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Black Rock City Mysteries #1
The Man Burns Tonight: A Black Rock City Mystery
"JACK RABBIT SPEAKS"A tall figure stands alone, waiting to be engulfed in flames. It is the Burning Man, the giant wooden centerpiece of Nevada's famous weeklong arts festival. Every year, thousands flock to the middle of the desert to push the limits of creativity and outrageousness. Dex Edden is not one of them. A computer programmer, Dex has come to the wild and wooly festival only to please his boss. Out of the blue, he will be a witness to murder.
When a masked visitor enters the RV where Dex and his boss are camped out, Dex's tiny oasis in the middle of the weird and unnerving festival scene is shattered in a moment of blinding violence. Now Dex is wanted by the killer, who fled into the desert -- "and" by the police. For Dex, survival depends on blending in with the oddballs and eccentrics in an alien landscape. For on the final, fateful night of Burning Man, the flames will rise -- and the masks will come off....
When a masked visitor enters the RV where Dex and his boss are camped out, Dex's tiny oasis in the middle of the weird and unnerving festival scene is shattered in a moment of blinding violence. Now Dex is wanted by the killer, who fled into the desert -- "and" by the police. For Dex, survival depends on blending in with the oddballs and eccentrics in an alien landscape. For on the final, fateful night of Burning Man, the flames will rise -- and the masks will come off....
- GenresFiction
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 26, 2005
About the author
Donn Cortez
36 books18 followersPseudonyms: Don DeBrandt & DD Barant
Donn Cortez is a pseudonym for Canadian author Don DeBrandt. Born in Saskatchewan, he currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to North America, his books have been published in Germany, France, Italy, and Russia. His influences include Spider Robinson and John D. MacDonald, among others.
He took a darker turn for The Closer, a hard-edged story about a serial killer hunting other serial killers.
His follow-up, The Man Burns Tonight (set at Burning Man) was more of a classic mystery. This was followed in rapid succession by five CSI: Miami tie-in novels and two CSI: Vegas novels.He has also contributed numerous pop-culture essays to BenBella’s SmartPop anthologies, on subjects such as Angel, Firefly, The Golden Compass, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, King Kong, the X-Men, Star Wars, and Star Trek.
He was the guest editor (as well as a contributor) to the essay anthology Investigating CSI.
Donn Cortez is a pseudonym for Canadian author Don DeBrandt. Born in Saskatchewan, he currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to North America, his books have been published in Germany, France, Italy, and Russia. His influences include Spider Robinson and John D. MacDonald, among others.
He took a darker turn for The Closer, a hard-edged story about a serial killer hunting other serial killers.
His follow-up, The Man Burns Tonight (set at Burning Man) was more of a classic mystery. This was followed in rapid succession by five CSI: Miami tie-in novels and two CSI: Vegas novels.He has also contributed numerous pop-culture essays to BenBella’s SmartPop anthologies, on subjects such as Angel, Firefly, The Golden Compass, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, King Kong, the X-Men, Star Wars, and Star Trek.
He was the guest editor (as well as a contributor) to the essay anthology Investigating CSI.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 20, 2010
Well, I *have* been to Burning Man - twice. That's why I was extremely curious about this book, because, as "burners" say- there is no one way to describe it.
Given the (non)fictional environment - the author does a really good job. Both of embedding a believable mystery, and of making Black Rock City and its myriad denizens believable.
The multiple characters capture well several (obviously not *all*) views of the festival, and Dex - poor clueless Dex - is the perfect fish-out-of-water (HA!) "virgin burner."
The author does a good job describing realistically the extreme climate, the necessary safety, the communal spirit, the insanity and the joy of what it means to survive Burning Man. And several perennial theme camps/exhibitions/personalities are described, so any citizen of Black Rock will recognize "home" (Draca, Thunderdome, Bianca's, Dr. Megavolt.)
Given the (non)fictional environment - the author does a really good job. Both of embedding a believable mystery, and of making Black Rock City and its myriad denizens believable.
The multiple characters capture well several (obviously not *all*) views of the festival, and Dex - poor clueless Dex - is the perfect fish-out-of-water (HA!) "virgin burner."
The author does a good job describing realistically the extreme climate, the necessary safety, the communal spirit, the insanity and the joy of what it means to survive Burning Man. And several perennial theme camps/exhibitions/personalities are described, so any citizen of Black Rock will recognize "home" (Draca, Thunderdome, Bianca's, Dr. Megavolt.)
September 4, 2019
Works more as an "intro to Burning Man" guide, with a side plot around a murder investigation (which you can NOT figure out by yourself, so don't even try). Just enjoy the ride, and then pass along to a Burning Man virgin so they can get their bearings.
May 30, 2011
B Okay, this book is cheesily written and I prob never would have read it if it wasn't for my love of Burning Man…but because of that, it was okay. It's a little silly at times, but really, he truly captures the essence of Burning Man. A boring guy is dragged to Burning Man by his assholic boss, who is murdered...and Dex is wanted for the murder of his boss - and being hunted by the murderer. Craziness!
July 12, 2019
This book is a fun read.
Silly, odd, a bit cheesy at times and of course farcical ridiculousness that is Burningman.
All the things that made my burns special. 2003 and 2006.
Silly, odd, a bit cheesy at times and of course farcical ridiculousness that is Burningman.
All the things that made my burns special. 2003 and 2006.
May 22, 2008
This was almost as good as going home again. I've been away from the Playa for two years and won't be returning until 2009, but it felt a little like I was back there when I read this book. Definitely a good read and mystery.
Want to Read
September 3, 2008I'm kinda torn as-to whether or not I want to read this. I am three-time burner (02, 05, 07), and of course the topic intrigues me. I'm not usually a fan of murder mysteries - but having said that, I haven't really read many so maybe I am and just don't know it. Hrm...
March 17, 2011
LOVED this book. I HIGHLY recommend it to people who are even mildly interested in the Burning Man phenomenon.
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April 14, 2008Thriller
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews