What do you think?
Rate this book
Prezident Scumbag!: A Sick Bastard Novella
"In a class of its own." -Far Right Watch
"Prezident Scumbag! really is a rollercoaster of a book. It is laugh out loud funny in places, but with political and social commentary that is sorely lacking in mainstream discourse." -The Canary
While kicking about their squat, a community of crust punks from the north of England learn all about the newly elected President of the World. Turns out this president happens to be their worst nightmare in a shirt and tie. He is, in their words, a corporate swine who promises to make things do stuff tomorrow. Nobody has a clue what he's talking about.
The punks soon figure that the only sensible response to the madness happening all across the world is to fly the band over to America and put on the protest show to end all protest shows. But shortly after landing in Los Angeles, the band quickly find themselves in trouble with just about everyone...
American presidential nightmares, Tory filth, alt-right gobshites; Prezident Scumbag! takes a pop at all of these and more in the crustiest, filthiest, angriest narrative ever to come out of somebody’s imagination. At a time when culture is begging for a reawakening of anti-establishment sentiments, Rupert Dreyfus continues to fill that void by taking his two middle fingers and ramming them down the collective throat of the mainstream.
"Prezident Scumbag! really is a rollercoaster of a book. It is laugh out loud funny in places, but with political and social commentary that is sorely lacking in mainstream discourse." -The Canary
While kicking about their squat, a community of crust punks from the north of England learn all about the newly elected President of the World. Turns out this president happens to be their worst nightmare in a shirt and tie. He is, in their words, a corporate swine who promises to make things do stuff tomorrow. Nobody has a clue what he's talking about.
The punks soon figure that the only sensible response to the madness happening all across the world is to fly the band over to America and put on the protest show to end all protest shows. But shortly after landing in Los Angeles, the band quickly find themselves in trouble with just about everyone...
American presidential nightmares, Tory filth, alt-right gobshites; Prezident Scumbag! takes a pop at all of these and more in the crustiest, filthiest, angriest narrative ever to come out of somebody’s imagination. At a time when culture is begging for a reawakening of anti-establishment sentiments, Rupert Dreyfus continues to fill that void by taking his two middle fingers and ramming them down the collective throat of the mainstream.
152 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2017
207 people want to read
About the author
Rupert Dreyfus
9 books143 followersRupert Dreyfus is an award winning, Amazon top 10 selling author who writes black comedies as a means of venting about the state of the world. The influential magazine of cultural criticism PopMatters said that he writes “with the darkly absurd humour of a thirsty and somewhat paranoid Jonathan Swift”. Closer to home, activist and one-time musician Edwin Stratton described his work as “black bloc meets Black Mirror”.
Spark is his first novel which serves as a snapshot of modern-day Britain, seen through the eyes of disaffected computer hacker Jake Miller. After creating a legion of online followers known as Generation Y-bother, Jake shows us how incredibly easy it is to spark a revolution. You just have to be angry enough.
Dreyfus is also the author of The Rebel's Sketchbook; a collection of thirteen short stories. Targets include maniac world leaders, talentless boybands, Westminster politicians, social media idiots and much more. The Morning Star named it one of their favourite books of 2015.
More recently, Dreyfus has released a number of short stories as well as his first novella Prezident Scumbag!; a swipe at the rise of Donald Trump as told by crust punk squatter Faz.
It was nominated for Readfree.ly's 50 Best Indie Books of 2017 and subsequently placed 25th.
For more information about Rupert you can visit his website www.rupertdreyfus.co.uk.
"Dreyfus writes with the darkly absurd humour of a thirsty and somewhat paranoid Jonathan Swift." - Pop Matters
"Black block meets Black Mirror." - Edwin Stratton, activist and musician
"If his work doesn't make you think, I suggest getting your doctor to prescribe a course of fluoride tablets, subscribe to the Daily Mirror and vote in this year's X Factor." - The Canary
Spark is his first novel which serves as a snapshot of modern-day Britain, seen through the eyes of disaffected computer hacker Jake Miller. After creating a legion of online followers known as Generation Y-bother, Jake shows us how incredibly easy it is to spark a revolution. You just have to be angry enough.
