Off the Grid: The Catalyst, by Brian Courtney
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Off the Grid: The Catalyst, by Brian Courtney
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A man without a name who called himself Pan wanted something more, something better. For as long as he could remember, something or someone was gnawing at him, calling him, draining him, making him hungry, making him strive for more, more of everything. Living the life and pursuing the happiness, Pan lived the "American Dream". Like so many cheerleaders, Pan worked hard to climb the ladder and he bought almost everything that "they" sold. Avoiding the questions and numbing the pain, Pan turned to drink and did drugs, he listened to loud music and had meaningless sex. He was a true consumer and a glutton until all the hedonism and all the materialism could no longer fill the void and help fulfill his life, his liberty and his pursuit of happiness. The sports cars and white picket fences of the picturesque dream were now blurry and misshapen. His dream was shattered and the cracks revealed. Now he waits and watches and fears for the future that he knows is so near. Living in the shadows and preparing for tomorrow, he hopes that he is wrong, but knows that he is right.
Off the Grid: The Catalyst, by Brian Courtney - Amazon Sales Rank: #641558 in eBooks
- Published on: 2015-03-24
- Released on: 2015-03-24
- Format: Kindle eBook
Off the Grid: The Catalyst, by Brian Courtney Review "Echoes of Cormac McCarthy, whispers of Bukowski in a nascent Orwellian 1984-world, Off the Grid introduces Pan, a John Galt for the Everyman anarchist, in a near-future that's frighteningly plausible." (S.E. Whelan, Meson Media)Off the Grid: The Catalyst is a very cleverly written and well thought out piece of work. It tells the story of the mysterious Pan, an incredibly intuitive, insightful yet cynical and paranoid guy. Pan has spent his whole life challenging the authority of those that society accept to be looking out for them for example the police, the government and mainstream religion, Pan however, sees hypocrisy, greed and the loss of free will. As the world seems to be descending into chaos, the government uses the increased social anxiety and instability to maximise security throughout the country using a device they called Lifeline. What most others seem to think as the greatest government initiative and the start to a safe new world, Pan sees as the end of all free will, free thought and freedom and hence the need to go Off the Grid. Welcome to Pan's world, a world of controversy, intrigue, lust and profuse amounts of alcohol- what is so terrifying is that this world does not see all too alien and dissimilar to our own, thus making you question what changes we will see in our own society in the upcoming future. (Amy Vincent, Book Lover, Student; U.K)
From the Inside Flap Pan is an unusual guy, kind of like his unusual moniker. Bearing a certain kinship to the lusty, partying Pan of Greek mythology, Pan's debauchery is tangible, as we begin our relationship with him whilst he lies in bed with an unknown lady. Yet Pan is not what he seems or who everyone believes him to be; his past lives intermingle with the present in his head, and he strives to keep his true identity secret from all around him. Off the Grid is an intriguing book, one that inspects the complexities of memory and time and the eccentricities of one man who is caught between them both. Pan's life is one of the virtues of the flesh: sex, drugs, and rock n' roll as it were. Throughout his youth, he struggled with authority, with religion, and with the ideas the society attempted to jam down his throat. As he grows, he drowns his disenchantment with the world and with existence in any vice he can find, be it women or drugs. As a desolate Pan explores his memories and lives through some trying experiences, the readers come along for the ride, examining each seemingly disconnected moment that created Pan's life as well as the turbulent future Pan is living now. While each moment is poignant with imagery and smacks of desperation, there is also a sense of rebellion against "the man" and of breaking out of the watchful eye of The Institution. Even the reader isn't let in on the plan for Pan, and as you struggle to piece together the identity of this mysterious, neurotic, narcissistic, and possibly deranged man, the plot only grows thicker and more twisted. From murdered friends to out of control cartels, there is so much more packed into this book than most. With seemingly endless stories wrapped around a central idea, there's something for everyone with Off the Grid. Brian Courtney has a very descriptive and illuminating style to his writing that seems to focus on all aspects of the five senses. We get a chance to join Pan in a dimly lit, piss-smelling, and peanut-strewn bar a time or two, vast stretches of wilderness, and violent issues with abusive cops or arrogant agents of The Institution. Scenes aren't just what Pan sees, they are what he hears, tastes, smells and touches. In creating these vivid images, the author succeeds in taking us to locations both vile and divine, resulting in a very active and emotional reading experience. You can practically taste or hear the events happening, although you may not want to. Reading Off the Grid: Catalyst was like sleep-walking through someone else's dreams, possibly their nightmares. It was surreal and visual, without being too wordy or muddled up about the "whys" and the "hows" of a convoluted plot. It was just a straightforward look into a strange man's mind and dealt with issues like power struggles, violence, and authoritarian control. It was also one of the most intriguing books I have read of late. It's incredible uniqueness stem not only from the writing style that Courtney chose to employ, but the issues it attempts to examine. I'm not sure if this will be part of a series or not, but it was certainly intriguing enough to hope for more. Catalyst is an excellent subtitle for this one, because all the events incite a violent flurry of action from Pan and from all the dangerous foes he faces. Definitely a worthwhile read for those who think differently, have an intelligent and racing mind, or just enjoy a book with amazing visuals! (Unabridged Andra, Book Worm and Book Blogger)
