I don’t remember how I found Minister Faust’s books. I’m assuming that From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain popped up on an Amazon Recommendation list because it’s somewhat similar to other books I read at the time. Or possibly because Dr. Brain and his next novel The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad we finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award. But I’m glad I read them both. These books are well done and come from a different point of view than other similar novels (and not because he’s Canadian).

Minister Faust (real name Malcolm Azania) is a teacher and political activist in Canada. He has unsuccessfully run for office, hosted a radio show, wrote (and performed) for sketch comedy TV pilot and generally did many more things that make me feel like I should be doing more. Faust focuses on Africentric and pro-democracy causes and was highly influenced by the science fiction and comics of the 1980s (he mentioned in an interview being influenced by Frank Miller’s Daredevil as well as Frank Herbert’s Dune), but was turned off by the low pay and high work demands from comics.

Faust’s first novel The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad was published in 2004 to rave reviews and a nomination for the Philip K. Dick Award. I wish I could explain it as well as the Amazon.com review (“What do Edmonton, D&D, cannibalism, Star Wars, comic books, ancient African mythology, black culture, drugs, organic food, magic, and television shows have in common? They all play important roles in The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad, a zany, stylish, and fun novel.”). The book focuses on two roommates who are part slackers and their pursuit of a magical item and a woman who could get them involved in a centuries old mystical battle. It is an exciting, fast moving novel with an intriguing concept. Each chapter jumps to a new narrator. It’s a little jarring as it takes a page or two to realize who you are following now, but Faust is able to pull it off without too much confusion.

In 2007, Faust released From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain a psychological look at superheroes as Dr. Eva Brain-Silverman has therapy sessions with the members of the Fraternal Order Of Justice (FOOJ). All the major supervillains have been defeated, so there is little for the remaining heroes to do. So Dr. Brain is called in to help FOOJ work through their issues. The book does a wonderful job of deconstructing superheroes and keeping one foot in a comic book world and one foot in the real world. The book itself deals with the individual and group therapy sessions and all the previous history of the characters comes out.

Minister Faust has started that he is working on new books, but none are scheduled for publication. Both books are well worth the time to read, not only for the entertainment value, but to see a fresh voice with a different viewpoint in the science fiction genre. I will be eagerly awaiting future novels from Minister Faust.