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Fill in the Blank #1
Mr Blank
Every conspiracy needs a guy like me. Every conspiracy has one... me. And now someone's trying to kill me. When everyone has a motive, everyone is a suspect, and I don't even know who all the players are. It's a race against time to figure out who wants me dead, and why, and how to prevent all the underground conspiracies, aliens, cryptids, and things that go bump in the night from throwing the world into chaos while I'm at it. Just another normal day at the office, really.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2012
5 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Justin Robinson
47 books148 followersMuch like film noir, Justin Robinson was born and raised in Los Angeles. He splits his time between editing comic books, writing prose and wondering what that disgusting smell is. Degrees in Anthropology and History prepared him for unemployment, but an obsession with horror fiction and a laundry list of phobias provided a more attractive option.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 7, 2013
Ooops, never posted this here.
I’m not normally a fan of crime fiction. At all. I was really into murder mysteries in junior high, and I think having devoured umpteen back issues of Ellery Queen left me feeling like I was always smarter than the so-called detectives I was reading about. ”OF COURSE IT WAS SO AND SO, YOU FOOL!” Anyway, I received a review copy of Justin Robinson’s Mr. Blank from Candlemark and Gleam and wasn’t sure going in how much I’d like it.
It took less than two pages for me to decide that I loved it. No, seriously. I was already wanting to quote it immediately. Does a book make you want to share a different line from every page? If so, it’s a keeper. Mr. Blank is a keeper.
The main character is shallowly embroiled in each major group that’s been whispered about for as long as conspiracies have been going around. Little Green Men? He knows ‘em. Chupacabra? He’s seen ‘em. Oh, and the minor groups too. Like the Anorectic Praxis, a group constantly at odds with the members of V.E.N.U.S. over the proper shape the womanly form should take.
Due to his many, MANY affiliations, our “hero” finds himself in ridiculous situation after ridiculous situation. HOW WILL HE GET HIMSELF OUT OF THIS MESS? Well, you’ll have to read it to find out, won’t you?
(Originally posted here)
Interview with the Main Character
I’m not normally a fan of crime fiction. At all. I was really into murder mysteries in junior high, and I think having devoured umpteen back issues of Ellery Queen left me feeling like I was always smarter than the so-called detectives I was reading about. ”OF COURSE IT WAS SO AND SO, YOU FOOL!” Anyway, I received a review copy of Justin Robinson’s Mr. Blank from Candlemark and Gleam and wasn’t sure going in how much I’d like it.
It took less than two pages for me to decide that I loved it. No, seriously. I was already wanting to quote it immediately. Does a book make you want to share a different line from every page? If so, it’s a keeper. Mr. Blank is a keeper.
The main character is shallowly embroiled in each major group that’s been whispered about for as long as conspiracies have been going around. Little Green Men? He knows ‘em. Chupacabra? He’s seen ‘em. Oh, and the minor groups too. Like the Anorectic Praxis, a group constantly at odds with the members of V.E.N.U.S. over the proper shape the womanly form should take.
Due to his many, MANY affiliations, our “hero” finds himself in ridiculous situation after ridiculous situation. HOW WILL HE GET HIMSELF OUT OF THIS MESS? Well, you’ll have to read it to find out, won’t you?
(Originally posted here)
Interview with the Main Character
October 26, 2012
Was Tobias Knight your favorite character in Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson's fiction, or did you at least wonder what it would be like to be him?
Did you dig X-Files but think it was kind of cheap that Mulder & Scully only had to deal with one freakshow at a time? And too much FBI red tape?
Do conspiracy theories make you horny, baby?
Then, brother, have I got the novel for you.
The title character in Mr. Blank makes Tobias Knight, quintuple agent, look like a monogamous pansy. As he tells us in the novel's exquisitely perfect opening sentence, "Every conspiracy needs a guy like me." The sad bit is, as he goes on to explain, he's that guy for every single conspiracy. And there's only so much of him to go around. So, he has established more false identities than any sane person could keep track of, each with its own email address, cell phone and contract, and contact within a secret organization; the Masons know him by one name, the Satanists by another, etc. Across conspiracies, though, he is at core the same guy: the go-to guy, a low-level initiate/enthusiast who is willing to be the gopher, delivery guy, purchasing agent, evidence hider, witness confuser, whatever dumb little task you need today, Worshipful Sir or Ma'am or Thingie.
The premise could work with any number of plots (har har). The temptation that could waylay it being just to watch him in action, which could be fun as the quotidian-for-him early pages establish; his to-do list (or lists, one for each identity/role) are quite entertaining. I was especially amused by bits like this one: "Commercial candy is allowed to have up to five rat droppings per ounce by law. What they don't say is what kind of rat droppings or whose job it is to put them there."
You get the idea.
So this could have turned into the kind of sprawling hot mess that the Illuminatus! Trilogy (clearly its primary inspiration) was, but Robinson was more interested in producing a piece of quality genre fiction/entertainment than in imparting his mystic-comic wisdom to us in a gigantic parable. I think. At any rate, he found a plot that worked, the good old "someone is trying to kill me and this stacked redhead I just happened to meet along the way" that's straight out of mid-century crime noir. Hey, why mess with perfection?
And this book is so close to genre-mashing perfection that it's almost painful to contemplate how it also kind of bothered me: there's a major sub-plot involving female body-image politics that I didn't quite like, pitting one conspiracy of Rubenesque, curvy women (the stacked redhead and her fuller-figured overladies, whom Mr. Blank refers to as "hippos" and worse) against another of stick-thin model-pushers (though bonus points for the neologism "ascetorexics"). Mr. Blank more or less comes down on the side of the former, mostly due to the presence at his side of their prettiest and smartest (Mina, whom he wants to "paint on the side of a bomber"), so I guess there's that, but still, focusing on that one characteristic of a woman -- her body, her shape -- still counts as objectification, whether you're turned on by it or not, guys. Ew.
