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Rick Stepp-Bolling
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Patch Man (1) Paperback – August 31, 2017

by Rick Stepp-Bolling (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

A prophecy declares a small child will decide the victory between two countries paralyzed by war...

An old man sells magical patches on the ruined streets of Hagra-Dis when a small, one-armed girl begs him to fix her doll. An Imperial missile blast kills the little girl, Meesha, but Var patches her back to life, and they flee marauding storm troopers.

Imperial High Command unleashes Ulan, a formidable assassin and mystic who chases the Patch Man and his ragged band of followers through a labyrinth peopled with powerful beings and monsters. Both the pursued and pursuers find themselves in life or death situations when they encounter the Greeter, a mysterious being who controls the entrance to parallel worlds populating the labyrinth. It is in these domains they discover clues to end the war—with little Meesha as the secret key to ultimate victory and peace.

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  1. Print length
    298 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Crimson Cloak Publishing
  4. Publication date
    August 31, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.62 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1681604728
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1681604725
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Patch Man has been award a Gold Medal for outstanding book from Literary Titans.literarytitan.com/2020/10/03/literary-titan-book-awards-october-2020/

About the Author

Rick Stepp-Bolling is a retired professor of writing from Mt San Antonio College. Currently, he is a Board member of the Coffee House Writers Group, a golfer and a full time writer. He has three books published: SMOKE AND MIRRORS (a book of poetry), AUTOCIDE (a collection of short stories) and PATCH MAN, the first book in a fantasy series. Rick lives in Ramona, California with his wife, Francie, and their family of over a hundred rescue animals.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crimson Cloak Publishing (August 31, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1681604728
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1681604725
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.62 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

About the author

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Rick Stepp-Bolling

Rick Stepp-Bolling

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Rick Stepp-Bolling has been writing for over 45 years. He taught writing at Mt San Antonio Community College in Walnut, CA for 33 years. Currently retired, Rick has published a collection of short stories entitled, AUTOCIDE, a book of poetry entitled, SMOKE AND MIRRORS, a Science Fiction/Fantasy series PATCH MAN, PATCH MAN II and ICARIAN, and award winning short story, HARRY AND THE BETA READER. He was a featured poet at the Poetry Palooza event in LA county, won first place twice in the Aquarium of the Pacific Urban Poetry Contest, and was the Education Director for the Coffee House Writers Group. His short stories have been published in Nuvein, East Jasmine Review, and a variety of small presses and journals and appear in over ten anthologies. Visit him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RickSteppBolling/

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4.8 out of 5 stars
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If you enjoy fantasy action genre, then this book is for you
5 out of 5 stars
If you enjoy fantasy action genre, then this book is for you
If you enjoy fantasy action genre, then this book is for you. We have magic, adventure and near death experiences mixed with the author's subtle sense of humor. Within the first chapters, magic is revealed, a one armed child (who may be destined to save the world) is rescued and a flying winged hybrid warrior join forces with a husband and wife. This team is driven from their home into a vast wilderness and soon forced into underground tunnels. In these caverns, many adventures and quests must be faced. Both female and male characters are fully developed and empowered. Toward the end of this read, you will discover how a hundred years of conflict was caused by a culinary concern. I'm sure that all will enjoy this fast paced and well developed story.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Stephen Hamilton
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you enjoy fantasy action genre, then this book is for you
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    If you enjoy fantasy action genre, then this book is for you. We have magic, adventure and near death experiences mixed with the author's subtle sense of humor. Within the first chapters, magic is revealed, a one armed child (who may be destined to save the world) is rescued and a flying winged hybrid warrior join forces with a husband and wife. This team is driven from their home into a vast wilderness and soon forced into underground tunnels. In these caverns, many adventures and quests must be faced. Both female and male characters are fully developed and empowered. Toward the end of this read, you will discover how a hundred years of conflict was caused by a culinary concern. I'm sure that all will enjoy this fast paced and well developed story.
    Customer image
    Stephen Hamilton
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    If you enjoy fantasy action genre, then this book is for you

    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2018
    If you enjoy fantasy action genre, then this book is for you. We have magic, adventure and near death experiences mixed with the author's subtle sense of humor. Within the first chapters, magic is revealed, a one armed child (who may be destined to save the world) is rescued and a flying winged hybrid warrior join forces with a husband and wife. This team is driven from their home into a vast wilderness and soon forced into underground tunnels. In these caverns, many adventures and quests must be faced. Both female and male characters are fully developed and empowered. Toward the end of this read, you will discover how a hundred years of conflict was caused by a culinary concern. I'm sure that all will enjoy this fast paced and well developed story.
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  • Bill Wilbur: Author of SARAGOSA
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... with that satisfying sigh uttered after reading a truly great novel. This is a truly original fantasy with ...
    Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I just finished Patchman and closed the book with that satisfying sigh uttered after reading a truly great novel. This is a truly original fantasy with excellent characters that came alive for me. The story moved at a good pace and when it was over I had a new set of friends. Truly unique and very well written.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Larry J. Dunlap
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A fascinating concept full of unique fantasy elements as the story unfolds.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Hotcha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Patch Man II
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2019
    GOODNESS, What a POWERFUL NOVEL that I never wanted to stop reading! I felt bad for Meesha who had lost an arm, but the girl turned into a POWERHOUSE once her powers kicked in, but she had learned the bow and arrow using only one hand and I marveled at her ability! I was in the war fighting side by side with the Summerians as they didn't want their independence taken by the Imperiana government. Patch Man II is a fantastic novel filled with distrust an betrayal that readers should enjoy!
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  • M.B. Frisbie
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quick read for me
    Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2018
    The story itself is OK. However there are many mini stories withing the main one. It flips from one character to another often, one or two chapters at a time. I felt it was a bit redundant and preachy at times.
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  • Stephen Fuller
    4.0 out of 5 stars An Uncut but Pretty Diamond
    Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2017
    I tell ya, it's different reading the story to yourself as opposed to listening to Rick reading it aloud, and his voice was one of the things I missed.

