I appreciate these thoughts a lot! I think this list could be more reflective if we had a little more insight BTS - for example, a breakdown of voting demographics (how many librarians? How many authors? Average number of books read per year, ages, etc) or even the voters process (Max Reads’ Substack did a nice insight into this). After listening to the NYT Book Review podcast, I also got curious about teasing out an idea that you bring up here - Most Influential Authors. On the pod, they mentioned some authors split the vote with their own books and thus, didn’t make the list with any, though as an author, they got a ton of nominations. I know just thinking about my own list, I often started with a thought such as “well, I love Hanif Abdurraqib, so I need to include him” and that maybe doesn’t fit the exact assignment? I’m not sure of the exact instructions that the NYT gave (though Max does lay out a few of them), but it’s interesting the effect that “body of work” might have. Thanks for parsing through this!
I love this piece, Hunter! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this wild list—especially with your NBA reading background. I think you’re onto something with your ideas about a lasting book! For me, I’m not sure those are the only two ways for a book to stand the test of time but they definitely seem like two big ones! I love one of Calvino’s definitions of classic literature as a book that has never exhausted all it has to say. Both of your observations would fit into that category in some way—one because of its literary richness and the other because people will always seek moral guidance and/affirmation. I think this is also why some contemporary literature won’t stand the test of time—if something is too straightforward it easily exhausts all it has to say. I’m going to be thinking about this for awhile and I hope we get to talk more about it!
AWARD-WINNING, FIVE-STAR, GOLD-AWARDED, SCI-FI DYSTOPIAN BOOK
SuperPower The Ability to Fly or to Become Invisible: In Ashes Phoenix Eagles Shall Rise (Book 4) | LITERARY TITAN
What if SuperPowers were more than just a fantasy? What if they came with political schemes, corporate warfare, and personal vendettas? Roger E. Pedersen’s SuperPower: The Ability to Fly or to Become Invisible – In Ashes, Phoenix Eagles Shall Rise is a sprawling and chaotic ride through a world where SuperPowers aren’t just about heroics; they’re about power plays, manipulation, and sometimes, outright lunacy. The book is a tangled web of high-stakes business drama, espionage, bizarre characters with unique abilities, and a never-ending series of plot twists that make it hard to tell who’s winning and who’s losing.
From the moment Glenn Peterson, an international chess master, steps onto the scene in Chapter 1, I knew this wasn’t going to be your typical superhero story. Instead of capes and spandex, we get high-level corporate negotiations, deadly rivalries, and a world where SuperPowers are just another tool in the arsenal of those vying for control. The writing jumps from serious to fun in the blink of an eye. One moment, characters are discussing financial deals, and the next, someone is using their abilities to manipulate a poker game or wreak havoc at a fashion show. At times, it feels like a corporate thriller collided with a comic book and then was sprinkled with satire.
One of my favorite characters was Harmony. Her ability to turn people into mindless zombies with her words makes for some darkly comedic moments. She uses her power to expose her mother’s awful suitors, manipulating them into revealing their worst secrets. It’s hilarious, in a twisted way, to watch these men spill their guts and then have their lives ruined. But Harmony isn’t just playing games, later, she helps Myrena Gorgona, a ruthless businesswoman, control the fashion industry by putting potential buyers into trances. There’s something both fascinating and disturbing about how power is wielded in this book.
Another standout is Justice Nemesis, who doesn’t just bring justice; she makes sure the mighty fall, and she does it with a supernatural touch. The scene where she causes a sleazy lawyer’s downfall is satisfying. He thinks he’s untouchable, but one touch from Justice, and his life crumbles faster than a house of cards. I loved the concept of justice as an unavoidable force, something that comes for you whether you’re ready or not.
Chapter 29 sticks out in mind because of how it took an ancient myth—the quest for the Golden Apples of the Hesperides—and turned it into a modern-day, high-stakes mission. The idea of Apollo Steele being sent on what feels like a corporate version of a Herculean labor is both hilarious and oddly fitting. It’s one of those moments where the book fully leans into its myth-meets-business-thriller vibe, and I found that strangely entertaining.
That brings me to the book’s biggest strength: it’s completely unpredictable. Some scenes are genuinely engaging, while others feel like fever dreams. The dialogue is snappy, the writing style is fast, almost frantic at times, and the sheer number of characters, organizations, and schemes can be overwhelming.
If you love chaotic, high-energy stories where power is everything, this book is for you. It’s like watching a reality show mixed with a superhero flick but with extra betrayals and ridiculous SuperPowers. If you need tight plotting and clear stakes, though, this might drive you crazy. It’s messy, it’s weird, but it’s definitely a ride. If that sounds like your kind of thing, buckle up because you’re in for something unique.
The SuperPower book series is available as an eBook, audiobook, and paperback from Amazon, Google Play B&N, Kobo, Target, Walmart, Waterstones, and 100s of local bookstores.
I appreciate these thoughts a lot! I think this list could be more reflective if we had a little more insight BTS - for example, a breakdown of voting demographics (how many librarians? How many authors? Average number of books read per year, ages, etc) or even the voters process (Max Reads’ Substack did a nice insight into this). After listening to the NYT Book Review podcast, I also got curious about teasing out an idea that you bring up here - Most Influential Authors. On the pod, they mentioned some authors split the vote with their own books and thus, didn’t make the list with any, though as an author, they got a ton of nominations. I know just thinking about my own list, I often started with a thought such as “well, I love Hanif Abdurraqib, so I need to include him” and that maybe doesn’t fit the exact assignment? I’m not sure of the exact instructions that the NYT gave (though Max does lay out a few of them), but it’s interesting the effect that “body of work” might have. Thanks for parsing through this!
I love this piece, Hunter! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this wild list—especially with your NBA reading background. I think you’re onto something with your ideas about a lasting book! For me, I’m not sure those are the only two ways for a book to stand the test of time but they definitely seem like two big ones! I love one of Calvino’s definitions of classic literature as a book that has never exhausted all it has to say. Both of your observations would fit into that category in some way—one because of its literary richness and the other because people will always seek moral guidance and/affirmation. I think this is also why some contemporary literature won’t stand the test of time—if something is too straightforward it easily exhausts all it has to say. I’m going to be thinking about this for awhile and I hope we get to talk more about it!
AWARD-WINNING, FIVE-STAR, GOLD-AWARDED, SCI-FI DYSTOPIAN BOOK
SuperPower The Ability to Fly or to Become Invisible: In Ashes Phoenix Eagles Shall Rise (Book 4) | LITERARY TITAN
What if SuperPowers were more than just a fantasy? What if they came with political schemes, corporate warfare, and personal vendettas? Roger E. Pedersen’s SuperPower: The Ability to Fly or to Become Invisible – In Ashes, Phoenix Eagles Shall Rise is a sprawling and chaotic ride through a world where SuperPowers aren’t just about heroics; they’re about power plays, manipulation, and sometimes, outright lunacy. The book is a tangled web of high-stakes business drama, espionage, bizarre characters with unique abilities, and a never-ending series of plot twists that make it hard to tell who’s winning and who’s losing.
From the moment Glenn Peterson, an international chess master, steps onto the scene in Chapter 1, I knew this wasn’t going to be your typical superhero story. Instead of capes and spandex, we get high-level corporate negotiations, deadly rivalries, and a world where SuperPowers are just another tool in the arsenal of those vying for control. The writing jumps from serious to fun in the blink of an eye. One moment, characters are discussing financial deals, and the next, someone is using their abilities to manipulate a poker game or wreak havoc at a fashion show. At times, it feels like a corporate thriller collided with a comic book and then was sprinkled with satire.
One of my favorite characters was Harmony. Her ability to turn people into mindless zombies with her words makes for some darkly comedic moments. She uses her power to expose her mother’s awful suitors, manipulating them into revealing their worst secrets. It’s hilarious, in a twisted way, to watch these men spill their guts and then have their lives ruined. But Harmony isn’t just playing games, later, she helps Myrena Gorgona, a ruthless businesswoman, control the fashion industry by putting potential buyers into trances. There’s something both fascinating and disturbing about how power is wielded in this book.
Another standout is Justice Nemesis, who doesn’t just bring justice; she makes sure the mighty fall, and she does it with a supernatural touch. The scene where she causes a sleazy lawyer’s downfall is satisfying. He thinks he’s untouchable, but one touch from Justice, and his life crumbles faster than a house of cards. I loved the concept of justice as an unavoidable force, something that comes for you whether you’re ready or not.
Chapter 29 sticks out in mind because of how it took an ancient myth—the quest for the Golden Apples of the Hesperides—and turned it into a modern-day, high-stakes mission. The idea of Apollo Steele being sent on what feels like a corporate version of a Herculean labor is both hilarious and oddly fitting. It’s one of those moments where the book fully leans into its myth-meets-business-thriller vibe, and I found that strangely entertaining.
That brings me to the book’s biggest strength: it’s completely unpredictable. Some scenes are genuinely engaging, while others feel like fever dreams. The dialogue is snappy, the writing style is fast, almost frantic at times, and the sheer number of characters, organizations, and schemes can be overwhelming.
If you love chaotic, high-energy stories where power is everything, this book is for you. It’s like watching a reality show mixed with a superhero flick but with extra betrayals and ridiculous SuperPowers. If you need tight plotting and clear stakes, though, this might drive you crazy. It’s messy, it’s weird, but it’s definitely a ride. If that sounds like your kind of thing, buckle up because you’re in for something unique.
The SuperPower book series is available as an eBook, audiobook, and paperback from Amazon, Google Play B&N, Kobo, Target, Walmart, Waterstones, and 100s of local bookstores.
Website: PSIPublish.Com (link to StoryRocket.Com)
CERTIFIED REVIEWERS GET A FREE REVIEW COPY AT PSIPUBLISHINGINC@GMAIL.COM
***PLEASE BUY THE ENTIRE SUPERPOWER BOOK SERIES NOW ON
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CH6TC2Y