'Book of Benjamin' explores what the EXTRAORDINARY inside brings out in people
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Darren Lamb’s The Book of Benjamin reads a lot like a Stephen Jay Gould or Chuck Klosterman book if they wrote their ideas in the realm of fiction rather than science and personal experience. Using pop culture references and the crucifixion of Christ as a structure, Lamb has come up with a unique take on what would happen if an ordinary person were suddenly endowed with extraordinary powers. With a wink to his Sea of Sin series and a narrative drenched in nerd speak, including superheroes and Star Wars references, Lamb brings his characters to life with all of their faults, desires and yearnings.
That doesn’t mean The Book of Benjamin is for everyone. Lamb’s writing style includes plenty of sex and masturbation references as well as foul language and graphic violence. Still, Lamb will pull you through a journey of high imagination that pulls no punches and, in spite of the less than happy ending, leave you feeling like you’ve done something and like you can do something to make this world better – even if it is just to stick up for the rights of someone else in the face of the injustice of the world. We are more than we think we are, and if that appeals to you, The Book of Benjamin will as well. This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links have been updated July 2016. |