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Netherworld #1
Heavy Metal Pulp: Pleasure Model
Presenting Heavy Metal Pulp, a new line of novels combining noir fiction with fantastic art featuring the themes, story lines, and graphic styles of Heavy Metal magazine.
In Pleasure Model , the first book in the Netherworld trilogy, down-and out police detective Rook gets a big break when he's assigned to a bizarre and vicious murder case. The clues are colder than the corpse and the case looks like it'll remain unsolved―until an eyewitness is discovered. But the witness is a Pleasure Model, an illegal gene-grown human. Plesur's only purpose is to provide satisfaction to her owner―in any way. When the murderer targets Plesur in order to eliminate the one witness, Rook takes her into hiding to protect her. Thus begins a descent into the dark world of exotic pleasure mods and their illicit buyers and manufacturers. Rook frantically looks for clues, struggling to stay one stop ahead of those looking to kill them both. But is Rook falling under Plesur's spell�.?
In Pleasure Model , the first book in the Netherworld trilogy, down-and out police detective Rook gets a big break when he's assigned to a bizarre and vicious murder case. The clues are colder than the corpse and the case looks like it'll remain unsolved―until an eyewitness is discovered. But the witness is a Pleasure Model, an illegal gene-grown human. Plesur's only purpose is to provide satisfaction to her owner―in any way. When the murderer targets Plesur in order to eliminate the one witness, Rook takes her into hiding to protect her. Thus begins a descent into the dark world of exotic pleasure mods and their illicit buyers and manufacturers. Rook frantically looks for clues, struggling to stay one stop ahead of those looking to kill them both. But is Rook falling under Plesur's spell�.?
240 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2010
11 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Rowley
52Ìýbooks94ÌýfollowersChristopher Rowley is a prolific writer of both science fiction and fantasy novels. He was born in 1948 in Lynn, Massachusetts to an American mother and an English father. Educated for the most part at Brentwood School, Essex, England, he became a London-based journalist in the 1970s. In 1977 he moved to New York City and began work on The War For Eternity, his first science fiction novel. He currently lives in upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 3, 2010
Received this ARC as a win from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. It is not a graphic novel as I thought but a 200+ page novel with occasional illustrations. Put out by Heavy Metal so you know it will be full of Sci-Fi, violence and sex. In other words, a hormonally challenged college boy should be the one reading this.
Instead they got this only slightly more mature 59 year old bookworm to read this while my wife gives me strange looks as she glances at the lurid cover...
So I finished it and it is pretty much what I expected from the first ten pages on; A R-rated cyberpunk sexploitation pulp novel. The writing is rather pedestrian with a few clever moments. The plot is fairly predictable to any one who ever picked up a Heavy Metal magazine and probably predictable even if they have not seen HM material. The plot is also quite chauvinistic. In the book, there are essentially two type of women; dumb sex object or smart sex object. The fact that this novel is only part of the story, leaving me on a cliff hanger as a hook to book 2, didn't help my assessment especially since I really don't care about what happens.
To rehash what I said in the first paragraph, this is adolescent fantasy stuff not really suitable for anyone over the age of 25 or without a penis. The chauvinistic attitude will either bore or offend most women. For the narrow audience I described...well...most of them might give this book a generous three stars for titillation value. As for me, barely two stars.
Instead they got this only slightly more mature 59 year old bookworm to read this while my wife gives me strange looks as she glances at the lurid cover...
So I finished it and it is pretty much what I expected from the first ten pages on; A R-rated cyberpunk sexploitation pulp novel. The writing is rather pedestrian with a few clever moments. The plot is fairly predictable to any one who ever picked up a Heavy Metal magazine and probably predictable even if they have not seen HM material. The plot is also quite chauvinistic. In the book, there are essentially two type of women; dumb sex object or smart sex object. The fact that this novel is only part of the story, leaving me on a cliff hanger as a hook to book 2, didn't help my assessment especially since I really don't care about what happens.
To rehash what I said in the first paragraph, this is adolescent fantasy stuff not really suitable for anyone over the age of 25 or without a penis. The chauvinistic attitude will either bore or offend most women. For the narrow audience I described...well...most of them might give this book a generous three stars for titillation value. As for me, barely two stars.
January 30, 2010
This is supposedly a cutting edge style of reading; half novel, half comic. What it actually is, is a simple large printed book with pictures. You might have seen others like this in the children section.
I'm not going to compare this book to rape statistics. No. Not will I won't mention the absurd and horrible sexualization of women portrayed in this “book,� not at all. I wont suggest that this book is in any way offensive to women. I won't be mentioning these things due to lack of words over how ashamed I think the people behind this should feel.
If anyone wants to see my un-edited review of this book, send me a copy of it with the return postage inside and I'll send it back to you saturated in my menstrual blood.
I'm not going to compare this book to rape statistics. No. Not will I won't mention the absurd and horrible sexualization of women portrayed in this “book,� not at all. I wont suggest that this book is in any way offensive to women. I won't be mentioning these things due to lack of words over how ashamed I think the people behind this should feel.
If anyone wants to see my un-edited review of this book, send me a copy of it with the return postage inside and I'll send it back to you saturated in my menstrual blood.
June 23, 2010
Now, I'm conflicted. I have a hard time rating this book a three when I know I've rated actual literature with three stars, but let's be realistic: this book is what it is. I mean, this is clearly a book that one reads in an afternoon, in one's parents' basement. I mean, it's not going to change the way you view the world, it's not going to cure what ills the world, it's not going to prevent anyone from writing bad checks, but...as pulp paperbacks go...really...NOT bad! There's an actual plot and I found it (dare I say) sort of compelling.
This was an Advanced Copy, and I appreciate it.
SPOILER (kind of): A Dominatrix is showering and walks into the murder scene of her customer. The customer owns a Pleasure Model, which is a future version of a blow-up doll, except that she can interact - both with him and with the cops. She wasn't created for her brain (as you can imagine), so it becomes one detective's job to protect her...uh...honor? It also becomes his job to get the truth of what happened.
Assuming that you are rating it against other pulp fiction and not against graphic novels, or classical literature, then it is as good as most pulp fiction and better than some.
Many visual creatures will contend that it needs more drawings. It has drawings - about 2-3 per chapter. Those with imagination will not feel the need for more. (Those with delicate sensibilities should steer clear altogether, but I suppose that does not really need to be said.)
This was an Advanced Copy, and I appreciate it.
