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Ghoti: Maximón
by Richard D. Treat

If Richard D. Treat’s “Maximón” were printed as a novel, its cover would be embossed with a big, bold “recommended for discussion” stamp.

Ripe with authentic Latin flavor and exotic scenery, “Maximón” is well-crafted, highly entertaining, and a must-read for fans of extraordinarily eccentric lifestyles. The story follows the narrator through his unique experiences living as a tourist in Guatemala.

The writing is sharp and witty, moving along at a breakneck pace that is never dull. During the short three-page tale, the narrator is blamed for a drug dealer’s arrest, visits a shrine and offers worldly goods to the gods, frequents a drug house, falls for a woman at a sleezy local bar, and departs on a bus bound for nowhere.

What impresses most about the story is the expert craftsmanship that is evident in each and every sentence. The care and fine detail molded into every line is almost poetic, making the story read like a survey of complex philosophical themes.

The third line of the story–“All I could make out was a mess of cowboy hats and traditional wrap-around skirts, moving all chaotic, as if their anthill had just been stepped on” –introduces the theme of the confused outsider trying to make sense of his surroundings. And later: “We were planning on staying across the lake in Santiago de Atitlán. I thought we’d go there and see Maximón because I’d seen a book that described him as a mixture of Saint Peter and some pre-Colombian god — I don’t remember the name — and I liked the idea of a folk-saint with vices. I wanted to see the Mayans tilt his head back and pour alcohol into his slit-mouth.”
The theme itself isn’t entirely original, but the authenticity and skill of Treat’s presentation propel the tale far above a common piece of isolationist fiction.

With that said, however, “Maximón” leaves readers wanting more. The story sets a wonderfully exotic Guatemalan scene, progresses to a scene depicting an offering to a Mayan god, and climaxes with a raunchy dance scene in a local bar. But the story ends there, with the narrator in desperate search for a local woman who becomes the object of his lust. Just as the story begins to take off, the rug is pulled out from under the reader and the story comes to an abrupt end.

The fiery drug dealer being hauled away by police; the passionate eroticism at the Groovy Gecko; themes of wealth, love, and revenge at the local shrine—each scene makes for intense reading, but it isn’t enough.

The scene is set and the character is beginning to be developed, but unfortunately the story feels like a prelude to something bigger and more substantial.

Whether or not that more substantial work will be created remains to be seen.

Read the story for yourself and tell us what you think.

About the Reviewer
Robert Lewis graduated from California State University - Sacramento in May 2007, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Composition and composed sports features pieces for the college newspaper publication. He currently writes for Associated Content in his idle time.

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