Author: Eirik Gumeny
Publisher/Year: Jersey Devil Press / 2009
Date Finished: 30 March 2011
Source/Format: Review Copy / Print
Buy | Borrow | Accept | Avoid
The Short and Sweet of It - The Official Version
Exponential Apocalypse, by Eirik Gumeny, is the tender, heart-stirring tale of crappy jobs, a slacker cult, an alcoholic Aztec god, reconstituted world leaders, werewolves, robots, and the shenanigans of multiple persons living after the twentieth-aught end of the world. It’s funny as hell and, according to the author’s mother, incredibly profane. Despite these potty-mouth tendencies, it is still one of the most hilarious things ever written.
A Bit of a Ramble
I have been rejecting offers to receive review books from publishers, partly due to my serious backlog, but when Monica of Jersey Devil Press emailed me about a book that is reminiscent of Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers series, my little heart it did aflutter. I jumped on it. Monica also wrote that the book "been labeled as speculative satire, but we like to consider it just a damn entertaining book". I agree. This is pure entertainment.
In the world Gumeny created, the world has ended twenty-two times, and many variations of sentient beings have carved out their chunk of what's left including humans, atomic mutants, robots, stoner-hippie-liberal arts majors, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, genetically engineered Horsemen of the Apocalypse, undeified or partially deified ancient gods, squirrels, etc. etc. Love it. Not only do I seriously get a kick out of bringing ancient gods to modern times, I really like books which situate various types of intelligent beings in close proximity. Seeing how they get along both with each other and with the world in general just really interests me.
Another thing this book has going for it, at least for me, is its irreverence. I am not sure what it says about me - and I would prefer to not think too hard about it - but books which defy traditional expectations, glory in profanity, make the gods idiotic or belligerent or stoned, freely discuss the violent removal of appendages, and include entire chapters where nothing happens except someone asking "are we there yet?", well, these type of books just tickle my funny bone. I really enjoy a pseudo-intellectual, practically blasphemous laugh from time to time.
To be honest, there is very little depth, minimal character development, and okayish writing. But none of that matters when there is a chapter titled This One Goes Out to All the English Majors and another called Motherfucker Got Stuck in a Bathtub. Or Torsos-a-go-go, It's on Now Bitches, or Fun with Adjectives. Seriously, I could list all of the chapter titles, all 84 of them plus Prologue and Epilogue, and have a rollicking good time doing it. Oh, and don't worry about the 80+ chapters, they're like 1-4 pages long. :)
While reading I wasn't really reminded of Douglas Adams, this felt more like I, Lucifer, Whom God Would Destroy, or gods behaving badly. This type of read is quick, laugh-out-loud, naughty fun, and I really think the world needs more of it. And if you aren't convinced yet, all I can say is - You MUST meet Timmy.
This Book Around the Web
If I've missed your review, let me know!
I am actually only going to link to one review here because I loved it so much and believe it pretty perfect: Dazed Rambling
Question: What are some other irreverent, profane, or otherwise improper books I should be reading?
Ok, your enthusiasm and the flavor of your review has sold me on this book. It sounds like just the type of irreverence that I love in the books that I read, and I must say that your review has really piqued my interest. I am going to have to see if I can find this one. Fabulous review!
ReplyDeleteI would also get sold by a book touted as reminiscent of Adams! For another irreverent, profane, and improper book I would recommend "Towing Jehovah" by James Morrow (God died, fell into the sea, and a supertanker captain gets the job of towing away the corpse).
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like Christopher Moore as well. In The Stupidest Angel, the entirety of one chapter was "Well, that sucked." Hahahaha.
ReplyDeletegods behaving badly was a kick in the pants. And I love me some profanity. How much would me other books hate me if I threw them over for this one?
ReplyDeleteThose chapter titles are FREAKIN' HILARIOUS and I'm quite glad you reviewed it because had someone merely said, "If you loved Hitchhiker's then..." I'd probably skip past it.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! I expect the laser beams to zap me from another universe for making that statement. I get that I'm probably one of the few who just could not get into Adams. I tried, I did.
I'm completely backlogged but will still add this to my amazon wishlist for future reference.
Irreverent and profane is imy cup of tea...even though I'm not sure this is my cup of tea.
ReplyDelete