RECENT REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS
100 Years of Vicissitude
Andrez Bergen
Exquisite writing, this Ghost-of-Christmas-Past tour of the events of 20th-century Japan through the eyes of a geisha dragging along a crusty old tyrant in a purgatorial afterlife. Took me a long time to get into, with all its Japanese terminology and fragmented scenes, but it picked up about halfway through as the threads began tying themselves together. The two have an interesting rapport, her ageless beauty and endless romantic encounters contrasted with his elderly impotence in being forced to observe them. She needles and bewitches him, as is her professional companion nature, living much more freely, despite being thrust from one tragedy to the next—a survivor.
Being a fan of the author’s previous novel (in which said tyrant is the “final boss” antagonist, albeit a mysterious one), I’d hoped we’d explore more of his past in this book, but it’s 90% hers. Him being the narrator, of course, we do get to pull back the curtain on his personality, sad as it may be. Bergen exhibits his diverse skills here, as I’d never have guessed these two books were written by the same person. ~ Gordon Highland, Author of 'Flashover'
100 Years of Vicissitude
Andrez Bergen
Andrez Bergen’s novel pulls a neat trick. It is not actually about its protagonist, Wolram E. Deaps. Instead, it is the mysterious geisha, Kohana, which the story focuses on. The story uses her tumultuous life to explore the recent history of Japan. I should mention that the novel starts after Wolram and Kohana are dead. Bergen uses the “life flashing before your eyes” routine to great effect. The novel is a series of vignettes as we track through Kohana’s past and Wolram complains.
This is essentially a character study of two very different people and the many small tragedies that make up a life. The characters are strong enough that about halfway through the novel, the big, important historical events stop being the focus, and the characters take the center stage. I loved this transition. I found the characters compelling and amusing. Both are deeply broken (and dead), but they are able to come to grips with their horrible pasts.
There is one problem that I had with the book. There was a tendency, especially during the first half, for the prose to get very complicated. I love all kinds of writing, but this got a little over done. There were passages that were more complex and hard to read than they needed to be. This wasn’t a deal breaker, but it is a real hurdle, in the sense that once you make it far enough, it is smooth sailing. There is no jumping involved.
Ultimately, I liked where the book was going the entire time, and by the end, the writing was much simpler. This really is a sweet story about two people. Sometimes, that is all you need to tell a good story. This is definitely a book that rewards your patience. I’m glad I stuck with it, and I think you will be, too.
Three Fugu Livers out of Five ~ Ben Rhodes , Fanboy Comics
Condimental Op, The
Andrez Bergen
"An anthology in the loosest definition, genre-wise, this is a broad-minded pulp aficionado’s dream. It roves through quirky crime fiction, Biggles-style boys’ own fantasy (with tongue definitely in-cheek) and seriously sad, moving sci-fi dystopia. Mostly, however, I was struck by Bergen’s voice. While this does come across in the stories and the articles, it’s most prevalent in his frank, honest, funny interludes between the entries. No surprise that the man is a journalist, since it’s a fitting analysis and makes The Condimental Op a surprisingly flowing package of different jewels." ~ THE PULP BRAGGART
Condimental Op, The
Andrez Bergen
Welcome to the first posting of The Pulp Braggart, my replacement site for the currently defunct Fractious Fantasy… which I sometimes felt restricted the areas in which I could roam. By looking, instead, at pulp I can rove through fantasy as well as science fiction, detective fiction, action, adventure, and so on.
In fact my first posting here was going to be a reevaluation of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, published in 1993 by American writer/filmmaker Sherman Alexie through Atlantic Monthly Press, compared and contrasted with the original TV show (1949 to 1957) starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. What better way, I felt, to prove my pulp chops?
This was before a book titled The Condimental Op fell my way.
Yes, that is a deliberate play on words, if you know your Samuel Dashiell Hammett. Hammett’s hardboiled detective The Continental Op made his debut in an October 1923 issue of the pulp bible Black Mask magazine.
90 years later Australian writer-based-in-Japan Andrez Bergen has the cheek to reference and tinker with Hammett’s iconic title. Does he get away with it? In spades – one of the reasons Bergen effectively pushed former Texas Ranger Reid and his native American sidekick off the dinner table of this page. But don’t worry, they’ll return in a future posting; I’m already humming “March of the Swiss Soldiers”, the finale of Gioachino Rossini‘s William Tell Overture.
Instead, here I’m going to serve up a dish best served any which way you prefer, since it so effectively appeases all tastes: Bergen’s aforementioned The Condimental Op, a new book that will be out in July 2013, through British-based publishers Perfect Edge Books.
It’s an anthology in the loosest definition, since the 300+ pages here explore diverse forms of media including the written short story (the bulk of the book), along with comic book art, high-brow visuals, comedy, articles (about Japan, music, earthquakes and film), and a glance at Bergen’s ulterior career subtitling Japanese anime. In the bio notes at the back of the book I note that he’s worked with Mamoru Oshii – the director of The Pulp Braggart favorite Ghost in the Shell.
Genre-wise, this is a broad-minded pulp aficionado’s dream.
It roves through quirky crime fiction (the opening story “Sugar & Spice”), Biggles-style boys’ own fantasy, with tongue-definitely in-cheek (“Victor Victoria”) and seriously sad, moving sci-fi dystopia (“In-Dreamed”). I very much enjoyed the cheeky spotlight on Akira Kurosawa‘s favorite actor Toshiro Mifune (Yojimbo) and the hilarious spotlights on Japanese cultural icons.
Mostly, however, I was struck by Bergen’s voice.
While this does come across in the stories and the articles, it’s most prevalent in his frank, honest, funny interludes between the entries. Here Bergen has done something quite unique in that he’s stitched everything together with a running commentary that places everything in context – very much like the DVD extras commentary people like to watch.
No surprise that the man is a journalist, since it’s a fitting analysis and makes The Condimental Op a surprisingly flowing package of different jewels. The anthology is now available for pre-order through Amazon.
By the way, Bergen confesses that some of this material relates to Bergen’s previous novels (Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat and One Hundred Years of Vicissitude). I’ve read neither and this was in no way an issue to hurdle. However, the anthology did inspire me to unfurl my napkin and go dine on both those books.
The Condimental Op also struck me as a fitting way in which to launch The Pulp Braggart, since it covers such a wide range of styles, much in the way I would also like to do here. ~ László Löwenstein, THE PULP BRAGGART
100 Years of Vicissitude
Andrez Bergen
It’s a tad hard to discuss 'One Hundred Years of Vicissitude' as its plot follows on from from 'Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat' and to discuss it in length would be quite a spoiler for it. But I’ll give it a go.
The story of 'One Hundred Years...' features the antagonist of 'Tobacco...' finding himself on a journey through Purgatory, accompanied by Kohana, a young geisha. At first it seems to be all about her, but as they journey through her memories and her past, intermixed with scenes of moments from Japan during WWII, he learns that he must understand Kohana’s life in order to understand his own life/afterlife and finally be able to forgive himself.
It’s great that we get to learn more about the character from 'Tobacco...'. It gives us a chance to understand him a bit more. He is even a kind of What If? of Floyd, ie, what if Floyd didn’t have his moral compass? He would still be as witty and charming but for different, and perhaps even nefarious goals. He would in effect be much the same as the 'One Hundred Years...' protagonist. Kohana is also a great character, and they play well off of each other, like the classic comedy duos or an even odder Odd Couple. But despite the wittiness it is also full of heart and is an emotional journey, and I challenge anyone not to be moved by its ending.
Due to the themes of the story, the writing style is quite different to 'Tobacco'. Floyd’s usual pharmaceutically-induced state often lead to periods of hyper reality, but 'One Hundred Years' is more of a dream-like world that is constantly shifting, and requires a different prose style to accommodate it, and Andrez delivers – mostly. Which brings me to my only negative with the book. The plot is quite complex and the interesting writing style is quite clever, but is a little too haphazard. It almost requires the reader be sequestered in a darkened room in order to concentrate on it, not on a packed train, which is where I do most of my reading. It took me 2 read-throughs to fully appreciate how brilliant this book is and that may annoy some readers. But that being said it is definitely worth the effort so if you are finding it a bit of a hard slog, my advice is to keep at it. You will be rewarded.
The word ‘vicissitude’ basically means ‘change’ and no book I have read personifies this more than One Hundred Years. As I said, it can be a challenge, but it is worth every second, and I guarantee it will stay with you long after you’ve finished it.
4.5/5 ~ Nerd Culture Podcast
Condimental Op, The
Andrez Bergen
'The Condimental Op' (a riff on 'The Continental Op' by Dashiell Hammett) is a collection of short stories, comics, art, and articles, and serves as a kind of DVD Bonus Features for his work, especially 'Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat', with cover art by his 6 year old daughter Cocoa.
I love this sort of thing. I’m mad for Special Features. Want proof? I bought the blu-ray of 'Prometheus', a film I hated, just because it had a great collection of special features and I wanted to see if they redeemed the film in any way (they didn’t).
My favourite short story here is 'Victor Victoria', a Biggles-ish type romp. Great stuff. Followed closely by 'Revert to Type', which features Andrez’s "Investigators of the Paranormal and Supermundane", Roy & Suzie (who also show up in a couple of other stories).
It also includes some pieces on living in Japan, and if you’re interested in Andrez’s career as a musician (as Little Nobody), you’ll be happy that he writes about the music industry as well.
Overall, 'The Condimental Op' is not as essential as his novels 'Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat' and 'One Hundred Years of Vicissitude' but they do make a great package together, much like a DVD boxed set, and help round out the Andrez Bergen experience. ~ NERD CULTURE PODCAST
Condimental Op, The
Andrez Bergen
"Andrez Bergen's writing is bursting with madcap energy. His protagonists are wry wisecrackers, his plots are zany and his stories proceed at warp speed to Planet Pulp, where the noir is served on the rocks with a dash of wildly inventive fun. Pour yourself a measure of The Condimental Op and find out for yourself." ~ GUY SALVIDGE, author YELLOWCAKE SPRINGS
Condimental Op, The
Andrez Bergen
"Andrew Bergen is a talented, talented man. 'The Condimental Op' is a little bit superb. You know how collections can feel compressed? Not this - the perfect read for a sunny weekend. I mean, what a way to kick off a short: "Rankine lifted his head off the floor and peered at his gut, at the blood pumping out of the big hole in his shirtfront, running down the sides and creating a huge puddle on the carpet. “Crap,” he muttered." ~ JONNY GIBBINGS, author MALICE IN BLUNDERLAND
Condimental Op, The
Andrez Bergen
"Andrew Bergen is a talented, talented man. 'The Condimental Op' is a little bit superb. You know how collections can feel compressed? Not this - the perfect read for a sunny weekend. I mean, what a way to kick off a short: "Rankine lifted his head off the floor and peered at his gut, at the blood pumping out of the big hole in his shirtfront, running down the sides and creating a huge puddle on the carpet. “Crap,” he muttered." ~ JONNY GIBBINGS, author MALICE IN BLUNDERLAND
Angel Falls
Michael Paul Gonzalez
The characters in the story will surprise you- it reads like a confessional mixed with a fairy tale-like romp that mixes the pilgrimage of The Canterbury Tales with Dante’s Inferno and blends in some new spices. ~ Bookworm Castle, https://bookwormcastle.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/angel-falls-the-way-through-hell-and-back/
Angel Falls
Michael Paul Gonzalez
Take a non-stop romp across the mad landscape of the underworld in Angel Falls by Michael Paul Gonzalez, a fun read for a long afternoon or evening...Morningstar Lightbringer is not your grandmother’s Satan! ~ Charlotte Henley Babb, http://charlottehenleybabb.com/book-review-angel-falls-by-michael-paul-gonzalez/
Angel Falls
Michael Paul Gonzalez
I laughed my way through it just about every page! This is a book you will WANT to be passing around, and then re-reading. ~ Bless Their Hearts, http://blesstheirheartsmom.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-happens-when-angel-falls-book.html
Angel Falls
Michael Paul Gonzalez
This was honestly an interesting and delightful story. I found myself staying up very late just to finish reading it because the story itself caught my attention, and kept it glued to every page. Chock full of scenes and situations that seem so uncanny for the Lord of Darkness, Angel Falls gives you an alternate view of what life in Hell would be like. This story is so unlike anything I’ve ever read. There were quite a good many parts that had me in tears because I was laughing so hard. Most especially the parts that involved Lenny’s unique quips. Definitely a good read! ~ Lissette Manning, http://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning/review-angel-falls-michael-paul-gonzalez
Angel Falls
Michael Paul Gonzalez
A true fantasy novel, with theological impact, Angel Falls is a really original story. The characters are interesting, spoofs of those from myths and legends. The places are unique. The action is full of emotion, tense and dramatic, with hilarious inputs.
Overall: a good, fast-paced read. ~ The Story Factory, http://abigailannreading.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-tour-angel-falls-by-michael-paul.html
Angel Falls
Michael Paul Gonzalez
"I can officially admit that I was shouting HAIL SATAN with glee by the end of the book!" ~ Cabin Goddess, http://cabingoddess.com/2013/04/l-is-for-love-lies-lucifer-angel-falls-a-atozchallenge-review/#comment-6431
Angel Falls
Michael Paul Gonzalez
"Populated with a cast of characters that includes familiar faces from the Old Testament, as well as a round-up of ancient gods and goddesses from around the globe, Gonzalez’s tale is quite the wild ride." - Black Heart Magazine ~ Black Heart Magazine, http://blackheartmagazine.com/2013/04/11/angel-falls-by-michael-paul-gonzalez/
Angel Falls
Michael Paul Gonzalez
It does take a while to really get into this book, but once you've reached that point, you have a hard time putting it down as the imagery stays with you.
Yes, some parts are strange... very strange, especially with all the references from mythology and religion, but once the 'quest' begins, you will become totally hooked! ~ Jan Miller , Joint Forces Magazine: http://www.jointforcesjournal.com/_jfj.php?READ=yes&which=728
Condimental Op, The
Andrez Bergen
"Andrez Bergen's writing is bursting with madcap energy. His protagonists are wry wisecrackers, his plots are zany and his stories proceed at warp speed to Planet Pulp, where the noir is served on the rocks with a dash of wildly inventive fun. Pour yourself a measure of The Condimental Op and find out for yourself." ~ GUY SALVIDGE, author YELLOWCAKE SPRINGS
100 Years of Vicissitude
Andrez Bergen
Some of the most rewarding books I read over the years proved to be the ones that didn’t come with too many recommendations or from the authors I picked in the whim of my reading caprices. One such novel was “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”, a wonderful novel for which I didn’t have any recommendation and implicitly with any expectations from my part.
Of course, after the initial encounter with an author it proves to be very difficult to read the writer’s next work without any expectation and only with the anticipation of opening a door to a new world. There is no wonder then that it was impossible for me not to set the bar of expectations high for Andrez Bergen after his debut novel, but if that changed the way I perceive his future works it also made me await them with eagerness.
The first in line, Andrez Bergen’s new novel, “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”.
“First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man.” What the main character only suspects in the beginning becomes obvious immediately after that. Wolram E. Deaps is dead and he finds himself in a limbo. A transitional situation for which he has no explanation or from which he has no escape yet. But the state Wolram E. Deaps is in it’s not completely cut off from the state of living Wolram is familiar with.
Along the story of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” Wolram learns on his own that the state of transition in which he is found comes with childhood dreams reflected on this limbo, with significant physical needs, for instance cold and hunger. But nb also is a place with new possibilities, such as meeting new people. And Wolram E. Deaps meets Kohana. Together they begin a journey through the memories of the former geisha, a pilgrimage to the significant moments of her life, the events that shape Kohana’s character and her former existence. Is the recounting of a life, with the good, the bad and in between, a flash of an existence before death exerts its final toll.
With the only two main characters on the scene “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” is similar in many aspects with a play. Much of the story’s magic consists in the relationship between these two characters, but without neglecting the story in the least. Each act of the story takes place in a different setting, the props are changed from one moment in Kohana’s life to another, with the necessary revisiting of the most important ones.
The entire odyssey is made in the accompaniment of witty dialogues, delightful characters and captivating story. Or little stories, since the entire picture of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” is made by smaller parts that could easily make a tale on their own. But the characters do not make solely a voyage through Kohana’s life memories, it is also an expedition through a certain era of Japan’s history. It is a hymn brought to this wonderful country and to some of the elements that define its individuality. Customs, history, legends, literature, music and pop culture receive homage in Andrez Bergen’s novel. The ritual of drinking saké, geishas, kabuki, monster movies, yakuza or sumo are some of the things that find their way into the novel one way or another.
There are only two characters in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”, but one of them makes a connection between Andrez Bergen’s two published novels. Wolram E. Deaps is a character from the authors’ debut novel, “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”.
As a matter of fact, he is the antagonist of that book, ambitious and greedy. However, not in a single moment I could see Wolram E. Deaps as the character with an unsated appetite for power and money. He even becomes an agreeable character in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”. I would not register this aspect as complaint however, because until I experience a state of limbo or any other post-mortem situation first-hand I cannot rightfully affirm how such an instance affects the character of a human being. Wolram E. Deaps not only makes a connection with “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”, but he also gives both Andrez Bergen’s novels metafictional qualities. It is early on in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” when Wolram spots a book among others with certain characteristics: “On a small round table next to the sofa was a pile of books, at the top of which sat a hardback titled Dead Yellow Women. Peeking out beneath that was a cartoonish goat with a cigarette, on a dirty brown cover.”
I said that after reading an author for the first time it is almost impossible for me to start the writer’s other works without some expectations. Such was the case with Andrez Bergen too, but nothing I expected based on “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat” could have prepared me for what I found in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”.
