Jason Pargin

When a new drug called “Soy Sauce” is unleashed on a group of unsuspecting users, its effects start a mind-altering chain reaction that has those impacted wondering what’s real, who is Korrok, and what is his endgame. Creatures, alternate universes, and strange occurrences threaten friends John and Dave as they try to figure out how to save those they care about most.

Witty, strange, and well-written John Dies at the End starts promisingly enough as Dave sits down with journalist Arnie Blondstone to tell a fever dream-sounding series of events since ingesting “The Sauce.” The writing is imaginative, the banter quick-witted, and the dialogue is top-notch. Plotting, however, stalls a little over halfway through the novel.

The last forty percent or so is perhaps a few too many strange occurrences that made me wonder if there would be a resolution. I won’t say questions are answered in the end, but the story comes back around in a way that feels well thought out and interesting enough to pull me into the next novel in the series.

A fun read recommended for fans of The Tales from a Gas Station series, which is similarly humorous and horrific without the mid-novel lull. I’ll be taking a break from the John Dies at the End series before jumping into book two, but I’m curious what Dave and John might get up to next. 3.5 stars rounded to 4 for excellent writing.… (meer)

This is the fourth book in the series of comedy/horror novels that started with John Dies at the End, and the first Justin Pargin published under his own name (having, I believe, come to the conclusion that a white guy using an Asian pseudonym isn't super cool, even if he did adopt it for innocent reasons). If you've read the previous volumes, you probably know more or less what you're in for here, although I think maybe it does see the characters... well, I hesitate to say "maturing a little," because "mature" is not remotely the word you want to use for these people. But something like that, anyway. And if you haven't read the previous volumes, this one can be read on its own. There may be a couple of points that'll be a little confusing, but as the author himself notes in the afterword, having read the rest of the series is probably not actually going to make anything significantly less confusing. And that's okay! The confusing weirdness is part of the fun. And it is fun. Weird, and wacky, irreverent and sarcastic, and wild and fun, with some glimpses of thoughtfulness and heart beneath it all. Also, brain-hurting time travel, haunted toys, nihilistic teen nerds, and a monster made out of hair and tongues.… (meer)