Savage Spear of the Unicorn: Stories by Delicious Tacos

by Delicious Tacos

Collected stories 2015-2020

Genres: Fiction

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2020

Reviews

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

- This book is like that one guy everyone at school hated for being a misogynist but you were secretly friends with him because he’s funny

- This book is like if Ted Kaczynski read a lot of Bukowski and Schopenhauer, and then instead of mailing people bombs he complained about girls online

- This book is like saying “well at least he had some good ideas!” And it’s only 1% as bad as if you were talking about Hitler

If every story/post were as good as “The Unicorn” (https://delicioustacos.com/2017/01/08...) or “The Gift” (https://www.countere.com/home/fiction...) this collection would be 5 stars. But there’s too much lusting after teenagers for that. Still, it’s a great warning that you should try your hardest to not end up single and childless by 40.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Tacos. One likes them or one does not. Some of these are new, fresh tacos. Others one might have read on, or at, the taco stand. Me? I like the tacos.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consistently enjoy reading Delicious Tacos stories but prefer them in book form vs "live" on the blog -- much more suited to binge-reading. They range from raunchy to depressing to (very rarely) hopeful, but always well-written and insightful. The references to Dune (including books 2-6 and that they suck...), various aspects of Internet pop culture, etc., including a lot of "things you can't say", make these interesting. The other aspect which I find worth reading is he was basically an alcoholic, went to AA, and now doesn't drink, while still being a writer who writes about a lot of things a drunk would do or write about, so it's an interesting study in how addiction actually works in humans. I'd skip this if you're overly prudish or otherwise sensitive, but for someone who enjoys Twitter and memes and the general downfall of civilization, a great book.

[Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just so raw, sad and funny. The Pussy was great, but it got somewhat repetitive with too many too similar "it's all hopeless and I'll die alone" chapters. Since then Tacos has really perfected feeling hopeless and being sure of dying alone.

I had read quite a few of these stories before as posts on his blog, but many of them are great enough to entrance you the second and third time as well. "Universal Basic Woman" and "Mark" are absolute fucking bangers, "50 Ways to Get a Girlfriend" is hilarious and cuts deep, and "Norwood" is a superb horror story in spite of the tale being completely mundane.

I kind of doubt that this book will age very well, but at this moment in time Delicious Tacos just gets it, man!

[Vuk Trifkovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slaps.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Pussy wants a mansion or pussy wants to sleep on the sidewalk. I have an apartment.”

God damn, this fucking guy. Never, ever stop, Tacos.

“Need to get over something but don’t know what. Something about how a girl has to be an 8/10 genius 20 years younger than me to be 1% more interesting than Nintendo.”

[Artur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tacos is a modern Bukowski. And it brings both the bad and the good things that stem from both modernity and Bukowski. His self-deprecation and depression are the molten core of his stories about the meaninglessness of life, insatiable urges and failure to keep them at bay. It's the story of a broken man trying to find happiness in quick pleasures and young bodies that wither away as long as he finishes. Even though his writing is simple, at times not obeying the rules of grammar or style, there is something unique and authentic in the short stories Tacos writes. It's filth, but the filth every man can relate to. Some parts of it are just about sex and people he meets on the way, others sound almost like an indictment of the modern society and its flaws. I've put three stars because despite the fact that some stories in this particular book are brilliant, others are utter trash. The same way his self is, the writing is coarse and uneven, ranging from an incel-like rants about Asian women to the psychological sci-fi about a post-nuclear world and female assistant bots. Tacos would really use a good editor just to guide what should or should not be published right away and why, but, again, would such "edited" Tacos still be Tacos?

[Kevin K · Rating 2 out of 5]

21st-century rehash of Bukowski, without the beer. Also some strains of Less Than Zero perhaps due to the LA setting, nihilism, and promiscuous sex. Book is not politically coded, but that seems to be part of the author's shtick of using edgy writing as pick-up strategy. Definitely some entertaining/funny moments, but nothing substantial. Just repetitive, empty spectacle and engagement gambits. Trolling as literature. Interesting though to see the specific complaints of a man of this generation (he seems to be late Gen X / early millenial, born around 1976).

[Erica Makowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the commonalities that a lot of these stories share, even when the whole whining about girls on tinder can seem a bit played out and desperate. The desperation though is one of the best aspects of the book, because you can truly feel it pulsate off the page. The verbiage that's used to describe emotions feels real, honest and yet distinctly unique and personal to feel original and captivating. A personal fav story is the 2052 about the AI woman and human man, and the best stories in here can be at once, both blue and touching

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought it entirely on BAP's recommendation. Had no idea who Tacos was or what he wrote about. I didn't expect it to be mostly woe-is-me sex stories, which isn't up my alley so much, but when he went to other topics it was often quite moving. God of the mockingbirds in particular almost had me crying on the plane.

[Iakobos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fiction stories are the best parts. It makes me want another full-length novel from him. I’m sure he doesn’t need me to tell him to work on it, but still. Maybe try a hand at magical realism, in the vein of Rushdie. Anyway, if I am a judge, this work is another contemporary necessity, if only because it is part of DT’s body of work, all of which is worth attention.

[Wes Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I assume if you’re looking at this you already have some idea who Delicious Tacos is and what he’s all about. So you don’t need me to warn you what to expect.

These started out as a collection of blog posts, I gather. Raunchy, sad, surprisingly poignant. Read together, it’s actually kind of moving.

[Ietrio · Rating 2 out of 5]

2025-03-28: 1%

cute. the first story. the guy tries to do the O. Henry sort of story. only it is told like a joke on reddit. so it is pretty crap. still, i like the ambition to have this published.

[jon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent writing but god is this guy miserable. It is a look directly into a man's id, as sexist, racist, and uncomfortable as that may be.

At least it's a reminder of what could happen to my mental state if I'm overly online and remain single and bitter into my 40s.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only author I can relate to.

[William Tabor · Rating 2 out of 5]

not much to say. interesting book but not sure i would recommend.

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed his earlier story collection "The Pussy" more than this one, but there's some real good ones in here too. Pick it up if you liked his earlier stuff and want more.

[Nick Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal and cynical but occasionally very touching and beautiful. The first book I've read by a man in a long time that actually felt like it was written by a man. Refreshing!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bukowski meets Dostoevsky, proceeds to indulge in yuppy navel-gazing chuffing to the nth degree.
He’s got a way with words, 4 stars. Edge lord that’s seen the edge of the suburbs.

[Vojtech Podhajsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read. I can't say it really surprised me, but it's pleasant to know DT likes Houellebecq.