PSEUDOCITY

published by Raw Dog Screaming Press

(2005)

ISBN-10: 1933293020

ISBN-13: 978-1933293028

review by Garrett Cook

08.23.09

D. Harlan Wilson’s Pseudocity is not a place, it is a state of mind. Like Hell or New York (if Billy Joel is to be believed, and usually he is). The same can perhaps be said of the Bizarro genre, that it is more a way of perceiving literature and culture than a genre. Pseudocity collects many of Wilson’s stories, all of which are somewhat connected by being a product of this place, this state of mind. They are witty, Kafkaesque and often hilarious. Sometimes they are an appropriate entry point for the Bizarro genre (“Synchronicity”, “Hairware, Inc.") other times they are the hard stuff, stories that might be better appreciated by seasoned readers of Bizarro. This is the third book by Wilson that I have read and I regret to say it is my least favorite. I cannot in good conscience say that the fiction here captures the power of Wilson’s intellect and talent as much as his novel Dr. Identity or his novella “Peckinpah.” Pseudocity is a nice place to visit, but unlike these other worlds, I wouldn’t wanna live there.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Second review of Pseudo-City by Adam Armstrong

9.3.09

This is the way everything should be.

Pseudofolliculitis City is an immense metropolis of the bizarre. Facial Hair is sold as pets. Interpreting inkblots is a profession. The founder of the city is a few steps past crazy. Meetings are held to talk about meetings (which is not too abnormal and quite commonplace where I work my day job). A thumb sticks out of the concrete and no one knows why. Fictional characters come to life to kill reality television stars. College professors are encouraged to kill their students but not to hug them. Air guitarists duel in public. A super hero fights against anti-capitalism. Autopsies are performed on living people to give them some perspective. And this is only a handful of the story plots in this book.

I loved this book! Wilson has a beautiful command of words and it is instantly recognizable that he enjoys seeing what he can do with language. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the more satirical stories and fascinated by some of the stranger things to see where he’d go with them. The only thing that was a little hard to swallow was so much strangeness piled on top each other. Everyone should buy this book but space it out and enjoy it slowly.

5 out of 5