Assessment:
Overall rating (4 votes)
Recommended by Jim Zoetewey and 3 other members.
A Town Called Disdain
A serialized novel, updating twice weekly.
A sprawling fantastic tale of the ’60s, supposedly written by “legendary” B-movie director Larry Winchester.
A Town Called Disdain
— contains some graphic violence —
Tags: action adventure experimental humor literary fiction online novels quest science fiction
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Editorial Reviews
It’s a Freaky, Psychedelic World
Supposedly written by a famous director who needed money, "A Town Called Disdain" reminds me a little of Kurt Vonnegut’s work, a little of the Illuminatus Trilogy, and just a bit of a book called "Buddy Holly is Alive and Well on Ganymede."
It short, it’s a story in which the casually weird and the quirky appear regularly, accompanied by sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
The cast of characters includes a cowardly rancher, a well-educated motorcycle gang leader, a Vietnam veteran experiencing his first day home, secret agents, aliens and the various local residents of Disdain.
Did I mention that it’s funny? I should have.
I also feel like I should take a stab at critiquing the plot and the writing style, but I’m not sure what to say.
When reading it, I was into the story enough that I didn’t think about how it was being told at all.
For what it’s worth though, the story’s told mostly from a third person perspective but switches to first on occasion. More often than not, the first person sections turn out to be flashbacks.
As for the plot, I’m not far enough into the story to tell you what the plot is yet.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest though.
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Most Helpful Member Reviews
A Town Called Disdain
Starting in 1969, “A Town Called Disdain” unfolds in the New Mexican desert, not far from where the US government conducted nuclear tests. The after-effects show up in some of the local characters, and sometimes in the landscape. Presented as a novel by Larry Winchester, a purported 60s B-movie screenwriter, the action ranges from wild west good guys (and gals) vs. bad ones, intergalactic aliens disguised as movie stars of the time, a roving gang of psycho-motorcycle killers, and the dashing couple, Dick and Daphne Ridpath.
Each episode makes sense on its own and plays with the pop sensibility of one genre or another. The dialog is addictive, whether it’s among the motorcycle killers, secret government agents, Hollywood hotshots, Disdain’s local people, an English pop singer, the café owner, or Doc, the local physician and WWII vet.
For me, the writing is the thing. The pace varies from quick and rhythmic to careful interior experiences unique to each character.
Above and beyond however, each episode begins with a riveting photograph and ends with a YouTube 60s song (or movie clip) certain to please the initiate and pique anyone else’s curiosity.
“The Town of Disdain” is in a class all its own. Go there and you won’t want to leave.
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