from: Berkley Books
Type of bind: Paperback
Label: Berkley Books
Manufacturer: Berkley Books
Printing Date: 1990
Publishing house: Berkley Books
Sale Popularity Level: 4759377
Studio: Berkley Books
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Rated by buyers -
Thomas Disch is a unique writer; he's done science fiction, poetry, non-fiction, plays, and even children's books (The Brave Little Toaster). Another of his specialties is horror, but when he turns his attention to this genre, he's just as penetrating, just as full of incisive social commentary.
In The M.D., Disch skewers the medical profession, as well as, at least to some extent, the Catholic religion. In an early scene, the anti-hero, Billy Michaels, is severely reprimanded by a nun, Sister Symphorosa (is that a name or what?), for believing in Santa Claus in the Catholic school he's attending.
As it happens, the latter appears to Billy, but is really the god Mercury, whose symbol, the caduceus, becomes for Billy a wand of grey magic. As Billy matures and becomes Dr. William Michaels, his use of the caduceus grows ever more powerful until he is able to unleash major medical disasters for which he is the only source of a cure, thus insuring his rapid and overwhelming financial success.
How the story plays out as Billy progresses up this ladder of evil is a twisty, punchy tale only Disch, in all likelihood, could pull off, and pull it off he does. This is a highly entertaining read, chock full of wry observations and wicked bon mots. For example, also early in the story, Henry, Billy's father, is reciting to Billy the famous Xmas poem about St. Nick and slightly modifies it by saying, "...he turned like a jerk", instead of "...he turned with a jerk." This is a neat little throwaway line that in only a few words gives the reader the essence of a Disch work--biting satire in the context of something meant to be pure and good for everybody on the planet.
A highly intelligent writer, Disch will be appreciated by those with a strong penchant for mordant glee, as well as those readers who love hunkering down and reading a story full of thrills, chills, and laughter you almost wish you weren't engaging in.
Definitely recommended.
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