Pest Control [Taschenbuch]

There are a lot of funny aspects to this book, so I will just mention one of them here and let you discover the rest for yourself. The parts where the powers-that-be become convinced that the young insect and pest-control man is the world's greatest and most sought-after hit-man (he's "The Exterminator") are just hilarious, and remind me of the situation with the Chauncy Gardener character in Jerzy Kosinsky's "Being There." Fitzhugh pulls off a similar gambit here, and it's just as funny.

This is my first book by Fitzhugh. If the rest of his books are half as funny as this one he'll have another fan.

Basically, the story centres around the character Bob Dillon, who dissatisfied with the use of poisons to kill bugs, such as cockroaches, etc., quits his job to go freelance and do the same job with his specially bred Assassin Bugs. He advertises his services as 'The Exterminator' and accidentally becomes of interest to those who hire hit-men, and, in turn, the real hit-men who see him as competition. A misunderstanding compounded by some coincidental killings which Bob had nothing to do with. Bob does get to try his assassin bugs out, too, but they prove to be as big, and in some cases a bigger pest, than the pests their meant to control.

This is a well written, really fun book to kill a lazy weekend with.

It used to be that outside of various technical books and Kafka's "Metamorphosis" the literary offerings to our craft were few and hard to find. Alas that is no more as there are now books a plenty. Some are entomological science fiction others theoretical extremes , some good histories , quite a number place insects in a human evolutionary perspective and some are just plain funny. On a number of occasions I have chatted with other pest control folks and like some small cult there is always some new book being passed around. In this regularly appearing column I shall review some of the offerings. Should you have any suggestions or recommendations please feel free to send them on. For my current selection I chosen the book aptly entitled " PEST CONTROL" by Bill Fitzhugh. This book was given to me a year or so ago by Kitty Lee of Residex a dedicated member of the pest book cult. The good news is that this is a light whimsical tale of biological control gone awry . The great news is it's now in paperback. Bob Dillon is an entrepenuring PCO who has recently started a new type of business. He plans to eliminate pests in his accounts by using little critters from order Hemiptera ( true bugs) family Reduviidae also known as assassin bugs. To promote his venture he makes a flyer for distribution. It reads " Professional Exterminator Fifteen Years Field Experience. Gone Private with Lethal New Concept". He starts to get clients while seeking to perfect his strain of bugs. Unbeknownst to Bob his flyer finds it's way into the hands of a European murder for hire broker. With an endless stream of pest control double-entendres , drug dealers and assorted hit persons Bob's "business" keeps him busy. Following a route of intrigue , pests , New York scenery and late night dirty kitchens the book careens toward a great ending much like an erratic service vehicle. If you care for a smile , and if your in the trade you can always use one, I suggest you read the book.