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Big Lizard by Joe R. Lansdale and Keith Lansdale, illustrations by Jok (Short, Scary Tales Publications)

Short, Scary Tales Publications, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781788580274

Available:  Signed & numbered limited hardcover

Thanks to his Aunt June, Buster Nix lands a new job as a security guard at the headquarters of a chain of fast food restaurants called Pick-A-Chicken. It’s not the best job in the world, but it’s something. The company’s owner, Elroy Cuzzins, gives Buster a tour of the facilities, making sure to tell him that he can never, never, ever enter the red storage building out back. Ever. His tour also includes the slaughter area. Customers can pick a live chicken for slaughter, and, for an extra fee, they can kill it themselves with a hatchet supplied by the company. Some of the Pick-A-Chicken customers dole out the extra money to gleefully slaughter their chosen fowl, but Buster is repulsed by the process. The restaurant is thriving, raking in the dough. Buster can’t figure out why or how this is possible. One night when he is making his rounds, he wanders too close to the forbidden building and hears mysterious chanting behind the closed doors. Upon entering, he discovers an unholy ritual taking place with Cuzzins as the leader who is sacrificing chickens over a large pentagram. Now Buster knows how Pick-A-Chicken has been so successful over the decades. As all of those present continue their chanting to something called the Lizard God, Buster accidently runs into a lit brazier containing actual hellfire and disrupts the ceremony, engulfing everything and everyone, including Buster, Cuzzins, and Socks the chicken, who Buster made friends with during his time as security guard.

The next thing Buster knows he is waking up in the hospital burn unit, covered head to toe in bandages. He discovers that, because of his disruption of the ritual, he can transform into a giant lizard with enhanced physical abilities. The only downsides are that he doesn’t know how to control it, and his clothes are torn to shreds when he transforms. Buster teams up with Socks, the now eyepatch wearing talking chicken who survived the conflagration, and teenage tech wizard Isaac to face off with the nefarious Elroy. He’s hard to miss since he was transformed into a giant chicken driving a flashy red sports car and commits murder, gathering body parts to complete the ceremony. Can Big Lizard and his friends stop…Big Chicken before he can complete the ritual?

I loved this book from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down. Both Lansdales are great storytellers. The characters, especially Socks and Buster, are unique. Socks, short for Socrates, wanders around wearing an eyepatch. When electric shocks are administered to his tiny chicken body, he releases his bowels, and can see the future. He’s also a little smart ass. Buster means well, and he is one to help anyone in need, even if he can’t seem to get his own life in order. When he gains his lizard abilities, he uses them for noble pursuits. He just has a good heart.

I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys Joe R. Lansdale’s work. The fact that his son has also taken to writing and collaborates with his father on this one just adds to the reasons to pick up Big Lizard. Unfortunately, the ARC didn’t include Jok’s illustrations, but if they are anything like the cover, the interior art will be fantastic

Highly recommended

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker