(Originally published 1997, Paperback edition 325 pages)
The protagonist of the story, Tucker "Tuck" Case, who is a pilot and not
exactly the brightest bulb on the planet, is also dealing with low
self-esteem issues. Before the story settles down on a remote, Pacific
island named Alualu, it is littered with quite a few colorful,
characters. Through a series of misadventures Tuck eventually winds up
on the dinky island. The place is inhabited by a modern medical
building, an airstrip, two odd "missionaries," six Japanese guards, over
three-hundred natives called the Shark People and a talking fruit bat.
Oh, and I almost forgot, a very old cannibal named Sarapul. If that
isn't strange enough, there's a god called Vincent who the natives
worship.
Mr. Moore reminds me of a literary version of the famed Coen Brothers who have created such odd, funny movies as Fargo and The Big Lebowski. I find the author's works very enjoyable simply because it's impossible to know how the story is going to unfold. Pretty much, it's the sky's the limit in Mr. Moore's hilarious novels. There is no taboo he isn't willing to skewer. Heck, I don't even assume that the main protagonist will not be killed somewhere in the middle of the story. The first two-thirds of this rollicking adventure is shrouded in the mystery as to why Tuck's faults are suited so well for being the island's pilot. The last third is wondering how it will be resolved.
The book had me laughing on page one and kept it up for the entire work. Mr. Moore certainly has a gift for colorful, hilarious prose. The author has become one of my go-to writers if I'm in urgent need of a light read that is chockfull of laughs. If you've never read a Christopher Moore novel, his fourth work is as good a place to start as any.
Mr. Moore reminds me of a literary version of the famed Coen Brothers who have created such odd, funny movies as Fargo and The Big Lebowski. I find the author's works very enjoyable simply because it's impossible to know how the story is going to unfold. Pretty much, it's the sky's the limit in Mr. Moore's hilarious novels. There is no taboo he isn't willing to skewer. Heck, I don't even assume that the main protagonist will not be killed somewhere in the middle of the story. The first two-thirds of this rollicking adventure is shrouded in the mystery as to why Tuck's faults are suited so well for being the island's pilot. The last third is wondering how it will be resolved.
The book had me laughing on page one and kept it up for the entire work. Mr. Moore certainly has a gift for colorful, hilarious prose. The author has become one of my go-to writers if I'm in urgent need of a light read that is chockfull of laughs. If you've never read a Christopher Moore novel, his fourth work is as good a place to start as any.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I
started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short
reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #329)
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