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ASA Durphy

2 years ago

An amazing moment in Terry Pratchett's Discworld Series:

“I was walking along the bank of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs, a very endearing sight, I'm sure you'll agree. And even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued and dragged onto a half submerged log. As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby otters, who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature's wonders, gentlemen. Mother and children dining upon mother and children. And that is when I first learned about evil. It is built into the very nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.” ... See MoreSee Less

ASA Durphy

2 years ago

I've been reading my way through The Expanse series. It's terrifically smart and engrossing. I recommend it for anyone looking for a science based sci-fi series. I wanted to share the opening paragraph of the first book, which sets the series up perfectly. This is sci-fi writing at its best. It's funny, and it set's the table for the series perfectly.

"A hundred and fifty years before, when the parochial disagreements between Earth and Mars had been on the verge of war, the Belt had been a far horizon of tremendous mineral wealth beyond viable economic reach, and the outer planets had been beyond even the most unrealistic corporate dream. Then Solomon Epstein had built his little modified fusion drive, popped it on the back of his three-man yacht, and turned it on. With a good scope, you could still see his ship going at a marginal percentage of the speed of light, heading out into the big empty. The best, longest funeral in the history of mankind. Fortunately, he’d left the plans on his home computer. The Epstein Drive hadn’t given humanity the stars, but it had delivered the planets." ... See MoreSee Less

ASA Durphy

2 years ago

The $0.99 sale ends tomorrow for The Thing. ... See MoreSee Less

ASA Durphy

2 years ago

Another review in, this one from HUGEOrange Reviews:

The Thing Speaks for Itself is a must-read thriller series.

Smooth and natural dialog keep the pace of the book fast, helping build tension and suspense along the way. The author has a way with building characters and the world in such a way that you feel present. You quickly find yourself being swept up in the story.

Either written by an experienced author under a different name or a truly gifted first time writer. The Thing Speaks for Itself is the start of what clearly will be a great series.

This book is a quick read that leaves you wanting more. Fans of private detective mystery books will love this series. There’s a great use of psychological elements in the writing which adds a whole new dimension to the story.

The Thing Speaks for Itself is clearly deserving of all the accolades it receives. It’s gritty, new and will satisfy readers. ... See MoreSee Less

ASA Durphy

2 years ago

The Foreword Clarion reviews The Thing:

A riveting novel of crime and politics, family and domestic horror, this is solid entertainment

A. S. A. Durphy’s The Thing Speaks for Itself is a study not just of crime and violence, but of people. Friendships and family relations serve as a focal point in the novel, clearly showing the impact that a person’s professional life can have on their personal life. Action-packed from the beginning, this is a novel in which the brutality of criminals and the horror of violence is on full display.

As a new special agent with the State Department, Gracie Stratis doesn’t quite know what to expect from her assignment to cover her home state of California. While not nearly as glamorous as some of the foreign assignments she could have been given, California does have its challenges, hosting an ample number of both foreign dignitaries and nefarious criminals. Gracie is also recovering from a recent trauma, working with a therapist, Dr. Ipsa, who talks her through her continual visions of smoke.

Her veteran partner Charles helps, offering a cool demeanor and sound direction when they’re working, but Gracie can’t help but worry that her missions will turn into an adventure—something she regards as resultant from “bad planning.” When her partner is killed and her childhood friend goes missing, it becomes clear that her fears are justified.

Terse but telling scenes drive the novel’s often graphic, but not too gory, action forward, through fires and firefights, establishing early on that no character is safe from an untimely demise, that “one bullet can erase a whole lifetime of possibilities.”

Furthermore, this is a work deeply aware of the changing realities of urban life, continually commenting on the locust-like effect of gentrification on established but low-income communities. Scenes describe going to the ubiquitous new coffee shops as “surfing the tide of yuppies that flooded in, block by block.” The novel outlines perfectly the succession of a neighborhood’s tenants, from punk rockers to moms with strollers, imparting a realistic look at modern-day California.

Quieter scenes sometimes move too slowly, though, and are occasionally unbelievable. Scenes with Gracie’s therapist, who attempts to help her refocus her mind, move at a tedious pace. At times, Gracie’s missing childhood friend Noah is almost a parody of a political operative, with drug problems and involvement with society’s seedy underbelly.

Even so, The Thing Speaks for Itself thrives on adrenaline. A riveting novel of crime and politics, family and domestic horror, this is solid entertainment. ... See MoreSee Less

ASA Durphy

2 years ago

Here's a synopsis for The Thing Speaks for Itself:

Gracie Stratis, special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service, wants nothing more than to see the world one embassy at a time. Plans change when she suffers grave injuries at the hands of would-be assassins. Her brother, Russel, brings her back to his Oakland home to recuperate. For Gracie, it’s a long road back to active duty, burdened by a hobbled mind and body.

Weeks into her recovery, an old friend mysteriously disappears. Gracie determines to find him, but every angle oozes trouble. Gracie must confront violent criminals with exacting genkan habits, the missing man’s imperious parents, a powerful mayor, and a shady corporation. Each step she takes pulls her closer to facing the dragons that lurk in her past and haunt her deteriorating mind. Time is running out for her friend, her recovery, and what was once a bright future. ... See MoreSee Less