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Environmentally Friendly
Out of seven billion people, one man has declared war on Mother Nature and plans to bring it to its knees.
Out of all the criminals in Los Angeles, he's the number one target being hunted by the LAPD tonight.
And out of the entire LAPD, one officer is hell-bent on helping him complete his mission.
Out of all the criminals in Los Angeles, he's the number one target being hunted by the LAPD tonight.
And out of the entire LAPD, one officer is hell-bent on helping him complete his mission.
19 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2016
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97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
August 12, 2024
* Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Sgt Major Bushnell, army veteran, has managed to escape from a psychiatric hospital, and he's determined to wage war on Mother Nature. Armed with a chainsaw and flame thrower, he's causing havoc and certain danger to anyone who crosses his path. The LAPD are desperate to bring his reign of terror to an end. LAPD officer Sgt Schaefer, is in complete opposition to his colleagues though, and he actually wants to help Bushnell complete his mission, for a very good reason.
This was a really short story, but the author still manages to capture the tension and excitement to make this a worthy read. It must be extremely difficult to bring a short piece like this to a satisfactory conclusion, but I believe Elias Zanbaka has managed to pull it off. Personally I would have liked it to be a bit longer in order to get some background on the main characters, but nevertheless a good effort.
Sgt Major Bushnell, army veteran, has managed to escape from a psychiatric hospital, and he's determined to wage war on Mother Nature. Armed with a chainsaw and flame thrower, he's causing havoc and certain danger to anyone who crosses his path. The LAPD are desperate to bring his reign of terror to an end. LAPD officer Sgt Schaefer, is in complete opposition to his colleagues though, and he actually wants to help Bushnell complete his mission, for a very good reason.
This was a really short story, but the author still manages to capture the tension and excitement to make this a worthy read. It must be extremely difficult to bring a short piece like this to a satisfactory conclusion, but I believe Elias Zanbaka has managed to pull it off. Personally I would have liked it to be a bit longer in order to get some background on the main characters, but nevertheless a good effort.
January 18, 2019
An interesting short story that sees Sergeant Major Bushell, having escaped from a psychiatric ward, running amok in LA and waging war against Mother Nature. This is an action-packed thriller, rich in detail, that leaves the reader wanting more. I would love to see this re-released as a full length novel, with the characters fleshed out more, and the back story revealed to the reader. All in all a good effort and I wouldn't hesitate to read more from this author.
My thanks to the author for a copy to read and review. The opinions are entirely my own.
My thanks to the author for a copy to read and review. The opinions are entirely my own.
July 29, 2016
3.5 stars
A patient has escaped from a psychiatric hospital. Armed with a flame thrower and chainsaw, he seeks revenge on a target you wouldn't expect....
Mother Nature
When I was asked to read and review this short story I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This was an interesting, well-written, and action packed short story.
Thank you to Elias Zanbaka who provided me with a digital copy of this story in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
July 5, 2020
3 "fairly well written, interesting but implausible" stars !!
Thank you to Mr. Zanbaka who provided me a copy of this story in exchange for a review.
This short story was an action packed thriller involving the police and a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. It was tight with a good story arc and was full of vivid action. The premise was very unrealistic however and you have to suspend your disbelief a great deal.
This author has some good talent and he should pair up with Mr. James Patterson for one of those bookshot short novellas.
Thank you Mr. Zanbaka and I wish you the best in your future writing adventures.
Thank you to Mr. Zanbaka who provided me a copy of this story in exchange for a review.
This short story was an action packed thriller involving the police and a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. It was tight with a good story arc and was full of vivid action. The premise was very unrealistic however and you have to suspend your disbelief a great deal.
This author has some good talent and he should pair up with Mr. James Patterson for one of those bookshot short novellas.
Thank you Mr. Zanbaka and I wish you the best in your future writing adventures.
December 28, 2018
This is a really interesting short story that packs a lot into a few pages. We are immediately "introduced" to the two main characters in the story and are cleverly kept in the dark as to what is actually occurring. More twists and we begin to comprehend more of what is happening, but there is still a lot that we do not know as readers. Of necessity this moves quickly and we are quickly thrown towards the final action packed pages.
