the eastern end of the site, while Ralph climbed up one of the soft, rolling hills that lay upon the southern perimeter of the work site. The view at the top of the hill was gorgeous; acres of open land spread out before Ralph in a generous expanse of fertile plains, and Ralph could make out herds of sheep grazing lazily several miles to the northeast of him. Sitting in the shady lee of an ancient oak, Ralph began to plot out his day’s activities. Studying the sheep through his binoculars, Ralph could not detect the presence of Sam, who usually set up shop near or even amongst the sheep. Good, thought Ralph, that’ll just make my job easier.

After a few hours of casual surveillance, followed by several minutes of preparation (I.E. camouflage), Ralph approached the herd of sheep, quietly joining their woolly masses. Still no sign of Sam, Ralph thought. Good; this’ll definitely make my job easier. Ralph acted quickly, so as not to disturb the grazing sheep. Ralph saddled up next to a particularly plump sheep, grabbed it, tied it up, and ran back towards his spot on the hill, carrying the docile animal to his destination. Ralph then took off his costume, grabbed his eating utensils, and walked towards the unsuspecting sheep.

Things happened quickly then. The sheep stood up on its hind legs, shook off the ropes binding it, grasped a hidden zipper at the base of its throat, and took off its disguise, revealing none other than Sam. Ralph had just enough time to mutter to himself “damn clever, Sam” before Sam levelled his twelve-gauge shotgun and fired once, sending the blackened body of Ralph to the ground with a painful wet thud.

Just then the lunch bell rang. Ralph got up, wiped the smoot off his face and chest, and sat down next to Sam. “So, what’d your wife pack you today, Sam?” Ralph asked, genuinely curious. “Ham and Liverwurst again, Ralph”. Ralph loved Ham and Liverwurst, and Sam knew it. Before he could even ask, Sam said “Trade you” and Ralph gladly completed the deal, handing Sam his own Salami sandwich, which happened to be one of Sam’s favourites. The two of them sat there eating, exchanging silly jokes like “What has nine arms and sucks?” (answer: Def Leppard) when an odd thing happened. Off in the distance, Southerland Castle lifted off the face of the planet in a fiery plume of smoke. Sam looked at Ralph, and asked “did you know that Southerland Castle was in fact a spaceship?”

sgt.null wrote:oh great. there is additional story??? i didn't know this was going to be a maze when i signed up. i want to renegotiate the terms of our deal.

Cail wrote:Thanks to the film The Sixth Sense, consumers of all fictional media; be it TV, films, or books, have come to expect a plot twist at the climax of the story. Some, like the aforementioned film, become the stuff of legends; a part of the shared social lexicon. Others are doomed to be pedestrian copycats; pale imitations of the truly creative.

The Flower of Doom, a new short novel from Thomas Cummins and Danny Southard is firmly in the former group. It is, of course, not surprising that there's a plot twist (and I won't dare spoil it for the uninitiated). What is shocking is how well the twist is integrated into the narrative. When it comes, it is completely unexpected, yet seamlessly works with the story (unlike, say The Village).

Without giving away the secret, I can say that the cast of characters is large but well fleshed-out (especially the marvelously realized Larry Pernish), the locations are breathtakingly drawn, and the scope of the story can only be described as epic.

Like The Sixth Sense, I found myself starting the journey again the second I finished it, breathlessly looking for clues to the devious twist. Repeated readings do not diminish the impact of the story in the least.

And I think that's the highest praise you can give a book. No twist here, I highly recommend the engaging The Flower of Doom.

Hayree Smiff, prezeeden uf thee Dountoun Loots Eelitereight Buk Llub: "Aftur reedeeng Flowere uf Doom, eye'v nevre bin so glad too bee eelitereight inn mie hoel lyff!"

If the word unique has ever, in the history of modern man, been used to its fullest exent it certainly applies to Flower of Doom. After reading the book this reviewer was forced to his knees and empty the contents of his stomach. The narrative was THAT powerful. Anyone who has the intestinal fortitude to purchase Flower of Doom deserves what he or she gets in return.

sgt.null wrote:a tasty melange?

aTOMiC wrote:

iamarobot wrote:I'll give it a read!

www.lulu.com/content/1830971

I have modified the book site so that you can download it free of charge.
Enjoy

dANdeLION wrote:Jeez, every day that passes this becomes more of a Tom book and less of a Tom & dAN book....he's even redone the cover now, meaning my only contribution is the map and dedication......