SPOILER (kind of): A Dominatrix is showering and walks into the murder scene of her customer. The customer owns a Pleasure Model, which is a future version of a blow-up doll, except that she can interact - both with him and with the cops. She wasn't created for her brain (as you can imagine), so it becomes one detective's job to protect her...uh...honor? It also becomes his job to get the truth of what happened.
Assuming that you are rating it against other pulp fiction and not against graphic novels, or classical literature, then it is as good as most pulp fiction and better than some.
Many visual creatures will contend that it needs more drawings. It has drawings - about 2-3 per chapter. Those with imagination will not feel the need for more. (Those with delicate sensibilities should steer clear altogether, but I suppose that does not really need to be said.)
July 21, 2017
"Pleasure Model" is the first of three short novels in the Netherworld trilogy. They are all fantastic reads. The Netherworld is a future world where a tyrannical government governs with secret assassination squads, people live in big developed cities, and much of the country is uninsured territory. Similar to Asimov's Caves of Steel series, here's a science fiction world with a homicide detective, but it's not quite a PG- rated world. This world bristles with eroticism and is filled with dominatrixes on the run and pleasure mods, who are genetically bred perfectly formed persons with one task in mind and the IQ of a blueberry, that is, unless they get upgrades.
This book and all the books in this series are written in such an action- packed way that it feels like you are watching a movie. From start to finish, the story rushes along like a jet plane on steroids.
There are murders, bombings, killer robots, exploding messages, a vast government conspiracy, and a burgeoning network of people on the run.
This book and all the books in this series are written in such an action- packed way that it feels like you are watching a movie. From start to finish, the story rushes along like a jet plane on steroids.
There are murders, bombings, killer robots, exploding messages, a vast government conspiracy, and a burgeoning network of people on the run.
February 23, 2010
I won this book in a First Read's giveaway
Shallow, trashy, tawdry, and titillating in a way that appeals to 14 year-old boys (well 14 year old boys in the late 80s, I suppose), if you know what and are then you know exactly what you're going to get in this volume.
Women are objectified, the hero is virile yet chivalrously chaste (in that order), unless the woman in question is a prostitute and then she's clearly begging for it, and cliched dystopian conspiracies abound. As much as I didn't like the book, I can't really bring myself to hate it.
It's like , Heavy Metal Pulp: Pleasure Model: Netherworld Book One knows what its nature is and I can't really blame it for doing a good job of being itself. Even if the itself in question is something I don't particularly like.
Shallow, trashy, tawdry, and titillating in a way that appeals to 14 year-old boys (well 14 year old boys in the late 80s, I suppose), if you know what and are then you know exactly what you're going to get in this volume.
Women are objectified, the hero is virile yet chivalrously chaste (in that order), unless the woman in question is a prostitute and then she's clearly begging for it, and cliched dystopian conspiracies abound. As much as I didn't like the book, I can't really bring myself to hate it.
It's like , Heavy Metal Pulp: Pleasure Model: Netherworld Book One knows what its nature is and I can't really blame it for doing a good job of being itself. Even if the itself in question is something I don't particularly like.
February 28, 2010
Here's the thing. This is the sexy story of some cop who is trying to solve some case about some guy military guy or something who might have been important or bad or who really cares.
The writing is there. It is executed well, for whatever it is trying to do. Great. It is fun in parts. Great. But it's boring, to me. The characters weren't interesting and don't get me wrong they're not supposed to be. This is pulp...that I don't want to read. I'll say it again: I was bored that's why I put it down.
There was uninspired action with uninspired sci-fi an uninspired cover art and uninspired bad and good guys, thin characters and all that. Yes, it's in the noir genre. But that doesn't mean it gets a pass.
Here is the hook, I think, but I'm not sure because I only got to about page 40. Our hero is guarding this robot-type thing that is absolutely smokin hot and everybody wants to have sex with this thing. It sounds like it could be cool but it's not that interesting.
I didn't hate it, it's just that I couldn't figure out a reason to finish it.
The writing is there. It is executed well, for whatever it is trying to do. Great. It is fun in parts. Great. But it's boring, to me. The characters weren't interesting and don't get me wrong they're not supposed to be. This is pulp...that I don't want to read. I'll say it again: I was bored that's why I put it down.
There was uninspired action with uninspired sci-fi an uninspired cover art and uninspired bad and good guys, thin characters and all that. Yes, it's in the noir genre. But that doesn't mean it gets a pass.
Here is the hook, I think, but I'm not sure because I only got to about page 40. Our hero is guarding this robot-type thing that is absolutely smokin hot and everybody wants to have sex with this thing. It sounds like it could be cool but it's not that interesting.
I didn't hate it, it's just that I couldn't figure out a reason to finish it.
October 27, 2010
I laughed. I cried. It was the best thing since Cats the Musical.
As a kid, in the time before parental advisory warnings, I would walk to the local convenience store to buy a copy of Heavy Metal magazine. I remember the illustrated magazine to be rather violent and sexually explicit. (Ahhh, those were the days.) I found this book to be tame compared to the magazine of my youth. Although I haven't picked up a copy of Heavy Metal in a long time, so the magazine may have also tamed down. In any event, I found this pulp to be well written and enjoyable. I recommend it to anyway wanting just a quick, fun read.
As a kid, in the time before parental advisory warnings, I would walk to the local convenience store to buy a copy of Heavy Metal magazine. I remember the illustrated magazine to be rather violent and sexually explicit. (Ahhh, those were the days.) I found this book to be tame compared to the magazine of my youth. Although I haven't picked up a copy of Heavy Metal in a long time, so the magazine may have also tamed down. In any event, I found this pulp to be well written and enjoyable. I recommend it to anyway wanting just a quick, fun read.
February 17, 2010
What a fun book! This is really what the title declares it is: Pulp Fiction. Peasure Model is an urban fantasy that the guys are going to eat up. It was a quick read and there is sex, violence and drugs, no rock and roll though. I am going to look for the next title in this series since the ending left me hanging a bit. And isn't that cover awesome since it reminds of something Quentin Tarantino would do.
February 1, 2010
Intersting story. Good character. Some of the futuristic stuff did get a little confusing, but that could have been just me. I would have liked to have seen more pictures as well. I am definatly interested in reading more of the series once it comes out.
December 24, 2009
Here's one for all the horny fourteen-year-old boys. Sexy women, giant robots, and exploding heads--everything a young horndog needs. Added bonus: drawings of naked girls included.
September 7, 2020
Noir + Pulp + Sci-Fi = Heavy Metal Pulp: Pleasure Model
Detective Rook is assigned to a murder cases the he does not want and would happily allow the Feds to take over. The scene of the crime has be cleaned and there aren’t any solid clues, until the investigators stumble across a potential witness � a pleasure bot. She not very bright, but murderer is coming after her and Detective Rook who is sticking out his neck to keep her safe.
