F E E D B A C K
"Picture Dogs in Space banging heads with This Boy’s Life in the back seat of a classic roadster — one erratically handled by Jimmy Stewart’s best friend Harvey. A riveting ride taking unexpected curves." Catachresis & Co. "Reminded me of Heathers — filtered through the many years since I watched it — with a touch of Fight Club. The most wildly inventive teenage-girl-grows-up book you're likely to read." John Rickards @ The Nameless Horror "Andrez Bergen introduces us to his most remarkable character to date — no mean feat if you have read his other books — in the form of the wonderful, crazy, misunderstood Mina Rapace. Her life is far from easy, even fantastical, but often uncomfortably close to home set as it is in a period in which readers of my own vintage were coming of age. So amidst his truly fabulous storytelling — and quite dark this one is — are the goth bands, old movies and TV shows, comics and alt. culture that are instantly recognisable and beloved. Mina herself is an amazingly strong character, brilliantly written, with the most appalling life and yet she somehow picks herself up after everything that is thrown at her and triumphs, like a fallen angel losing feathers from her wings as she falls, and making us wish we had half of her heroic strength. A darkly gothic tale, eminently enjoyable, and to my mind, the author's best to date." Katy O'Dowd @ In Glorious Technicolor |
"A seeming coming-of-age tale — disturbed, introverted young girl does good — spills over the rails to plumb esoteric depths traveled by the author in his previous novel 'One Hundred Years of Vicissitude'.
However, this time we're soon thrust into a potential murder-mystery of terrifying possibilities. This is a realm in which people, not boogie-men, shape up as the real monsters. Marked by a surreal, Kafkaesque quality reminiscent of Haruki Murakami — here far more brutal — Bergen's additional eye for detailing the mid '80s world, set in a city named Nede (and pronounced 'Needy'), is a stunning journey." László Löwenstein @ The Pulp Braggart "You never know what to expect from a new novel by Andrez Bergen — except that it'll be good. 'Depth Charging Ice Planet Goth' is a fine coming-of-age novel set in Australia in 1986, narrated by a 16-year-old girl named Mina. That's enough of a challenge by itself, with Bergen more than up to the task, but at the same time this manages to be a compelling crime novel with a touch of magical realism. I have no idea what Andrez Bergen will come up with next, but know I'm looking forward to it." James Reasoner, author of 'Dancing With Dead Men' "He's done it again! The Magical Mystery Tour through the mind of Andrez Bergen continues with his awesome fourth novel. I love it!" David Walden @ Nerd Culture Podcast |
"Vivid imagery delivered in a lucid dream like narrative that’s as engrossing as it is unpredictable. Depth Charging Ice Planet Goth is an enthralling tale of survival, endurance, and coming-of-age that sinks its claws deep into the readers psyche."
OzNoir @ Just A Guy That Likes To Read "A troubled girl Mina may be — but not all these troubles exist inside her head. She's depth charged by life, family, friends, even strangers and imaginary creatures. A must read with a great twist." John Kowalski @ Word of the Nerd "I love a book that I've got to think about and there are layers here I need to revisit. Bergen makes the story intriguing and, as with Hansel and Gretel, there are many breadcrumbs to follow. This author has a style all his own, giving the text a different sound — perky, quirky — from other writers... and that was one very clever ending. Need I say that I love it?" Fiona Johnson @ I Meant to Read That... "I felt tugged off my feet and dragged on some subversive magic carpet ride." Impact Magazine |