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Zoltergeist the Poltergeist
Jimmy Green is a middle-aged limousine driver and a devoted fan of the insane TV sitcom Zoltergeist the Poltergeist. Once when he was a boy, Jimmy had an impure thought about the lead singer of The Bangles.
After confessing his sin to a drunken priest thirty-five years later, Jimmy is sentenced to six months’ penance in an old, isolated house—dubbed Penance House—in the middle of nowhere in rural Ohio. There, sequestered from civilization, Jimmy must repent for his sinful nature or else endure the Everlasting Fires of Hell.
As if Penance House weren’t creepy, whack, and janked-up enough, Jimmy is forbidden to enter the room at the end of the upstairs hallway. Does something sinister lurk beyond its closed door? And what about that leprechaun he keeps seeing skulking around in the woods?
Lucky for Jimmy, he has all forty-nine seasons of Zoltergeist the Poltergeist saved to his laptop to distract himself from his unsettling surroundings. Toward that end, probably the only thing better than rewatching old Zoltergeist episodes would be a visit from the show’s enigmatic, titular star itself…
"The head honcho of the absurd, the governor of wackiness, the top dog of insanity is back! Intelligent and imbecilic, Douglas Hackle is one of the most unique voices in bizarro fiction. Watch out, ’cause Hackle’s brain tissue is coming to town in a sleigh carved out of mad puppets and pulled by alcoholic poltergeists. Dare to see what Douglasgeist Hacklegeist leaves in your socks!” —Zoltán Komor, author of Flamingos in the Ashtray
"Zoltergeist the Poltergeist had me laughing, tittering, chortling, and popping out guffaws like nobody’s business. It even had me dancing for some reason—like I was listening to the hottest new bizarro track out this summer. Your kids are going to love it and so are you.”—Luke Kondor, author of The Run Fantastic
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After confessing his sin to a drunken priest thirty-five years later, Jimmy is sentenced to six months’ penance in an old, isolated house—dubbed Penance House—in the middle of nowhere in rural Ohio. There, sequestered from civilization, Jimmy must repent for his sinful nature or else endure the Everlasting Fires of Hell.
As if Penance House weren’t creepy, whack, and janked-up enough, Jimmy is forbidden to enter the room at the end of the upstairs hallway. Does something sinister lurk beyond its closed door? And what about that leprechaun he keeps seeing skulking around in the woods?
Lucky for Jimmy, he has all forty-nine seasons of Zoltergeist the Poltergeist saved to his laptop to distract himself from his unsettling surroundings. Toward that end, probably the only thing better than rewatching old Zoltergeist episodes would be a visit from the show’s enigmatic, titular star itself…
"The head honcho of the absurd, the governor of wackiness, the top dog of insanity is back! Intelligent and imbecilic, Douglas Hackle is one of the most unique voices in bizarro fiction. Watch out, ’cause Hackle’s brain tissue is coming to town in a sleigh carved out of mad puppets and pulled by alcoholic poltergeists. Dare to see what Douglasgeist Hacklegeist leaves in your socks!” —Zoltán Komor, author of Flamingos in the Ashtray
"Zoltergeist the Poltergeist had me laughing, tittering, chortling, and popping out guffaws like nobody’s business. It even had me dancing for some reason—like I was listening to the hottest new bizarro track out this summer. Your kids are going to love it and so are you.”—Luke Kondor, author of The Run Fantastic
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243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2021
7 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Hackle
22 books264 followersMany moons ago, I abandoned academia after receiving a degree in English Literature. Nowadays, I write fiction when I'm not toiling away as a copywriter/copyeditor in the healthcare space.
Here are some nice things people have said about my work:
“Douglas Hackle is one of the best writers of bizarre, absurdist work out there.” – Charles Austin Muir
"The best bizarro absurdist in the business.” – Amy M. Vaughn
“He's consistently delivered some of the weirdest, wildest, most well-written fiction I've ever read.” – Arthur Graham
“The head honcho of the absurd, the governor of wackiness, the top dog of insanity…Intelligent and imbecilic, Douglas Hackle is one of the most unique voices in bizarro fiction.” – Zoltán Komor
“…a master of the short story.” – Rodney Gardner
“Hackle is a laugh-out-loud genius.” – Donald Armfield
“…one of bizarro fiction’s sharpest satirists.” – Bizarro Central
“…always hilarious, horrific, and brilliantly written entertainment. Highly recommended!” – Brian Boyer
“Douglas Hackle is an evil genius.” – Kevin J. Kennedy
“My mind is blown. Literally. It needs a new fuse…I have never read anything like this.” - Nikki Howard on Clown Tear Junkies
“When it comes to Mr. Hackle, you don’t have a shot in hell of predicting what’s going to happen, even if he’s just told you. […] You can’t know where the story will take you, what the characters will do and say, how it’s all going to shake down in the end, even one page before that end.” – Melodie Ladner
“Hackle isn’t afraid to get you clutching your seat with fear only to have you giggling in the next sentence, and vice versa.”– Ben Walker at Kendall Reviews
“Batshit craziness! […] I honestly think that if you’ve never read a bizarro book, this might be the one you should grab.” – Livius Nedin (former host of the Booked. podcast) on TERROR MANNEQUIN
“… Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is an absolutely superb piece of Bizarro horror – and as a result, a novel that should be considered an exemplar for the rest of the genre to follow and attempt to best.” – The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer
“This book is an absurdist masterclass, and it may be that the whole problem with the world is that there isn't enough of this kind of thing in it […] Did War and Peace or Crime and Punishment change my life? I don't really think so, to be honest; maybe slightly? Did this book change my life? I shit you not, it kind of did, actually.” – Dirk Wartman on Is Winona Ryder Still with the Dude from Soul Asylum? and Other LURID Tales of TERROR and DOOM!!!’
Here are some nice things people have said about my work:
“Douglas Hackle is one of the best writers of bizarre, absurdist work out there.” – Charles Austin Muir
"The best bizarro absurdist in the business.” – Amy M. Vaughn
“He's consistently delivered some of the weirdest, wildest, most well-written fiction I've ever read.” – Arthur Graham
“The head honcho of the absurd, the governor of wackiness, the top dog of insanity…Intelligent and imbecilic, Douglas Hackle is one of the most unique voices in bizarro fiction.” – Zoltán Komor
“…a master of the short story.” – Rodney Gardner
“Hackle is a laugh-out-loud genius.” – Donald Armfield
“…one of bizarro fiction’s sharpest satirists.” – Bizarro Central
“…always hilarious, horrific, and brilliantly written entertainment. Highly recommended!” – Brian Boyer
“Douglas Hackle is an evil genius.” – Kevin J. Kennedy
“My mind is blown. Literally. It needs a new fuse…I have never read anything like this.” - Nikki Howard on Clown Tear Junkies
“When it comes to Mr. Hackle, you don’t have a shot in hell of predicting what’s going to happen, even if he’s just told you. […] You can’t know where the story will take you, what the characters will do and say, how it’s all going to shake down in the end, even one page before that end.” – Melodie Ladner
“Hackle isn’t afraid to get you clutching your seat with fear only to have you giggling in the next sentence, and vice versa.”– Ben Walker at Kendall Reviews
“Batshit craziness! […] I honestly think that if you’ve never read a bizarro book, this might be the one you should grab.” – Livius Nedin (former host of the Booked. podcast) on TERROR MANNEQUIN
“… Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is an absolutely superb piece of Bizarro horror – and as a result, a novel that should be considered an exemplar for the rest of the genre to follow and attempt to best.” – The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer
“This book is an absurdist masterclass, and it may be that the whole problem with the world is that there isn't enough of this kind of thing in it […] Did War and Peace or Crime and Punishment change my life? I don't really think so, to be honest; maybe slightly? Did this book change my life? I shit you not, it kind of did, actually.” – Dirk Wartman on Is Winona Ryder Still with the Dude from Soul Asylum? and Other LURID Tales of TERROR and DOOM!!!’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 10, 2022
Douglas Hackle may not be the biggest name in bizarro, but he's always been the best for my money. From Terror Mannequin to Clown Tear Junkies to The Hottest Gay Man Ever Killed in a Shark Attack to Is Winona Ryder Still with the Dude from Soul Asylum? and Other LURID Tales of TERROR and DOOM!!!, he's consistently delivered some of the weirdest, wildest, most well-written fiction I've ever read, and Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is no exception.
If I were you, I'd go buy all his books right now, but then again, if I were YOU, I'd probably transform into a chicken nugget, dip myself in dog shit, light myself on fire, and toss myself off the top of the goddamned Empire State Building.
If I were you, I'd go buy all his books right now, but then again, if I were YOU, I'd probably transform into a chicken nugget, dip myself in dog shit, light myself on fire, and toss myself off the top of the goddamned Empire State Building.
July 21, 2021
Hands-down one of the most deliciously strange books I've read all year. This was full of unnecessary violence and unnecessary profanity and unnecessary ridiculousness, and all of those things are always necessary for me in a novel. This was Douglas Hackle at his motherfucking Hackliest, and my god, did I love it. There were drunk priests, library bullies, experimental self-surgery, torn-off jawbones, big-dicked leprechauns, pseudo-penises, occult magic, mysterious pasts, things that shifted and things that clicked, television shows that need to be made immediately, cheap whiskey, penny farthings, rap parties, bluegrass jamborees, some fat sacks of diggity-dank bubonic chronic, and all the pop culture references and little Hacklisms that a girl could ever want. (Although I do have to say, I was sad there were no cree-craws or slee-slaws to be found anywhere.) There was also a famous A-list Hollywood actor who abstractly happened to be a sentient, self-contained, free-floating, talking blob of chicken broth who, when he wasn't starring in films about broth or crying in a confessional booth, liked drugs, alcohol, pimping, burglary, robbing graves, black market organ trade, shady dealings with international mafias, and of course, attending masked, secret society, cocaine-fueled, Eyes Wide Shut-like orgies where human sacrifice is occasionally permitted.
I had no idea what to expect going into this book, even after reading the back cover. And now, after finishing the entire book, I have no idea how to explain it. There is a human character named Jimmy. He drives a limo for a famous blob of sentient chicken broth. His idol is a character named Zoltergeist. Zoltergeist is a Poltergeist. He has his own TV show that usually always ends in bloodshed, profanity, and canned laughter. He's a fan of whiskey and cigars and has always dreamt of one day tormenting one of his fans into committing suicide. Zoltergeist (or sensei, if you're not yet on a first-name basis with him) is pretty much the man. A man who is a poltergeist and also a bit of a dick. But definitely someone you would want to drink with.
All you really need to know going into this book is that it's Douglas Motherfucking Hackle who wrote it. So sit your dusty-ass, janked-up, whack-ass self down, my tiny little sons, and prepare for something magical!
I had no idea what to expect going into this book, even after reading the back cover. And now, after finishing the entire book, I have no idea how to explain it. There is a human character named Jimmy. He drives a limo for a famous blob of sentient chicken broth. His idol is a character named Zoltergeist. Zoltergeist is a Poltergeist. He has his own TV show that usually always ends in bloodshed, profanity, and canned laughter. He's a fan of whiskey and cigars and has always dreamt of one day tormenting one of his fans into committing suicide. Zoltergeist (or sensei, if you're not yet on a first-name basis with him) is pretty much the man. A man who is a poltergeist and also a bit of a dick. But definitely someone you would want to drink with.
All you really need to know going into this book is that it's Douglas Motherfucking Hackle who wrote it. So sit your dusty-ass, janked-up, whack-ass self down, my tiny little sons, and prepare for something magical!
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March 22, 2022Hackle has always been a favorite of mine and in Zoltergeist the Poltergeist he once again takes us on a journey through a world of mind-boggling absurdities and over-the-top cruelty. The synopsis does this book no justice, the plot is simply the thread on which these escalating set pieces are hung. Hackle is a one-of-a-kind writer, and if you're on the level, this book is so much fucking fun.
October 4, 2022
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is flat out classic Douglas Hackle. The story reminded me a lot of his early writing style in the Tall Tales with Short Cock anthologies. It's everything you'd expect from Douglas Hackle, assuming you've read his work before. In short, this is one for the fans for sure.
To say this book is about something is a stretch. The narrative goes takes you in directions but you never quite get to where you want to go without it kinda shifting into something else. It's that type of narrative that some may find off-putting but if you can appreciate Hackle simply playing with story and satire and absurdism, this is kind of wonderful. You have to let go of the narrative and allow Hackle's masterful handling of his own imagination wash over you.
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist had many laugh out loud moments. I basked in the insane imagery and moments Hackle crafter. But, overall, this didn't quite hit as big for me as some of his other work. Its still fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though it may rank lower for me among his other work, it still ranks higher than so many other books by other writers who can only try to be as amusing and absurd as Hackle seems to be able to without much effort.
