Unexpectedly good right from the start-- builds in intensity, and leaves with a satisfying ending.
This book came to me through the Los Angeles Public Library book recommendation engine; which I generally ignore. However, the book cover piqued my interest and after noticing the length of the book, I decided to give it a try; being that it is science fiction and all.
The premise of space pioneering and terraforming driven by corporate profit isn't a new concept in science fiction, which the author did a splendid job employing with his fictional HardCell Corporation. The predicament that allowed the relationship to grow Ox and Runt and the twists in circumstance were, for me, surprisingly original, if not deliciously bent and twisted.
Runt (Runnan) is colonist terraforming a planetoid owned by HardCell Corporation. His clone-wife died upon entering the atmosphere, leaving him alone to do the work of two people and falling severely behind schedule. After two (2) lonely years, Hardcell Corporation sent him a big strong, but mute, muscular male companion to assist with the required work and put his farm back on track.
Ox, Runt's new male companion is genetically engineered to be strong, muscular, and give-off pheromones that him desirable to all sexes. With Runt completely alone for two years without a wife to tend to his "male" needs, resisting Ox's male wiles takes all of Runt's efforts and creativeness, but eventually succumbing in the end.
I think if you enjoy science fiction with a little romance tinged with a light mystery with hyper-masculine dom/sub homo-erotic grown men doing NSFW stuff, then read this book. It's short enough to get through an afternoon or, if you prefer, evening.
Here is a list of places/sites where you can read the book for free.
My Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars) - I really liked it.
Description as found on Goodreads.com:
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| Author: Damon Suede |
Marooned in the galactic backwaters of the HardCell company, colonist Runt struggles to eke out an existence on a newly-terraformed tropical planetoid. Since his clone-wife died on entry, he’s been doing the work of two on his failing protein farm. Overworked and undersized, Runt’s dwindling hope of earning corporate citizenship has turned to fear of violent “retirement.”
When an overdue crate of provisions crashes on his beach, Runt searches frantically for a replacement wife among the tools and food. Instead he gets Ox, a mute hulk who seems more like a corporate assassin than a simple offworld farmer.
Shackwacky and near-starving, Runt has no choice but to work with his silent partner despite his mounting paranoia and the unsettling appeal of Ox’s genetically altered pheromones. Ox plays the part of the gentle giant well, but Runt’s still not convinced he hasn’t arrived with murder in mind.
Between brutal desire and the seeds of a relationship, Runt’s fears and Ox’s inhuman past collide on a fertile world where hope and love just might have room to grow.
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