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Everything's Cool
Stan has always known how the world will end, and that only he can save it. And he's always known that someone will try to stop him. From his apartment, his thoughts hidden by static, trusting no one and eating and drinking only what he knows is safe, Stan seeks out the man his dreams tell him will be responsible for the apocalyptic 'Project Cassandra'.
Faced with a potential spy in new colleague Rachel, Stan's increasingly frantic search takes him down dark paths to darker places. He will have to confront his fears, commit desperate acts and forget all he has known in his mission to save the unwitting, ungrateful world from its destruction.
Everything's Cool is a black, paranoid and occasionally funny story of obsession, conspiracies and the end of the world. Stan might be insane, but is he wrong?
Faced with a potential spy in new colleague Rachel, Stan's increasingly frantic search takes him down dark paths to darker places. He will have to confront his fears, commit desperate acts and forget all he has known in his mission to save the unwitting, ungrateful world from its destruction.
Everything's Cool is a black, paranoid and occasionally funny story of obsession, conspiracies and the end of the world. Stan might be insane, but is he wrong?
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2012
About the author
Justin Carroll
3 books21 followersJustin Carroll graduated with a degree in English Literature and Language from King’s College, London in 2004.
In between writing and moonlighting in marketing, he fritters away his time doing all sorts of geeky things.
Shortlisted for several short story competitions, Justin was a finalist in the 2010 British Fantasy Awards.
HEMLOCK JONES & THE ANGEL OF DEATH is his second published novel, available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hemlock-Jone...
In between writing and moonlighting in marketing, he fritters away his time doing all sorts of geeky things.
Shortlisted for several short story competitions, Justin was a finalist in the 2010 British Fantasy Awards.
HEMLOCK JONES & THE ANGEL OF DEATH is his second published novel, available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hemlock-Jone...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 8, 2013
Dark, humorous in places, an unhinged protagonist, and a pre-apocalypse story. I couldn't ask for more! Hugely enjoyable.
January 5, 2014
I am unsure whether the writing techniques employed in the careful crafting of this tale are part and parcel of this new author's personal writing style or if they have been specifically brought to bear here, I am, however, inclined to assume the latter. The somewhat staccato rhythms and clipped sentences create a sense of dissonance and unease which subtly induces a growing empathy with the strained mind of the protagonist.
In the protagonist Mr Carroll achieves the writer's holy grail of a terribly flawed character with no redeeming qualities who yet somehow remains likeable. He should be someone to pity, not to empathise with but you cannot help but be drawn into his disturbed mental state and join him in his exile in his insular world. Even when you know better you are left holding your breath and willing him on to success as he pursues his seemingly paranoid quest to avoid the apocalypse.
I was quite some way into the story before I was able to pin down the period of its setting. I only noticed but a single clue that allowed me to assign a date to the story but that temporal limbo, along with a similar geographical ambiguity, just further synchronised my vision to the world formed by the protagonist's own murky perception.
Somewhat strangely, and I can't put my finger on it, reading this took me back to my school days. Perhaps something about this book reminded me of the various texts I was given to read for English and I suspect that is probably down to some subconscious trigger from my old English teachers trying to demonstrate certain writing techniques. I can't help but think that one day this book will find its way onto some educational syllabus due to the style of its writing, in particular its masterful construction of the main character.
All in all this is a fantastic first offering from Mr Carroll and I look forward to seeing what he brings us next.
In the protagonist Mr Carroll achieves the writer's holy grail of a terribly flawed character with no redeeming qualities who yet somehow remains likeable. He should be someone to pity, not to empathise with but you cannot help but be drawn into his disturbed mental state and join him in his exile in his insular world. Even when you know better you are left holding your breath and willing him on to success as he pursues his seemingly paranoid quest to avoid the apocalypse.
I was quite some way into the story before I was able to pin down the period of its setting. I only noticed but a single clue that allowed me to assign a date to the story but that temporal limbo, along with a similar geographical ambiguity, just further synchronised my vision to the world formed by the protagonist's own murky perception.
Somewhat strangely, and I can't put my finger on it, reading this took me back to my school days. Perhaps something about this book reminded me of the various texts I was given to read for English and I suspect that is probably down to some subconscious trigger from my old English teachers trying to demonstrate certain writing techniques. I can't help but think that one day this book will find its way onto some educational syllabus due to the style of its writing, in particular its masterful construction of the main character.
All in all this is a fantastic first offering from Mr Carroll and I look forward to seeing what he brings us next.
January 17, 2013
A "hero" without a single likeable trait, that would widely be accepted as dysfunctional and even from the own narrators point of view - clearly suffering from various mental disorders.
But despite the complete lack of sympathy I felt for the character he made a wonderful protagonist. This is because Carroll creates a wonderful sense of empathy with the individual and easily gets the reader to understand everything the character feels, experiences, undertakes and for what reasons.
With a strong story that keeps the reader enthralled, entertained and continually curious as to how the situation will develop, it makes for a very captivating read - perhaps the fact that it is a novella helps drive the reader onwards as there is a constant sense of the end, the resolution, being close.
Written in a clipped manner, liberally removing pronouns from the writings involving the protagonist, the story is enhanced notably. It allows the reader to see how the character functions, how his mind works, and echoes the fast manner in which thoughts come into our own heads before moving on.
Overall, an immensely enjoyable read and one I have recommended to many. A simple premise, taken to its logical conclusion enhances a superb combination of story and character that leaves the reader with a very enjoyable experience.
But despite the complete lack of sympathy I felt for the character he made a wonderful protagonist. This is because Carroll creates a wonderful sense of empathy with the individual and easily gets the reader to understand everything the character feels, experiences, undertakes and for what reasons.
With a strong story that keeps the reader enthralled, entertained and continually curious as to how the situation will develop, it makes for a very captivating read - perhaps the fact that it is a novella helps drive the reader onwards as there is a constant sense of the end, the resolution, being close.
Written in a clipped manner, liberally removing pronouns from the writings involving the protagonist, the story is enhanced notably. It allows the reader to see how the character functions, how his mind works, and echoes the fast manner in which thoughts come into our own heads before moving on.
Overall, an immensely enjoyable read and one I have recommended to many. A simple premise, taken to its logical conclusion enhances a superb combination of story and character that leaves the reader with a very enjoyable experience.
February 6, 2013
A clever and compelling novella. An anti hero who you begin to empathise with despite the obvious instances of psychological instability. I found this a real page turner as Stans plan begins to unfold in all it's shocking glory. An excellent read and highly recommended. I wonder if I was the only one to notice the Aliens reference...
April 11, 2013
An intelligent, dark story with an anti(?) hero who I drew me in, eager to see what he was going to do.
Strongly recommended.
Strongly recommended.
February 16, 2013
Whenever I have nothing to read on my Kindle, I buy a random ebook, generally from Goodreads ads. My only criteria is I must know nothing about the book in advance except for the blurb in the ad, and it mustn't cost more than $2.
Stan is a techie geek working unobtrusively for a large company. He thinks he has to save the world from the mysterious Project Cassandra that will destroy it. It's not entirely clear how he knows this other than from his dreams.
Stan is entirely unlikable. He's paranoid and his paranoia spills over into the writing, dragging the pace of the book down to a crawl. So he goes through his week in excruciating detail that had me scrolling madly forward to see if anything was going to happen.
I did finish this book, but the unnecessary details and slow pacing made it difficult. I kept going because I'd formed an opinion on Stan's motivations and I wanted to see if I was right (I'm not entirely sure, to be honest), and there was some very decent writing in amongst the overkill on detail. If this were short story length rather than novella, I think it would have more impact, and I would enjoy it more. If this were a short story, I think I'd be giving it 4 stars.
Stan is a techie geek working unobtrusively for a large company. He thinks he has to save the world from the mysterious Project Cassandra that will destroy it. It's not entirely clear how he knows this other than from his dreams.
Stan is entirely unlikable. He's paranoid and his paranoia spills over into the writing, dragging the pace of the book down to a crawl. So he goes through his week in excruciating detail that had me scrolling madly forward to see if anything was going to happen.
I did finish this book, but the unnecessary details and slow pacing made it difficult. I kept going because I'd formed an opinion on Stan's motivations and I wanted to see if I was right (I'm not entirely sure, to be honest), and there was some very decent writing in amongst the overkill on detail. If this were short story length rather than novella, I think it would have more impact, and I would enjoy it more. If this were a short story, I think I'd be giving it 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews