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a_reader_obsessed's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
Definitely original. Wholly interesting with an intriguing setup.
Runt is barely getting by. He’s contracted with “big corporate” to farm a planet for future colonization. With seven years of service he hopes to succeed in order to become a shareholder. However, Runt is down on his luck, profitability slowly slipping through his fingers as he’s forever falling behind, trying to do a multitude of tasks meant for two.
Fortuitously, supplies finally land, and instead of a new wife, he gets the hulking mute beast, Ox. Paranoia runs rampant in Runt’s brain, wondering if Ox is there to terminate his contract due to his subpar performance. However, Ox is nothing but above board, and they figure out a tentative partnership, working in sync to get the farm in order.
What follows is the synergy of how these two cohabitate, complementing each other quite well despite, or because of, their differences. What also unfolds slowly is the awkward, uneasy, but palpable sexual tension.
I’m a goner for gentle giants, and apparently mutism really ups the ante. Admittedly, I wanted more explanations and fleshing out the background stories. What was present though, kept my attention. Especially unique was how these two made up for their size differences with creative ways in the bedroom (titillating to say the least). Overall, a sweet, scifi take, with a couple dashes of smexy, on the evolution of changing one’s expectations to find a happiness they didn’t know they wanted.
Definitely original. Wholly interesting with an intriguing setup.
Runt is barely getting by. He’s contracted with “big corporate” to farm a planet for future colonization. With seven years of service he hopes to succeed in order to become a shareholder. However, Runt is down on his luck, profitability slowly slipping through his fingers as he’s forever falling behind, trying to do a multitude of tasks meant for two.
Fortuitously, supplies finally land, and instead of a new wife, he gets the hulking mute beast, Ox. Paranoia runs rampant in Runt’s brain, wondering if Ox is there to terminate his contract due to his subpar performance. However, Ox is nothing but above board, and they figure out a tentative partnership, working in sync to get the farm in order.
What follows is the synergy of how these two cohabitate, complementing each other quite well despite, or because of, their differences. What also unfolds slowly is the awkward, uneasy, but palpable sexual tension.
I’m a goner for gentle giants, and apparently mutism really ups the ante. Admittedly, I wanted more explanations and fleshing out the background stories. What was present though, kept my attention. Especially unique was how these two made up for their size differences with creative ways in the bedroom (titillating to say the least). Overall, a sweet, scifi take, with a couple dashes of smexy, on the evolution of changing one’s expectations to find a happiness they didn’t know they wanted.
rimestock's review
3.0
from my calibre library:
I enjoyed the progression in their relationship honestly, and I like it overall, except maybe the sounding bits in the sex scene at the end <_<.
teresab78's review
4.0
3.5 stars. I liked how the relationship progressed, that they got to know each other (as well as they could) I would have liked to know more of Ox's background and found the odd. over all very good!
Spoiler
soundinglitagentsaritza's review
3.0
I've always enjoyed sci-fi and when there's a chance to read it in the m/m world, I consider it an indulgent treat. There's just not enough of it with a romance attached to it. I had a few issues with this one in that I should have finished it rather quickly but found myself re-reading passages to better understand what was being said. When the writing is good without being overly clinical, it makes for a more enjoyable read for me (especially since I read for pleasure not insight). Found myself editing for content in the beginning and that's not always a good thing. I think the book actually started half-way through the first chapter and didn't really come to life until Ox's birth on the beach. Loved the symbolism there, by the way.
A few things I felt were not explained and left me feeling adrift: Where DID Ox come from? Runt asks but never gets a real answer and if he did, the reader certainly didn't get a clear answer. What kind of a past did he have? Why was he mute? Really, these were asked by Runt but I can't say I understood the answer.
There were many highlights to the book though like the symbolism behind their rebirth in a marooned planet, the way love can grow from the most unlikely places and, of course, the hot sex! I would have liked a little more sexual tension but the build up was a yummy simmer sending me to the conflict and climax of the story. Yes, it felt a little too short for my sci-fi tastes but Damon has the uncanny ability to make you feel sated with even the tiniest morsels of yummy goodness he gives you.
A few things I felt were not explained and left me feeling adrift: Where DID Ox come from? Runt asks but never gets a real answer and if he did, the reader certainly didn't get a clear answer. What kind of a past did he have? Why was he mute? Really, these were asked by Runt but I can't say I understood the answer.
