Huge

A Novel

By: Brent Butt

Narrated by: Brent Butt

AN INSTANT #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

The award-winning screenwriter and International Emmy nominee is now a literary success with this unexpectedly dark and twisted thriller.

It's 1994, and three stand-up comedians have embarked on a tour of smaller communities across a remote stretch of rural countryside. Dale is a forty-something comic from Chicago who's on the back half of a mediocre career and thinking about quitting the business. Rynn is a twenty-something fast-rising comedy star from Dublin with a big Hollywood break on her horizon. The third performer is a local act, a late addition to the bill who has agreed to open the shows and do all the driving. He goes by the name Hobie Huge, and he is, indeed, enormous. His comedic ability, however, is not. He's weirdly eager, annoyingly enthusiastic and brutally unfunny. All of which wouldn't be so bad . . . if the brutality ended there. By the time Dale and Rynn realize Hobie's true talents and disturbing motivation, it may be too late—and their tour becomes less about getting laughs and more about getting off the road alive.

©2023 Brent Butt (P)2023 Doubleday Canada

Critic reviews

"Fans of Corner Gas who pick up Butt's first novel may be in for a surprise. . . . Butt's knowledge of standup provides the granular detail, but his sense of pace and timing (both essential qualities for a comedian) are here well deployed in the service of much darker, nastier material. And the biggest surprise is how entertaining the whole thing is."—Toronto Star

"An incredibly propulsive read. . . . Huge is full of some great storytelling, sharp observances and authentic characters."—Winnipeg Free Press

"Butt kills with a darkly comic thriller that could only be written by someone who knows there are worse things than dying on stage."—Linwood Barclay, bestselling author of Take Your Breath Away and Find You First

Great narrative.

I particularly like having the behind the scenes view of the comic world. Fun ride with great Canadian references

Great story, not corner gas.

I love corner gas and had to check this book out. From the opening scenes you know this isn’t going to be slap stick. It is a darker mystery with plenty of jokes thrown in.

Fun mystery/thriller

Fun story with lots of dark humor. Hobie has a lot of layers and enjoyed him a lot

Gripping!!!

The characters really come alive. Brent does an outstanding job. Like the man says, the specifics really sell it. You can tell there are elements of life experience woven into a terrifyingly terrific tale.

so good

I got this off a recommendation and enjoyed the entire story, I laughed out loud at moments and the climax of the story completely caught me off guard, a complete character development and i hope its not the last time we see Hobie Huge.

Great!

after listening to several comics' podcasts about life on the road, it was fascinating to hear a suspenseful tale spun from it. engaging and fun.

Fekking good story

I liked Dale & Rynn, they were both people I would like to meet and would enjoy watching on the stage. Hobie, on the other hand, I would like to avoid meeting at all costs. I enjoyed listening to Brent’s narration. It definitely hit all the advertised highlights of a dark, humorous thriller. Congratulations Brent!

Excitement

I loved Corner Gas like everyone else but I wasn't sure about Brent writing a thriller. He delivered in the most delightful way and wrote an (albeit popcorn) thriller that rocked me and I can't wait for his next book! This humble a**hole can do it all!

Brent Butt is a national treasure

When I heard about his book on The National I had to get it. Brent’s work on Corner Gas was genius so no surprise that his first book is also stellar. Enjoyed the jokes and the adventure the story provided. Big fan. Thanks Brent

wow brent butt!

idk what i expected but i was blown away by brent’s writing skills. i want to tell all my favorite comedians to read this.