A suicidal former platoon sergeant, sole survivor of a Vietnam War jungle ambush, is haunted by what he perceives as his cowardly past. Debilitated by guilt and mourning the death of his wife, small town newspaper publisher Stan Przewalski lives in a PTSD-fueled world where it is impossible to distinguish reality from fantasy. Returning from a Vietnam sightseeing tour, his suppressed memories resurface with a vengeance as he deals with a murder and a raging wildfire that threatens to destroy his hometown of Bull River Falls, Colorado. The overly medicated vet meets a magical creature who wears paratrooper boots and rock band tee shirts and commands a subterranean army that believes
"Imaginative and often beguiling, like a mashup of Platoon and Gremlins scripted by William S. Burroughs." -Kirkus Reviews "Nikolich's story shimmers with intersecting layers of identity and fantastical complexities." -Authors Reading "A deep dive into the simultaneously tragic, heroic and insane mind of a Vietnam vet - Nikolich mixes fantasy and reality in a way that's weirdly reminiscent of both Tim O'Brien's Going After Cacciato and the 1980s film Caddyshack." -- Joe Barrett, best-selling author of Managed Care and Unplugged "Gojan Nikolich has crafted a work of surreal fantasy and magical realism...and delivers an ultimately brilliant work of introspective psychological fiction. Overall, I would highly recommend The Gopher King: A Dark Comedy to all types of readers for its conceptual brilliance, engaging prose and accomplished writing, and narrative style." -- K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite Reviews "Turns out, gophers are more intellectual than we imagined. They own stocks, are skilled strategists, and band together in red Willie Nelson bandanas when needed to take down an exterminator. "The Gopher King: A Dark Comedy is exactly what itʼs advertised to be. The humor is indeed dark, ranging from obscure to overt...a quirky story enhanced by acerbic wit and unexpected creativity." -- Steve Quade, Indies Today "Nikolich's fantastic debut not only showcases his powers of setting, character, and description but also shines light on his skill of giving a dark story a distinctive and humorous flair...The fantastic sense of place, memorable characters, and stylish prose makes this a page-turner." --The Prairies Book Review "This impressive debut novel is a skillfully-written and original page-turner that will take you on unforgettable adventures." -- Sublime Reviews "A fast-moving and at times hilarious story of a Vietnam veteran coming to grips with grief and regret...a wild ride that moves quickly and expertly through several plot lines, all of which find a connection in the end." -- Derek Emerson, Reedsy