    The premise is simple enough: A man and wife who make magical patches encounter a special, magical child and with the help of her and a defecting soldier (and Tennie) they seek the center of a labyrinth while avoiding government forces.

    There is one pet peeve I've developed between the years I've listened to this in the CHWG and the present, and that's prophecies and innocent, special children. Neither of these are Rick's fault and it doesn't count against the story (and as far as children go I'd be a huge hypocrite) but I wish I could turn back time and discourage it, or maybe help play it out a little differently.

    So let's do the critical parts before the stuff I loved:

    I feel like out of all the older characters, only Kerash was fully developed and had the most complete character arc (I don't count Meesha and Tennie because of their age, and Ka kind of acts like someone born fully grown imho). If this series were to be adapted into a comic or television series, I would personally like to see more of Var and Zefa's flashback, the strife they've endured as well as the strife they've inflicted on others, to the point where not only is their budding relationship more developed, but it makes the tragedy they encounter just after the end of the war ominously inevitable.

    The person who comes closest to Kerash's development is Ulan, and by close I mean just by a hair's breadth. What I would recommend in an expansion would be to have her be the merciless military superiors ordering the atrocities, and then expanding the time in her trial where her own buried humanity brings her emotions out kicking and screaming. Just more time dedicated to the person she was and its undermining.

    Also it would help with the ending a little: I was expecting a showdown with Gelfson and was like "What?! It's not finished yet D8", whereas if Ulan was the main focus, then the end of the book where she is foiled(?) could be comparable to Vader being defeated in the first Star Wars movie: the Empire is still around, but it's not the audience's immediate focus.

    Okay enough of the put downs let's do what I liked: everything else. The maze and lore have me craving a second book, especially the possibility of some of the trail characters returning to help. I'm still waiting for what Var and Zefa will do with their new home, and how President Gelfson could possibly lay to siege to it... and considering the kind of person he is, he would have at least a couple of plans for that very action. Ka was appropriate in his seriousness and at the same time funny when he stuck out. Guy's stuck as a stick in the mud. Even the environments were characters, and I'm not just talking the labyrinth or trials but the desert with its swirling and the war ravaged cities. Tennie was a good laymen and slight audience surrogate to comment on the weirdness of everything and... well, overall, I can't wait for the next book.

    Nicely done Rick, and congrats again on getting published. :)
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jennifer Allen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Original, evocative storyline
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2017
    George Lucas, James Dashner and Jim Butcher sat down in a bar and tried to come up with the most traditional fantasy structure they could find, with the biggest mind-blowing elements to it. Well... not exactly, but that's how it could have happened.

    As the story unfolds, a prophecied young girl escapes danger with the help of our main character, the patch man himself. His ability to fix almost anything with his unusual patches make him a unique guardian for this girl, and they will have adventures that no one will be able to see coming.

    Stepp-Bolling's Patch Man will pull you into a world in which, just when you think you understand it, things shift gears. Intricate layers of storytelling and world-building challenge the tropes. Traditional fantasy elements of prophecy and oppression are elegantly laced with this delicate world-building, making for an engrossing, fast-paced story that will open your mind.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rob
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting SiFi Fantasy!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2020
    I enjoyed this book completely!
    It takes you on a journey with interesting characters, that twists and turns through many worlds.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Hot Chick Diaries Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars SciFi Fantasy Awesome!
    Reviewed in Canada on August 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Take a journey into this Author's fantastic imagination. I'll try to avoid giving spoilers. Patch Man is SciFi fantasy awesome! We have magical Patch Man, gene splicing, Flyers, Storm Troopers, and a mystical quest of protection. Drop into Rick's enthralling world, I can see this expanding in many directions. Witty dialogue, unique, likable characters and universe building that will keep reader's coming back to see what happens next. I know, I'm waiting for the next adventure. I've never read this premise before, it's hardcore SciFi cool. You know who you are. Dive into the universe now. You'll be able to say you were there at the beginning.
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    Hot Chick Diaries Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    SciFi Fantasy Awesome!

    Reviewed in Canada on August 6, 2020
    Take a journey into this Author's fantastic imagination. I'll try to avoid giving spoilers. Patch Man is SciFi fantasy awesome! We have magical Patch Man, gene splicing, Flyers, Storm Troopers, and a mystical quest of protection. Drop into Rick's enthralling world, I can see this expanding in many directions. Witty dialogue, unique, likable characters and universe building that will keep reader's coming back to see what happens next. I know, I'm waiting for the next adventure. I've never read this premise before, it's hardcore SciFi cool. You know who you are. Dive into the universe now. You'll be able to say you were there at the beginning.
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