Tom Lucas

What starts out as a slightly left-of-centre pastiche of Encyclopedia Brown meets the Hardy Boys, it takes very little time for it to devolve into an incredibly dark Cyclopean Nightmare meets Lovecraft and Bierce and Chambers.

Lucas does a fine job of initially building a book that seems like it's going to be a fun little romp with some smart, yet clueless kid detectives, but his skill as an author and the way he ultimately breaks the fourth wall to make this as nightmarish as possible?

It's show more just impressive as all hell. I wasn't sure about this book when I started, but man, I absolutely loved it by the end.

And the illustrations? They just add that little bit of extra fun to the proceedings.

My one complaint is, there's literally no grandmas in this book, nor is there any Pie of Despair, half-eaten or not. Bummer! show less

Titanus is a Veritassian, an alien that is ten feet tall, has four arms, can only speak the truth, and can grow and shrink any part of his body at will. ANY part (being that this is a bizarro book, I'll leave that bit up to your imagination). When his son is “kidnapped,” the kidnappers force him to enter a galactic gladiatorial contest featuring lots of weird aliens that could only spring from the mind of a deranged lunatic.

Tom Lucas' Pax Titanus tells this story and tells it well. Then show more again, this book isn't for those looking for a terribly in-depth story. The real feature of this book is the increasing amounts of alien carnage and detailed fight scenes to sate the reader's inner blood lust. The story is more there to move the action along.

The characters are quirky, from Titanus' inability to tell a lie to his wife (who's a squid) communicating by secreting emotional ooze based on what she's feeling. Right? Right. The book is the usual short length for an entry in the New Bizarro Authors Series. In this case, that works well. Lucas is forced to economize and doesn't waste any time on extraneous details. He focuses on what's important and gets to the point, which prevents the reader from screaming, “Get to the point!”

Graphic, violent, and simple, Pax Titanus still holds charm and does have a surprise ending. While this type of book isn't always my cup of tea, it was still a fun read that kept my attention and does make the inner child squeal with joy at the copious amounts of mindless violence. Or is that just me? My inner child might be a little disturbed.

If I have a main complaint, it's that this book could have used another pass the editor. Basic mechanical mistakes bug me enormously and are a pet peeve, and I have to knock the book down a little for that.

An enjoyable and short read that reminds one of a summer action flick, Pax Titanus definitely scratches a certain itch, although admittedly it may not be an itch that everyone has. If you like excessive amounts of literary violence not counting those brutal writers' conferences, then Pax Titanusis definitely worth your time.

Pax Titanus by Tom Lucas earns 4 out of 5 bludgeoned skulls. show less

This was certainly an interesting book and change of pace from my normal reading. At first I thought that if was a fun and engaging read for young adults. I liked the characters and quirkiness of the story. The bit of mystery and easy reading of the book kept me engaged.

As I continued reading, the voice of the author became apparent. The book turned a bit less “kidish.” I still enjoyed the fast paced, easy read of the book. Even as an adult, I liked flipping to the back to read a bit show more more about the chapter. That was a fun feature.

Overall, readers who enjoy a bit of a bizarre, unpredictable, fun read would enjoy this. show less

This is an intelligent and original work that is in your face and highly entertaining. It offers satirical yet sobering insights into the “idocracy” of modern society. A perceptual Pandora’s Box cracks open as one gets a sense of being transported into a surreal, video game-like, sci-fi world, where consumption and confusion rule. You’ve got to be in the mood for it, kind of like spicy Mexican food, otherwise it might overwhelm you with its cilantro-y goodness. Speaking of which, show more let’s talk about food—fast food, which is the underlying plot line for this sci-fi parody of our super-size culture. The story opens with a sleazy snake oil salesman who immediately grabs you by the throat and shoves his remedies right down it. This leaves you dizzy and suddenly in the middle of a bizarre burger war between a parallel universe Mickey D’s and BK. Lucas paints a wildly vivid portrait of a General Mac Donald, who has gone rogue. The heretic clown builds an insurgency against the self-centered, yet lovable despot, The King, who’s the ruler of the Village. Determined to depose his nemesis and take over the throne, the General enlists the help of a once innocent and idealistic young Soldier. Together with the Soldier and a cast of off-beat characters such as Fr. Everhard the meek yet lurid priest, and Peter, that creepy, awkward guy at the office, Leather will captivate enthusiasts of pop culture and science fiction aficionados who have a penchant for dystopia and wry humor. Filled with great passages and catchy quotes, the writing conveys deep thought all the while remaining tongue-in–cheek. Multiple narratives buckle you into a cerebral roller coaster ride through this Bardo that keeps readers on their temporal toes! show less