# John Dies at the End

By Jason Pargin · John Dies at the End, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/john-dies-at-the-end-6dfb8314/

A drug called soy sauce gives David and his friend John access to perceptions they would have been better off without. Beings from other dimensions are threatening their town, and the two friends find themselves trying to prevent a much larger disaster.

## What makes it funny?

Extraordinary perception doesn't necessarily reveal anything useful. David can suddenly count the grains in a stranger's meal and discover far too much about where his own fork has been.

### The comedy at work

David keeps interrupting the supernatural trouble with ordinary distractions and jokes at his own expense. Horror-film and video-game conventions supply further targets for a narrator who won't maintain a solemn account of events.

### Try this if…

Disorienting events, a sarcastic narrator and gross-out jokes make this a fit for readers who like their cosmic threats accompanied by a lot of chatter. The danger remains real within the story.

### Good to know

Expect drug use, graphic bodily violence, profanity and sexual jokes. Older editions name the author as David Wong; current editions use Jason Pargin. The 2021 special edition adds author and character commentary.

## What to expect

- Genre: Horror
- On the shelf: Cosmic horror
- Kind of humor: Absurdism · Dark comedy · Parody
- The atmosphere: Irreverent
- Format: Novel
- Length: 464 pages

## More in John Dies at the End

- Book 2: This Book Is Full of Spiders
- Book 3: What the Hell Did I Just Read
- Book 4: If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe

## A few distinguishing details

- A perception-altering drug reveals humiliating trivia
- Cosmic horror narrated through digressions and self-mockery

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Macmillan lists John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin, ISBN 9781250830562, with a page count of 464.](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250830562/johndiesattheend)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250830562/johndiesattheend)
- Review: [Kirkus review](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-wong/john-dies-at-the-end)
- Review: [Publishers Weekly review](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780312555139)
- Publisher: [Publisher excerpt and ebook edition](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429956789/johndiesattheend)