Book Review: Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff - Page 2

But this story gets wilder and wilder. Along the way, we deal with serial killers, cryogenics, staged UFO abductions, winning lottery tickets, magical guns, secret messages transmitted through crossword puzzles, and a super-duper class of narcotics known as X-drugs. The plot never lags, and the sheer energy of the storyline is a marvel.

Ruff’s prose is perky and sometimes amusing, but rarely flashy. In short, the writing doesn’t get in the way of the unfolding tale. Yet, despite the comic book elements in the story, the narrative structure is not without its complexities. Jane Charlotte may be an unreliable narrator, and the question of Truth (again with a capital ‘T’) becomes as problematic as the supposed opposition between ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’ that drives the plot. Ruff is especially effective at creating an aura of mystery that constantly hints at a story behind the story.

Novels with manic plots often collapse at their conclusion. But Ruff keeps some of his best stuff for the end. The final pages deliver several more surprising twists, and the conclusion is quite satisfying. I’m not sure that Ruff ties up all of the loose ends -- in a story of this sort that may not be possible -- but he makes a valiant effort.

The Pulitzer committee will probably overlook this novel when they announce their nominations for the year. Books about Scary Clowns and Bad Monkeys rarely receive major awards. But Hollywood is probably paying attention. And the video game won’t be far behind. But this book will also have staying power, and should further expand Ruff's cult following.

Article Author: Ted Gioia

Ted Gioia is a writer and musician. He is the author of Delta Blues, The History of Jazz and, most recently, The Birth (and Death) of the Cool. You can follow Ted Gioia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/tedgioia.

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