Atomic Lobster (Serge Storms)

Tim Dorsey's loveable serial killer Serge and his sidekick, the wacky druggie named Coleman, are back in their newest adventure, Atomic Lobster. Oh, and some old friends and enemies make a return appearance for everyone's entertainment.

We meet up with Tex McGraw, who is mean, meaner and meanest. He's out of jail and hot on the road to revenge. Jim Davenport is in his sites, just because of that accidental killing of his brother.

Jim's daughter is engaged and that's not a good thing since the groom-to-be is a slime ball with few morals and no job and money that's running out. The Diaz brothers make a return appearance and run smack dab into Davenport during a move. Then there's the Accidental Virgin and Johnny Vegas. Whew! I'm tired already. Tired or not, the Florida road trip must continue, especially after dropping a guy off a bridge. Well, he did slap Rachael, a six-foot stripper.

Then there are those government types who are covering up murder victims, and well, you've just got to read it all to believe it. And yes, there is a contest afoot to build the biggest-ever bong.

Dorsey's Atomic Lobster races along at a frenetic pace, and nothing or no one escapes his wit. Serge and Coleman continue to do their thing, even when it's the older generation who they really must look out for. I always enjoy Tim Dorsey's novels, but must rest between readings. If not, I would be required to check into the nearest institution.

Armchair Interviews says: Atomic Lobster is as fun, quirky and zany as the title.

Serge and sidekick Coleman hook up with smoking hot Rachel and wreak havoc in Florida. Sounds a bit like the rest of the Serge books by Dorsey. In this one, we revisit a lot of characters from previous books, notably the Davenports from Triggerfish Twist. Hectic pacing and mad dashing abounds in this outing involving smuggling artifacts, drugs, and bio-hazards; not to mention Tex McGraw is released from prison and is on the hunt for all who did him wrong, including Jim Davenport with whom spree-killing Serge has forced into a friendship. How does Rachel tie into Serge's & Coleman's past? Who's the famous football player in the book? Is it cheaper to live on a cruise ship rather than a retirement home? Who is Special Agent Foxtrot? Will Johnny Vegas ever get any girly-action? What's up with Clowns vs Mimes e-videos? Can Coleman build the biggest bong ever?

While the book is fast-paced and holds your interest, there really is no story here, it's pretty much action sequence to action sequence kinda like Live Free or Die Hard. Great quirkyness and fun characters but there's no underlying story.

The first half is fast, funny and enjoyable, but when you live by cleverness you die by ham-handedness and the second half is forced, repetitious and lame. So for me, it is the least of the four Dorsey novels I've read. If you're not familiar with the writer you should probably start with a different book. They're starting to blend together, but maybe take a look at Nuclear Jellyfish.

I thought ‘Hurricane Punch’ was blown a little off course but this book is another strong showing. The story reintroduces Jim Davenport and the E-Team (now G-unit) along with the rest of the gang! If you’re looking for a well written, fun and ridiculous story which keeps the action coming from start to finish, put on your lobster bib and get some crackers ready because ‘Atomic Lobster’ is ready for you!

Atomic Lobster was my introduction to our friendly, neighborhood killer; Serge. An assassin with a "moral compass", of sorts. I laughed so hard -- I wet my pants. Serge and his useless sidekick, Coleman, are great; but my personally favorite characters are the ladies of G-Unit.The most cantankerous and resourceful blue-hairs that ever graced the SunShine state. Think Golden Girls without a censure. What I would not do to have these girls for my grandmothers or girlfriends for that matter............. Before starting another installment, I may need to invest in a box of Depends.

Or maybe it should be Cheech & Chong meet James Bond.

Atomic Lobster is a mystery thriller where the two protagonists are good-natured drugged out losers. Although they kill bad guys, and some who really aren't so bad, it is more humorous than tragic. The originality of how some of the characters are eliminated is amazing.

Nothing is sacred in this novel - old ladies taking consecutive cruises just to take advantage of the free medical on board, a wimp married to an unreasonably demanding wife, a retired football star who spend all his time freebasing, drug smugglers who are unwittingly working for terrorists, terrorists who are disguising their operation as artifact smugglers, and a government secret agent following it all, who is not revealed until the end.

Amazingly enough all this is tied together in a very entertaining book.

The lovable psychopath, Serge A. Storm, appears for the 10th time, along with his larger-than-life sidekick, Coleman, in this typically [for this author] comical and absurd tale. Along the way we are treated to amusing sidelights, ending in a cruise from Tampa involving smuggling.

The novel includes the customary cast of unusual characters, including a serial killer, a timid husband and his mixed-up wife, a boozed-up and doped-up bottle blond strip-teaser and four elderly matrons who provide comic relief. The author's comments on cruise ships are not only funny but accurate and telling.

If you've never read one of the books in this series, start here. You will not be disappointed, as we promised in the recent review of Hurricane Punch [the book preceding this one and just released in paperback].

Embarking on a new adventure off the coast of the Sunshine State, psychopath Serge A. Storms and his drug-addled sidekick find themselves surrounded by atypical retirees and drug dealers while working to outmaneuver federal agents and a fugitive murderer. BT.
I've read all the Tim Dorsey novels and I have to say this ranks as his best. More laughs than a comedy club. Serge and Coleman are one of a kind. The series brings in some new characters as well (The G-unit, a bunch of crazy older ladies) and returns with some previous ones.
The only thing I didn't like about this book is it ended to soon.
I have to say that Dorsey is one of the most entertaining authors I've read. I'm never disappointed in his novels. Put a new Hiaseen novel next to one of his and I'll go Dorsey all the way. Of course once I'm finished with Dorsey, I'll go right after the Hiaseen.
I'd suggest starting with the first in the series and working your way to this one. It will be much funnier knowing the characters.

Highly recommended!

This adventure (the first I've read of Mr. Dorsey) has Serge A. Storms and Coleman taking on drug dealers, on a cruise ship; with a weird woman named Rachel, and has some funny moments (the bong made out of the aquarium) but overall, it's just ok. It has some crude language (enough to make the saltiest sailor blush) and some funky bits [kinda gross]. I am willing to try another book, unlike a coworker of mine, who found the characters tasteless. If Triggerfish Twist is anything like this one, I probably won't be reading many more, if any more, of his books. It's a matter of taste (or not). If fancies the weird, but with a better class of characters, try Terry Pratchett.

Tim Dorsey sure isn't for everyone and is undoubtedly a guilty pleasure for many. If you love (or hate) one of his books, you'll undoubtedly have the same reaction to all his others. There is a sameness to the books, but they are addictive and if you're a fan, you're quite willing to keep reading each new one. Of course, each book has high spots which will especially catch various readers. For me, I especially loved the E-Team (Edith, Edna, Eunice & Ethel), four uninhibited 90+ gals. Rachael is a great take-off on the Femme-Fatale gender. And then there's the way Serge completely ravages the non-confrontationalist support group.All in all, this is as usual a must read for Serge & Coleman's followers.

Just finished Atomic Lobster and agree with other positive reviewers. An enjoyable (and unplausible) black satire set in current day Florida. This is my first Dorsey book and as suggested by another reviewer will try to read the series starting at the beginning.

I mention Hiassen in the title of my review because both Dorsey and Hiassen set their satires in contemporary Florida. If, like me, you are somewhat turned off by Hiassen's PC approach you won't find that with Dorsey. He skewers both sides of the culture gap equally.

My favorite satires set in Florida are Elmore Leonard's Florida series. I would suggest a reader start with "Maximum Bob" "Out of sight" and go from there.

The man slapped six foot stripper Rachel so Serge A. Storms decides to give him a first hand lesson at the Serge charm school. He and Coleman hold the guy by his ankles off an overpass just to scare him. However, an angry Rachel arrives, elbows Serge in the chest and bites Coleman. They drop the man who vanishes. Serge and Coleman agree it is time to hit the road especially since the latter hopes to create the biggest bong ever.

Others also are touring Florida. The quickest to the draw of the mean McGraws, killer Tex is out of prison with plans to murder those who sent him up river. The G-Unit (dubbed the E-Team by the media) nonagenarian investors seek sex on a cruise; Serge learns not to be in there way when they drive as they purposely pretend confusion while playing pinball with pedestrians. Finally the government seems to be hiding some mysterious murders. The convergence of all these divergent people turns out to be Jim and Martha Davenport, who just wants some excitement in their lives.

This is the usual over the top satire that atomizes just about everyone even a lobster. Serge is at his best starting with his woops while Coleman meeting up with pal Lenny plan on a Guinness Book size bong. However, between the storeian Rachel, the government, bad Tim McGraw and the "Granny" brigade, Serge and Coleman understand the biggest threat to their Florida road show is these dangerous ninety years olds. Tim Dorsey provides his typical insane zaniness that leaves no one standing except ninety-one years old Edith Grabowski who had sex twice without oxygen and is ready to take on Tim, Rachel, Serge and Coleman in a no holds barred Florida death match.

Harriet Klausner

Tim Dorsey books are hilarious and some people believe that this is total fiction, but a lot of the zany happenings truly do happen in Florida. Scams, accidental or not-so-accidental deaths, travel history and an enjoyable trip through Florida are recounted in Tim Dorsey's book. Excellent beach read.

Tim Dorsey's Serge Storms novels range from 2 stars to 4 stars. His best novels in the series are better than some of Hiaasen's work (which ranges from 3 to 5 stars), but these are still below the level, say, of Hiaasen's Tourist Season and Skin Tight. The question I ask myself after reading a novel by Dorsey or Hiaasen is "How long will it be before I want to reread this book, and will its features stand out in my mind in a year or two from now?" I look forward to rereading the best works of both men, but the novels below that top tier blur in my mind--it's hard to remember where you read a particular episode.

Dorsey's best work is coherent and tight: Atomic Lobster and some of his other novels are almost manic--they make me think of a rock band that tries to compensate for a lack of talent by playing as loudly as possible. The Serge Storms books all have bizarre murders, usually lots of booze and drugs, and Serge pontificating at length on historical trivia. There's a little less historical trivia than usual here (which is a blessing), but the story often seems choppy. You get the feeling that on 5 successive pages there are 5 episodes with different people, and the time frames have been shuffled: the third episode takes place 6 hours before the first, for example. This can be very distracting and hard to follow. It might help if you were slightly stoned on something as you read here.

So if you're a big Serge fan you'll enjoy the book. If you haven't read any of the books in the series, start with Florida Road Kill (the first in the series and certainly one of the best), and work your way up from there.

This book is another in the long but amazing series of Tim Dorsey's books. It once again is about everybody's favorite and lovable serial killer, Serge Storms. I'm not going to give you the whole story and synopses, that's the store's job... so I'll just say it like I always do:

If Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard had the balls and drug appetite the size of Hunter Thompson, they might be able to write like Tim Dorsey! Maybe...

I guess that writers of series of books obligate themselves to write a set number of them for a set price, and then try to meet the obligation by making an effort at writing the first few, then churning out the last one while half-asleep. I got the sense that this book was Dorsey's final effort in this particular publishing sequence. Unreadably absurd. Understanding that the Storms novels are intended to be over the top, there is a certain skill at work in keeping the ridiculous still plausible. All pretense of "absurd plausibility" is gone in this meager effort - culled, it seems, from a series of whacky ideas conceived while jogging (or driving or walking), noted, and then incorporated all at once into a single volume with no attempt at continuity, plot, or narrative. And when, by the way, did Coleman get so articulate? This book is a bust, folks. Avoid it! [P.S. - I have never personally communicated with an author. . . until I read this book. Inconsequential that it was, I still picked the "contact" tab on Dorsey's website, and asked where, please, can I get my money back? I haven't heard back.]