I wouldn't recommend anyone starting with Zoltergeist the Poltergeist if they haven't read Douglas Hackle before. I would recommend Zoltergeist if you have read at least one Douglas Hackle book before, my tiny little reader cub.
To say this book is about something is a stretch. The narrative goes takes you in directions but you never quite get to where you want to go without it kinda shifting into something else. It's that type of narrative that some may find off-putting but if you can appreciate Hackle simply playing with story and satire and absurdism, this is kind of wonderful. You have to let go of the narrative and allow Hackle's masterful handling of his own imagination wash over you.
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist had many laugh out loud moments. I basked in the insane imagery and moments Hackle crafter. But, overall, this didn't quite hit as big for me as some of his other work. Its still fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though it may rank lower for me among his other work, it still ranks higher than so many other books by other writers who can only try to be as amusing and absurd as Hackle seems to be able to without much effort.
I wouldn't recommend anyone starting with Zoltergeist the Poltergeist if they haven't read Douglas Hackle before. I would recommend Zoltergeist if you have read at least one Douglas Hackle book before, my tiny little reader cub.
June 11, 2021
After reading it twice already, it's hard for me to write about Douglas because he's my favourite author and brings endless amounts of joy to my life with his words.
Just allow yourselves to enter his world. Embrace the weirdness and the absurdity while bursting out laughing, my tiny little sons.
Because his books are hard to explain, you need to experience them.
Just allow yourselves to enter his world. Embrace the weirdness and the absurdity while bursting out laughing, my tiny little sons.
Because his books are hard to explain, you need to experience them.
May 11, 2021
In the long, wonderful years of my personal Douglas Hackle fandom, there are a few things I've come to expect of each of his new (or "new to me") works:
1. TERROR items
2. dried-up white dogshit
3. 80s-based pop culture references
4. an ending that drifts off into the sultry, fetid depths of Hades
5. cree-craw on the slee-slaw
I deducted one star from my review of ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST over the cree-craw/slee-slaw situation. The book contains none whatsoever: a shocking but perhaps forgivable misstep on Mr. Hackle's part, given world enough and time.
Anyway!
Something I've done a lot of during the pandemic is watch weirdbeard randos talk about their interests on YouTube. I haven't been lonely exactly, in my time of isolation, but I guess I've missed sitting in silence while somebody rambles on about the happenstances of his life, with no discernible interest in mine.
You know when you're watching people on YouTube, and you start to notice the stuff in the background, like dirty old cat barve that they never cleaned up, or a vacuum hose that's not connected to anything, or they organize their books by colour, or they seem normal but they have a huge sign on the door that advertises their commitment to the Cubs or etc.?
This one guy I've been watching, he has (amongst his Funko Pops and that) a fuckton of Garfield stuff. Garfield dolls of various sizes and in various costumes, Garfield place settings, Garfield stickers, Garfield books, Garfield clothes, tchotchkes, novelty appliances… here is a dude who if you offered him a used Garfield enema would be like MUH GOD! WAS IT USED ON GARFIELD???
And, like… what the fuck, man?
I was super into Garfield when I was eight or nine, but now that I'm old as fuck I understand that Garfield isn't even slightly funny on its best day--unless you count Garfield Minus Garfield, which this dude certainly does not--and also, it is criminally irresponsible to give even one bite of lasagna to a cat, okay, every single ingredient besides the noodles is toxic to cats, and nobody eats lasagna because they love huge flat noodles, you know?
I watched and watched this man's videos, and they weren't about Garfield, okay, they were about books and movies and social issues and politics, but they weren't about goddamn Garfield. His terrifying abundance of Garfield merch was just there.
LURKING.
So when I happened upon a video of his that was about Garfield, I was over-fucking-joyed, okay, by then I needed needed NEEDED to know what was up with his Garfield situation.
Why does he like Garfield so much? What is the appeal? He's an intelligent person with a sophisticated sense of humour, this fellow on YouTube, and yet, Garfield Garfield Garfield. How did it happen? What does it mean? Is it anything to do with the kid I saw on My Crazy Obsession who loves vacuum cleaners so much that he can identify make and model by the unit's sound?
The video is an hour long, and I was sober as fuck when I watched it, yet I came away from it no more enlightened than I was when I approached.
As I lay abed that night, I brooded, sleepless. Why Garfield?
WHY.
Then, The Tiny Voices asked: What if Garfield, but SHOWGIRLS? Because I own:
SHOWGIRLS on a special edition DVD that includes a trivia track and a fan's commentary
Two downloaded copies, one in The Cloud but also one local, in case North Korea blows up the internet
YOU DON'T NOMI, a SHOWGIRLS documentary
Framed SHOWGIRLS fan art
A SHOWGIRLS pin
The SHOWGIRLS coffee table book
A SHOWGIRLS colouring/activity book
A book of SHOWGIRLS poetry
A SHOWGIRLS nightlight
A critical analysis of SHOWGIRLS called IT DOESN'T SUCK
I saw SHOWGIRLS in the theatre during its original run. I've seen it at least a hundred times since then, and will watch it a hundred more, easily. I watch it every time it's on TV. Sometimes I put it on to help me fall asleep, it's that familiar and that beloved. I can quote every line, like some dork-ass Monty Python fan.
Yet, when a friend asked me "Why SHOWGIRLS?" recently, I was like "…"
Now: if you're a jerk, you might think this is all bringing you back to my love of Douglas Hackle. Actually, though, it's bringing you back to his new book, ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST: which is as good a story about inexplicable fandom as you're ever going to find, in your life.
The title refers to both a long-running "family" sitcom and its star, an actual poltergeist of mysterious origin, whose TV antics as an incorrigible stepfather include hours of real-time tedium, as well as shocking gore and bloodshed, often while his youngest stepson looks on, yearning to become a man, if you take my meaning, foppishly.
His real-life behaviour is your typical Hollywood story, more or less--far less objectionable than most of what he does on TV, but without a laugh track and a weekly reset, somehow less lovable.
OR IS HE!
And see? This is what I was getting at. Because not only has his show been going for fifty years, BUT he has a gigantic fanbase, including the book's protagonist, Jimmy: the bigtime Hollywood bodyguard/driver for an A-list sentient blob of chicken broth, and who's seen every episode of ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST countless times. That has to be what
50 years, say 22 episodes a year, that's 1,100 episodes, or 24,200 minutes, or 403 hours, or 16 days.
Again and again.
Jimmy loves ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST in that Garfield/SHOWGIRLS way. He's read every authorized and unauthorized biography of the spectral cloud o' junk countless times, has given its life and history more consideration than he's ever given his own. He used to write letters to it as a boy, hoping against hope that it might return his interest someday.
I'm not here to judge him, okay? That's God's job.
And that's how Jimmy ends up spending six months of his life in a reform cabin or etc. called Penance House, although he doesn't land there over his entertainment proclivities.
(Well, wait, that's not true. He does. But not those.)
I'm not going to give away the whole story, here, but I will say that Penance House is a place for sinners… AND ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST IS NO SAINT!!!
Plus Mr. Hackle offers an excellent hamburgers lifehack…le.
It is a tale of love and obsession. A tale of transgression and redemption. A tale of leprechauns whose maternal provenance is embroidered on the backs of their wee little green velvet jackets, instead of whinged about on Twitter like those of us whose own penance homes include highspeed internet, and access to no-name snack mix.
It is not, however, a tale of cree-craw on the slee-slaw.
I have rights.
1. TERROR items
2. dried-up white dogshit
3. 80s-based pop culture references
4. an ending that drifts off into the sultry, fetid depths of Hades
5. cree-craw on the slee-slaw
I deducted one star from my review of ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST over the cree-craw/slee-slaw situation. The book contains none whatsoever: a shocking but perhaps forgivable misstep on Mr. Hackle's part, given world enough and time.
Anyway!
Something I've done a lot of during the pandemic is watch weirdbeard randos talk about their interests on YouTube. I haven't been lonely exactly, in my time of isolation, but I guess I've missed sitting in silence while somebody rambles on about the happenstances of his life, with no discernible interest in mine.
You know when you're watching people on YouTube, and you start to notice the stuff in the background, like dirty old cat barve that they never cleaned up, or a vacuum hose that's not connected to anything, or they organize their books by colour, or they seem normal but they have a huge sign on the door that advertises their commitment to the Cubs or etc.?
This one guy I've been watching, he has (amongst his Funko Pops and that) a fuckton of Garfield stuff. Garfield dolls of various sizes and in various costumes, Garfield place settings, Garfield stickers, Garfield books, Garfield clothes, tchotchkes, novelty appliances… here is a dude who if you offered him a used Garfield enema would be like MUH GOD! WAS IT USED ON GARFIELD???
And, like… what the fuck, man?
I was super into Garfield when I was eight or nine, but now that I'm old as fuck I understand that Garfield isn't even slightly funny on its best day--unless you count Garfield Minus Garfield, which this dude certainly does not--and also, it is criminally irresponsible to give even one bite of lasagna to a cat, okay, every single ingredient besides the noodles is toxic to cats, and nobody eats lasagna because they love huge flat noodles, you know?
I watched and watched this man's videos, and they weren't about Garfield, okay, they were about books and movies and social issues and politics, but they weren't about goddamn Garfield. His terrifying abundance of Garfield merch was just there.
LURKING.
So when I happened upon a video of his that was about Garfield, I was over-fucking-joyed, okay, by then I needed needed NEEDED to know what was up with his Garfield situation.
Why does he like Garfield so much? What is the appeal? He's an intelligent person with a sophisticated sense of humour, this fellow on YouTube, and yet, Garfield Garfield Garfield. How did it happen? What does it mean? Is it anything to do with the kid I saw on My Crazy Obsession who loves vacuum cleaners so much that he can identify make and model by the unit's sound?
The video is an hour long, and I was sober as fuck when I watched it, yet I came away from it no more enlightened than I was when I approached.
As I lay abed that night, I brooded, sleepless. Why Garfield?
WHY.
Then, The Tiny Voices asked: What if Garfield, but SHOWGIRLS? Because I own:
SHOWGIRLS on a special edition DVD that includes a trivia track and a fan's commentary
Two downloaded copies, one in The Cloud but also one local, in case North Korea blows up the internet
YOU DON'T NOMI, a SHOWGIRLS documentary
Framed SHOWGIRLS fan art
A SHOWGIRLS pin
The SHOWGIRLS coffee table book
A SHOWGIRLS colouring/activity book
A book of SHOWGIRLS poetry
A SHOWGIRLS nightlight
A critical analysis of SHOWGIRLS called IT DOESN'T SUCK
I saw SHOWGIRLS in the theatre during its original run. I've seen it at least a hundred times since then, and will watch it a hundred more, easily. I watch it every time it's on TV. Sometimes I put it on to help me fall asleep, it's that familiar and that beloved. I can quote every line, like some dork-ass Monty Python fan.
Yet, when a friend asked me "Why SHOWGIRLS?" recently, I was like "…"
Now: if you're a jerk, you might think this is all bringing you back to my love of Douglas Hackle. Actually, though, it's bringing you back to his new book, ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST: which is as good a story about inexplicable fandom as you're ever going to find, in your life.
The title refers to both a long-running "family" sitcom and its star, an actual poltergeist of mysterious origin, whose TV antics as an incorrigible stepfather include hours of real-time tedium, as well as shocking gore and bloodshed, often while his youngest stepson looks on, yearning to become a man, if you take my meaning, foppishly.
His real-life behaviour is your typical Hollywood story, more or less--far less objectionable than most of what he does on TV, but without a laugh track and a weekly reset, somehow less lovable.
OR IS HE!
And see? This is what I was getting at. Because not only has his show been going for fifty years, BUT he has a gigantic fanbase, including the book's protagonist, Jimmy: the bigtime Hollywood bodyguard/driver for an A-list sentient blob of chicken broth, and who's seen every episode of ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST countless times. That has to be what
50 years, say 22 episodes a year, that's 1,100 episodes, or 24,200 minutes, or 403 hours, or 16 days.
Again and again.
Jimmy loves ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST in that Garfield/SHOWGIRLS way. He's read every authorized and unauthorized biography of the spectral cloud o' junk countless times, has given its life and history more consideration than he's ever given his own. He used to write letters to it as a boy, hoping against hope that it might return his interest someday.
I'm not here to judge him, okay? That's God's job.
And that's how Jimmy ends up spending six months of his life in a reform cabin or etc. called Penance House, although he doesn't land there over his entertainment proclivities.
(Well, wait, that's not true. He does. But not those.)
I'm not going to give away the whole story, here, but I will say that Penance House is a place for sinners… AND ZOLTERGEIST THE POLTERGEIST IS NO SAINT!!!
Plus Mr. Hackle offers an excellent hamburgers lifehack…le.
It is a tale of love and obsession. A tale of transgression and redemption. A tale of leprechauns whose maternal provenance is embroidered on the backs of their wee little green velvet jackets, instead of whinged about on Twitter like those of us whose own penance homes include highspeed internet, and access to no-name snack mix.
It is not, however, a tale of cree-craw on the slee-slaw.
I have rights.
December 8, 2021
Every time I finish reading something by Hackle, I feel like I need to take my brain out and leave it in a bowl of warm soapy water followed by placing it in the fridge for a few hours before attempting to return to some level of sanity. Really enjoy this one.
June 16, 2021
Outlandishly Awesome!
Awwwwwww yeah! Man, I am down with anything this dude ever writes. It's always hilarious, horrific, and brilliantly-written entertainment. Highly recommended!
Awwwwwww yeah! Man, I am down with anything this dude ever writes. It's always hilarious, horrific, and brilliantly-written entertainment. Highly recommended!
June 14, 2021
Full Review
4.5 Stars
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is a hilarious headtrip of a novel that had me laughing every couple of pages. The lack of a strong plot and the seemingly random absurdities may be off-putting to some, but for people who want a goofy, fun, and sometimes horrifying read that leaves reality completely behind, this is the perfect novel. Shit’s janked-up as heck. Fuck!
4.5 Stars
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is a hilarious headtrip of a novel that had me laughing every couple of pages. The lack of a strong plot and the seemingly random absurdities may be off-putting to some, but for people who want a goofy, fun, and sometimes horrifying read that leaves reality completely behind, this is the perfect novel. Shit’s janked-up as heck. Fuck!
May 26, 2021
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist had me laughing, tittering, chortling, and popping out guffaws like nobody’s business, and it even had me dancing for some reason, like I was listening to the hottest new bizarro track out this summer. Your kids are going to love it. And so are you.
July 29, 2021
I loved this book! My first time reading Douglas Hackle and when I kept seeing suggestions this one just kept showing up and calling to me. I'm so glad I read it. It was horrificly funny. It's grotesque and definitely not for everyone but it was so good! I love Zoltergeist and the way the author "plays" an episode of Zoltergeist's show, it makes you wish there was a real series that you can turn on to watch. And I must say, the sentient beings got me at first. It took me a while to realize Clarp was ACTUAL broth🤣 but I loved it, the party and the funeral left me laughing so much! Hard to picture some things, and I swear the sentients in this book are hilariously outrageous and ridiculous it can sometimes be hard to picture them but its funny to try to. Wish I could read more of Zolty and Jimmy!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2021
I adored this book. Right from the start it had me alternating between laughing and scratching my head. I was not ready to say goodbye to the characters by the end, and now I’m having to constantly look over my shoulder in case the next TERROR should appear.
July 17, 2021
Man, I really dig this author's style. I wish I could write something like this. Absurdity at its finest.
February 25, 2024
This is the most bizarre book I have ever read. It's like an acid trip mixed with a fever dream. What a weird fun book.
March 26, 2024
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist was one of the most delusional books I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
This is why I absolutely love the bizarro subgenre— sometimes I wanna pretend I don’t have a functioning brain. I just wanna read and giggle in my bed.
And that’s what I did.
That’s all I did hehe :)
Have you ever felt like you did drugs without actually doing drugs? Would you like to try? Read Zoltergeist the Poltergeist.
Wanna become a random connoisseur on an alcoholic poltergeist from Chicago? Yes. I answered for you!
Do you like leprechaun erotica? Mhmm.
How would you feel if you were damned to a place of penance because you masturbated to your favorite band as a kid? Take me to the Penance House!
Does any of this make sense? Absolutely not.
I can’t even give a description of the book— it’s just so out there, like really far— in the beyond somewhere.
If Douglas wrote this sober, he’s actually fucking brilliant because how?! Overactive imaginations are truly a real thing.
But, I had a blast with Zoltergeist— so unnecessary, so entertaining, and overall a really good time. This was my first book by Hackle, and I’ll absolutely be picking up some more of his work in the future.
I’m gonna be walking around saying the phrase “janked up” for like the longest time, so thanks for that. *hard eye roll*
This is why I absolutely love the bizarro subgenre— sometimes I wanna pretend I don’t have a functioning brain. I just wanna read and giggle in my bed.
And that’s what I did.
That’s all I did hehe :)
Have you ever felt like you did drugs without actually doing drugs? Would you like to try? Read Zoltergeist the Poltergeist.
Wanna become a random connoisseur on an alcoholic poltergeist from Chicago? Yes. I answered for you!
Do you like leprechaun erotica? Mhmm.
How would you feel if you were damned to a place of penance because you masturbated to your favorite band as a kid? Take me to the Penance House!
Does any of this make sense? Absolutely not.
I can’t even give a description of the book— it’s just so out there, like really far— in the beyond somewhere.
If Douglas wrote this sober, he’s actually fucking brilliant because how?! Overactive imaginations are truly a real thing.
But, I had a blast with Zoltergeist— so unnecessary, so entertaining, and overall a really good time. This was my first book by Hackle, and I’ll absolutely be picking up some more of his work in the future.
I’m gonna be walking around saying the phrase “janked up” for like the longest time, so thanks for that. *hard eye roll*
January 12, 2023
Up until 80% of the book or so, Zoltergeist the Poltergeist was a not so good nor bad story. It did have so good parts, including some great laughs and some good bewilderement. I had to scratch my head most of the time, looking for hidden deep meaning, but that's no secret it's what I like to do while reading 😜
And then, after I turned 80%... What The Living Hell...? Er? Da F**k?! If stuff way weirder than Phil's Collins' "In the Air Tonight" drum fill riding on a Dalí horse chasing a poltergeist seems something you can handle well... Give it a try...
I think I had a constant grimace the entire last part of this errr "thing" (for I lack of words, really) ...
I don't get it... But I laughed so much while retelling my spouse about it Zoltergeist the Poltergeist gained one more star, easy 😆
And then, after I turned 80%... What The Living Hell...? Er? Da F**k?! If stuff way weirder than Phil's Collins' "In the Air Tonight" drum fill riding on a Dalí horse chasing a poltergeist seems something you can handle well... Give it a try...
I think I had a constant grimace the entire last part of this errr "thing" (for I lack of words, really) ...
I don't get it... But I laughed so much while retelling my spouse about it Zoltergeist the Poltergeist gained one more star, easy 😆
March 26, 2024
I'm not really sure what in the Ambien induced fever dream I just read, but I'm fairly certain I enjoyed it. Maybe. I'm just...going to have to swirl this one around in my brain for a bit. 5 stars for doing what it was supposed to, though!
July 12, 2021
I received a paperback copy of Zoltergeist the Poltergeist, authored and published by Douglas Hackle, cover art by Hauke Vagt and cover design by Megan Moss, for review consideration. What follows below is my honest review, freely given.
I rated this novel 5 stars. Not going to lie, this may be the bizarroist bizarro novel I have read to date, so when I say it takes the cake (and does illegal things to it), you may feel the need to take it with a grain of salt, but seriously….this f*cked the cake.
Jimmy is our human MC. I make that distinction because there are sentient broths and leprechauns in this version of Earth, among odder things. Some definitely harder to conceptualize into living entities than others; does it go by level of belief? Sense of self-awareness? It also had me asking all sorts of unnecessary questions about Clarp Chessler’s (sentient broth) film career. In ‘The Savoriest Broth In The World’, does ingesting him count as a sex act or a type of cannibalism? And that’s my safest question to share with this review, people!!
This is not a book to read if you offend remotely easily, you won’t like it. I’m not in the mood to see your fake outrage and terrible review ranting about how you had no idea there would be so much masturbation and gutter speak; I warned you here! The depravity, violence, abrupt plot twists; read the room tw*twaffles. This is Hackle’s world now, and it’s dividing by zero while ingesting copious amounts of your mamma's LSD, not any of this weak ass modern sh*t. I was torn between having the time of my life and being irrevocably tainted by what I read in Poltergeist, so a perfect bizarro read, right...Right?
Yep, perfect.
I rated this novel 5 stars. Not going to lie, this may be the bizarroist bizarro novel I have read to date, so when I say it takes the cake (and does illegal things to it), you may feel the need to take it with a grain of salt, but seriously….this f*cked the cake.
Jimmy is our human MC. I make that distinction because there are sentient broths and leprechauns in this version of Earth, among odder things. Some definitely harder to conceptualize into living entities than others; does it go by level of belief? Sense of self-awareness? It also had me asking all sorts of unnecessary questions about Clarp Chessler’s (sentient broth) film career. In ‘The Savoriest Broth In The World’, does ingesting him count as a sex act or a type of cannibalism? And that’s my safest question to share with this review, people!!
This is not a book to read if you offend remotely easily, you won’t like it. I’m not in the mood to see your fake outrage and terrible review ranting about how you had no idea there would be so much masturbation and gutter speak; I warned you here! The depravity, violence, abrupt plot twists; read the room tw*twaffles. This is Hackle’s world now, and it’s dividing by zero while ingesting copious amounts of your mamma's LSD, not any of this weak ass modern sh*t. I was torn between having the time of my life and being irrevocably tainted by what I read in Poltergeist, so a perfect bizarro read, right...Right?
Yep, perfect.
February 20, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👻🍀🩸🐘
Wow! What a CRAZY ride. This was my first Bizarro Fiction novel and I wasn’t disappointed!
Follow Jimmy as he spends way too much time repenting for a minor infraction ‘sin’ in a place called “Penance House.” There’s not a lot to do at Penance House besides watch his favorite show, Zoltergeist the Poltergeist, avoid the demon upstairs, chase the leprechaun in the meadow and run for his life when ‘the shifting thing’ comes around. That is until his favorite actor himself, Zoltergeist, shows up to repent for his own sins and turns the flow of life in Penance house upside down.
This book was hilarious. This book was gorey. This book was disgusting. And I loved it. There were times that I laughed so hard I could barely catch my breath and other times where I felt a shudder of fear roll down my spine. Reading this book was like watching an episode of Family Guy and you’re going “oh my god that’s awful…but it’s still hilarious!”
I recommend this book for people who like genuinely bizarre things and a lot of profanity. 😅
👻🍀🩸🐘
Wow! What a CRAZY ride. This was my first Bizarro Fiction novel and I wasn’t disappointed!
Follow Jimmy as he spends way too much time repenting for a minor infraction ‘sin’ in a place called “Penance House.” There’s not a lot to do at Penance House besides watch his favorite show, Zoltergeist the Poltergeist, avoid the demon upstairs, chase the leprechaun in the meadow and run for his life when ‘the shifting thing’ comes around. That is until his favorite actor himself, Zoltergeist, shows up to repent for his own sins and turns the flow of life in Penance house upside down.
This book was hilarious. This book was gorey. This book was disgusting. And I loved it. There were times that I laughed so hard I could barely catch my breath and other times where I felt a shudder of fear roll down my spine. Reading this book was like watching an episode of Family Guy and you’re going “oh my god that’s awful…but it’s still hilarious!”
I recommend this book for people who like genuinely bizarre things and a lot of profanity. 😅
June 15, 2021
One of the funniest, immensely enjoyable and exceptionally well written books I have read in years. I’ve read most of Mr. hackles works and this now stands out as my favorite!! TM is a very very close second!!
February 10, 2024
Jimmy's boss, sentient broth Clarp Chessler, asks Jimmy to drive him to the nearest Church in Vegas because he's been a very spicy broth. Clarp tells Jimmy to go to confession, too, and Jimmy hits the Penance Jackpot! Consigned to the Penance House for six months, what's a Zoltergeist the Poltergeist fan boy to do when his idol shows up, too?
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is so much fun to read! The parts of the show that Douglas included were really reminiscent of old 90's sitcoms, and I loved the stupid humour in the segments! I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this. Jimmy's interactions with the characters in town had me dying of laughter!
Everything that kept happening was so whacky, and I kept asking myself what could possibly happen next? Would someone's jawbone get ripped off then put in a rather interesting place? Would mannequins come alive and marry an amorphous toothy blob? Would someone get cursed with an unfortunate smell for all eternity? I never knew what was going to happen, and that uncertainty made this an absolute wild ride of a story!
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is so much fun to read! The parts of the show that Douglas included were really reminiscent of old 90's sitcoms, and I loved the stupid humour in the segments! I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this. Jimmy's interactions with the characters in town had me dying of laughter!
Everything that kept happening was so whacky, and I kept asking myself what could possibly happen next? Would someone's jawbone get ripped off then put in a rather interesting place? Would mannequins come alive and marry an amorphous toothy blob? Would someone get cursed with an unfortunate smell for all eternity? I never knew what was going to happen, and that uncertainty made this an absolute wild ride of a story!
February 9, 2024
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
Have you ever wanted to read a book about a hard-drinking poltergeist with his own sit-com? How about sentient broths? A book containing hot, thick, pearly, candy-sweet trouser gravy? (So much trouser gravy.) Have I got the book for you! Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is so much fun, and absolutely hilarious. It's ridiculous in the best way. Lloyd Kaufman would be proud. 4.5 stars
Have you ever wanted to read a book about a hard-drinking poltergeist with his own sit-com? How about sentient broths? A book containing hot, thick, pearly, candy-sweet trouser gravy? (So much trouser gravy.) Have I got the book for you! Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is so much fun, and absolutely hilarious. It's ridiculous in the best way. Lloyd Kaufman would be proud. 4.5 stars
February 27, 2024
I heard this book was considered "Bizzaro Horror". And this book lives up to that description. I'm not going to give out to many spoilers, but at times I kept thinking of Svengoolie and his weekly show with the little TV episodes, but with far more graphic scenes than his show has. We follow Jimmy, who loves the show and is made to stay at an old "Penance" house and winds up getting Zoltergeist as roommate!!! This book had me going.. 😲... But a lot of 😂!!!
March 27, 2024
This was my first time reading bizarro horror and boy, what a ride! I don’t even really know how to describe it. Despite being completely batshit insane, there is still depth to the characters and story. It’s definitely bizarre but still follows a solid storyline.
I laughed a LOT. I don’t think there’s really anything to critique because the whole thing was nonsensical so nothing there to point out.
I definitely will check out further bizarro horror in the future.
I laughed a LOT. I don’t think there’s really anything to critique because the whole thing was nonsensical so nothing there to point out.
I definitely will check out further bizarro horror in the future.
February 28, 2024
Rated between a 2.8 - 4.4 stars
I daresay this book was janked up as heck!!
It’s like if you smoke waaaaay too much weed and do shrooms and drop acid all at the same time and trip major balls but not in the good way….in the weird slightly terrifying way that leaves you with PTSD and physical twitching for life. Everyone should read this and be like wtf at the end. Thanks!
I daresay this book was janked up as heck!!
It’s like if you smoke waaaaay too much weed and do shrooms and drop acid all at the same time and trip major balls but not in the good way….in the weird slightly terrifying way that leaves you with PTSD and physical twitching for life. Everyone should read this and be like wtf at the end. Thanks!
March 6, 2024
I’m not sure what I just read, but I enjoyed every minute.
March 31, 2024
Bizarro Horror is the genre and bizarre is right! This was the most random and absurd book I’ve ever read. Surprisingly, I couldn’t put it down. Wild, fun, entertaining, janked-up, and ridiculously weird
November 15, 2024
If Douglas Adams and Salvador Dali collaborated, but arrived in a foul mood on the day of writing - the surreal and bizarro, horrifically funny and horrifically grotesque Zoltergeist the Poltergeist would be the outcome!
Jimmy ‘wins’ the Penance Jackpot, his ‘prize’ is to atone daily for his sins in Penance House. Never fear, his laptop has every episode of a Horror-Comedy Sitcom that has been Jimmy’s obsession since childhood. If only the main actor, a real poltergeist, wasn’t such a di@k, this could be the opportunity of a lifetime. But with a leprechaun with only one hobby, a forbidden room, and the locals comprised of the weird and wonderful - Sh*t was a janked-up as heck. F#*k!’.
I have been searching for years for an author to fill the Douglas Adams gap in my life, and I think I’ve found it in Douglas Hackle! The MC’s stream of consciousness narrative is wonderfully interspersed with his descriptions of the TV show. Like Adams, this is jam packed with surrealist humour, but with fantastically horrific descriptions. Utterly fabulous!
Thank you Douglas Hackle for the ePub. This is my honest review.
The cover of Zoltergeist the Poltergeist by Douglas Hackle shows a serene countryside. At the foreground a red devil mask atop a purple cape billows in the wind as an invisible figure rides a Penny Farthing.
Jimmy ‘wins’ the Penance Jackpot, his ‘prize’ is to atone daily for his sins in Penance House. Never fear, his laptop has every episode of a Horror-Comedy Sitcom that has been Jimmy’s obsession since childhood. If only the main actor, a real poltergeist, wasn’t such a di@k, this could be the opportunity of a lifetime. But with a leprechaun with only one hobby, a forbidden room, and the locals comprised of the weird and wonderful - Sh*t was a janked-up as heck. F#*k!’.
I have been searching for years for an author to fill the Douglas Adams gap in my life, and I think I’ve found it in Douglas Hackle! The MC’s stream of consciousness narrative is wonderfully interspersed with his descriptions of the TV show. Like Adams, this is jam packed with surrealist humour, but with fantastically horrific descriptions. Utterly fabulous!
Thank you Douglas Hackle for the ePub. This is my honest review.
The cover of Zoltergeist the Poltergeist by Douglas Hackle shows a serene countryside. At the foreground a red devil mask atop a purple cape billows in the wind as an invisible figure rides a Penny Farthing.
April 8, 2024
This is only the second time I've read a book that is categorized as bizarro and weird fiction, so I'm still learning whether or not this genre is of interest to me. With that in mind…
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is a very weird and outlandish story about a guy who gets sent to Penance Hell (at the risk of going to hell if he refuses), this old farm in the middle of nowhere. When he arrives, there are no guests but him. But there are strange sights and rules, including an apparent leprechaun outside and a dangerous room in the house that must be avoided. Eventually, TV star Zoltergeist the Poltergeist arrives at Penance House as a guest, as well. Jimmy is beyond excited because he idolizes the foul-mouthed actor.
This is just a basic synopsis because to describe this book much further would reveal what little story there really is. Mostly, I found this novel to be a bunch of randomness shoved together. I'm fine with weird, but there should be more of a story structured around it. But what we have here is very small when compared to all the filler surrounding it. Which is a shame, because so much could have been done with the delightful premise.
Let me talk about what I liked first. The premise is unique and entertaining, despite its need for more substance. I like the idea of someone being sent to a prison-like place to atone for their sins, only to have a wild TV actor join them (and one that they worship, no less). I'm down for all that. I'm even cool with all the fantasy and supernatural characters that exist in this universe like they're normal and belong alongside us (including the Poltergeist, the leprechaun, some living mannequins, and a limo “person,” to name just a few). The general store with TERROR BOOTH was a high point for me; I definitely liked that setting and its occupants. For a while, the priest that sentenced Jimmy keeps calling and messing with him, which I enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the ultimate randomness throughout this novel, coupled with its annoying dialogue and childish/crude actions, really drove me up the wall. For example, during the first half the book, Jimmy repeats horrible phrases like “janked-up” and “dusty-ass.” For a while, the chapters were always ending with “Shit was janked-up up as heck. Fuck!” There were other lines and jokes that I did not find funny or amusing that got repeated a bunch during the first half of the book, as well. Luckily, these things petered out during the second half.
