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Right from the onset, Schorb’s knack for storytelling and character development is on full display. The story tracks the tumultuous life of Serge Bering-Strait, a budding twenty-three-year-old poet who is at the mercy of his domineering mother and four aunts, one who is the political assistant to the mayor while the others run their own publishing house. An aspiring novelist, Serge swings like a pendulum at the whims of women, possibly none more forceful than his boss at Women’s Omnibus, Bettina Battle.
The author’s ability to play with words to deliver subtle innuendo and, in other situations, to alter the diction in sexual contexts allows for both an entertaining and graceful read while still toeing the experimental line of what is possible in the realm of sex comedy. The narrative ramps up when Battle hints to Bering-Strait, whom she fondly calls “Sir Gay,” that he stands to succeed her as editor of Women’s Omnibus. All this is happening as she is trying to unleash his manhood on the drive over to a Lunar Society event. It is only when he encounters Amanda Quaint, a rival writer, that Schorb taps into the full potential of Serge’s character, revealing him as a forlorn romantic and poet determined to crank out his novel and speak his peace.
For Serge, being dragged to the events at Studio 69, featuring full-fledged devil horns and very little in the way of clothing, precipitates a coffee-induced determination to churn out his novel. With the help of his caretaker, Juanna Donna, and his budding romance with Amanda, Serge is experiencing a simultaneous coming-of-age event and a call to action to break free from all shackles and write Resurgius, a novel that parallels his own reality. Schorb's wizardry with wit and impeccable comedic timing makes for a thoroughly entertaining read.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
Schorb's work is a multiple Eric Hoffer Book Award honoree.