If that kind of thing doesn't bother you*, or if it does but you're able to square your shoulders and march on and get past it and focus on all the good stuff, this is quite an enjoyable read. Fnord.
*And usually I'm of this camp, able to dismiss the odd quip about a female character's appearance or a gay character's clothing or whatever as just something that is missing the mark with me but that the author felt necessary to include to appeal to other readers. But here, it is very much front and center, with Mr. Blank all but smacking his lips over Mina on almost every page. What saves it is that she notices this, calls him on it, and occasionally delivers the kind of reprimand that leaves a mark. So that brings up a question for me that I'm not sure I have the answer to: does the presence of a strong and self-determined female character who refuses to be a sidekick justify or compensate adequately for the author's over-the-top rubbing of my readerly nose in all of this body-image crap? Like I said, I don't have an answer, so my annoyance is only mostly assuaged by the fact that everything else in this book was over-the-top awesome.
Call it 4.5 stars.The Illuminatus! Trilogy: The Eye in the Pyramid/The Golden Apple/Leviathan
Did you dig X-Files but think it was kind of cheap that Mulder & Scully only had to deal with one freakshow at a time? And too much FBI red tape?
Do conspiracy theories make you horny, baby?
Then, brother, have I got the novel for you.
The title character in Mr. Blank makes Tobias Knight, quintuple agent, look like a monogamous pansy. As he tells us in the novel's exquisitely perfect opening sentence, "Every conspiracy needs a guy like me." The sad bit is, as he goes on to explain, he's that guy for every single conspiracy. And there's only so much of him to go around. So, he has established more false identities than any sane person could keep track of, each with its own email address, cell phone and contract, and contact within a secret organization; the Masons know him by one name, the Satanists by another, etc. Across conspiracies, though, he is at core the same guy: the go-to guy, a low-level initiate/enthusiast who is willing to be the gopher, delivery guy, purchasing agent, evidence hider, witness confuser, whatever dumb little task you need today, Worshipful Sir or Ma'am or Thingie.
The premise could work with any number of plots (har har). The temptation that could waylay it being just to watch him in action, which could be fun as the quotidian-for-him early pages establish; his to-do list (or lists, one for each identity/role) are quite entertaining. I was especially amused by bits like this one: "Commercial candy is allowed to have up to five rat droppings per ounce by law. What they don't say is what kind of rat droppings or whose job it is to put them there."
You get the idea.
So this could have turned into the kind of sprawling hot mess that the Illuminatus! Trilogy (clearly its primary inspiration) was, but Robinson was more interested in producing a piece of quality genre fiction/entertainment than in imparting his mystic-comic wisdom to us in a gigantic parable. I think. At any rate, he found a plot that worked, the good old "someone is trying to kill me and this stacked redhead I just happened to meet along the way" that's straight out of mid-century crime noir. Hey, why mess with perfection?
And this book is so close to genre-mashing perfection that it's almost painful to contemplate how it also kind of bothered me: there's a major sub-plot involving female body-image politics that I didn't quite like, pitting one conspiracy of Rubenesque, curvy women (the stacked redhead and her fuller-figured overladies, whom Mr. Blank refers to as "hippos" and worse) against another of stick-thin model-pushers (though bonus points for the neologism "ascetorexics"). Mr. Blank more or less comes down on the side of the former, mostly due to the presence at his side of their prettiest and smartest (Mina, whom he wants to "paint on the side of a bomber"), so I guess there's that, but still, focusing on that one characteristic of a woman -- her body, her shape -- still counts as objectification, whether you're turned on by it or not, guys. Ew.
If that kind of thing doesn't bother you*, or if it does but you're able to square your shoulders and march on and get past it and focus on all the good stuff, this is quite an enjoyable read. Fnord.
*And usually I'm of this camp, able to dismiss the odd quip about a female character's appearance or a gay character's clothing or whatever as just something that is missing the mark with me but that the author felt necessary to include to appeal to other readers. But here, it is very much front and center, with Mr. Blank all but smacking his lips over Mina on almost every page. What saves it is that she notices this, calls him on it, and occasionally delivers the kind of reprimand that leaves a mark. So that brings up a question for me that I'm not sure I have the answer to: does the presence of a strong and self-determined female character who refuses to be a sidekick justify or compensate adequately for the author's over-the-top rubbing of my readerly nose in all of this body-image crap? Like I said, I don't have an answer, so my annoyance is only mostly assuaged by the fact that everything else in this book was over-the-top awesome.
Call it 4.5 stars.The Illuminatus! Trilogy: The Eye in the Pyramid/The Golden Apple/Leviathan
September 6, 2015
As an enormous film enthusiast, I'm well acquainted with the turbulent, stylistic and oft-violent film noir genre. Thick with suspense and intrigue, the genre yielded some of the best films ever made...but there were many, many times when I just wanted to yell at the screen "Will you just lighten up?"I think Justin Robinson heard me and wrote Mr. Blank.
Rife with conspiracy, Robinson introduces a tale that whilst firmly ensconced within the film noir style, has clear elements of comedy that adds on to the enjoyment factor of this work. The titular Mr. Blank is completely clueless as to who is hot on his tails and wants him dead. This lack of awareness allows the author to introduce all of the components that make film noir and thrillers so exciting. There's lots of action and intrigue as Mr. Blank, with all of his evident sarcasm, as he embarks on his journey to stay alive without falling prey to all of the mechanisms that make certain genres so formulaic and predictable.
Robinson's strongest suit and where his writing talent shines is in his vast references to pop culture. He manages to make casual allusions to all of the fame and fodder and gossip and historical events that further involves the reader alongside Mr. Blank's voyage. This is where the comedy comes in. Robinson knocks a few blocks off the tense wall by allowing the reader to take a quick mental break before continuing on.