There were many highlights to the book though like the symbolism behind their rebirth in a marooned planet, the way love can grow from the most unlikely places and, of course, the hot sex! I would have liked a little more sexual tension but the build up was a yummy simmer sending me to the conflict and climax of the story. Yes, it felt a little too short for my sci-fi tastes but Damon has the uncanny ability to make you feel sated with even the tiniest morsels of yummy goodness he gives you.
shan198025's review
4.0
I liked it even though I felt like I was missing something throughout the book. the ending snuck up on me, just as it seemed to be gather speed it ended.
daisy_c_bel's review
5.0
I adored this. Loved the whole setup and the slow build of everything, so you really get to know the characters. Really good.
bojangles's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
It’s an erotica about an 8 foot tall giant man and his 4’11 “definitely not straight” co farmer who are working to terraform a planet. They are the only two people in the barren wasteland. You know exactly what this is kid. The sex scene writing was decent actually. Very little cringe, lots of eroticism and tense lustful pining. There were only masturbation scenes until the final chapter sex scene that ends the novella. If you like size difference tropes, you’re gonna LOVE this. There is also size-difference facilitated sounding and dramatic giant hand anal fingering if that’s your yum.
The actual plot that surrounds the smut is not great. The Gentle Giant One is totally mute and the Gruff Grumpy Short One is too independent in his solitude to mind one bit. But the mystery that drives the plot is thin and silly. Which, in the context of erotica isn’t bad. But the world building is very “the Lazering Flashswitch from the McGuffin Technocorp buzzed with light from the 3 suns”. And the invented vocabulary of swear words that The Grumpy Tiny One uses felt so unattural and distracting.
But most frustrating was how quickly the plot conflict was resolved in the span of one non-conversation that actually explained nothing. In the end, it felt like the first book in what was supposed to have been a series, or the second book in what should’ve been a series. I saw that there’s a 4 page short story prequel to this that explains the Silent Giant One’s backstory. I liked this one enough that I’llprobably read it though.
The actual plot that surrounds the smut is not great. The Gentle Giant One is totally mute and the Gruff Grumpy Short One is too independent in his solitude to mind one bit. But the mystery that drives the plot is thin and silly. Which, in the context of erotica isn’t bad. But the world building is very “the Lazering Flashswitch from the McGuffin Technocorp buzzed with light from the 3 suns”. And the invented vocabulary of swear words that The Grumpy Tiny One uses felt so unattural and distracting.
But most frustrating was how quickly the plot conflict was resolved in the span of one non-conversation that actually explained nothing. In the end, it felt like the first book in what was supposed to have been a series, or the second book in what should’ve been a series. I saw that there’s a 4 page short story prequel to this that explains the Silent Giant One’s backstory. I liked this one enough that I’llprobably read it though.
johhnnyinla's review
4.0
Unexpectedly good right from the start-- builds in intensity, and leaves with a satisfying ending.
This book came to me through the Los Angeles Public Library book recommendation engine; which I generally ignore. However, the book cover piqued my interest and after noticing the length of the book, I decided to give it a try; being that it is science fiction and all.
The premise of space pioneering and terraforming driven by corporate profit isn't a new concept in science fiction, which the author did a splendid job employing with his fictional HardCell Corporation. The predicament that allowed the relationship to grow Ox and Runt and the twists in circumstance were, for me, surprisingly original, if not deliciously bent and twisted.
Runt (Runnan) is colonist terraforming a planetoid owned by HardCell Corporation. His clone-wife died upon entering the atmosphere, leaving him alone to do the work of two people and falling severely behind schedule. After two (2) lonely years, Hardcell Corporation sent him a big strong, but mute, muscular male companion to assist with the required work and put his farm back on track.
Ox, Runt's new male companion is genetically engineered to be strong, muscular, and give-off pheromones that him desirable to all sexes. With Runt completely alone for two years without a wife to tend to his "male" needs, resisting Ox's male wiles takes all of Runt's efforts and creativeness, but eventually succumbing in the end.
I think if you enjoy science fiction with a little romance tinged with a light mystery with hyper-masculine dom/sub homo-erotic grown men doing NSFW stuff, then read this book. It's short enough to get through an afternoon or, if you prefer, evening.
This book came to me through the Los Angeles Public Library book recommendation engine; which I generally ignore. However, the book cover piqued my interest and after noticing the length of the book, I decided to give it a try; being that it is science fiction and all.
The premise of space pioneering and terraforming driven by corporate profit isn't a new concept in science fiction, which the author did a splendid job employing with his fictional HardCell Corporation. The predicament that allowed the relationship to grow Ox and Runt and the twists in circumstance were, for me, surprisingly original, if not deliciously bent and twisted.
Runt (Runnan) is colonist terraforming a planetoid owned by HardCell Corporation. His clone-wife died upon entering the atmosphere, leaving him alone to do the work of two people and falling severely behind schedule. After two (2) lonely years, Hardcell Corporation sent him a big strong, but mute, muscular male companion to assist with the required work and put his farm back on track.