Yes, both novels have witty, intelligent and delightful dialogues, both show a mastering of language and an assured writing technique from Andrez Bergen, both with various odes brought to the things I can only guess that the author loves at personal level. But “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” reveals new qualities of Andrez Bergen, in particular a warm and wonderful sensibility. The description of Asakusa 1945 firebombing and the reminder of the cruelties of Nanking massacre are touching and emotional. These would have been enough to show Andrez Bergen ability to create emotion, but there many more sensible moments. Distinctly, two scenes from the end of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” bring the reader close to tears.
Globalization is very far from the milk and honey heaven we are led to believe it brings, but I am thankful for the possibility it gives me to discover writers such as Andrez Bergen, an Australian, living in Japan and enchanting the readers across the globe, such as myself, with the stylish noir post-apocalyptic “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat” or this little gem that is “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”. ~ Mihai Adascalitei, Dark Wolf Fantasy Reviews
100 Years of Vicissitude
Andrez Bergen
I had to admit I actually had to look up the word Vicissitude to learn what it meant before reading. And I was most interested to learn the definition of the word (or at least the definitions that I got read as follows):
"Regular change or succession from one thing to another, or one part of a cycle to the next; alternation; mutual succession; interchange. (Often plural) a change, especially in one's life or fortunes."
The story is actually a sort of spiritual successor to 'Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat' as it features the villain of the piece – Wolram E. Deaps. Having been killed by Floyd at the end of that book, Wolram finds himself in a sort of purgatory with Kohana, a geisha with a story to tell.
And so Wolram goes on an amazing journey with Kohana, as she shows him her life through her memories, her past, and the history of 1940s Japan as they relive some of the most horrific moments from the country during its war-torn time. As they delve deeper and deeper into this journey, Wolram’s life starts to interconnect with Kohana’s – and he soon learns that he must understand Kohana’s life in order so that he can forgive himself for sins committed in his own life.
First of all, I think it’s fantastic that Wolram was the central character – it’s not often a writer takes who was essentially the antagonist of the last story and makes them the protagonist in the next book. It’s a daring twist that works well and we get to understand a lot more of the character of Wolram and learn that his hatred of Floyd wasn’t entirely unjustified. However, much like Floyd in 'Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat', Wolram has a quick wit and is well versed in the art of literature and film.
Kohana is also a great character, well versed and full of wisdom – yet she can be quite sardonic and wicked at times. The dynamics between the two of them are great and I love the way they play off each other. It kinda reminds me a little of Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox – the way they try to constantly outdo each other and prove to the other one that they know it all. Both of them are a joy to read about and you just can’t help but love them, despite their foibles.
And remember how I said at the beginning this had a love story to it? ...well, you'll have to read the book to discover more as I won't give any spoilers away!
The story is laced with elements of mythology as well as history, creating a dreamlike world that is constantly shifting, mixing reality with fantasy. Much like with 'Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat', the book is loaded with references to other mediums – everything from Shakespeare to manga. But don’t worry if you don’t get the references, the book does keep you up to pace with what they are talking about so you don’t get lost.
What is really clever is how sometimes they can take a reference to one thing, and then mention a few other titles with the same name! One example of this is when Kohana mentions the character Akuma from the 'Streetfighter' series – and then goes onto mention several other titles with Akuma in the title. We then realize that Akuma was a nickname for her – as it means Devil, or something to that effect.
The scenes are constantly shifting from one memory to the next – sometimes in just a second. Sometimes the memories jump in and out of sequence and from one time to the next. We never get the full story at once, but gradually piece it together as it goes along. It feels like a jigsaw puzzle that you just want to complete and see what the image is. And the most pieces that are added, the more we come to understand why this journey was needed. It all leads to a really emotional climax that, I gotta be honest, I did find quite moving.
But for all its intelligence and emotion, this is not something that a casual reader will want to dive into without preparation. The book is almost like Inception in a way, in that the plot is fairly complex and does require your full attention to get the best out of it. I often found myself going back and re-reading chapters to make sure I got the understanding of what was happening. But even though I got lost now and then, it was by no means a chore to read. And in fact it was amazing to discover little things that I missed the first time.
For me, 'One Hundred Years of Vicissitude' is a story about looking back over your past and learning from your mistakes.
And whilst I haven’t given too much about the plot away to support this statement, I feel that doing so would diminish the enjoyment of reading it yourself. Whether you have read anything else from this author or not, I highly recommend this one in your collection. It’s a magical journey, with wit and heartfelt emotion at its core.
~ Dan Wright, Pandragon Dan