I also quite enjoyed the detail and time taken by Robinson to document the Los Angeles. Having visited, his take on the grittiness that best describes the city provides a whole new vantage point to the City of Angels. All in all, it's a quick, entertaining read that does not allow for a passive read; the reader is very present with Mr. Blank along every unique, unsavory and hilarious predicaments he finds himself encountering.
Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
Rife with conspiracy, Robinson introduces a tale that whilst firmly ensconced within the film noir style, has clear elements of comedy that adds on to the enjoyment factor of this work. The titular Mr. Blank is completely clueless as to who is hot on his tails and wants him dead. This lack of awareness allows the author to introduce all of the components that make film noir and thrillers so exciting. There's lots of action and intrigue as Mr. Blank, with all of his evident sarcasm, as he embarks on his journey to stay alive without falling prey to all of the mechanisms that make certain genres so formulaic and predictable.
Robinson's strongest suit and where his writing talent shines is in his vast references to pop culture. He manages to make casual allusions to all of the fame and fodder and gossip and historical events that further involves the reader alongside Mr. Blank's voyage. This is where the comedy comes in. Robinson knocks a few blocks off the tense wall by allowing the reader to take a quick mental break before continuing on.
I also quite enjoyed the detail and time taken by Robinson to document the Los Angeles. Having visited, his take on the grittiness that best describes the city provides a whole new vantage point to the City of Angels. All in all, it's a quick, entertaining read that does not allow for a passive read; the reader is very present with Mr. Blank along every unique, unsavory and hilarious predicaments he finds himself encountering.
Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
August 3, 2016
It's a classic noir trope that the lead has a mysterious past - but in MR BLANK, Justin Robinson takes it one step further. His narrator has no past at all, and about a thousand different identities, all in service of different masters. A low-level operative for every conspiracy you've ever heard of (and a few dozen you haven't), Our Narrator is making a decent living running a string of errands for occult, obscure, or power-hungry cabals when someone tries to murder him. Obviously, this is unacceptable, and he immediately begins to try to unravel the who, what, and why - while crossing wits with a beautiful plus-size model who's a player for yet another conspiracy. Fast-paced, funny, and laden with pop-cultural references, MR BLANK is a noir for the new age. Put it down if you dare...the conspiracies might object.
December 20, 2016
If you've ever wondered how many conspiracy theories you can cram into one book, here is your answer.
Slow to start, the pace soon picks up as Mr Blank is hurtled from one deep-underground-secret-society to another, trying to work out which one, if not all of them(!), are trying to kill him. And aliens.
There is a blossoming romance which the main character is naturally suspicious of, an insane plot which somehow works and fits in every way and an ending that came out of nowhere and is so perfect that all I could do was grin.
The humour is subtle in places, in-your-face in others and never lets up. Constant mickey-taking out of so many conspiracy theories was exactly what I needed to read at the time.
Where the book needs work is in keeping the pace. One minute slow, the next things are racing along and it gets hard to keep track of.
Slow to start, the pace soon picks up as Mr Blank is hurtled from one deep-underground-secret-society to another, trying to work out which one, if not all of them(!), are trying to kill him. And aliens.
There is a blossoming romance which the main character is naturally suspicious of, an insane plot which somehow works and fits in every way and an ending that came out of nowhere and is so perfect that all I could do was grin.
The humour is subtle in places, in-your-face in others and never lets up. Constant mickey-taking out of so many conspiracy theories was exactly what I needed to read at the time.
Where the book needs work is in keeping the pace. One minute slow, the next things are racing along and it gets hard to keep track of.
January 8, 2013
I want to take this author to lunch. Lots of lunch.
April 24, 2018
Fantastic! The writing is clever and fun and funny. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times. I was quoting this book within the first chapters.
It has heart, soul and wit. One of my new favorite authors. A little ridiculous and completely unexpected. Enjoy the ride.
It has heart, soul and wit. One of my new favorite authors. A little ridiculous and completely unexpected. Enjoy the ride.
November 14, 2022
I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I have read by Justin Robinson. That being said this is my favorite. It's hilarious yet reels you in with as a classic film noir mystery. The suspects are anything but usual managing to cram pretty much every conspiracy theory you can think of.
January 9, 2013
It's the end of the world. Again. Maybe. In any case, it's quite possibly the end for Mr. Blank, the nameless agent who moonlights as a henchman for every secret group in L.A.. Why? Because they put ads in the paper and he has to pay the bills. Which is problematic, when half of them at at war with the other over arcane artifacts, alien technology and ancient grudges. Somewhere around the time a manchurian candidate tries to smash his brains in with a curious home-made meteor hammer on a routine delivery, it seems the jig is up. From there, the chase is on as Mr. Blank follows the trail of the one conspiracy aimed at removing his head in a sea of routine and malevolent L.A. conspiracies already in progress. Have the servants of Shub-internet, V.E.N.U.S., the Masons, the Templars, the Clone Wolves, the russian mafia and, of course, the Little Green Men finally caught on to his game? Or are they patsies in some larger conspiracy that only he has the perspective to untangle? Mr. Blank uses all his henching, fast-talking, cryptid-taming and dame-rescuing skills to keep his bosses at cross purposes, off balance and disinclined to kill him while he desperately sorts fact from fiction in order to put it all together. Who is Mr. Blank? Which conspiracy wants him dead? The only thing we know for sure, is it isn't the vampires. Because, as everyone should already know, vampires are bullshit.
- - -
Mr. Blank was a whole lot of fun. The conspiracies were clever, both in name and description, and the action relentless. One of my favorite things about Justin Robinson's writing is his focus on keeping the plot moving, taking time only to snark when appropriate. And considering this is a story about a sardonic, skeptical henchman on the run from the fantastic, the snark is fast and facetious. And I loved the end, the who in the "who done it" which I won't spoil.
The dark, secret side of L.A. is considerably stranger, more dangerous and more incompetent than you might imagine. Buy this book today and find the secrets that only a conspiracy insider would know. But maybe use cash. You never know who's watching and the truth can be a dangerous thing.
- - -
Mr. Blank was a whole lot of fun. The conspiracies were clever, both in name and description, and the action relentless. One of my favorite things about Justin Robinson's writing is his focus on keeping the plot moving, taking time only to snark when appropriate. And considering this is a story about a sardonic, skeptical henchman on the run from the fantastic, the snark is fast and facetious. And I loved the end, the who in the "who done it" which I won't spoil.
The dark, secret side of L.A. is considerably stranger, more dangerous and more incompetent than you might imagine. Buy this book today and find the secrets that only a conspiracy insider would know. But maybe use cash. You never know who's watching and the truth can be a dangerous thing.
June 20, 2015
L.A. Noir, With a Wink and a Tour of the Conspiracy Underworld
There are a fair number of books out there that attempt to blend a noir sensibility with a sci-fi setting or a fantasy premise. Most run in to problems because the alien/sci-fi/fantasy angle takes so much energy and space to keep going that the noir feel falls to the side. This book is a happy find because the world-weary, honorable but tempted, loyal but double-crossed, heroic but cautious star, Mr. Blank, is always the focus of the story, and his noirish musings and patter are what fuel the tale. The alien/strange parts of the plot are just garnish.
Mr. Blank appears to be a small time gofer. But he has his hand in every, I mean every, dark cult and arcane society and group of conspirators in L.A. He is the guy who, from his vantage point, can see the forest, (because he knows all of the trees). He has a different identity for each role he plays. When someone tries to have him whacked, every single creepy weird group in L.A. might be the culprit. The noir plot implications are almost infinite, and the author plays with them in a very satisfying fashion.
So, we get a fair amount of gritty old L.A., (which I prefer to Sam Spade's gritty old San Francisco), a healthy dose of witty dialogue and interior monologue, and a convincing, (or at least fictionally convincing), sense of the daily routine of a fixer/operator. I thought the quieter parts of the book were the best part, but whether you like big action or smaller grace notes and throwaway bits, there's something here for every slightly restless or adventuresome noir fan.
But all of this is sounding a bit pompous. The bottom line is that the book is fun and entertaining. The author is accomplished, knows what he is doing, and has a firm command of the culture he is kidding. You can trust him that after a whirlwind ride you will return home safely, if a bit disheveled.
Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
There are a fair number of books out there that attempt to blend a noir sensibility with a sci-fi setting or a fantasy premise. Most run in to problems because the alien/sci-fi/fantasy angle takes so much energy and space to keep going that the noir feel falls to the side. This book is a happy find because the world-weary, honorable but tempted, loyal but double-crossed, heroic but cautious star, Mr. Blank, is always the focus of the story, and his noirish musings and patter are what fuel the tale. The alien/strange parts of the plot are just garnish.
Mr. Blank appears to be a small time gofer. But he has his hand in every, I mean every, dark cult and arcane society and group of conspirators in L.A. He is the guy who, from his vantage point, can see the forest, (because he knows all of the trees). He has a different identity for each role he plays. When someone tries to have him whacked, every single creepy weird group in L.A. might be the culprit. The noir plot implications are almost infinite, and the author plays with them in a very satisfying fashion.
So, we get a fair amount of gritty old L.A., (which I prefer to Sam Spade's gritty old San Francisco), a healthy dose of witty dialogue and interior monologue, and a convincing, (or at least fictionally convincing), sense of the daily routine of a fixer/operator. I thought the quieter parts of the book were the best part, but whether you like big action or smaller grace notes and throwaway bits, there's something here for every slightly restless or adventuresome noir fan.
But all of this is sounding a bit pompous. The bottom line is that the book is fun and entertaining. The author is accomplished, knows what he is doing, and has a firm command of the culture he is kidding. You can trust him that after a whirlwind ride you will return home safely, if a bit disheveled.
Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
January 7, 2015
The following review originally posted on Fanboy Comics at the following link:
http://fanboycomics.net/index.php/blo...
'Mr. Blank:' Book Review
by Sam Rhodes, Fanboy Comics Creative Director
To read Justin Robinson’s Mr Blank is like following some self-deprecating, white rabbit into a sprawling, L.A. noir wonderland on a 100-m.p.h., nerd culture-fueled rollick. Hot on the heels of Robinson’s thrilling zombie noir, Undead on Arrival, which was released just four months before, Mr Blank will keep you guessing until the very end.
The story follows a loner “go-for” embedded in all the secret societies and cults you’ve ever heard of (and many you haven’t) who greases the wheels and helps with the day-to-day functionality of communing with aliens, demons, and gods, protecting age-old relics and secrets, and generally misleading the masses. This “go-for” quickly learns that while there are many upsides to being a quintuple agent, there is one very big downside. Needless to say, everything goes pear-shaped, and our antihero struggles to stay afloat amidst a rising tide of needy Knights Templar, sullen CIA spooks, creepy clones, an angry, anorexic sisterhood, ferocious chupacabres, and countless other cryptids and conspiracists who don’t like being double crossed. Our main character, along with his fiery femme fatale, Mina, face monsters and Men in Black alike as they try and work all the angles and uncover the identity of one Mr Blank, the puppet master who set this whole crazy carnival ride in motion.
Mr. Blank is a simile-laden, antihero joyride with twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. Robinson rockets along at a pace that could make the Kessel Run in ten parsecs flat (take that Han), lavishing the reader with page after page of quippy, noir-ish dialogue and so many current and classic geeky references that it becomes a game trying to pin them all down. For fans of noir, conspiracy theories, and nerdy, neurotic humor, Mr Blank might just be the book you’ve been looking for.
http://fanboycomics.net/index.php/blo...