Dreyfus is also the author of The Rebel's Sketchbook; a collection of thirteen short stories. Targets include maniac world leaders, talentless boybands, Westminster politicians, social media idiots and much more. The Morning Star named it one of their favourite books of 2015.
More recently, Dreyfus has released a number of short stories as well as his first novella Prezident Scumbag!; a swipe at the rise of Donald Trump as told by crust punk squatter Faz.
It was nominated for Readfree.ly's 50 Best Indie Books of 2017 and subsequently placed 25th.
For more information about Rupert you can visit his website www.rupertdreyfus.co.uk.
"Dreyfus writes with the darkly absurd humour of a thirsty and somewhat paranoid Jonathan Swift." - Pop Matters
"Black block meets Black Mirror." - Edwin Stratton, activist and musician
"If his work doesn't make you think, I suggest getting your doctor to prescribe a course of fluoride tablets, subscribe to the Daily Mirror and vote in this year's X Factor." - The Canary
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 28, 2017
Rupert Dreyfus' Prezident Scumbag! A Sick Bastard Novella is a punk romp of galactic anti-Drumpf proportions. Enormously inhuman amounts of drugs are consumed, curse words are used as punctuation, and everyone in the story rocks out with their cock out à la Hank Moody on Californication. Underneath this punk exterior, there is a political message about anarchy vs whatever this sponsored by Nike and Exxon reality we are living. Purportedly, the UK punk band, The Sick Bastards wish to record a protest hymn in front of the White House, but their plan gets siderailed by run-ins with racist motorcycle gangs in California and Drumpfites somewhere between Oregon and Washington (state, they had intended to go to DC...)
I enjoyed the lilted British slang and the many references to current events. And I will be looking forward to read what happens to the SB's after their trip (both literal and figurative) with the NorIndians they connect with at the end.
A barrel of laughs and kilos of stolen drugs, an entertaining read.
I enjoyed the lilted British slang and the many references to current events. And I will be looking forward to read what happens to the SB's after their trip (both literal and figurative) with the NorIndians they connect with at the end.
A barrel of laughs and kilos of stolen drugs, an entertaining read.
June 28, 2017
This isn’t just my favourite of Rupert Dreyfus’ books to date, nor is it one of my favourite indie books, it’s simply one of my favourite books, period. If I was going to include the best quotes from Prezident Scumbag! in this review, I’d be posting 90% of the novella’s content, so I’ll let you discover that for yourselves.
First off, this short tale about British crusty punk band Sick Bastard travelling to the U.S. to perform a protest song about America’s new cunt of a president is funny as fuck. Every other page, I found myself literally laughing out loud like a stoned crazed hyena.
Secondly, Dreyfus manages to write so succinctly and poignantly about the fucked up state of the modern world and what we need to do to improve it, through simple things like being kind and employing anarchism (actual anarchism, not the media lie where anarchy is synonymous with violence and destruction), that this book is way deeper than it’s cartoonish facade may first seem.
It’s easy to lambaste the modern political world, and it’s easy to make jokes about the likes of Trump, but Dreyfus’ criticism of such things is on anther level – because 1) He knows what he’s talking about, and it’s easy to see that the author is well versed in anarchist literature and the like, and 2) He really, deeply fucking cares about the state of the world and wants to make a change. This isn’t just political satire for the sake of it – this is a work of fiction that has arisen from the author’s own heartfelt despair about the austerity-driven, big-business, odds-stacked-against-us, global political landscape. It needs sorting out, and it could well be the likes of Sick Bastard that actually make the change happen in the real world.
Having read all of Dreyfus’ previous works, I’m also happy to say that his writing just keeps getting better and better. I adored his debut novel ‘Spark’ and the short stories follow-up ‘The Rebel’s Sketchbook’, as well as his other two subsequent freebie shorts, but with each one, I can see the author honing his craft: The satire has been improved, where the balance of comedy and heavy issues are perfectly spliced together. The style of writing has improved, where northern English slang has been finely tuned – and is slightly reminiscent of Irvine Welsh’s thick-Scottish prose (and Dreyfus’ works are also reminiscent of Welsh in that characters from his previous books make guest appearances), and the comedy has also improved; Drefyus’ works have just gotten funnier and funnier.
Yeah, I’m ‘online mates’ with Rupert, so maybe you’ll think I’m biased in my opinion, but authors like him have only become part of my circle because I dig the writing so much. I feel like I want to literally shout from the rooftops about Rupert’s books, because they’re not just incredibly original, funny and brilliant – they’re also very much needed. So read Prezident Scumbag!, or I’ll lamp ya one geez.
First off, this short tale about British crusty punk band Sick Bastard travelling to the U.S. to perform a protest song about America’s new cunt of a president is funny as fuck. Every other page, I found myself literally laughing out loud like a stoned crazed hyena.
Secondly, Dreyfus manages to write so succinctly and poignantly about the fucked up state of the modern world and what we need to do to improve it, through simple things like being kind and employing anarchism (actual anarchism, not the media lie where anarchy is synonymous with violence and destruction), that this book is way deeper than it’s cartoonish facade may first seem.
It’s easy to lambaste the modern political world, and it’s easy to make jokes about the likes of Trump, but Dreyfus’ criticism of such things is on anther level – because 1) He knows what he’s talking about, and it’s easy to see that the author is well versed in anarchist literature and the like, and 2) He really, deeply fucking cares about the state of the world and wants to make a change. This isn’t just political satire for the sake of it – this is a work of fiction that has arisen from the author’s own heartfelt despair about the austerity-driven, big-business, odds-stacked-against-us, global political landscape. It needs sorting out, and it could well be the likes of Sick Bastard that actually make the change happen in the real world.
Having read all of Dreyfus’ previous works, I’m also happy to say that his writing just keeps getting better and better. I adored his debut novel ‘Spark’ and the short stories follow-up ‘The Rebel’s Sketchbook’, as well as his other two subsequent freebie shorts, but with each one, I can see the author honing his craft: The satire has been improved, where the balance of comedy and heavy issues are perfectly spliced together. The style of writing has improved, where northern English slang has been finely tuned – and is slightly reminiscent of Irvine Welsh’s thick-Scottish prose (and Dreyfus’ works are also reminiscent of Welsh in that characters from his previous books make guest appearances), and the comedy has also improved; Drefyus’ works have just gotten funnier and funnier.
Yeah, I’m ‘online mates’ with Rupert, so maybe you’ll think I’m biased in my opinion, but authors like him have only become part of my circle because I dig the writing so much. I feel like I want to literally shout from the rooftops about Rupert’s books, because they’re not just incredibly original, funny and brilliant – they’re also very much needed. So read Prezident Scumbag!, or I’ll lamp ya one geez.
July 2, 2017
Quite possibly one of the craziest novellas I've ever read. When I say- craziest- I mean it lovingly. Prezident Scumbag! delivers a goodie bag of middle fingers. It's hilarious, relevant, sobering... It has heart, mischief and passion. It has worry for the world and future.
Through a drug-fuelled and entirely vegan haze, Archie the joint smoking hippie, the unofficial leader of crusties, speaks the Mother of Truth. It will challenge quite a lot of people, I think- after all, we're all so easily offended now, aren't we?! I felt challenged, too... It wasn't the idea of the protest at the White House, it wasn't the anarchists, nor the profanity... It was the drugs and the puking that made me turn up my nose... f*ck! My delicate heart was grimacing! They do say to face your fears, I need a medal for being brave.
