Reviewed by Donna Parrey for Readers' Favorite

Literary writing and humor writing mesh together just as perfectly as the two unlikely protagonists in Starman After Midnight by Scott Semegran. Big Dave, a plumber by trade and conservative by political labels, spends his evenings enjoying a few brews on the patio with his neighbor Seff, a progressive-minded writer. The two lawn chair strategists contemplate life in their suburban Texan neighborhood, and readers observe their antics like the proverbial ‘fly on the wall.’ But, in this case, perhaps we’d be flies on the rim of the recycle bin as we watch Big Dave toss his crushed empties in with unerring accuracy. The book intersperses named stories with the novel’s ten chapters, creating a fun reading experience that incorporates Seff’s prose into Semegran’s writing.

Author Scott Semegran has created two well-drawn characters whose language, mannerisms, and ideals might be different but whose penchant for neighborhood gossip and life discussions is satisfied through frequent patio sessions where the juiciest eye-opening stories emerge after the second beer. Neighborhood shenanigans include strange goings-on with disappearing pets and a naked man taunting them on their driveway security cameras. Starman After Midnight offers laugh-a-minute reading with wise guy observations. Seff could be Semegran’s alter ego, revealing a talent for fluid writing even when the subject is gliding down the chilled grocery aisle to select a favorite beer brand or the pink snow of attic insulation. Even the font for the story/chapter titles sets the tone and lets readers know not to take themselves too seriously. A valuable reminder to us all.