cover image Monster

Monster

A. Lee Martinez, . . Orbit, $19.99 (295pp) ISBN 978-0-316-04126-3

Martinez (Too Many Curses ) pokes at big-picture questions, like the nature of the universe and the meaning of life, with abundant, zany humor in this charming tale. Monster, who works in cryptobiological containment, first encounters Judy when he rescues her from a yeti that’s trashing the frozen foods aisle of the Food Plus Mart. They meet again when trolls infest her apartment. As an incognizant—someone whose mind can’t acknowledge magic—Judy soon forgets the bizarre events, but Monster suspects she’s somehow involved with the recent uptick in dangerous cryptobiological happenings. When Lotus, keeper of a stone mysteriously linked to Judy, spirits Judy away, Monster attempts to come to her rescue, only to discover that he’s in way over his head. Scary monsters and hilarious scenarios embellish a convoluted plot that suggests even night-shift workers might have a destiny. (May)