- Quick moving and edited well, Hatz's quirky novel may hold a particular interest for those in the music business, but falls short of engaging audiences outside of that.
Rock Gods & Messy Monsters
Rock Gods & Messy Monsters follows Alex, a woman that works at Acht Records, a massive record company, and the various hijinx she gets into in trying to navigate her boss, Langley, and the plethora of other quirky characters that pop in and out of the story. This includes ‘Big’, a manufactured rock star, the Yakadans, a race of aliens that are interested in the music business, and DiMachio, the president of Acht Records, who is repeatedly described via a flurry of different synonyms as a ‘dictator’ of sorts.
Although fast paced, with a constant influx of new characters with interesting names and quirks, one can’t help but repeatedly ask themselves ‘why’ when reading Rock Gods & Messy Monsters. Perhaps, to someone who has an intimate knowledge of the goings-on within a record company, this may ring some familiar bells, but outside of that, it feels somewhat inaccessible, as the large number of characters, all lacking any real depth, make it difficult to get invested in.
The novel feels somewhat like a sitcom on speed, moving quickly from place to place, with light, campy moments of humor and frustration. It also focuses quite a bit on different aspects of Acht Records, and does not keep Alex, the protagonist, in clear view throughout, which contributes to a neutrality about her; she neither seems to grow or evolve, nor does her personality hold any real unique traits, and seems somewhat ‘general’ in her motivation and reactions.
Recommended for anyone who has an interest in the inner workings of a record company, imposed over a zany setting with equally zany characters.
Diane worked at major and indie record companies, managed a band, and freelanced as a music publicist. She is co-founder of The Relay, a fanzine on The Who, which is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She’s attended thousands of concerts.
During her sometimes-surreal career, Diane also founded the nonprofit Change Food, worked to shut down factory farms, organized and spoke at major TED/TEDx events, and executive produced The Meatrix, a Webby Award winner. She has studied with many spiritual teachers, including The Dalai Lama.
Diane has a Masters in Creative Writing and is currently focused on writing fiction.
In late 2020, after 30 years living in downtown Manhattan and the East Village, Diane moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. When not at her computer creating, you can find her hiking, road tripping, or gazing at the stars. The real ones.