'Mr. Blank:' Book Review
by Sam Rhodes, Fanboy Comics Creative Director
To read Justin Robinson’s Mr Blank is like following some self-deprecating, white rabbit into a sprawling, L.A. noir wonderland on a 100-m.p.h., nerd culture-fueled rollick. Hot on the heels of Robinson’s thrilling zombie noir, Undead on Arrival, which was released just four months before, Mr Blank will keep you guessing until the very end.
The story follows a loner “go-for” embedded in all the secret societies and cults you’ve ever heard of (and many you haven’t) who greases the wheels and helps with the day-to-day functionality of communing with aliens, demons, and gods, protecting age-old relics and secrets, and generally misleading the masses. This “go-for” quickly learns that while there are many upsides to being a quintuple agent, there is one very big downside. Needless to say, everything goes pear-shaped, and our antihero struggles to stay afloat amidst a rising tide of needy Knights Templar, sullen CIA spooks, creepy clones, an angry, anorexic sisterhood, ferocious chupacabres, and countless other cryptids and conspiracists who don’t like being double crossed. Our main character, along with his fiery femme fatale, Mina, face monsters and Men in Black alike as they try and work all the angles and uncover the identity of one Mr Blank, the puppet master who set this whole crazy carnival ride in motion.
Mr. Blank is a simile-laden, antihero joyride with twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. Robinson rockets along at a pace that could make the Kessel Run in ten parsecs flat (take that Han), lavishing the reader with page after page of quippy, noir-ish dialogue and so many current and classic geeky references that it becomes a game trying to pin them all down. For fans of noir, conspiracy theories, and nerdy, neurotic humor, Mr Blank might just be the book you’ve been looking for.
August 7, 2013
To read Justin Robinson’s 'Mr Blank' is like following some self-deprecating white rabbit into a sprawling L.A. noir wonderland on a 100 mph, nerd-culture fueled rollick. Hot on the heels of Robinson’s thrilling zombie noir, 'Undead On Arrival' released just four months before, Mr Blank will keep you guessing until the very end.
The story follows a loner “go-for” embedded in all the secret societies and cults you’ve ever heard of (and many you haven’t) who greases the wheels and helps with the day-to-day functionality of communing with aliens, demons and gods, protecting age-old relics and secrets, and generally misleading the masses. This “go-for” quickly learns that while there are many upsides to being a quintuple agent there is one very big downside. Needless to say everything goes pear-shaped and our antihero struggles to stay afloat amidst a rising tide of needy Knights Templar, sullen CIA spooks, creepy clones, an angry anorexic sisterhood, ferocious chupacabres, and countless other cryptids and conspiracies who don’t like being double crossed. Our main character along with his fiery femme fatale, Mina, face monsters and Men In Black alike as they try and work all the angles and uncover the identity of one Mr Blank, the puppet master who set this whole crazy carnival ride in motion.
'Mr Blank' is a simile-laden, antihero joyride with twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. Robinson rockets along at a pace that could make the kessel run in ten parsecs flat (take that Han), lavishing the reader with page after page of quippy, noir-ish dialogue and so many current and classic geeky references, it becomes a game trying to pin them all down. For fans of noir, conspiracy theories and nerdy, neurotic humor, Mr Blank is definitely the book you’ve been looking for.
The story follows a loner “go-for” embedded in all the secret societies and cults you’ve ever heard of (and many you haven’t) who greases the wheels and helps with the day-to-day functionality of communing with aliens, demons and gods, protecting age-old relics and secrets, and generally misleading the masses. This “go-for” quickly learns that while there are many upsides to being a quintuple agent there is one very big downside. Needless to say everything goes pear-shaped and our antihero struggles to stay afloat amidst a rising tide of needy Knights Templar, sullen CIA spooks, creepy clones, an angry anorexic sisterhood, ferocious chupacabres, and countless other cryptids and conspiracies who don’t like being double crossed. Our main character along with his fiery femme fatale, Mina, face monsters and Men In Black alike as they try and work all the angles and uncover the identity of one Mr Blank, the puppet master who set this whole crazy carnival ride in motion.
'Mr Blank' is a simile-laden, antihero joyride with twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. Robinson rockets along at a pace that could make the kessel run in ten parsecs flat (take that Han), lavishing the reader with page after page of quippy, noir-ish dialogue and so many current and classic geeky references, it becomes a game trying to pin them all down. For fans of noir, conspiracy theories and nerdy, neurotic humor, Mr Blank is definitely the book you’ve been looking for.
July 10, 2013
Umberto Eco writes in "Foucault's Pendulum" of what I believe he called 'synchrony', the idea that there's a Theory of Everything connecting all secret occultish groups and their histories and practices. Who could have guessed such a thing might assume the form of a man, and, once more, a man in the tradition of Hammet's Spade or Chandler's Marlowe, though uniquely his own being.
MR. BLANK opens with a wide platter of possibilities. The main character, we learn, is a creep-for-hire employed by virtually every secret society within (and beyond) Wiki-able range. He's long been privy to the truth of Atlantis, JFK, aliens, and even, as he notes, Bigfoot's tax status (from where does Bigfoot gets his income? Maybe History Channel and Animal Planet royalties). Mr. Blank is whatever these groups need him to be on a given day. Until, well, someone goes a little murdery on him, and he has to figure out who. As one can imagine, the variety of suspects is daunting.
Daunting also, would be the writer's prospect of carving out a great romp through this world, this comically diverse world where one reader might want a story about the aliens, another about the Templars. The book offers much flexibility, which is why Robinson's focus on Mr. Blank himself, his pursuit and pursuer, is key to the novel's focused and engaging narrative, made all the more entertaining by the strikingly clever voice, full of wry, pop-cultured commentary and well-delivered, noir-ish humor that far lesser supernatural comic writers like Christopher Moore, who crams his passages with such flat inanity, could only wish to achieve.
