Steven Decker

"There’s no time here, Edward, so there’s no mathematical answer to your question, but I died in 1349 from the plague. There’s no name for this place. It is simply outside of time. All souls come here when they die."

Steven Decker’s One More Life to Live: Edward and the Bricklayer, took me on an emotional journey of redemption and fate. Edward Stubbins, a character marked by loss, rejection, and bitterness, is presented with an extraordinary offer after his death: the chance to live show more another life. But there’s a catch, he has no control over when, where, or who he will become.

Decker uses this premise to explore whether a second chance at life can heal the scars of a painful past. The novel delves deeply into Edward’s traumatic youth. Orphaned and shipped to Australia, Edward’s early years are filled with cruelty and abandonment, leaving him cold and disconnected even as he rises to success in business.

This read was a thought-provoking tale that challenged me to think about the possibilities of second chances. With Decker’s powerful storytelling and vivid characters, this novel captivated me from start to finish. show less

I've been following Decker's novels for a while now, and it's pretty amazing to see how some of the best parts in his earlier novels persist while the writing continues to improve. One of my favorite parts of his writing, which persists in this novel, is how well he creates a picture.

One thing I liked about this book is how much more we see Charles' mindset. He's a complex character, and Decker did an excellent job creating a balance between his deeds to obtain his goals and his inner show more turmoil. Even the book's opening lines show how self-aware Charles is regarding his actions. I find it exceptionally "in character" for him to plead for empathy and attest to his goal of doing good to seek forgiveness for his past transgressions. This is definitely the best of the series, and I'm excited to see what Decker has in store for us next! show less

So let's talk about Steven Decker's Child of Another Kind. Now, I've been around the block a few times with sci-fi novels, so when I say this one is like that weird aunt you never knew you needed until she shows up at Thanksgiving with a pet raccoon, I mean it in the best possible way.
So, diving right into the meat and potatoes, the plot of this book is like a rollercoaster that's mostly safe but has a couple of loose screws. Decker touches on some seriously strange stuff but with the kind show more of finesse you'd expect from someone who's been to a few rodeos. And just when you think you know what's coming, he swerves, and you're left wondering if your book has been drinking.
Now, the characters? Let me tell you about Maddie. It's like watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, but if the caterpillar had some serious baggage and the butterfly was into goth music. It's a journey. Some of the side characters, though? Eh, they're like the parsley on your dish - kinda there, kinda decorative, kinda...forgettable.
Decker's way with words is like if Picasso decided to paint with alphabets. He creates these mental pictures that are vivid enough to hang in your brain gallery. But then sometimes, it feels like he just got lost in the paint aisle of his own mind, if you catch my drift.
Child of Another Kind is that quirky book you didn't think you needed, but now can't imagine living without. It's like a weird dream that you want to go back to sleep for. Flawed? Absolutely. Worth it? Absolutely. show less

Okay, guys, let's dive into this weird, wobbly waffle of a book called Earth of Another Kind by Steven Decker. I'm not saying it’s from an alternate universe, but I am implying it. Wink, wink.

Theres a mixed bag of quirk and chaos in the characters and some of them felt like my next-door neighbor types (if they were secretly an alien), and others were the kind of people (or creatures?) you'd hesitate to share an elevator with. And trust me, in the world Decker created, that's a show more compliment.

The author has once again managed to make Metaphysics fun and exciting, with his engaging plot, non-stop action, and brilliant characters. All in all, its a roller-coaster of strange that I didn't know I wanted to ride, but once on, I was sorta strapped in for the bizarre journey. Definitely recommended. show less