Anybody Want to Play WAR?

by Tommy B. Smith

Brutal injuries can leave scars. As the teenage survivor of a savage dog’s rampage, it’s a lesson Bryce Gallo will never forget. Struggling to cope with his damaged appearance, along with a newfound fear of dogs and mounting anxieties at home and school, he flees his suburban home into the moonlit streets of St. Charles. Along the roads of suburbia and through the shadowed heart of the city, he encounters Wheels, a maintenance worker for a series of apartment buildings; Paloma, known to some by the moniker of Lady Luck; and a woman in a dark house who is, as far as Bryce can fathom, like no one else he has met before. His new life is not without obstacles or enemies, he learns. The future is a battlefield. Fire and smoke loom on the horizon, and his dangerous course may see the lives of his family and friends forever changed.

143 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2019

About the author

Tommy B. Smith is a writer of horror and dark fiction whose works meander through the darker spaces of the psychological and the cosmic. A two-time Imadjinn Award-winning author and 2023 nominee for the Michael Knost Wings Award, he has been featured in numerous publications to span the years, and is the author of the Black Carmenia series. As well, he serves as secretary for the Kansas-Missouri chapter of the Horror Writers Association, also known as Horror in the Heartland. His presence currently infests the west Arkansas River Valley, where he resides with his wife and six cats.

More information can be found on his website at http://tommybsmith.net.

Reviews

[Ellie Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Summary

In 1980, young Bryce Gallo is mauled by a rogue dog, leaving a nasty scar on his face. When he gets suspended from school for three days, Bryce decides to run away, finding himself a job in the process, along with new friends and more drama where he could do with less.


~Story

The story dove straight into the action, showing us how Bryce came to fear dogs after his attack.
We see how his physical deformity affects his everyday life and self-esteem, making him shy away from others.

The story follows his personal journey of transformation, from being a generally unhappy teen, often getting himself into mischief, to becoming a young man that acknowledges his problems and tries to take on the responsibilities expected of him as a young adult.


~Writing Style

The story progressed well, with each scene adding to Bryce’s journey. I felt very close to Bryce.
I could easily relate to his feelings of insecurity and his experiences of being kicked when already down. I think a lot of people nowadays would be able to relate to his situation.

I especially liked the ending as all the loose ends were tied up nicely.



~Characters

Bryce Gallo: Bryce is self-conscious ever since a tragic incident with a rogue dog left him physically scarred for life. I felt deeply connected to his plight, especially when no-one would listen to him when trying to explain his feelings and issues. I felt for him in those moments, understanding the listening ear he needed.


Tabby: Tabby is a kind and intelligent older woman. I felt bad for her as she felt the need to hide herself away in her dark house due to her own facial deformity. In this way, Bryce’s character felt connected to her through the experience of a similar tragic accident. I liked how they mirrored each-other’s insecurities and helped each-other out whenever possible.


George Loveless: George Loveless is a harsh, easily-angered man that seemed to have a lot of inner-demons that were never dealt with. Cruel and bad-tempered, yet hardworking, he made for an interesting antagonist, alongside Bryce’s own inner-demons.


Bryce’s Parents: I felt that Bryce’s mother was mostly innocent in the grand scheme of things. She seemed to hold herself back at times when wanting to be more compassionate toward Bryce. I noticed particularly at the end of the story that Bryce’s step-father likely made the mother feel like she had to be stricter, even when her heart wasn’t in it.

Bryce’s step-father never cuts him any slack and this is what helped me to relate to Bryce’s hatred toward the man. His step-father constantly pressures him to do things, even though he’s still healing from the trauma caused by the rogue dog. He never gives Bryce a break, which leads him to continuously act-out. I feel that if his step-father had been a bit more understanding, then Bryce probably would have been less rebellious.


~Overview

Overall, I loved this short tale. It showed a young man struggling to cope with a traumatic incident, but eventually pushing through and learning how to take better responsibility for himself and his actions.

My Rating: 4 stars.
Recommended: To anyone that loves a story of true character transformation.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some days are impossible to forget.

