Christopher G Moore’s latest novel, The Wisdom of Beer (ISBN
978-616-7503-11-0, Heaven Lake Press, 2012) is set in Pattaya, with many of
the characters reminiscent of many of the ‘characters’ that abound in our
fair city.
Thinly disguised, but it does not need much of a leap of
faith to see through Moore’s descriptions. Take for example, “To Sandler,
the Pattaya Volunteer Police Force were an exhibit of living contradictions:
elderly farangs dressed in police uniforms, like a science experiment in
time travel that had gone terribly wrong.”
Author Moore shows that in the 20 something years he has
lived in Thailand, he has seen through the glitzy exterior of life in
Pattaya and subscribes to the notion that everything is possible, but
everything costs money. “There was always a price for getting involved in
other people’s lives. The question was always how much it was going to cost,
and how soon the payment would be due, and if it all could be paid in
installments or whether it would have to be one huge lump- sum balloon
payment.”
The plot revolves around a septuagenarian Thai lady and a
macaw, the recipe for Chinese Hell Beer, an American beer bar owner, the
Russian mafia, the local Chinese godfather and son and the American Marines
on the Cobra Gold exercises. Keeping the plot moving along is a Moscow
hooker with ambition. And there is plenty happening.
An unholy alliance of East and West occurs with both the
Thai/Chinese Mafia and the Russian contingent joining forces to break into a
warehouse to steal weapons. The would be felons include a trio of katoeys
and nary a fingernail gets chipped, though there are copious tears.
The Wisdom of Beer came highly recommended by accredited
authors such as Colin Cotterill and John Burdett, and after reading the
book, I can see why. Christopher Moore is an excellent story teller as well
as a writer and keeps your interest going all the way through. The plot has
many twists and turns, and Moore manages to keep more than three balls in
the air at one time.
There is almost no-one in Pattaya who escapes Moore’s
notice in this book, but he covers his ass in the acknowledgements at the
very end of the book writing a full disclaimer exonerating the Volunteer
Police Force and, “the Pattaya Police, the Pattaya hospital establishment,
the US Navy and Marine personnel, organizers of beauty pageants, hotel
owners, bar owners, bar employees, Chinese ancestor worshippers and all
species of macaws.”
He also goes on to write that “None of these incidents
happened, none of these people exist, and only a trouble maker with a hidden
agenda would suggest otherwise.” Anyone who knows Pattaya will finally put
the book down with a large smile on their face, if not a real guffaw.
At B. 495, it is another book bargain. If you are a fan
of Christopher G Moore’s you will love this book. If you have not read any
of his previous 23 novels (though that hard to imagine), you will be a fan
after reading this one.
