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How to Succeed in Evil S1 #1
Crazy Psycho Murder Tree
They gave public defender Talmadge Haggleblat the case because they thought he was a pushover. But this time the little guy is sick of being kicked around. There's just one problem. His client is a murderous, rage-filled Ent who speaks in Olde English, wants to destroy everyone who's ever used a paper product and demands total fealty from his attorney.
Even if Talmadge does manage to survive, he'll never be the same. When your Supervillain client won't take good advice, how can you help him, Succeed in Evil?
Even if Talmadge does manage to survive, he'll never be the same. When your Supervillain client won't take good advice, how can you help him, Succeed in Evil?
- GenresFantasy
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2020
58 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Patrick E. McLean
14 books155 followersPatrick's work ranges from the autobiographical, to the absurd and fantastic. Describing himself as a "writer raised by Economists" his perspective on the world is naturally unusual. From violent revenge and musings on the value of life from a character who is dead (Unkillable) to the rage and frustration of a consultant who grows so sick of having his advice ignored that he decides to take over the world (How to Succeed in Evil) Patrick's work is high-concept, penetrating satire that manages twists and turns while never shorting true psychological insight into fascinating characters caught in desperate situations.
In 2005, feeling that "he wasn't putting any torque through the axle of the world" he started the Seanachai podcast (http://www.theseanachai.com) He wrote and produced an original short story or essay every week for a year.
Among his influences, Patrick cites Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Mark Helprin, S.J. Perleman, H.L. Mencken, Albert Jay Nock, Hafiz, Homer and George RR Martin.
In 2005, feeling that "he wasn't putting any torque through the axle of the world" he started the Seanachai podcast (http://www.theseanachai.com) He wrote and produced an original short story or essay every week for a year.
Among his influences, Patrick cites Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Mark Helprin, S.J. Perleman, H.L. Mencken, Albert Jay Nock, Hafiz, Homer and George RR Martin.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 13, 2021
3.5 stelle, arrotondo a 4. Andrebbero sistemati diversi refusi, ma si chiude un occhio visto che il libro è gratis {edit: ora non più} e amazon permette agli autori di correggere gli ebook...
Come anche altri libri dello stesso autore, Crazy Psycho Murder Tree è davvero molto lento a partire e comincia ingranare sul serio quando si è già a un terzo dell'opera. La sottotrama di Lynx è divertente ma appare fine a sé stessa, molto scollegata dalla trama principale. Per il resto il libro è scorrevole e divertente (ho avuto l'impressione che in certi punti pur di cercare la parodia si perdesse un po' il mordente, ma in linea di massima non è un problema), la storia è assurda il giusto e i personaggi sono sempre il principale punto di forza dell'autore e pur essendo il primo capitolo di una serie il libro presenta una storia sufficiente autoconclusiva, che soddisfa.
Come anche altri libri dello stesso autore, Crazy Psycho Murder Tree è davvero molto lento a partire e comincia ingranare sul serio quando si è già a un terzo dell'opera. La sottotrama di Lynx è divertente ma appare fine a sé stessa, molto scollegata dalla trama principale. Per il resto il libro è scorrevole e divertente (ho avuto l'impressione che in certi punti pur di cercare la parodia si perdesse un po' il mordente, ma in linea di massima non è un problema), la storia è assurda il giusto e i personaggi sono sempre il principale punto di forza dell'autore e pur essendo il primo capitolo di una serie il libro presenta una storia sufficiente autoconclusiva, che soddisfa.
November 8, 2023
I haven't read any of the previous
September 23, 2020
It's good to finally understand how Topper started on his way.
April 25, 2021
I am glad to see new works from you, I am also glad I got the audiobook too.
You are one of my top three authors I enjoy reading.
Back to the review. I find it tragic, that the professor in the end became the very thing that inadvertently killed him, in both ways. I loved the mockery of the hypocrisy that some portray, as well as the fetishization of victimhood.
Topper's development makes some of his earlier comments in previous works seem abit weird but also makes why Topper is so obsessed with Winsor fit so much better. In truth, Topper was more of a client, than a personal lawyer at first and shows how things work out for people that take The Evil Consultant's advice to heart.
You are one of my top three authors I enjoy reading.
Back to the review. I find it tragic, that the professor in the end became the very thing that inadvertently killed him, in both ways. I loved the mockery of the hypocrisy that some portray, as well as the fetishization of victimhood.
Topper's development makes some of his earlier comments in previous works seem abit weird but also makes why Topper is so obsessed with Winsor fit so much better. In truth, Topper was more of a client, than a personal lawyer at first and shows how things work out for people that take The Evil Consultant's advice to heart.
September 27, 2021
This prequal to 'How to succeed in Evil' covers some of the back story of Topper - Edwin Windsor's defense lawyer. It retains the same humourous tone of the other books in the series.
Topper has found himself defending a tree - literature professor mutant, created partly as a symptom of radical student protest and the long term exploitation of the natural world.
While Topper has yet to develop his cocky bluffness, other characters have their familiar traits - Edwin always calm and Agnes applies 'good manners' as a way to intimidate and control. The protestors conform to an extreme stereotype that seems to echo the views held by those of the far right about the intellectuals who draw attention to structural discrimination. Other characters such as a strong but intellectually impaired man and a wealthy but crazy young man with too much money also make an appearance.
There was quite a lot of time spent developing the story of the Lynx and his loyal butler, who retains a facade of servility while working hard to reduce risk to his master but this story line remains unresolved. One suspects more from this duo in a future story.
The title character is labelled as a crazy psycho but this is only true from a human perspective. Taken from a perspective of a tree the actions it takes have the same motivation as the USA's invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan - to defend tree-kind against murderous terrorists. Disappointingly in this story the terrorists win.
Topper has found himself defending a tree - literature professor mutant, created partly as a symptom of radical student protest and the long term exploitation of the natural world.
While Topper has yet to develop his cocky bluffness, other characters have their familiar traits - Edwin always calm and Agnes applies 'good manners' as a way to intimidate and control. The protestors conform to an extreme stereotype that seems to echo the views held by those of the far right about the intellectuals who draw attention to structural discrimination. Other characters such as a strong but intellectually impaired man and a wealthy but crazy young man with too much money also make an appearance.
There was quite a lot of time spent developing the story of the Lynx and his loyal butler, who retains a facade of servility while working hard to reduce risk to his master but this story line remains unresolved. One suspects more from this duo in a future story.
The title character is labelled as a crazy psycho but this is only true from a human perspective. Taken from a perspective of a tree the actions it takes have the same motivation as the USA's invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan - to defend tree-kind against murderous terrorists. Disappointingly in this story the terrorists win.
April 13, 2023
I'm so glad to be back in this world. I've been a fan of How to Succeed in Evil since the earliest podcasts (oh, how I wish I still had copies of those...), and it's nice to return to Edwin Windsor, Topper, and the inept supers of this version of reality. McLean has honed his storytelling abilities to even greater heights, and no one can read his characters as well as he can.
This story takes things back far enough to see the origin of Evil Efficiency's violent lawyer, and we get to enjoy several new incompetent villains, a clumsy hero, and one awesome butler.
This story takes things back far enough to see the origin of Evil Efficiency's violent lawyer, and we get to enjoy several new incompetent villains, a clumsy hero, and one awesome butler.
March 13, 2021
Surprisingly Dissapointing
This del more like the author’s first fumbling, overly-satirized, attempts at writing than what I was expecting based on the previous How to Succeed in Evil series that I had read and enjoyed. Not sure what happened here, but I’m hoping later series go back to the clever humor he showed in his other books.
This del more like the author’s first fumbling, overly-satirized, attempts at writing than what I was expecting based on the previous How to Succeed in Evil series that I had read and enjoyed. Not sure what happened here, but I’m hoping later series go back to the clever humor he showed in his other books.
June 8, 2021
Imaginative
In this story, there are no superheroes, but there are super villains. Topper is a lawyer and a little person. He is ignored, ridiculed, and forced to do what others want him to to survive. The defense of a killer tree that went on a rampage at the local college is forced on him. Topper proves to be smarter than expected.
In this story, there are no superheroes, but there are super villains. Topper is a lawyer and a little person. He is ignored, ridiculed, and forced to do what others want him to to survive. The defense of a killer tree that went on a rampage at the local college is forced on him. Topper proves to be smarter than expected.
January 9, 2025
Don't be fooled.
This bears as much resemblance to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as Vogon poetry does to Shakespeare. I gave up trying to read it halfway through when doomscrolling social media seemed more enjoyable. It might have been less disappointing without the Douglas Adams comparison. But with it, it was set up for failure from the get-go.
This bears as much resemblance to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as Vogon poetry does to Shakespeare. I gave up trying to read it halfway through when doomscrolling social media seemed more enjoyable. It might have been less disappointing without the Douglas Adams comparison. But with it, it was set up for failure from the get-go.
October 6, 2020
Excellent and fun to read!
For anyone that enjoys reading evil, this is not for you. Just as the Lucifer TV series turns evil on its head, this book details the advent of a lawyer and The Evil Efficiency Consultant. Truly done well and highly recommended.
For anyone that enjoys reading evil, this is not for you. Just as the Lucifer TV series turns evil on its head, this book details the advent of a lawyer and The Evil Efficiency Consultant. Truly done well and highly recommended.
November 28, 2020
Weird
This book is different. I get hungry for a laugh or snicker. If you want cultured prose, look elsewhere. This offering is just for grins. I needed a grin. Thanks
This book is different. I get hungry for a laugh or snicker. If you want cultured prose, look elsewhere. This offering is just for grins. I needed a grin. Thanks
April 11, 2022
didn’t grab my attention
A good title - except for a gratuitous reference to a great book it in no way resembles. An attempt to be clever that didn’t really work out.
A good title - except for a gratuitous reference to a great book it in no way resembles. An attempt to be clever that didn’t really work out.
February 19, 2023
Just hilarious
December 6, 2024
3.5 Weirdly entertaining with some great one liners. Not my usual genre but reminded me of Guardians of the Galaxy.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews