Pandemonia: A Novel Plague Plague Novel

by Johnson Riggs

High Fantasy. Low Morale. Farts.

Knight Captain Pickle never meant to start a revolution. He just asked the wrong questions. Once the brine of the King’s Court, he has been jettisoned from Service. Now, he’s on a mythic quest to purify the swampy capital of Quagmerica, where a novel miasma has infected both body and state.

The Kingdom is in a sinister court physician has unleashed a demonic plague and the burger-chomping warlord-king governs like a pro-wrestler. Pickle’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But he does have a really cool sword - and he knows how to use it. Unfortunately, that's about it. Fortunately, he has some a disgraced alchemist, a rogue airship pilot, and his wife, a master of opticks, to help him hunt down some relics, battle terrorists, chase dragons, and purify the realm.

Pandemonia is a satirical fantasy quest through deserts, swamps, jungles, and bureaucratic hellscapes. Part epic quest, part political farce, part redemption story. For fans of Discworld, Bored of the Rings, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Vox Machina, and also farts, this is your next heroic disasterpiece.

"Few writers living or otherwise have reached such heights in the field of wizard-inclusive speculative fiction. Perhaps the most dangerous work of the 21st century. A swashbuckling indictment of the American nightmare."
- Phil Rot, author of The Raft

"Thanks to this writer’s unbound imagination and relentless wit, modern politics can be enjoyed for what it actually a grand farce with, possibly, a silver lining or two. If you’re looking, as we all are, for that elusive perfect balance between Animal Farm and Spaceballs, this book is for you."
- Matthew Louis, founding editor of Gutter Books, Gallows Humor Magazine, & Vigilante Crime. Author of The Wrong Man & Roots Down to Hell

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 4, 2025

Reviews

[Spencer Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pandemonia is a sharp, witty political satire wrapped in a surreal fantasy quest. Johnson Riggs takes readers through deserts, swamps, and bureaucratic nightmares, all symbolizing the absurdity of modern politics. The humor is clever, the world-building is inventive, and the message while wrapped in farce lands with surprising clarity.

If you enjoy satirical adventures in the spirit of Hitchhiker’s Guide or Terry Pratchett, this is a fresh, funny, and thought-provoking read.

I would give this a 10/10 and highly recommend!!

[Graham Bradley]

This might be the most insane thing I've read in a decade.

[Jason Fialkovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an epic fantasy adventure political satire. It's like Legend of Zelda meets Veep with steam punk and the perfect amount of fart jokes. You'll laugh and you won't be able to put the book down. No matter which side of the political aisle you're on, you'll appreciate the jabs given to both sides.

[Daniel Bensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: the author is a friend. Fuller disclosure, I had to push at the beginning. I was glad I did, though. Everything straightens out once the poison is in the water supply and our hero has been sent on his epic quest. From then on it's just big, dumb epic fun. There's a wizard whose magic is based on bodily secretions ("My prostatism is nothing compared to your pro-statism!"), a ramen-loving pilot from "South Direa," and of course our hero, Pickle, who waterboards prisoners the fun way ("Hope you like shredding gnar, bro!"). Imagine if Xanth had less weird eighties sex stuff and Cracked dot com didn't signal its twenty-teens virtue. Pandemonia is a novel of the twenty-twenties: offensively virtuous, and with only normal sex stuff.

[Brett Aitkenhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce Campbell and Lewis Carrol had passionate unprotected sex behind the Tea-Cups ride in a dystopian Disneyland: 9 months later a baby was born. (Out of wedlock, of course) It’s name was Pandemonia.

[Mike Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly wild and entertaining ride through the seven levels of corona hell. An insanely well crafted and picturesque story, setting, and world that was ever changing in my mind with each turn of the page.

[Steven W · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Covid survivor, I really appreciate and loved the humor and political hilarity in this book.
Can’t wait to see the movie someday!

[Murdstowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only was this a genuinely hysterical read, it was crafted with an enthusiastic comedic poetry that never falls flat. Each sentence is deliberate in shaping the atmosphere of Quagmerica, creating a world brimming with hilarious characters and environments.

Riggs establishes himself as a capable writer that somehow naturally infuses absurdity into brilliance that never grows tiresome. The novel is uproariously entertaining and I hope to see more from this author.