📖 Overview
Robert Brockway is an American author and humor columnist known for his comedic science fiction and horror novels, as well as his work as a senior editor for comedy website Cracked.com. He gained recognition for blending elements of cosmic horror with irreverent humor and action.
His debut novel "The Unnoticeables" launched The Vicious Circuit trilogy, which follows multiple storylines across different time periods dealing with cosmic horror and punk rock culture. The series continued with "The Empty Ones" and concluded with "Kill All Angels."
Brockway's online writing career included running the personal humor blog "I Fight Dragons" and contributing to various comedy websites. His non-fiction book "Everything is Going to Kill Everybody: The Terrifyingly Real Ways the World Wants You Dead" examined potential apocalyptic scenarios with a humorous approach.
Beyond his published works, Brockway has written numerous articles and columns exploring pop culture, science, and history through a comedic lens. His writing style frequently incorporates elements of gonzo journalism mixed with speculative fiction themes.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Brockway's ability to blend horror and humor without diminishing either element. Reviews highlight his fast-paced plotting and distinctive voice from his Cracked.com background. Multiple readers note his skill at writing action sequences and crafting memorable characters.
What readers liked:
- Sharp, witty dialogue
- Creative blending of genres
- Complex plot structures across multiple timelines
- Strong punk rock atmosphere and authenticity
- Fresh take on cosmic horror themes
What readers disliked:
- Dense plotting can be hard to follow
- Some find the humor too crude or forced
- Character development sometimes sacrificed for action
- Later books in series lose momentum
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- The Unnoticeables: 3.7/5 (2,100+ ratings)
- The Empty Ones: 3.8/5 (700+ ratings)
- Kill All Angels: 3.9/5 (400+ ratings)
Amazon:
- The Unnoticeables: 4.1/5
- Everything is Going to Kill Everybody: 4.3/5
Common reader comment: "Like Douglas Adams writing horror fiction"
📚 Books by Robert Brockway
Rx: A Tale of Electronegativity (2013)
A fast-paced science fiction novel about a drug dealer in a cyberpunk future who becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving a reality-altering new substance.
The Unnoticeables (2015) First book in the Empty Ones trilogy, following a punk rocker in 1977 and a stuntwoman in 2013 as they battle mysterious entities that turn humans into vacant shells.
The Empty Ones (2016) Second installment in the trilogy, continuing the parallel storylines while expanding the conflict across multiple time periods and locations.
Kill All Angels (2017) The concluding volume of the Empty Ones trilogy, bringing together the various plot threads as the characters face a final confrontation with the angelic beings threatening humanity.
Everything is Going to Kill Everybody: The Terrifyingly Real Ways the World Wants You Dead (2010) A non-fiction examination of various apocalyptic scenarios and scientific disasters that could potentially end human civilization.
The Unnoticeables (2015) First book in the Empty Ones trilogy, following a punk rocker in 1977 and a stuntwoman in 2013 as they battle mysterious entities that turn humans into vacant shells.
The Empty Ones (2016) Second installment in the trilogy, continuing the parallel storylines while expanding the conflict across multiple time periods and locations.
Kill All Angels (2017) The concluding volume of the Empty Ones trilogy, bringing together the various plot threads as the characters face a final confrontation with the angelic beings threatening humanity.
Everything is Going to Kill Everybody: The Terrifyingly Real Ways the World Wants You Dead (2010) A non-fiction examination of various apocalyptic scenarios and scientific disasters that could potentially end human civilization.
👥 Similar authors
David Wong writes horror-comedy with similar irreverent tones and apocalyptic themes to Brockway's work. Both authors emerged from Cracked.com's editorial team and blend supernatural elements with dark humor.
Carlton Mellick III creates bizarro fiction that combines punk aesthetics with surreal horror elements. His fast-paced writing style and unconventional narratives parallel Brockway's approach to genre-bending storytelling.
Chuck Wendig produces genre fiction that mixes horror and dark comedy with sharp dialogue. His work features similar themes of technology gone wrong and ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.
Nick Harkaway writes stories that blend science fiction concepts with humor and complex plotting. His novels contain comparable elements of technological speculation and character-driven chaos.
Warren Ellis crafts stories about fringe science and counter-culture elements with cynical perspectives. His work shares Brockway's interest in exploring how technology and society intersect in potentially catastrophic ways.
Carlton Mellick III creates bizarro fiction that combines punk aesthetics with surreal horror elements. His fast-paced writing style and unconventional narratives parallel Brockway's approach to genre-bending storytelling.
Chuck Wendig produces genre fiction that mixes horror and dark comedy with sharp dialogue. His work features similar themes of technology gone wrong and ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.
Nick Harkaway writes stories that blend science fiction concepts with humor and complex plotting. His novels contain comparable elements of technological speculation and character-driven chaos.
Warren Ellis crafts stories about fringe science and counter-culture elements with cynical perspectives. His work shares Brockway's interest in exploring how technology and society intersect in potentially catastrophic ways.