How Go-Go Dancers Saved the World

Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse by Victor Gischler

It’s a captivating title for a particular type of reader. Since I am a fan of post apocalyptic fiction and Monty Python, it is definitely my cup of tea. Picture this: the world lies in ruins after a devastating flu epidemic, a massive earthquake in California, economic collapse, and nuclear terrorism. In the U.S. the last bastion of civilization is a chain of taverns similar to Hooters called Joey Armageddon’s Sassy A-Go-Go. Fascinating characters abound; Bill copes with the collapse of the civilized world by taking on the persona of a straight-shooting, good guy cowboy, the Glam Van Dammes, a bearded radical Ted Turner fights in the resistance, and Terry, the polite corporate torturer.

Terry cleared his throat. “I’m not usually involved with interrogations, but I was the only one around, and, well beggars can’t be choosers. Am I right?”

“I’ll try to go easy on you.”

“Ha, That’s the spirit,” Terry said. “We’re going to get along. I can tell.”

Terrific.

“Now. I’ve got a lit of question and procedures here, so that should help things along.” He produced a pencil and a clipboard from his briefcase. “First question: are you here to kill the Czar?”

“Actually,” Mortimer said, “I think I can save us some time. If I could just talk to the Czar--”

Terry tsked, sucked air through his teeth. “Yeah, the thing is, I just have this list of questions, and I’d feel better if we just got through them. I’m a rules kind of guy, and, look, I’m going to be square with you, okay? I’m a little out of my comfort zone, so I really think I should stick with the format.”

Mortimer said nothing.

“Let’s skip ahead,” Terry said. “Are you here to steal gasoline or sabotage the Red Stripe gasoline supplies?”

“No.”

“Super. Now let’s--” Terry consulted the clipboard. “Oh wait. It says here not to believe you and in parenthesis it says slap face.” Terry tsked again. “I guess we can skip that. Things are going well enough, don’t you think?”

The stone-faced guard cleared his throat, shook his head.

“Oh.” Terry seemed disappointed. Rules are rules.”

And then there is the Mad Max style chase that pits Mini Coopers against muscle cars…