Considering how short this story is, it sure packs a punch.
Considering how short this story is, it sure packs a punch.
December 4, 2017
2.75 stars
Environmentally Friendly is a short story full of action....and adjectives. Whew!
Sergeant Major Bushnell, an Army Veteran suffering from PTSD, has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and is waging war on Mother Nature. LAPD Sergeant Schaefer attempts to understand him and subdue him. There is a lot of action and the story moves quickly - it's only 19 pages.
I can't really say more because I would be telling the entire story. What I will say is that I think the Author was over zealous with the use of adjectives. I would have liked this short story to be a little longer so that the characters are fleshed out a little more. The story begins in the middle of the action and it took several pages for me to figure out what was happening and what/who was the "target" I would have loved a little more backstory. Why the war on Mother Nature?
The concept was good, but it left me wanting to know more about the motivations of the characters in this short story. I also would have enjoyed this more if I knew the backstory.
I received a copy of this short story from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Environmentally Friendly is a short story full of action....and adjectives. Whew!
Sergeant Major Bushnell, an Army Veteran suffering from PTSD, has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and is waging war on Mother Nature. LAPD Sergeant Schaefer attempts to understand him and subdue him. There is a lot of action and the story moves quickly - it's only 19 pages.
I can't really say more because I would be telling the entire story. What I will say is that I think the Author was over zealous with the use of adjectives. I would have liked this short story to be a little longer so that the characters are fleshed out a little more. The story begins in the middle of the action and it took several pages for me to figure out what was happening and what/who was the "target" I would have loved a little more backstory. Why the war on Mother Nature?
The concept was good, but it left me wanting to know more about the motivations of the characters in this short story. I also would have enjoyed this more if I knew the backstory.
I received a copy of this short story from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
August 16, 2016
I wish to thank the author, Mr. Elias Zanbaka, for a review copy of his short story in exchange for an unbiased review.
Well, what a fun little thriller this one is. A 19-page ball of energy! I went in cold, so it took me a few pages to get oriented as to what the heck was going on, but once the light bulb went on in my head it was full steam ahead. The word that comes to mind when I think back on this read is “colorful” for some reason. I think because the author really brings the characters and the action to full bloom in just a few pages and has a real knack to set the ever moving scene. It amazes me how much is packed into these 19 pages.
I recommend this little dynamo to all thriller fans who foresee an empty 20 minutes to fill in their near future.
Kudos, Elias!
Well, what a fun little thriller this one is. A 19-page ball of energy! I went in cold, so it took me a few pages to get oriented as to what the heck was going on, but once the light bulb went on in my head it was full steam ahead. The word that comes to mind when I think back on this read is “colorful” for some reason. I think because the author really brings the characters and the action to full bloom in just a few pages and has a real knack to set the ever moving scene. It amazes me how much is packed into these 19 pages.
I recommend this little dynamo to all thriller fans who foresee an empty 20 minutes to fill in their near future.
Kudos, Elias!
December 25, 2018
This was an entertaining read, which the author was kind enough to provide in return for an honest review.
As another reviewer mentioned, we're dropped into the middle of the action, so it took me a moment to figure out what was going on, but when I oriented myself, I found myself actually enjoying this short story quite a lot. Yes, there are adjectives galore, but when we reached the dialogue-heavy scenes, that's where the author really shone to me. Dialogue is usually - shall we be kind, and say not great? - in self-published works, and not only was this not bad, it was really, really, good - and natural. Adjectives can be, and usually are, fixed by an editor, so I think we've got exciting things yet to come from Elias Zanbaka.
The story itself was entertaining, and though short, managed to pull off a complex narrative and reveal. A promising start - I'll be keeping an eye out for more.
As another reviewer mentioned, we're dropped into the middle of the action, so it took me a moment to figure out what was going on, but when I oriented myself, I found myself actually enjoying this short story quite a lot. Yes, there are adjectives galore, but when we reached the dialogue-heavy scenes, that's where the author really shone to me. Dialogue is usually - shall we be kind, and say not great? - in self-published works, and not only was this not bad, it was really, really, good - and natural. Adjectives can be, and usually are, fixed by an editor, so I think we've got exciting things yet to come from Elias Zanbaka.
