Review: The Friends of Allan Renner by Dave J. Andrae

Readers are welcomed into the most intimate moments of a truly strange existence in The Friends of Allan Renner by Dave J. Andrae, a masterful piece of narrative fiction. Divided into seven very different but interconnected stories, this collection exposes the fascinating inner life of Renner through vignettes of his bizarre relationships. At times a heady blend of philosophy and cultural allusions, this is a dense semi-sci-fi read that cleverly roasts human nature, while also celebrating its temerity and curiosity.

Renner initially reads as an average protagonist, but an ironically extraordinary one, with a whip-smart memory, a deft tongue, and a love for movies and music. Seemingly directionless, these stories capture Renner’s everyman journey from many entertaining angles, as readers track his unlikely rise from stagnation to out-of-this-world heroism. Rarely are foils used so effectively to bring a main character into better light, but the original and variegated relationships on display are revelatory.

There is a tongue-in-cheek brilliance to much of the prose, with a storytelling panache and pacing that is occasionally reminiscent of Chuck Klosterman. There is no better way to bring out childhood fantasies, political alignments and tangential chats about music and movies than getting stoned with a roomful of rockers. In that same vein, digging into the cinematic fascinations of a father reveal a great deal about the inclinations and passions of a son. These authentic forms of exposition, driven purely through friendships and important relationships, is both entertaining and highly effective.

Knowing that Allan Renner isn’t a direct proxy for the author is also enjoyable; this is a fictional memoir of sorts, which leaves room for stories to get a bit out of hand, with high stakes and plot lines that teeter past the edge of believability. However, despite the fictional nature of the prose, the author cleverly makes us forget that this isn’t a true story. The interactions feel too visceral, like real-life conversations overheard in a bar that make us lean back to listen in.

In a book so reliant on relationships, dialogue is critical, and Andrae uses it with incredible skill. The italicized words are expertly chosen, without being distracting, giving readers even more of an insight into the speakers’ personalities. The complexity of the conversations is also notable – the subjects explored range from esoteric cinematic history and conspiratorial prophecies to politics, out-of-body experiences and the looming threat of mortality itself. While some of the stories take a while to heat up and feel a bit directionless to start, the overall draftsmanship is impeccable, revealing a writer who is confident taking his readers on a worthwhile walkabout.

On the technical side, there are very few grammatical errors, but some of the writing could be tightened up with fewer prepositions and more variation in the syntax. The informal voice of the narrator makes the book easy to read, but occasional narrative contradictions and slightly rambling passages could be sharpened or slimmed down to boost impact. That said, the unique story structure deserves praise.

As a whole, The Friends of Allan Renner is a clever and original novel by a confident author who isn’t afraid to let his imagination and erudition run wild.