Walking Man [Paperback]

Tim W Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0978984706 | ISBN-13: 978-0978984700

Fiction. From the same metafictional universe as the films Best in Show and This is Spinal Tap, WALKING MAN documents the life and times of Brian Walker, publisher of the zine "Walking Man." Through a fateful encounter between his foot and a yuppie's BMW, Brian becomes the most famous zine publisher in America and an ardent defender of pedestrian rights. Meanwhile, he must juggle the ambitions of his sexy actress girlfriend with his own soaring celebrity. Written in the tradition of the scandalous tell-all biography, WALKING MAN satirizes so-called "alternative" culture while it fondly recollects the 80s and 90s zine scene. "I loved this book from its first page. WALKING MAN tells an extremely funny story and is spot-on in its critique of pop culture trendiness"--Joseph Weisberg.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim W. Brown is the author of three published novels, Deconstruction Acres (1997), Left of the Loop (2001) and Walking Man (2008). His latest literary effort is American Renaissance, a comic historical novel set in 1830s America, to be published in 2010. From 1982 to 1999 Brown published Tomorrow Magazine, a poetry zine, and he helped to organize the Underground Press Conference, a gathering of zine publishers held annually in the 1990s. From 1998-2002 he was a member of Chicago's Printers Row Book Fair planning committee, and from 2004-2009 he served on the board of the New York Center for Independent Publishing. A member of the National Book Critics Circle, he regularly reviews small-press books for a variety of national and regional publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Bronx River Press (April 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978984706
• ISBN-13: 978-0978984700
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,120,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

TIM W. BROWN was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois. In 1983 he graduated summa cum laude from Northern Illinois University with a degree in American studies.

He is the author of three novels, Deconstruction Acres (1997), Left of the Loop (2001) and Walking Man (2008). His latest literary effort is American Renaissance, a comic historical novel set in 1830s America, to be published in November 2010 by Gival Press.

Brown's fiction, poetry and nonfiction have appeared in over two hundred publications, including Another Chicago Magazine, Chelsea, The Brooklyn Rail, Slipstream, Colorado Review, Pleiades, The Ledge, Storyhead, Rockford Review, Bridge, Fifth Wednesday, Oyez Review, The Bloomsbury Review, St. Mark's Poetry Project Newsletter, Rain Taxi, Small Press Review, Main Street Rag, Chiron Review and New Observations. As a member of the National Book Critics Circle, he is a frequent reviewer of independent and small press books.

A long-time resident of Chicago, where he was a fixture in that city's literary scene as a writer, performer and publisher of Tomorrow Magazine (1982-1999), Brown moved to New York in 2003. He currently earns his living as a technologist for global financial institutions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story of an average person thrust into the spotlight, July 11, 2010

By 

Paul Lappen (Manchester, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Walking Man (Paperback)

Written as one of those celebrity tell-all biographies, this novel is about Brian Walker, publisher of the zine Walking Man.

Set in Chicago of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Brian seems to have a genetic need to walk everywhere, which he writes about in his zine. He works in the copy room of a downtown law firm, which is a godsend for any zine publisher. He is friends with Tracy Minister, a gorgeous woman who is temping at the firm while she pursues her dream of becoming an actress.

One day, while crossing a downtown street, Brian is already in the crosswalk, when a BMW tries to drive between him and another man also in the crosswalk. In an instinctive reaction, Brian kicks the BMW and dents it. Both men are arrested, then released, and the BMW driver sues Brian for damages. As the case waits for its turn in court, Brian becomes an ardent defender of pedestrian's rights, and a national celebrity.

He goes on a national lecture tour, causing the law firm to terminate his employment. Speaking at college campuses, he gets a positive reception, and sells lots of copies of his zine. Later, Brian travels to a national zine conference in San Francisco, where he also gets a generally positive reception. The exception is when another zine publisher publicly accuses Brian of selling out zinedom's guerrilla, do-it-yourself philosophy. Because of Brian's fame, he can no longer keep up with the demand for Walking Man. It is now printed by a printing company, the cover is 4-color glossy paper, and there is a (gasp) bar code on the back (the mark of the Antichrist in the zine world).

Meantime, Tracy has gotten an acting job. It's in a local production, and it requires her to be naked on stage. That lasts for a few months, then she gets a job as a Production Assistant on a local TV talk show. Brian freaks out, accusing Tracy of being a sellout; they don't see each other for a while. Does Brian stand up for pedestrian's rights by winning his court case (which finally sees the light of day)? Do he and Tracy get back together, and ride off into the proverbial sunset?

Here is a really interesting look inside zine culture; anyone who has ever published a zine will enjoy it. It's also a good story of an average person suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sports an edge that lashes out at society's weak points., August 8, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walking Man (Paperback)

Getting one's foot run over isn't supposed to be an all-expense paid ticket to fame, but for Brian Walker, it is. "Walking Man" is a satirical, no-holds barred mock biography of Brian Walker, whose fictional claim to fame is being the publisher of Walking Man, a magazine dedicated to pedestrians. Darkly humorous and thought provoking, "Walking Man" is a must read for those who enjoy their novels with more of an offbeat flavor, and sports an edge that lashes out at society's weak points.