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The Miraculous Life of Rupert Rocket
In 1942, Rupert Rocket’s grandmother was cursed by an Irish fairy, the Pooka, to end her bloodline.
But the Pooka's sister, the Grogoch, blessed the boy to counteract the curse.
As a young gay man, Rupert’s life spins wildly between the competing spells through adventures as a dancer, a model, an actor, and a spy…
But what will happen when the blessing runs out?
Mark Salzwedel is a gay writer and editor living in New York City. His short stories have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies, and his previous novel is The Lever (Queer Space Books, 2022).
PRAISE FOR THE LEVER BY MARK SALZWEDEL
“There is as much wonder here as there is fear, and that careful mixture made this book a special read for me.” – Ulysses Grant Dietz, queerscifi
“Unique space thriller, with good character development, surprise twists and turns, and a fascinating (terrifying?) antagonist at its heart!” – Damian Serbu, author of The Vampire’s Angel
“Loaded with space-age detail and plenty of interpersonal melodrama, Salzwedel elevates his hefty 400-page novel to new heights with creative intergalactic accents and characters that pop and sizzle with righteous momentum to restore the greater good.” – Jim Piechota, Bay Area Reporter
But the Pooka's sister, the Grogoch, blessed the boy to counteract the curse.
As a young gay man, Rupert’s life spins wildly between the competing spells through adventures as a dancer, a model, an actor, and a spy…
But what will happen when the blessing runs out?
Mark Salzwedel is a gay writer and editor living in New York City. His short stories have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies, and his previous novel is The Lever (Queer Space Books, 2022).
PRAISE FOR THE LEVER BY MARK SALZWEDEL
“There is as much wonder here as there is fear, and that careful mixture made this book a special read for me.” – Ulysses Grant Dietz, queerscifi
“Unique space thriller, with good character development, surprise twists and turns, and a fascinating (terrifying?) antagonist at its heart!” – Damian Serbu, author of The Vampire’s Angel
“Loaded with space-age detail and plenty of interpersonal melodrama, Salzwedel elevates his hefty 400-page novel to new heights with creative intergalactic accents and characters that pop and sizzle with righteous momentum to restore the greater good.” – Jim Piechota, Bay Area Reporter
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2024
6 people want to read
About the author
Mark Salzwedel
4 books2 followersMark Salzwedel grew up and went to college in the Midwest, moving through a variety of disparate and eccentric careers, including religion/philosophy editor, national public speaker, massage therapist, hypnotherapist, TV/film/stage actor, puzzle and game designer, and now advertising copywriter. In his spare time, he records music videos, composes songs, and writes mostly fantasy and science fiction stories of various lengths.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 18, 2024
Many book lovers will say you should never judge a book by its cover, and despite all knowing this, most of us do. That was my first impression of this book, and I was worried I would not enjoy it as the cover did not speak to me. Boy, was I wrong because I love this book.
As a side note, having read the book, the cover now makes sense; I would still say it doesn’t grab me.
What I loved about this book was the range of characters and how well they were written. Having read 50 pages, I felt like I was invested in every one of their lives. The lead character, Rupert, is no exception. He is well-written and flawed, with an equal sprinkling of loveability.
Rupert is surrounded by diverse characters, each of whom is as likeable as him. The book has short chapters which keep you reading through, and I read the whole thing in two days, but I could not put it down.
The book deals with 911, which may trigger some readers, but the story is well written. If I had one criticism of the book, I would say that it comes across as overly political in places, and it is clear what the author’s view is regarding some aspects of American politics, but this could be a criticism of many books.
Overall, this is a brilliant fantasy realism book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
As a side note, having read the book, the cover now makes sense; I would still say it doesn’t grab me.
What I loved about this book was the range of characters and how well they were written. Having read 50 pages, I felt like I was invested in every one of their lives. The lead character, Rupert, is no exception. He is well-written and flawed, with an equal sprinkling of loveability.
Rupert is surrounded by diverse characters, each of whom is as likeable as him. The book has short chapters which keep you reading through, and I read the whole thing in two days, but I could not put it down.
The book deals with 911, which may trigger some readers, but the story is well written. If I had one criticism of the book, I would say that it comes across as overly political in places, and it is clear what the author’s view is regarding some aspects of American politics, but this could be a criticism of many books.
Overall, this is a brilliant fantasy realism book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
April 18, 2024
5 Star Rating
"The "Rupert Rocket" by Mark Salzwedel follows Rupert on a mystical 1942 adventure with Irish fairies. Rupert's diverse roles lead to suspenseful twists. The plot and characters create captivating read, blending mystery and intrigue. The story promises a spellbinding experience, leaving readers eager for more. I highly recommend this entertaining read.
My favorite line
“When you look at it from the big picture,” Arthur said, “your life isn’t that different from mine. I’ve had my ups and downs, my victories and disappointments too. Normal is overrated.”
"The "Rupert Rocket" by Mark Salzwedel follows Rupert on a mystical 1942 adventure with Irish fairies. Rupert's diverse roles lead to suspenseful twists. The plot and characters create captivating read, blending mystery and intrigue. The story promises a spellbinding experience, leaving readers eager for more. I highly recommend this entertaining read.
My favorite line
“When you look at it from the big picture,” Arthur said, “your life isn’t that different from mine. I’ve had my ups and downs, my victories and disappointments too. Normal is overrated.”
February 27, 2024
i've read it so many times now, and I still think it's a great epic of magical realism.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews