My name's Dave, and I'm special...
I don't mean special like I needed extra attention at school, I'm not retarded. I mean like special powers. I can do stuff like fly, throw fat people really far or knock a giraffe out. To clarify, I haven't done the last two (just saying I could if I wanted). Also to be clear, I'm not mentally ill. Well, not officially anyway.
You're probably thinking my life must be awesome, full of crazy adventures, fame, fortune and glamour. You'd be wrong. I have a desk job and live at home with my wife and parents. That's my entire loathsome life. The only thing that gets me through the day is knowing that I can have a drink or two. Sometimes three. Okay four. Fine, five. Ten. It's usually at least ten, but that's a guess because by that point I have no idea what I've been doing, am doing, or going to do. Some might say I have a problem, but I would disagree and politely ask them to take a long walk off a short pier.
Recently though, I've been getting seriously agitated with the world. There's so much wrong and no-one's doing anything about it. I'm not just talking about crime, I'm talking about the bigger picture. You know, stuff like war, poverty, corruption and all that high level stuff. I'm thinking I could do something to help. I don't know what exactly, but I've got some mad skills that could be useful. I don't know what the consequences will be if I do this, but I'll just assume the worst...
I'll assume that I'm gonna brush shoulders with the dregs of society; murderers, rapists, traffickers, politicians and CEOs. I'll assume that I'm gonna upset a lot of nasty people, powerful people, people who will come after me. I'll assume I'm gonna get hurt, badly, maybe even die (if that's even possible). I'll assume my wife is going to get really annoyed at me.
On second thought maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I should just stick to the day job and play happy families. Screw that, I'm doing this!
What people are saying about this book...
Great concept, mixing urban fantasy and sci-fi parts of a superhero with the stark reality of life. On one hand Dave can fly, on the other he doesn't know which way, so needs Google Maps!
If you liked the Hancock movie or Marvel and DC comics, this book's for you. Dave's like Superman with the childhood of Batman. Descriptions are brilliant, well written and immersive.
Dave's alcoholism and depression are depicted with depth and insight. Particularly the withdrawal symptoms parts. I wonder if the author works in the field or has personal experience. Either way, the book provides a wonderful escape (and it's free).
As a female reader I wasn't sure if I'd like this book but I loved it. Without stereotyping women, I generally go for romance and relationship based fiction, and this book actually provided that in scores (even though it's a super hero / fantasy / sci fi novel). The scenes with Dave and his wife are so nuanced and explore romance and relationships brilliantly. The author writes from the heart.
As an alcoholic and sufferer of depression, I can totally relate to Dave. Particularly his cravings and hangovers. Reading this was truly cathartic and peaceful. Funny too, always nice to have some comedy!
It's combines the style of a novel with the imagination of a comic book or graphic novel. The action and adventure is immersive, hilarious and brutal!
The scenes with Dave's therapist are so interesting. They cover fascinating topics that tie in perfectly with Dave's problems.
Not sure why the author is giving the book away for free, but I'm not complaining!
Spanning so many genres, from urban fantasy to science fiction to romance to comedy and adventure. And it's free!
