Hitler the Cat Goes West [Paperback]

Although not strictly speaking science fiction [it's a "near future" novel] it's the only genre broad enough to be relevant.

This is not for those unwilling to entertain the idea that our social, relitious and political institutions are inherently flawed. What's the flaw - Lord Acton's observation was close: "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

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R. Wentz rated it on Goodreads 4/5 stars

What happens when a writer mashes together the nihilism of The Coen Brothers, the hard nosed, hard living protagonist of a Raymond Chandler story and enough religious satire to fill the Good Book a couple times over? Clearly the answer is "Hitler The Cat Goes West". Robert G. Pielke does this and more with his tale of a future so dark you'd better wear shades.

"Hitler" begins just a bit uneven and it takes a couple of pages to get used to Mr. Pielke's tight writing ...more What happens when a writer mashes together the nihilism of The Coen Brothers, the hard nosed, hard living protagonist of a Raymond Chandler story and enough religious satire to fill the Good Book a couple times over? Clearly the answer is "Hitler The Cat Goes West". Robert G. Pielke does this and more with his tale of a future so dark you'd better wear shades.

"Hitler" begins just a bit uneven and it takes a couple of pages to get used to Mr. Pielke's tight writing style, but once in, the story moves along really well. None of the characters are what you would call likable, but I have to believe that is by design, because in Hitler T.C.'s world there is very little to like. Hard line Christians known collectively as the True Way are whacking the leaders of neighboring districts (the US has broken in 5 confederations), in order to take over the whole shebang and create a Christian Theocratic state that would make present day Iran look like the DKE house at Dartmouth on a good Saturday night. Virtually every vice, even the most tame, are outlawed and god help us a person has to go to lawless Los Angeles for any kind of fun.

Hitler T.C., a paid assassin with a serious sex issue, plays the lead nihilist, not caring who is in charge or how they got there (though he despises the True Way, for whom he works). It is on his last "pop" that he meets an odd collection of strays that end up working together to put the world on it's ear.

I was fascinated by Mr. Pielke's bio in the back of the book that states he has a M. DIV from The Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg. Because, while Hitler T.C. may have a pederast Catholic Bishop in his sights, Mr. Pielke has the conservative Christian Right in his. And with this very good book, he has pulled the trigger

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Rachel Yanez rated it 4/5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads
I wasn't so sure how I felt about the book in the very beginning. I actually found myself to be confused at times because of all the characters and all the conspiracies, etc. But I quickly made sense of everything and greatly enjoyed the book. I thought the schemes were brilliant, and the writer did a great job. The entire storyline was well thought out and creative. Loved it.

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Pam rated it 4/5 stars

Received from Goodreads. It was a weird, fun read - just what I was in the mood for.

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It's not what you think from the title. It's a savage satire of everything holy....good!

An hilarious, demented, outrageous satire. I loved it! What a movie it would make! But it's definitely not for kids.