MR. BLANK opens with a wide platter of possibilities. The main character, we learn, is a creep-for-hire employed by virtually every secret society within (and beyond) Wiki-able range. He's long been privy to the truth of Atlantis, JFK, aliens, and even, as he notes, Bigfoot's tax status (from where does Bigfoot gets his income? Maybe History Channel and Animal Planet royalties). Mr. Blank is whatever these groups need him to be on a given day. Until, well, someone goes a little murdery on him, and he has to figure out who. As one can imagine, the variety of suspects is daunting.
Daunting also, would be the writer's prospect of carving out a great romp through this world, this comically diverse world where one reader might want a story about the aliens, another about the Templars. The book offers much flexibility, which is why Robinson's focus on Mr. Blank himself, his pursuit and pursuer, is key to the novel's focused and engaging narrative, made all the more entertaining by the strikingly clever voice, full of wry, pop-cultured commentary and well-delivered, noir-ish humor that far lesser supernatural comic writers like Christopher Moore, who crams his passages with such flat inanity, could only wish to achieve.
July 24, 2013
I don’t really believe in them, but I always like a good conspiracy theory. I’m not talking here about those propounded by the birthers or the 9/11 truthers; those people can go to hell. Instead, I mean conspiracy theories involving secret societies, the Kennedy assassinations (my favorite John Kennedy one? Elaborate suicide), the moon landings and Area 51. I also love the Weekly World News. Justin Robinson’s Mr. Blank is a thriller that’s like candy for the conspiracy theorist.
It’s about the mysterious “Guy” of “They” that we’ve all mentioned at least once, the person who makes things keep going and has connections to just about everything ... and now somebody is trying to kill him, and since he works for everyone, the list of suspects is endless. The story is very funny and quick, with great popular cultural references, both those that are easy to spot and others so obscure, they feel like they were written by a real pop-culture nerd (and not just for the purpose of pandering, as CBS-TV’s Big Bang Theory so often does with its references). Amazingly, author Robinson -- like Donald E. Westlake and Ross Thomas before him -- manages to juggle the numerous and various balls in his plot without dropping any; quite a feat. But what really sold me on this novel? The notion that monsters like Bigfoot, called Cryptids, exist ... but vampires are complete myths. If you liked The X-Files, Fringe, The Middleman, Warren Ellis’ Planetary or Brian Azzarello’s brilliant conspiracy crime thriller, 100 Bullets? You'll love this debut work
Originally published at: http://www.januarymagazine.blogspot.c...
It’s about the mysterious “Guy” of “They” that we’ve all mentioned at least once, the person who makes things keep going and has connections to just about everything ... and now somebody is trying to kill him, and since he works for everyone, the list of suspects is endless. The story is very funny and quick, with great popular cultural references, both those that are easy to spot and others so obscure, they feel like they were written by a real pop-culture nerd (and not just for the purpose of pandering, as CBS-TV’s Big Bang Theory so often does with its references). Amazingly, author Robinson -- like Donald E. Westlake and Ross Thomas before him -- manages to juggle the numerous and various balls in his plot without dropping any; quite a feat. But what really sold me on this novel? The notion that monsters like Bigfoot, called Cryptids, exist ... but vampires are complete myths. If you liked The X-Files, Fringe, The Middleman, Warren Ellis’ Planetary or Brian Azzarello’s brilliant conspiracy crime thriller, 100 Bullets? You'll love this debut work
Originally published at: http://www.januarymagazine.blogspot.c...
January 3, 2015
Harry Dresden knows a few people. Repairman Jack's involved with a supernatural group or two. Eddie Drood and John Taylor have connections. But none of those guys are as deeply enmeshed in the secret underground world of occult organizations and worldwide conspiracies as Blank.
Blank is every conspiracy's go-to guy. He's the anonymous fellow who drives the car, delivers the package, answers the door, hides the gun, and cleans up the mess. He maintains a few dozen secret identities, keeps his head down, doesn't ask questions, and pockets the paycheck. Everything’s going smoothly for him until somebody tries to kill him. When you’re working your way up to centuple agent, figuring out which incredibly dangerous secret group wants you dead can be quite the challenge!
Mr. Blank is an incredible amount of fun, especially if you grew up — as I did — immersed in Shea & Wilson’s Illuminatus! Trilogy and the Cthulhu Mythos, and enjoying RPGs like Illuminati, Paranoia, and Unknown Armies. Kick back, brush the dust off your occult knowledge and pop-culture library, and enjoy the action as Our Hero does his best to stay alive as he wisecracks his way through Satanists (both types), Assassins, the Russian Mafia, V.E.N.U.S., the Anas, the Masons, the Clone Wolves, chupacabras, Men in Black, and a whole lot more. If this book doesn’t make you a Justin Robinson fan, you must be an alien … in which case, Blank’s probably run a few errands for you, too.
Blank is every conspiracy's go-to guy. He's the anonymous fellow who drives the car, delivers the package, answers the door, hides the gun, and cleans up the mess. He maintains a few dozen secret identities, keeps his head down, doesn't ask questions, and pockets the paycheck. Everything’s going smoothly for him until somebody tries to kill him. When you’re working your way up to centuple agent, figuring out which incredibly dangerous secret group wants you dead can be quite the challenge!
Mr. Blank is an incredible amount of fun, especially if you grew up — as I did — immersed in Shea & Wilson’s Illuminatus! Trilogy and the Cthulhu Mythos, and enjoying RPGs like Illuminati, Paranoia, and Unknown Armies. Kick back, brush the dust off your occult knowledge and pop-culture library, and enjoy the action as Our Hero does his best to stay alive as he wisecracks his way through Satanists (both types), Assassins, the Russian Mafia, V.E.N.U.S., the Anas, the Masons, the Clone Wolves, chupacabras, Men in Black, and a whole lot more. If this book doesn’t make you a Justin Robinson fan, you must be an alien … in which case, Blank’s probably run a few errands for you, too.
January 2, 2013
If you're at all interested in conspiracies or mysteries, I highly suggest this novel to you. I loved reading about a man who casually performed mundane tasks that included planting envelopes in lockers, moving goats blood, and annoying members of opposing conspiracies on the same day.
I'm especially enamored with Mina; it's not very often I come across women characters who are written so well. She's not over-the-top badass with guns/swords blazing, but neither is she damsel in distress. In fact, she does a reasonable amount of ass kicking/ass saving on her own, without being unbelievable. She's silly, but also sexy in a world where 'plus size' is typically an insult.
Blank's narration was hilarious, and I loved all of the little references to pop culture and other things. Some references were definitely lost on me, but I was pleased to catch the Georges St-Pierre mention in the latter half of the book.
The end of the book worked really well for me, and although I don't want to give anything away, I will say that it was well done and not many people could have pulled it off the way Justin did. Even if you're not a huge fan of conspiracies or mysteries, I'd suggest reading it purely for the humor and character writing/world building. And now, I find myself wanting to be part of the Knights Templar. Just a little bit.
I'm especially enamored with Mina; it's not very often I come across women characters who are written so well. She's not over-the-top badass with guns/swords blazing, but neither is she damsel in distress. In fact, she does a reasonable amount of ass kicking/ass saving on her own, without being unbelievable. She's silly, but also sexy in a world where 'plus size' is typically an insult.
Blank's narration was hilarious, and I loved all of the little references to pop culture and other things. Some references were definitely lost on me, but I was pleased to catch the Georges St-Pierre mention in the latter half of the book.
The end of the book worked really well for me, and although I don't want to give anything away, I will say that it was well done and not many people could have pulled it off the way Justin did. Even if you're not a huge fan of conspiracies or mysteries, I'd suggest reading it purely for the humor and character writing/world building. And now, I find myself wanting to be part of the Knights Templar. Just a little bit.
December 17, 2012
Do you like conspiracies? Who doesn't right? Justin Robinson takes you inside most every conspiracy you know (and some you may not) with Mr. Blank- a humorous, original, pop-culture laced romp through the conspiracy epicenter of LA. Not in the "all the way to the top" of the conspiracy ladder kind of way, but down to the conspiracy information underground. Low-level quadruple agent style.
The main character is a low-level gopher for every type of conspiracy organization imaginable. An unassuming, blend in, hardly noticed or thought of until something needs to be done type of guy. Those are the best and perhaps worst kind of guys, you need them. They know enough to be trouble, but bland enough to be forgotten. And when you have your fingers in all the pies...? Well, danger and hilarity ensue of course.
I haven't read many "noir" type novels, but this one grabbed me and didn't let go. Justin Robinson's words flow as if he has lived the conspiracy information underground life. His scene setting and pop-culture references had me smiling and even giggling at times. One of the best books I have read in quite a while.
"Every conspiracy needs a guy like me", the opening page states. Everyone needs to read Mr. Blank and a guy like him. You will be smiling when you finish, promise.
The main character is a low-level gopher for every type of conspiracy organization imaginable. An unassuming, blend in, hardly noticed or thought of until something needs to be done type of guy. Those are the best and perhaps worst kind of guys, you need them. They know enough to be trouble, but bland enough to be forgotten. And when you have your fingers in all the pies...? Well, danger and hilarity ensue of course.
I haven't read many "noir" type novels, but this one grabbed me and didn't let go. Justin Robinson's words flow as if he has lived the conspiracy information underground life. His scene setting and pop-culture references had me smiling and even giggling at times. One of the best books I have read in quite a while.
"Every conspiracy needs a guy like me", the opening page states. Everyone needs to read Mr. Blank and a guy like him. You will be smiling when you finish, promise.
May 16, 2013
Let us start with our hero. Not that he would think of himself that way, which is part of the charm of Robinson's story. Our multiply-named protagonist is a noir hero - human and fallible. And distractedly charming. A man that you end up cheering for not because "Of course he can win the day" but because you want him to survive.
Add to that a cast of supporting characters that are just a tad beyond reality, further tapping into the modern day mythos which Robinson weaves solidly into Mr. Blank. Conspiracy wrapped into myth and twisted out again - the new age stories of our monsters in the dark alleys.
All of this is beautifully presented in Robinson's writing. Detail mixed with quick wit and dialogue, characters who are all so different and he manages to give them each a unique voice. Even Servants of the Shub-Internet, the brainwashed Little Green Men, groups that would be so easy to make mono-voiced have discord and interest.
Finally, Mr. Blank gives you the best of all possible endings - an end. And yet you want more.
Add to that a cast of supporting characters that are just a tad beyond reality, further tapping into the modern day mythos which Robinson weaves solidly into Mr. Blank. Conspiracy wrapped into myth and twisted out again - the new age stories of our monsters in the dark alleys.
All of this is beautifully presented in Robinson's writing. Detail mixed with quick wit and dialogue, characters who are all so different and he manages to give them each a unique voice. Even Servants of the Shub-Internet, the brainwashed Little Green Men, groups that would be so easy to make mono-voiced have discord and interest.
Finally, Mr. Blank gives you the best of all possible endings - an end. And yet you want more.
July 28, 2013
Justin Robinson clearly loves Los Angeles, noir, and conspiracy. And it is just as well that he does, because we, as readers, reap the benefits. This book is a fast-paced romp through LA, told from the perspective of the unnamed protagonist. Well, Mr. Blank has many names (at least one for each conspiracy), but who is he, really? Mr. Blank works for almost every conspiracy around, and at the beginning of the novel is almost killed by one (or more?) of these conspiracy groups. The mystery of which one(s) drives the action forward at a break-neck pace. With cracking good writing, moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity, and a fascinating cast of supporting characters, Mr. Blank is like a summer guilty pleasure book, only without all the guilt from actually reading one of those summer guilty pleasure books. You won't regret picking this one up, I promise.
June 7, 2013
The main character, whose name I still don't know, is a fascinating character in this clever novel. He works for nearly all conceivable conspiracies, and none, and the way conspiracies are woven together makes my head spin deliciously. The author weaves so many components together into a seamless whole - assassin attacks, aliens, anorexic Los Angeles cults, the Knights Templar, inferences to the Bene Gesserit and a host of other sci-fi/fantasy references (Willow and LotR in the same paragraph) - while unearthing some fundamental human truths. It's a suspenseful detective story, love story, and bawdy comedy rolled into one. I enjoyed reading this enormously, and will do so again just to pick up on the references I missed. Action-packed pacing moves the plot forward (and backwards, and around in circles) crisply.
January 14, 2013
Who is Mr Blank?
Well, that is the question, isn’t it? Read the book and you’ll find out…maybe.
Anyway, this is a great dark comedy. To be honest, I’m not really sure how to describe it…other than to say that it’s unlike anything I’ve read before and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Like the best authors (and directors), Robinson’s vision of Los Angeles remains true to the spirit of what it’s like to live here no matter how fantastical the plot might seem. He clearly knows what it’s like to expect to run into the virgin Connie Swail every time he leaves the house…and I imagine he actually has run into her a few times. Great book.
Well, that is the question, isn’t it? Read the book and you’ll find out…maybe.
Anyway, this is a great dark comedy. To be honest, I’m not really sure how to describe it…other than to say that it’s unlike anything I’ve read before and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Like the best authors (and directors), Robinson’s vision of Los Angeles remains true to the spirit of what it’s like to live here no matter how fantastical the plot might seem. He clearly knows what it’s like to expect to run into the virgin Connie Swail every time he leaves the house…and I imagine he actually has run into her a few times. Great book.
January 17, 2013
The mystery kicks off almost immediately with an attempted assassination of the main character and the rest of the book is him scrambling to stay alive and figure out who set up the attempt on his life. And it's HILARIOUS. Once you start reading, you will not want to put it down. It's full of pop culture, movie, and conspiracy theory references that, even if you don't really get the reference, it doesn't matter, it's still funny just because of the way it's phrased. I call this a screwball comedy mystery because anything crazy that can happen will and you will love reading every word of it.
April 14, 2013
I loved this book. It's funny and smart and full of conspiracy theories that even a buff like me didn't know where out there. Mr. Robinson is a great writer and storyteller. It got a bit confusing but that's only because I didn't read it straight through over consecutive days. It was easy to catch myself back up, however, so I don't think I missed anything. The best part for me (besides the narrator, who was just the right part snarky/smart/self-deprecating) was having a beautiful plus-sized model along for the ride. I highly recommend this fun book!
July 13, 2014
Very well written with a plethora of pop-culture references; a lot going on, but not too complicated where I would forget some of the plot lines. (That's a problem another favorite book of mine, Lonely Werewolf Girl, has with many people I recommend it to.) It does help that I have spent time in Southern California, because it helped me to appreciate some jokes made at the expense of that area. Recommended.
June 17, 2015
Did I just fall into the rabbit’s hole with Alice? Or more appropriately…Mr. Blank? This story was fun, unconventional, wacky, full of wacky strange characters (this story deserves two “wacky’s” in one sentence), conspiracies and creatures called “chupacabras.” (I’ve never heard of these creatures, being a city girl and obviously sheltered). This story is fast paced, so make sure you’re hanging onto something as you dive into the adventure. I recommend you read it and laugh, all the while looking behind you. Everyone looks suspicious now, darn it.
February 16, 2013
Justin pens "Mr. Blank" in an original and unique plot filled with mystery, conspiracy with a touch of humor. His characters are fascinating and well developed in this action pack, fast paced book. I totally enjoyed this book and it really wasn't like anything else I've ever read which kept it extremely interesting. Highly recommended for all readers....this is a must read!
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
May 25, 2014
I think that Justin Robinson wins the Internet for the most pop culture references in a book. Honestly, I was challenged to keep up! FWIW, I worked in a video store in college and I have had people refuse to play Trivial Pursuit with me, so I mean that as a big compliment!
If you hear "Flock of Seagulls hair" and laugh, this is a book for you. Fascinating, funny and with an ending that took me completely by surprise! Looking forward to the sequel! :)
If you hear "Flock of Seagulls hair" and laugh, this is a book for you. Fascinating, funny and with an ending that took me completely by surprise! Looking forward to the sequel! :)
July 12, 2014
Mr. Blank was entertaining and clever from the first sentence. It reminded me of Good Omens - my happy introduction to both Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Justin Robinson captures all of the conspiracy-laden seedy underbelly of LA giving this book the feel of classic noir, but somehow combines that with laugh-out-loud wry humor.
August 8, 2013
Actually, I didn't finish this book. I just could not get into it at all. The author was trying to be 'too cute' with all the pop culture references and the quirkiness of the lead character. I couldn't keep the organizations straight that he worked for nor the ones who were out to get him. I just felt like my time would be better spend on a book that I was enjoying than on one that I wasn't.
May 31, 2013
Looking for a fun read that plays fast and loose with all sorts of conspiracy theories and is saturated in pop-cult references? Mr Blank. It's smart, it's creative, and it goes by like a bullet train. Do yourself a favor and get it right now.
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