The Man Burns Tonight
Donn Cortez
Pocket, Aug 2005, $6.99, 368 pages, ISBN: 0743476999
reviewed by Harriet Klausner

Though he does not want to come, computer coder Dex Edden needs money so he accompanies client Wade Jickling to the 2003 Burning Man event in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. That first night Darth Vader in a "sithy" pink version visits Wade who introduces Dex to his business partner Rafe. However, Rafe lifts his rebar light saber to bash in Wade's head. Dex barely escapes heading towards the nearest light. Later that night he sees the paper mentioning that Washoe County Sheriff's Department seeks him as the prime suspect in the murder.

The Fun Man notices Dex looking very pale while the coder drinks coffee. He introduces himself and plies Dex with water as he looks close to needing medical attention due to dehydration. Next the Fun Man takes Dex to meet Lorelei so he can crash in her place. Desperate, Dex tells the truth revealing whom he is and that a killer and the cops want him. The Fun Man gets Lorelei involved as they believe Dex and decide to help him.

THE MAN BURNS TONIGHT is a terrific innocent in trouble thriller that uses the Black Rock City Burning Man event to provide a delightful somewhat weird backdrop. The story line is driven by the eccentric cast (pink Darth Vader costume – need I say more), but held together by a misplaced Dex on the lam. Fans will appreciate his escapades in this off the wall locale as he seems helpless, but has made two allies who give him a remote chance to survive, the desert, the killer and the cops.