Trump Dog by Jim Tilberry

A freelance artist lets himself be swept away by the whims of lunatics in Trump Dog, a satirical nugget of speculative fiction by Jim Tilberry.

Years after the death of Donald Trump, Jerry Kendall adopts a mangy mutt with a peculiar profile, one that bears an iconic resemblance to the 45th US President. When news of this uncanny silhouette breaks, a storm of publicity descends on his life from around the political spectrum, from Trump Tower lawyers and nosy neighbors to MATA hat-wearing fanatics (Make America Trumpy Again).

Poking plenty of fun at the sitting president, but also at blindly adoring masses, religious zealots, and charlatan worshippers of all kinds, there is humor on every page, but it does have thorns. Tilberry unabashedly takes aim at the modern idea of fame, the commercialization of American life, and the shallow nature of politics, and does so with his tongue firmly planted in his smirking cheek.

Despite being a satisfying slice of liberal fiction reminiscent of Christopher Moore’s acerbic pen, there are clear-eyed bursts of philosophical analysis and impartial commentary, so there may be some appeal in this book across the aisle. However, it will certainly appeal more to a certain political persuasion.

On the technical side, the dialogue is occasionally clumsy, but there are also bursts of conversation that hum with humor and wit. The informality of the writing makes this short book a breeze to read, though there is some excess “fluff” that could be cut out. Even so, these weaker details don’t diminish the entertainment value of Trump Dog, and this raucous novella is ultimately a cathartic bit of whimsy.