Synopses & Reviews
". . . Bill Peters belongs in the ranks of serious literary artists."
New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice
"By turns funny and moving, this debut richly captures life in a decaying American city."Publishers Weekly
"There were times, while reading Maverick Jetpants, I thought: This isnt a book. Its a panic attack. In a good way. In the way where everything about it is frantic and urgent."Necessary Fiction
"A complex and inventive debut, innovative with language and delightfully unique."Largehearted Boy
"Peters has done something just this side of insane with this book; he's created a character that speaks in a voice everyone will recognize, even while half the words he says allude to things none of us were part of."Bookslut
"Peters proves himself adept at wordplay through the wildly inventive language of the characters."The Coffin Factory
"One of the most inventive novels published this year."The Los Angeles Review
"Maverick Jetpants in the City of Quality is Peters energetic novelistic response to . . . the universal passage from adolescence to adulthood, the impermanence of friendship and familiar landscapes. . . Readers looking for a story about the slippery transition from silliness to sincerity will find in Maverick Jetpants a style to savor and get lost in."HTML Giant
"Maverick Jetpants in the City of Quality announces the arrival of a powerful and innovative young voice in American fiction."Literate Man
"They arent necessarily found in a prime spot in every writers toolbox, but fictional private languages can be evocatively effective when used well. Bill Peterss novel Maverick Jetpants in the City of Quality is one example of this."Vol. 1 Brooklyn
"With all the elements of the best coming-of-age novels, Maverick Jetpants offers a voice and a story that could connect with someone of just about any age, as long as they have the appreciation for nimble, far out, and witty repartee."ForeWord Reviews
"Full of madcap energy, swagger, and brinksmanship."Fiona Maazel, author of Last, Last Chance
"Do you want laughter, suffering, and friendship, Rochester-style? Do you want to marinate in raucous sadness? I know you do. So be ready, everybody. Here comes the Vomit Cruiser to rescue your sense of humor, and Bill Peters to rescue your heart."Sam Lipsyte, author of Homeland and Venus Drive
Rochester, New York, 1999: An arsonist is loose on the streets of a city in decline. Gone are the days of Rioting in the Vomit Cruiser, searching for a possible Tokyo Rocking Horse. In this hilarious, wildly original debut novel, Nathan Gray and best friend Necro live by the code of Joke Royalty, a system of in-jokes known only to a select few. But as the reality of full-time employment, possible spouses, and Neo-Nazis encroaches, their friendship unravels, threatening their dreams of becoming Kodak Park Winjas.
Among the gravest Hellstacheries: Necros strangely vicious drawings and his sudden interest in a group of weapons enthusiasts who may or may not be responsible for the fires erupting through downtown. With no Holy Grail Points left to his name, Nate ventures into Rochesters strangest corners to find out if his best friend is a domestic terrorist Pinning Bow Ties on the Dead or simply Maverick Jetpantsing on with his lifeperhaps even beyond The City of Quality.
Bill Peters grew up in Rochester, New York, and has received fiction fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the University of Massachusetts. He works as a copy editor for the New York Times News Service, the wire service for the New York Times, and lives in Gainesville, Florida. This is his first novel.
Review
"By turns funny and moving, this debut richly captures life in a decaying American city."
Publishers Weekly"A complex and inventive debut, innovative with language and delightfully unique." - Largehearted Boy
"One of the most inventive novels published this year."The Los Angeles Review
"Maverick Jetpants in the City of Quality announces the arrival of a powerful and innovative young voice in American fiction."Literate Man
"Maverick Jetpants ... [is] one of the most innovative books written in years. Its incredible."The Unexcused
"Do you want laughter, suffering, and friendship, Rochester-style? Do you want to marinate in raucous sadness? I know you do. So be ready, everybody. Here comes the Vomit Cruiser to rescue your sense of humor, and Bill Peters to rescue your heart."Sam Lipsyte, author of Homeland and Venus Drives.
"Nobody writes like Bill Petersin his own language that is full of such verve. The title says it all. Maverick Jetpants in The City of Quality is an audacious debut."Michael Kimball, author of Us, Dear Everybody, and Big Ray
"Full of madcap energy, swagger, and brinksmanship."Fiona Maazel, author of Last, Last Chance
Synopsis
Rochester, 1999; a mystery surrounding arson; a hilarious and heart-breaking friendship based on a language of inside jokes.
Synopsis
Rochester, 1999; a mystery surrounding arson; a hilarious and heart-breaking friendship based on a language of inside jokes.
." . . Bill Peters belongs in the ranks of serious literary artists."
