Book Review – The Last Summer – A Tale of the Glawackus by Jacob Jones-Goldstein

It starts with Mighty Mighty Bosstones and ends with Rush – a story treading on 90’s nostalgia. Well at least it’s not 80’s nostalgia. Another entry into the cryptid series of Systema Paradoxa, the third for me, and this was another new cryptid for me. The Glawackus is more of a general cryptid and not one with a real high-profile story like Mothman, so I was wondering what the author would do, seeing as a previous entry used Goatman to solve a murder mystery. What’s rendered here is a pretty mediocre story that is essentially an animal mixed with an exoposition dump, and final choices that don’t make much sense. Woodrow, Shawn, and Kevin are friends who run over the star cryptid and take it home. I was hoping it wasn’t going to be cryptid becomes a dog-like character that the cult wants back. Instead, we get a story that meanders to normal teenagers. An encounter with a rogue police officer makes this seem like it’s going to turn into that “hide-the-monster-” ET-like story. Instead, the police officer thinks kidnapping some kids and retiring from his job duties is the best way to choose his successor.

Other than an encounter with a cryptid later in the story, there’s not much here. It’s a quick read but only because it’s short and moves quick without much there. There is some attempt at character development but only as much as you’d get in a half-hour vignette series. There wasn’t enough meat here, and a real stereotypical setup of “hit thing with car” encounter. The cryptid has one interesting reveal part, but it’s almost as if the author was embarrassed to have such an odd monster to work with. Sadly, not much here.