From the Back Cover From the opening chapter we are invited to meet "Pan", and in Brian Courtney's masterfully crafted debut novel that follows, though we may never know his given name, we come to deeply know Pan and who he is struggling to remain as the world around him begins to crumble. Off the Grid: The Catalyst chronicles the journey of the man who goes by Pan, as he moves through the levels of corruption and stands on the precipice of the world he inhabits, yet how deep that ravine will go we have yet to realize. Pan lives in the shadows, at the end of a nearly abandoned street inhabited only by those whom this world has forgotten. And though Pan may be forgotten, he finds himself bearing witness to the flow of history in the wrong direction. He watches an abusive and corrupt police presence lead to the mysterious deaths of his neighbor and a homeless man, his neighborhood about to be bought and sold en masse for gentrification or worse, a city-wide road construction project with nefarious ends, mass deportations, and as the stakes continue to build, an event dubbed the Massacre on the Mississippi which then reveals the nail in the coffin - the government initiative LifeLine, a program to be able to track, and ostensibly save, anyone at anytime. Present throughout are the women in Pan's life, Natalie, and Darcy, themselves perched between the powerful flow of history against the painful ebb of what is right. Pan is in constant battle with a looming presence that manages to be both mysterious and manifest throughout the work. It is the "they", the world on the horizon that others before have termed Babylon, the Machine, the powers that be ... it is the great beast whom Pan simply calls The Institution. And it is the dichotomous split between Pan and the Institution at the heart of the novel that allows it to achieve its ambitious scope. Both are ever-present and yet always enigmatic. Details of who Pan is, who he used to be, and what he is planning are meted out in careful measure as the story builds upon itself. Timely and relevant in an ever-shifting post 9/11 landscape, Off the Grid addresses the rise of anatomical technologies, state control masked as security, and the proliferation of invisible surveillances. With deeply rooted philosophic foundations the book is underscored by an exploration of the existentially dislocated masculinity of the modern world, as Pan struggles deeply with what he calls "the void" inside. Courtney confidently interweaves the political and the comedic alongside Pan's narrative to achieve an elusive literary layering, and in-so-doing manages to find a voice for that ineffable void within Pan, a voice that proves singularly unique, with an unexpected tenderness, and always punctuated with a striking wit. Pan's ornery sarcasm drips off the page, makes you laugh-out-loud, and you will find yourself rooting for him from the start. The world that Pan inhabits is precarious, tychistic, and rapidly slipping through his fingers. Everywhere he turns are reminders that the change around him is reaching its apex, and if he isn't careful he will not be forgotten, but worse, he will join the ranks of the disappeared, as he begins to uncover the truth of LifeLine, whose origins are reminiscent of a pre-engineered Patriot Act, awaiting the political opportunity that 9/11 provided. Teeming with suspense and a building tension from the opening pages we are left in constant anticipation about whether Pan is guiding his own fate or being pulled in by the undercurrents. With a sense of desperation and urgency off-set by an eerie ominousness, we know that everything churning underneath for Pan is about to boil over. The author never falls prey to literary archetypes or cliche, as he has artfully written characters who are always fully realized, even when not fully likeable. Pan is magnetic, full of contradiction, and might yet have an ace or two up his sleeves. Pan struggles to find a balance between his passion and his nihilism as he confronts the system that demands that choice. Fight, or be forgotten. Love, or walk away. Pan will constantly surprise you, and you will find that the void within him finds a foothold in you as he wrestles with those choices. Pan struggles to decide if Darcy, a woman from great privilege and the superficiality that comes with it, herself full of contradiction, will ever be able to cross the divide between them and come to see some of the truths Pan has uncovered. The themes of the book are masterfully layered throughout as Pan questions whether Darcy could possibly fill that void, or will only add to it, and that conflict is echoed in his dealings with The Institution. Not ever fully sure if Pan is one step behind or one step ahead of how his world is folding down around him, and never sure of what fate awaits him, the reader comes to deeply care for Pan. You are infuriated by the injustices levelled against him, and fearful of the sway of forces that surround him. Pan is the kind of figure who is alone in a room full of people, and you feel a painful longing for him to find reprieve from his isolation, for a connection that is meaningful. Yet through it all, we also trust Pan, that he might yet find his way out, find himself, and might yet be smart enough to make it. Structurally reminiscent of Orwell, littered with a sensory imagery that recalls Hemingway, and punctuated by graphic sex for good measure, Off the Grid is a heartbreaking work of fiction that eludes easy categorization. It is reverential, remorseful, tragic, deeply nostalgic, yet always entertaining. Off the Grid is sure to alienate all the right people as it proves itself an important addition to the conversation. Pan will stay with you, and his journey will continue to haunt you. (Jessica Corin, January 22, 2015)
