Loved it.

This may be my new second favorite book, replacing Rendezvous Eighteenth by Jake Lamar, and putting it squarely behind Erasure by Percival Everett.

What could easily stand by itself as a great story is made even more interesting by a unique and novel presentation. For instance, the chapters are told from the perspectives of the different characters, taking into account those characters' characteristics, if that makes sense. Hence, the illiterate Ogre's chapters are written with a child-like style that attempts to spell words out phonetically (these chapters are thankfully short), and the wannabe Caribbean's speech is written in a dirty patois.

The two main characters are two best friends, Hamza and Yehat. They are young, honorable, and clearly gifted. Very likable young men. Much like someone else I know (wink wink) Without giving away too much of the plot, let's just say that these two young men are interested in the things that young men are interested in the things that young men are interested in, and they end up doing just what you might think. (There's a woman involved.) I even found shades of myself and my best friend there.

One caveat - this book is definitely a work of science fiction. If you're not into this type of thing, you'll still enjoy the book, but more than a few comments will DEFINITELY go over your head. However, be not discouraged. It's still a great romp of a read.

I look forward to Minister Faust's next offering.

If you meet him, try to get him to tell you the real reason they are called...The Coyote Kings.

Know What I'm Sayin'??