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ISBN: 0-9760590-3-7
Format: Paperback, 343pp
Pub. Date: January 2005
Publisher: Unsung Fu Publishers
Each book is unique --- signed and numbered by the author himself. |
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A cleverly dark, thought-provoking novel that centers around the ultimate addiction,
one that transforms a young man's love into a glimpse at god-strength.
It is the year 2020, and humanity as we know it no longer exists. Sixteen years prior, the world was struck by a plague that annihilated millions. The only effective countermeasures divided mankind into Splices (those enhanced with animal genetics) and Cypures (those who wear cybernetic suits). In Vitellus City, the exotic breeds must now mix with the radical technologians.
Serico is a half-chameleon Splice who works as a DJ at one of the hottest dance clubs in the city. He discovers that when he's intoxicated, he is able to exist on another level of reality where he can manipulate his love of turntablism to spectacular effect. However, beings from that plane are coming after him - some to entice Serico further into the otherworld, others to eradicate him from it.
The DJ forms a dysfunctional friendship with Amaretta Jones, a young, aggressive waitress searching for new beginnings. The city is also home to Dr. Def Mechlin, an enigmatic and wealthy scientist looking for the murderer of his apprentice; and Tiberius Tagonist, a psychotic fugitive plotting genocide. Each character's obsessive path crosses with Serico's to forever alter his future. Welcome to the city where addiction is king.
On one level, The Art of Getting Bent is a hard-boiled parable about the perils of overindulgence and vengeance in a land without sympathy: "collective chaos that is tightly packed, where cash flow is king, and no one makes eye contact." But it is also a finely woven thriller peppered with inventive sci-fi themes and witty dialogue, where every decision bends reality a little bit further. |
Reviews:
• “What a wonderful world M. Sahm has created in The Art of Getting Bent. I like how Colin is a human bridge—someone for the audience to care about— between “normal” 2004 and the fictional future with its Cypures and Splices. But Serico and Amy take the cake as unique, intriguing characters that draw a reader further into Sahm’s mysterious, bewitching story. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 meaning “excellent”: Plot: 5, Character Development: 4.” – Writer’s Digest
• “On the surface, The Art of Getting Bent is a fresh and provocative thriller that will surely entice a wide range of readers from risk-takers to romantics. The sci-fi background sets an exciting stage for the cleverly intertwined themes, as the characters wind up in worlds only available through active imagination. However, Sahm’s novel does much more than paint a surface picture. It blurs and expands the boundaries of genre to include comedy, drama, and a captivating love story. The different perspectives keep readers curious and involved even after it has ended. Each character has a strong, individual voice that develops with every decision they make. Following along with Serico or Amy draws the reader in, as their attributes are easily recognizable in ourselves. Indeed, the novel forms an allegory for the world we live in today – with trials of temptation lurking on every corner. Even at the end, Sahm challenges us with a choice. It is unclear to us what the protagonist’s next decision will be, and we are forced to think about the parable long after the words have ended on the page.” - S.S., New York, NY
• “While you may at first not get "bent" from reading TAGB, quickly you learn that the story is an artistic analogy of life's twists, and we are all "bent" in the process. This story is an easy read, with clever use of time and place to orchestrate the nuance of M. Sahm's master plan, which isn't necessarily clear at first. We've all read books, where, in the beginning, there are many pieces that eventually zip together seamlessly in the end, and in this case, the purpose of the piece appears to showcase this process. M. Sahm has written a sci-fi adventure story that touches on many hot topics of the day, including genetics, technophilia, and a host of ethical questions. While the author may not have had a particular bend on philosophy in writing The Art of Getting Bent, the outcome is nevertheless philosophically provocative and artfully entertaining. Readers beware, TAGB not only requires your imagination, it reminds you that you have one.” – R.B., San Francisco, CA
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