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Wearing the Cape #0.5
The Beginning
"I was driving east on the Eisenhower Expressway when the Teatime Anarchist dropped the Ashland Avenue overpass on top of me, using enough C4 to bring the whole southbound span down at once."
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Who wants to be a superhero?
Hope did, but she grew out of it. Which made her superhuman breakthrough in the Ashland Bombing, just before starting her freshman year at the University of Chicago, more than a little ironic.
And now she has some decisions to make. Given the code-name "Astra" and invited to join the Sentinels, Chicago’s premier super-team, will she take up the cape and mask and become a career superhero? Or will she get a handle on her new powers (super-strength has some serious drawbacks) and then get on with her life-plan?
In a world where superheroes join unions and have agents, and the strongest and most photogenic ones become literal supercelebrities, the temptation to become a cape is strong. But the price can be high — especially if you’re “outed” and lose the shield of your secret identity.
Becoming a sidekick puts the decision off for awhile, but Hope’s life is further complicated when The Teatime Anarchist, the supervillain responsible for the Ashland Bombing, takes an interest in her. Apparently as Astra, Hope is supposed to save the world. Or at least a significant part of it.
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WEARING THE CAPE: THE BEGINNING CONTAINS THE FIRST 13 CHAPTERS OF WEARING THE CAPE, A SUPERHERO STORY FIRST PUBLISHED IN APRIL 2011.
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Who wants to be a superhero?
Hope did, but she grew out of it. Which made her superhuman breakthrough in the Ashland Bombing, just before starting her freshman year at the University of Chicago, more than a little ironic.
And now she has some decisions to make. Given the code-name "Astra" and invited to join the Sentinels, Chicago’s premier super-team, will she take up the cape and mask and become a career superhero? Or will she get a handle on her new powers (super-strength has some serious drawbacks) and then get on with her life-plan?
In a world where superheroes join unions and have agents, and the strongest and most photogenic ones become literal supercelebrities, the temptation to become a cape is strong. But the price can be high — especially if you’re “outed” and lose the shield of your secret identity.
Becoming a sidekick puts the decision off for awhile, but Hope’s life is further complicated when The Teatime Anarchist, the supervillain responsible for the Ashland Bombing, takes an interest in her. Apparently as Astra, Hope is supposed to save the world. Or at least a significant part of it.
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WEARING THE CAPE: THE BEGINNING CONTAINS THE FIRST 13 CHAPTERS OF WEARING THE CAPE, A SUPERHERO STORY FIRST PUBLISHED IN APRIL 2011.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2011
116 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Marion G. Harmon
25 books291 followersMarion G. Harmon picked up a Masters of History degree because he likes stories. He resides in Las Vegas, where he dabbles in various aspects of financial planning while trying to get the people in his head onto the page so they’ll stop pestering him.
Addendum: M.G.Harmon still lives in Las Vegas, but has ceased telling other people how to invest their money to become a "professional author," whatever that is. He has written nine books, all about Astra and Company. They still won't leave him alone.
Addendum: M.G.Harmon still lives in Las Vegas, but has ceased telling other people how to invest their money to become a "professional author," whatever that is. He has written nine books, all about Astra and Company. They still won't leave him alone.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 14, 2013
Someone told me how "deep" this book was so I decided to read this sampler since it was free. Turns out it's a pretty vanilla superhero story. It's pretty much just a lot of elements borrowed from various comics and movies like "The Incredibles." Probably the most interesting thing is that people only get powers under some really stressful situation, which is a take on X-Men where powers activate around puberty, usually in some dramatic way.
The vanilla story is this: a hot blond girl with no real problems gets in a wreck and gains Supergirl-type strength, a case of the rich getting richer. Then the usual stuff about getting a costume and training and such. I guess the "deep" plot will involve this time traveler guy with the horrible moniker "The Teatime Anarchist." (seriously)
Anyway, I might read the whole book except the author charges more than twice what I'd pay for a self-published book. Could probably use another editing pass to catch things like someone's head "jerked in a nod" where you could just say "nodded." Brevity can be a good thing.
That is all.
The vanilla story is this: a hot blond girl with no real problems gets in a wreck and gains Supergirl-type strength, a case of the rich getting richer. Then the usual stuff about getting a costume and training and such. I guess the "deep" plot will involve this time traveler guy with the horrible moniker "The Teatime Anarchist." (seriously)
Anyway, I might read the whole book except the author charges more than twice what I'd pay for a self-published book. Could probably use another editing pass to catch things like someone's head "jerked in a nod" where you could just say "nodded." Brevity can be a good thing.
