After reading Josh Bazell's debut novel, _Beat the Reaper_, I had already regarded Josh Bazell as possessing a certain raffish charm since (aside from teaching me the word "autofemurectomy") it was clear that, as an author, he considered realism to be more of a very loose, lightly-penciled-in guideline rather than a strict narrative methodology. Still, I thought of Josh Bazell as more of a guilty pleasure rather than as totally irresistible.
However, after reading Josh Bazell's new book, _Wild Thing_, resistance is futile and I think I am totally in love with Josh Bazell.
1. Josh Bazell implies that he can deliver action and suspense, and he actually follows through.
Don't you hate it when a man promises you action and suspense and all you get are cardboard characters and lots of pedantic info dumps? Sisters, you probably don't need me to tell you that there are way too many guys who, no matter how many times a female reader says, "Show me, baby, don't just tell me," never manage to figure out what a woman wants, but *Josh knows*.
The story opens with a couple of teenagers necking at an isolated lake right before they are torn apart by an unseen someone--or something--and, before you can even say "bite me," there are wacko monster hunters, hopped-up methheads, a pair of redshirts named Del and Miguel, a friendly but stupid dog named Bark Simpson (Josh, you are so shameless!), not to mention our hero, an ex-hitman-turned-cruise ship doctor.
2. The main female character in the book is a punk paleontologist.
I never get tired of saying that: punk paleontologist.
3. There are frigging footnotes!
Also, an academic article written by the punk paleontologist and an extensive references reading list. It's as if Josh knows I'm a metasexual and that the way to my heart is through the paratexts.
4. Josh blinded me with science.
Okay, not really 'cause, hey, already blind here, but...science! If I referred to this book as science fiction, some people would probably argue with me, but this book has more science in it than a lot of science fiction I have read. lately, and, see above, footnotes.
5. While the hero-protagonist his an ex-hitman-turned doctor, he doesn't spend a lot of time doing the alpha-male strut.
Actually, his mantra is "I am one dumb fucking shithead." I can't help but think that, if there were more male characters who had the superpower of admitting when they fucked up, that real-life males would be more willing to accept the radical possibility that the penis is not an antenna which allows males to possess all the knowledge in the universe.
So, those are my five reasons why I love Josh Bazell.
Note: if Josh Bazell should happen to read this review, I just want to say that I am not one of those crazy stalker-types, really, swear.
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