The story itself was entertaining, and though short, managed to pull off a complex narrative and reveal. A promising start - I'll be keeping an eye out for more.
March 5, 2018
A spirited turn of events over 10 pages.
This is a one-go-read that you'd love to read just before going to bed. A refresher with a non-stop action plot is the key ingredient to Environmentally Friendly.
The plot opens up as one specific "target" being hunted down by a police officer of the LAPD who has a mission of his own. This target is a lunatic and sadly one of the famed ex-servicemen.
He has escaped from the asylum where he was being treated and you'd not need a fleet of LAPD cars and horde of officers to bring him back.
Only that our protagonist has other plans. He wants to cure this Sargeant Major Bushnell of his past traumas. He arranges for a detailed plot for the veteran to vent out his anger against nature. The story unfolds to reveal that Bushnell lost his comrades of war in an act of nature, possibly a Tsunami, that drowned the team. Fueled by this he is hell bent on destroying the mother earth and is aided in a closed studio like faciltity where engineers help the guy overcome his own demons.
Well, that's for the plot. Quite intriguing and holds you till the end which is not far at the 10th page.
The characters are just three and very much relatable, more importantly - believable! It is hard to connect to players in this short a story where there is not enough backdrop and the author avoids that with deftness. Commendable on that aspect.
The story could have had more surprises as the twist of the events showed potential and class. The plot could be stronger. I hope Elias' future works will have more of thrill and adrenaline which he seems very much capable of. The writing style is the kingpin of the book and holds the raft tightly. The over the edge feel is carried onto you with abrupt hiatuses conversations when some event happens. This is what Elias mastered and this seemed like a screenplay I was sitting in as a reviewer and not a pdf ARC.
That happens rarely with these compact stories. Noteworthy.
Bottom Line : A short height boxer who delivers the power packed punch.
This is a one-go-read that you'd love to read just before going to bed. A refresher with a non-stop action plot is the key ingredient to Environmentally Friendly.
The plot opens up as one specific "target" being hunted down by a police officer of the LAPD who has a mission of his own. This target is a lunatic and sadly one of the famed ex-servicemen.
He has escaped from the asylum where he was being treated and you'd not need a fleet of LAPD cars and horde of officers to bring him back.
Only that our protagonist has other plans. He wants to cure this Sargeant Major Bushnell of his past traumas. He arranges for a detailed plot for the veteran to vent out his anger against nature. The story unfolds to reveal that Bushnell lost his comrades of war in an act of nature, possibly a Tsunami, that drowned the team. Fueled by this he is hell bent on destroying the mother earth and is aided in a closed studio like faciltity where engineers help the guy overcome his own demons.
Well, that's for the plot. Quite intriguing and holds you till the end which is not far at the 10th page.
The characters are just three and very much relatable, more importantly - believable! It is hard to connect to players in this short a story where there is not enough backdrop and the author avoids that with deftness. Commendable on that aspect.
The story could have had more surprises as the twist of the events showed potential and class. The plot could be stronger. I hope Elias' future works will have more of thrill and adrenaline which he seems very much capable of. The writing style is the kingpin of the book and holds the raft tightly. The over the edge feel is carried onto you with abrupt hiatuses conversations when some event happens. This is what Elias mastered and this seemed like a screenplay I was sitting in as a reviewer and not a pdf ARC.
That happens rarely with these compact stories. Noteworthy.
Bottom Line : A short height boxer who delivers the power packed punch.
August 6, 2019
Environmentally Friendly by Elias Zanbaka had interesting characters and a fast pace, and I like the idea of the storyline. Having said that, the book was very short with only 23 pages so I couldn't really get an entire picture of what was happening. Good start, nevertheless.
December 28, 2018
This was a great short story with a really clever plot and twist. I cannot believe what was packed into 19 pages! Exceptionally done with a true start, middle and ending - this would have easily have been able to be stretched into a fab novella.
This is one of those shorts that gives you a little bit more of a taster of what it's really about as you go along until you have one of those great big a-ha! moments. It won't be what you expect. It is non-stop action from the word go and does not let up on the horse power. It's impossible to review without giving away spoilers so I can't mention the plot at all expect it's very psychologically clever and I was well impressed.
There is nothing to not like, thrills, action, a good bit of head twisting and a brilliant introduction to an author I would now be very keen to read more of. If you like a decent short story and want it to entertain don't go past this one. 4-4.5 stars.
Thanks so much to the author Elias Zanbaka for my copy of this story in exchange for a fair and honest review. Hugely appreciated.
This is one of those shorts that gives you a little bit more of a taster of what it's really about as you go along until you have one of those great big a-ha! moments. It won't be what you expect. It is non-stop action from the word go and does not let up on the horse power. It's impossible to review without giving away spoilers so I can't mention the plot at all expect it's very psychologically clever and I was well impressed.
There is nothing to not like, thrills, action, a good bit of head twisting and a brilliant introduction to an author I would now be very keen to read more of. If you like a decent short story and want it to entertain don't go past this one. 4-4.5 stars.
Thanks so much to the author Elias Zanbaka for my copy of this story in exchange for a fair and honest review. Hugely appreciated.
September 10, 2017
**The book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Very interesting, well-written, action filled story about a war veteran, Sgt. Major Bushnell, trying to claim revenge on Mother Nature, and a police officer intent on helping him. From the description of the book above you'd think that Bushnell was the main character here, but no, it was the officer - Schaefer. I did sympathize with what he tried to accomplish - helping mentally unstable person to get closure and find some peace, but I thought Schaefer went too far with it. It's one thing to attempt doing it in a completely controled environment, it's another thing to risk countless lives to appease one man's fantasies.
I think the story could win a great deal from being made into a full novel. I would've loved to get different POVs, it would have rounded it up nicely. Maybe we could get a little more of an insight into Bushnell's mind and why he chose to blame Mother Nature. It could be interesting.
Over and out
Very interesting, well-written, action filled story about a war veteran, Sgt. Major Bushnell, trying to claim revenge on Mother Nature, and a police officer intent on helping him. From the description of the book above you'd think that Bushnell was the main character here, but no, it was the officer - Schaefer. I did sympathize with what he tried to accomplish - helping mentally unstable person to get closure and find some peace, but I thought Schaefer went too far with it. It's one thing to attempt doing it in a completely controled environment, it's another thing to risk countless lives to appease one man's fantasies.
I think the story could win a great deal from being made into a full novel. I would've loved to get different POVs, it would have rounded it up nicely. Maybe we could get a little more of an insight into Bushnell's mind and why he chose to blame Mother Nature. It could be interesting.
Over and out
December 20, 2018
Firstly thank you to the author for the copy of this book,I give this book a 3.5* rating.I normally don't read short stories but this author asked me politely and it's a thriller.its a fast paced book only 29 pages it's amazing how much he's written for a short read.hopefully he writes longer books as it was missing a few more characters it's like a middle of a book alot of action.dont want to give the plot away it's a war story and worth a read.great start for this author continue your good work.
December 16, 2018
29 pages! And not one word is wasted ( a lot of adjectives) in this fast paced story of a veteran with PTSD who wages war against Mother Nature ( in Los Angeles )
A massive ‘twister’ takes the book into a very different direction, fascinating!
Should have been longer but a great idea, well written
8/10 4 Stars
August 12, 2016
Like bungee jumping into chaos, Elias Zanbaka’s Environmentally Friendly is a fast and furious adrenaline high! One man is determined to take down Mother Nature in a blaze of glory in the one city that has already done a historically remarkable job already. The place, Los Angeles where the final showdown finds the LAPD locked and loaded with their finest officers, shrinks and negotiators playing the supporting cast to one officer who will risk life and limb to see this standoff over. But whose side is he on?
Very short, but very highly charged, Elias Zanbaka has done an amazing job of driving his tale home! What could have been one scene in a longer tale, we are given the whole enchilada in a bite, leaving readers satisfied and looking forward to more from this author. Perfect for a quick read, more energizing than a fifteen minute nap!
I received this copy from Elias Zanbaka in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: E.Z. Entertainment (March 5, 2016)
Publication Date: March 5, 2016
Genre: Short Action-Suspense
Print Length: 21 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Very short, but very highly charged, Elias Zanbaka has done an amazing job of driving his tale home! What could have been one scene in a longer tale, we are given the whole enchilada in a bite, leaving readers satisfied and looking forward to more from this author. Perfect for a quick read, more energizing than a fifteen minute nap!
I received this copy from Elias Zanbaka in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: E.Z. Entertainment (March 5, 2016)
Publication Date: March 5, 2016
Genre: Short Action-Suspense
Print Length: 21 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 20, 2016
Many thanks to the Aussie author, Elias Zanbaka, for a review copy of his short story “Environmentally Friendly” in exchange for an unbiased review. This short story is full of action and great characters.
Normally , I am a reader of mystery, suspense, crime and psychological thrillers and don’t read too many short stories, as I feel that generally short stories do not allow sufficient time to develop and flush out the characters. Not knowing what to expect from this short story, I was very impressed with the level of detailed writing.
The story is about an unstable army veteran, Sgt. Major Bushnell, who has broken out of psychiatric hospital on a mission of revenge against Mother Nature. Sgt. Major Bushnell had lost his squad while on mission due to the force of Mother Nature. He is being hunted down by the police in the city of Los Angeles police. But only one officer has come to his aid, to assist the army veteran in his mission of revenge against Mother Nature.
I found this a pleasant and enjoyable read, and look forward to reading more of his work in the near future. Best of luck!
Normally , I am a reader of mystery, suspense, crime and psychological thrillers and don’t read too many short stories, as I feel that generally short stories do not allow sufficient time to develop and flush out the characters. Not knowing what to expect from this short story, I was very impressed with the level of detailed writing.
The story is about an unstable army veteran, Sgt. Major Bushnell, who has broken out of psychiatric hospital on a mission of revenge against Mother Nature. Sgt. Major Bushnell had lost his squad while on mission due to the force of Mother Nature. He is being hunted down by the police in the city of Los Angeles police. But only one officer has come to his aid, to assist the army veteran in his mission of revenge against Mother Nature.
I found this a pleasant and enjoyable read, and look forward to reading more of his work in the near future. Best of luck!
November 20, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have no connection to Elias Zanbaka.
A good little story. I had no expectations going into this book, and did enjoy it. Even though this is a short story there is lot suspense and tension squeezed into the story. Even though it is a short story for me it was a little too short. It did feel like I came in part way thought the story. It probably is not fair put character development down as the only fault of the story, but their did seem to be a lot of the history between the characters, which given the stories length, was not explored. This is think was a shame a little more history and I would have been great. However if you are looking for a short intense read this is good one.
A good little story. I had no expectations going into this book, and did enjoy it. Even though this is a short story there is lot suspense and tension squeezed into the story. Even though it is a short story for me it was a little too short. It did feel like I came in part way thought the story. It probably is not fair put character development down as the only fault of the story, but their did seem to be a lot of the history between the characters, which given the stories length, was not explored. This is think was a shame a little more history and I would have been great. However if you are looking for a short intense read this is good one.
August 28, 2016
Shaefer helps people fight their enemies, with the assistance of the police a medical team and a one man war. The exercise was masterfully written. It was compelling and intense and only 19 pages long. This was not what I expected when I was asked to review this book. It is a short story, but a short story that packs a wallop. Great unique plot with the intensity that many books never reach. Great Story Elias.
August 3, 2017
* Thank you Elias Zanbaka for a free copy of your book.
From 1995 to 2015, a U.N. study claimed a human cost from natural disasters, of 606,000 lives lost and 4.1B injured, left homeless or in need of emergency assistance. Has Mother Nature waged war on humans because of our rampant waste of nature resources, dooming ourselves and ignoring future generations? Apparently, Army Sergeant Major Bushnell thought so. Armed with a flame thrower and a chainsaw, Bushnell decided Mother Nature is the enemy and goes on the attack in LA. A host of police, EMT and Psychiatric doctors led by LAPD Sergeant Schaefer drive the target into a specially built sound stage simulating Mother Nature on a rampage. This was part of a high risk evaluation of the target's psychological bearing. Is the author giving us a glimpse of what to expect? Is the human race so conceited that we believe we can control or beat Mother Nature if she is rebelling? Elias Zanbaka has written an excellent somewhat futuristic story giving the reader a lot to consider. A fast paced thriller novella and and an awesome quick read.
