‘The Spartak Trigger’ is an Intelligent and Satirical Neo-Noir, Sci-Fi, Spy Thriller Kick in the Brain That Never Takes Itself Seriously

GameStop, Inc.

The Spartak Trigger is an exciting and hilarious kick in the brain that uses humor as self-commentary.

The SpartakTriggerI don’t remember where I was or what I was doing when The Spartak Trigger landed in my lap… top. I was told that it was a spy-thriller novel with a sarcastic sense of humor, so being me, a guy who loves spy-thrillers and has a sarcastic sense of humor, I was intrigued. I don’t have much time for reading these days, due to being one of FanboyNation’s resident tastemakers, but I made time because it sounded interesting, and because I was sitting in an ophthalmologist’s waiting room for a good couple of hours while my mom had something magical done to her peepers.

It started out a bit slow, but even on the first page Bryce Allen’s wry humor was on full display. The main character, disgraced cop Shane Bishop, is kind of a jerk, but I was very easily able to find him likable anyway. The plot, told in the first person with a mystery narrator jumping in from time to time, centers on Bishop as he works as a set-up artist, taking down his client’s enemies by setting them up to take down themselves. After his latest botched job, and finding himself framed for murder and being blackmailed, Bishop heads to Russia to save the world… wide web.

For a first novel, The Spartak Trigger definitely held my interest and left me wanting more. A sardonic, surreal, and satirical neo-noir, science fiction, spy thriller with a little to offend and entertain everybody. It is intelligent, intriguing, quirky, and never once takes itself seriously, making it one of the funnest books I’ve read in a long time. Allen has a unique voice with a fresh take on the genre, and I hope he never stops writing.

The protagonist is an amoral, sexist, cynical, sarcastic, coke-fueled asshole, but beneath the surface beats a heart of gold, well, copper at least. Bishop struggles to make himself seem the tough guy, because in his business he has to, but you can tell that it is all a lie he tells himself. Lines such as – “The peanuts are stale and I suddenly wish I’d picked a classier joint at which to ruin this assclown’s life.” – are mere chest-puffing for chest-puffing’s sake, and when we get to the moment he is reunited with the daughter he hasn’t seen in years we get to see the man beneath the facade. And the way he argues with the narrator takes a bit of getting used to, but is eminently interesting and entertaining. This is a book I wish I had written, because it is brilliant, and so that I could get the credit and kudos Allen surely has coming.

One of my favorite things The Spartak Trigger has going on is that even as it nails each and every spy novel cliche and trope it brilliantly skewers them, using humor as self-commentary brilliantly. There are plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing, and the stakes get higher and higher as the book progresses, sort of. If you have the patience to get through the first 10-15 pages, to where the story really gets going, you will be rewarded with an exciting and hilarious kick in the brain that I am glad I made the time for. Bravo, Bryce E Allen. Bravo.

The Spartak Trigger is available from Necro Publications and Amazon in print and digital.

 

Anytime Costumes

Leave a Reply

FanboyNation
Animation/Anime Interviews Animation/Anime News Animation/Anime Reviews Film/TV Interviews Film/TV News Film/TV Review
‘Wednesday’ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

‘Wednesday‘ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, from Warner...

Toy Lei Talks About Playing Auntie Victoria in ‘The Brothers Sun’ – Interview Rewind

Asian-American actress Toy Lei stars as Auntie Victoria in the new...

Marcus Massey Talks ‘Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2’ – Interview

Marcus Massey Shares his Wisdom as Owl in ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and...

Event News Event Reviews
‘MJ the Musical’ Chronicles the Life of the ‘King of Pop’ Running at Segerstrom – Review

‘MJ the Musical‘ is the Ultimate Stage Adaptation, Chronicling the life...

Aiden Sinclair and Michael Rangel Talks ’57 Ghosts’ Aboard the Queen Mary Séance

Aiden Sinclair and Apparitionist, Michael Rangel Discuss their new Theatrical Séance...

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open ‘Slashers Axe Throwing’ – Interview

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open Orange County’s first ever horror themed...

Automotives Football MMA, Kick Boxing & Boxing Professional Wrestling
Olympic Runner Colleen Quigley ‘On The Road to Paris’

Team USA Olympic Runner, Colleen Quigley is On The Road to...

Paralympian Swimmer Ahalya Lettenberger On The Road to Paris

Team USA Paralympian Swimmer, Ahalya Lettenberger is On The Road to...

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre – Interview

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre on Sunday,...

Adult Continuity Comics on the Can Cultural Junk Drawer Future Comic Rock Stars Is That Racist? Revisiting the Reviled THAT'S NOT ROTTEN! The B-Reel The Cantina Scene This Week in Crowdfunding What the HELL Did I just...?
Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse – SID SPEAKS!

"We Demons! Let's go CRUNK on this punk-ass world!"

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse: Escalation

When you said "Destroy" Kurt grabbed his mini-gun an AK-47 and...

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse, the continuing saga!

If cautious means being careful when I break a foot off...

Music Interviews Music News Music Reviews
Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs & Sketches’ – Interview

Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs &...

Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her Career in the Arts

First Generation Assyrian-Chaldean, Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her...

Louden Swain Headlining Los Angeles Show at The Echo

Press Release – Louden Swain are headlining Los Angeles show at...

Enabled Gaming Gaming News Gaming Reviews
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gameplay Trailer

The first Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gameplay trailer was revealed during...

Wonder Woman Game
Wonder Woman Game Announced By DC and WB Games

Wonder Woman game will feature the iconic hero in a 3rd...

MultiVersus
MultiVersus brings Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny, and More

MultiVersus is bringing Shaggy, Harley Quinn, Jake, Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny,...

Comic Creator Interviews Comic/Graphic Novel News Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews Manga News Manga Reviews Novel/Novella Author Interviews Novel/Novella News Novel/Novella Reviews
Gary Morgenstein Talks ‘A Dugout to Peace’ the Final Installment of his Trilogy

Gary Morgenstein Talks About ‘A Dugout to Peace‘ the final installment...

Chris Clews Is ‘Raised on the 80s’ and Shares Those Life Lessons

Chris Clews was ‘Raised on the 80s‘ and Shares Those Life...

Roye Okupe Brings Authentic African Representation to HBO Max and Cartoon Network

Nigerian-American, Roye Okupe brings authentic African representation to HBO Max and...

Apparel/Personal Maintenance News Apparel/Personal Maintenance Reviews Entertainment Product News Entertainment Product Reviews Food/Beverage Reviews Hardware News Hardware Reviews Mystery Box News Mystery Box Reviews
Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand Demo

The new ‘Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand‘ is ready to ship...

Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the ‘Good Flour’

Canadian Super Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the...

Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

The Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide is now available to help...

Gaming Uncensored Toon-In-Talk
Episode 38: Hamid Rahmanian

Join Whitney Grace as she speaks with artist Hamid Rahmanian, who...

No Preview
Toon-In Talk Episode 37: Niki Smith

Whitney Grace interviews graphic novel writer and artist Niki Smith about...

Toon-In Talk Episode 36: Rob Paulsen

Rob Paulsen takes some time from his busy voice acting schedule...