Book Review: John Dies at the End by David Wong

There's a new drug in town and it seems to be driving people insane. Or perhaps it is only opening portals to another reality. Let's face it... It is hard to say exactly what is happening when a strange new substance that is hard to say "no" to, "Soy Sauce", hits the streets of an undisclosed town somewhere in the Midwestern United States. Our intrepid if somewhat unenthusiastic heroes, Dave and John, are tasked with saving not only the world but our very reality from the evil forces of Korrok.

Throughout the story the somewhat level headed David Wong tries to make sense out of the madness while his insouciant friend John "Cheese" seems to be determined to go deeper and deeper into the insanity. Despite Dave's reluctance, the "Soy Sauce" drags him along for the ride. Along the way the dysfunctional duo encounter exploding dogs, phone calls from the future, fake Jamaicans, a man made of cockroaches, a police officer who looks like Morgan Freeman, ghosts and demons... And then there is also some weird stuff.

While John tries desperately just to mind his own business after running across the new drug at a party where John's band has played, his friend delves deeper and deeper into the chaos that is a "Soy Sauce" high. As time warps and alternate dimensions bloom, the two become minor celebrities while stumbling through a series of misadventures that do not always make a lot of sense, especially to them. But in the end (while John doesn't exactly die but then doesn't exactly not die) everything is wrapped up in a neat little package, albeit with a tentacle or two protruding out the sides along with maybe a chunk or three of something that looks vaguely like raw meat.

Written sort of like a shaky camera film, the book is authored by "David Wong" (who is really Cracked .com Senior Editor Jason Pargin). John Dies At The End began as online serial that around 70,000 people read it before it was removed in late 2008 following the release of a paperback edition of the novel in 2007. The book has developed a strong cult following and movie rights have been acquired by Phantasm mastermind Don Coscarelli. There is also a sequel planned possible to be called John and Dave and the Fifth Wall. So does this mean John did not actually die at the end? Read the book and find out!