Lo Mein (book)
| Cover art for Lo Mein | |
| Author | Robert Eringer |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | |
| Cover artist | David Walker |
| Genre | Spy fiction |
| Published | 2000 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover, paperback) |
| Pages | 232 |
| ISBN | 1929175140 Search this book on  . |
| OCLC | 45015211 |
| 813/.54 | |
| LC Class | PS3555.R48 |
| Preceded by | Crinkum Crankum |
| Followed by | Parallel Truths |
Lo Mein is Robert Eringer's third work of fiction and the second novel to use Jeff Dalkin as the central character, with Crinkum Crankum being the first. Dalkin is a Bruce Willis lookalike with Tourette syndrome, involuntary four-letter outbursts betray his inner feelings towards various characters and institutions throughout the text. This novel, featuring a failed and despondent painter who turns to mass-murder to immortalize his art, garnered critique and consideration for Eringer's transition to writing fiction.[1][2][3][4]
Eringer draws from life experience as an investigative journalist and counter intelligence operative for plot stratagem. Eringer's life experiences include under-cover rendition attempts toward CIA defector Edward Lee Howard,[5] who purportedly died while the operation was in progress, and with field operations that concluded the FBI's manhunt case for the Unicorn Killer, who was successfully returned to the United States after numerous years as a fugitive.[6]
Summary/Content[edit]
Willard Stukey, a frustrated artist, resorts to mass-murder and sensationalism in his quest to immortalize his paintings. Stukey refers to his murderous tirade as a work of art; the victims include the Mickey and Minnie Mouse live-performance characters and innocent bystanders at Walt Disney World. As a fugitive, Stukey demands that his paintings be put on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, lest he will seek out and murder Donald Duck in furtherance of his goal.
Protagonist, Jeff Dalkin, is mistaken for the actor Bruce Willis throughout this narrative; his looks open many doors for him and even when offering his real name, he is presumed be Bruce Willis using an alias. Dalkin also suffers from Tourette syndrome, producing foul and colorful outbreaks triggered by the mention of certain organizations like the FBI and persons such as his initial employer, Michael Eisner. Dalkin possesses a condescending sense of humor, when asked why the FBI should provide Stukey's impounded work for evaluation by the Art Director at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Dalkin responds with, "Because he's Oz. And he demanded the witch's broomstick." Dalkin also enjoys making trouble for his lookalike, allowing people to believe that he is Bruce Willis and planting false rumors with the starstruck.
Initially, Dalkin works for Michael Eisner as a liaison with the FBI, Eisner is in damage control-mode. Stukey's trail has gone cold, but he manages to call the CNN news network, making demands and threats during live broadcasts. Dalkin is fired and Disney announces a 2 million dollar reward, but specifically excludes current and former employees. Incensed by Disney's announcement and bolstered by an appraisal valuing Stukey's paintings in the millions, Dalkin doubles-down with a risky plan to get rich.
Style/Genre[edit]
Resembling a 1950s style detective novel, Lo Mein is written in the third-person narrative chronologically, reporting on the concurrent activities of the major characters. The style lends to some remarkably short chapters, with 68 chapters in this 232 page book. The protagonist's Tourette Syndrome is purposely developed to the point of tedium; the reader is rewarded in the final chapters, where many of the book's characters are re-introduced to the reader through the use of the phrases that Dalkin has picked up along the way.
Publication[edit]
Lo Mein (2000) is Eringer's third fictional-work and his first novel published by Corinthian Books (ISBN 978-1929175222). Lo Mein, 232 pages, is available in hardcover and paperback.[7]
Reception[edit]
Lo Mein with its mass-murder and the protagonists' involuntary four-letter word invectives may not be suitable for thin-skinned readers. The overall reader response is favorable with the writing failing to meet the literary expectations of two of the more verbose reviewers.
Stephanie Perry, a self described, "...mild-mannered government employee by day and a ruthless book reviewer by night.",[8] completely pans Lo Mein. For Curledup.com, she writes, "Lo Mein is meant as a scathingly funny, razor-sharp indictment of media hype, the superficiality of the art world, and the soul-sucking greed that allows men to rationalize their most wicked deeds, but none of this comes through in the actual text."[9]
References[edit]
- ↑ Lewis, Mary Anne (1 May 2000). "Art and murder mix in 'Lo Mein'" (PDF). The Observer (Notre Dame). p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ Mataiobos, Leila P. (8 May 2000). "Book Review". University of Washington Ledger. p. 8. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ "Lo Mein". Google Books. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ "Review of "Lo Mein" by Robert Eringer". Rainbow Electronic Reviews. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ ALLEN, IAN (7 December 2009). "Writings by CIA defector Edward Lee Howard published". IntelNews.org. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
Eringer befriended Howard and, as part of the luring operation, commissioned the former CIA agent to write a book entitled Spy’s Guide to Central Europe. After Howard’s death, his unfinished book remained in Eringer’s possession. The former FBI agent has now decided to publish Howard’s writings, in several parts, on his blog.
- ↑ Eringer, Robert (10 March 2008). Ruse: Undercover with FBI Counterintelligence. Potomac Books. ISBN 9781597971898. Archived from the original (Hardcover and Kindle) on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2015. Search this book on
- ↑ "Lo mein / Robert Eringer: A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress". (1996). Washington, DC: Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Staff Bio: Stephanie Perry". Curledup.com. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ Perry, Stephanie (2003). "Lo Mein". Curledup.com. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
External links[edit]
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