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What readers have to say about Rod Glenn's work BLUE - The King of America RED - Sinema GREEN - The Killing Moon "The Killing Moon is a post apocalyptic hell of a story. Rough, gritty, violent and all together crazy. The world has gone mad and out into it are tossed 5 friends and their dog after the outside intrudes upon their home ... It is NOT for the weak of heart. It is gritty and at time disturbing with a lot of blood and guts tossed in for good measure." ~ W & D Books
"This was my second book by this author and although not as brilliant as ‘Sinema’ for me, it was still a great read. What is impressive is the shift in genre, displaying the obvious writing skills Rod Glenn has. The natural attraction of the novel for me is that it is set within the north-East of England, the area of the country in which I live, and it was good moving around the area actually being able to picture the landscape not just in literary terms but literally. Glenn portrays a vivid landscape in his writing and even without knowledge of the area; his geographical landmarks provide the necessary imagery.
Apocalyptic novels are in abundance and it takes a good plot and characters to be able to make a novel stand out from the crowd. This novel has both. Opening with technical information can be risky as there is always a chance you might lose the reader and if this was my first novel by Glenn then I might have been anxious as to what was coming; yet it is necessary information as it sets the scene for a global collapse of civilisation.
After a wealth of technical information, the novel then moves to twenty years later with a new generation. Within this new life are five friends who have to leave their idyllic home in Northumberland and begin a trek to Middlesbrough facing horrific gang violence on their way. There are one or two very graphic scenes but they are necessary if the reader stands any chance of appreciating the challenges facing the friends.
There were moments where I felt that the novel lost its pace but these were only fleeting moments and every chapter is crammed with imagination. Pitched, as a mix between Mad Max and Stephen King, there is something here to tantalise many different readers. In addition, as I said at the beginning, each novel written by Glenn is a different genre and I am definitely looking forward to trying ‘The King of America’ although I have a feeling ‘Sinema’ will still remain my favourite.  " ~ LibraryThing Early Reviewers "Let me take a moment and let you all know that this is NOT a book of kids or young adults. It is a realistic view of humanity after the 'end of the world', so it can be a bit harsh at times. With that said, it's a great book! Rod does a great job of setting the tone of the book right from the beginning. The story draws you in with believable characters.
The writing style reminds me of a classical music piece, it builds up tension for a sudden release only to start building up the tension again. This is accomplished by showing both the dark side of humans, whether because a person is prone to such things or, because of survival instinct, happens upon it, as well as the good side of humanity and how hope will always spring eternal.
Conclusion - A great book that will be going into my post apocalyptic collection. I had a hard time setting the book down and fervently hope that someday Mr. Glenn will write a sequel. I'm very interested in seeing how things play out. Until then, I whole heartily recommend this book as one of the top post apocalyptic fictions written in quite a while."
~ Matt Baldwin, Star Shadow "Taking current events to a logical hyperbole, the author weaves an immediately grabbing, absolutely terrifying soon-to-be future. Without giving too much away (because this is one I firmly recommend reading) a cocktail of Iraq, China, Swine-flu, and all around poor human decisions bring about the collapse of society as we know it.
But the book's broad-scope beginnings merely set the stage for a coming of age tale that is something of a mix between Mad Max and Stephen King's The Body. It is the characters in this story that really capture the reader and keep you turning pages well into the night. Let me put it this way; at 322 pages, the book is a respectable length and I took it with me to be my reading material on a three day trip - I was done with it in a day and a half.
The boys the novel centres around are a charming mix of battered, world-weary angst, fun-loving immortals, and quietly introspective naïveté, and the perilous journey they make across post-cataclysmic Northern England is just the right mixture of suspense, humour, and characterization. The setting, like many of the characters, is gritty and hopeful at the same time. If you are a fan of Mad Max, or the recent video games Fallout 3 and Mass Effect 2, you'll find this book enormously enjoyable.
In all, The Killing Moon is a fast-paced thrill ride with a pack of guys who could be anyone's best friends. If I have one complaint, it will be that the tale ended too soon. However, this one was Rod Glenn's fourth novel, so I have high hopes for a sequel. Overall, I give it 4.5 of 5."
