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mikekaz's review
4.0
This novel is almost sacrilegious for perverting the child aspects of major holidays. In short, you shouldn't expect to think of any major holiday the same after reading this book. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are all key figures in this modern and very adult view of holiday figures.
The story focuses around Santa Claus who one year happens to spy the Tooth Fairy and who is then quickly seduced by her. Of course, Mrs. Claus finds out and is not too pleased by it. The rest of the story follows their lives as they naturally, or magically, evolve.
There was only two things that kind of rang wrong while reading the novel. The first was that near the beginning of the book Santa Claus seemed out of character at times; it got resolved in the story and it made sense but at the time it was a bit off. The other was the almost deux en machina ending of the book. Yes, it too made sense and flowed naturally but it was almost too easy. However the ride of the novel was definitely well worth it and is not something I'll ever forget. This is highly recommended to anyone with an open mind who doesn't mind their childhood memories being shattered for the adult world.
The story focuses around Santa Claus who one year happens to spy the Tooth Fairy and who is then quickly seduced by her. Of course, Mrs. Claus finds out and is not too pleased by it. The rest of the story follows their lives as they naturally, or magically, evolve.
There was only two things that kind of rang wrong while reading the novel. The first was that near the beginning of the book Santa Claus seemed out of character at times; it got resolved in the story and it made sense but at the time it was a bit off. The other was the almost deux en machina ending of the book. Yes, it too made sense and flowed naturally but it was almost too easy. However the ride of the novel was definitely well worth it and is not something I'll ever forget. This is highly recommended to anyone with an open mind who doesn't mind their childhood memories being shattered for the adult world.
xterminal's review
4.0
Robert Devereaux, Santa Steps Out (Leisure, 1998)
My reverence of Robert Devereaux's first novel, Deadweight, borders on the worshipful. After recently re-reviewing it, both one of my best friends and Devereaux himself e-mailed me and told me exactly the same thing: to get my hands on Santa Steps Out pronto. So I did (well, a little less pronto than I should have). They were both absolutely correct.
Make no mistake, this book will offend you. Any book containing scenes where Santa Claus cheats on his wife with the Tooth Fairy in the bed of a six-year-old (who's presently sleeping in it) while a voyeuristic Easter Bunny watches is bound to find some way to offend everyone. Most who brave the uproariously funny goings-on between the mythical creatures will probably end up offended by the moral to the story, as well; sometimes the truth hurts, eh? However, as should be obvious from Devereaux's afterword, "Making Light of Santa Claus," the various publishing renegades who championed this book from the completion of its final draft until its publication eight years later didn't show up just for the beer. Devereaux shows, once again, his ability to take the looniest possible situations, things so over the top they make scenes in Dan O'Bannon-scripted films look like documentaries, and still connive the reader into forming bonds. In Deadweight, we found ourselves empathizing with a corpse; here, we commiserate with Santa Claus. Think about it.
You may think I'm stressing this point a little hard, but, well, I am. This book is not for the weak of heart, stomach, eyes, arches, or any other body part. It's the literary equivalent of Peter Jackson's outrageously funny movie Dead Alive, but with far more emotional depth sprung upon the unsuspecting reader. Those intrepid few who find themselves at its gates and make it past the first fifty or so pages are in for a fantastic ride, and the rest are missing out. Certainly in the running for my top 25 (thank you, Amazon, for expanding the lists!) reads of 2002. ****
My reverence of Robert Devereaux's first novel, Deadweight, borders on the worshipful. After recently re-reviewing it, both one of my best friends and Devereaux himself e-mailed me and told me exactly the same thing: to get my hands on Santa Steps Out pronto. So I did (well, a little less pronto than I should have). They were both absolutely correct.
Make no mistake, this book will offend you. Any book containing scenes where Santa Claus cheats on his wife with the Tooth Fairy in the bed of a six-year-old (who's presently sleeping in it) while a voyeuristic Easter Bunny watches is bound to find some way to offend everyone. Most who brave the uproariously funny goings-on between the mythical creatures will probably end up offended by the moral to the story, as well; sometimes the truth hurts, eh? However, as should be obvious from Devereaux's afterword, "Making Light of Santa Claus," the various publishing renegades who championed this book from the completion of its final draft until its publication eight years later didn't show up just for the beer. Devereaux shows, once again, his ability to take the looniest possible situations, things so over the top they make scenes in Dan O'Bannon-scripted films look like documentaries, and still connive the reader into forming bonds. In Deadweight, we found ourselves empathizing with a corpse; here, we commiserate with Santa Claus. Think about it.
You may think I'm stressing this point a little hard, but, well, I am. This book is not for the weak of heart, stomach, eyes, arches, or any other body part. It's the literary equivalent of Peter Jackson's outrageously funny movie Dead Alive, but with far more emotional depth sprung upon the unsuspecting reader. Those intrepid few who find themselves at its gates and make it past the first fifty or so pages are in for a fantastic ride, and the rest are missing out. Certainly in the running for my top 25 (thank you, Amazon, for expanding the lists!) reads of 2002. ****
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