"A Button-Pusher That Will Keep You Smiling"
Review by Bufo Calvin
for the I Love My Kindle Blog
26 Jun 2010

   Science fiction can be profound, using a speculative framework to show us the deepest secrets in our collective psyche, and to perhaps serve as a warning of what our worst natures may bring, and an inspiration as to how the human imagination can bring about a better existence.

   Or, you know, it can be silly and full of puns.

   The Twiller, by David Derrico, is very solidly in the second camp.

   While the author claims in his foreword to have “stolen” the funny parts from Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, I’d say it is more of a Gulliver’s Travels for the 21st Century.

   While there are certainly elements in common with Adams (an odd fascination with terry cloth, for one), the book’s hapless hero (Ian Harebungler) travels to a variety of “lands” (planets, in this case), each a parody of a part of the United States. They also all have social commentary, although presented in a thoroughly inoffensive, whimsical manner.

   For example, an alien society has political candidates whose political favor is openly purchased by special interest groups: to the extent of wearing corporate logos in “some bizarre combination of a business suit and a race-car driver’s outfit” and working commercials into their speeches.

   When our nominal hero confronts an alien (who has been paid by its employer to be at a rally…in fact, its entire job is to support candidates on behalf of the corporation), they argue about the relative benefits of openly purchased politicians and the kinds of donations we see in American elections. The alien exclaims:

   “Your planet must be backwards if the purchasing favorable legislation isn’t even all out in the open!”

   It’s that sort of thought (and discussion) that moves it more into Swiftian territory for me. Oh, perhaps not with the universal themes of the classic work, but there is that flavor.

   Whimsy, though, is also a key element. Here’s a description of a hostile spaceship:

   “The ship looked as if it were the sort of ship that was perpetually ready to pounce at any other starship, asteroid, or planet it saw, and as if it very much desired to do a wide range of not very nice things to whatever it pounced upon. It always looked as if it were at the end of a very bad day, the sort of Tuesday afternoon that just dragged on with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.”

   I think that gives you a good feel for it.

   It reminded me of some of the Oz stories (where they wander from one punny land to another), some of Arthur Byron Cover (the Platypus of Doom came to mind), and Daniel Pinkwater (The Snark-Out Boys).

   Speaking of Pinkwater, who writes books classified as children’s stories, this book is also listed in the children’s category…but I can’t imagine it appealing very much to a ten-year old. I doubt the Sisyphean task of reviewing commas in contracts is going to amuse your average kid.

   However, it is nice to note that there isn’t anything inappropriate for ten-year olds. You could probably hear all of the language on the Disney Channel (cr*p is as bad as it gets), and except for the unfortunate use of the word “retarded” as an insult (I’d say “stupid” could have served just as well), there really isn’t anything offensive. Snarky, perhaps, but the overarching goal seems to be the production of mirth.

   One other point: I know some of you are reluctant to try self-published books because of a concern about proof-reading and such. Relax: The Twiller is as error-free as any novel from a traditional publisher that I’ve read. The author also understands formatting for e-books: the clickable Table of Contents is in the back (and reachable through the menus), which is also where you’ll find the author bio. Why is that better? So you can get a better sample. You can also flick right (on any Kindle except a Kindle 1) to move forward through the parts of the book…a convenience many large publishers seem to ignore.

   The paperback lists this as Volume 1, so perhaps we’ll see more of Ian Harebungler and his companion, The Twiller. I’m sure that will depend in part on you, the reading public, and how well-received it is.

   So, if you are looking for a light and airy entertainment, a popcorn book with an intergalactic setting, The Twiller is a button-pusher that will keep you smiling.