religious satire – Author Anthony Avina

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A teen in the early 90s helps punk gurus form a mock religion in author Michael S. Gatlin’s “Delightmares”.

The Synopsis

It’s 1994. Kurt Cobain has just died. Nineteen-year-old poet and ex-carnie Martin Hemlock has moved to Nashville, where he quickly befriends His Assholiness Pope Jas and Chuckie The Plague. Martin helps these two punk-rock gurus start a faux religion: The First Interplanetary Church of The Immaculate Deception. The goal is to make a mockery of all organized religions, and begs a question—is nothing sacred worth a damn?

As the church grows in size and infamy, recruiting more followers of Chuckie called Plaguists, religion turns to war on two fronts. Martin must navigate Nazis, preachers, and murderous Vanderbilt kids in Cadillacs, all while giving outrageous sermons and throwing the wildest parties imaginable. On top of all that: will Martin ever sell enough acid to make it back to Chicago?

Jack Kerouac meets Charles Manson in this wild story from Michael S. Gatlin.

The Review

What a compelling and thoughtful read! The author perfectly captured the fervor and issues that many organized religions face in their practices and beliefs. The satire and wit that the author’s writing style brought to life on the page were vibrant and alive, perfectly capturing the book’s tone and setting of the 1990s.

The character development and themes of the narrative really stood out. The protagonist’s journey and the way this mock religion explodes allow the exploration of religion, the politics of this era (and, in reality, our modern day as well), and human sexuality and how society treats it to become prominent in the story. The atmosphere of rebellion and striking out against organizations came through.

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, compelling, and engaging author Michael S. Gatlin’s Delightmares is a must-read satirical novel. The narrative’s twists and turns and the protagonist’s insightful, humorous, and shocking commentary on such powerful themes make the book one that readers will return to many times. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Michael S. Gatlin is a fifty year old pirate, still surfing the seas of adventure. He owns and operates Owl & Whale, a bitters / cocktail consulting company in Portland Maine. He moved there from New York City where he owned and operated the restaurant / bar Verlaine on the Lower East Side. He moved to New York from Montana where he cleared trails for the National Park Service. After high school Michael joined a traveling carnival and drove from Vancouver to Quebec City operating a reverse bungee jump ride known as The Ejection Seat. After that he helped start a mock religion known as The First Interplanetary Church of The Immaculate Deception. His first book has just been published. Delightmares is about his time spent in Nashville helping that gang of punk rock misfits assemble a faux cult.