Prezident Scumbag! takes No.1 spot on many levels:
* Most profane- check. (I added a few new choice words into my vocabulary! )
* Most drug-fuelled- check. (It quite possibly tops Trainspotting, I'm not even kidding!)
* Most adventurous- check. (A punk band with a great cause travelling from Norf of England to America, meeting Demon Dogs biker gang, staring down the barrel of a drug dealer's shotgun, meeting Native Americans.)
* Funny- check. (Mary on mushy brew was hilarious! I'm not saying I would love a travel companion in such a state but it was hilarious.. like tears running out of my eyes!)
Even though the novella is delightfully mental (because 'normal' is not a goal to be proudly striving for anymore) it is more. More. So much more. In between the worthy goal and shenanigans of Sick Bastards punk band members (one more dense than the next), there's wisdom to plant a seed of 'something else, something different' into society's mushy brain.
Prezident Scumbag!'s message is strong and stinks of vomit but it's a message nonetheless.
Prezident Scumbag! is:
*up yours to the 9-5
*up yours to the skinheads and racists
*up yours to the system
*up yours to mainstream
*up yours to nanny state
*anti-status quo, anti-establishment,
*up yours to the corporations and profiteers that would kill their Grandma only to add another zero at the end of their bank account balance.
If you can't agree with that, go back to your sandpit and bury your head in it!
Through a drug-fuelled and entirely vegan haze, Archie the joint smoking hippie, the unofficial leader of crusties, speaks the Mother of Truth. It will challenge quite a lot of people, I think- after all, we're all so easily offended now, aren't we?! I felt challenged, too... It wasn't the idea of the protest at the White House, it wasn't the anarchists, nor the profanity... It was the drugs and the puking that made me turn up my nose... f*ck! My delicate heart was grimacing! They do say to face your fears, I need a medal for being brave.
Prezident Scumbag! takes No.1 spot on many levels:
* Most profane- check. (I added a few new choice words into my vocabulary! )
* Most drug-fuelled- check. (It quite possibly tops Trainspotting, I'm not even kidding!)
* Most adventurous- check. (A punk band with a great cause travelling from Norf of England to America, meeting Demon Dogs biker gang, staring down the barrel of a drug dealer's shotgun, meeting Native Americans.)
* Funny- check. (Mary on mushy brew was hilarious! I'm not saying I would love a travel companion in such a state but it was hilarious.. like tears running out of my eyes!)
Even though the novella is delightfully mental (because 'normal' is not a goal to be proudly striving for anymore) it is more. More. So much more. In between the worthy goal and shenanigans of Sick Bastards punk band members (one more dense than the next), there's wisdom to plant a seed of 'something else, something different' into society's mushy brain.
Prezident Scumbag!'s message is strong and stinks of vomit but it's a message nonetheless.
Prezident Scumbag! is:
*up yours to the 9-5
*up yours to the skinheads and racists
*up yours to the system
*up yours to mainstream
*up yours to nanny state
*anti-status quo, anti-establishment,
*up yours to the corporations and profiteers that would kill their Grandma only to add another zero at the end of their bank account balance.
If you can't agree with that, go back to your sandpit and bury your head in it!
April 12, 2018
Scumbollocks. Absolutely free to anyone on Goodreads who'll review it. Especially Ronald T. Dump supporters. All you have to do is send me a message with your preferred file type.
Nobody likes a racist.
X
Nobody likes a racist.
X
June 26, 2018
Gah! This made me nostalgic for my youthful indiscretions, dossing on squat floors, sniffing every conceivable (and inconceivable) substance as my primary means of exploring the world, thrashing around uncontrollably on dance floors awash with beer to the sounds of Crass, the Dead Kennedys, Poison Girls, and, of course, getting monstered at every available opportunity.
Tbh, I didn't know what "monstered" meant before reading this book. It wasn't a word I'd encountered in this context. However, the real monsters, as Rupert Dreyfus points out in this satisfyingly acerbic takedown of the current neolibfashdom, are still running/ruining the world. Prezident Scumbag! is a hoot and a half, although I'd have preferred two hoots - it does end, mind, with a promise that the story will be continued (a good thing). The plot reminded me very much of The Blues Brothers in an abbreviated form: underdogs on a mission from God take to the road not to put the band back but to dismantle the Trumpreich. There are lots of young pups and biker mice along the way and some astute observations about the Power and how to fight it. If you've read Dreyfus's previous stuff, you'll know to expect revolutionary zeal and you won't be disappointed: not so much Liberty, Egality, and Fraternity, however, as Hilarity, Vulgarity, and Barbarity. Become a Dreyfusard!
p.s. There's an incidental reference toward the end of the book to the movie The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue, an Italian horror movie shot in the UK in 1974. On a daytrip to Hathersage, Derbyshire, to visit the purported grave of Little John, Robin Hood's buddy, my brother saw scenes being filmed in the graveyard of the church. I haven't watched it yet, but apparently it's a classic of its kind. A bit like Prezident Scumbag!
Tbh, I didn't know what "monstered" meant before reading this book. It wasn't a word I'd encountered in this context. However, the real monsters, as Rupert Dreyfus points out in this satisfyingly acerbic takedown of the current neolibfashdom, are still running/ruining the world. Prezident Scumbag! is a hoot and a half, although I'd have preferred two hoots - it does end, mind, with a promise that the story will be continued (a good thing). The plot reminded me very much of The Blues Brothers in an abbreviated form: underdogs on a mission from God take to the road not to put the band back but to dismantle the Trumpreich. There are lots of young pups and biker mice along the way and some astute observations about the Power and how to fight it. If you've read Dreyfus's previous stuff, you'll know to expect revolutionary zeal and you won't be disappointed: not so much Liberty, Egality, and Fraternity, however, as Hilarity, Vulgarity, and Barbarity. Become a Dreyfusard!
p.s. There's an incidental reference toward the end of the book to the movie The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue, an Italian horror movie shot in the UK in 1974. On a daytrip to Hathersage, Derbyshire, to visit the purported grave of Little John, Robin Hood's buddy, my brother saw scenes being filmed in the graveyard of the church. I haven't watched it yet, but apparently it's a classic of its kind. A bit like Prezident Scumbag!
July 20, 2017
What a book! It's like Mr Dreyfus is trying to bring back the young ones. This book is violent, crude, gross and bloody hilarious whilst at the same time being incredibly important. If you are scared that the USA voted a sexiest halfwit to have control of that big red button then read this book, if you think he is a great guy then you should read this book...just to see what the rest of the world thinks of you.
Sick Bastard is a band, living on the edge of self destruction, they can't believe who is now the President and decide they have to make a stand and wake up folks. What follows is a good old adventure across America with cockup after cockup. You can't help but laugh at them and yet feel really proud of what they are trying to do. Having Archie surrounded by these delinquents makes him seem like an island, this then makes what he says stand out more than it normally would, a clever bit of writing there. The ending works out well tying things up nicely for the next book.
Facts about this book:
Cunt is mentioned 178 times and more importantly Donkey is mentioned 4 times.
Americans are gonna have very little idea what is going on. Some awesome non-US terms used throughout the book.
Billy Whiz is mentioned a lot here and I think that is either a sweet or a character from Viz, either way I don't think they should be snorting it.
I am so glad I have a copy of this book, a perfect read for when the world eventually falls apart and starts to burn.
PS: I have been censored by Harry Whitewolf, I think this book is so good it deserves the "unicorn vomiting a rainbow" award, but he has forbidden me from adding the gif. Should I ignore him?
Due to demand here is a gnome and a unicorn for Harry
Sick Bastard is a band, living on the edge of self destruction, they can't believe who is now the President and decide they have to make a stand and wake up folks. What follows is a good old adventure across America with cockup after cockup. You can't help but laugh at them and yet feel really proud of what they are trying to do. Having Archie surrounded by these delinquents makes him seem like an island, this then makes what he says stand out more than it normally would, a clever bit of writing there. The ending works out well tying things up nicely for the next book.
Facts about this book:
Cunt is mentioned 178 times and more importantly Donkey is mentioned 4 times.
Americans are gonna have very little idea what is going on. Some awesome non-US terms used throughout the book.
Billy Whiz is mentioned a lot here and I think that is either a sweet or a character from Viz, either way I don't think they should be snorting it.
I am so glad I have a copy of this book, a perfect read for when the world eventually falls apart and starts to burn.
PS: I have been censored by Harry Whitewolf, I think this book is so good it deserves the "unicorn vomiting a rainbow" award, but he has forbidden me from adding the gif. Should I ignore him?
Due to demand here is a gnome and a unicorn for Harry
July 3, 2017
Woe betide the righteous. Taking the clapped out bus of fury and the nostalgo punk ethos that bricked it to branding and back again this novella trips intercontinental raucous. A ragtag musical gathering of punkniks attempt to deliver themselves up Stateside, with a side order of heart pumping chaos and chemicals around arteries fattened with dismay.
This one is Dreyfus fully realised, a synthesis of all the cheery mischief and doggedness he’s been honing. This focused dollop of hilarity. Whatever your opinion Trumpwise, there is undeniably a question to be had. Sick Bastard decide to make an art of asking by unleashing some originator punk leakage on an America unready. It is so gleeful in parts you may have to smack yourself, the amusements so grounded and unfluffy it’s like gut won out over deconstruction. Which is fun to the max.
The novella burned so funny and no-nonsense sense and senseless that I got a bit sad around the edges. Does this spirit live anymore? Is there a place for Sick Bastard to tear the fabric up and stuff it down some bleating throats, metaphorically at least? Then it dawned that I’d just read it. Me div.
Embrace the Sick Bastard in your life. That Sick Bastard is never more needed.
This one is Dreyfus fully realised, a synthesis of all the cheery mischief and doggedness he’s been honing. This focused dollop of hilarity. Whatever your opinion Trumpwise, there is undeniably a question to be had. Sick Bastard decide to make an art of asking by unleashing some originator punk leakage on an America unready. It is so gleeful in parts you may have to smack yourself, the amusements so grounded and unfluffy it’s like gut won out over deconstruction. Which is fun to the max.
The novella burned so funny and no-nonsense sense and senseless that I got a bit sad around the edges. Does this spirit live anymore? Is there a place for Sick Bastard to tear the fabric up and stuff it down some bleating throats, metaphorically at least? Then it dawned that I’d just read it. Me div.
Embrace the Sick Bastard in your life. That Sick Bastard is never more needed.
July 13, 2017
I was wary at first of reading "anti-something" literature—but it turned out to be a piece of hilarious satire. And I guess all satire is "anti-something" and I'd just never heard it put like that. Who knew :)
Anyways! Dreyfus approaches this global issue using the authentic voice of vegan punks, never once missing an opportunity to slip in a dirty joke! That'll hook you, but you won't leave without considering the state of politics today.
Another unmissable piece of his Mr Universe-strength oeuvre, not to mention his best book so far!
Anyways! Dreyfus approaches this global issue using the authentic voice of vegan punks, never once missing an opportunity to slip in a dirty joke! That'll hook you, but you won't leave without considering the state of politics today.
Another unmissable piece of his Mr Universe-strength oeuvre, not to mention his best book so far!
December 27, 2018
Why are you asking me for me thoughts? I just put me fucking peepers to it and I still don't have a scooby what's occurrin'. But I laughed me fucking nut off, so when you've done being as tight as a fish's arse, drop some bin lids and get your own copy, wankers.
May 28, 2018
This novella is just what I needed right now- some serious punk rock hope during dark and disturbing times. Once again, Dreyfus absolutely kills it with his no holds barred transgressive fiction. Seriously, this is subversiveness in top form! I loved the ending especially, and the way the author tied everything together, no stone left unturned, no string left untied. Without adding any spoilers, let's just say my favorite part of this novella is how he gave one of the most ignored and crapped upon groups in America not just a part in the action, but roles as heroes. Prezident Scumbag is a must read! Someone needs to plop it on the orange troll's desk in the White House, or should I say golf course since that is where he spends all of his illegitimate time.
April 27, 2018
Another absolute banger from Mr Dreyfus, as per. Can't wait to see this guy on This Morning, talking about his books between 'magical makeovers' and 'dogging ruined my life'.
April 29, 2018
I've got to give a strong nod in favor of this one! I was immediately taken in by Dreyfus' style and pointed social critique. I can see why he's amassed such a loyal following. It's like Anthony Burgess meets Kurt Vonnegut at a black block/ punk rock show, all while reading anarchist philosophy.
This political satire follows a cast of misfit anarchists who travel to the U.S.A to put on a protest music show. Between drug-addled mischief and philosophical musings, a tale emerges of hope against the backdrop of the election of Prezident Scumbag (a thinly veiled poke at who know who). Racism and nationalism are major themes. The story centers on the UK-born Fazal Khan of Pakistani heritage.
This novella is a quick read but it's a powerful one. As someone not from the UK there was a lot of slang to adjust to but I found myself soon thinking in the vernacular.
Dreyfus is a kind soul which you might not guess from the title and the notion of a punk rock band going to protest something. But, sprinkled throughout this book, are what are clearly Dreyfus' own heartfelt, humanitarian expressions of bemusement, sadness, and concern at the present state of the world.
While I laughed a ton and was thoroughly entertained by the slew of oddball characters and their constant mischief, I was also overcome by a sense of the gravity of the moment.
See full review: https://jameswallacebirch.wordpress.c...
This political satire follows a cast of misfit anarchists who travel to the U.S.A to put on a protest music show. Between drug-addled mischief and philosophical musings, a tale emerges of hope against the backdrop of the election of Prezident Scumbag (a thinly veiled poke at who know who). Racism and nationalism are major themes. The story centers on the UK-born Fazal Khan of Pakistani heritage.
This novella is a quick read but it's a powerful one. As someone not from the UK there was a lot of slang to adjust to but I found myself soon thinking in the vernacular.
Dreyfus is a kind soul which you might not guess from the title and the notion of a punk rock band going to protest something. But, sprinkled throughout this book, are what are clearly Dreyfus' own heartfelt, humanitarian expressions of bemusement, sadness, and concern at the present state of the world.
While I laughed a ton and was thoroughly entertained by the slew of oddball characters and their constant mischief, I was also overcome by a sense of the gravity of the moment.
See full review: https://jameswallacebirch.wordpress.c...
September 22, 2017
A brilliant and surreal tale of insane crust punks vs neo-fascist fundamentalists!
A far-right president is elected in the US, and British punk band Sick Bastard refuse to accept this new reality. What follows is a body-fluid-soaked transatlantic rampage against the proto-fascism of the new administration.
Sick Bastard are hilarious UK82 caricatures, as extreme in their own way as President Scumbag, and the perfect vehicle to challenge Scumbag's rule. The brains of the outfit is the anarchist intellectual Archie, who advises the band and maintains his cool, while all around is carnage.
Their plan is as absurd as it is surreal - fly the band *and* their tour bus to the US, where they will derail the Presidency with an uncensored live appearance on hijacked television networks.
Will the plan work? You'll have to read it to find out.
A far-right president is elected in the US, and British punk band Sick Bastard refuse to accept this new reality. What follows is a body-fluid-soaked transatlantic rampage against the proto-fascism of the new administration.
Sick Bastard are hilarious UK82 caricatures, as extreme in their own way as President Scumbag, and the perfect vehicle to challenge Scumbag's rule. The brains of the outfit is the anarchist intellectual Archie, who advises the band and maintains his cool, while all around is carnage.
Their plan is as absurd as it is surreal - fly the band *and* their tour bus to the US, where they will derail the Presidency with an uncensored live appearance on hijacked television networks.
Will the plan work? You'll have to read it to find out.
August 22, 2018
Nothing I say here will do this thing justice, so just read it. Seriously. This is my first experience with this author, and now I'm itching to read his other stuff (better catch up before the upcoming release this fall). Brilliant story and massive amounts of skill displayed in these pages. It's packed with laughs, violence, drugs, cocks, music, more violence, hacking, more drugs, a global quest, puke, explosions, some pills, blood, some powder, shit, biker gangs, and a goal. True freedom through anarchy and peace. Satirical but also plays very well on the tension created by politics and social media. Really fun read, but it will leave you thinking about the state of the world and where we are headed. What an experience.
April 28, 2018
if Orwell was alive today he'd be writing the exact same things as dreyfus is: fascism/ life amongst the poor and downtrodden/ revolution/ westminster/ cultural mediocrity...
i am really glad i came across this author. I hope that in time he finds a wider audience because nobody else is really doing what he's doing and more people need to support this sort of thing.
i am really glad i came across this author. I hope that in time he finds a wider audience because nobody else is really doing what he's doing and more people need to support this sort of thing.
July 29, 2017
Whilst most of us are counting down the days until Trump's reign over the world finally comes to an end (and what a glorious day that will soon be!), Rupert Dreyfus has been hard at work on a new Sick Bastard novella that will delight anti-Trump protestors everywhere.
Entitled Prezident Scumbag!, Dreyfus has turned his hatred of Trump's racist and right-wing populist policies into a bitterly hilarious short story that centres around an English punk band who fly out to LA to put on an epic protest show, but things don't exactly go to plan.
The dialogue is pure black comedy with an underlying political anger that captures the reader's mind and gives them a proper slap in the face so that they can wake up and see what's really going on in the world. I love Dreyfus' straight-talking, no-nonsense prose and the ending to Prezident Scumbag! was just genius.
If this sounds like your thing, give it a read and then check out Dreyfus' The Rebel's Sketchbook for more satirical short stories that will make your blood boil in all the right places!
Entitled Prezident Scumbag!, Dreyfus has turned his hatred of Trump's racist and right-wing populist policies into a bitterly hilarious short story that centres around an English punk band who fly out to LA to put on an epic protest show, but things don't exactly go to plan.
The dialogue is pure black comedy with an underlying political anger that captures the reader's mind and gives them a proper slap in the face so that they can wake up and see what's really going on in the world. I love Dreyfus' straight-talking, no-nonsense prose and the ending to Prezident Scumbag! was just genius.
If this sounds like your thing, give it a read and then check out Dreyfus' The Rebel's Sketchbook for more satirical short stories that will make your blood boil in all the right places!
July 24, 2017
Brilliant!! Crude, violent, offensive and absolutely hilarious. How do you deal with a world that has gone utterly bonkers? Get mad and confront it with greta satire, free thinking and a totally bonkers bunch of characters.
I could not put this book down and really did laugh out loud, and cringe, at some bits. The ending was a great twist that I really didn't expect at all. I see an opening for Round Two.
I could not put this book down and really did laugh out loud, and cringe, at some bits. The ending was a great twist that I really didn't expect at all. I see an opening for Round Two.
May 16, 2018
This is a funny book. Very funny at times in fact. I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters, but I’m typically slow in that respect. I look forward to revisiting this one soon, as I believe it holds some wisdom and humor that I don’t want to just gloss over quickly. I totally understand the disgust for the real scumbag as an American but its more than just a little sad to consider the damage being done to America’s reputation around the world.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews