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Zoey Ashe #2
Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2020)New York Times bestselling author David Wong's Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick is the latest—and arguably greatest–sci-fi thriller in the Zoey Ashe Series.
In the futuristic city of Tabula Ra$a, Zoey Ashe is like a fish so far out of water that it has achieved orbit. After inheriting a criminal empire, the twenty-three year-old finds herself under threat from all sides as a rogue's gallery of larger-than-life enemies think they smell weakness.
On the eve of the world's most lavish and ridiculous Halloween celebration, a steamer trunk-sized box arrives at Zoey's door and she is shocked to find that it contains a disembowelled corpse. She is even more shocked when that corpse, controlled by an unknown party, rises and goes on a rampage through the house. Speaking in an electronic voice, it publicly accuses Zoey of being its murderer. This is the kind of thing that almost never happened at her old job.
The city was already a ticking time bomb of publicity-hungry vigilantes with superhuman enhancements and Zoey knows this turn of events is unlikely to improve the situation. Now, she and her team of high-tech tricksters have to solve this bizarre murder while simultaneously keeping Tabula Ra$a from descending into chaos.
In the futuristic city of Tabula Ra$a, Zoey Ashe is like a fish so far out of water that it has achieved orbit. After inheriting a criminal empire, the twenty-three year-old finds herself under threat from all sides as a rogue's gallery of larger-than-life enemies think they smell weakness.
On the eve of the world's most lavish and ridiculous Halloween celebration, a steamer trunk-sized box arrives at Zoey's door and she is shocked to find that it contains a disembowelled corpse. She is even more shocked when that corpse, controlled by an unknown party, rises and goes on a rampage through the house. Speaking in an electronic voice, it publicly accuses Zoey of being its murderer. This is the kind of thing that almost never happened at her old job.
The city was already a ticking time bomb of publicity-hungry vigilantes with superhuman enhancements and Zoey knows this turn of events is unlikely to improve the situation. Now, she and her team of high-tech tricksters have to solve this bizarre murder while simultaneously keeping Tabula Ra$a from descending into chaos.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2020
867 people are currently reading
12937 people want to read
About the author
David Wong
9 books5,715 followersDavid Wong is the pseudonym of Jason Pargin. He is the former Executive Editor of Cracked.com, author of the bestselling John Dies at the End series and the award-winning Zoey Ashe novels. Jason has a new Goodreads profile under his real name, you can follow it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 698 reviews
May 17, 2022
This is the future speaking and can confirm that our collective dick was punched by Zoey
October 18, 2020
Let me just say that I'm STILL super impressed that this title ever got out of the gate.
As for everything else going on, this is very much a sequel but it's hardly needed to read the first book first. Crazy s**t happened. Zoey is way out of her depth. Still.
In fact, this novel goes completely off the deep end. Let's keep the humor running high, make sure our poor Zoey is now super freaking rich, inheriting all the ills of the rich, and feeling the total terror of rampaging human augments, gigantic farting kitties, and even more about futuristic suits.
What's the real issue tho?
Zoey is isolated like crazy and is starting to go crazy. It doesn't hurt that this totally nuts place in Ohio is a privatized anarchistic wonderland that has more in common with an anime than a rational city.
And that's what's awesome about this.
That, and the cat. Any of the cats. I'm all over this book about the cats.
It takes a lot of unusual social takes and maybe even takes an unpopular stance, but I have to grade the balls in this book. Or rather, this is where the focus goes. :)
As for everything else going on, this is very much a sequel but it's hardly needed to read the first book first. Crazy s**t happened. Zoey is way out of her depth. Still.
In fact, this novel goes completely off the deep end. Let's keep the humor running high, make sure our poor Zoey is now super freaking rich, inheriting all the ills of the rich, and feeling the total terror of rampaging human augments, gigantic farting kitties, and even more about futuristic suits.
What's the real issue tho?
Zoey is isolated like crazy and is starting to go crazy. It doesn't hurt that this totally nuts place in Ohio is a privatized anarchistic wonderland that has more in common with an anime than a rational city.
And that's what's awesome about this.
That, and the cat. Any of the cats. I'm all over this book about the cats.
It takes a lot of unusual social takes and maybe even takes an unpopular stance, but I have to grade the balls in this book. Or rather, this is where the focus goes. :)
owned-tbr
January 29, 2020*snort* I can't believe the author got his working title approved as THE final title.
October 30, 2020
You'll love this book if, like me, you agree cannibalism should not only be legal, but required. Too bad we'll never get those laws changed as long as women are allowed to vote. Also, I never, ever tip!
Okay, okay, David Wong made me do it. He said it would get you to read his books. And you really should, all of them.
Zoey Punches is the sequel to Futuristic Violence, the first of Wong's Zoey Ashe series. While I gave the first book 4-stars, I'm giving Zoey a strong 4-stars. This ones better but then I'm not a big fan of origin story books. Can I see a show of hands of those who are tired of the endless Spider-Man origins? I know I am. Just get on with it! And that's what this one does, from the start, and never slows down. Wong has a deft hand with action. But he also has some great things to say about the dilemma the rich have when trying to do "the right thing." Yeah, I know: poor rich people, huh? I read the Kardashian story about her birthday party on the private island during the pandemic. However, Wong did make me think about it, which might be all I need to do.
A wonderful addition to the Wongian bibliography. If you've never read him before, I'd recommend trying John Dies at the End or Futuristic Violence first.
Okay, okay, David Wong made me do it. He said it would get you to read his books. And you really should, all of them.
Zoey Punches is the sequel to Futuristic Violence, the first of Wong's Zoey Ashe series. While I gave the first book 4-stars, I'm giving Zoey a strong 4-stars. This ones better but then I'm not a big fan of origin story books. Can I see a show of hands of those who are tired of the endless Spider-Man origins? I know I am. Just get on with it! And that's what this one does, from the start, and never slows down. Wong has a deft hand with action. But he also has some great things to say about the dilemma the rich have when trying to do "the right thing." Yeah, I know: poor rich people, huh? I read the Kardashian story about her birthday party on the private island during the pandemic. However, Wong did make me think about it, which might be all I need to do.
A wonderful addition to the Wongian bibliography. If you've never read him before, I'd recommend trying John Dies at the End or Futuristic Violence first.
October 11, 2020
I loved all the John books, but don't find the Zoey books as funny. I suppose that the point of all the misogyny and violence is to make fun of those who feel that way towards women, but watching Zoey be called fat and belittled and threatened constantly just isn't that much fun to read. Women, in general, don't deserve that and Zoey, in particular, doesn't either.
I received an eARC through NetGalley.
I received an eARC through NetGalley.
November 12, 2020
David Wong is one hell of a writer. On the surface (or per cover/title) his books might seem like they're on the absurd side, more geared for the Adult Swim audience than the A Tale of Two Cities crowd, but they're really full of heart and emotion and while yes there are fart jokes there are also interesting insights into the human condition and what makes us tick. Friendship and loyalty are also common themes throughout his stories. One only has to read any of the JDatE books to see that and it's good to see that carried over to this series.
I enjoyed the first installment in this series, Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits, but for all of its strengths it was disjointed in parts. This one works a little better IMO because we already know who everyone is, if you've read the first book, and Wong didn't need to spend as much time introducing all of the characters and describing the setting. The city in question is like Vegas on steroids and is sorta like its own character so it does deserve to be explored, but those asides did not take me out of the story this time like they did in book one, and as a result everything flowed a little bit more smoothly.
David Wong is a writer who I think can appeal to everyone. There's action in here, comedy, a whole rescue operation devoted to a cat, possible cannibalism, strengthening of family bonds, cool gadgets and weaponry, an unbelievable costume contest, an even more unbelievable Halloween Parade, skull-print underwear, fighting, video games, and a shit-load of mood altering hand creams. If any of those things sound fun to you, or even if you just like having fun in general, spend a few bucks, pick up this book, get lost in its pages and just forget about how crazy the real world is right now. Sincerely though, you won't be disappointed.
I enjoyed the first installment in this series, Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits, but for all of its strengths it was disjointed in parts. This one works a little better IMO because we already know who everyone is, if you've read the first book, and Wong didn't need to spend as much time introducing all of the characters and describing the setting. The city in question is like Vegas on steroids and is sorta like its own character so it does deserve to be explored, but those asides did not take me out of the story this time like they did in book one, and as a result everything flowed a little bit more smoothly.
David Wong is a writer who I think can appeal to everyone. There's action in here, comedy, a whole rescue operation devoted to a cat, possible cannibalism, strengthening of family bonds, cool gadgets and weaponry, an unbelievable costume contest, an even more unbelievable Halloween Parade, skull-print underwear, fighting, video games, and a shit-load of mood altering hand creams. If any of those things sound fun to you, or even if you just like having fun in general, spend a few bucks, pick up this book, get lost in its pages and just forget about how crazy the real world is right now. Sincerely though, you won't be disappointed.
January 17, 2021
The suits are back!!
Sequels are rarely better than their predecessors but this is the case with Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick.
While Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits had to take time to map out the world and set up characters, this book got down to the absurd hilarity on the very first page. And it didn't let up until the last word.
There was never a dull or dry moment as Zoey attempts to navigate a somewhat moral path with her father's ill-gotten fortune. But Tabula Ra$a doesn't make it easy. The depraved city manages to produce a next level round of villains and over the top antics.
I laughed out, I cringed, I got a little misty-eyed at one point, but more than anything I didn't want it to end.
I can't wait to see what David Wong comes out with next.
Sequels are rarely better than their predecessors but this is the case with Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick.
While Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits had to take time to map out the world and set up characters, this book got down to the absurd hilarity on the very first page. And it didn't let up until the last word.
There was never a dull or dry moment as Zoey attempts to navigate a somewhat moral path with her father's ill-gotten fortune. But Tabula Ra$a doesn't make it easy. The depraved city manages to produce a next level round of villains and over the top antics.
I laughed out, I cringed, I got a little misty-eyed at one point, but more than anything I didn't want it to end.
I can't wait to see what David Wong comes out with next.
July 7, 2024
Apparently the book's title was actually a placeholder, until an internet poll convinced Wong to go with it because it's hilarious.
Zoey Ashe finds herself struggling to establish rule over a sprawling multibillion crime empire while targeted by a by an online group known as "The Blowback" who mail her a corpse right before Halloween.
A mystery has to be solved before they start a fight with a PMC that runs the city's security.
3/5
Overall, I thought it was very good, if maybe slightly weaker than the first book with a bit of a scattered feel.
Zoey Ashe finds herself struggling to establish rule over a sprawling multibillion crime empire while targeted by a by an online group known as "The Blowback" who mail her a corpse right before Halloween.
A mystery has to be solved before they start a fight with a PMC that runs the city's security.
3/5
Overall, I thought it was very good, if maybe slightly weaker than the first book with a bit of a scattered feel.
March 13, 2022
Gonzo crossover cyberpunk/comic book/social commentary continuing story of Zoey Ashe, a twenty-something, trailer trash heiress to a pseudo-criminal empire confounding a conspiracy against her in a futuristic parody of Las Vegas. Second book in a continuing series.
Stench Machine Spider/Cat Mecha
My audio edition was about eleven and a half (11 ½) hours long. A dead tree copy would be 384 pages. The original US copyright was 2021.
David Wong is the nom de plume of Jason Pargin an American humor writer. He has 5-books published, in two series. This was the second book in the author’s Zoey Ashe series. Currently there are two books in the series. This was also the 4th book I’ve read by the author. The most recent being Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits (Zoey Ashe, #1) (my review).
Its strongly recommended you read Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits before this book. It heavily leverages events and characters from that book.
Full disclosure, I’ve been reading David Wong since his Cracked.com early days. (That’s a sad commentary on my life, I know.) You have to understand his schtick to get it. Aside from the toilet humor, dick and titty jokes and other one-liners, his hyperbolist, satire of common TV tropes can be very funny.
The key theme to the Zoey Ashe series was the Unexpected Inheritance story. The protagonist Zoey Ashe a self-described “trailer troll” barista unexpectedly inherits her estranged, biological father’s quasi-criminal empire and vast fortune. This takes place in a cyberpunkish -near future where the Surveillance Society was a form of entertainment for the purpose of Bread and Circuses . The story’s main venue was a City Noir called Tabula Ra$a, Utah a Las Vegas-like, utopia for the super-rich and criminals. Zoey is a Reluctant Ruler of the The Chains of Commanding type. In this story, Malicious Slander and a rival believing in the Heir Club for Men entangle her. (I’ll stop now pointing out the tropes being satirized, of which there are many.) Zoey takes a firmer grasp of the reins of her late father’s organization (including his management team of men and a woman in “Fancy Suits”), overcomes her anxieties, saves herself, and along the way makes Tabula Ra$a a better place.
Wong's books are gonzo and laddish. They’re also very contemporary in language and chock-full of popular cultural references. This one, written recently was easier for me to get the references than the Zoey Ashe #1 book, written almost 10-years ago and read recently.
The plot lines were very much comic book-like. The descriptions were good. The badinage of the dialog was entertaining, but requires calibration to be amused by it. As written above the humor can be puerile. I did laugh-out-loud more than once, and found some of the descriptive writing used to create “sight gags” to be good. The action sequences were good, but of thecomic book graphic novel , ‘on-steroids’ type. For example, characters took enormous beatings, but kept on ticking. Nobody went into shock due to trauma or blood loss.
As in the previous book, there was an odd 3rd person POV. Ashe was the protagonist. She’s ‘Plucky”, but a failed ‘Action Girl’. (That’s part of the running joke.) Some folks may find this satirisation of a stereotype to be objectionable. I was fine with Wong’s handling of the female character. Ashe also had a beloved cat (Stench Machine), who figures large in the story. I actually revile ‘Cat Stories’, but I see what he did there.
Some folks may be offended by the: violence against women and cats, gore, scatological references and 'dick' and ‘titty’ jokes. Despite the bawdy nature of the prose, there were no sweaty, naughty bits in the story, other than the “we did it once” type. There was talk of substance abuse; both hard and soft-core drugs, but no active consumption was described. Consumption of alcohol was immoderate. There was: physical, edged-weapons, firearms, and heavy weapons violence. Violence against women is mentioned. The descriptions of physical trauma was graphic. The body count in the story was near genocidal. Property damage was at the level of modern warfare.
This story was much like the previous book, although the Ashe character was more introspective. "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." She’s isolated. She has no close friends, and the only regular social interaction she has is with her cat, Stench Machine. In this story she comes to grips with her power and prestige. She realizes the extent of her responsibilities and embraces them. She also accepts that she’ll have a lot more worries than other people, or she had while living in a trailer park.
This book was not a great work, but understanding Wong’s humor, it was amusing to me. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous book. The world building of Tabula Ra$a and the interesting character building of the Men (and woman) in Fancy Suits was now familiar. I also found the ‘cat plotline’ to have been beyond the pale, even for Wong. Having written that, not everyone appreciates gonzo humor or has my exposure to Wong. If you have no tolerance for the profane, hyperbole, or humor involving: class, technology, “double-think” and man’s inhumanity to man, woman, and cats-- you're not going to like this book. However, there was an entirely different level-of-humor lurking below them. Not everyone will like this, but I found it to be ‘listenable’.
I may shortly be reading the next unread book of Wong’s series John Dies at the End series: What the Hell Did I Just Read.
Stench Machine Spider/Cat Mecha
My audio edition was about eleven and a half (11 ½) hours long. A dead tree copy would be 384 pages. The original US copyright was 2021.
David Wong is the nom de plume of Jason Pargin an American humor writer. He has 5-books published, in two series. This was the second book in the author’s Zoey Ashe series. Currently there are two books in the series. This was also the 4th book I’ve read by the author. The most recent being Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits (Zoey Ashe, #1) (my review).
Its strongly recommended you read Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits before this book. It heavily leverages events and characters from that book.
Full disclosure, I’ve been reading David Wong since his Cracked.com early days. (That’s a sad commentary on my life, I know.) You have to understand his schtick to get it. Aside from the toilet humor, dick and titty jokes and other one-liners, his hyperbolist, satire of common TV tropes can be very funny.
The key theme to the Zoey Ashe series was the Unexpected Inheritance story. The protagonist Zoey Ashe a self-described “trailer troll” barista unexpectedly inherits her estranged, biological father’s quasi-criminal empire and vast fortune. This takes place in a cyberpunkish -near future where the Surveillance Society was a form of entertainment for the purpose of Bread and Circuses . The story’s main venue was a City Noir called Tabula Ra$a, Utah a Las Vegas-like, utopia for the super-rich and criminals. Zoey is a Reluctant Ruler of the The Chains of Commanding type. In this story, Malicious Slander and a rival believing in the Heir Club for Men entangle her. (I’ll stop now pointing out the tropes being satirized, of which there are many.) Zoey takes a firmer grasp of the reins of her late father’s organization (including his management team of men and a woman in “Fancy Suits”), overcomes her anxieties, saves herself, and along the way makes Tabula Ra$a a better place.
Wong's books are gonzo and laddish. They’re also very contemporary in language and chock-full of popular cultural references. This one, written recently was easier for me to get the references than the Zoey Ashe #1 book, written almost 10-years ago and read recently.
The plot lines were very much comic book-like. The descriptions were good. The badinage of the dialog was entertaining, but requires calibration to be amused by it. As written above the humor can be puerile. I did laugh-out-loud more than once, and found some of the descriptive writing used to create “sight gags” to be good. The action sequences were good, but of the
As in the previous book, there was an odd 3rd person POV. Ashe was the protagonist. She’s ‘Plucky”, but a failed ‘Action Girl’. (That’s part of the running joke.) Some folks may find this satirisation of a stereotype to be objectionable. I was fine with Wong’s handling of the female character. Ashe also had a beloved cat (Stench Machine), who figures large in the story. I actually revile ‘Cat Stories’, but I see what he did there.
Some folks may be offended by the: violence against women and cats, gore, scatological references and 'dick' and ‘titty’ jokes. Despite the bawdy nature of the prose, there were no sweaty, naughty bits in the story, other than the “we did it once” type. There was talk of substance abuse; both hard and soft-core drugs, but no active consumption was described. Consumption of alcohol was immoderate. There was: physical, edged-weapons, firearms, and heavy weapons violence. Violence against women is mentioned. The descriptions of physical trauma was graphic. The body count in the story was near genocidal. Property damage was at the level of modern warfare.
This story was much like the previous book, although the Ashe character was more introspective. "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." She’s isolated. She has no close friends, and the only regular social interaction she has is with her cat, Stench Machine. In this story she comes to grips with her power and prestige. She realizes the extent of her responsibilities and embraces them. She also accepts that she’ll have a lot more worries than other people, or she had while living in a trailer park.
This book was not a great work, but understanding Wong’s humor, it was amusing to me. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous book. The world building of Tabula Ra$a and the interesting character building of the Men (and woman) in Fancy Suits was now familiar. I also found the ‘cat plotline’ to have been beyond the pale, even for Wong. Having written that, not everyone appreciates gonzo humor or has my exposure to Wong. If you have no tolerance for the profane, hyperbole, or humor involving: class, technology, “double-think” and man’s inhumanity to man, woman, and cats-- you're not going to like this book. However, there was an entirely different level-of-humor lurking below them. Not everyone will like this, but I found it to be ‘listenable’.
I may shortly be reading the next unread book of Wong’s series John Dies at the End series: What the Hell Did I Just Read.
January 22, 2021
If you know me, you are aware that I love the JOHN DIES AT THE END series. Shortly after reading the first book I purchased a paperback of FUTURISTIC VIOLENCE AND FANCY SUITS, the second book written by Wong. I was intrigued, but like many ardent readers something newer and shinier caught my attention, and FVAFS got buried under a mound of other books. For four years.
Then I heard there was a new Wong book coming out, and when I saw that it was the follow up to FUTURISTIC VIOLENCE I immediately put that book and the new one on my January TBR. I read the first book in the Zoey Ashe series and loved it so much I could barely wait to read this one. Perhaps I was meant to buy the first book and then wait for the second to be released. I'm not very good at waiting for things. Four years is a long time.
Dare I say that I love these books even more than the JDATE series? You bet I dare. Character driven stories are my jam, and the characters in this series are all stellar. I had no idea just how much I would fall in love with Zoey and The Suits. GAH. I'm sincerely trying to figure out how to gush about these two books without giving anything away. And it's totally my style to write a review for the second book first, without even addressing how much the first book pulled me in and made me immediately want to read book two. I never do anything in the right order. That makes me feel a sort of kinship with Zoey, because she rarely follows the rules either. Or wear pants. This pandemic has truly proven how overrated pants are.
Look, I know there is a very specific audience for Wong's books. Most of my friends are not part of that audience, but I have to try to get some of them to read these. Because I need at least a third book. And to get that, Jason Pargin needs readers. So do me a favor and pick up these two. Or just start with the first one. That's how confidant I am that you will want to read this one too. For anyone who loves lightening-fast paced character-driven stories with lots of gore and cats, these books are for you. Did I mention they are also laugh out loud funny? Do I need to with a title like that? You know what to do.
Then I heard there was a new Wong book coming out, and when I saw that it was the follow up to FUTURISTIC VIOLENCE I immediately put that book and the new one on my January TBR. I read the first book in the Zoey Ashe series and loved it so much I could barely wait to read this one. Perhaps I was meant to buy the first book and then wait for the second to be released. I'm not very good at waiting for things. Four years is a long time.
Dare I say that I love these books even more than the JDATE series? You bet I dare. Character driven stories are my jam, and the characters in this series are all stellar. I had no idea just how much I would fall in love with Zoey and The Suits. GAH. I'm sincerely trying to figure out how to gush about these two books without giving anything away. And it's totally my style to write a review for the second book first, without even addressing how much the first book pulled me in and made me immediately want to read book two. I never do anything in the right order. That makes me feel a sort of kinship with Zoey, because she rarely follows the rules either. Or wear pants. This pandemic has truly proven how overrated pants are.
Look, I know there is a very specific audience for Wong's books. Most of my friends are not part of that audience, but I have to try to get some of them to read these. Because I need at least a third book. And to get that, Jason Pargin needs readers. So do me a favor and pick up these two. Or just start with the first one. That's how confidant I am that you will want to read this one too. For anyone who loves lightening-fast paced character-driven stories with lots of gore and cats, these books are for you. Did I mention they are also laugh out loud funny? Do I need to with a title like that? You know what to do.
August 9, 2020
Disclaimer: Received a free ARC of this one via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
David Wong is among the only authors I know that can successfully weave his narrative between the moral aspects of surveillance states, the effects of cyberbullying, and a dick joke involving a crotch-whip.
More tonally serious than its predecessor yet somehow filled with outrageous situations that improbably yet hilariously keep escalating, this is the second entry into Zoey’s escapades as the impromptu leader of the most powerful gang of... villains? Antiheroes? Just folks making a living, if by that we mean wrangling an empire of billions in the most viciously advanced city of this reimagined USA?
While the first one firmly established the setting, this one dives into the deep end of public image, public perception and public abuse of both. How else can you call a small yet vociferous minority of hateful little men, who manage to cyberbully a public female figure in a position of power enough to make her believe the whole world is against her? In that, this read successfully alternates between outrageous humor and nuggets of wisdom worth thinking about, after the final page and the unlikely yet entirely satisfyingly (and very much in-character for Zoey and the Suits, too) resolution is reached.
