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Tales Of A Former Child Superhero
In 1986, five children appeared as costumed superheroes in Southern California. For eighteen months, they flew around the city displaying superhuman powers. Then one day, they simply vanished. Their identities were never uncovered and no video or audio footage was ever produced. With no evidence they existed, their sightings eventually became an urban legend.
Now, twenty-three years later, a reporter has the opportunity to uncover the mystery, to prove the Ultimate Powers Team did exist. But he's not the only one who's been looking for them. Who were these kids? How did they receive their powers? What happened to them?
Now, twenty-three years later, a reporter has the opportunity to uncover the mystery, to prove the Ultimate Powers Team did exist. But he's not the only one who's been looking for them. Who were these kids? How did they receive their powers? What happened to them?
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2011
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Robert Stadnik
12 books48 followersRobert Stadnik is a science fiction writer, author of the Exodus science fiction starship adventure series and Exodus Universe companion novels.
Originally from Southern California, Robert has lived in Phoenix, Arizona for over twenty years. He's traveled extensively around the country, meeting people from all walks of life.
Originally from Southern California, Robert has lived in Phoenix, Arizona for over twenty years. He's traveled extensively around the country, meeting people from all walks of life.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 17, 2011
OPEN DISCLOSURE: The author of this book sent me a free copy of the book to review with my condition that I would be completely honest in the review.
Summary: Five children in La Habre, California are transformed by aliens into superheroes to fight alien created super villains. The purpose of all of this is to test human creativity. The story takes place years later when these individuals are adults. Chased by a secret government agency, brothers Rob and Nick must do battle to protect their anonymity.
Review: Thirty five years ago, I had a grandmother that kept me supplied with comic books: Superman, Batman, X-men, Spiderman, the usual cast of characters. As I grew up, I followed the Wild Cards series with excitement because the short story format and extended story line gave a much richer environment for the superhero to flourish in. Now that I am 43, I do not find myself turning to the superhero novel although I do occasionally pick up a short story collection like Who Can Save Us Now?: Brand-New Superheroes and Their Amazing (Short) Stories.
Robert Stadnik's book is interesting because it contains many of the superhero cliches like the secret government agency hunting down superheroes and mysterious aliens turning normals into heroes. Where this one takes a turn for the different is that it is a story of heroes trying to live normal lives. Where many of us would look for ways to make our powers known for celebrity or more nefarious ways of making money, these characters are content to live their lives anonymously.
The characters are multidimensional acting as heroes in one scene and acting as despicable humans with very human frailties and weaknesses the next minute. The dialog is well written and believable. I found myself wanting the heroes to succeed so the author succeeds in drawing me into the story.
There were some structural elements that I felt could have been handled a lot better had the editor taken a bit more time on the book. The cover of the book is terrible. It gives no clues to what the story is about and if I saw it on a shelf, I would glance right over it. The text is double spaced which is odd, and in the last two pages it appears to be triple spaced to stretch to the last page. The header with the book title sits too low on the page seeming to merge with the story. I found a couple typos, and as a former English teacher nothing draws me out of a story faster than a typo. At times, especially when describing a love or sex scene, the writing gets REALLY cheesy.
That said, I really did enjoy the book. I look forward to the second in the series and I am hoping, hoping, hoping the author asks me to read the second one before it comes out because I really want to know what happens to the characters. I liked the book well enough that I am now going to go looking for the authors other books. To me, an author can ask for no better review of a work than that.
Summary: Five children in La Habre, California are transformed by aliens into superheroes to fight alien created super villains. The purpose of all of this is to test human creativity. The story takes place years later when these individuals are adults. Chased by a secret government agency, brothers Rob and Nick must do battle to protect their anonymity.
Review: Thirty five years ago, I had a grandmother that kept me supplied with comic books: Superman, Batman, X-men, Spiderman, the usual cast of characters. As I grew up, I followed the Wild Cards series with excitement because the short story format and extended story line gave a much richer environment for the superhero to flourish in. Now that I am 43, I do not find myself turning to the superhero novel although I do occasionally pick up a short story collection like Who Can Save Us Now?: Brand-New Superheroes and Their Amazing (Short) Stories.
Robert Stadnik's book is interesting because it contains many of the superhero cliches like the secret government agency hunting down superheroes and mysterious aliens turning normals into heroes. Where this one takes a turn for the different is that it is a story of heroes trying to live normal lives. Where many of us would look for ways to make our powers known for celebrity or more nefarious ways of making money, these characters are content to live their lives anonymously.
The characters are multidimensional acting as heroes in one scene and acting as despicable humans with very human frailties and weaknesses the next minute. The dialog is well written and believable. I found myself wanting the heroes to succeed so the author succeeds in drawing me into the story.
There were some structural elements that I felt could have been handled a lot better had the editor taken a bit more time on the book. The cover of the book is terrible. It gives no clues to what the story is about and if I saw it on a shelf, I would glance right over it. The text is double spaced which is odd, and in the last two pages it appears to be triple spaced to stretch to the last page. The header with the book title sits too low on the page seeming to merge with the story. I found a couple typos, and as a former English teacher nothing draws me out of a story faster than a typo. At times, especially when describing a love or sex scene, the writing gets REALLY cheesy.
That said, I really did enjoy the book. I look forward to the second in the series and I am hoping, hoping, hoping the author asks me to read the second one before it comes out because I really want to know what happens to the characters. I liked the book well enough that I am now going to go looking for the authors other books. To me, an author can ask for no better review of a work than that.
November 16, 2014
Received a free copy via Goodreads First reads.
Very fun and enthralling story...while the premise is about superhero's, it's as much about growing up and dealing with life. The superpowers simply add another layer to the complexities. Will be waiting for the next book to come out to see what happens next.
Very fun and enthralling story...while the premise is about superhero's, it's as much about growing up and dealing with life. The superpowers simply add another layer to the complexities. Will be waiting for the next book to come out to see what happens next.
April 24, 2012
Having SuperPowers can have some Super Consequences. This is a brilliantly written book about children who are given secret powers in their youth and then forced to conceal them forever. Things are not quite what they seem, but something is definitely up with aliens, the government, and the world of comics.
March 5, 2012
Pretty intense piece, I liked it. Not a happy funny story though...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews