Writing good comedy is not easy. I know, I’ve tried but author Frank Crimi appears to have hit upon the solution in this madcap tale of an apocalypse in Surviving Crazy. The author has created the most unusual and disparate group of characters his fevered mind could conjure up and the amazing thing is they work and they are funny together, especially their interactions. By drawing caricatures that are so much larger than life, he has created some hilarious slapstick, visual comedy but much deeper than that, he allows his characters to go beyond the slapstick and into more cerebral humor. This is a funny book in the “slap him on the head” style of comedy and that would be enough in itself but this goes deeper and explores the stereotypes and labels we place on people, how we make snap judgments and often allow our preconceived perceptions to pre-judge before we’ve even gotten to know the individual. I thought this made the narrative not only funny but an interesting exploration of the human condition. By subjecting these characters to the most horrendous situation any of us can imagine brought out the worst and, yes, occasionally the best in the human condition and psyche. To be able to do this in a story meant to make us laugh is an indication of the author’s talent and I must commend him for this. I loved this easy and funny read and can highly recommend it.
A bizarre cast of characters with a healthy dose of paranoia are forced to face an apparent apocalypse together in Surviving Crazy by Frank Crimi. With a long, character-building fuse and a whip-smart pen behind the imagery-rich writing, this novel hums with tension and possibility from the start. From doomsday preppers, moody fry cooks, and might-be Russian assassins, to mysterious damsels and an old ballplayer looking for one last shot at glory or purpose, Crimi does a remarkable job of weaving backstory into every strange scene. With secondary plot lines adding to the suspense, but never giving away the twist, Surviving Crazy is a head-scratching read that will make you laugh out loud and stay up late to see how it all plays out.
A fun, zany romp…
Crimi’s highly entertaining book follows a group of eccentric travelers as they navigate chaos and dangers in an apocalyptic world. As a newly appointed scout for Arizona Prickly Heat, the Major League Baseball team, Riley is on his way to his new place of employment when a massive solar eruption leaves the world plummeted into darkness. With the situation turning grave, Riley and few others must journey down a road to get to the small town of Jericho. But there is danger lurking in Jericho. Will the group be able to make it out alive? The tense plot takes many turns through Riley and others characters’ increasingly whacky adventures. This ingenious, humorous novel not only explores humanity’s ability to survive in exceptional circumstances but also probes the tenuous yet unbreakable bonds between strangers in the face of calamity. Crimi’s witty prose and emphasis on characterization result in a thoroughly engrossing, rib-tickling-funny read that lovers of both SF and literary fiction won’t want to miss.
"The expectation the car or lights or phones would suddenly come on was gone.... This was the new normal."
The book's hero, Riley Knight, is forewarned about the possibility of a doomsday event soon to happen. A prophet at the San Diego bar quizzed him about whether he had "any idea of the number of long-term globally fatal events" possible. Riley was pretty sure that survivalists were just a bunch of lunatics. That was before puzzling events cut short his trip while driving up to Jericho, a small town in Idaho. With the gas needle close to empty, Riley pulled his miniature rental car into Shea's diner and went inside to eat. Several others, including a woman and her crazy dog, had the same idea. This strange mixture of lives filled the small space. And then the power suddenly went out. Nobody's phone worked, and no car would start.
As pouring rain and the severity of the outage intensified shortages, others joined the group at Shea's. Parents arrived with two teenage girls going cold turkey from social media. A huge, naked gun-running creature was found half-frozen, whose strength eventually pulled others to safety. Friendships blossomed despite the crazy happenings.
The author packs his chapters with bizarre events, each as if by divine planning and timing. Strange names such as local Plucky Rooster franchises and Flying Tiger Scotch abound. Antagonists named Sheriff Quack and Captain Crunch each try to usurp control in these dire circumstances. With an unlikely team of twelve drawing together, the author presents an entirely new perspective on end-time scenarios. Readers should hold onto their hats in this fast-paced story. It is bursting with troublesome yet loveable characters who fill this tale with hyperbole, danger, and amazing camaraderie
