Carrier Wave Paperback – February 13, 2020

TLDR; if you like well written cosmic or apocalyptic horror and love the idea of reading a book written from a place of originality, I highly recommend this. I will say, the story structure is fragmented at first but starts blending well and making sense after the first few snippets which may annoy some but stick with it until the first major catalyst and you won’t be sorry.Details Review:My first introduction to Brockway was his ‘Angels’ series which was an insanely original, well paced trilogy about the nature of humanity in relation to the universe. This book is very similar in the base concept as it’s very much about people and how we are the way we are, what makes us that way, and our standing in the universe as a whole.I have often heard that there are no new stories, but coming from someone who has read something who has averaged a book a week for most of my adult life, this story, in its barest concept, it new to me. I love cosmic horror & fantasy, as well as comedic premise(not that I consider this novel funny) are among some of my favorite. I can only think of a handful that even hold a candle to how original this felt for me. I loved the use of folklore and while the main characters are many and it set in a kind of mashup of individual characters experiences to we’ve into a complex plot line that comes together in the last few chapters, Brockway does so without skipping on character development, everyone felt real, with there own voices.Which I find often authors fall back on archetypes for that but he didn’t do that here. Everyone was so human, so flawed. In fact given the themes here, the take on rigidity moral approach’s to theme like justice really shows an true understanding of the true neutrality of those concept and how things could be either inherently good or bad regardless intent. It focuses on outcomes and impacts, really making you think about what those things would really look like in their purists forms.I will warn you, it’s very much a story driven novel, you know the characters and there wants, needs, personalities, but the main focus is the story itself and how it impacts those involved. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoyed cosmic horror, post apocalypse sub genre, or really likes books that seem to be intellectually simulating while still not being so over complex that it would alienate the readers who just want a good story about the world ending. The aspect of depth are there if you want them, unlike No Monster, No Peace or The House of Leaves. It’s not a traditional cosmic horror as it kind of lacks that gothic feel but it’s certainly is very much worth checking out with you want a fast paced new take on world ending events with a sci if spend.I expected more gore after reading the reviews and while there is quite a lot, it works well as a terror builder without being the core focus or going to far. Mostly it’s a great book about the nature of people, how we might deal with horror and the futility of death. People survived due to luck, not skill or virtue. I love that Brockway isn’t afraid or randomly killing off characters after building them up as it just ads a bit of realism to his writing.Anyways, hopefully this is helpful when deciding on if you want to purchase it. I could certainly see myself reading in again after a few years as it’s complex enough to get more out of it from a second reading in the future.

Great plot, great action, a solid, scary entry for apocalyptic fiction. The start was a bit shaky and confusing, but the themes and narration resolve quickly enough. I only gave it 4 stars because the “individual account” style of the book makes it hard to connect with the characters. It’s cool that some of them reappear later in the book, but not in enough time (in my opinion) to really make their fates meaningful. That being said, I did enjoy the tale and it was a pretty compelling read. I would definitely recommend this for folks who like apocalyptic and alien invasion fiction.

Let's talk about what Carrier Wave isn't.This isn't World War Z. Yeah, it is a collection of horror vignettes tied into a looser grand narrative, but calling it similar to that is like saying Bachelor Party and Forrest Gump are basically the same movie because they both have Tom Hanks. World War Z has a clear narrative structure. It's the modern technical boxer, who puts out the jab to score points for a decision in the twelfth.Carrier Wave is the drunk, lumbering, beer-gut-toting guy who's smoked a few too many cigars, has had his nose broken in three spots, and might go down in the fourth with cardiac arrest. It's a book that doesn't care about landing points. The vignettes - and eventually the overarching plot - go for haymakers and uppercuts, whiffing as often as it connects. But when it connects, it made me see stars like Soda Popinsky.This is also not The Unnoticeables. That series could hardly be called straightforward, but that was Brockway telling a tale you could easily map out and navigate. Carrier Wave is messy, and in its messiness, you see the heart of the writer, particularly in the gray areas and characters we should hate but can't because he writes them so well. But it takes a long, long, long time to see what he's going for here. Well worth it, but it deserves to be mentioned that this one is a heck of a twisty mountain.It's cosmic horror in post-apocalyptic form. It's tonally all over the place, it's too long by at least a third, as a few of the stories, particularly in its early going, don't feel as necessary or heartfelt as the last two-thirds of the book. But where this collection of stories lands, it lands hard. It's gruesome and heartfelt and raw in the very best of ways, and I think it's well worth a shot if you love bizarre apocalyptic fiction, horror short stories, or Brockway's previous work.

While most of the work by Robert Brockway I have read are endearing horror comedy this novel is primarily horror. It was well told and very detail oriented doing a wonderful job making you care about the characters as they explore the world post "carrier wave" . There are still fun little Easter eggs but was also scary enough that I had a few late night dog walks (because I couldn't put the book down) where I freaked myself out considering if something similar to the premise of this book happened and I didn't know yet. And that is terrifying.

If you're looking for an original storyline that will surprise and entertain you, this book is for you!

As the tesseract of a cosmic horror is slowly unveiled through the seemingly random viewpoints of some of its innumerable victims, an extinction-level event more terrifying and brutal than anyone could have imagined unfolds.In this tale of a cosmic signal that sends its listeners into murderous rampages and creepy inhuman behavior, Brockway presents a story epic in scale but deeply personable in its effect. In a manner reminiscent of, but in no way derivative of, horror novels such as World War Z, you’re invited to explore the chaos and carnage from a variety of victims- some who survive, and some who most assuredly do not.The supernatural threat is one of Lovecraftian proportions, existentially terrifying, attacking the very core of humanity by its very presence. But the consequences are street level, bone-snappingly brutal and heart-achingly human.Coming off of the excellent Vicious Circuit series, Brockway steps away a little from his irreverent comedy writer platform into something no less entertaining for its seriousness. But don’t be fooled- the Gen X punk sensibilities of the former Cracked legend are still there, lending each character you’re introduced to an unpretentious humanity that grabs you instantly and unselfconsciously by the hand. This, of course, makes it all the crueler when they’re ripped away from you.For fans of creepy, tense action and smart horror world building, Carrier Wave has it all. It’s a solid, familiar concept that you can find examples of in various popcorn flicks and paperbacks, sure. But then, there were zombies before Romero, right? The secret ingredient that brings an iconic take to a concept is always the creative voice, and Brockway is a potent ingredient indeed. He brings to the mix what he always does- headstrong heart, subtle poetry, a smile that doesn’t quite reach the eyes, and knuckles so bloody you can see the bone.Carrier Wave is also (somewhat ironically, considering the subject matter) distressingly addictive. It’s been a while since I started reading a book only to look up and realise it’s hours past a reasonable bedtime. It’s also been a while since I’ve had the urge to just casually mention a book to complete strangers on a bus.Am I destined, like the antagonists of the story, to go a little too far in my proselytizing of this compelling new sound?Yes.Yes, I think I am.

Best value for money ever.Worth everything I paid for it.Couldn't recommend it more.

Part sci fi dystopia, part progressive disclosure mystery, this is a very entertaining and creative work looking at what makes us most human. Stop listening to the stars!

A good book in the vein of World war z. Reads like a series of short stories before coming together for a grand finale. Marked down because it is so americocentric it falls to take into account the rest of the world which leaves the ending feel dulledIt is however worth a read for its fast pace and core tenet which adds another string to the dark forest theory. Imaginative antagonists that are never revealed except through their works.