Besserwisser
Steve Anderson
Smashwords
Kindle
2009
$1.99
257 pages
Steve Anderson’s Ebook called Besserwisser reminded me of my favorite Sunday night show Amazing Race. I love when an American couple shows their true U.S. arrogance and stupidity when they are having trouble navigating a foreign country and become upset when they can’t find anyone who “speaks English.”
In Besserwisser, self-described American slacker, and our protagonist, Gordy Ford ventures to Germany with hopes of becoming an expat writer. Like many, Gordy is overcome with being in a new country and surrounded by new people who don’t know him or know anything about him. But rather than appearing to be another dumb American, he pretends to be someone else: a top Hitler scholar.
But Gordy’s “little fibs” don’t stop there. He has to keep up his charade when he takes interest in a German woman, hoping to woo her. But unfortunately he and his pal Tad also catch the interest of a Neo-Nazi and the Russian mafia when they encounter the truth behind a huge historical mystery that could change everything if Gordy is only willing to finally reveal the truth!
I thoroughly enjoyed going on this journey with Gordy and must say I liked Anderson’s light hearted approach. Think Toole’s Confederacy of Dunces but set against the backdrop of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Besserwisser is a comical adventure that will keep you guessing, but all gets worked out nicely in the end when true identities – not just Gordy’s – are revealed.
Anderson’s good use of dialogue definitely helped to keep the story moving at a nice pace. There’s enough humor – both dry at times and dark – to make you like these characters but a good dash of mystery and suspense to keep the plot rolling. Let’s not forget we’re in Germany too so beer gardens and oompah bands abound. Although I’ve never been to Germany I think the author did a great job of building his setting, and at least convincing me that he knew what he was writing about.
Here’s a bit early on from the first chapter giving the reader a good feel for the characters and where Gordy begins to set his white lies in motion:
Sloane’s head snapped back, and he peered at Gordy. “What’s the K for? And where you from again?”
“What? Oh, Kirby. Portland — the city part.”
“School?”
“Told you — University of Oregon.” A good line, that one. Believable enough, but not prestigious enough that Sloane would know anyone there. Sloane was fishing, seeking a chink in Gordy’s armor. It was to be expected. Sloane only needed more detail. Gordy looked around, seeking more material. To his right sat a man grumbling in a Slavic language, hidden behind dark glasses and a mackintosh. To his left a man in a Tyrolean hat smoked from a cigarette holder as his bored, waifish Fräulein rested her head on his shoulder. Right then and there Gordy decided his story would be a mystery, if not a conspiracy, just like in all those hokey Nazi spy thrillers he’d read. So he leaned well forward, practically nuzzling at Sloane, and he whispered: “I’m telling you, I’m onto something big time. Bigger than the Hitler Diaries.”
“Stop, right there. Gord-on, the Hitler Diaries turned out a hoax.”
“Yes. That’s why this is bigger,” Gordy said.
“You keep saying that. Then throw me a bone. Jesus.”
“I told you. Have to protect my sources.”
“Sources,” Sloane snorted, nodding along. They had met the day before, in line at the American Express. Sloane was a PhD candidate from, as Sloane put it, the only university in Michigan that matters. Gordy nodded in confirmation, letting his silence hide that he wasn’t even sure where Michigan was exactly. North of Wisconsin? South of some Great Lake? As they stood in line Sloane had joked, with some bitterness, that he’d found Salvation in Academia — he welcomed the pressure to discover minor historical issues he would publish in complete obscurity. This inspired and terrified Gordy in equal parts, and yet something about it also hit home. He might have been a historian like Sloane had the chips fallen his way. So why not simply pretend that’s what he was? Believing was seeing. Besides, weren’t all people imposters to a degree? Happy lives were built on white lies, he told himself. It was better making friends this way than to go through life seething with envy.
Being an Ebook, I had no problems with the PDF. After reading it, I even took a look at the sample over at Smashwords. The author was also kind enough to update me on changes he’d made, sending me the updated PDF later on. To me, the lack of the right side justification still sticks out like a novice sore thumb, but I guess I should stop beating the dead horse, eh? I also really like the cover and the colors used and think this would transfer nicely to a 5 x 7 paperback with a bit of formatting to the manuscript. Love the title too and the meaning behind it! Wanna know what it is? I’m not gonna tell you but I’m know where you can easily find out.
Mr. Anderson has generously given readers 50% of the book FREE as a sample at Smashwords! Just click here. I’m sure you’ll front the awesome $1.99 price tag to find out how this German read ends!
