Processed Cheese

September 16, 2019
The disappointing latest from Wright (Going Native) takes place in an alternate reality much like the current world, except that every place, every brand name, almost every proper noun has morphed into something bizarre. The “Eyedropper” building provides a view of “ReadyToWear” river; all the characters have outlandish names like BlisterPac, DelicateSear, and Graveyard. One day a giant bag of money falls out of the sky, and Graveyard picks it up and takes it home. Now he and his wife, Ambience, are fantastically wealthy, and they proceed to spend their fat stacks on bottles of “LaughFrogg,” a “HomoDebonaire” car, a “LampLighter 505” gun, and anything else they could possibly desire. But of course the money really belongs to someone else—a horny corporate titan named MisterMenu, who sends his goon BlisterPac to track down the bag’s whereabouts. Graveyard and Ambience retreat to the farm country of Randomburg, but BlisterPac is hot on the trail. Various subplots and asides about Graveyard’s disaffected siblings SideEffects and Farrago add some depth to the hollow main characters. But this hypersexualized, hypercommercialized surreal world never feels consequential or any less absurd than the characters’ names or circumstances. Wright’s goofy postmodern tale of money, sex, and guns is imaginative but trivial.

Narrator Robert Petkoff continues to demonstrate he's in the top rank of performers with this strange take on money and what people will do once they get it. Imagine a bag of cash falls at your feet as you walk along a city street. Petkoff gives protagonists Graveyard and his wife, Ambience, wry and comic tones as he rattles off all the wondrous possessions and adventures they can have now that serious money has fallen into their hands. Petkoff's take on this sly review of contemporary life is notable for perfect pacing that allows the listener to marvel at what money means to some people today. Petkoff's performance of this bleakly comical satire is affecting, funny, and sad. R.O. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

July 1, 2020

A big bag of money falls from the sky nearly hitting Graveyard, who proceeds to take it home to his wife, Ambience. Mr. Menu, out one of his many big bags of cash, sends one of his minions to reclaim his lost dough. Graveyard and Ambience go on the world's largest spending spree, finally able to have everything they've always wanted: cars, guns, games, jewels, and clothes, as well as sex, travel, and time with friends and family. Dope, sandwiches, shoes, assault rifles, cities, and more all have clever, darkly humorous names. This device is amusing once or twice, but considerably less so in repetition. This satirical novel features plenty of sex, murder, car chases, and shootouts, though ultimately, a conclusion that isn't remotely satisfying. VERDICT This audio, though given an excellent reading by Robert Petkoff, is recommended with extreme reservations for listeners who like their fiction wacky and dark.--Cliff Glaviano, formerly with Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH

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