Austin, Texas is known for being weird, so when Sunil Pendleton opens his front door to find the recently deceased Michael Jackson, he barely bats an eye. Even when Larry Fine of the Three Stooges shows up, it doesn’t seem all that odd. Soon he finds himself tied to his couch, talking to a cat, and communicating telepathically with warriors from an ancient, forgotten civilization.
And then things begin to get strange.
Sunil discovers that he is in the midst of a war between two factions of deities. He needs to muster everything he has not only to keep himself alive, but to help save the universe from being harvested of all sentient life. Armed with only an ancient weapon rumored to hold divine power, he must rely on a band of powerful strangers for protection against the dead celebrities that have been sent to hunt him down through the night. When Sunil learns that his allies have ulterior motives, however, he questions whether his companions are out to save the universe or consign it to an unimaginably terrible fate. As the time approaches to unleash the artifact, he grows more uncertain as to whom he will use it on.
Yet even the true power of his weapon is in doubt and, if so, he may be unable to do anything at all. Sunil knows only one thing: something has definitely been trying too hard to keep Austin weird.
Alive and well, despite being given only a 5% chance of surviving his own birth, Paul Tchir is a Canadian-born, Texas-educated, Arabic-speaking (sort of) Californian Wikipedia administrator, amateur street luger, and former deadpool champion who is missing part of a finger due to an unfortunate accident involving a cooking class in the second grade and an inattentive chaperone. Although this injury meant that he was unable to attain his childhood goal of becoming a paleontologist, fortune soon smiled upon him and he was inspired to enter theatre after Charles Bronson cut in front of him in a hot dog line in junior high. He studied under the tutelage of Neve Campbell’s father for a year before abandoning this pursuit to write the sequel to Jurassic Park.
Although his pitch was rejected as having “already been written”, Paul was not discouraged and has since persisted in his quest to produce literary entertainment. When he needs to convince his wife that he does more than play retro video games and sit around waiting for sports autographs to arrive in the mail, he teaches history at San Diego State University. He enjoys Star Trek, Stargate, and Battlestar Galactica, but is indifferent on all other star-related matters. According to Google, he also gave 2001: A Space Odyssey a bad review on IMDB, moonlights as an Olympic researcher, and has not accessed his Neopets account in over a decade. According to reliable sources, he does, unlike Mr. T., have time for jibber jabber, but only by appointment.
I love science fiction and fantasy, and this book mixes both of these with fun, wit, and style along with religion and social commentary. The eclectic array of characters would not seem to blend and fit, but they do it well in this book. Where else would you see Larry from the 3 Stooges, the inspiration for the Cheshire Cat, and Elvis, all together in a cosmic battle for us all? There are also many great original characters too that deepen the cast even further. I love the intriguing plot line and the not so subtle slams of the rich and famous, and how they got to where they are (or were). The theological aspect also cannot be denied and should make any rational person question their own ideology and belief system. You will love this book too, and I highly recommend it.
Wow- such a unique concept for a book. This book doesn't even try to fit into one category- it really is a mix of fantasy, science fiction, with elements of horror and suspense. Read the description of the book- it really is the best way to understand the plot.
Overall, great writing with a fast-paced, cerebral plot. Makes you think about the universe and specifically, what happens after you die. No religious affiliation needed, this book will make you think about things you may have never realized about existence, energy, and the nature of godliness.
No spoilers, the ending is a mind fuck of really amazing imagery. I will definitely be rereading this one.
This was an amazing book - unlike anything I've read before. It was a little bit of fantasy, a little theology, a little humor, a little drama & a whole lot of WHAT?!!!
The author has created an amazing race of beings and created a world in which they battle for dominance. Ever wondered where you go - or IF you go anywhere when you die? Ever considered a deal with the devil? Do you wonder if God is a supreme being looking out for all of us or is He a figment of our imaginations?
This book tackles all of these questions in a fun & quirky way with fun characters based on non-living celebrities!
Loved it and recommend it for anyone who wants a book unlike anything they've ever read!
A humorous romp through a desacrilization of symbols, icons, and beliefs of our times - what or who do we worship and what is the price of that worship on both sides? Question where we may be heading…on all levels. Divine intervention - be damned - with a vengeance!
I loved the way that the novel forces you to rethink all categories, whether in this life or the next, and mirrors the blurring of existence even in its own lack of genre. At the end of the day, where do you draw your ethical or philosophical [or literary] lines? And why do you draw lines in the first place? Approach the novel with a more than open perspective, and a snarky sense of humor, and it will reward you with the chance to be-devil your mind.
This novel will push your pre-sets…sit back and enjoy the wild ride…
I had a difficult time getting through the book. I love YA Sci-Fi fantasy but this was too much for me. Besides that Paul is an excellent writer. Very impressive. I do recommend to those Star Trek fans, book just wasn't for me.