This is the debut novel of Warren Ellis, although many readers will have come across him before from his award winning graphic novel series Transmetropolitan.
The story takes us on a journey across America, meeting all manner of characters you would not normally encounter in a novel. If I say it starts with Godzilla Bukkake and then progresses on you should get the idea.
While some may be shocked and put off by the content of the novel, what Ellis has here is an engrossing story that keeps you interested from beginning to end. With so much experience in the comic book industry, it is little wonder that this novel reads much like one, this is no bad thing though. Each chapter typically focuses on a new stop off on the main character's journey and is self-contained, although there is a strong story arc running throughout.
The characters are entertaining and the story funny. It is a solid debut and I hope that he writes more novels to follow. A sequel using the same characters would work well.
P.S. If you haven't read Transmetropolitan, it is one of the best graphic novels you could hope to read and features, in my opinion, one of the greatest fictional characters ever created in Spider Jerusalem. Seriously, it is that good.