A blunt of social commentary, tossed with tobacco, and rolled up with biting sarcasm.
Today’s world isn’t ready for Danny McAllister. Then again, Danny McAllister isn’t ready for the world, either. What rubs people the wrong way isn’t his songwriting talent, his international name recognition, or his ability to charm any woman. No, it’s more like Danny is the product of a bygone era where misogyny was hip, excess was expectation, and teamwork was for the weak. He may front a popular band, but his personal star is fading fast, being dimmed by a generation that no longer worships the indulgences he thrives on. He resents the forced diversity in his group, refuses to acknowledge his unhealthy habits, and despises the fact that his bandmates are emerging as talents in their own right. So he does what any obstinate relic would do and clings to fame with every paranoid breath. Danny defies the counter-counterculture movement he finds himself surrounded by and stays true to his miserable core by plotting and planning. But the world is small, and practically every action is documented for a judgy public. A camera crew adds to the pressure as Danny runs out of ways to scheme, manipulate, and maintain control. But the most terrifying question still lingers: What happens if the applause dies and the audience walks away?
Rock was put to pasture, but sex, drugs, and bubblegum pop live on in The Next Big Thing! Andrew McLinden does not ask for permission, though fair warning is given, before plunging readers into a world where self-destruction is a sport, virtue is a myth, and sincerity comes only while completely loaded. Though the plot does not move in extraordinary directions, McLinden lands a few surprises as readers are given VIP access to the shifting music industry and its engineered celebrities. In a story that will have you rethinking fantasies of stardom, Danny clings to relevance like a drowning man, drifting alone in a vast sea. His personal character arc is dark and tragic, but not difficult to imagine in a culture with so many who mistake fame for purpose. The author prioritizes style over emotional connection, but this suits a novel whose main character is deplorable, self-loathing, and difficult to like. Danny may not be a hero, but he will be remembered as his cynical viewpoint reads as a blunt of social commentary, tossed with tobacco, and rolled up with biting sarcasm. With writing that is vivid, graphic, and grimly humorous, you’ll love The Next Big Thing, a literary high without the inevitable crash.
