Scenic Cesspools: & other indignities

by David Raffin

Scenic Cesspools is a tragi-comedy about work. With just enough time travel. And a bucket of grease which has something to do with free will. Possibly everything. Scenic Cesspools is the story of a kid who is pulled into his high school disciplinary office to be chastised for achieving some of the highest test scores in the school while still managing to almost flunk out. Upon graduation, there is nothing left but to venture into the workforce. Working at a paper mill he discovers the industrial site is an alien landscape filled with green noxious liquids, held in open surface containers, outgassing into the atmosphere. It’s a place where death is as close as a misstep and the air smells a little like poison every day. He learns that sales is a religion. A religion based on morning motivational meetings, chanting, and believing. If you are “money motivated” all you need do… is believe. Leasing low income housing is difficult when your supervisors dislike poor people. Especially when they hate deaf people, because “deaf people make trouble.” He learns there is nothing like selling flowers on the street from the back of a pickup; except selling perfume on the street from a cardboard box, or working for Ralph Nader. Characters float in and out, sometimes challenging perceptions of time. They are obsessed with nuclear war in Vietnam, sex, Canadians, and unearned heroism.

180 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2013

About the author

Contributor to Funny Times, Rosebud magazine, etc.

Edited the journal Vision? Nary!, of which MAXIMUMROCK'N'ROLL said:
"A sarcastic, funny magazine that takes it to you with humor about the general fucked-up-ness of America- down home heartland America"

These people said the following about David Raffin:

"A cross between Garrison Keillor and Salvador Dali."
– The Northwest Examiner

"Intelligent, humorous, and highly imaginative– always a pleasure to read."
– Peter Bacho, Author "Cebu" "Dark Blue Suit"


"His perversions are oddly analytical." 
- Jodi Lamm, Author "Titan Magic" 

"David's style is absurdist bordering on the surreal. [...] Certainly, David is a virtuoso at not delivering what an audience might expect. As such, he shows his remarkable skills as a satirist."
– Evergreen State College

"He's not your average comedian."
- The Daily Olympian