New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice
"One of the most inventive novels published this year."--The Los Angeles Review
Rochester, New York, 1999: An arsonist is loose on the streets of a city in decline. Gone are the days of Rioting in the Vomit Cruiser, searching for a possible Tokyo Rocking Horse. In this hilarious, wildly original debut novel, Nathan Gray and best friend Necro live by the code of Joke Royalty, a system of in-jokes known only to a select few. But as the reality of full-time employment, possible spouses, and Neo-Nazis encroaches, their friendship unravels, threatening their dreams of becoming Kodak Park Winjas.
Among the gravest Hellstacheries: Necro's strangely vicious drawings and his sudden interest in a group of weapons enthusiasts who may or may not be responsible for the fires erupting through downtown. With no Holy Grail Points left to his name, Nate ventures into Rochester's strangest corners to find out if his best friend is a domestic terrorist Pinning Bow Ties on the Dead or simply Maverick Jetpantsing on with his life--perhaps even beyond The City of Quality.
Synopsis
In 1999 Rochester, a mysterious spate of arsons threatens a hilarious and heart-breaking friendship based on a language of inside jokes in
one of the most inventive novels published this year (The Los Angeles Review). Rochester, New York, 1999: An arsonist is loose on the streets of a city in decline. Gone are the days of Rioting in the Vomit Cruiser, searching for a possible Tokyo Rocking Horse. In this hilarious, wildly original debut novel, Nathan Gray and best friend Necro live by the code of Joke Royalty, a system of in-jokes known only to a select few. But as the reality of full-time employment, possible spouses, and Neo-Nazis encroaches, their friendship unravels, threatening their dreams of becoming Kodak Park Winjas.
Among the gravest Hellstacheries: Necro's strangely vicious drawings and his sudden interest in a group of weapons enthusiasts who may or may not be responsible for the fires erupting through downtown. With no Holy Grail Points left to his name, Nate ventures into Rochester's strangest corners to find out if his best friend is a domestic terrorist Pinning Bow Ties on the Dead or simply Maverick Jetpantsing on with his life--perhaps even beyond The City of Quality.
Bill Peters belongs in the ranks of serious literary artists.--The New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice
Synopsis
Which I expect to be Toby, with his Colonel-Hellstache shaved head and his milkbag fat bulked around him. But instead, it's some shaved-headed guy who I don't even know. He's wearing a wifebeater and a leather vest, and these Army pants tucked into Nazi-type boots tied tight around his legs. His arms are as muscleless as the vanilla flats of an ice-cream sandwich. He has this sneery look on his face, with wire-rimmed glasses, i.e., not exactly a Rambo's Rambo. Necro doesn't even bother to introduce me, so I'm immediately calling the guy Rambocream.
It's 1999 in economically gutted Rochester, New York"The City of Quality"and twenty-one-year-old Nate still lives at home with his cynical, overwhelmed mom and Fake Dad #3. He speaks in a made-up language of middle school jokes and bizarre catchphrases. His best friend Necro may be under the influence of a neo-Nazi gang that is burning down their hometown. Will Nate stop joking around, solve the mystery of the arsons, and grow up? Or is he destined to a life of mediocrity working night shifts at the Kodak plant?
Originally from Rochester, New York, Bill Peters has worked as an editor and journalist, and is now an editor for The New York Times Syndicate and News Service. He lives in Gainesville, Florida. This is his first book.
Synopsis
Rochester, New York, 1999: An arsonist is loose on the streets of a city in decline. Gone are the days of Rioting in the Vomit Cruiser, searching for a possible Tokyo Rocking Horse. In this hilarious, wildly original debut novel, Nathan Gray and best friend Necro live by the code of Joke Royalty, a system of in-jokes known only to a select few. But as the reality of full-time employment, possible spouses, and Neo-Nazis encroaches, their friendship unravels, threatening their dreams of becoming Kodak Park Winjas.
Among the gravest Hellstacheries: Necros strangely vicious drawings and his sudden interest in a group of weapons enthusiasts who may or may not be responsible for the fires erupting through downtown. With no Holy Grail Points left to his name, Nate ventures into Rochesters strangest corners to find out if his best friend is a domestic terrorist Pinning Bow Ties on the Dead or simply Maverick Jetpantsing on with his lifeperhaps even beyond The City of Quality.
About the Author
Originally from Rochester, Bill Peters has received fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for his fiction. As an editor and journalist, he co-produced four arts and entertainment publications for the Springfield
Republican daily newspaper and is now an editor for
The New York Times News Service. He lives in Gainesville, Florida. This is his first book.