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| Murderland Part I - H8 | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 6 reviews)
Sales Rank: 766551
Category: Book
Author: Garrett Cook
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Studio: BookSurge Publishing
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
Label: BookSurge Publishing
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Pages: 148
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.4
ISBN: 1439200815
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781439200810
ASIN: 1439200815
Publication Date: June 30, 2008
Release Date: June 30, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Imagine "A Clockwork Orange" written by Hunter S. Thompson. September 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In a future where pop culture has been taken over by serial killer mania, acts of senseless violence dominate the minds and actions of the populous. Death has become the predominant way of life. The world is quickly being overtaken by an alien vermin which exists only to process humans into machines for their own reproductive purposes and Jeremy Jenkins is the only one who can do anything about it. Using some of the best first person techniques that I have ever seen, Cook takes you deep into the mind of a schizophrenic serial killer come super anti-hero who embodies the very zeitgeist which he has declared war upon.
Garret Cook's "H8" is an excellent combination of fast paced narrative and creative satire which immediately and effectively submerges the reader in an all too believable nightmare world. The ample metaphor is personal rather than preachy, creating a rare work of prose which is every bit as intelligent as it is violent. It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel.
The only drawback to this novel is that it is too addictive and too short. It's the first part of a series which you immediately want to read the rest of. Good news though, part two should be out soon.
 Garrett Cook Might Be A Cannibal August 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Garrett Cook's debut novel, MURDERLAND PART I-H8, is an intense, satirical and, above all, entertaining read. What stood out the most for me was this book's exuberant inventiveness. It is an extremely violent novel that is also an indictment of "violence culture." The society Cook creates (Reap culture) is a natural extension of our present war-, bloodsport-, gangster-, horror-loving culture. Although Cook manages to do this without being "preachy"; he realizes we are all a part of this culture and realizes its entertainment value but offers this as a cautionary tale. It's a future world that Cook probably had a lot of fun creating. Serial killers are now the national celebrities and, when the cameras are rolling, America never fails to rise to the occasion. These killers are the subjects of the top-rated talk shows. America has established "safe zones" where the killers can go unmolested by their detractors or the authorities. One of the more legendary killers, Johnathan "Godless Jack Cavanaugh, even donates money to a "reap professional" support group, to help them cope with any impending feelings of remorse.
The only thing that bothered me while reading this were the occasional perspective changes, sometimes in the middle of a chapter. However, upon concluding the book, I could see how these shift changes were necessary.
I'm look very forward to reading Part II.
Dark, Dynamic, and Disturbing July 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
(aka Ash Lomen)
Thou shalt not kill... unless, of course, you want to have a good time.
In Garret Cook's bizarro series "Murderland" America has given up its long charade and embraced its natural love of violence.
This first installment of the satirical dystopian horror introduces a world obsessed with snuff, a hero who removes women's uteruses for the good of society, roving gangs of Gacy clowns and classically clad Ripper wannabes... and things much, much worse.
Cook's writing style manages to be simultaneously experimental and page turning (a rare feat)... and the world he creates is bizarre and stylish. This book is brutal, smart, fast-paced... and part of a series that's most likely going to be worth investing your time in.
But if you end up using a bloody knife as a bookmark in your new carrier as an aspiring reaper... don't blame me.
Bizarro Horror .... like a dystopian Dexter with more paranoia July 20, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Murderland I: H8 is Garrett Cook's first novel and it's an impressive one.
Immediately it is evident that the author has taken a lot of time to create the language he uses for this book. It takes place in the near future where serial killers are superstars akin to athletes and movie stars.
The book takes on different perspectives, back and forth from first person and third person, using both narratives and journal entries. It works well.
On the back of the book, the description states that "Jeremy's earth shattering two-fisted pulp destiny begins." The problem I have with that is that this is far from pulp. That word underestimates the merits of this book. This is truly interesting and dark dystopian bizarro story.
Using experimental and occasionally stream of consciousness writing, Cook shows us a world that is actually eerily similar to our own. Serial killer groupies who worship people who do things that they don't have the guts to do themselves, an idea that does have parallels in today's world. The worship of violence which is evident in the youth's worship of "gangsta rap" and violent video games. Cook creates and explores a society where our society's acceptance of violence is finally out in the open.
Mixed in with this future is the idea of beings from another dimension are turning people into "terrifying automatons and breeding machines." I found that this idea was just as interesting (if not more) than the world itself.
The writing itself is excellent and does show that the author has indeed worked on his craft before submitting this work to his publisher.
Because it is a first novel, I think it deserves 5 stars. I have not read a debut novel that was this good in a long time (or as far as I could remember.) However, because it is a first novel in a series of books.. I did find that the plot lacked a climax. It felt like this was just an intro to some more intense action. It feels like it should be the first third of a longer work. That doesn't make it any less enjoyable, really, but it makes the reader want more.
Lastly, Cook has a keen eye for observations about society. This book is filled with ideas about obsession, paranoia, self-doubt, and self-control.
This is an author to look out for. I believe that any further Murderland novels will be classics and this first installment is a great introduction.
Do Yourself a Favor - Read This Book July 16, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Murderland I - H8 is a novel about a time in the not so distant future where serial killers are celebrity athletes. Their exploits are discussed on television as spectator sport. Just as people today rehash the previous evening's game ad naseum, so do people discuss the latest grizzly murder. It's not too far off the mark today with cable channels and websites galore dedicated to detailing true life crime.
The protagonist of this novel is Jeremy - a rather mild mannered pharmacist whose live in girlfriend is obsessed with these celebrity killers - as is most of the rest of society. Jeremy, however, has a secret. He's actually the greatest serial killer ever, and nobody knows it. He's also one of the very few people aware there are Lovecraftian type alien Dark Ones all around us looking for potential hosts for their seed so they can spread their kind across the Earth.
Murderland I - H8 is told mostly through Jeremy's inner dialogue and he is one sick puppy. Author Cook took a great risk choosing to show us events only filtered through such a twisted perspective but he's got the skill to pull it off. Jeremy's inner world is what makes the book so compelling. Jeremy perceives the world around him as a personal Hell - a world gone mad. This simple fact is what pulls us in and makes us accept Jeremy as a sympathetic character even though he's a psychopathic killer. This is what makes the book work.
Cook also has a great ear for language. I found myself reading a great part of this book aloud to myself - it cries out for a voice. The prose flies, never falters. It's an exciting read, a delicate balance between plot development, character details and tidbits about the future society woven together with great care. Its depiction of "Reap society" seems similar to Clockwork Orange, but not overly so. As we learn more about this world, where murdered victim's families are ridiculed for mourning their slain family members we can relate to Jeremy's hatred of much of what he sees around him. This, to me is the great strength of the book - it managed to make me relate to a twisted serial killer who sees evil alien beings all around him and LIKE him.
All in all, the book works on many levels - it's an exciting plot driven read. It's a captivating character study. It has a unique voice. Like all good science fiction it makes a statement about the world today. It's not going to be for everyone- if you're easily offended or if you have no appreciation for the weird- it's not for you. If, however, you enjoy discovering new territory, discovering new voices, enjoy fiction that pushes the envelope, challenges you, then this is right up your alley.
I have a few quibbles. Evil Nerd Empire really needs a proofreader. There were enough mistakes in the text to catch my attention, and that always bugs me. Also, this book is the first volume in a trilogy, and it reads like it. It's mostly exposition. I would have liked just a little more plotwise. Lastly, there's a development right at the end that, to me, seemed unmotivated. These points, I must emphasize, are really minor. None of them detracted from my enjoyment of an excellent first novel. I am eagerly awaiting the next volume in the series.
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