Reviews of "Sidekick Harry and the Remarkable Three"

I received the following review of my book "Sidekick Harry and the Remarkable Three" from Mike Ratliff. Thanks to Mike for reviewing my book and offering such wonderful insights:

When I was in High School in the late 1960’s Joseph Heller’s book Catch-22 seemed to be everywhere. I loved the black comedic humor found in his book as well as in Stanley Kubrick’s movies such as Doctor Strangelove. Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse 5 ranked right up there with them. I have yearned for some contemporary author to take up the reigns of this wonderfully entertaining medium. When I agreed to review Sidekick Harry and the Remarkable Three by Dallas Wilkinson, I had no idea that the author would take me on a ride that rivaled those I loved from Heller and Vonnegut. As I read this wonderful book, I contemplated on how to put into words what I was experiencing. As I finished it, my first words were, “What a ride!”

Sidekick Harry and the Remarkable Three consists of a multi-layered, dynamic plot revolving around the main character, Harry Bennett. Harry isn’t particularly religious, but he gains the nickname, Sidekick Harry, because he gives God all the credit for his stock picking acumen. As the star employee of a large investment firm, LBJ, his skill at picking winners makes the company the industry leader. However, the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and his wife’s mugging cause Harry to succumb to a nervous breakdown. The chapters dealing with his hospitalization, the hallucinations from the drugs they put him on, and the flashbacks to his and his family’s past are highly entertaining. I laughed so hard my sides hurt.

The supporting cast of characters is priceless. Wilkinson’s chapters containing the meetings of the Great Minds (the group of people attempting to create a one-world government) are masterful combinations of horror and hilarity. Even though I was reminded of Heller and Vonnegut as I read, Wilkinson has created his own unique writing style. The interplay during these meetings shows how the Great Minds are very small and silly people who have huge egos but are painfully childish in their emotional development.

Sidekick Harry and the Remarkable Three presents a world as seen from the viewpoint of a man who listens to God and learns to walk by faith. He sees the extreme left and extreme right political groups as bizarre puppets of the Great Minds. In an attempt to create their one world government, they plot to destroy the monetary system of the United States by pumping counterfeit money into the economy. About the same time, Harry is duped by the Great Minds to run for president. They infiltrate his political campaign with a woman whose grandfather was killed by Harry’s father. She wants to destroy him. They set up the political campaign to destroy and discredit Harry. The hilarity that results from his political campaign with no money is priceless.

I believe Dallas Wilkinson is destined to become a truly remarkable author. Sidekick Harry and the Remarkable Three was both entertaining and thought provoking with its very precise and relevant social commentary. The author who can create a story that combines wonderful humor and a call for social reform is bound for greatness. I believe Dallas Wilkinson has shown in this book that he is the one.

Mike Ratliff

Author – Walking the Walk by Faith