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. `Pan was passionate about life and disgusted by it in the same breath; he is seething hatred and undying love.' By Grady Harp Brian Courtney is a new author - and more than that we know very little. No biographical data is offered to gain insight into him or his reason for writing this novel, but it doesn't take long into this verbiage to figure out that this is a modern day Catcher in the Rye or some other predecessor that walks that thin thread of accepting society (aka The Institution) in all its gruesome status or stepping off the grid into a world of excesses or at least one that is malleable to one's own needs to be an acceptable place - or not....Brian creates Pan (not unlike the goateed mythological figure allied with carnal excess - good and evil, attractive and disgusting, loyal and vengeful) - and the brief synopsis tells us why: `A man without a name who called himself Pan wanted something more, something better. For as long as he could remember, something or someone was gnawing at him, calling him, draining him, making him hungry, making him strive for more, more of everything. Living the life and pursuing the happiness, Pan lived the "American Dream". Like so many cheerleaders, Pan worked hard to climb the ladder and he bought almost everything that "they" sold. Avoiding the questions and numbing the pain, Pan turned to drink and did drugs, he listened to loud music and had meaningless sex. He was a true consumer and a glutton until all the hedonism and all the materialism could no longer fill the void and help fulfill his life, his liberty and his pursuit of happiness. The sports cars and white picket fences of the picturesque dream were now blurry and misshapen. His dream was shattered and the cracks revealed. Now he waits and watches and fears for the future that he knows is so near. Living in the shadows and preparing for tomorrow, he hopes that he is wrong, but knows that he is right.'Brian's way with words climbs inside this alternative mind and makes us understand Pan a bit better: `The unremembered dreams, distorted images and vague flickers of light and dark had cursed him all of his sleeping life. He never knew why and couldn't ever recall who or what was haunting him. While he was awake a different nightmare occurred, living. Between the dreams at night and life in general he was an insomniac. Bouts of depression, problems with authority, distrust of everyone, extreme cynicism and an eternal question to which there was most likely no answer were his curses. What am I doing? Why am I doing it? Like so many people he was dissatisfied. Unlike most he chose to go against the grain. Schools tried to condition him with a single way to do things, churches tried to cleanse him, shrinks tried to drug him, police tried to beat him, but they were all ultimately trying to conform him. He always asked "Why?" to everyone about everything. The first response was always, `Because I said so. That's why." His preachers, teachers, cops, and judges all answered this way. Regardless of who gave the answer, simply agreeing was never his forte. He was never intimidated by authority, despite how real it actually was, so a second "why" always followed. Their response was usually an unknown look of confusion with the befuddled, stuttering utterance, "Wha, wha what do you mean?" which was always prior to a blank stare and then followed by some more bulls**t. Any answer he received was rarely complete or accurate, and never to his satisfaction. He was on his own, the sole searcher, searching for his soul, for his place, for his duty.'Brian also tosses some arrows at contemporary society: ``It doesn't matter if you are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Native American, Hindu or Buddhist. It is the words of a man, not a God or a spirit telling you how to live. Pan decided the fear of God and the rewards given by a God were just control mechanisms designed to guide people on how to act within society. No matter which religion you choose they tell stories about great rewards and horrendous punishments. Do this or else. Do this and...Heaven or Hell was never a question in Pan's mind. He always figured that if there were actually an afterlife then he was most likely going to burn for eternity.'So here we have the life (or a segment of one, suggesting we may see further development following this book's release) written by a contemporary philosopher cum writer who has a lot to say, creates some very raw language eminently suitable to Pan, and leads us down a trail of life as it is and as it could be. For a first novel this is an important work. Where he goes from here is almost as fascinating a conjecture as the one that Pan poses throughout this new book! Grady Harp, March 15
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. PAN IS HE REALLY LIVING THE AMERICAN THE DREAM OR HIDING FROM FEAR?? By Darlene I received and ARC of OFF THE GRID THE CATALYST from the author BRIAN COURTNEY. In exchange for an honest opinion. This is Mismousey's very honest of his book.Brian Courtney is brand new author and this is his very first book.That being said- he has done such an magnificent job with bringing pen to paper in OFF THE GRID. Never have I read such a story as this one. Mr. Courtney has brought such a thought provoking and deep subject into his story line.The way in which he describes he subjects/characters and the scenes are truly amazing. You are able to actually get to feel the emotions of each characters as they are going them. Mr. Courtney talks about drugs-drinking-government-god- the devil-women-and running away in this book. He also speaks about wanting to"WHY" to certain questions.The main character is a man by the name of Pan - this is a nickname that started in school and has stayed with him. so much so that he has a fake id with the name of Pan a Mc Candless on it.Now Pan doesn't really have any friends and he is hard to get to know. In his previous life he worn a suit and tie and sold computer, software and such.Now- he just gets by. He hides his money and hangs out at a bar . Sleeps with a women above the bar. He remembers parts of his childhood with his mother. When he washed rocks and tried to sell them for money. No one bought them - but his mother did help come up idea on making some money.Pan was into drinking and drugs heavy. He loved his women and sex. He couldn't get enough. When he was younger and going to school. He always asked the "why" and his teachers came back with " because I said so" Could you imagine that. ( but isn't that what we tell our children today? it makes you think)When a large women was speaking of going to hell one day for being proud of themselves and their accomplishments. Pan yelled at her and told her that no they don't go to hell for being proud, envious or angry or for being lazy, greedy or lustful.People should be proud of themselves and their accomplishments, envy and jealousy are natural and drive people to do better, and anger is completely normal because everyone gets angry. All seven of these feelings are inherent and very necessary Pan has a good insight on how and why one would go to hell.Now all his life Pan has suffered depression, trouble with authority,and distrust of everyone. He lives a very complex life. Pan lives off the grid. No record of him or his where about. Just the way he likes it.I recommend this book to all readers. I found it very interesting and really enjoyed reading it. MisMousey looks forward to reading more of Brian Courtney books in the future. And I have to say "Thank you for allowing me to read your amazing -fantastic-very thought provoking- and terrific read. You are in deed a talented author !! Mismousey gives this book a 50 out 5 stars.SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ?? RUN AND GET YOUR COPY TODAY AND GO OFF THE GRID FOR AWHILE AND READ IT!! GET IT NOW!!!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Off the Grid is an extremely thought-provoking novel that provides action, intrigue, and entertainment all in one! By Jordan **I received this book as a free review copy courtesy of Brian Courtney.**Let's begin by saying that Off the Grid is not a book that I would normally pick up. Not because I don't like it or am not interested in it, but because I just don't seem to come across many books that are quite like this. So for me, this was a surprise, blind read that I decided to dive into; it was certainly an adventure.Off the Grid is a tremendously idea-heavy novel from first-time author Brian Courtney that really creates some though thought-provoking action and ideas. I would describe Courtney's writing style as somewhat loose, with minor hints of steam-of-consciousness. He's extremely blunt, which is very attractive and fitting with this particular novel, as it reflects both the personality of the main character, Pan McCandless, and the theme of the novel itself. Pan does not shy away from things, and neither does the story.This book follows the notion of the 'outsider' who doesn't quite follow or accept the accepted norms of society. Pan lives on the edge and sees right through 'The Institution' and it's 'goodness.' The Institutions embodies a very 'Big Brother'-esque vibe that gives you those slight chills that travel straight to your core. It's one of those silently terrifying ideas that aren't openly scary, but that has strong implications for the future of society.From the start, I could tell that Courtney has a very specific and unique writing style. He can be extremely expansive, elaborating on parts that he feels are important and worthwhile to the story, but also rather short, keeping areas that aren't as crucial to the minimum. He knows what he wants to focus on, and that is important in every successful novel. He doesn't fret around with unnecessary information, but rather gets yo to the point. The way in which Courtney describes Pan is, quite honestly, rather beautiful. I was enraptured in his descriptions, which contained sharp contrast and juxtaposition. By using such contrasting words and ideas, Courtney is able to really capture the essence of Pan, as well the tone of the novel. Pan is one of those characters that you can't help but like. He's not someone that you should necessarily like if you knew him in person, and he's definitely not described in a perfect manner; yet. something draws you to him. There is something about Pan that you can't quite put down and walk away from. He is an extremely focused individual who knows what he wants and what he believes, and he i not about to let anyone else tell him otherwise. He does not back down at confrontation; instead, he seems to embrace it.It's hard for me to describe my opinion on the pacing of this book. On the one hand, I feel like too much happened too soon. We were thrown into too many situations, too many ideas, and too many characters and events very prematurely. On the other hand, the fast-paced plot seems to fit really well. This is a fast-paced novel - it keeps you going, thus the importance of a fast-paced plot. Ultimately, I think it's up to the individual reader to decide if it a pace they enjoy or not.Overall, this novel poses very important and interesting themes. I give Courtney a big 'hats-off' for so deftly tackling such a heavy and important topic. I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this novel, and I've been debating between three and four stars for a while, Ultimately, I am going to give it four stars for being such a strong, passionate book that tells a rather chilling and important story. I can see how this book may not be for everyone, but I would recommend readers to pick it up and give it a try - you might just love it.
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