The protagonist of Lucky Wander Boy isn't helping to disprove those theories. Adam Pennyman is a 30-year-old gamer who rekindles his affection for the digital medium after a friend shows him the popular MAME emulator on his PC. When Pennyman hears the Frogger "BYYEWWWW" death sound reproduced perfectly through the computer's sound chip, it triggers a powerful nostalgic resonance in him that motivates him to finish his Catalogue of Obsolete Entertainments, an encyclopedic review of the arcade games he grew up loving.

In his search, Pennyman discovers that Lucky Wander Boy (the only fictional game in this otherwise reality-based novel) seems to have vanished from the earth. Since the game is impossible to emulate due to its unique code and processor requirements, the only way for Pennyman to possibly play it and complete his Catalogue is to find an actual Lucky machine, so he sets off to do just that.

It's obvious that author D.B. Weiss shares the same passion for games that Pennyman does, as the character's enthusiasm is presented with such fiery resolve that it couldn't have been written by anyone who isn't just as nostalgic for the arcade's glory days. This passion bursts off of every page, including one moment where Pennyman comes up with his wonderfully nerdy theory on the other-dimensional space that exists beyond the middle left and right tunnels in Pac-Man.

Theories such as those are written with such an unforced, irreverent wit that it's impossible not be charmed by Pennyman. Weiss understands the importance of having the reader connect with the protagonist, otherwise the reader would find himself completely disgusted with Pennyman's eventual slide into obsession and self-indulgence.

Pennyman becomes, as his girlfriend put it, a "monster of selfishness." Irritated by his unsuccessful quest to find Lucky Wander Boy, and even more irritated by the terrible script that his employer has written for the game's upcoming movie adaptation, Pennyman goes into a downward spiral of compulsion and madness. The hero even develops an unhealthy attraction to Lucky's Japanese creator, Araki Itachi, something the TNL Forum's resident Shiggy fanboys can certainly relate to.

However, Weiss fumbles with the supporting characters, who all come off as directionless, dimensionless extras with no solid bearing on anything. It could be argued that we're seeing these characters through Pennyman's self-centered eyes, but even so, we feel so little of a connection to even his girlfriend that we feel nothing when she quickly leaves him because of his game obsession. A moment like that should trigger immediate remorse from any geek who has sacrificed his social life for his/her games, but there is nothing.

Also, the novel is drowning in Weiss' annoying pretentious backwash, and the less patient will certainly be bothered by Weiss' dozens of misplaced attempts at trying to sound smart. Fortunately, the author's strong point, his charming, clever wit, is enough of an antacid to help stomach his lofty garbage.

Despite these problems, I can say with no hesitation that Pennyman's quest for Lucky and his attempt to complete his Catalogue of Obsolete Entertainments is an absorbing, uncertain trip through his mind that comes to a sudden, but definitely fulfilling halt. The ending is so stupifyingly twisted that it's certain to leave a prolonged effect on any reader.

This review likely won't be paraphrased into an awesome complimentary quote on Lucky Wander Boy's cover, but that won't stop me from wanting to compliment the hell out of this engrossing, but sometimes shaky, first novel. Using video games as a topical medium for philosophical analysis, Weiss' story is worthy of being catalogued in any Catalogue of Must-Read Novels.

· · · OMGninjas