~ Gabriel M. Cole, Editor, Orion's Child Magazine "Every great book starts with a great premise, and Rod Glenn's epic The King of America is no different. It asks, what would the world be like if the USA was ruled by a monarchy? And from this fantastic start-point, the author builds a convincing world on the point of collapse. In an echo of the French Revolution, America's royal family are under threat (members of the royal family are hung in the streets, King Paul is on the run); republicans are fighting to take over. Against the bloody backdrop of this civil war, Rod Glenn paints his terrifying, page-turning plot. It is a story full of the broad brush strokes of war, death, betrayal and revenge, but also full of the more subtle strokes required for characters to develop into fully-rounded people that we care about, and ultimately root for. As readers of this great book, we are in a very priveldged position; we get to hear the most intmiate thoughts of the characters; we get to look down upon the action as though from above, just as though we are using the same technology as the warring factions. And through it all, the themes of justice, morality, and what it is to be a hero reverberate, just like the old Greek epics, just like the Dune books. Truly epic writing on a sprawling, epic scale; at once stark and realistic, but poetic and otherworldly. This is a real treat not only for genre fiction readers, but for everyone out there that is even a little concerned about the state of the world today. Call it a warning from history, from myth and from the future. Call it The King of America. EPIC EDITION." ~ A J Kirby, author of Bully
" A lyrical, futuristic epic. Rod takes traditional themes of betrayal and conflict and lets them loose in a vengeful, modernistic society engulfed in war." ~ Borders Books "Scary, gory and it really brought the film geek out of me, loved 'getting' the film quotes!" ~ Barry Dodds, Comedian "Intense thrilling and downright scary! It took me a chapter or so to get into it as I didn’t particularly feel anything for the main character to begin with until he became his alter ego Hannibal Whitman. The psychological aspect is what appealed to me for this book and I wasn’t disappointed and as soon as we moved to the location of Haydon in Northumberland I was sucked into the world of Han and his crusade to create his own massacre.
The movie references abound throughout this tense novel and I loved the artwork at the start of each chapter; movie pictures adapted for the chapter heading. The name of Hannibal is picked with reference to the relevant movie character and becomes the character’s new persona for six months whilst researching a serial killer on the loose in a small village. Haydon, with its population at just short of 400 is about to be destroyed by one man in an event that he hopes will go down in history for its anonymous killer.
I was engrossed in the chase, how he sets up his prey, learns all about the villagers including the conversations they have. This was actually, for me, more interesting than the main event. Wonderfully written, will leave you with chills down your spine. 5/5" ~ Samantha Smith, Teacher "Wow! A terrifying blood and gore horror that will really give the reader pause for thought - whilst at the same time checking the shadows behind them! Not a page is wasted in Glenn's outstanding psychological thriller. As the madman stalked the village I really felt their fear and terror. The author pulls no punches and shock after mindless shocks follow. I am so pleased I wasn't reading this alone on a dark evening, as I would have been too scared to close my eyes to sleep. The pace is unremitting and Glenn's style of writing drew me in from the opening pages. A very unsettling read but at the same time absolutely fantastic. I'm now off to look for more by him."
~ Karen Howe-Shepherd, Hertfordshire "Rod Glenn, creator of Hannibal Whitman, the unbalanced, horrifying psycho at the centre of Sinema - a story of murder and movie-making in wintery Haydon, Northumberland. A truly chilling novel." ~ Borders Books "Well, now this is quite the little gem! Sinema: The Northumberland Massacre is a witty, incisive and stark horror, thick with implicit black humour and no-holds-barred gritty brutality,
An unnamed man, going by the pseudonym “Hannibal Whitman,” chooses the little Northumbrian village of Haydon to try out his little experiment…with horrifying results. The opening discussion of Pedro Alonso Lopez and Harold Shipman should give any true crime fanatic all the start they need to enjoy this sample of amoral gore-porn!
Rod Glenn is a damn good writer - his conversational style inspires vibrant images to accompany his flowing, powerful prose. You can see the rolling country of Northumberland, you can feel the chill of the winter and the taste of the snow, and the cold steel of Whitman’s knife as he slices through your throat! It’s an easy read without being simple, and it’s free-flowing without leaving a single detail out, and it has a complete and surprisingly relatable plot where you simple don’t know who the bad guys are - or if there are any. I have seen many reviews make the obvious comparison to Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, but I disagree, because Sinema is in a league of it’s own entirely.
Glenn’s almost incredible plot is given all the justification and perspective it needs with the intricate details of the story, with Whitman’s icy cool plotting, and with the wittily realistic community of Haydon. A how-to for mass murder, a grounded and open commentary on modern life in the North East and a stark reflection of the brutal, callous individualism and greed of modern times. What may seem a crazy pipe dream is very soon made a chilling inevitability, and every moment is not only believable, but strangely seductive.
Rod Glenn’s second book should have the Daily Mail readers taking up shotguns and hunting him down - wait for the uproar, Rod, if the “moral majority” get a hold of this book…" ~ Dark Passenger, Criminology Student "I just bought Sinema after you signed it for me from Borders at Teesside Park yesterday (24th Jan) and have today read it in one sitting. What a fantastic story; I literally could not put it down. Being honest, I initially came to look at the book after seeing so many people walking past ignoring you - I felt sorry for you...Now I feel sorry for them on missing out on the opportunity of a cracking good read!! Thank you." ~ Justine Conway, Regional Sales Manager "Move over Barker, Herbert and King! Glenn is here! Whilst, on the surface, this could be seen as just another slasher novel... it has so much more to offer. It will be especially satisfying to the cinephile reader (hence the title). I don't think I've read anything of this genre with so much effort and care put into it for quite some time. Once you've read this book, you will never forget it!
Whether you have fun spotting the movie references, recoil at the brutality of Whitman's crimes, or feel slightly guilty chuckling at the dark humour, you will have a ball reading this! A guilty pleasure, maybe... but a pleasure, nonetheless. Many movie references and quotes jostle for your attention in this book as the protagonist, a Tarantino-esque British video shop owner, decides to commit the perfect crimes.... and does so in style. Extremely well written, this gripping and, at times, brutal novel follows the everyday trials and tribulations of a man planning a series of horrific murders in one small town cut off by a harsh British winter. Glenn also vividly paints for us the planning of Whitman's crimes and the lives (and deaths) of those he befriends and, ultimately, sets out to kill. There are no 'extras' in this movie. As two dogged police detectives close in when the murders begin, can Whitman achieve his goal of total carnage? Read the book to find out!! Likeable and well fleshed out characters abound in this novel (even our murderer is, despite his plans, sympathetic somehow) and it's all topped off with very dark and very British humour. At turns shocking, funny and tragic, this book is a real page turner. This work will chill you to the core!
Highly recommended for horror or thriller fans with a strong stomach and will especially please those with a good knowledge of movies. Although, I stress that the latter is absolutely not necessary to enjoy this book! I hope Rod Glenn goes on to do a sequel... I have a feeling that we haven't heard the last of Hannibal Whitman!" ~ Anthony Wright, Software Account Manager "What can I say, this book was gripping! No chapter was ever lacking in suspense! For all there are a lot of characters in the town of Haydon they were all introduced in a way you could even visualise them let alone be able to remember them...Do I look forward to a sequel from Rod Glenn, hell, he could have some dark sinister person visiting my town next!" ~ Scott Davies, IT Manager "I loved this book. It's a long time since I've read something quite so compelling, I had to read it every chance I got! The writing style is very natural and unforced. The author has a unique descriptive style which really sets the scenes and means you get to know the many characters extremely well. All of which means when it comes to the murders they're all the more horrific. Whitman is a very intelligent & witty character, although he sets out to murder with a cold heart, glimpses of humanity make him even more scary, this could be your neighbour, or maybe even your best friend! If you're a film buff the book is littered with movie references and quotes and there is a dark humour throughout which will make you laugh out loud. I enjoyed the in-jokes and look forward to reading more by this up-coming author." ~ M Honey "Sinema is another compelling book by the excellent Rod Glenn. It keeps you gripped right till the end and your nerves will be at breaking point as the horror unfolds. Rod's descriptive writing makes you feel you're actually there, living through the hell......and you'll find yourself looking very closely at shadows in case someone is watching......and waiting......" ~ Cath Flynn, Shipping Clerk "I read the book in two sittings and was rivited. Thanks for making my new year a riviting one!" ~ Gill Howell, Beautician "An exciting new writer will be coming your way very soon. Rod Glenn promises to keep you enthralled, and hanging onto the edge of your armchair with his unique new horror novel, "Sinema". Skilfully crafted and thoroughly absorbing, he will take you on a journey which will shock, stun and surprise you in ways which you had not thought possible. Set in the beautiful region of Northumberland, we are propelled into the nightmarish world of Whitman, a psychopathic killer who fluctuates between mild mannered normality and the madness which almost threatens to engulf him. Rod's style is very readable, and there are some wonderfully rich descriptions of the Northumbrian landscape, as well as references to some well known movies and their characters throughout the book. The book is also laced with his own brand of dark humour which won't fail to bring a smile to your face. "Sinema" is an exploration of pure evil, be prepared for a bumpy ride.
In talking to Rod, it was clear that he has a strong passion and feel for the northeast, he also felt that the "rough terrain and richly textured landscape" was ideal for placing the reader in an environment which would be credible. A devoted movie fan himself, he loves the old classics such as Casablanca and Key Largo, as well as modern horrors like Hostel and Halloween. He describes his central character Whitman as a movie fanatic and fantasist, but stressed that movies themselves were not the motivating factor behind Whitman's urge to kill, and more an aspect of his personality.
When asked if he had ever scared himself during the writing of "Sinema" Rod said he had had his moments, in particular during the write up of one of Whitman's grisly murder scenes, when he felt he had exceeded even his own comfort zone, and "gone too far"!"
"Let me just catch my breath and recoil, from the vice grip of having my knees curled so tight to chest, whilst reading this novel. Was I scared…yes! Did I imagine the author secretly plotting out the lines of his book on a small local village near to me as I was reading it…yes! Hannibal Whitman, the inner psyche of a neurotic film buff sets his sights on a small village in Northumberland, Haydon, as his residing point for a few months, to do research for his book. The residents warmly welcome him but when a young girl disappears, Whitman, being the new guy, is suspected of playing a part by the local Police and is verbally eaten alive by the village gossips. No evidence is found connecting him or locating the girl and soon Christmas draws near. However nothing could prepare the idyllic rural community for what Santa would bring them this year. This novel was one the most heart racing, jaw-dropping novels that I have ever dared to finish. I had grown to know and think fondly of all the characters of the village and never imagined the horrific and gruesome fate that awaited them, by befriending this seemingly gentle stranger. I feel guilty, like I should have warned them. This is definitely a book I’ll be giving friends and family for Christmas."
“With Sinema, Rod Glenn continues to build a following for his unique blend of horror, sci-fi and the darkest of dark humour.”
~ Paul Reizin, Booktribes.com "Sinema is a compelling and disturbing novel. In choosing to narrate from the point of view of such a repellent protagonist, the author has made a courageous decision. Thankfully his creative abilities are up to the job. Whilst recoiling from Whitman's interior life, we are swept along with him. It helps that the author laces his plotting with a hefty dose of dark, satirical humour which savours of The League of Gentlemen." ~ Austin Kehoe, Editor at Melrose Books "Sinema disturbed the hell out of me. Rod Glenn has a very vivid, descriptive style of writing, and I felt compelled to keep reading. The macabre storyline is suffused with black humour and pop culture references, which differentiates it from a run-of-the-mill murder story. It will make visitors look twice at the people they meet in small, rural 'idylls'!!! Overall, I would say that Sinema is unnerving, disturbing and chilling. It will delight fans of horror and thrillers alike." ~ Holly A Harvey, Author of the award winning novel, Karma "Sinema is darkly imaginative. When I first read it, Bret Easton Ellis’s black comedy American Psycho came to mind, but yours is a particularly English, and recognizable, perspective, which works very well. Your ability to construct a scene is admirable – the snow-swept opening being particularly memorable." ~ Kate Denereaz, Discovered Authors "When you find yourself rushing through your work so you can read a few more chapters, that's the sign of a good book! The King of America is a gripping, epic novel that's guaranteed to leave you battle worn and battle scarred. It has action, blood, emotional upheaval and tested loyalties in abundance.......an excellent read!"
~ Cath Flynn, Shipping Clerk "From the first paragraph I was hooked into reading this book. It has made me late back from my lunch break several times as it is one of the best page turners I have ever read. Rod is up there with Terry Pratchett in my opinion." ~ Robert Steadman, Account Executive "Well! I’m lost for words. What an excellent read; scary in places. Once I started reading, it was difficult to put down especially when the action started to kick in. I just don’t know how you can do it. You’re knowledge and skill are quite amazing. A very, very good read. Made me actually squirm a few times. Well done." ~ Averil Balmer, Human Resources Manager "I'm not often moved to write reviews. Not through lack of enjoying books, but through sheer laziness! However, I feel that this novel deserves a few words to recommend it. From page 1, I found it a real page turner. The very real possibilty of a new American internal war gripped me and I found it difficult to tear myself away. The characters are well fleshed out and there are some real surprises throughout the book. The battle scenes are brutal and excitingly executed and the technical detail is NEVER so dry that you lose interest (like in some novels I have read that put geeky technicality over the need for a good story). An excellent read that I'd thoroughly recommend to anyone who loves a good yarn!" ~ Anthony Wright, Software Account Manager "A tense fusion of betrayal, honour and conflicting loyalties. A powerful page-turner with conspiracy, death, passion and remorse. Find it all in every chapter. Glenn takes the traditional themes of betrayal and conflict and lets them loose in a vengeful, modern society engulfed in war. Being granted access to each of the characters intimate thoughts, the reader will find themselves absorbed in each of their plights. An abundance of action, twists and thrills right to the end. A story of revenge, glory and an ongoing quest for justice, The King of America is written with a refreshingly modern approach and will captivate its readers with its stark representations of political war."
~ Lauren Dornan, Editor North East Regional Portal
"There are two kinds of science-fiction - novels written for, and by, physics students and stories that use allegory, wit and fancy to stretch the reader's imaginations beyond breaking point. Rod Glenn's lyrical futurist-epic falls, squarely, into the latter category. A major achievement."
~ Keith Topping, Author and BBC writer
"You know that feeling you get when you are into a good book and can’t wait to finish what you are doing so you can grab half an hour to read some more? The King of America did that to me. Having worked alongside Rod for a couple of years, I must confess that I bought the book purely out of curiosity, but found it a compelling read. Yes, it has violence, but then it is a war story. The story twists and winds with intrigue and betrayal, friendships and romance, death, destruction and remorse, bringing all the characters together in their quest for revenge and justice. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done Rod, looking forward to the sequel."
~ Lynne Harrison, Secretary
"The King of America, a science fiction novel by Rod Glenn, is a fast-paced, skillfully written story. It grabs the reader from the very first page and takes them on a frightening journey into the future. In the future, the current countries undergo tremendous changes due to wars and form unexpected alliances and nations. Rod Glenn’s America is ruled by a monarchy; Europe, Asia, Africa are now individual Provinces. America is thrust into chaos and bloodshed when the King’s friend, Lexus, betrays him. A bloody and violent war ensues as Lexus pursues the escaped King. There is a strong core of characters that take their responsibilities for the violence and death surrounding them to heart. King Paul, for example, realizes that his indulgences are one of the reasons America is at war. Those who support the King are driven by their loyalty and belief in him, offering their lives in his defense without a second thought. This and other revelations change him and force him to grow not just as a King but as a man. There are numerous minor characters that live and die within one paragraph. Their brief mentions only heighten the devastation and tragedy in the story. The King of America is not for the faint-hearted. It is a gritty tale of power grabbing and the brutalities of war."
~ Patricia Perry, Author | |
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