The Next Adventures of Guy
by Norm Cowie
Published by Dramur Publishing
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Reviewed by Vanessa Lee
Every fantasy fan knows that there are certain elements a quest must have. There’s always a sorcerer, a warrior, an elf, and some pretty cool special effects. They also usually have sequels, which is where The Next Adventures of Guy comes in. It’s the sequel (though it stands alone quite well), complete with all the required elements–plus the suddenly helpful younger sibling, in the form of Guy’s kid brother, and a replacement for their out-of-commission warrior.
This time the threat is aliens and big oil, somehow (sort of) working together to bring the world to an end. Guy and his friends are the only ones who know about the impending invasion, and if they can’t stop it, the aliens–and big oil–will win.
That’s a tragedy Guy has to prevent even though he doesn’t believe it’s really happening.
Cowie deftly takes the group through a series of crazy encounters, deftly exposing real-life absurdities with every step. Everything is outrageous, yet it all rings true. You’ll nod and laugh at the exaggerated absurdities. You’ll cheer as Guy and his buddies do the things that most everyone wants to do yet no one dares. You’ll live vicariously through the characters and wish that Guy could “unbelieve” some powers for you as well.
The Next Adventures of Guy is humorous fantasy at its best, with that little twist of wackiness that will make it appeal to fans of writers like Christopher Moore. Eating or drinking while reading this book is not recommended. Neither is reading it in a public place, unless you don’t mind the strange looks you’ll get from passers-by as you laugh out loud.
This is a funny book, but more importantly, it’s a fun book, one that is a delight to read and leaves you smiling long after you’ve set it down. I’d love to see more from Cowie and hope that he brings us back to this humorous universe. Guy and his buddies definitely need more adventures.
Armchair Interviews says: A fun and funny book rolled into one excellent fantasy.
Author’s Web site: http://www.NormCowie.com