From 1995 to 2015, a U.N. study claimed a human cost from natural disasters, of 606,000 lives lost and 4.1B injured, left homeless or in need of emergency assistance. Has Mother Nature waged war on humans because of our rampant waste of nature resources, dooming ourselves and ignoring future generations? Apparently, Army Sergeant Major Bushnell thought so. Armed with a flame thrower and a chainsaw, Bushnell decided Mother Nature is the enemy and goes on the attack in LA. A host of police, EMT and Psychiatric doctors led by LAPD Sergeant Schaefer drive the target into a specially built sound stage simulating Mother Nature on a rampage. This was part of a high risk evaluation of the target's psychological bearing. Is the author giving us a glimpse of what to expect? Is the human race so conceited that we believe we can control or beat Mother Nature if she is rebelling? Elias Zanbaka has written an excellent somewhat futuristic story giving the reader a lot to consider. A fast paced thriller novella and and an awesome quick read.
September 5, 2016
received it for review by the author...I really liked it, the story was hooking, the development unexpected and it took me some time to understand what was actually going on! good job!
July 8, 2017
Environmentally Friendly is a fast paced short story that makes quite an impact considering how short it actually is.
The main protagonist is an army veteran suffering from PTSD. He is hell-bent on waging his own personal war against Mother Nature.
When I first started this, I was a little confused by what I was reading as I was thrown head-first into complete and utter mayhem! It took me a couple of pages to get to grips with what was going on. Once I grasped the concept of the story and characters, the full force of the story started to make sense.
The writing was descriptive and very action-driven. The author has the ability to capture the high speed nature of events, using expressive language and punchy dialogue. I felt that I hardly took a breath whilst reading it, to the point of when I'd finished, I let out a sigh of relief because I felt quite worn out!
This isn't my usual choice of genre. Action adventure, dare I say, is possibly more popular with men, as testosterone-fuelled characters aren't my favourite. Considering its overall length, the author certainly included everything that was required to lead to a satisfying conclusion. However, further detail and background of the characters would certainly enhance the experience, so I feel this could well be something to build upon with a part two, or even incorporate this into a far longer read.
Overall, I enjoyed this mainly because it was completely different to my normal choice. It's nice to mix things up a bit sometimes. I would recommend this to readers who fancy a short, sharp read, who enjoy ballsy male characters where there's lots of chaos and fury going on.
3.5 stars out of 5.
I'd like to thank the author Elias Zanbaka for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2017
You can also read my reviews on WP: https://anisabookreviews.wordpress.co...
3.5 stars
Mother nature is unleashing her recklessness over humanity. Perhaps in response to man's disregard for the safeguarding of the environment. Environmental Protection is a 19-page whirlwind of a tale of one man's last attempt to put mother nature back in check. And to restore the order.
Sgt Major Bushnell, armed with a flame thrower and a chainsaw, is on the loose from psychiatric care with one determination in mind. LAPD officer Sgt Schaeffer and his team are here to help Bushnell to complete his mission, to give his a cathartic release.
This highly charged story starts off in the trenches and catapults you quickly through to end of the novella. It had enough information to be invested in the characters and a thrilling storyline that kept me reading until the end. Great work in few words.
I received this copy from Elias Zanbaka in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars
Mother nature is unleashing her recklessness over humanity. Perhaps in response to man's disregard for the safeguarding of the environment. Environmental Protection is a 19-page whirlwind of a tale of one man's last attempt to put mother nature back in check. And to restore the order.
Sgt Major Bushnell, armed with a flame thrower and a chainsaw, is on the loose from psychiatric care with one determination in mind. LAPD officer Sgt Schaeffer and his team are here to help Bushnell to complete his mission, to give his a cathartic release.
This highly charged story starts off in the trenches and catapults you quickly through to end of the novella. It had enough information to be invested in the characters and a thrilling storyline that kept me reading until the end. Great work in few words.
I received this copy from Elias Zanbaka in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2016
3.5 Stars
I was approached by the author asking me if I would like to review this novel and as I had no previous knowledge of either the author or the book I did not really know what to expect.
The book was a real pleasant surprise and I was impressed with standard of the writing and given that it is a short story was encouraged by the detail and suspense generated throughout.
The story centres on Sgt. Major Bushnell, an army veteran who has broken out of psychiatric hospital and armed with a flame thrower and a chainsaw seeks personal revenge on mother nature. With the Los Angeles police hot on his trail one man, Sergeant Schaefer is on his side. Sgt Major Bushell lost his squad while they were on a mission because of a natural disaster caused by Mother Nature. Now he wants his revenge.
I do not really like short stories because I think it is so difficult for the author to tell an interesting story while building character profiles in such few pages. But author Elias Zanbaka manages to pull this off and this story had me reflecting on the novel long after finishing it. This is an excellent start from the author and I will be very interested to read more of his work in the future.
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review and would like to wish him all the best in the future.
I was approached by the author asking me if I would like to review this novel and as I had no previous knowledge of either the author or the book I did not really know what to expect.
The book was a real pleasant surprise and I was impressed with standard of the writing and given that it is a short story was encouraged by the detail and suspense generated throughout.
The story centres on Sgt. Major Bushnell, an army veteran who has broken out of psychiatric hospital and armed with a flame thrower and a chainsaw seeks personal revenge on mother nature. With the Los Angeles police hot on his trail one man, Sergeant Schaefer is on his side. Sgt Major Bushell lost his squad while they were on a mission because of a natural disaster caused by Mother Nature. Now he wants his revenge.
I do not really like short stories because I think it is so difficult for the author to tell an interesting story while building character profiles in such few pages. But author Elias Zanbaka manages to pull this off and this story had me reflecting on the novel long after finishing it. This is an excellent start from the author and I will be very interested to read more of his work in the future.
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review and would like to wish him all the best in the future.
January 8, 2017
Wow. Be ready. This gets right to the action, drama, and plot in the first paragraph. How do you handle a highly trained killing machine with PTSD. Right place was in favor for this story. It's never black and white. Responsibly and guilt are the protagonists here. Awesome.
September 26, 2017
Environmentally Friendly
is a quick, fast-paced, enjoyable read. As the story unfolds, it basically becomes a war between a "target" (the criminal) and one of the police offers in the LAPD. It's beautifully written and kept me on edge throughout - which is interesting as it is only 19 pages. I can't give you more information on the plot than that or else it will ruin the story's twist that I completely didn't pick up on! I can see this being the introduction to a bigger story in the near future (wishful thinking) and if it ends up becoming one, I would really enjoy reading it.
Thank you to Elias Zanbaka for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. I love supporting self-published authors!
Thank you to Elias Zanbaka for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. I love supporting self-published authors!
November 26, 2017
I was given this short story in exchange for an honest review, thank you Elias. The plot of environmental crisis is in it gratifying, something different from other thrillers, a sergeant “ Real Humanitarian “, and his belief of reforming criminals instead of just incarcerate only and the methods utilized are unorthodox and controversial, even within the police force. This could make a great thriller novel, with the characters background. There’s also the too florid way of description for such a short story. As a whole, I found it very interesting, thought provoking with a psychological touch!
There is a lot of potential!
There is a lot of potential!
August 18, 2017
Check out the review for this book and others on my blog (bio)
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"This was his army, his army against his enemy, an enemy he needed to confront - nature."
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This short story had great potential for a book. The story is action-packed and interesting, but lacked of some things. The transition between parts was sometimes confusing for me. A lot was left unclear for me in the end. What's the story behind the war against Mother Nature? What's the back story of the characters. That's why it would be great as a book. The amount of effort put into catching the target was a little unreal and unbelievable for me. The target didn't deserve that in my opinion.
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This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"This was his army, his army against his enemy, an enemy he needed to confront - nature."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This short story had great potential for a book. The story is action-packed and interesting, but lacked of some things. The transition between parts was sometimes confusing for me. A lot was left unclear for me in the end. What's the story behind the war against Mother Nature? What's the back story of the characters. That's why it would be great as a book. The amount of effort put into catching the target was a little unreal and unbelievable for me. The target didn't deserve that in my opinion.
:|
September 19, 2016
Very interesting short story! At first I did not understand what was going on,but I quickly came to realize that a psych patient had escaped and was being chased by police and other workers. After he had escaped the okay had come through for treatment with a special program,and the workers and some police were trying to use this on him while he was captured. I won't say what this entailed but was interesting to see it used to make a delusional person feel he had won,that he killed the 'enemy' . Good for a short read,the writing flows well and descriptions are vivid.
February 28, 2019
This is almost completely an action scene, but holy cow! Its really an Action Scene! It begins in the middle of madness. A vet is allowed to battle his demons in real life. For him the demon is the environment.
July 1, 2017
Imagine being thrust in the middle of a movie where there is active pursuit happening… Just close your eyes and imagine…
The scene is thus
Sergeant Schaefer, running after his target who has a makeshift flamethrower and a chainsaw, suddenly finds his body in flames. To stop from getting fully burnt, he dives into a puddle and the target escapes. To his horror, Schaefer sees the target using the flamethrower over the trees lining the Hollywood Boulevard. So he gets up and chases his target, with rain pounding his back and pain waves nearly causing him to black out.. The target has one enemy, mother NATURE and intends to wipe her out. He is a patient escaped from a psychiatric facility.
This entire short story consists of the chase and the finale where everything is revealed with a modified treatment sought out for this target, Sergeant Major Alan Bushell of United States Army, 1998-2008.
The story is short but it’s thrilling and hard hitting. What particularly struck me is the pathos, which this author has towards an Army Veteran who has returned from war with PTSD. This comes across so well, in his words, in the way his main character, Sergeant Schaefer deals with Sergent Bushell who has lost his team during combat, by an act of mother nature.
So often we don’t realize or understand what our soldiers go through when they are away at war, battling not only the enemy but also other factors, local and environmental. And the kind of treatment they are meted out when they come back with their own demons is almost inhumane. They are labelled and treated according to those labels.
The writing, to begin with, is jarring and difficult to envision but as the chase carries on, it becomes easier, though the storytelling is a little different. Elias Zanbaka in his debut, has done a fairly good job in bringing a slice of thriller in 19 pages…
Whats next, Mr. Zanbaka
I received a copy from Elias and this is my honest and unbiased opinion
The scene is thus
Sergeant Schaefer, running after his target who has a makeshift flamethrower and a chainsaw, suddenly finds his body in flames. To stop from getting fully burnt, he dives into a puddle and the target escapes. To his horror, Schaefer sees the target using the flamethrower over the trees lining the Hollywood Boulevard. So he gets up and chases his target, with rain pounding his back and pain waves nearly causing him to black out.. The target has one enemy, mother NATURE and intends to wipe her out. He is a patient escaped from a psychiatric facility.
This entire short story consists of the chase and the finale where everything is revealed with a modified treatment sought out for this target, Sergeant Major Alan Bushell of United States Army, 1998-2008.
The story is short but it’s thrilling and hard hitting. What particularly struck me is the pathos, which this author has towards an Army Veteran who has returned from war with PTSD. This comes across so well, in his words, in the way his main character, Sergeant Schaefer deals with Sergent Bushell who has lost his team during combat, by an act of mother nature.
So often we don’t realize or understand what our soldiers go through when they are away at war, battling not only the enemy but also other factors, local and environmental. And the kind of treatment they are meted out when they come back with their own demons is almost inhumane. They are labelled and treated according to those labels.
The writing, to begin with, is jarring and difficult to envision but as the chase carries on, it becomes easier, though the storytelling is a little different. Elias Zanbaka in his debut, has done a fairly good job in bringing a slice of thriller in 19 pages…
Whats next, Mr. Zanbaka
I received a copy from Elias and this is my honest and unbiased opinion
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