Review of Dr. Identity

Michael · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject: Review of Dr. Identity

Plaquedemics vs. the Papanazi:
A Review of Dr. Identity by D. Harlan Wislon

Dr. Identity, 2007, D. Harlan Wilson
Raw Dog Screaming Press
ISBN 978-1-933293-23-3
Reviewer: Michael Southard

This book must be the spoof of all spoofs. At times, I almost liked it, but in the end Dr. Identity turned out to be "too rich for my blood." It nauseated me the way eating too much sugar nauseates me. Dr. Identity is an android owned by Dr. Blah (otherwise referred to as Dr. _______), in a society that is so completely desensitized to violence that it is legal for professors to murder their students on a whim. Androids may also execute other androids under certain provocation, but they cannot harm humans. The story begins with Dr. Identity covering a class for Blah and, because some students have adopted a new style of wearing contact lenses that make them look like androids, he mistakenly murders a human student.

While Dr. Blah ponders what to do under these circumstances, Identity decides to go on a killing spree, in the process killing a major movie star. From there, the Papanazi are out for blood. I only vaguely understand what the Papanazi is in the context: They are the media, apparently, since they seem to be zipping about in jetpacks with cameras desperately trying to get shots of Identity and Blah. But they not only want pictures, they want the fugitives dead.

There were moments when the story had me laughing, a little, but mostly the jokes didn’t appeal to me. I do like to read an occasional parody, such as the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett, so it isn’t like I completely lack a sense of humor, but I really didn’t find Dr. Identity all that funny. There is a list of fictional "praises" before the story that are very funny, and much more humorous than anything in the actual story. In fact, reading these blurbs had me hoping I was in for one hell of a ride; and I was, just not the kind I had hoped for.

However, Dr. Identity does seem to have the makings of a cult classic. When I read it, I was in some ways reminded of K. W. Jeter’s Dr. Adder, which was not a parody but people surely weren’t ready for it in its time. I was; I loved Dr. Adder. I don’t like Dr. Identity, but it has that kind of science fiction weirdness to it that may appeal to some readers. Maybe a better comparison would be The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Perhaps, since Wilson’s fictional "blurbs" were so creative, his next book will be much better and I might actually enjoy it. I’m willing to give it another chance, anyway.

Review Copyright © by Michael Southard. All rights reserved.

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