Boddekker's Demons

The sequel to Ferman's Devils finds Faust's 21st-century hero, Boddekker, the hottest creative type at the Pembroke Hall Advertising Agency, largely because of his discovery of the street gang turned gangsta media stars that gave the first volume its name. But just when celebrity and wealth seem assured, Ferman's Devils embark on the ultimate star trip and commence murdering whomever they please. Faust no doubt has fans who will relish all the advertising-industry jokes, as well as his riffs on MTV and rock music. But Boddekker's problem is solved in a gory and glib manner which, like much of the rest of the book, seems designed to appeal to those silly and tasteless adolescents who patronize the most cynical examples of humorous sci-fi. (Oct.)