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Pangamonium
Sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself
Francis is a journalist looking for a big story in the tiny kingdom of Panga. He finds himself attempting to liberate a bunch of child slaves making sex toys for the West. Toss in an African pilgrim named Easter on a quest to find his grandfather's grave filled with pirate gold, a military regime oppressing the citizens of Panga, and a Bollywood romance -- pandemonium ensues.
Francis is a journalist looking for a big story in the tiny kingdom of Panga. He finds himself attempting to liberate a bunch of child slaves making sex toys for the West. Toss in an African pilgrim named Easter on a quest to find his grandfather's grave filled with pirate gold, a military regime oppressing the citizens of Panga, and a Bollywood romance -- pandemonium ensues.
- GenresHumor
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2012
2 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Zanesh Catkin
2 books13 followersZanesh Catkin was horribly disfigured in a childhood accident; as a result he lived much of his life hidden in attics. He was taken in by a kind family from Minnesota, who offered a loving home and some plastic surgery. Later, they moved to Australia and the confusion really set in.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 3, 2016
Review copy kindly provided by author and GR friend, Zanesh Catkin.
Some travel to find themselves-—I was travelling to get lost. Panga seemed a perfect place to start.
Thus begins what could be an idyllic travelogue, an account of travels in an exotic foreign land whose inhabitants have quaint and curious customs.
It could be--but it isn't.
American travelling correspondent Francis Germaine isn't even through customs and he's already in trouble. For an eccentric African by the name of Easter has latched on to him and won't leave him in peace. And no sooner does the customs official open his suitcase, then he realizes it isn't his. Because the suitcase under examination is filled with... well, perhaps this isn't the place to go into details. But, trust me, it's something totally outrageous. So outrageous, in fact, that I wondered what kind of book I'd gotten myself tangled up with.
Follow Francis and Easter as they go in search of answers to the questions that are plaguing them. The journalist wants his suitcase back. And the African is trying to find the burial site of his ancestor, a pirate captain... What's that you say? Well why not? It worked in Blazing Saddles! No wait, that's wrong--he was a sheriff. But there is a Douglas Fairbanks film called The Black Pirate, although it doesn't have anything to do with this story.
In a plot that vaguely resembles an Indiana Jones film--why am I constantly mentioning movies?--Francis and Easter bumble their way through Pangan society, spreading um, Pangamonium wherever they go. In their search for clues, they encounter crime lords, a lovely librarian, a mysterious map, a love-starved soldier and a village without children. Unexpectedly they discover that some people conceal within themselves the worst kind of evil while others are overflowing with the milk of human kindness.
This novel contains much that is whimsical--including the bibliography. But good satire is all about social and/or political commentary, as I'm sure you'll agree. And that's true here as well. This novel discusses such things as capitalism, third world corruption and military coups. But there are also more positive things such as the importance of cross-cultural communication, friendship and trust.
Some travel to find themselves-—I was travelling to get lost. Panga seemed a perfect place to start.
Thus begins what could be an idyllic travelogue, an account of travels in an exotic foreign land whose inhabitants have quaint and curious customs.
It could be--but it isn't.
American travelling correspondent Francis Germaine isn't even through customs and he's already in trouble. For an eccentric African by the name of Easter has latched on to him and won't leave him in peace. And no sooner does the customs official open his suitcase, then he realizes it isn't his. Because the suitcase under examination is filled with... well, perhaps this isn't the place to go into details. But, trust me, it's something totally outrageous. So outrageous, in fact, that I wondered what kind of book I'd gotten myself tangled up with.
Follow Francis and Easter as they go in search of answers to the questions that are plaguing them. The journalist wants his suitcase back. And the African is trying to find the burial site of his ancestor, a pirate captain... What's that you say? Well why not? It worked in Blazing Saddles! No wait, that's wrong--he was a sheriff. But there is a Douglas Fairbanks film called The Black Pirate, although it doesn't have anything to do with this story.
In a plot that vaguely resembles an Indiana Jones film--why am I constantly mentioning movies?--Francis and Easter bumble their way through Pangan society, spreading um, Pangamonium wherever they go. In their search for clues, they encounter crime lords, a lovely librarian, a mysterious map, a love-starved soldier and a village without children. Unexpectedly they discover that some people conceal within themselves the worst kind of evil while others are overflowing with the milk of human kindness.
This novel contains much that is whimsical--including the bibliography. But good satire is all about social and/or political commentary, as I'm sure you'll agree. And that's true here as well. This novel discusses such things as capitalism, third world corruption and military coups. But there are also more positive things such as the importance of cross-cultural communication, friendship and trust.
August 13, 2012
05/08 spent the morning in Panga - not an easy place to leave once you're there!
09/08 still in Panga and coming up for air - this travelogue is action-packed! Think Boys' Own Adventure meets Don Quixote and Gulliver's Travels, with a healthy dash of 21st sensibility and pop culture heritage to add spice. Will they find the hidden treasure? Which one will get the girl? Will the spaz get out of the country alive? Why can't I put all my professional commitments on hold and read on until I find out?
13/08 Action thrillers don't do much for me normally but this (mock) one kept me turning the pages until there were no more to turn. After that, I turned back to the beginning and started all over again. This time I am reading to enjoy the style, the wit, the one-liners and, above all, the writer's perceptive observations about the complex interdependence of the post-industrial and the emerging economies and the resulting thin moral ice on which we skate in contemporary western life.
I really enjoyed the pace and imagery of this book. I don't expect to see it on the Booker shortlist, however, it wouldn't surprise me if its ludic qualities weren't attractive to those who translate stories onto the big screen. Wonder whether Hollywood or Bollywood will get there first? Read it before they do!
09/08 still in Panga and coming up for air - this travelogue is action-packed! Think Boys' Own Adventure meets Don Quixote and Gulliver's Travels, with a healthy dash of 21st sensibility and pop culture heritage to add spice. Will they find the hidden treasure? Which one will get the girl? Will the spaz get out of the country alive? Why can't I put all my professional commitments on hold and read on until I find out?
13/08 Action thrillers don't do much for me normally but this (mock) one kept me turning the pages until there were no more to turn. After that, I turned back to the beginning and started all over again. This time I am reading to enjoy the style, the wit, the one-liners and, above all, the writer's perceptive observations about the complex interdependence of the post-industrial and the emerging economies and the resulting thin moral ice on which we skate in contemporary western life.
I really enjoyed the pace and imagery of this book. I don't expect to see it on the Booker shortlist, however, it wouldn't surprise me if its ludic qualities weren't attractive to those who translate stories onto the big screen. Wonder whether Hollywood or Bollywood will get there first? Read it before they do!
May 1, 2013
Review copy was kindly provided by Author Zanesh Catkin and I can't believe how fortuitous it was for me to join Goodreads at this time!
Now for the review -
After my first glance at the name of the book, I had to start over again, carefully, ticking every letter off in my head to construct a known word. I failed to do that but realized the name itself alluded to some chaos lurking inside the pages. The next eyebrow raise came when I read the writer's biography about hiding in the attics; I read the entire book with exactly that kind of astonishment.
"Pangamonium" is a book difficult to put down once you start. The adventure is simply that engrossing. There isn't much room for character development, with the outrageously comical situations and the bickering between Francis and Easter, but over the course I got to know each of them better.
Francis Germaine, an American expat from Australia - freelance journalist by trade, welcomes us into his experience in first person narrative that carries on for most of the book. He has travelled "to get lost" (his words), in Panga, an Asian country ruled by a malevolent dictator. Before crossing the local immigration authority he is interrupted by an African person by the name of Easter, and right after this everything starts to go wrong. Instead of a leisurely tour through some obscure (not to mention fictional) country, we launch into a treasure hunt with the two. Like I said, the book is filled with eyebrow-raising moments, ones that come with chuckles! While Francis navigates us through their days in Panga, we also meet a beautiful librarian and a chivalrous soldier who carry wisdom, courage, and sensitivity deep set in their ideals, as per the honourable Pangan custom. The characters meet as hints about their involvements in each other's lives are traced. Francis describes customs of Panga as he makes references to art and literature, sometimes masked, which makes you question the fact in the fiction but ultimately accept it - "May be Panga is like that. I haven't been there, how would I know?"
The alternate part of the book jabs at consumerism, exploitation of the poor by higher authority, third world corruption, and cheap labour in the form of children. The book doesn't try to hype up an awareness of all the wickedness instead merely puts them in front of the reader. There is enough material to make you halt and think about certain issues. The situations are more often comic but it does not downplay the other voices and yes it is difficult to put this book down! I know, I tried.
So there it is, both funny and thought-provoking; with a colourful set of characters and a good number of chase scenes!
Now for the review -
After my first glance at the name of the book, I had to start over again, carefully, ticking every letter off in my head to construct a known word. I failed to do that but realized the name itself alluded to some chaos lurking inside the pages. The next eyebrow raise came when I read the writer's biography about hiding in the attics; I read the entire book with exactly that kind of astonishment.
"Pangamonium" is a book difficult to put down once you start. The adventure is simply that engrossing. There isn't much room for character development, with the outrageously comical situations and the bickering between Francis and Easter, but over the course I got to know each of them better.
Francis Germaine, an American expat from Australia - freelance journalist by trade, welcomes us into his experience in first person narrative that carries on for most of the book. He has travelled "to get lost" (his words), in Panga, an Asian country ruled by a malevolent dictator. Before crossing the local immigration authority he is interrupted by an African person by the name of Easter, and right after this everything starts to go wrong. Instead of a leisurely tour through some obscure (not to mention fictional) country, we launch into a treasure hunt with the two. Like I said, the book is filled with eyebrow-raising moments, ones that come with chuckles! While Francis navigates us through their days in Panga, we also meet a beautiful librarian and a chivalrous soldier who carry wisdom, courage, and sensitivity deep set in their ideals, as per the honourable Pangan custom. The characters meet as hints about their involvements in each other's lives are traced. Francis describes customs of Panga as he makes references to art and literature, sometimes masked, which makes you question the fact in the fiction but ultimately accept it - "May be Panga is like that. I haven't been there, how would I know?"
The alternate part of the book jabs at consumerism, exploitation of the poor by higher authority, third world corruption, and cheap labour in the form of children. The book doesn't try to hype up an awareness of all the wickedness instead merely puts them in front of the reader. There is enough material to make you halt and think about certain issues. The situations are more often comic but it does not downplay the other voices and yes it is difficult to put this book down! I know, I tried.
So there it is, both funny and thought-provoking; with a colourful set of characters and a good number of chase scenes!
November 19, 2012
An unusually well crafted tale of Insanity that rings many true bells!
If we are to believe the brief biographical data on this author, then this is what we get: `Zanesh Catkin was horribly disfigured in a childhood accident; as a result he spent his early life hidden in attics. He was taken in by a kind family from Minnesota, who offered a loving home and some plastic surgery. Later, they moved to Australia and the confusion really set in.' Is that true, or is this just another extension of one of the most hilariously gifted sculptors of parody to come around in a long time? Themes of Western cultural illiteracy, global capitalism, excessive consumption, racism, superficiality and other diversions crowd the pages of this book that while side-splittingly hilarious to read, also presents some very clear eyed focus on the strange world we have created - a world the author calls Panga.
For many, reading the first chapter of this book will be addicting as Francis, our journalist searching for some phenomenal story arrives in the little kingdom of Panga, befriends a clingy Black diabetic, who is allergic to insulin, called Easter who inadvertently becomes involved in the discovery of a case full of dildos that puts the airport into Pangamonium. Easter is determined to uncover his ancestor pirate's grave that contains a wealth of gold bullion and Francis buys into the possible newsworthy adventure. And that is only the first chapter. From there the pages flip so quickly, sparkling with parody and humor and witticisms and truths that by the end of this book the reader feels transported to a place unlike any - except maybe an open-eyed look at the very space we are creating with our global nonsense.
The book is all wonderful fun...and if the reader takes time to digest each situation that arises, this is a superb Gulliver's Travels for our time!
Grady Harp
If we are to believe the brief biographical data on this author, then this is what we get: `Zanesh Catkin was horribly disfigured in a childhood accident; as a result he spent his early life hidden in attics. He was taken in by a kind family from Minnesota, who offered a loving home and some plastic surgery. Later, they moved to Australia and the confusion really set in.' Is that true, or is this just another extension of one of the most hilariously gifted sculptors of parody to come around in a long time? Themes of Western cultural illiteracy, global capitalism, excessive consumption, racism, superficiality and other diversions crowd the pages of this book that while side-splittingly hilarious to read, also presents some very clear eyed focus on the strange world we have created - a world the author calls Panga.
For many, reading the first chapter of this book will be addicting as Francis, our journalist searching for some phenomenal story arrives in the little kingdom of Panga, befriends a clingy Black diabetic, who is allergic to insulin, called Easter who inadvertently becomes involved in the discovery of a case full of dildos that puts the airport into Pangamonium. Easter is determined to uncover his ancestor pirate's grave that contains a wealth of gold bullion and Francis buys into the possible newsworthy adventure. And that is only the first chapter. From there the pages flip so quickly, sparkling with parody and humor and witticisms and truths that by the end of this book the reader feels transported to a place unlike any - except maybe an open-eyed look at the very space we are creating with our global nonsense.
The book is all wonderful fun...and if the reader takes time to digest each situation that arises, this is a superb Gulliver's Travels for our time!
Grady Harp
August 20, 2012
It was with an open mind that I descended into the African kingdom of Panga, where our journalist hero Francis is embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. As a foreigner (or a spazokaildehappama in the local language – meaning ‘fortunately not one of my relatives’), Francis attracts suspicion and scrutiny wherever he goes. Border crossings, for foreign journalists, are especially tedious. Getting caught with a suitcase full of vibrators is unlikely to make your immigration interrogation any easier. Francis is arrested, even though he is adamant the suitcase in question is not his, and is thrown into an unlikely partnership with an African pilgrim named Easter – himself on a quest to find his grandfather’s lost treasure.
As the adventure dances in and out of magic realism and social satire, Francis and Easter take on Panga’s military rascals, corrupt corporations and dubious deities in an attempt to split grandpa’s loot and free the children from slavery. Francis’ journey comes complete with a map of Panga, a glossary of local terms and cultural notes (or does it?) as it playfully drags the fantasy and travel narrative genres into the heart of darkness. Cultural and political parody is plentiful here, whilst the characters encountered on the journey run the gamut from sublime to ridiculous.
Pangamonium is a novel at once literary and low-brow. It will hold special appeal for anyone with an Arts degree as well as anyone who likes a good conspiracy theory. More generally, though, it offers a comical and thought-provoking romp for any reader in the market for some fresh, edgy, original fiction.
An extended review can be found at http://thischarmingmum.com
As the adventure dances in and out of magic realism and social satire, Francis and Easter take on Panga’s military rascals, corrupt corporations and dubious deities in an attempt to split grandpa’s loot and free the children from slavery. Francis’ journey comes complete with a map of Panga, a glossary of local terms and cultural notes (or does it?) as it playfully drags the fantasy and travel narrative genres into the heart of darkness. Cultural and political parody is plentiful here, whilst the characters encountered on the journey run the gamut from sublime to ridiculous.
Pangamonium is a novel at once literary and low-brow. It will hold special appeal for anyone with an Arts degree as well as anyone who likes a good conspiracy theory. More generally, though, it offers a comical and thought-provoking romp for any reader in the market for some fresh, edgy, original fiction.
An extended review can be found at http://thischarmingmum.com
December 26, 2016
If you're in the mood for a fast-paced, clever and crazed novel which includes some sly commentary on a variety of human relations, this might be just what the doctor ordered.
Expect lunacy and don't hold on too tight to sensible plot-lines for best enjoyment. You'll still get character development, roller coaster conflicts and eventual plot resolution, so hang in there.
It's kind of like 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe' without the science fiction...so will amuse and entertain as it rollicks along. Well worth the read.
Expect lunacy and don't hold on too tight to sensible plot-lines for best enjoyment. You'll still get character development, roller coaster conflicts and eventual plot resolution, so hang in there.
It's kind of like 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe' without the science fiction...so will amuse and entertain as it rollicks along. Well worth the read.
August 12, 2012
Francis is arrested at the Pangan border, not carrying drugs or weapons, but sex toys. This opening gives you some idea of the comic twists this novel offers. Part spy thriller, part modern-day quest this is a book with a deep heart too. And if you find yourself reading this at an airport; it's OK to laugh out loud. A genuinely good read.
March 29, 2021
It's a long time since I finished reading a book so quickly...and I still don't know why I found it such compulsive reading. It's a mish mash of genres (which is deliberate, if you dig deeper), but the end result is weirdly satisfying.
December 5, 2012
"Pangamonium" reminds me of the Bob Hope/Bing Crosby "Road-to" movies. Those were fun little jaunts, heavy on the slapstick, with a fair amount of charm. There was always a plot of sorts, but the plot was little more than scenery, a backdrop, something to keep us distracted between the gags. And there were characters, but always of a type. The good guys were pretty good, but not above a little benign mischief if it got them out of a jam. And the bad guys were really bad, so there was never any doubt as to who was who. Everything's amiable and aimless, fairly fun and funny; you can take it or leave it, and you won't miss it if you leave it, but you'll enjoy it if you take it.
Zanesh Catkin's like-minded work revolves around Frances Germaine, a traveler who ends up in Panga, a fictitious country which seems to be somewhere in Central Asia. He ends up accompanying a man named Easter as they search for Easter's grandfather's buried treasure, about which they only have a single dying last word as a clue: Dubesur. Along the way, they run afoul of the military, which is apparently facilitating the exploitation of orphan children to help Westerners manufacture sex toys cheaply in sweat shops. I'm a little vague about the details beyond that, and it's entirely possible that I got some of them wrong; Catkin stretches it all out a bit so it ends up a little thinner and less memorable than it should have been.
And that's a shame, because Catkin's obviously a talented writer, and there's plenty to enjoy here. Describing his traveling companion, for instance, Catkin-as-Germaine notes that Easter carried a Bible to smuggle things. "The book was hollowed out to hold a pistol, diamonds, drugs, money or any other item not normally found there," Catkin writes. "He had already read it and had more need of the cover than the contents." And later on, while trying to give blood, Germaine muses that perhaps his blood would be "of an unknown, useless type--not B Negative or O Positive but Qwerty--of use only when operating on journos. Instructions: Distil before use." While the plot's nothing to write home about (or leave home for), there are other reasons to take this trip besides the treasure at the end; Catkin's a funny guy who loves a clever turn of phrase, and if that's what you're looking for in a travelling companion, it's worth tagging along.
Zanesh Catkin's like-minded work revolves around Frances Germaine, a traveler who ends up in Panga, a fictitious country which seems to be somewhere in Central Asia. He ends up accompanying a man named Easter as they search for Easter's grandfather's buried treasure, about which they only have a single dying last word as a clue: Dubesur. Along the way, they run afoul of the military, which is apparently facilitating the exploitation of orphan children to help Westerners manufacture sex toys cheaply in sweat shops. I'm a little vague about the details beyond that, and it's entirely possible that I got some of them wrong; Catkin stretches it all out a bit so it ends up a little thinner and less memorable than it should have been.
And that's a shame, because Catkin's obviously a talented writer, and there's plenty to enjoy here. Describing his traveling companion, for instance, Catkin-as-Germaine notes that Easter carried a Bible to smuggle things. "The book was hollowed out to hold a pistol, diamonds, drugs, money or any other item not normally found there," Catkin writes. "He had already read it and had more need of the cover than the contents." And later on, while trying to give blood, Germaine muses that perhaps his blood would be "of an unknown, useless type--not B Negative or O Positive but Qwerty--of use only when operating on journos. Instructions: Distil before use." While the plot's nothing to write home about (or leave home for), there are other reasons to take this trip besides the treasure at the end; Catkin's a funny guy who loves a clever turn of phrase, and if that's what you're looking for in a travelling companion, it's worth tagging along.
June 5, 2013
Pangamonium was a very quick read, ended up reading it in under 5 hours. I thought the story was original and hilarious and kept me wanting to read more. Easter was probably my favourite character because he was unpredictable and selfless. Francis was likeable and funny. I also liked how references to Australia were made in the book and how it was set in Panga, it is not often you find a story that isn't set in America or England and so that was refreshing.
Recommend if you are looking for a quick and humorous read
Recommend if you are looking for a quick and humorous read
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews