Written by Zeb Haradon
In the context of the second book in Zeb Haradon’s Disposable Soma trilogy (you can read my review of that book here, and an earlier novel, Cousin Calls, here), the word “psittacide” refers to the murder of a parrot. Not only is this a clever play on words, derived from “Psittacidae,” which refers to a type of parrot, these parrot deaths are explored in a depth you generally wouldn’t find in a political thriller. If you’re familiar with Haradon’s work, you would know how much he delights in absurdity; if not, you’re in for a wild ride.
The death of parrots is merely one of the elements that makes up the plot of the novel. Through its 372 pages (or estimated 403 Kindle pages), Psittacide picks up a few years after The Disposable Soma. Protagonist Jim Liu is tapped on the shoulder to step in as the running mate of an incumbent President, who also happens to be an authoritarian who stands against everything that Jim believes in. The President, a cutthroat by the name of Silas Blackwolf, had his last Vice President arrested to prevent her from invoking the 25th Amendment. For those unfamiliar with the US Constitution’s various amendments, the 25th Amendment clarifies that the Vice President takes over the Presidency if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office via impeachment.
Like The Disposable Soma before it, Psittacide is a political satire that pillories the United States’ political system and political class, as well as American culture as a whole. It’s a biting take with its allusions to modern politics and politicians. Through the satire, the author tells a hugely entertaining story. With the book set in the year 2172, the story weaves in science fiction elements across a tapestry that is bigger than in its predecessor. While that book, too, is peppered with sci-fi elements, this broader tapestry pushes the satirical (but not humorous) edge somewhat back. Psittacide also feels as though it moves slower than The Disposable Soma, but as this book reaches its climax, both the satirical edge and pacing escalate to a crescendo that’s more enjoyable than its predecessor’s hugely enjoyable end.
Although it takes a while for Psittacide’s political satire to hit as hard as the trilogy’s first outing, the science fiction elements are on fine display. Haradon expands upon the world he created in The Disposable Soma, and leans harder into the science fiction elements, creating something that sci-fi fans will enjoy, regardless of whether they’re a fan of satirical looks at the US political system or not. These elements present a world that feels both futuristic and familiar, with the use of sci-fi elements adding life to the world. Many of the concepts included in the book feel unique to it, and those that are less unique to the trilogy are presented in a way that still feel unique. While science fiction perhaps isn’t the book’s primary genre, it works well, with the concepts being scientifically robust within the story’s heightened reality.
To circle back on the mass deaths of parrots (how could I not come back to this?), it lends the book some heart. If you’ve read The Disposable Soma or my review (the link’s above, if you’re so inclined), you’ll know the parrots are genetically enhanced with a comparable intellect to humans. Much like the human characters, the parrots in Psittacide are full of humanity, and are easy to relate to. It’s fantastic characterisation all around. The result is that the reader feels for the parrots, particularly with the plague striking them feeling very much like COVID-19, and the response in the book having shades of the US’ response to the pandemic.
Don’t let the heart fool you, though Psittacide is an acerbic book. I wouldn’t call its primary genre science fiction, I would call it transgressive humour. Its content puts it squarely in the realm of adults only, and much of its content will make adults squirm. Much of the book’s humour is in poor taste and has the ability to offend a number of readers, so if your tastes don’t align, you’ll likely struggle with the book. If your tastes align with the book’s humour, you’ll be laughing along with it much like I was. Without fail, Haradon’s humour is sharply written with the jokes landing. And although humour plays a pivotal role in the book, it does so without sacrificing the story, characters or world.
Much like The Disposable Soma before it (as well as Cousin Calls), Psittacide is wonderfully written. It has a higher proportion of dialogue than its predecessor, but the writing never feels as though it’s falling back on the dialogue. The characters’ voices sound unique from one another, and perhaps more importantly, they sound natural. When reading the dialogue, it’s easy to imagine the novel’s characters are real people having real conversations. The dialogue is written with a sparkling wit that carries over to the prose. Both build their jokes expertly, while moving the story forward, The prose is always clear and easy to follow, and is presented in a way that engages the reader and entices them to keep going.
Even though Psittacide is the middle book in a trilogy, it works well as a standalone book. Past events add colour to the book’s world and history, but it’s written in a way that new readers can follow along with, without having read The Disposable Soma first. It also offers new and returning readers a summary of the first book’s events, getting them up to speed, or refreshing their memory if they haven’t had the benefit of reading them days apart. The ending feels complete, ensuring that if you read the book in isolation, you have an entire story. I would certainly recommend readers read the first novel before this one, but purely because it gives them more of the trilogy to enjoy.
Psittacide is a book for readers who can handle its transgressive content. It’s not a book for people who don’t like stories that push the boundaries. If you do like such stories, however, it’s a fantastic read. While the pacing is slower, and for much of the book, the political satire more subdued, than its predecessor, it remains a thoroughly entertaining read. I can’t wait to jump into the trilogy’s final book, Bubbleqake. I’ll have my review for you in the coming days.
Favourite Passage
“This is a man with serious psychological problems,” Donna was in the middle of saying. “And he’s incredibly insecure. I think it’s because of his penis.”
“Can you elaborate on that?” the interviewer, Sean Sorbo, asked.
“It’s like… Donna grasped for the right words. “You know those gnarly pieces of wood that wash up on the beach sometimes, all twisted and mangled?”
Psittacide: Book 2 of the Disposable Soma Trilogy, “October 2172”
Psittacide: Book 2 of the Disposable Soma Trilogy was purchased for the purpose of an honest review.
Psittacide is available in both paperback and on Kindle, exclusive to Amazon.
Note: I do not post scores for reviews on this website, but do post them on my Amazon and Goodreads reviews:
- Amazon
- Goodreads
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Interested in purchasing Psittacide?
Please find a link below; please note I do not collect any proceeds from the sale.
Psittacide (The Disposable Soma Book 2)
wastanley.com 