(May 31, 2015) Readers who like To Do the Deal, A Novel in Stories will appreciate Off the Reservation, the new novel by Glen Merzer (Vivid Thoughts Press). The tone of this novel is as benign as its protagonist, Evan Gorgoni, a congressman who intended to retire but instead finds himself in the race for president. The magic weapons in his campaign are his willingness to speak his mind on subjects he thinks are important and his determination not to spend energy on what’s unimportant, such as writing campaign speeches. In fact, it is his off-the-cuff nomination acceptance speech, which rambles on for 18 pages, that is the highlight of both his campaign and this novel. But is that great speech enough to get Gorgoni elected? The outcome hinges on happenstance, which couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

It’s not surprising that Merzer, an LA-based comic and comedy scriptwriter, could write a funny book. What’s unexpected is that Off the Reservation—ostensibly a satire about a political campaign—is really about family and right living. This goes against the zeitgeist, to have no oozing orifices, no rapes or scenes of incest, no sweeping intercontinental immigrant saga. There’s not even a vampire in Off the Reservation—unless you consider carnivores vampires.

Instead, with Off the Reservation we’ve got the hero’s journey—a tale about a decent fellow trying to find his way home in an often-immoral profession. Can Merzer sell that? Let’s hope so. Because To Do the Deal’s Kenneth Bodine bears an uncanny resemblance to Evan Gorgoni. Read and compare!