Patron Games by Ian Page: A Hilarious Tale of Money, Mayhem, and Misfit Actors
(By Gaius Konstantine / for Just Reading Nook)
“Your script is living up to its uniqueness. And now you’re collecting the weirdos to fill the roles.” Weirdos? A bit of an understatement when describing the characters in Patron Games, a novel by Ian Page. The story unfolds in the city of Whettstone sometime in 1997, and for the protagonist, one Chester Field, or Chet for short, this should be a time alive with possibilities and the promise of good things in life. Unfortunately for Chet, luck isn’t really smiling at him; it’s smirking instead. Why is that, you ask? Well, Chet’s dear but quite deceased Mom has left him 30 million dollars in her will, but there’s a catch. In order to inherit this princely sum, Mr. Field has to fulfill two conditions. When the opportunity to tackle the first of these comes along, Chet dives into the world of theater as he prepares to produce a modern reimagining of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Excitement soon gives way to dread as Chet reads the abomination posing as a script, only to discover that the actors are an even bigger disaster in the making.
Daffy, witty, and well-written, Patron Games by Ian Page is a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Come to think of it, it doesn’t take the reader too seriously either, and that is as it should be. The plot is basic at first glance: a good-natured but imperfect man attempts to produce a play as a condition of his inheritance, where he stands to gain a large enough stash of cash to set him up for life…but there are complications. Despite the tale’s amusing nature, a strong theme of true friendship is present, as well as some lighthearted fun-poking at society in general and the political class in particular. Top-notch character development is a particular strength of the novel, and I suspect the author was having quite a bit of fun presenting these Machiavellian but buffoonish individuals.
With a steady and brisk pace, along with a meticulous narrative, Patron Games is a perfect read for anyone who wants a sophisticated but easy-going diversion into the absurd.
Rating: ★★★★★ Exceptional
Patron Games (2026)
Comedy
COMING SOON!
Gaius Konstantine is the author of Fading Away: Dark Bay and a literary critic known for honest, no-nonsense takes on literature. He writes. He critiques. He calls it as he sees it.
Connect with him on X at @GaiusKonstantin.
