The Pisstown Chaos: A Novel

By David Ohle

Book Overview

"Mesmerizing . . . a vivid world, both familiar and foreign, dark and slyly humorous, makes the book a grim delight" (Publishers Weekly).

One family finds themselves forceably dislocated in the midst of chaos, disease, and forced-relocation. Political power seems to be solely in the hands of one Reverend Herman Hooker, an "American Divine" who revels in the peoples' suffering as they are "shifted" (separated from--and then randomly coupled with--one another) by decree every five years. There are up-shifts, down-shifts, and side-shifts, but no attempt to make harmonious pairings. Chaos rages on as parasitic infestations spread and the Reverend rules with an iron fist from his Templex headquarters, spouting platitudes to the ever-moving masses. The final book in the trilogy that began with Motorman and its sequel, The Age of Sinatra, The Pisstown Chaos is a wild end to the cult favorite series.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0979663679
• ISBN13: 9780979663673
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Catapult
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

glorious endless disgust

But it, but don't expect Motorman to happen again, take fresh eyes to this book. Standing alone, The Pisstown Chaos follows the efforts of the Balls family to reunite through some absurd bureaucratic relocation programs. At times a metaphor and spoof of contemporary America, it also delves into it's entirely own reality with a sort of future nostalgia. Ohle really gets gritty with well described anal swabbing, forced mating of half-dead humans, mining for tooth-gold, deteriorating bodies, and intentionally faulty parachutes. At times brilliant, Ohle delicately disgusts through elegantly composed language. It is striking at times how accepting all of the characters are of their situation. Like a slightly more self reflective Moldenke, the Balls family has a lot to work out. Buy this one, read it, be sure to read motorman, give both to your grandmother for the holidays.