Here’s hoping for a bright, explosions-filled future from Mr Wong for Zoey and the rest of Tabula Ra$a!
David Wong is among the only authors I know that can successfully weave his narrative between the moral aspects of surveillance states, the effects of cyberbullying, and a dick joke involving a crotch-whip.
More tonally serious than its predecessor yet somehow filled with outrageous situations that improbably yet hilariously keep escalating, this is the second entry into Zoey’s escapades as the impromptu leader of the most powerful gang of... villains? Antiheroes? Just folks making a living, if by that we mean wrangling an empire of billions in the most viciously advanced city of this reimagined USA?
While the first one firmly established the setting, this one dives into the deep end of public image, public perception and public abuse of both. How else can you call a small yet vociferous minority of hateful little men, who manage to cyberbully a public female figure in a position of power enough to make her believe the whole world is against her? In that, this read successfully alternates between outrageous humor and nuggets of wisdom worth thinking about, after the final page and the unlikely yet entirely satisfyingly (and very much in-character for Zoey and the Suits, too) resolution is reached.
Here’s hoping for a bright, explosions-filled future from Mr Wong for Zoey and the rest of Tabula Ra$a!
September 13, 2020
Blah. This is boring as crap. The first one was fun. This one is just preachy and unendingly metaphorical in a really hamfisted way. This reads like a David Wong article, not a David Wong novel.
May 10, 2024
I can’t wait to pick up book 3
December 16, 2020
I wasn't as big a fan of Fancy Suits as I was of the JDATE series, as it felt a bit like Wong was stumbling along as he tried to write something different. Suits had its share fo LOL moments, but the story was hard to grasp at times. In Zoey, however, Wong has fully expanded and developed his new world, and reading it was a rapturous joy from start to end. From early on I had times I had to put the book down for a second because I was laughing so hard. Wong manages to slide some very timely social commentary in while at the same time splashing his marvelous irreverent humor all over the page. I loved this book as much as any of the JDATE novels and look forward to seeing more of Zoey in the future.
November 1, 2020
As usual, this book is so ridiculous that it's great.
November 4, 2023
This is the sequel to Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits. It follows Zoey Ashe trying to figure out her new life as a mob boss (for lack of a better term) and trying to clean up the mess her corrupted father made. It points out that most of our worldly problems are caused by men, capitalism and people who think the power of a few is more important than the health, safety and basic human rights of the many. He touches on racism and corruption in government/police in such a real way. Also INCELS. Not to mention sexism, harassment and abuse. All while maintaining an absolute psychotic sci-fi version of Utah and always, 100% of the time maintaining hilarity and suspense. This series honestly has it all. Including insane and hilarious plot twists. I never knew what direction this plot was heading in, all I knew is I never wanted it to end.
I FUCKING LOVE THIS BOOK.
Honestly I'd read this man's grocery list. I have never liked a female character written by a white man up until this point in my life. They always seem to be a walking pair of boobs only involved to move the sex life of some heroic man along. David Wong has written the most realistic heroine (if that's what you'd call her), she's chubby, clumsy, sarcastic and lacks all basis of a verbal filter. When backed into a corner with her life on the line, does she cower and cry? No. She emasculates these men with her words. Usually very publicly. And sometimes accidentally burns their junk off, but let's be honest. They were asking for it.
This series has very quickly become one of my all time favorites. There isn't a single character that I'm not unhealthily attached to and that includes all of the glorious villains. This book/series makes me cackle and makes me drop many very loud, unceremonious "WHAT THE FUCKs" almost every chapter.
I call on everyone I've ever met and will ever meet to read literally anything David Wong (Jason Pargin) writes. Especially this series. Guys I'm serious. Even the Afterword made me laugh.
I read this on kindle and highlighted 153 quotes that made me laugh.
So to follow this up, here are some of the quotes I highlighted. With zero context just because I love them.
“I can command your right hand to rip out your tongue and flap it against your scrotum for the rest of the week." - Zoey Ashe
“I wish this house had a machine that would make my bra go flying off the moment I walked in the door.” “If such a device existed, Ms. Ashe, I’m certain your father would have had one installed long before you moved in." - Zoey Ashe and her butler.
"Even though he totally deserved it? You, meanwhile, have just shown yourself to at the very least be capable of nonconsensual corpse puppetry.” -you guessed it Zoey Ashe
“The cow came here to scare us into abandoning the quest for justice,” said The Blowback, “after she and her friends tied a man down, still alive, and had a chef make sushi out of his organs as he screamed. Making him watch his own mutilation.” Zoey threw up her hooves again. “You just keep adding things.”“Eating him, while he pled for mercy. Then came the orgy, afterward, around his corpse.”
10/10 for being one of the funniest books I have ever read.
10/10 for amazing plots and characters
10/10 because Will Blackwater fucking deserves it
I FUCKING LOVE THIS BOOK.
Honestly I'd read this man's grocery list. I have never liked a female character written by a white man up until this point in my life. They always seem to be a walking pair of boobs only involved to move the sex life of some heroic man along. David Wong has written the most realistic heroine (if that's what you'd call her), she's chubby, clumsy, sarcastic and lacks all basis of a verbal filter. When backed into a corner with her life on the line, does she cower and cry? No. She emasculates these men with her words. Usually very publicly. And sometimes accidentally burns their junk off, but let's be honest. They were asking for it.
This series has very quickly become one of my all time favorites. There isn't a single character that I'm not unhealthily attached to and that includes all of the glorious villains. This book/series makes me cackle and makes me drop many very loud, unceremonious "WHAT THE FUCKs" almost every chapter.
I call on everyone I've ever met and will ever meet to read literally anything David Wong (Jason Pargin) writes. Especially this series. Guys I'm serious. Even the Afterword made me laugh.
I read this on kindle and highlighted 153 quotes that made me laugh.
So to follow this up, here are some of the quotes I highlighted. With zero context just because I love them.
“I can command your right hand to rip out your tongue and flap it against your scrotum for the rest of the week." - Zoey Ashe
“I wish this house had a machine that would make my bra go flying off the moment I walked in the door.” “If such a device existed, Ms. Ashe, I’m certain your father would have had one installed long before you moved in." - Zoey Ashe and her butler.
"Even though he totally deserved it? You, meanwhile, have just shown yourself to at the very least be capable of nonconsensual corpse puppetry.” -you guessed it Zoey Ashe
“The cow came here to scare us into abandoning the quest for justice,” said The Blowback, “after she and her friends tied a man down, still alive, and had a chef make sushi out of his organs as he screamed. Making him watch his own mutilation.” Zoey threw up her hooves again. “You just keep adding things.”“Eating him, while he pled for mercy. Then came the orgy, afterward, around his corpse.”
10/10 for being one of the funniest books I have ever read.
10/10 for amazing plots and characters
10/10 because Will Blackwater fucking deserves it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2020
Zoey Ashe, who inherited a crime empire from her deceased biological dad, finds herself in a pickle when she’s framed for the elaborate death of an enemy. Her hoards of haters get on the band wagon, and not only does she have to clear her name, she must dodge insults and dastardly dudes alike.
This book is bananas. This statement will likely not come as a surprise to anyone who has read the title or seen the cover or who knows of John Wong’s work. The world building and the sheer zaniness is incredible. I enjoyed the Halloween elements and the idea of Zoey’s cat having his own Blink account and devoted followers. However, the endless smack talk about Zoey, and likening her to a cow got old quick. The huge cast of characters felt a bit out of control and the plot with its coincidences, conveniences, and hand waving at the end added to the ridiculousness.
I’d hoped for more of Zoey’s cat Stench Machine and little less of pretty much everything else including page count. I do get that second books in a series can be problematic, especially for someone who hasn’t read the first book. I did like the upbeat, feel good bits in the resolution and the Daisy hand cream was super fun. I did buy book one and plan to read the author’s other series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
This book is bananas. This statement will likely not come as a surprise to anyone who has read the title or seen the cover or who knows of John Wong’s work. The world building and the sheer zaniness is incredible. I enjoyed the Halloween elements and the idea of Zoey’s cat having his own Blink account and devoted followers. However, the endless smack talk about Zoey, and likening her to a cow got old quick. The huge cast of characters felt a bit out of control and the plot with its coincidences, conveniences, and hand waving at the end added to the ridiculousness.
I’d hoped for more of Zoey’s cat Stench Machine and little less of pretty much everything else including page count. I do get that second books in a series can be problematic, especially for someone who hasn’t read the first book. I did like the upbeat, feel good bits in the resolution and the Daisy hand cream was super fun. I did buy book one and plan to read the author’s other series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
March 20, 2022
DNF at 45%. This series went from fun to whiny really damn fast.
March 14, 2023
Zoey and her inner circle of suits are back at it again in this second installment of the Zoey Ashe series.
The action starts right away with Zoey and the Suits trying to diffuse a hostage situation at the Cuddle Theatre in Tabula Ra$a. The author reintroduces the main characters, unveils new tech and villains and sets the tone of the novel as a humorous social commentary on society's many flaws... specially when money is involved.
Yet again Zoey embarks in some crazy adventures to find her cat, prove that she's not a murderer and establish herself as an authentic business woman in a sea of male chauvinist a-holes. The escapades are graphic-novel worthy, the grandiloquent villains are fantastically depicted and the "serious undertone with comedic relief" is superbly executed. The author evokes so many issues: misogyny, INCELs, racism, mass surveillance, bullying and cyber bullying, mental health in seclusion, the need for attention/recognition and its repercussions, materialism, meeting parental expectations, general depravity of human kind etc. The author even adds cannibalism and MLM schemes for good measure!
What I truly enjoyed were the little pearls of wisdom amidst the ludicrous humour: "This life Dexter, it crashes in on you. You get your heart broken and you get humiliated but the sun rises the next day."
I am giving it 4 stars as I found there was too much action and it was a little redundant? It might have been the fact that this was my first audiobook and I found it harder to take notes and keep track of who said what. My rating might change when I get my hands on a physical copy. Cannot wait to re-read and I cannot wait to read more from this author!
The action starts right away with Zoey and the Suits trying to diffuse a hostage situation at the Cuddle Theatre in Tabula Ra$a. The author reintroduces the main characters, unveils new tech and villains and sets the tone of the novel as a humorous social commentary on society's many flaws... specially when money is involved.
Yet again Zoey embarks in some crazy adventures to find her cat, prove that she's not a murderer and establish herself as an authentic business woman in a sea of male chauvinist a-holes. The escapades are graphic-novel worthy, the grandiloquent villains are fantastically depicted and the "serious undertone with comedic relief" is superbly executed. The author evokes so many issues: misogyny, INCELs, racism, mass surveillance, bullying and cyber bullying, mental health in seclusion, the need for attention/recognition and its repercussions, materialism, meeting parental expectations, general depravity of human kind etc. The author even adds cannibalism and MLM schemes for good measure!
What I truly enjoyed were the little pearls of wisdom amidst the ludicrous humour: "This life Dexter, it crashes in on you. You get your heart broken and you get humiliated but the sun rises the next day."
I am giving it 4 stars as I found there was too much action and it was a little redundant? It might have been the fact that this was my first audiobook and I found it harder to take notes and keep track of who said what. My rating might change when I get my hands on a physical copy. Cannot wait to re-read and I cannot wait to read more from this author!
November 6, 2024
Don't tell my mom I read this worthless but funny book, and if you do tell her, don't let her know I enjoyed it.
Things for Zoey just get worse as she tries to figure out what to do with her late criminal mastermind father's fortune and criminal enterprise as the giant Halloween celebration rolls around. It doesn't help that everybody is trying to eliminate her, including some of her own people!
Things for Zoey just get worse as she tries to figure out what to do with her late criminal mastermind father's fortune and criminal enterprise as the giant Halloween celebration rolls around. It doesn't help that everybody is trying to eliminate her, including some of her own people!
August 23, 2021
бессвязная хуйня
June 7, 2021
I love David Wong's books. There's a genre that has Carl Hiaasen kind of at one end and Richard Kadrey at the other, that's profane, a little insane, snarky, witty, gross, and packed with social commentary and surprising sweetness, and Wong's books fall within that. The world's not as bent as, say, Nightvale, but it's off and wonderful, familiar things pulled and twisted into something just different enough to allow things to be a little creepier, a little scarier, and a little more ludicrous, all while packing a...you know...punch. This book doesn't disappoint. In fact, I'm off to order the first one, since, for the second time in as many months, I read a book that I didn't realize was part of a series. As with his other books, this one has snappy repartee, wholly silly situations, and a protagonist who, seemingly ill-equipped for the challenges facing her, nonetheless rises to face them and best them again and again. Each of the character's an archetype, but with a twist. And the story speeds along, a shot of adrenalin, relying on the sublimely ridiculous to pull the threads together. The narrator for this Audiobook did a good job, too.
March 3, 2021
HOW COULD ZOEY ASHE GET BETTER?!
I loved this book MORE than I thought possible off the back of Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits.
We get to explore several issues, including misogyny, capitalism, civil rights, the threat of technology, terrorism and utilitarianism. All of this is done SO BRILLIANTLY through the eyes of a young, ignorant woman from the very lowest socio-economic demographic, who has been catapulted into obscene wealth, status and power. She is learning the ropes of her new criminal empire and grappling with the morality of doing so.
Still as humorous as ever, with DEEPER character development, STRONGER themes and a superb plot line.
I mean, cannibal jokes are never not funny.
I will also be FURIOUS if we do not have another epic addition to this universe.
I CANNOT LIVE WITH THAT ENDING WITHOUT MORE.
I am not okay, I will be out of office until further notice to process this.
Regards.
I loved this book MORE than I thought possible off the back of Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits.
We get to explore several issues, including misogyny, capitalism, civil rights, the threat of technology, terrorism and utilitarianism. All of this is done SO BRILLIANTLY through the eyes of a young, ignorant woman from the very lowest socio-economic demographic, who has been catapulted into obscene wealth, status and power. She is learning the ropes of her new criminal empire and grappling with the morality of doing so.
Still as humorous as ever, with DEEPER character development, STRONGER themes and a superb plot line.
I mean, cannibal jokes are never not funny.
I will also be FURIOUS if we do not have another epic addition to this universe.
I CANNOT LIVE WITH THAT ENDING WITHOUT MORE.
I am not okay, I will be out of office until further notice to process this.
Regards.
June 9, 2022
I've read just about everything from Jason (David) and always enjoy his work. His humor matches mine exactly, but I'm also consistently impressed with his creativity within the story-telling. Moreover, the way people talk in his books feels so familiar with my surroundings.
There was this one line in the book that really got me thinking.
"So you kill people in real life based on horrors that occur in your imagination. Got it."
How many people strengthen themselves or shield themselves based upon their past trauma? How much of this is imagined or amplified in their minds over time, allowed the actions of others to drive their future decisions? All leading to the central question, how fucked up are you?
There was this one line in the book that really got me thinking.
"So you kill people in real life based on horrors that occur in your imagination. Got it."
How many people strengthen themselves or shield themselves based upon their past trauma? How much of this is imagined or amplified in their minds over time, allowed the actions of others to drive their future decisions? All leading to the central question, how fucked up are you?
January 18, 2022
If Justin/David's other books are considered "horror comedy" then this series is SciFi Action Comedy. The cast of characters and the endless string of outrageous events is always spiced with a witty one liner, an off hand remark, or a non sequitur about a cat.
May 1, 2024
Another book from this series succeeds in keeping me entertained enough to read more or less the entire thing in one sitting. Dripping with social commentary, but it's so over-the-top and comical that you’re not even slightly annoyed. It ends more with a whimper than a bang. Still, though, the “suits’” over-engineered rescue mission involving a giant cat building, a rocket-propelled zipline, elaborate disguises (alluded to being apart of some sort of magic act), and a Bond villain-esque black zeppelin hovering over the city is a series of mental images I will cherish.
these books are a lot of fun.
these books are a lot of fun.
May 8, 2022
Mochte es leider nicht so sehr wie den ersten Band, den ich an dieser Stelle immer noch allen ans Herz legen möchte!
November 1, 2020
This is David Wong's second book about corporations exploiting modern narcissism to trick citizens into building their own surveillance state. The first book is about how social media enables and amplifies toxic masculinity. This book is about how social media enables and amplifies conspiracy theories.
This story demonstrates the wit and imagination that Wong has shown in all of his books. Both the Zoey series and John Dies at the End employ the absurd with sympathetic characters and social commentary.
This is probably the most seriously toned of all of Wong's books. He always blends humor with dark storytelling, but here the more thoughtful Wong takes center stage. The morality of Zoey and her situation is examined in detail, and while this future is still rather dark and bleak, it's also surprisingly optimistic. Action takes a back seat to a more thoughtful approach to its themes about society and class.
I would recommend it, but know that this is a very different book from its predecessor. It's more thoughtful and less action-packed, although there are still some ridiculous action set pieces thrown in for good measure. It also sets up the future of the series quite nicely and makes me intrigued about what comes next. I'm definitely interested in Magaboss Alonzo's mayoral campaign.
David Wong’s books have always made me both laugh and cringe at the absurdities of our culture, and Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick is no exception.
While set in the not-so-distant future, this book tackles topical issues like police brutality, cyberbullying, racism, and inequity. It pokes fun at incels and Qanon and includes a farting giant cat robot. It is truly a work of art.
You'll love this book if, like me, you agree cannibalism should not only be legal but required. Too bad we'll never get those laws changed as long as women are allowed to vote. Also, I never, ever tip.
Okay, David Wong made write that. He said it would get you to read his books. And you really should, all of them.
This story demonstrates the wit and imagination that Wong has shown in all of his books. Both the Zoey series and John Dies at the End employ the absurd with sympathetic characters and social commentary.
This is probably the most seriously toned of all of Wong's books. He always blends humor with dark storytelling, but here the more thoughtful Wong takes center stage. The morality of Zoey and her situation is examined in detail, and while this future is still rather dark and bleak, it's also surprisingly optimistic. Action takes a back seat to a more thoughtful approach to its themes about society and class.
I would recommend it, but know that this is a very different book from its predecessor. It's more thoughtful and less action-packed, although there are still some ridiculous action set pieces thrown in for good measure. It also sets up the future of the series quite nicely and makes me intrigued about what comes next. I'm definitely interested in Magaboss Alonzo's mayoral campaign.
David Wong’s books have always made me both laugh and cringe at the absurdities of our culture, and Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick is no exception.
While set in the not-so-distant future, this book tackles topical issues like police brutality, cyberbullying, racism, and inequity. It pokes fun at incels and Qanon and includes a farting giant cat robot. It is truly a work of art.
You'll love this book if, like me, you agree cannibalism should not only be legal but required. Too bad we'll never get those laws changed as long as women are allowed to vote. Also, I never, ever tip.
Okay, David Wong made write that. He said it would get you to read his books. And you really should, all of them.
April 19, 2024
The first book had a section that dragged quite a bit, for me, and most of this book (unfortunately) was interested in modelling itself after it.
Now firmly cemented as rich, “the blowback” (I refuse to capitalize), a group of VR entrenched conspiracy jobs, spin Zoey’s rise in a misogynistic, disgusting light, in an effort to galvanize various other factions against her.
A lot of this novel is spent with Zoey experiencing a crisis of faith in herself, questioning her power and wealth, vacillating between being ineffectual or else a complete tyrant because she’s not doing enough. While some of this book does a descent job at showing how hate groups work, it doesn’t make for interesting or tense reading, so it’s just people standing around talking or Zoey doom spiralling internally or verbalizing it. The humour actually worked against it numerous times too, deflating any sense of actual stakes or crises.
Contrary to the title, the resolution to everything is maybe an alright progression of Zoey’s character, but also antithetical to what made the first book a fun read. Moronic jerks keep trying to make Zoey feel like crap and there’s no actual agency to speak of, physical otherwise, for her to deploy. What winning looks like in those circumstances, is kind of anticlimactic. I thought she’d have taken self defence classes or learned a bit, but no, especially given the title. Instead, there’s a cohen-esk bumbling around to an ending, which fizzled out.
Which is kind of a shame, given the third books’ cover looks really good. I’m not sure I want to bother with it after this, though.
Now firmly cemented as rich, “the blowback” (I refuse to capitalize), a group of VR entrenched conspiracy jobs, spin Zoey’s rise in a misogynistic, disgusting light, in an effort to galvanize various other factions against her.
A lot of this novel is spent with Zoey experiencing a crisis of faith in herself, questioning her power and wealth, vacillating between being ineffectual or else a complete tyrant because she’s not doing enough. While some of this book does a descent job at showing how hate groups work, it doesn’t make for interesting or tense reading, so it’s just people standing around talking or Zoey doom spiralling internally or verbalizing it. The humour actually worked against it numerous times too, deflating any sense of actual stakes or crises.
Contrary to the title, the resolution to everything is maybe an alright progression of Zoey’s character, but also antithetical to what made the first book a fun read. Moronic jerks keep trying to make Zoey feel like crap and there’s no actual agency to speak of, physical otherwise, for her to deploy. What winning looks like in those circumstances, is kind of anticlimactic. I thought she’d have taken self defence classes or learned a bit, but no, especially given the title. Instead, there’s a cohen-esk bumbling around to an ending, which fizzled out.
Which is kind of a shame, given the third books’ cover looks really good. I’m not sure I want to bother with it after this, though.
December 15, 2021
This book is a tremendous disappointment.
So hold on. The character that is creeping through her mansion at multiple points during the Halloween prep to get a look at the McGuffin machine that can create stable implants is offered by Zoey to get them for free?
Despite that she has had countless problems with the Raiden tech falling outside her corporation's hands? That every lesson she's been taught has shown not to spread the cybernetic, superhero making technology? She instead choses to offer it to someone free of charge, that she hardly knows? One that works for the competition, that her allies don't trust? A competition that might I add, eats hearts (and claims to be human), to appear more badass and get more followers on Blink.
Why not trust Andre? Or Echo Ling? But a character outside of the "suits" circle marks me as very shortsighted. Zoey has no way of knowing if this person is lying about their intentions. I read the book, Zoey didn't do as much as a background check.
Come on Wong/ Pargin. This ending is a mess. Zoey's character motivations are a mess. You've lost me as a reader. Your first book was fun. It was tongue in cheek, not overly preachy. it was a good book. What happened here...
Also stop calling Zoey a cow or obsessing about Echo Ling's beauty. You've got some chauvinist undertones, buddy.
So hold on. The character that is creeping through her mansion at multiple points during the Halloween prep to get a look at the McGuffin machine that can create stable implants is offered by Zoey to get them for free?
Despite that she has had countless problems with the Raiden tech falling outside her corporation's hands? That every lesson she's been taught has shown not to spread the cybernetic, superhero making technology? She instead choses to offer it to someone free of charge, that she hardly knows? One that works for the competition, that her allies don't trust? A competition that might I add, eats hearts (and claims to be human), to appear more badass and get more followers on Blink.
Why not trust Andre? Or Echo Ling? But a character outside of the "suits" circle marks me as very shortsighted. Zoey has no way of knowing if this person is lying about their intentions. I read the book, Zoey didn't do as much as a background check.
Come on Wong/ Pargin. This ending is a mess. Zoey's character motivations are a mess. You've lost me as a reader. Your first book was fun. It was tongue in cheek, not overly preachy. it was a good book. What happened here...
Also stop calling Zoey a cow or obsessing about Echo Ling's beauty. You've got some chauvinist undertones, buddy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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