Ox, Runt's new male companion is genetically engineered to be strong, muscular, and give-off pheromones that him desirable to all sexes. With Runt completely alone for two years without a wife to tend to his "male" needs, resisting Ox's male wiles takes all of Runt's efforts and creativeness, but eventually succumbing in the end.
I think if you enjoy science fiction with a little romance tinged with a light mystery with hyper-masculine dom/sub homo-erotic grown men doing NSFW stuff, then read this book. It's short enough to get through an afternoon or, if you prefer, evening.
see_sadie_read's review
4.0
I thought that this was surprisingly sweet. Ox is this gentle giant that you can't help but adore and Runt shows an amazing ability to trust and eventually love. (Though he does seem to do a lot of things "without thinking.") Plus, the whole thing is set in a wonderfully vivid world with clear imagery made possible by sharp writing.
I was in love with this book for about the first 2/3s. The whole thing fell apart for me in the, frankly, strange sex scene. I knew it was coming. The whole latter half of the book built up to it and I knew, being as Ox is SO much bigger than Runt, something out of the ordinary was going to have to transpire. And I'll even grant that it was hot in its own way, but it also didn't particularly rock my boat. Oh well. I'll forgive it that one flaw and call it much better than expected.
I was in love with this book for about the first 2/3s. The whole thing fell apart for me in the, frankly, strange sex scene. I knew it was coming. The whole latter half of the book built up to it and I knew, being as Ox is SO much bigger than Runt, something out of the ordinary was going to have to transpire. And I'll even grant that it was hot in its own way, but it also didn't particularly rock my boat. Oh well. I'll forgive it that one flaw and call it much better than expected.
lauraadriana78's review
3.0
This first part of this book started off with a seriously good foot, the world was intriguing, the imagery was awesome, it was moving fast. I wanted that big thing that was going to happen, to happen NOW NOW NOW! It did...And then not much else happened for like a third of the book.
Runt lives in some sort of far off island, he is working the land that he will eventually partly own. One day he received a provisions box and inside he gets not only a ton of stuff for his daily life. He also gets an enormous guy, Ox, who he is now supposed to share his living space with. Runt does not know what to make of this guy, or his reason for being there. But Runt is lonely and needs the help, so he might as well put the man to work. Ox can't talk, but he is kind and hard working and they begin to live in companionable existence. Thing is, NOT MUCH HAPPENS, until about the last 30% of the book, then things go back to the fast pace that grabs you in the beginning.
I wish I could have known Ox better, I never got to learn much about him, and I wish I could have seen more things that brought Runt and him together. I needed more of 'them', not just Runt's impressions.
If this book would have been about a third shorter, it would have been a five star story all the way. It had great stuff. The imagery was FANTASTIC, I was there with them. The ocean, the mangoes, the living space, the eels, I could see it all clearly. It is evident that Mr. Suede has been a screenwriter, he can paint a lovely picture.
I hope he takes us back to this place in the future. This world was super intriguing, I want to know more! What are these men out there for? What is this business that MEANS BUSINESS? Who is Ox?
So I would recommend this, I like this author's style. He writes well and is crazy creative. I would just like to see a bit more restraint. All in all, I've said it once, and I'll say it again, he can only get better.
Runt lives in some sort of far off island, he is working the land that he will eventually partly own. One day he received a provisions box and inside he gets not only a ton of stuff for his daily life. He also gets an enormous guy, Ox, who he is now supposed to share his living space with. Runt does not know what to make of this guy, or his reason for being there. But Runt is lonely and needs the help, so he might as well put the man to work. Ox can't talk, but he is kind and hard working and they begin to live in companionable existence. Thing is, NOT MUCH HAPPENS, until about the last 30% of the book, then things go back to the fast pace that grabs you in the beginning.
I wish I could have known Ox better, I never got to learn much about him, and I wish I could have seen more things that brought Runt and him together. I needed more of 'them', not just Runt's impressions.
If this book would have been about a third shorter, it would have been a five star story all the way. It had great stuff. The imagery was FANTASTIC, I was there with them. The ocean, the mangoes, the living space, the eels, I could see it all clearly. It is evident that Mr. Suede has been a screenwriter, he can paint a lovely picture.
I hope he takes us back to this place in the future. This world was super intriguing, I want to know more! What are these men out there for? What is this business that MEANS BUSINESS? Who is Ox?
So I would recommend this, I like this author's style. He writes well and is crazy creative. I would just like to see a bit more restraint. All in all, I've said it once, and I'll say it again, he can only get better.