Book cover of The Gopher King

Book description

2021 American Fiction Awards Finalist

2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist

"Imaginative and often beguiling, like a mashup of Platoon and Gremlins scripted by William S. Burroughs." -Kirkus Reviews

"Nikolich's story shimmers with intersecting layers of identity and fantastical complexities." -Authors Reading

A suicidal former platoon sergeant, sole survivor…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Gopher King as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

A dark comedy shines plenty of light with this twisted yet brilliant depiction of a Vietnam veteran addled by war and muddled by a gamut of pharmaceuticals. It would not be stretch to describe this story as a slightly off version of Alice’s latest adventures into a rabbit hole, or gopher hole in this case that leads her to the Cu Chi tunnels of Vietnam where she meets a gopher Chaz, a friend and ally of our war hero/newspaper editor.

This story has many layers of craziness. The dark is quite dark the comedy quite hilarious. Gojan Nikolich pulls off…

If you love The Gopher King...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like The Gopher King?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 2 books like The Gopher King.

Browse books like The Gopher King

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,304

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like The Gopher King, you might also like...

Book cover of Sorceress Kringle: The Woman Who Became Santa Claus

Sorceress Kringle by Joseph D'Agnese,

Everything you know about Santa Claus is a lie. And that’s just the way she likes it.

She remembers nothing of her real parents. She was abducted by fairies who taught her all she knows. Everyone calls her Key, but no one can tell her why.

Now, in the year…

Book cover of Murder on Book Row

Murder on Book Row by Joseph D'Agnese,

She sells books, eats well, and has a very large brain. Criminals fear her.

Meet Beatrice Valentine, a larger-than-life bookshop owner with a penchant for three things in abundance—delicious Italian food, vino, and murder. For decades, she has sold used and rare books from her stylish-but-cluttered domain on New York…