Nefarious Twit

by Tony McMillen

Madness. Murder. Children’s literature.

Nefarious Twit, the ferociously clever debut from author Tony McMillen.

After his mother commits suicide, Rick Lime decides to finally find his father, the legendary children’s book author known as Nefarious Twit. The same Nefarious Twit who disappeared from the public eye 22 years ago abandoning Rick and Rick’s mother at the height of his fame after releasing one final controversial children’s book. Rick Lime has decided to find his father so that he can murder him.

Along for the ride is Rick’s violent but fiercely loyal half-brother Lou. Both of them are addicted to a strange drug called Vitrillum and as they set out for misguided vengeance their drug-soaked journey begins to resemble one of Nefarious Twit’s children stories. Reality and Twit’s stories seem to converge as the brothers follow the path of the dark ladder, the ominous symbol from Twit’s most popular books, which appears to be leading them right to the author.

Featuring 14 full-page illustrations Nefarious Twit is a bent, psychedelic odyssey through the darker parts of North America. There are stop offs involving blissful, stoned children on psychotropic drugs administered by their mothers, the joys of erectile dysfunction, and the prevailing myth of the Wandering Jew.

Bleakly funny, beautifully sad, and profoundly strange, Nefarious Twit is a stylish and defiant debut novel about how the things we leave unfinished may end up being the things that finish us.

Like Shel Silverstein by way of William S. Burroughs.

"A twisted road trip featuring deranged characters narrated with razor-sharp wit, Nefarious Twit manages to pack one hell of an emotional wallop. And P.S. killer illustrations."--David David Katzman, award-winning author of A Greater Monster

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Drugs

310 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2013

About the author

Tony McMillen makes comic books as well as some books without pictures too.

Even though those usually also contain a few pictures.

He can’t help himself.

He’s behind Attaboy, the new oversized graphic novel disguised as a video game manual. The heavy metal horror novel An Augmented Fourth published by Word Horde, the sci-fi fantasy graphic novel Lumen and Serious Creatures; his comic book series about a teenage special fx artist working in Hollywood, riding the wave of practical effects that carried the blockbuster movie industry of the 70s, 80s and 90s.

He thinks Alien is a better xenomorph movie but Aliens is a better Ripley movie.

His go to karaoke song is “On the Dark Side” by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band.

He has recently started to add cinnamon to his chocolate milk.

Reviews

[Tony McMillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I mean, I wrote it, so five stars, obviously.

[David Katzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I read a pre-release copy of this book and provided editorial comments for Mr. McMillen. I'm also providing him a promotional blurb but only because I think this book deserves it.

So say I:

A twisted road trip featuring deranged characters narrated with razor-sharp wit, Nefarious Twit manages to pack one hell of an emotional wallop. And P.S. killer illustrations.

Illustrations (including the cover) were created by Tony himself. Bravo.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nefarious Twit is a road novel driven by our Wandering not-Jew on a mission to find and kill his famous-author father who abandoned the family two decades ago: the symbolic scapegoat for all their problems since. Weighing him down are his dim, violence-prone half-brother and a manic pixie dream girl in need of adventure. The brother provides much of the story’s tension, with his unpredictability and endless messes to clean up.

First novels are so often about the writing process itself, but Twit handles it more thematically, the father’s shadow always cast long and the son’s head teeming with words but nowhere to put them, even being the source of his sexual dysfunction and disappointment/fear over resolution in general. Many readers will enjoy its fantasy elements of pharmacological psychedelia, alternative geography, and mythmaking. The plot itself is grounded in the real, thankfully. Some of my favorite moments were courtesy of colorful bit players, like the playboy border-town doctor and pulp-fanboy one-stop-shop drug dealer. In spots, it reminded me of the John Dies novels.

Major points for originality. Big points for (t)wit and entertainment. Fair points for characterizations. Few points for copyediting. Despite some rough edges, it delivers a good time and more than a few poignant moments.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent debut novel from the mind of an immensely imaginative author. The book deals with relatable concepts like family, loyalty, forgiveness, and the desire to occasionally escape the pressures of everyday reality. Tie all that together with personality-rich characters, a series of unfortunate and uncontrollable events and you end up with a truly captivating story. However it doesn't stop there; the book leaves breadcrumb clues compelling the reader to read between the lines and look beyond the immediate story. The book does deal with a plethora of dark topics both of the augmented-reality variety as well as some all too real and traumatic experiences. I would advise those who are easily offended or faint of heart to proceed with caution. As a person who seldom enjoys reading books I was so intrigued with the story and characters that I seized any opportunity to continue reading to the end; that in itself if an accomplishment by the author. On a final note even after you've finished reading this book you're far from done as the story will continue to both haunt and fascinate you long after its unpredictable end. I highly recommend this book!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read 2/28/14 - 3/9/14
3 Stars - Recommended to readers who can forgive a cool story its rough writing
Pages: 298
Publisher: Branch Hand Books
Released: Dec 2013



Debut novels are tricky little things. Especially when you read reviews where said debut is described as "if so-and-so-super-famous-author and so-and-so-super-famous-author had a baby and that baby ended up on an acid trip and wrote a book". Cause you know... I mean, c'mon, you KNOW it's not gonna compare to those super-famous-author peoples. They've been honing their skills for years. They've had a shit-ton of practice and some pretty hard-core editors tearing their shit up. And if you read the first book or two that they published, you'll see that back then, even THEY weren't so great. Not back then. Not when compared to what they can write NOW. So can we all agree to stop promoting every new debut author by claiming that they are on par with literary super-gods? Cool? Yes?

Because, to be fair to the debut author and what they are bringing to the book at hand, we should really just judge them against, well, themselves. And go in with no (but not low) expectations. This way, if they suck, we might not think they are as sucky as if, say, we were expecting so-and-so-famous-author awesomeness. And if they are great, we can actually say they are great without worrying about the comparison to so-and-so-famous-author so they can be great within their own right.

So why the chatty intro about debut novelists and comparisons to other authors?

Well, frankly, I wasn't sure how else to start this review. See, Tony McMillen is making his debut with Nefarious Twit, and prior to picking up the book, I had read reviews where he'd been compared to some similar-in-concept-but-in-my-opinion-not-similar-in-writing-strength authors aaaaand I'm pretty sure those comparisons caused me to expect something a bit... more from this book than it was capable of giving. Which left me a bit frustrated and may have affected the way I read it, which isn't exactly fair to the book or the author.

I was well aware of this bias as I went into it and tried to be less critical when grammatical errors, strange phrasing or wonky sentence structure reached up off the page and slapped me in the face.

Tony's approach to the story itself was interesting. The narrator played it close to both the reader and the characters, behaving as our guide and confidante as we progressed from chapter to chapter. He would begin each chapter with little pro-tips, letting us know if it contained information that was important to the plot or additional backstory on a main character. He even warned us away if a particular chapter was heavy on violence - though, let's be honest, there's not a whole lot that I'd find too violent or excessive, did you forget that I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King and that I'm a fan of bizarro lit?!

At its core, Nefarious Twit is a book about books, a book about drugs, murder and mayhem, and a book about family, for better or worse. Our main man Rick is the son of Nefarious Twit, estranged father and legendary children's book author. Rick's mother recently committed suicide and he's bringing his half-brother Lou along on a hunt for dear ole dad. This won't be a warm and fuzzy family reunion. Oh no. Rick is going after him for some revenge, and he's removing the final page in every copy of his father's book along the way. There are drugs and lots of them. Strange and trippy things happen. Tiny time travelling alien things happen to Lou. Hard things happen to Rick's face. There are girls and then there are dead girls. And there are no happy endings. Sorry, but it's just not that sort of book.

If you can forgive the blatant overuse of drugs as a plot device, and the somewhat slow and repetitive story telling for favor of a cool tale of jealousy and revenge, then go ahead and bury your nose inside this one.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut novel of great scope and wit. Author Tony McMillen explores family, loyalty, and trust through the lens of Terry Gilliam or David Foster Wallace.

What is the point of revenge? Are some promises better left unkept? Where do we draw the line between supporting a family member who has problems and enabling and perpetuating those problems? Most events in everyday life don't have clear boundaries of beginning or end; in the same way, the events in McMillen's Nefarious Twit seem to fade in and fade out.

Rick Lime's world comes crashing down on him, time and time again. The story begins just after the suicide of Rick's mother. Something has snapped in him. He and his much younger half-brother, Lou, set out on a road trip to locate, confront, and murder Rick's father. Rick and Lou hate themselves. Rick sees his father in himself, and detests the similarity. Lou sees himself for what he is -- a murderer -- and despairs it. And that's what I saw as the central relationship in the story: the brothers' inability to embrace their true selves, and each one's subconscious willingness to support/enable the other's fatal flaw.

Nefarious Twit isn't easily summarized. Picaresque novels never are. Characters come and go. Motives evolve. People change. And at the end of the book, you're left wondering, because the boundaries blur. Never fear -- McMillen's characters are skillfully drawn, and if you've paid attention while reading, you know the characters well enough to imagine what happens next.

...

I've been trying to come up with analogies to give a sense of the epic scope of NT. "Imagine if David Foster Wallace had a copy editor for Infinite Jest." "Imagine if Holden Caulfield was an addict." "It's dark like a Roald Dahl novel." I've given up on the comparisons, though. Nefarious Twit stands on its own. Give it a shot. You may be pleasantly surprised.

[Carli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to be biased when talking about this book because I know the guy who wrote it and I enjoy his writing immensely. It's usually like if Chuck Klosterman and Palahniuk had a baby who then went on an acid trip with Hunter S. Thompson. David Lee Roth is probably in there somewhere too.

That being said, I'm going to try to be as unbiased as I can be about Mr. McMillen's debut novel.

Nefarious Twit is a very good start to what could be a long, illustrious career. The writing could be rough sometimes, but the ideas are so original and the story is filled with tons of remarkable imagery. You feel sometimes as if you're on some kind of Vitrillum drug trip, although I suppose that's kind of the point at times. I still commend McMillen just on the ideas alone.

The reason I give it 4/5 stars is because I always find it difficult to rate anything 5/5. Giving anything a perfect score means that it's, well, perfect. There wouldn't be anything I would change. There is very little I would change about this grim, twisted hero's journey, but I know that McMillen's next work could only be better.

Bravo friend. Here's to many more to come.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another reviewer stated that people sensitive to violence should probably pass this book by. I found that I'm one of those people.... but only in the cruelly violent passages did I feel like I wanted to close my eyes (which made for difficult reading).

I loved the narrative voice throughout the story. By the end, I felt like he was my pal, giving me instructions on how to navigate the next chapter, and he was always right. Loved that! I also loved the drug addled mind bending scenes, while at the same time being disgusted by the drug use. So this was a different book for me. Very very well written. So many interesting concepts in this story (the drug (aka black coffin), the Darjmanians, the "invisible friends" vs psychosis - it would be excellent bookclub discussion if my bookclub were more open to this type of reading. It was an interesting journey!

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never write reviews, but a mutual friend of mine and Mr. McMillen's suggested I buy, read, and review this book, so here it goes!

The writing style of this book definitely isn't one I enjoy, but I won't let that affect my rating. The author narrates the entire book, reminding readers what has already been read, and telling them what will happen next. I personally prefer to get lost in a book, and focus on the story, instead of continuously being reminded that the author wants me to read it a certain way and is making sure I'm paying attention. It's not my style, but I respect it and I'm sure it's very helpful to a number of readers.

There were an alarmingly high number of grammatical errors in this book. Hopefully this was exclusive to the ebook version, as I haven't checked a printed copy. It's roughly written, but as Mr. McMillen's first novel, it shows a promising future for the author.

The story itself was good, although very much unresolved. I know it was Mr. McMillen's intention to leave the ending of the book open, but there were smaller themes in the book that were forgotten or cast away, which left me with an uncomfortable feeling after finishing.

Overall, this book is very much worth the read. Anyone could find elements in the story that they can relate to, and it helps bring the reader closer to the story. It's a roller coaster of emotions through drug-induced hallucinations and dark reality that will leave you feeling for the characters.

I respect you and all the effort you put into writing this novel, Mr. McMillen, and wish you the best in your future of writing. I'm looking forward to your next project.

[David Keaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the best books I've read have worked to either "make the alien familiar" or "make the familiar alien," but this might be the first case of making the alien alien, because when I dove in, I assumed I was dealing with a more straightforward man-goes-on-a-journey tale, with some psychedelic Phantom Tollbooth action for flavor, or the most obvious influence, of course, Shel Silverstein, which is weird enough to start with (and also pretty subversive if you dig deep enough into Silverstein's work, and this is certainly a hard R and not the YA romp you might anticipate from the cover) but then something else happened, and things went another three levels stranger, and deeper. It's very easy to lose your footing along the way when this happens because McMillen takes it darker than you'd think, as well as weirder (how many times can I say "weird"), and the hero's fratricidal tendencies are a surprise, as well as some of the Phil Dick meets Hunter Thompson road tripping. But it's a great place to lose your mind, with the added bonus of over a dozen amazing illustrations, by the reclusive author itself! The imagery toes that line between whimsical and threatening, and its this angular, far-out artwork that, ironically, helps you regain your sense of balance and keep the ladder steady on your climb.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. This book was ok. That said, I think it needs trigger warnings for two things:

First, because maybe a third of the way in one of the main characters gets a blow job from a trans woman and then murders her when she tells him that she's trans. The book does not condone his actions and he feels remorseful about them but I probably would've skipped the book if I'd known that was coming since I dislike books with transphobic violence. I feel like there is enough of it in the real world.

Second, because about two thirds of the way through the book goes back into one of the main character's memories of childhood sexual abuse. Which is another thing I hate to be surprised with when I'm reading a book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid storytelling from a debut author. I'm not always up for a drug narrative, but luckily there's a lot more to Nefarious Twit than weird hallucinations (though there are plenty, if you do enjoy them). There's a strong plot, great world-building, and some deep truths in there, too. Besides, at the heart of it, this is a book about books, especially children's books, the key to my heart. I particularly enjoyed the Darjmainian folklore and other mythological aspects to the tale. In addition, I really love the illustrations. Looking forward to seeing what McMillen does next.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so when you see "debut novel" your first thought is something along the lines of "oh, that's nice of them."
But this isn't your everyday debut novel. (or your everydebut as they call it in the biz)
this novel comes at you full-force, riding the dirtbike you never got for christmas, blaring black sabbath's Die Young, up to the point where you think it's going to crash into you, but instead the novel leaps off the dirtbike, spins mid-air, and kicks you straight in the teeth. But you don't get mad, you go "thank you, may i have another?"

[Christopher Irvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

NEFARIOUS TWIT is smart, thought-provoking, odd, & awesome. It's going to stick with me for a long time. Still trying to wrap my head around what to say about it, but it's a book that should be read, if only for how unique it is. McMillen works some magic here.

Check out BOOKED for the review that instantly made me want the book - http://www.bookedpodcast.com/2014/01/...

[Brandon Tietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

McMillen's debut is a lot of things: dark, drug-addled, deftly gritty...but above all else, it's just really f*cking good. Here's hoping that "Nefarious Twit" is but the first of many releases from this talented new author.

[Johanna Breiding]

Description of any kind will lack in comparison. I've been lending my copy to all my friends... well every friend I know will give it back. I eventually I hope to get my hands on a signed copy for sure

[Just Deborah]

I have to think about it.

What makes me stop to ponder about this book is that I can rip out the last page and it doesn't change anything. Also, just a thought, it does not begin and end with the same sentence. Why do you think that is?

[Booked podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hear the complete review: http://www.bookedpodcast.com/2014/01/...

[J.P. Behrens · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Kaycee McClary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, this is not children's literature and children should not read it. It is very much an adult book, with some whimsical allusions to children's literature. This book had me intrigued from the first chapter and held my attention throughout the entirety of the book and did not disappoint. From the characters, to the plot line, to the description of the drug trips, I believed everything this book presented to me. It is a rather strange experience to read a book and have the narrator directly address the reader, to point out parts he believes are important, and even to tell you are allowed to skip chapters he deems unimportant (I do not recommend this, read it all, soak it in!), but it is part of why this story was believable. It was as if you are sitting around a campfire with a new friend who is telling you his story, it places you with the narrator, with the story, and it was such a fantastic twist to the story, which in itself feels fresh, new and unexpected. The book is dark, creepy, alluring, and unlike anything I have read. I also want to add, the ending was perfect. I do not want to spoil it, but for those who enjoy a story being neatly tied up, this book will not provide that for you. But if you enjoy a certain quirk of the main character, you will end the book feeling as though the author delivered one last gift.

[Cal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. Mcmillen is able to vividly depict what I can only describe as a gut-wrenching horror, not because you have monsters or mal-intended villains, excessive amounts of gore, or fright-inducing moments- but because there is so much grief and messed-up yet unnervingly realistic imagery and allegories.

I think my one hesitation would be that the story touches a lot on what I inferred to be mental illness (though written in a style in which you can either believe that or I suppose that there is a more horror-fantasy subplot). I know that mental illness used as plot device can come across as insensitive and damaging, so it's worth mentioning to those who would prefer not to read tales that include such topics.

Overall, there was just so much societal sadness and sardonic hinting towards our own treatments of children, drugs, family, sex, and love, and overall general hopelessness that I had to put the book down multiple times to remember that life isn't alway that bleak.

[Jolene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needs an editor! (Perhaps I was reading a pre released copy?) I found it incredibly difficult to get over the grammar/sentence structure errors. The narrator could also be very distracting in the introductions to many chapters; it seemed almost pretentious. All of this is disappointing because it really is a very imaginative and exciting story! I was invested in the characters, despite the poor writing. And the themes about revenge and addiction are definitely relevant and worth exploring.

[Jessica]

Maybe I will come back to this someday. Initially I found the story interesting and funny. 1/3 of the way through I realized not only was I no longer interested but I didn't even care about any of the characters.