Mikhael

I like just about everything Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor write. Night Vale was one of the earliest podcasts I tried, and while it's been years since I've listened, this book was the perfect amount of references while still standing alone/not requiring much world knowledge. Bonus point for nestling Mountain Goats references throughout the dialogue.

Regarding the contents of the book, I dug the start and the surreal sections, but started to lull when we got to historical fantasy. Eventually I was reeled in, and sure enough, this is a well-told story, with really sweet sensibilities despite the protagonist (antagonist?) being so corrupt. Main stylistic complaints are that the authors don't always stay on the right side of the silly-dumb divide, and they shoehorn in more 'progressive' lines/descriptions than the story warrants, but that's par for the course for these guys.

Final note, this is the audiobook, and I'm elated they got the original voice of the Faceless Old Woman (yes, it's Mara Wilson, aka Matilda) to narrate it!