George King's Reviews > Edit Generation

A welcome shot in the rear!

I really enjoyed Joel Lacivita's second novel, a robbery gone bad that turns into a sci-fi thriller along the way. He succeeded admirably in getting inside his characters' heads, particularly George, a university professor and body builder extraordinaire; and Brittany, a sexy criminal with designs on George and the American Dream. Because their thinking was often at cross purposes, the author also succeeded in creating a great deal of amusing dramatic irony. I found myself laughing frequently at the contrast between the sophisticated George and the more naive, dull-witted low-lives and nerds that pepper the plot. Lacivita's allusions to high culture and pop culture added another layer of impressive detail to the narrative as did his sensory details, which made scenes come to life with sights, sounds, tastes, and smells. I liked the science fiction element embodied by the quirky and charismatic Sparks--in fact, I found myself turning the pages faster as this part of the story kicked in with the strange birds, enigmatic hamster, and Asian villainess. My favorite character was George, with his preening, butt shots, and air of superiority--at least in his own swollen head!