Wong returns in 'This Book Is Full of Spiders'

"This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously Dude, Don't Touch It" (Thomas Dunne Books), by David Wong

David Wong wakes up with a horrific spiderlike creature biting his leg that only he can see. In "This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously Dude, Don't Touch It," the nightmare is just beginning for Wong. The story is told primarily from his point of view, and it's not clear right away if what he's seeing is real or if it's in his twisted imagination.

Wong is also listed as the author of the book, and that adds an extra level of madness to the proceedings. The author is Jason Pargin, senior editor and columnist for Cracked.com, a humor website. The comedic and crackling dialogue also brings a whimsical flair to the story, making it seem like an episode of AMC's "The Walking Dead" written by Douglas Adams of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

The novel is a sequel to "John Dies at the End," but Wong tells readers on the first page of "Spiders" not to bother with the first book because a fresh start is better.

The spider that bites Wong continues to attack him, and he's lucky not to be taken over by this parasiticlike creature. A cop shows up and ends up consumed by the monster. Soon other people in the town begin showing signs of being controlled and Wong can see millions of the spiders everywhere. He asks his friend, John, and his girlfriend, Amy, for help in stopping the madness. Mysterious portals to the women's underwear section of Wal-Mart, soy sauce and a strange therapist add to the mix.

Imagine a mentally ill narrator describing the zombie apocalypse while drunk, and the end result is unlike any other book of the genre.

Seriously, dude, touch it and read it.