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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's Not So Much the Story, It's the Style, September 1, 2010
ARIZONA FREE is a little quick-read book that is meant to be a diversion, a comedy along the lines of so many of the films that blossom in summer: get to know a band of characters, follow them through a bonding, and then find them entrapped in a situation that on the surface seems a bit foolish but one that ends up having some interpersonal relationship statements that are solid and constructive. It may not fall into the category of 'all that glisters is not gold' stories, but in Doug Martin's talented hands it is a breath of fresh air. Even the cover of this book lends information that assures the reader that there is more to the story inside than expected: 'ARIZONA FREE _ The Energy Drink Wars Have Reached New Heights - This time the people are getting ugly', the words placed above and below what appears to be an extraterrestrial hour glass running out of sand....
Jason and Troy are 'good buds' who are out to find away to crawl out from under the demeaning corporate world and find riches and fame and fortune. Tony is the more adventurous of the two, at first buying into a auto additive GasMax, talking Jason into being his fellow entrepreneur, and then failing to find buyers for the product that is to make the planet more green while saving on gas, etc. The lads banter back and forth about women: their attempts to put the make on a fellow corporate type over tennis leads us into the ever popular battle to win over the opposite sex while introducing subtle hints that same sex experiences are not out of the question. Eventually they team with a weird appearing girl, Cloe, and the three of them become involved in another possible scam - a new energy drink called DiNAmite, the ultimate 'power drink' in an age where these artificial sources of energy of every description pack the shelves. But DiNAmite is different - the secret ingredient being dinosaur DNA (now stay with me on this one) and that 'secret' opens the doors to the second half of the book, introducing aliens, graft, corruption and changes in the consumer's personality AND appearance that opens doors to one of the greatest huckster tales on paper!
Doug Martin has not written a deep book (or has he?), but the manner in which he relates his flaky tale is so endearingly written that no reader will regret the time spent passing this little tome of thoughts and entertainment and philosophy through their brains. It is funny, it has a moral, and it shares a lot of thought about the level of commercial and philosophical consciousness in which we tread. Grady Harp, September 10
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the Author's Imagination, August 26, 2010
Martin, Doug. "Arizona Free", Kanspira, 2010.
From the Author's Imagination
Amos Lassen
I first came upon Doug Martin's writing with his delightful "Benny Buggles". When I heard about "Arizona Free" I was anxious to read it because I feel that Martin has developed a unique style and he is so much fun to read. His work is off the wall and I say that kindly. I am pleased when a new writer makes me sit up and take notice and this book reinforces how I felt about his first book and that is that Martin is a new writer to watch. I rarely say that so take me at my word. "Arizona Free" is a satire that will keep you both laughing and thinking. Have you ever considered what might happen when the energy drink wars get really serious? Probably not and neither did I until I read this book. It's interesting that when I was growing up (back in the day), we had Coca Cola and Seven-Up and a few other drinks. Today you go to the store and you find rows of drinks and some are even subdivided down--Coke, Diet, Caffeine Free Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Cherry Coke, Vanilla Coke, Coke with Lime, etc and etc. It's only natural that competition is stiff. In "Arizona Free", we have DiNAmite which was invented by three co-workers and set to be the new energy drink. However there is a little surprise in the refreshment--dinosaur DNA. Jason, Tony and Cloe discover that the drink not only gives new energy but it also changes the way people behave and affects their bodies as well. Now that is all I am going to say about the plot because, God Forbid, I am not about to spoil a wonderful read.
One of the reasons I began reviewing is because I want people to start reading again and "Arizona Free" is a great place to start. Not only will you have an experience but you will find a new author who can shake the pants off of some more established writers. I particularly love the blurb on the cover, "based upon a completely untrue story". You will, also, begin to think about DNA like you never have before.
Several times I have been lucky when I report that someone is a writer to watch and I again hope that is true with Doug Martin. In his first book he showed us that he had talent, in his second book he proves it.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Kudos, August 27, 2010
First, I thought it was fiction, then I thought it was science fiction. After reading the entire book, I'm not sure what genre to classify it. It was, however, very entertaining and engrossing, at least for me.
I'll never look at energy drinks in the same way again!
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