The dialogue was a major frustration for me. Jimmy is supposed to be in his mid-forties but he talks and acts like a 13 year old. I could never get past that. The whole book, I was driven mad by the way he and everyone else talked and acted in this book. I understand it's supposed to be absurd but it was also incredibly annoying, like having a little brother acting foolish around you wherever you go.
Honestly, I could continue to gripe about the things I didn't like about my time reading this one but I hate to review books that way. There's an audience for everything, so let's focus on what I can say in recommending Zoltergeist the Poltergeist.
So, here are my takeaways for readers interested in the weird and bizarre:
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is incredibly weird and out there. It's an acid trip and a fever dream combined. It's wild, it's quirky, it's energetic and packed with (what I would call) sidequests and stories. It's a good way to unwind or even exercise your anger through the fictional actions of others. It has a fantastic premise with a lot of potential and room for silliness. It's well-written. The production value is there, so the book looks good. If you just need to turn off your brain for a while and find something lacking seriousness, this is the book for you!
I think I will try Douglas Hackle once more with Terror Mannequin.
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is a very weird and outlandish story about a guy who gets sent to Penance Hell (at the risk of going to hell if he refuses), this old farm in the middle of nowhere. When he arrives, there are no guests but him. But there are strange sights and rules, including an apparent leprechaun outside and a dangerous room in the house that must be avoided. Eventually, TV star Zoltergeist the Poltergeist arrives at Penance House as a guest, as well. Jimmy is beyond excited because he idolizes the foul-mouthed actor.
This is just a basic synopsis because to describe this book much further would reveal what little story there really is. Mostly, I found this novel to be a bunch of randomness shoved together. I'm fine with weird, but there should be more of a story structured around it. But what we have here is very small when compared to all the filler surrounding it. Which is a shame, because so much could have been done with the delightful premise.
Let me talk about what I liked first. The premise is unique and entertaining, despite its need for more substance. I like the idea of someone being sent to a prison-like place to atone for their sins, only to have a wild TV actor join them (and one that they worship, no less). I'm down for all that. I'm even cool with all the fantasy and supernatural characters that exist in this universe like they're normal and belong alongside us (including the Poltergeist, the leprechaun, some living mannequins, and a limo “person,” to name just a few). The general store with TERROR BOOTH was a high point for me; I definitely liked that setting and its occupants. For a while, the priest that sentenced Jimmy keeps calling and messing with him, which I enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the ultimate randomness throughout this novel, coupled with its annoying dialogue and childish/crude actions, really drove me up the wall. For example, during the first half the book, Jimmy repeats horrible phrases like “janked-up” and “dusty-ass.” For a while, the chapters were always ending with “Shit was janked-up up as heck. Fuck!” There were other lines and jokes that I did not find funny or amusing that got repeated a bunch during the first half of the book, as well. Luckily, these things petered out during the second half.
The dialogue was a major frustration for me. Jimmy is supposed to be in his mid-forties but he talks and acts like a 13 year old. I could never get past that. The whole book, I was driven mad by the way he and everyone else talked and acted in this book. I understand it's supposed to be absurd but it was also incredibly annoying, like having a little brother acting foolish around you wherever you go.
Honestly, I could continue to gripe about the things I didn't like about my time reading this one but I hate to review books that way. There's an audience for everything, so let's focus on what I can say in recommending Zoltergeist the Poltergeist.
So, here are my takeaways for readers interested in the weird and bizarre:
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is incredibly weird and out there. It's an acid trip and a fever dream combined. It's wild, it's quirky, it's energetic and packed with (what I would call) sidequests and stories. It's a good way to unwind or even exercise your anger through the fictional actions of others. It has a fantastic premise with a lot of potential and room for silliness. It's well-written. The production value is there, so the book looks good. If you just need to turn off your brain for a while and find something lacking seriousness, this is the book for you!
I think I will try Douglas Hackle once more with Terror Mannequin.
July 7, 2021
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist by Douglas Hackle is a story that will make your head spin, laugh out loud, and at times find normalcy in bizarre scenarios. Douglas was kind enough to send me a copy in return for an honest review. I really would like to thank him for the generosity, and the opportunity to read.
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is a tale surrounding a gentleman named Jimmy who has just won the Penance Jackpot when his boss Clarp forces him to go to a confessional in Las Vegas. The jackpot? A nice long stay at Penance House in Ohio, and it is less desirable than a vacation. Jimmy encounters many strange things including a leprechaun! However, he holds on by indulging in his favorite pastime by watching old episodes of Zoltergeist the Poltergeist, and reading a biography about Zoltergeist.
Jimmy’s dream comes true when he hears that Zoltergeist has won the penance jackpot as well! Wouldn’t you know it that Zoltergeist will be arriving at the same Penance House he is at! What ensues from beginning to end is mind bending. I definitely feel like fans of Chuck Palahniuk will really love this story.
Overall, I give Zoltergeist the Poltergeist by Douglas Hackle three demon masks out of five Penny-Farthing Bicycles. Douglas writes really well, is entertaining, and definitely has a vivid imagination. I did find myself laughing a lot, but I did have to put the book down every now and again. I felt like I needed a bit of a breather from the insane story. That is not to say that it was not good, and I highly recommend it to those who like offbeat stories. In fact I plan on sending my copy to a friend. It’s definitely worth checking out! Until next time, my friends.
Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is a tale surrounding a gentleman named Jimmy who has just won the Penance Jackpot when his boss Clarp forces him to go to a confessional in Las Vegas. The jackpot? A nice long stay at Penance House in Ohio, and it is less desirable than a vacation. Jimmy encounters many strange things including a leprechaun! However, he holds on by indulging in his favorite pastime by watching old episodes of Zoltergeist the Poltergeist, and reading a biography about Zoltergeist.
Jimmy’s dream comes true when he hears that Zoltergeist has won the penance jackpot as well! Wouldn’t you know it that Zoltergeist will be arriving at the same Penance House he is at! What ensues from beginning to end is mind bending. I definitely feel like fans of Chuck Palahniuk will really love this story.
Overall, I give Zoltergeist the Poltergeist by Douglas Hackle three demon masks out of five Penny-Farthing Bicycles. Douglas writes really well, is entertaining, and definitely has a vivid imagination. I did find myself laughing a lot, but I did have to put the book down every now and again. I felt like I needed a bit of a breather from the insane story. That is not to say that it was not good, and I highly recommend it to those who like offbeat stories. In fact I plan on sending my copy to a friend. It’s definitely worth checking out! Until next time, my friends.
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