Items related to The Laughing Monsters: A Novel
A post-9/11 literary spy thriller from the National Book Award-winning author of Tree of Smoke
Adriko is an African who styles himself a soldier of fortune and who claims to have served, at various times, the Ghanaian army, the Kuwaiti Emiri Guard, and the American Green Berets. He's probably broke now, but he remains, at thirty-six, as stirred by his own doubtful schemes as he was a decade ago.
Although Nair believes some kind of money-making plan lies at the back of it all, Adriko's stated reason for inviting his friend to Freetown is for Nair to meet Adriko's fiancée, a college girl named Davidia from Colorado. Together the three set out to visit Adriko's clan in the Uganda-Congo borderland-but each of these travelers is keeping secrets from the others. Their journey through a land abandoned by the future leads Adriko, Nair, and Davidia to meet themselves not in a new light, but rather in a new darkness.
A high-suspense tale of kaleidoscoping loyalties in the post-9/11 world, Denis Johnson's The Laughing Monsters shows one of our great novelists at the top of his game.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
About the Author:
An Amazon Best Book of the Month, November 2014: In this slim, fiery, full-speed-ahead novel, National Book Award winner Denis Johnson has created two of the more memorable characters I’ve read this year. Roland Nair and Michael Adriko are soldiers, spies, friends, liars. They’ve fought side by side, witnessed torture and death. They also once made stacks of illicit cash (diamonds), and now Michael has an outrageous plan to make more (uranium - maybe). Years after they last parted, they reunite in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with Michael’s innocent and stunning fiancé along for the adventure. Uncowed by the madness and deceptions swirling around them all, Michael is an absolutely shimmering fictional creation -- both an elegant trained killer, and a lovable man-child. He’s full of secrets (“more will be revealed” is a verbal tic) and dark wisdom (“people don’t quite understand - to be eaten pays a compliment to your power”). He’s also lustful, greedy, tormented, violent and, incongruously, hopeful and hilarious. What Michael really wants is love, and family -- the home he’s never had. As he drags his friend and fiancé deeper into West Africa, in a desperate search for his long-lost village, we root for Michael, even as this irresistible and infuriating child of war barrels exuberantly toward darkness. In a murky post-9/11 world, Johnson seems to be saying, trust and friendship are what we make them. –Neal Thompson
Denis Johnson (1949–2017) is the author of eight novels, one novella, one book of short stories, three collections of poetry, two collections of plays, and one book of reportage. His novel Tree of Smoke won the 2007 National Book Award.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPicador
- Publication date2015
- ISBN 10 1250074916
- ISBN 13 9781250074911
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages240
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 7.01
Shipping:
US$ 3.25
From Canada to U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters: A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included. Seller Inventory # E08K-00451
Buy Used
US$ 5.69
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters
Published by
Picador USA
(2015)
ISBN 10: 1250074916
ISBN 13: 9781250074911
Used
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.25. Seller Inventory # G1250074916I3N00
Buy Used
US$ 6.68
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters
Published by
Picador USA
(2015)
ISBN 10: 1250074916
ISBN 13: 9781250074911
Used
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.25. Seller Inventory # G1250074916I3N10
Buy Used
US$ 6.68
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters
Published by
Picador USA
(2015)
ISBN 10: 1250074916
ISBN 13: 9781250074911
Used
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.25. Seller Inventory # G1250074916I3N10
Buy Used
US$ 6.68
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters: A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: VeryGood. Ships Within 24 Hours M-F- Satisfaction Guaranteed! Has a publisher overstock mark. Item is in Good Condition. Clean Copy With Light Amount of Wear. Seller Inventory # 39BAPP003TRK
Buy Used
US$ 3.00
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters: A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_369504955
Buy Used
US$ 3.50
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters: A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_386653152
Buy Used
US$ 3.50
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters : A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Good. Reprint. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 8278713-6
Buy Used
US$ 8.45
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters: A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: VeryGood. Fast Shipping - Safe and Secure 7 days a week!. Seller Inventory # 3TWOWA000WFG
Buy Used
US$ 4.50
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Laughing Monsters: A Novel
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Like New. May have light shelf wear and/or a remainder mark. Complete. Clean pages. Seller Inventory # 954825
Buy Used
US$ 5.84
Convert currency