Fast-paced, finished in a matter of hours. Enjoyable.
Tbh, I thought it was going to be a really sexy read, but it wasn’t.
Do expect sexually situations, violence, 2 lines from Casablanca, and a few drawings per chapter.
Detective Rook is assigned to a murder cases the he does not want and would happily allow the Feds to take over. The scene of the crime has be cleaned and there aren’t any solid clues, until the investigators stumble across a potential witness � a pleasure bot. She not very bright, but murderer is coming after her and Detective Rook who is sticking out his neck to keep her safe.
Fast-paced, finished in a matter of hours. Enjoyable.
Tbh, I thought it was going to be a really sexy read, but it wasn’t.
Do expect sexually situations, violence, 2 lines from Casablanca, and a few drawings per chapter.
September 28, 2023
Well, what should I have expected? Maybe I was overly hopeful that this story would be worthwhile because of the Heavy Metal label (not that I'm familiar with that publisher). Whatever the case may be, this book offered absolutely nothing original, and the writing had all the ingenuity of cardboard.
The worst part is that after slogging through cliché after cliché, the story didn't resolve. Apparently it is a series, but a book should still have an ending, and this story just stops somewhere in the middle. I do not care enough about the characters to seek out the next book in the series.
The worst part is that after slogging through cliché after cliché, the story didn't resolve. Apparently it is a series, but a book should still have an ending, and this story just stops somewhere in the middle. I do not care enough about the characters to seek out the next book in the series.
February 9, 2024
This is kinda a strange review, because I actually quite enjoyed this book. So why the 1 star? Well, although this book resolves the immediate story, it leaves open ends to be continued in the next book of the trilogy, which is also fine. But, here is the problem, the second book is so unreadably awful that I just had to jettison the whole thing. The second book is so bad that it retroactively berries the first, and makes the whole trilogy a massive waste of time. Don't know how it ultimately ends, and don't care.
June 3, 2020
Guilty Pleasure
I love this book. It’s kind of reminiscent of Bladerunner with a more heavy metal vibe and a bit of the old fashioned hard boiled detective.
I love this book. It’s kind of reminiscent of Bladerunner with a more heavy metal vibe and a bit of the old fashioned hard boiled detective.
September 9, 2023
Fun, quick read.
February 4, 2010
In the beginning of "Pleasure Model" you meet Angela who has been in hiding for the past 25 years from the killers who murdered her fiance. She is now "Mistress Julia", a dominatrix, living in New York. Her latest client is murdered and she barely escapes with her life but not before she over hears the killers talking and realizes that these are the same killers from decades ago and they've found her. She now has to find help with going into hiding again and this time she needs to remain hidden.
You then meet Rook who is a homicide detective investigating the murder of a retired General (who so happens to be Julia's client). When Rook's boss starts acting out of character and the FBI cyborgs start breathing down his neck (so to speak), he begins to get suspicious. He finds that the General had a Pleasure Model (a lab grown humanoid built for pleasure in more ways than one). Rook decides that Plesur (as the model likes to be called) could be a witness to the murder, and when some of the other detectives start planning on a "night of Plesur" he sneeks her out of the police department to keep her safe until he can find out what she knows and then take the case to trial. From here on out the point of view goes back and forth between Julia and Rook, but focuses more on Rook.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, not really knowing what to expect. I've never read a pulp/noir book before and other than the animated movie from the 80's, I had never heard of anything by Heavy Metal before this. Although I didn't like it as much as the movie, I really did enjoy reading this book. There's just enough action and twists and turns to keep you not wanting to put the book down, and even if you didn't get fully entertained, the page count combined with the font size can make it easy to read this book in one setting. It's set in the future, but doesn't overwhelm you with made up names and phrases and gadgets that leave you confused or throwing the book down. You don't really get a lot of info on the world at this time (or even what time they are in) but I don't think the story really needs all that. The author goes right to the action and tells you just enough so that you understand what's going on, and the pictures compliment the story nicely.
I do think the cover is a bit misleading since although the book has a sexy feel to it, there is not much sex at all. What scenes there are, consist of maybe a couple of sentences and aren't very descriptive. Of course, I could be a bad judge on this since I primarily read Romance novels, but I would say it's appropriate for any high schooler.
I also can see where some women may not like this book. Being a 30 something woman myself, I can definately see how it's geared more toward men. With all the futuristic gadgets, invisible asassins & exploding heads, what man wouldn't love it? As far as the Pleasure Models objectifying women, etc. I don't think so. Yes, they are made stereotypically perfect, with big chests and lips and low IQs, but the main character resisted Plesur's advances over and over instead of taking advantage of her and when having the choice of a woman "made for sex" or a real woman to sleep with, he chose the real woman. And yes, most models in the book are treated horribly, but this treatment disgusted Rook and for the most part, Julia as well. I can totally see that if made today, the models would be made and treated the same way, with some people thinking it's ok and others not so much.
All in all, I thought it was great and can't wait until the next book in the series comes out.
You then meet Rook who is a homicide detective investigating the murder of a retired General (who so happens to be Julia's client). When Rook's boss starts acting out of character and the FBI cyborgs start breathing down his neck (so to speak), he begins to get suspicious. He finds that the General had a Pleasure Model (a lab grown humanoid built for pleasure in more ways than one). Rook decides that Plesur (as the model likes to be called) could be a witness to the murder, and when some of the other detectives start planning on a "night of Plesur" he sneeks her out of the police department to keep her safe until he can find out what she knows and then take the case to trial. From here on out the point of view goes back and forth between Julia and Rook, but focuses more on Rook.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, not really knowing what to expect. I've never read a pulp/noir book before and other than the animated movie from the 80's, I had never heard of anything by Heavy Metal before this. Although I didn't like it as much as the movie, I really did enjoy reading this book. There's just enough action and twists and turns to keep you not wanting to put the book down, and even if you didn't get fully entertained, the page count combined with the font size can make it easy to read this book in one setting. It's set in the future, but doesn't overwhelm you with made up names and phrases and gadgets that leave you confused or throwing the book down. You don't really get a lot of info on the world at this time (or even what time they are in) but I don't think the story really needs all that. The author goes right to the action and tells you just enough so that you understand what's going on, and the pictures compliment the story nicely.
I do think the cover is a bit misleading since although the book has a sexy feel to it, there is not much sex at all. What scenes there are, consist of maybe a couple of sentences and aren't very descriptive. Of course, I could be a bad judge on this since I primarily read Romance novels, but I would say it's appropriate for any high schooler.
I also can see where some women may not like this book. Being a 30 something woman myself, I can definately see how it's geared more toward men. With all the futuristic gadgets, invisible asassins & exploding heads, what man wouldn't love it? As far as the Pleasure Models objectifying women, etc. I don't think so. Yes, they are made stereotypically perfect, with big chests and lips and low IQs, but the main character resisted Plesur's advances over and over instead of taking advantage of her and when having the choice of a woman "made for sex" or a real woman to sleep with, he chose the real woman. And yes, most models in the book are treated horribly, but this treatment disgusted Rook and for the most part, Julia as well. I can totally see that if made today, the models would be made and treated the same way, with some people thinking it's ok and others not so much.
All in all, I thought it was great and can't wait until the next book in the series comes out.
May 30, 2013
Pleasure Model
By Christopher Rowley
Publisher: Tor
Published In: New York, NY, USA
Date: 2010
Pgs: 238
Summary:
In a grim future world, murder seems to stalk everyday life. A cop in Hudson Valley catches a call out to a murder scene. Inside he finds General Manuel Sagacha, a man with blood on his hands from the Emergency. He has two witnesses, a pleasure model, an illegal gene grown human, and a missing dominatrix. All well and good, until his home is targeted by killer robots and a missile firing helicopter gunship. A rogue cop, a bio organic sex toy, and a dominatrix run for their lives and search for the clues that will save them. Welcome to the future.
Genre:
fiction, science fiction, future, tyrant america, genetics, cyberpunk, crime, conspiracy theory, paranoid dystopia, heavy metal pulp
Why this book:
The book has a very Heavy Metal feel to it; apropos since it is one of the books in the Heavy Metal Pulp imprint. Also, the book would make an excellent fellow traveller with Blade Runner and its forefather; Do Androids Dream of Electronic Sheep.
This Story is About:
crime, the future, biology, cyberpunk
Credibility:
This has that “as real as tomorrow� feel to it.
Favorite Character:
Rook is your everyman hero, doing the job because it needs doing. Pammy Plesur, the pleasure mod, comes across as an innocent, yet full of ripe sexual tension. Mistress Julia, Angela when she doesn’t have the chip based dominatrix personality plugged in and active, may hold a piece of the enigma.
Least Favorite Character:
Lot of cannon fodder characters that get a brief moment where you think they may become a main character before getting iced.
Character I Most Identified With:
Dr. Jimmy feels like my kind of character. Hiding out from the world, yet still plugged in.
The Feel:
Gritty, noir in the future. Really does give a similar feel to some of the old Heavy Metal magazine stories. The gritty does begin to feel a bit unrelenting though. Dark world. Dark focus. Dark future. Grim. Nasty.
Favorite Scene:
Conspiracy theorist treehouse when the conspiracy flies overhead.
Settings:
Future Upstate New York is well represented. While Future New York City comes across as more just a place. Idyllic vs. the Grime.
Pacing:
The pace of this story is flashing. Short chapters without being choppy. Very well written.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
N/A
Last Page Sound:
Dammit, to be continued. Dammit.
Author Assessment:
Definitely would read something else by this person.
Editorial Assessment:
The editing on this was tight and well done.
Disposition of Book:
Keep It, re-read it.
Why isn’t there a screenplay?
There should be.
Casting call:
Bruce Willis could be Rook. Maybe Ewan McGregor, Dwayne Johnson, or Joshua Jackson.
Pammy Plesur is obviously a homage to Pamela Anderson. If this were done about fifteen years ago...and she could act, I’d say it was meant for her. But failing that. Maybe...hmmmpf...I don’t know who to cast as Pammy.
Sandra Bullock as Anglea/Julia.
Dr. Jimmy needs to be played by Jimmy Buffet or Bruce Campbell.
Would recommend to:
genre fans...probably everyone...with age restrictions. Lots of violence and sexual situations...and sex.
By Christopher Rowley
Publisher: Tor
Published In: New York, NY, USA
Date: 2010
Pgs: 238
Summary:
In a grim future world, murder seems to stalk everyday life. A cop in Hudson Valley catches a call out to a murder scene. Inside he finds General Manuel Sagacha, a man with blood on his hands from the Emergency. He has two witnesses, a pleasure model, an illegal gene grown human, and a missing dominatrix. All well and good, until his home is targeted by killer robots and a missile firing helicopter gunship. A rogue cop, a bio organic sex toy, and a dominatrix run for their lives and search for the clues that will save them. Welcome to the future.
Genre:
fiction, science fiction, future, tyrant america, genetics, cyberpunk, crime, conspiracy theory, paranoid dystopia, heavy metal pulp
Why this book:
The book has a very Heavy Metal feel to it; apropos since it is one of the books in the Heavy Metal Pulp imprint. Also, the book would make an excellent fellow traveller with Blade Runner and its forefather; Do Androids Dream of Electronic Sheep.
This Story is About:
crime, the future, biology, cyberpunk
Credibility:
This has that “as real as tomorrow� feel to it.
Favorite Character:
Rook is your everyman hero, doing the job because it needs doing. Pammy Plesur, the pleasure mod, comes across as an innocent, yet full of ripe sexual tension. Mistress Julia, Angela when she doesn’t have the chip based dominatrix personality plugged in and active, may hold a piece of the enigma.
Least Favorite Character:
Lot of cannon fodder characters that get a brief moment where you think they may become a main character before getting iced.
Character I Most Identified With:
Dr. Jimmy feels like my kind of character. Hiding out from the world, yet still plugged in.
The Feel:
Gritty, noir in the future. Really does give a similar feel to some of the old Heavy Metal magazine stories. The gritty does begin to feel a bit unrelenting though. Dark world. Dark focus. Dark future. Grim. Nasty.
Favorite Scene:
Conspiracy theorist treehouse when the conspiracy flies overhead.
Settings:
Future Upstate New York is well represented. While Future New York City comes across as more just a place. Idyllic vs. the Grime.
Pacing:
The pace of this story is flashing. Short chapters without being choppy. Very well written.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
N/A
Last Page Sound:
Dammit, to be continued. Dammit.
Author Assessment:
Definitely would read something else by this person.
Editorial Assessment:
The editing on this was tight and well done.
Disposition of Book:
Keep It, re-read it.
Why isn’t there a screenplay?
There should be.
Casting call:
Bruce Willis could be Rook. Maybe Ewan McGregor, Dwayne Johnson, or Joshua Jackson.
Pammy Plesur is obviously a homage to Pamela Anderson. If this were done about fifteen years ago...and she could act, I’d say it was meant for her. But failing that. Maybe...hmmmpf...I don’t know who to cast as Pammy.
Sandra Bullock as Anglea/Julia.
Dr. Jimmy needs to be played by Jimmy Buffet or Bruce Campbell.
Would recommend to:
genre fans...probably everyone...with age restrictions. Lots of violence and sexual situations...and sex.
May 15, 2016
"Pleasure Model" by Christopher Rowley is the first illustrated novella in the Netherworld Series published by Tor Books and Heavy Metal Magazine back in 2010. This short-lived collaboration was branded as Heavy Metal Pulp.
In "Pleasure Model," we meet Detective Rook Verner of the the Hudson Valley Police Department. He's assigned a strange murder case involving a high-profile victim. Upon investigating the scene, Rook and his partner discover a pleasure model, or "Pammy," was overlooked by the killer(s). Pammys are illegal, genetically-grown humans, created as living sex toys for whoever purchases them--or rents them out.
The story contains elements of Blade Runner (artificial beings), Solyent Green (government conspiracy) and 50 Shades of Grey (sex, kinky and otherwise).
I loved the author's minimalist writing style. The story is fast-paced with just enough descriptive details and exposition to ignite the reader's imagination. There's no data dumping in Pleasure Model. It wasn't until page 77 that I was able to figure out what year this dystopian story occurs in, which required some arithmetic.
The reader is never bored with the story. Shocked sometimes, yes, but not bored.
And speaking of shocking, two women reviewers on Amazon.com hated the book, giving it a 1-star rating, because they thought it objectified demeaned women. However, 88% of the other readers, including some women, liked the book, giving it anywhere from 3 to 5-stars, for a 3.9 star average.
I don't think the book itself was demeaning towards women, but showed a future society that looked upon genetically-grown people as tools and toys that can be callously treated and easily discarded once they outlived their novelty and usefulness. More importantly, the protagonist, Rook Verner, doesn't mistreat women, naturally-born or artificially-created, in any way.
Nor is Rook alone. He receives assistance from allies, mostly intelligent and capable women, that serve more than eye/mind-candy for the reader.
There are mixed feelings about the small black-and-white illustrations found on most of the pages in Pleasure Model. I liked them because it saved the author from having to add additional descriptions that would bog down the flow of the story. Besides, I like graphic novels and comics, which is one of the reasons why I bought this book; although I can't remember from where.
The biggest disappointment was the story's ending. Or, more correctly, lack of a satisfying conclusion. "Pleasure Model" ends rather abruptly, which I would be fine with if I had books #2--The Bloodstained Man, and #3--Money Shot handy to read right away.
Otherwise, I enjoyed "Pleasure Model," and it is my pleasure to give this story a 4-star rating.
In "Pleasure Model," we meet Detective Rook Verner of the the Hudson Valley Police Department. He's assigned a strange murder case involving a high-profile victim. Upon investigating the scene, Rook and his partner discover a pleasure model, or "Pammy," was overlooked by the killer(s). Pammys are illegal, genetically-grown humans, created as living sex toys for whoever purchases them--or rents them out.
The story contains elements of Blade Runner (artificial beings), Solyent Green (government conspiracy) and 50 Shades of Grey (sex, kinky and otherwise).
I loved the author's minimalist writing style. The story is fast-paced with just enough descriptive details and exposition to ignite the reader's imagination. There's no data dumping in Pleasure Model. It wasn't until page 77 that I was able to figure out what year this dystopian story occurs in, which required some arithmetic.
The reader is never bored with the story. Shocked sometimes, yes, but not bored.
And speaking of shocking, two women reviewers on Amazon.com hated the book, giving it a 1-star rating, because they thought it objectified demeaned women. However, 88% of the other readers, including some women, liked the book, giving it anywhere from 3 to 5-stars, for a 3.9 star average.
I don't think the book itself was demeaning towards women, but showed a future society that looked upon genetically-grown people as tools and toys that can be callously treated and easily discarded once they outlived their novelty and usefulness. More importantly, the protagonist, Rook Verner, doesn't mistreat women, naturally-born or artificially-created, in any way.
Nor is Rook alone. He receives assistance from allies, mostly intelligent and capable women, that serve more than eye/mind-candy for the reader.
There are mixed feelings about the small black-and-white illustrations found on most of the pages in Pleasure Model. I liked them because it saved the author from having to add additional descriptions that would bog down the flow of the story. Besides, I like graphic novels and comics, which is one of the reasons why I bought this book; although I can't remember from where.
The biggest disappointment was the story's ending. Or, more correctly, lack of a satisfying conclusion. "Pleasure Model" ends rather abruptly, which I would be fine with if I had books #2--The Bloodstained Man, and #3--Money Shot handy to read right away.
Otherwise, I enjoyed "Pleasure Model," and it is my pleasure to give this story a 4-star rating.
August 1, 2011
Publisher's Weekly just doesn't understand pulp fiction.
"Pulps were the successor to the penny dreadfuls, dime novels, and short fiction magazines of the nineteenth century. Although many respected writers wrote for pulps, the magazines are best remembered for their lurid and exploitative stories and sensational cover art. "
~Wikipedia
Christopher Rowley, on the other hand, has a firm grasp of the genre.
by Christopher Rowley, the first book in the Netherworld Series, is a fast-paced, action oriented bit of pulp that doesn't pretend to be anything other than the light-weight, sexy piece of work that it is.
Set in the mid-Twenty First century, "Pleasure Model" details a future in which the government is full of corruption and the police are just as likely to be treacherous. Rook is one of the few honest police detectives left and he finds himself running for his life soon after he begins investigating the murder of a retired General. But it's not Rook the killers are really interested in. Plesur, an illegally grown "mod"-- essentially a lab-grown human being designed for sex-- has been found in the General's home and she may know why the man was murdered.
"Pleasure Model" is a book that can almost be read in one sitting. Only 240 pages and full of illustrations, it's literally fast and furious with a B-movie feel to it. Publisher's Weekly would have you believe this book is nothing more than a bunch of misogynistic nonsense, but I think they've got it wrong. No one that picks up a book called "Pleasure Model," a world in which genetically engineered women are designed to physically perfect but dumb so they can be sexually exploited, should be expecting a feminist manifesto. The female characters run the gamut from prostitutes, dominatrices and cops, and they might seem a little disposable; but they're also trying to survive in a brutal world. Think "Sin City" and you'll have a good idea of the kind of characters I'm talking about.
"Pleasure Model" is as fun to read as it's cover suggests. It's not meant to be deep and it does have its dues ex machina moments; but the technology is cool and the action comes quick and with brutal efficiency. The cliff-hanger ending might annoy you a little-- but it will definitely leave you itching for the next book in the series.
"Pulps were the successor to the penny dreadfuls, dime novels, and short fiction magazines of the nineteenth century. Although many respected writers wrote for pulps, the magazines are best remembered for their lurid and exploitative stories and sensational cover art. "
~Wikipedia
Christopher Rowley, on the other hand, has a firm grasp of the genre.
by Christopher Rowley, the first book in the Netherworld Series, is a fast-paced, action oriented bit of pulp that doesn't pretend to be anything other than the light-weight, sexy piece of work that it is.
Set in the mid-Twenty First century, "Pleasure Model" details a future in which the government is full of corruption and the police are just as likely to be treacherous. Rook is one of the few honest police detectives left and he finds himself running for his life soon after he begins investigating the murder of a retired General. But it's not Rook the killers are really interested in. Plesur, an illegally grown "mod"-- essentially a lab-grown human being designed for sex-- has been found in the General's home and she may know why the man was murdered.
"Pleasure Model" is a book that can almost be read in one sitting. Only 240 pages and full of illustrations, it's literally fast and furious with a B-movie feel to it. Publisher's Weekly would have you believe this book is nothing more than a bunch of misogynistic nonsense, but I think they've got it wrong. No one that picks up a book called "Pleasure Model," a world in which genetically engineered women are designed to physically perfect but dumb so they can be sexually exploited, should be expecting a feminist manifesto. The female characters run the gamut from prostitutes, dominatrices and cops, and they might seem a little disposable; but they're also trying to survive in a brutal world. Think "Sin City" and you'll have a good idea of the kind of characters I'm talking about.
"Pleasure Model" is as fun to read as it's cover suggests. It's not meant to be deep and it does have its dues ex machina moments; but the technology is cool and the action comes quick and with brutal efficiency. The cliff-hanger ending might annoy you a little-- but it will definitely leave you itching for the next book in the series.
September 22, 2010
Tor presents what they call the first “illustrated novel� with Christopher Rowley’s Pleasure Model, the first in the Netherworld trilogy. It represents a new partnership between Heavy Metal magazine and Tor books: “Heavy Metal Pulp will partner the top illustrators and designers from the iconic fantasy magazine with today’s most talented science fiction authors, blending the sensuous artistic style and graphic imagery of Heavy Metal with classic noir storytelling.� While I wouldn’t ordinary step within ten feet of a book with this type of cover, I was curious about this new “illustrated novel� concept and was somewhat surprised with Pleasure Model.
The setting is a noir future world, where perfect human forms can be created for pleasure. Rowley seems to borrow from the minds of William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, and Richard K Morgan, but then does some interesting things, making the story his. This is the story of detective Rook, a down-and-out cop who seems to be going nowhere fast, until he gets handed a bizarre murder case. He makes little headway in the case until he discovers one witness, a Pleasure Model � an illegal gene-grown human � named Plesur. But the murderer soon discovers this and is looking to eliminate Plesur. Rook isn’t going to let that happen, and does what he can to protect Plesur, as well as find out just what exactly is going on.
The book definitely goes where the explicit cover hints, but Rowley doesn’t over describe and dwell on the Pleasure Model and what she does, as one might expect if this had been written by the likes of Frank Miller á la Sin City. As for the small rectangular bars of art � the illustrations � displayed on various pages, in different spots; the quality and detail aren’t that great, and serve more to distract the reader, and spoil he or she on what’s to happen on the next page.
Therefore the concept of the “illustrated novel� isn’t that impressive and I honestly could’ve done without the artwork, or perhaps had something at the beginning of each chapter. The story however was a little different from what I expected it to be and worth checking out.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to .
The setting is a noir future world, where perfect human forms can be created for pleasure. Rowley seems to borrow from the minds of William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, and Richard K Morgan, but then does some interesting things, making the story his. This is the story of detective Rook, a down-and-out cop who seems to be going nowhere fast, until he gets handed a bizarre murder case. He makes little headway in the case until he discovers one witness, a Pleasure Model � an illegal gene-grown human � named Plesur. But the murderer soon discovers this and is looking to eliminate Plesur. Rook isn’t going to let that happen, and does what he can to protect Plesur, as well as find out just what exactly is going on.
The book definitely goes where the explicit cover hints, but Rowley doesn’t over describe and dwell on the Pleasure Model and what she does, as one might expect if this had been written by the likes of Frank Miller á la Sin City. As for the small rectangular bars of art � the illustrations � displayed on various pages, in different spots; the quality and detail aren’t that great, and serve more to distract the reader, and spoil he or she on what’s to happen on the next page.
Therefore the concept of the “illustrated novel� isn’t that impressive and I honestly could’ve done without the artwork, or perhaps had something at the beginning of each chapter. The story however was a little different from what I expected it to be and worth checking out.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to .
February 16, 2010
I picked this up as a FirstRead, and was under the impression that it was a graphic novel. It was not, there were black and white drawings thrown in throughout the book, but it was a novel with some illustrations - not a graphic novel.
It takes place in a futuristic New York with a lot of technology embedded into humans, much of it illegally. There is also a 'race' of people created in laboratories. The Pleasure Model is allowed extremely limited intelligence, but more than normal sex appeal and physical attributes. One of these is some of the evidence found at a crime scene.
A human dominatrix with personality modifications was also a witness, but she has fled the scene and doesn't really get involved until late in the book.
Plot - Interesting, but it could have been equally successful without the sexual aspects.
Setting - The best part of this novel. There was great descriptions of the city, the history and the tech/mech aspects.
Characters - Thin. Sometimes they were a bit silly, even. I liked Julia, the dominatrix side of the human woman. I thought a lot more could have been done with Rook. He seemed a really caring sort of guy, but he was in a world in which he seemed just ridiculously 'nice' compared to the overwhelmingly evil masses.
Pros: Fast read, entertaining, I do think the art adds to the story, but it was a turn-off for me as much of it was cheesecake and I'm a heterosexual female. I'm not the target audience.
Cons: I understand it wasn't meant to be high literature, but some of the writing was just...too simple. If the audience is young boys, then the writing is okay, but the subject matter is too mature. IF the audience is mature, then the writing is too juvenile...
Overall: I'm not the target audience, but I was able to get through the book without throwing it across the room. I almost didn't make it past the first scene with Plesur, but I liked the opening scene well enough to give it a chance. I will not be reading the second book in the series; although, The ending of this book makes it clear that Plesur has a very interesting future ahead of her...
It takes place in a futuristic New York with a lot of technology embedded into humans, much of it illegally. There is also a 'race' of people created in laboratories. The Pleasure Model is allowed extremely limited intelligence, but more than normal sex appeal and physical attributes. One of these is some of the evidence found at a crime scene.
A human dominatrix with personality modifications was also a witness, but she has fled the scene and doesn't really get involved until late in the book.
Plot - Interesting, but it could have been equally successful without the sexual aspects.
Setting - The best part of this novel. There was great descriptions of the city, the history and the tech/mech aspects.
Characters - Thin. Sometimes they were a bit silly, even. I liked Julia, the dominatrix side of the human woman. I thought a lot more could have been done with Rook. He seemed a really caring sort of guy, but he was in a world in which he seemed just ridiculously 'nice' compared to the overwhelmingly evil masses.
Pros: Fast read, entertaining, I do think the art adds to the story, but it was a turn-off for me as much of it was cheesecake and I'm a heterosexual female. I'm not the target audience.
Cons: I understand it wasn't meant to be high literature, but some of the writing was just...too simple. If the audience is young boys, then the writing is okay, but the subject matter is too mature. IF the audience is mature, then the writing is too juvenile...
Overall: I'm not the target audience, but I was able to get through the book without throwing it across the room. I almost didn't make it past the first scene with Plesur, but I liked the opening scene well enough to give it a chance. I will not be reading the second book in the series; although, The ending of this book makes it clear that Plesur has a very interesting future ahead of her...
February 3, 2010
So I have to admit, this book was much better than I expected. After all, it's published by Heavy Metal - I was expecting sex, violence, and large-breasted women in metal bikinis. There's some sex, lots of violence, but they decided to pass on the metal swimwear for this book. Good call.
The story is classic pulp: Good cop in a world gone bad. And the world is *bad* - An ex-president that shows up for a cameo is the worst kind of twisted pervert, senators are tied up in some kind of military plot, People buy and sell genetically-modified lab-grown sex slaves, the book has an enormous body count. Really, it's grim.
I would be really bristling at all of this if I thought the author condoned any of it. After all, it is set in a pretty awful world - and I don't think genetically modified sex slaves are a fantasy I can really get behind. Thankfully, the author sets up his main character, Rook, as a small point of good sense in a horrible world. After all, isn't that the whole joy of pulp fiction? The setting has to be really, really bad. the hero just has to be average, easy to relate to, but in the context of this awful world, they stand out.
It's a quick read - large print and it has pictures. It's kind-of a cross between a regular novel and a graphic novel. I actually kind of liked it, since I often find graphic novels to be pleasant to look at, but they don't have the same "reading experience" for me as all-text books. The illustrations were campy, in classic Heavy Metal style.
Anyway, it's quick and fun, I was pleasantly surprised. But I only recommend it to people who are familiar with Heavy Metal magazine, and have a feel for what to expect.
FTC Disclosure: I got this book for free though the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads program.
The story is classic pulp: Good cop in a world gone bad. And the world is *bad* - An ex-president that shows up for a cameo is the worst kind of twisted pervert, senators are tied up in some kind of military plot, People buy and sell genetically-modified lab-grown sex slaves, the book has an enormous body count. Really, it's grim.
I would be really bristling at all of this if I thought the author condoned any of it. After all, it is set in a pretty awful world - and I don't think genetically modified sex slaves are a fantasy I can really get behind. Thankfully, the author sets up his main character, Rook, as a small point of good sense in a horrible world. After all, isn't that the whole joy of pulp fiction? The setting has to be really, really bad. the hero just has to be average, easy to relate to, but in the context of this awful world, they stand out.
It's a quick read - large print and it has pictures. It's kind-of a cross between a regular novel and a graphic novel. I actually kind of liked it, since I often find graphic novels to be pleasant to look at, but they don't have the same "reading experience" for me as all-text books. The illustrations were campy, in classic Heavy Metal style.
Anyway, it's quick and fun, I was pleasantly surprised. But I only recommend it to people who are familiar with Heavy Metal magazine, and have a feel for what to expect.
FTC Disclosure: I got this book for free though the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads program.
February 23, 2010
I received this book as a First Read and was pleasantly surprised with the book, not being of a genre I read on a regular basis. The cover made it seem a lot more sexual of a story than it actually was. I guess it's made to attract the target audience of young males, but it mostly made me have to hold it carefully while reading it in public to avoid judging looks.
The story is a noir set in a very bleak future, revolving around a cop who might be the only moral creature left in the furturistic New York City. A murder investigation leads to him being targeted by a conspiracy that he needs to try to solve while trying to stay alive.
Rather than being a true graphic novel, there are stylized black and white illustrations every few pages to highlight what is going on in the plot at the time.
This book was extremely fast paced and action packed as I was able to finish it in one sitting of a few hours.
My only real complaint about this book is that it is the first part of a trilogy and, as such, the book ended just as the plot began to get interesting. Rather than make me hunger for the sequel, it mostly made me angry that I read more than 200 pages and it ended without any semblance of a payoff.
The story is a noir set in a very bleak future, revolving around a cop who might be the only moral creature left in the furturistic New York City. A murder investigation leads to him being targeted by a conspiracy that he needs to try to solve while trying to stay alive.
Rather than being a true graphic novel, there are stylized black and white illustrations every few pages to highlight what is going on in the plot at the time.
This book was extremely fast paced and action packed as I was able to finish it in one sitting of a few hours.
My only real complaint about this book is that it is the first part of a trilogy and, as such, the book ended just as the plot began to get interesting. Rather than make me hunger for the sequel, it mostly made me angry that I read more than 200 pages and it ended without any semblance of a payoff.
September 15, 2013
I wanted to like this. I mean, geez, look at the cover. Unfortunately this book follows the trend that many Heavy Metal Magazine releases do, as far as I am concerned, and that would be the tendency to have awesome covers with very little substance on the inside. Sure there are robots, cybernetic implants, and genetically engineered test-tube sex slaves but . . . it's not enough. Throw some real people into the mix and you would have yourself a dang story. The characters are flat, ya'll. Our hero, Rook, has nothing really going on beyond the hard-boiled detective stereo-type. I don't care if this is typical of noir, I want characters with some interesting quirks or problems, maybe some funny banter. This guy is dull as a rock.