That is all.
July 5, 2015
This is bullshit.
Oh, not the story itself. I probably would've given that, oh, 3½ stars—with the stars knocked off mostly because it stays pretty superficial, but getting that high because the author has a pretty great grasp of syntax. This writer has no trouble stringing a sentence together!
I'd just finished reading Super Powereds: Year 3 (which, BTW, is excellent), and, fair or not, it was impossible to not compare the two...and Drew Hayes's Super Powereds series is a dense, meaty one, with a massive word count and a deep web of plots. Compared to that, this one skims the surface so quickly it barely gets its metaphorical toes wet. I really would've liked to dig into the background and the world and the characters a bit more—the author seemed to have some pretty cool ideas about how the whole superhero thing came about and how the world reacted—but we're only told barely enough to follow along.
But when I say "I really would've liked," I mean I would've liked that had this not turned out to be unadorned bait-and-switch bullshit.
This is not a complete novel! Or novella, which is what I assumed I was getting when I saw the page count. There's nothing in the summary to let us know this is supposed to be a sample. In fact, it says "this is a...novel." The implication being that it's, you know, complete. It's too bad. Had the author's blurb said something about this being an appetizer, I may very well have downloaded it anyway, but the fact that I was tricked into thinking this was more than half a story makes me angry.
I don't know if I would've continued on anyway - the whole book is currently retailing on Amazon for $7.99, and it wasn't that compelling of a story. (It might have been, had the author done a little more world building and character development.) But the point is moot. I feel tricked, and that feeling doesn't inspire me to give the author my time or my royalties.
Oh, not the story itself. I probably would've given that, oh, 3½ stars—with the stars knocked off mostly because it stays pretty superficial, but getting that high because the author has a pretty great grasp of syntax. This writer has no trouble stringing a sentence together!
I'd just finished reading Super Powereds: Year 3 (which, BTW, is excellent), and, fair or not, it was impossible to not compare the two...and Drew Hayes's Super Powereds series is a dense, meaty one, with a massive word count and a deep web of plots. Compared to that, this one skims the surface so quickly it barely gets its metaphorical toes wet. I really would've liked to dig into the background and the world and the characters a bit more—the author seemed to have some pretty cool ideas about how the whole superhero thing came about and how the world reacted—but we're only told barely enough to follow along.
But when I say "I really would've liked," I mean I would've liked that had this not turned out to be unadorned bait-and-switch bullshit.
This is not a complete novel! Or novella, which is what I assumed I was getting when I saw the page count. There's nothing in the summary to let us know this is supposed to be a sample. In fact, it says "this is a...novel." The implication being that it's, you know, complete. It's too bad. Had the author's blurb said something about this being an appetizer, I may very well have downloaded it anyway, but the fact that I was tricked into thinking this was more than half a story makes me angry.
I don't know if I would've continued on anyway - the whole book is currently retailing on Amazon for $7.99, and it wasn't that compelling of a story. (It might have been, had the author done a little more world building and character development.) But the point is moot. I feel tricked, and that feeling doesn't inspire me to give the author my time or my royalties.
Read
February 5, 2022Interesting concept, adequate delivery.
To be clear, this is a novella length read, and not a complete story; it covers the first part of the full Wearing the Cape book. I wanted to read the full novel, but it’s unfortunately not available on Kobo, my e-reading software of choice.
The story covers the emergence of a new super powered individual, Astra, an 18 year old college freshman, and her coming to terms with her powers, how to use them, and a villain trying to bring about a totalitarian government. The writing is kind of bleh, honestly, but there is some interesting analysis of the moral/ethical implications of superpowers in the modern world.
To be clear, this is a novella length read, and not a complete story; it covers the first part of the full Wearing the Cape book. I wanted to read the full novel, but it’s unfortunately not available on Kobo, my e-reading software of choice.
The story covers the emergence of a new super powered individual, Astra, an 18 year old college freshman, and her coming to terms with her powers, how to use them, and a villain trying to bring about a totalitarian government. The writing is kind of bleh, honestly, but there is some interesting analysis of the moral/ethical implications of superpowers in the modern world.
March 16, 2017
Readable, but the plots were unrealistically fast and less than smart
Sometimes too tropey, and a bit light on thoughtfulness, even taking happenings into account. The TA and DA abbreviations were confusing at times and the use of abbreviations vs. full names was inconsistent. The plots were simplistic, especially the time travel ones, bordering on the face-smackingly incompetent. The romance was icky one day, tentative the next, and suddenly already there, worse than a fanfiction whirlwind lovey-dovey oneshot… without the cute stuff. All in all, readable, but felt more like a Marvel movie than a cape novel trying to distinguish itself. The chapter quotes make me hope for the sequels, though.
Sometimes too tropey, and a bit light on thoughtfulness, even taking happenings into account. The TA and DA abbreviations were confusing at times and the use of abbreviations vs. full names was inconsistent. The plots were simplistic, especially the time travel ones, bordering on the face-smackingly incompetent. The romance was icky one day, tentative the next, and suddenly already there, worse than a fanfiction whirlwind lovey-dovey oneshot… without the cute stuff. All in all, readable, but felt more like a Marvel movie than a cape novel trying to distinguish itself. The chapter quotes make me hope for the sequels, though.
Read
January 4, 2020Decent flying brick story.
Good tale. Could have filled another five pages just by adding more detail to the world. Only other issue was that it's another super durable flying hero. It's not bad that the hero is a flying brick, it's just 90% of the stories out there. Otherwise? Decently written story and no memorable typos. I plan on reading more from this author, but it's not number one on the list of things to do.
Good tale. Could have filled another five pages just by adding more detail to the world. Only other issue was that it's another super durable flying hero. It's not bad that the hero is a flying brick, it's just 90% of the stories out there. Otherwise? Decently written story and no memorable typos. I plan on reading more from this author, but it's not number one on the list of things to do.
January 14, 2013
This free Kindle download of the first third of Wearing the Cape did a very good job of selling me on the whole book. A fun read.
September 19, 2017
I super loved the realism of how this character came into her powers. Kicking this book off so dramatically kept me flipping through to the end. This feels like truth, and I like when a book makes me want to believe in it. Well written, terrific characters (so far,) and already hints at what struggles we will see the main character go through on top of the ones she just inherited. Can't say much more without spoiling it. Encourage you to get off the fence and read it.
January 25, 2020
The short version
Apparently I bought a shorter version of the book. How disappointing. Hence the three stars. That explains why the book was so short.
Apparently I bought a shorter version of the book. How disappointing. Hence the three stars. That explains why the book was so short.
June 3, 2013
This book is the first 8 or so chapters of the full book. It was good, but it didn't set the hook in my cheek and reel me in.
I love superheroes, and I have a past addiction to comic books. Not just the big two universes. I found lots to enjoy among indepenants and small presses that were making up new heroes and superhero universes all the time.
What I liked about Wearing the Cape: The Beginning:
Hope/Astra -- the main heroine, her backstory was deep and well rounded with her own demons. Though they did not yet come into play in her present demeanor, I sensed that they would be affecting her in the future of the series.
The Writing -- editing was clean. The writing was straightforward, vanilla, but flowed well.
Where Wearing the Cape: The Beginning fell short to me was in several areas:
Action -- with very physical, brute type super powers in the main character, there needed to be some suspenseful, knock-down, drag-out fighting and there was none.
Originality -- There's two ways to look at the superhero genre I think, one is the shallow pool and the other is the deep pool. Some people look at superheroes based on what they see on film, games, and tv, the shallow pool (though the new Marvel/Disney movies are starting to deepen) these are light fare where superheroes and superpowers are rock-paper-scissors affairs and there are teams and sidekicks and bank robberies to thwart. Characters break down easily into heroes and villains in the shallow pool. The deep pool spans galaxies and universes, heroes are often tormented and hard to categorize, not all heroes wear capes or even uniforms. What there was of worldbuilding in Wearing the Cape was very 'shallow pool' stuff, standard fare that you could pull right from a superhero guidebook, you have brutes, speedsters, mentalists, inventors and a finite, established, range of power levels. Very cliche stuff here that you can get right from the character select menu of City of Heroes (now sadly defunct) This in itself is not a bad thing, its pretty much expected from a story about superheroes, but I hoped for a book that would delve beyond the limitations of a computer game.
So, I liked it, but not enough for the price tag of the full book. Personally, I wanted things to go much deeper emotionally, and I hoped for much more original worldbuilding. With superpowers (especially a hero that is a brute type) there should be super action.
I love superheroes, and I have a past addiction to comic books. Not just the big two universes. I found lots to enjoy among indepenants and small presses that were making up new heroes and superhero universes all the time.
What I liked about Wearing the Cape: The Beginning:
Hope/Astra -- the main heroine, her backstory was deep and well rounded with her own demons. Though they did not yet come into play in her present demeanor, I sensed that they would be affecting her in the future of the series.
The Writing -- editing was clean. The writing was straightforward, vanilla, but flowed well.
Where Wearing the Cape: The Beginning fell short to me was in several areas:
Action -- with very physical, brute type super powers in the main character, there needed to be some suspenseful, knock-down, drag-out fighting and there was none.
Originality -- There's two ways to look at the superhero genre I think, one is the shallow pool and the other is the deep pool. Some people look at superheroes based on what they see on film, games, and tv, the shallow pool (though the new Marvel/Disney movies are starting to deepen) these are light fare where superheroes and superpowers are rock-paper-scissors affairs and there are teams and sidekicks and bank robberies to thwart. Characters break down easily into heroes and villains in the shallow pool. The deep pool spans galaxies and universes, heroes are often tormented and hard to categorize, not all heroes wear capes or even uniforms. What there was of worldbuilding in Wearing the Cape was very 'shallow pool' stuff, standard fare that you could pull right from a superhero guidebook, you have brutes, speedsters, mentalists, inventors and a finite, established, range of power levels. Very cliche stuff here that you can get right from the character select menu of City of Heroes (now sadly defunct) This in itself is not a bad thing, its pretty much expected from a story about superheroes, but I hoped for a book that would delve beyond the limitations of a computer game.
So, I liked it, but not enough for the price tag of the full book. Personally, I wanted things to go much deeper emotionally, and I hoped for much more original worldbuilding. With superpowers (especially a hero that is a brute type) there should be super action.
October 23, 2013
This ebook, Wearing the Cape: The Beginning, contains the first 13 chapters of Wearing the Cape: A Superhero Story. The story grabbed me right away as it introduced Hope Corrigan, a young woman who is covered by the debris of a falling bypass (due to the acts of a supervillain) and gains superpower that gives her extra-human strength and the ability to fly. Many years before, "the Event" caused blackouts and power failures along with the introduction of superpowers. These powers are presented in some humans when they are in danger and their bodies find ways to cope and adapt to the situation to save themselves.
Hope's world is turned upside down as she is introduced to her new powers, learns that her own father has super-abilities, and she becomes the sidekick (trainee) to Atlas, one of the first - and most well known - superheroes since "the Event".
I like how Atlas describes superheroes as following:
"We're not gods, Astra. We're glorified emergency response professionals, rescue workers, and civilian contractors to the police when other superhumans are involved. Half the time all we get to do is the cleanup. Leave the counter-terrorism to the pros."
I loved everything about it. I'm sad that I only got the first 13 chapters. I'd love to read more and continue through the series. When I first saw the cover and read the synopsis, I was expecting a graphic novel (which would make this even cooler!) but it is written in novel format.
There are some great plot twists in the story that I'd love to read through to the end. It makes you wonder what is going to happen and who to trust. Great writing! It's a rare event when I can start reading a book and can't guess at the plot line and ending.
For a fun read and for all people out there who love superhero stories, this is a great book to check out! I wouldn't mind having it on my shelf.
Hope's world is turned upside down as she is introduced to her new powers, learns that her own father has super-abilities, and she becomes the sidekick (trainee) to Atlas, one of the first - and most well known - superheroes since "the Event".
I like how Atlas describes superheroes as following:
"We're not gods, Astra. We're glorified emergency response professionals, rescue workers, and civilian contractors to the police when other superhumans are involved. Half the time all we get to do is the cleanup. Leave the counter-terrorism to the pros."
I loved everything about it. I'm sad that I only got the first 13 chapters. I'd love to read more and continue through the series. When I first saw the cover and read the synopsis, I was expecting a graphic novel (which would make this even cooler!) but it is written in novel format.
There are some great plot twists in the story that I'd love to read through to the end. It makes you wonder what is going to happen and who to trust. Great writing! It's a rare event when I can start reading a book and can't guess at the plot line and ending.
For a fun read and for all people out there who love superhero stories, this is a great book to check out! I wouldn't mind having it on my shelf.
December 30, 2016
The event created the first superheroes. Now, superheroes may appear in a life threatening situation. This is the story of one of the newest heroes.
I have always enjoyed superhero stories. One of the nice thing about superhero novels is that they can go into greater depth than comic books, You can see how it touches all aspects of the character's life. That is why I tend to like novels about heroes that are not so well known (like Spiderman or Batman).
I also enjoyed the little touches that showed how superheroes change the world. A designer of costumes, superhero fan magazines, and many other small touches just help to bring the world to life.
The only real problem with this story was the abrupt ending. Since this is intended as a teaser and it was a free download, this can be overlooked for the most part but i would still have preferred a more defined ending.
I have always enjoyed superhero stories. One of the nice thing about superhero novels is that they can go into greater depth than comic books, You can see how it touches all aspects of the character's life. That is why I tend to like novels about heroes that are not so well known (like Spiderman or Batman).
I also enjoyed the little touches that showed how superheroes change the world. A designer of costumes, superhero fan magazines, and many other small touches just help to bring the world to life.
The only real problem with this story was the abrupt ending. Since this is intended as a teaser and it was a free download, this can be overlooked for the most part but i would still have preferred a more defined ending.
April 14, 2016
For the record, I only read the 96 page "Beginnings" eBook rather than the full novel.
This book isn't bad. But it's not for me. I yearn for a really, really good "superheroes in real life" type of book. I still haven't found one that satisfies, though. This one moves too fast and everything fits too neatly to seem anything but contrived. But the 2 star rating is highly subjective and reflects only this one reader's tastes. Honestly, it seems like it would be great for casual superhero fans, especially young adult readers, and female readers in particular. I guess I'm just not the target audience.
2 stars out of 5.
This book isn't bad. But it's not for me. I yearn for a really, really good "superheroes in real life" type of book. I still haven't found one that satisfies, though. This one moves too fast and everything fits too neatly to seem anything but contrived. But the 2 star rating is highly subjective and reflects only this one reader's tastes. Honestly, it seems like it would be great for casual superhero fans, especially young adult readers, and female readers in particular. I guess I'm just not the target audience.
2 stars out of 5.
November 8, 2015
So interesting, really likable characters.
I definitely recommend this book. Characters are very likable, story is as believable as this genre can get. Want to be Astra myself, young, cute, petite, good family with lots of money and security. She is so nice you don't feel jealous, want her to succeed. Will definitely read other books in this series.
I definitely recommend this book. Characters are very likable, story is as believable as this genre can get. Want to be Astra myself, young, cute, petite, good family with lots of money and security. She is so nice you don't feel jealous, want her to succeed. Will definitely read other books in this series.
November 20, 2016
Just enough of a taste to get you hooked
This is just a sample of the whole story, but well written and fun. Enough to make me want to buy the rest of the book.
Great for young readers, and anyone who is a fan of superheroes. It might not be suited for hard core comic book fans though.
This is just a sample of the whole story, but well written and fun. Enough to make me want to buy the rest of the book.
Great for young readers, and anyone who is a fan of superheroes. It might not be suited for hard core comic book fans though.
December 3, 2016
Sweet look at Superheroes origin story
This is a pleasant and sweet version of how a superhero got her start. It's nothing like the D-List Supervillians books, but it does show possibility. This appears to be a sample and not the entire first book which lowered my rating because I thought I was buying an entire novel.
This is a pleasant and sweet version of how a superhero got her start. It's nothing like the D-List Supervillians books, but it does show possibility. This appears to be a sample and not the entire first book which lowered my rating because I thought I was buying an entire novel.
May 31, 2015
If you like outlines...
...then you'd like this. The whole thing read like an outline that had been fleshed out in only two or three points. More attention was paid to dresses and shoes than to press releases or conversations.
...then you'd like this. The whole thing read like an outline that had been fleshed out in only two or three points. More attention was paid to dresses and shoes than to press releases or conversations.
February 14, 2017
First thirteen chapters
This is the first thirteen chapters of a teen superhero novel. The superheroes have a fairly logical rationale and there's enough material for a longer series. I think the author should bundle them into trilogies. I went on to purchase the whole book.
This is the first thirteen chapters of a teen superhero novel. The superheroes have a fairly logical rationale and there's enough material for a longer series. I think the author should bundle them into trilogies. I went on to purchase the whole book.
April 29, 2013
i liked the unique take on superheros and how they'd deal in the real world with publicity and all that jazz. clever
August 23, 2014
Excellent addition to the series!
October 28, 2014
This was a fun glimpse into the first book. I think I need to buy the full version now, just because it was good, light-hearted fun.
April 4, 2015
An interesting take on superheros
Well worth the read. An interesting take on superheroes starting from the beginning of a young hero's career. Loved it.
Well worth the read. An interesting take on superheroes starting from the beginning of a young hero's career. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews