The King Is Dead. : 9780615376387 : 02 Jun 2010 : Frank Gladney died recently. And thank goodness. Who's got a shovel? From far away places, Frank's family is gearing up. Bluebell is putting out fresh towels, shellacking her suburban hair. Aubergine is on an airplane, hiding from nobody in her big sunglasses. Tim is on the road, blasting death metal across the plains states. Mother awaits their return, sharpening her tongue. Only one thing would get these four in the same city again, and that is to get that King in the ground. Confronted with their warped family history, and reminded of their gods given musical gifts, the Gladneys are faced with what it means to forgive and move the hell on already.