In the haphazardly strange world of “Begone Thy Nefarious Beast,” the protagonist appears on an odd adventure to eject a flying stretchy rodent from their house. The adventure takes a sudden twist when the protagonist, armed with cryptic commands from a hieroglyphic handbook, seeks the assistance of Saul the Insane Idiot, a plumber/chimney sweep known as the “Channel.”
The novella takes a hilarious turn as Saul leads the family through a strange room décor routine aimed at pleasing the evil monster. The protagonist, damaged by hailstones and encircled by a zombie-like family, diligently follows Saul’s directions, resulting in an unpleasant and absurd environment.
Following Saul’s instructions, the living room confronts a metamorphosis that breaches all decorum standards. Trophies-ornamented shelves are now adorned with generous portions of sautéed liver and onions, while the floor is covered with daffodils from wall to wall. Stolen pink flamingos are haphazardly strewn across the room, producing an odd collision of scents and aesthetics.
The atmosphere is further enhanced when family members dress in Saul-like outfits and create a seance-like circle. Seven deliberately positioned TVs with unpleasant media personalities such as Sy Sperling, Crazy Eddie, and Morton Downey Jr. blare quadraphonic sounds. The noise hits its peak with songs by Megadeath, Salt-n-Pepper, and the fundamentally irritating Richard Simmons.
As the family performs a rhythmic chant to evict the evil beast, the room transforms into a surreal battlefield of ridiculousness. The rite culminates with the surprise appearance of the flying rodent hiding in the family photo. The entity, now known as Herve’ Villechaize, gives cryptic instructions and presents the character to Benito, a dwarf demon.
The crazy room design demonstrates the novella’s ability to smoothly merge dark comedy, supernatural themes, and an indication of insanity. Readers are whisked away to a world where everyday life is flipped upside down, and even the most ludicrous decorations play an important part in the fight against alien evil. The short story “Begone Thy Nefarious Beast” offers a fascinating and surprising adventure into the strange.
To get more details about the peculiar room, it is strongly encouraged that you read the book that is now available on Amazon.