The illustrations on the inside are okay. Again, nothing special. Many of the depictions of the female characters look exactly the same as far as their faces are concerned. The cover, though, is outstanding and it was my favorite part of this book.
This could be a really cool series, but it feels a bit rushed to me and there isn't enough meat in there. But don't get me wrong . . . LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL, baby!
The illustrations on the inside are okay. Again, nothing special. Many of the depictions of the female characters look exactly the same as far as their faces are concerned. The cover, though, is outstanding and it was my favorite part of this book.
This could be a really cool series, but it feels a bit rushed to me and there isn't enough meat in there. But don't get me wrong . . . LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL, baby!
March 15, 2017
Am I the target audience for this book, nope. Did I love this book, oh good god yes I did. Having never read any noir fiction or Heavy Metal magazine, I had no clue what to expect from this book. The illustrations were fantastic and added an element of fun. This was a fast paced dark story about a rogue cop named Rook in a seriously messed up futuristic world of genetically engineered pleasure models, Fed robots and some twisted political figures. I don't quite understand where some think this is a misogynistic story, I didn't get that at all from this book, in fact quite the opposite by the ending. For anyone questioning the amount of sex in this book, it was pretty PG and minimal compared with the romance genre. Overall this was a great book to read, one that could easily be finished in a day, unless you're like me and wanted to savor each page. Maybe I'm the only one, but I think this would make a great movie, along the lines of Sin City but even better. And I really really want my own Pammy, except not for smutty purposes. I want a Pammy who does laundry.
***copy provided from FirstReads
***copy provided from FirstReads
October 28, 2013
I picked this one up after reading it was the first of a new line of 'Heavy Metal Pulp'. A pulp style novel printed by the Heavy Metal franchise. Although not a graphic novel as such, it is illustrated with a small 1" - 2" illustration every 3 pages or so.
The story follows a detective on a murder case who very quickly gets in way over his head. Hes forced to turn rogue to keep out of the clutches of whoever is trying to kill him. The central clue here is that everyone is trying to capture, or kill, a modified human known as a pleasure mod that belonged to the deceased.
Soundeds a bit corny and even though there were some really cliche parts (the pleasure mod is a busty blonde known as the 'pammy' model) I didn't find it as bad as I thought it was going to. My biggest problem is that although part of the story wrapped up, the bigger issues were left hanging. The book ended as the heroes regrouped and set out to find who and what was trying to kill them.
If I see the next book on sale I will pick it up, but it's not super high on my priority list.
The story follows a detective on a murder case who very quickly gets in way over his head. Hes forced to turn rogue to keep out of the clutches of whoever is trying to kill him. The central clue here is that everyone is trying to capture, or kill, a modified human known as a pleasure mod that belonged to the deceased.
Soundeds a bit corny and even though there were some really cliche parts (the pleasure mod is a busty blonde known as the 'pammy' model) I didn't find it as bad as I thought it was going to. My biggest problem is that although part of the story wrapped up, the bigger issues were left hanging. The book ended as the heroes regrouped and set out to find who and what was trying to kill them.
If I see the next book on sale I will pick it up, but it's not super high on my priority list.
January 30, 2017
I had never heard of Heavy Metal Pulp genre until a couple weeks ago. While stumbling around my boyfriend's book horde, I found this strange novel scattered among the shelves. My excitement increased as I realized it came with pictures!
A short, fast paced story with sex being a main character, but equally partnered with an intriguing detective story that will leave you in suspense.
The pictures were a fun addition and I have to say I enjoyed the story. Rook, the good cop and our hero has a soft spot for the ladies, but he plays a respectable man who respects even the robotic species. He's a good guy that is easy to like, especially when all his chips are down. This is a fun and sexy crime novel that will be sure to entertain those who enjoy the science fiction side of life. However, my only warning is this story is meant for a more mature audience. The pictures and details in the story are not meant for children.
A short, fast paced story with sex being a main character, but equally partnered with an intriguing detective story that will leave you in suspense.
The pictures were a fun addition and I have to say I enjoyed the story. Rook, the good cop and our hero has a soft spot for the ladies, but he plays a respectable man who respects even the robotic species. He's a good guy that is easy to like, especially when all his chips are down. This is a fun and sexy crime novel that will be sure to entertain those who enjoy the science fiction side of life. However, my only warning is this story is meant for a more mature audience. The pictures and details in the story are not meant for children.
February 4, 2010
What fun. Reminds me of back in the 70's when I'd be babysitting late and catch something racy on late night cable. More innuendo and carefully draped costume than now. The back cover describes the book as "combining noir fiction with fantastic art featuring the themes, story lines and graphic styles of 'Heavy Metal' magazine." Can't say that I ever ran into any of those magazines but I would liken this to an old Humphrey Bogart black and white movie with him as the slightly compromised police detective trying to solve a crime before the Bad/Good guys get to him. The modern spin to the story is the addition of gene-grown humans designed as a sex toys. The story includes all the usual suspects; the troubled hero, ditsy blond, the hooker with the heart of gold and the cliffhanger. I enjoyed the artwork which adds to the noir feel. Love the cover art homage to the old pulp fiction covers. Can't wait for the next volume.
April 11, 2010
I want to start by saying that I won this book as a first-reads here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. Go figure I, naive as I may be, thought that Heavy Metal magazine had something to do with music. Boy was I wrong and had I had known it was a sci-fi/erotica type of publication I most likely would not have entered for it.
All in all it was okay for a quick read. Personally, I feel that it is definitely more of a guys book but some girls may also enjoy it. It just wasn't really my thing. Most of it was pretty predictable and kind of cheesy (like the fact that the bot's name is Plesur.)
Anyway, it was alright but as far as it being the first in a series I probably wouldn't pick up the ones that follow.
All in all it was okay for a quick read. Personally, I feel that it is definitely more of a guys book but some girls may also enjoy it. It just wasn't really my thing. Most of it was pretty predictable and kind of cheesy (like the fact that the bot's name is Plesur.)
Anyway, it was alright but as far as it being the first in a series I probably wouldn't pick up the ones that follow.
November 26, 2010
This book was like reading a good action movie which comes in three parts. The illustrations peppered throughout the book remind me of the old zebra books from back in the day. The story focuses on a murdered retired general, his pleasure model and a cop who is trying to solve the case. Needless to say everything goes wrong, political and military involvement increases the stakes at hand, and just as the action is really getting going the book ends leaving you on the edge for the next volume. The world created in this book is one that I honestly can see America becoming in the future if we continue on our present path so it gives that extra ooommph to the story to me at least. Looking forward to beginning the next volume!
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