pwbalto's review
5.0
How often do you find an indictment of the pharmaceutical industry and an insider's eating tour of Manhattan in one book? I can't decide what's more pleasurable here - the ensemble cast, with their traits and foibles, the funny plot, full of gentle violence, or the myriad scenes that take place in restaurants like Veselka, Cafe Reggio, KGB bar, Curry in a Hurry, and markets like Zabar's and Deluxe Food Market. Remind me to go to Doughnut Plant next time we're in NYC.
disco_squarepants's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
petsch6787's review
3.0
Would give it 3 1/2 if I could, I wish the book was a bit longer, I don't mind the lack of closure involving the main villain (if you can call him that since he really didn't do anything too villainous to the main characters), but I liked the characters enough that I would have liked to just keep reading about them.
alyiah's review
2.0
maybe 2.5, while reading it had very interesting points of views ab drugs but then the whole plot line cahngde into like oMg we are superheros like ik its fictional but the guys didnt have to be like omg we are like superheros the whole entire time like it got v repetetive and it was predictable that the guy who gave ppl boners was the villian
junekramin's review
5.0
Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this novel. Just like with Fated, I wanted to keep notes from almost the first page so I could try to do a review some justice. I didn’t and really regret it, but maybe too much detail would make for spoilers. There is just so much to love about Lloyd. His personality is hysterical, yet so real I’m sure everyone will see a bit of themselves in him. His friends are a ton of fun as well. The one-liners are endless – I couldn’t count all the LOL moments. Less than heroes indeed, but what a fun story. I loved it from cover to cover. I really have to get on track & buy more of Scott’s books!
hedonismbookbot's review
3.0
Good read, solid plot, but the unexpected lecture on big pharma were unnecessary... especially the inclusion of vaccines in a list of medications the majority of americans take
andreablythe's review
4.0
3.5 stars
I wasn't as in to Less Than Hero as I have been with other books by S.G. Browne (and when I say that keep in mind that I LOVED Breathers and Fated). This was in part my own fault, as I went into reading this expecting more of an action-packed style superhero satire and was presented with more of a character driven pharmaceuticals satire. I should have expected this having read other books by Browne.
Lloyd Prescott is a professional guinea pig — that is, an otherwise healthy person paid to sign up for pharmaceutical trials in order to test for side effects. All this mixing of drugs, though, ends up having an unexpected consequence for Lloyd and his guinea pig buddies, when the group begins to develop the ability to project their side effects (such as narcolepsy, vomiting, seizures, rapid weight gain, etc.) on to other people — which of course leads them into trying to be superheroes. However, it there are super villains out there too, with their own abilities.
A large portion of the book deals with Lloyd's life as a guinea pig, how he feels without direction, and with his mostly happy relationship with his girlfriend. It's deep into the novel before the guys start to figure out that they have supernatural abilities and they joke around with their powers for a while before they find enough direction to become heroes. There's a pondering quality to the story and something almost, but not quite, plausible about these heroes, which makes it fun.
Although, Less Than Hero doesn't have the spectacular stunts featured in a Marvel movie, there is definitely a stand off and a "great power comes with great responsibility" feel to it. I rather liked how things wrapped up (or didn't wrap up). Plus, there was at least one cameo from a character in Fated, which was unexpected and awesome (you don't have to read Fated to get this story, but it's a fun reference for those who have).
I wasn't as in to Less Than Hero as I have been with other books by S.G. Browne (and when I say that keep in mind that I LOVED Breathers and Fated). This was in part my own fault, as I went into reading this expecting more of an action-packed style superhero satire and was presented with more of a character driven pharmaceuticals satire. I should have expected this having read other books by Browne.
Lloyd Prescott is a professional guinea pig — that is, an otherwise healthy person paid to sign up for pharmaceutical trials in order to test for side effects. All this mixing of drugs, though, ends up having an unexpected consequence for Lloyd and his guinea pig buddies, when the group begins to develop the ability to project their side effects (such as narcolepsy, vomiting, seizures, rapid weight gain, etc.) on to other people — which of course leads them into trying to be superheroes. However, it there are super villains out there too, with their own abilities.
A large portion of the book deals with Lloyd's life as a guinea pig, how he feels without direction, and with his mostly happy relationship with his girlfriend. It's deep into the novel before the guys start to figure out that they have supernatural abilities and they joke around with their powers for a while before they find enough direction to become heroes. There's a pondering quality to the story and something almost, but not quite, plausible about these heroes, which makes it fun.
Although, Less Than Hero doesn't have the spectacular stunts featured in a Marvel movie, there is definitely a stand off and a "great power comes with great responsibility" feel to it. I rather liked how things wrapped up (or didn't wrap up). Plus, there was at least one cameo from a character in Fated, which was unexpected and awesome (you don't have to read Fated to get this story, but it's a fun reference for those who have).
lisagray68's review
4.0
I actually really liked this tongue in cheek book about pharmaceuticals, among other current issues. I thought it was hilarious & also sad at times.
alexctelander's review
4.0
It usually only takes a reader a couple of pages to know they’re reading an S. G. Browne novel, as they wrap their minds around a weird and wacky story, and Less Than Hero is another great, prime example of this. Here’s your one-sentence premise: what if some guys who have been human guinea pigs for years, testing new drugs and medications, suddenly developed stranger super powers?
Lloyd Prescott has been in the guinea pig program for a number of years now and it’s what he makes his living from. For a relatively decent wage, all he has to put up with are some uncomfortable, unsettling side effects. He meets up weekly with a group of guys who are also fellow guinea pigs to hang out, chat about their lives and share info about upcoming trials.
At one of these meetings Lloyd tells everyone about his new-found ability: he can make people fall asleep on command. And then the rest of the group – except one – reveal their strange new powers that they can cause unto others: violent vomiting, seizures, and erections, to name a few. The group decides to use their unusual powers for good and set out to help those in need. Meanwhile in New York there are two super villains – if you will — who can make people hallucinate and steal their memories.
While the main cast of superheroes could use a little diversity and maybe a female, Less Than Hero has to be the most bizarre yet entertaining superhero story out there. And in true Browne fashion, the reader doesn’t really know where it’s all going to go and what the ending will be like, they just keep going, enjoying the ride all the way.
Originally written on April 8, 2015 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
Lloyd Prescott has been in the guinea pig program for a number of years now and it’s what he makes his living from. For a relatively decent wage, all he has to put up with are some uncomfortable, unsettling side effects. He meets up weekly with a group of guys who are also fellow guinea pigs to hang out, chat about their lives and share info about upcoming trials.
At one of these meetings Lloyd tells everyone about his new-found ability: he can make people fall asleep on command. And then the rest of the group – except one – reveal their strange new powers that they can cause unto others: violent vomiting, seizures, and erections, to name a few. The group decides to use their unusual powers for good and set out to help those in need. Meanwhile in New York there are two super villains – if you will — who can make people hallucinate and steal their memories.
While the main cast of superheroes could use a little diversity and maybe a female, Less Than Hero has to be the most bizarre yet entertaining superhero story out there. And in true Browne fashion, the reader doesn’t really know where it’s all going to go and what the ending will be like, they just keep going, enjoying the ride all the way.
Originally written on April 8, 2015 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
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