Patrick Wensink's short story collection, Sex Dungeon for Sale!, is not for everyone. If not for title alone, try a journalist figuring out how to put a positive spin on killer washing machines or a suburban America where children are suicide bombers. But if you like Christopher Moore, Douglas Adams, or yes, even Kurt fucking Vonnegut, then Wensink should pique your interest.
Sex Dungeon for Sale! is a short story collection for readers with very little attention spans (wow! Mini stickers!). There are 12 stories; most of them averaging between three to five pages in length. Only two reach the ten-page mark.
This is both a blessing and a curse.
This book is perfect for readers on the go; it can be read anytime and anywhere. And like any good joke, Wensink sets readers up for the laugh and delivers the punch within minutes.
Though Wensink is witty and delightful, his flash fiction reads like jokes. Great jokes, but not short stories. A majority of his situations and characters are like The Nightmare Before Christmas's clown with a tear-away face, "Here in a flash and gone without a trace."
At times, it seems like Wensink is trying too hard to make us laugh. "Me and Gerardo Down by the Schoolyard" explores what happens after Rico Suave stormed the U.S. and Right Said Fred was too sexy for anything. The early '90s references will put a smile on any VH1 enthusiast's face, but the ending is so clichéd, it's groan inducing. In "My Son Thinks He's French," it seems like Wensink is too busy hating on Europe, he forgets to tell a story.
This isn't to say that Wensink isn't a good writer. There is immense potential here. He is a master of snappy punch lines. Wensink started his career as a journalist, and it shows. Every last line is memorable. His cheeky wit will make readers smile (or smirk, depending on the story). Also, Wensink can deliver surprise endings like M. Night Shyamalan.
Despite the ridiculous premises of his stories, Wensink has some important things to say. Though "Wash, Rinse, Repeat" is about killer washing machines, he writes "God, what's worse—the fact that America demands a KILL cycle, or the fact we're too dumb to avoid it?"
"Pandemic Jones," the longest story in the collection, is a great tale. The pharmaceutical company with a revolutionary sales technique is an intriguing and fully developed premise with likable and empathetic characters.
When given the room, Wensink can write a great story. According to his biography, he is working on a full-length novel, and I can't wait to see what Wensink can do. With his wit and humor, his talent is sure to flourish.
Sex Dungeon For Sale! is part of The New Bizarro Author Series. Editor Kevin L. Donihe explains, "For every book published in this series, the following will be true: This is the author's first published book, we're testing the waters to see if this author can find a readership, and whether or not you see more Eraserhead Press titles from this author is up to you."
I hope to see many titles from Patrick Wensink.
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