Bryce’s character development was incredibly well done. He’d been through a terrible experience that caused both emotional and physical trauma. His recovery was a slow and difficult one, especially when it came to how he responded to his memories of that awful day and the reactions of other people to his many scars. I had so much compassion for this character even when he was acting out. Many teens would behave the same way in his shoes, especially if they lived in the early 1980s when fewer people understood how trauma works and when medical treatments for this sort of injury weren’t as advanced as they would be today.

The mystery subplot could have used more development. I had some trouble following its developments, especially in the beginning when Bryce knew nothing about what was going on. There simply weren’t enough hints to show what was happening or why it was happening. A few more of them would have been very helpful.

One of the most interesting parts of this book for me was Bryce’s troubled relationship with his mom and stepdad. Their conflicts were incredibly complex and rooted in disagreements that had been going on for a very long time. Not only was this where the main character found a lot of opportunities for personal growth, it was also where some of the best plot developments came from. While I was satisfied with the ending, I sure would like to see a sequel that explores what their relationships were like hen Bryce was a few decades older. There was so much more room here for future storylines.

I’d recommend Anybody Want to Play War? to anyone who is interested in the 1980s or realistic depictions of mental illness after a traumatic event.

[Nicole Dunton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bryce's world changes when he's attacked by a dog that had just got done killing another man. He barely made it out of the ordeal alive. From then, he struggles with facing other people. Including his parents. Not knowing what else to do, he runs away and tries to start a life on his own.

This book needs a LOT of work. The important issue with the book is that some of the descriptions are a bit choppy at best. It's not too horrible, but it is noticeable. Another thing I noticed was the time gaps that aren't really fully explained. It also goes back into the past with no warning at all. I had to reread several passages to figure out where I was.

I just couldn't when any of the characters in this book at all. I empathized with them all for their situations, but their attitudes were not great at all. Starting with the main character. I assumed he was fourteen for the most part of the book. I found out he was actually sixteen. He has such a horrible attitude and no sense of what he's done wrong. If that isn't bad enough, nobody actually listens to him which just fuels the fire and provokes him into making more bad decisions than he already made! It's frustrating! I get that everybody has issues, but this seems to magnify it all.

I have put this book down a lot. That makes me feel bad. I know the author of this book put a lot of work into writing this. I want to say that I feel like it has a lot of great potential. It definitely could use a polish. I also feel like it could be renamed. The name doesn't exactly make sense with the book itself. I assumed it was about a veteran or an active soldier. This is just my opinion. I encourage everybody who wants to give it a try to go for it.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

Smith pens a good story in Anybody Want to Play War? I have read Smith's work before, and I really enjoyed it. The author's writing style is unique and there is an interesting way this story unfolds. This author brings the stories to life. There is a great depth in of characters, especially with Bryce, that makes them realistic and flawed. It's an enjoyable journey to go on with Bryce, and how the story unfolds. Bryce struggles and jumps through obstacles. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This author's characters develop and interacts well with the other characters. I look forward to reading more by this author. This read is definitely recommended by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a vicious dog attack, Bryce was left a stark reminder in the shape of a fresh scar twisting on the side of his face. Since then, he’s had a fear of dogs. Not being able to withstand the pity and the glares, Bryce runs away and meets a group of characters on the street.

Narrative is simple and appealing. Bryce is just a trouble-free kid just trying to get through his life, which is a battlefield of treachery and obstacles.

A decent YA read with an urban flair.

[Carol Preflatish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. Other than having a family emergency while reading it, I couldn't put it down. The characters were very interesting and I could look back at my own teen years while reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone.

[Kritika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good read. It's my first read of Tommy B. Smith work...and I really enjoyed it. His style of writing is unique and appealing. The storyline is kick-ass.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got into this book straight away. With on lookers witnessing at what had just taken place. A dog lunged at Bryce Gallo, its teeth latched into his face and ripped away flesh. Bryce struggled for survival and the only thing he could do was take out his penknife from his pocket and stabbed the dog in the neck. He lay in hospital with a stark red scar beneath his left eye and down to the bottom of his jaw. We follow Bryce Gallo through his life after his attack. This is a brilliant heartfelt story not to be missed. I would also like to say a huge thank you to Tommy B Smith for sending me this book to read.