The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad
by Minister Faust
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Book Summary Information
Author: Minister FaustEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-08-03
ISBN: 0345466357
Number of pages: 531
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad
Book Review: Smooth style, sharp wit, and food for thought.
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first ran into this book at the library, I just had to take it home. Any author with the stones to name a book "The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad" probably has the writing skill to back up the title. I was right. Minister Faust has undeniable literary skill. I don't believe that this book will ever end up on Oprah's book club list, and I prefer it that way. This book is one that opens your eyes to new possibilities.
Minister Faust is skillful in his mixing of different genres throughout this work. The characters are very aware of real-life current events, but it doesn't read like the author is trying to smack you over the head with any particular ideology. In fact, one of the strengths of this book is that it allows different moral inclinations to coexist without stamping a strong judgment on any of them. Faust reminds us that despite the fact that many in the world prefer to think in terms of black and white, there is plenty of gray out there.
Being a bit of a geek myself, I loved many of the geeky references (and character sheets) throughout the book. At times, though, I wished that there were some sort of "Pop Culture Reference Appendix" at the back of the book. For example, I had never heard of FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI, the Inventor Of Afrobeat, before reading this book. It's not that I don't want to know more. In fact, I'd love an easier way to delve into these references. I suppose that wikipedia does a good job filling in the gaps, but I usually read books when I'm away from the computer, and sometimes it's tough to keep a running list of "cultural references that I didn't get the first time around". I blame myself for not getting some of these references, since I grew up in the monogamous Midwest of the United States.
That brings me to another point- Minister Faust's description of Edmonton, Alberta is so compelling that I often wish that I could stroll those same streets and see life through the eyes of the Coyote Kings once again.
OK, I've ranted and raved, but I haven't even brought up the plot OR the characters.
The plot could be described as a mix of present day fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, allegory, and a sprinkling of romance, mixed up and baked into a delightful whole. Each of the elements feels right, though I never would have guessed the recipe before opening the book. The two main characters remind me a little of Dante and Randal from Clerks, insofar as each of them is mired in a dead-end job that doesn't truly define them, but allows them to search for fulfillment outside or their "careers".
Hamza and Yehat truly are a dynamic duo, and I'd love to read more about them if their adventure ever continues. Bravo.
Summary of The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad
Hamza and Yehat are The Coyote Kings?best friends, one a disgruntled dishwasher and the other a video store clerk, but each brilliant in his own right. Yehat builds prototypes of space-age inventions in his spare time, while Hamza, a former English honors student who was kicked out of the university, writes lush, lyrical poems when he?s not blocked?which, these days, is nearly always.When the gorgeous, mysterious Sherem shows up in E-Town decked out in desert finery, Hamza?s creative spark is ignited. Who is this sophisticated woman that speaks arcane African tongues, quotes from obscure comics and Star Wars movies, yet seems somehow too ethereal for the world Hamza inhabits? And what is the lost artifact that she and a cast of coiffed collectors and criminal cultists so desperately seek? As Hamza falls blindly in love with Sherem, little does he know that he and Yehat play the biggest part of all in the recovery of the ancient relic?and in the future of all living beings. . . .
What do Edmonton, D&D, cannibalism, Star Wars, comic books, ancient African mythology, black culture, drugs, organic food, magic, and television shows have in common? They all play important roles in The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad, a zany, stylish, and fun novel. Coyote Kings, the debut by Edmonton writer, teacher, and radio host Minister Faust, has a large cast of characters but mainly follows two roommates--Hamza, a former graduate student who's been reduced to working as a dishwasher, and Yehat, a video store clerk who invents insane gadgets in his spare time. They're stuck in a rut of self-pity and going nowhere real slow when a mysterious woman shows up and seduces Hamza by quoting his favorite comics and sci-fi films. (The only problem: she may not be human.) Before long, the three are caught up in a quest for a magic artifact, but they're not the only ones. Arrayed against them is a wide assortment of characters--including an old romantic rival of Hamza's, drug dealers who peddle a mystical high, and a former Canadian Football League player with aspirations of immortality--all with their own plans for the artifact. The action takes the cast through the streets of Edmonton and to Drumheller, where an ancient, startling secret is revealed.
The originality of the plot of Coyote Kings is only half the appeal of the book. It's also strong on characterization--the story is told entirely in first person, from the perspectives of all the major players involved--and culturally hip without being pretentious. For instance, the characters are introduced with D&D-style character sheets listing their vital stats--Hamza's alignment is "SF (general), ST (original series), SW, Marvel, Alan Moore +79." You can't help but appreciate style like this, even if you're not a geek. But if you are a geek, it doesn't get any better than Coyote Kings. --Peter Darbyshire
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