E.L.V.
Nick Neilsen Published in 1997

This is one of the first recent science fiction stories to truly surprise me. There are enough hints at the plot twists that I should have picked up on what was happening earlier than I did.

However, I took my sweet time getting around to realizing how clever Nick was being. That meant that I got about half-way into the book before everything dawned on me. So... I put the book away for a week, read two other books, and then started this one again from page 1.

This is a clever book and is really better than most author's "first" novels.

<— He has also released a second ELV book (E.L.V. 2, published fall, 1999) that is almost as good. A third volume had been announced in 2001 but not published as of March 2003.

The Gunseller
Hugh Laurie Published in 1995

Yes, it's that Hugh Laurie and in A Bit Of Fry and... and from the Blackadder series, and as seen on TV staring as Bertie Wooster, etc.

This is Hugh's only "novel" that I have found. It is a funny spy and intrigue novel, not a science fiction tale; an action packed, fast-paced tale of one man caught up in a game he is not prepared to be involved in.

Or is he really that naive? Hugh leaves that up to the reader Although there is more humor in this book than a typical thriller, it is still a well-written, serious story.

Anyone who loves James Bond-ish stories will enjoy this.

Bruce Campbell, the wonderful "B" actor who gave us Brisco County, Jr and Jack of All Trades has led a very interesting life. His autobiography -- no, don't stop reading yet!!! -- is a wonderful journey from his days as a young boy and teenager, part of the team who brought the world the Evil Dead movies (he played Ash, the "hero" in them and was part of the production team along with Sam Raimi (direcor of Spiderman) and Rob Tapert (producer of Hercules, Xena, and others). This book is a look at his life from a small boy to one of the more recognizable B-movie actors out there.

It is funny, well written and a very good read. Evenif you don't think you would like to read an autobiography, it is still a good read.

Click the book picture to go to Amazon.com.

Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty
Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis
Published in 1998

These are the chronicle of Edmund Blackadder, all four incarnations of him. From pompous twit bastard son of the would-be King, to pompous bastard WWI Captain.

This is not, however, a book simply filled with scripts from the four different series. It is the definitive book filled with scripts from the four different series.

It is also a book filled with many, many other tidbits:
photos; anecdotes; pictures; funny side stories; graphics; little humorous tales; etc.

If you watch the shows on A&E or your local PBS station—and assuming that you like what you are seeing— this is a great book to own. It Just came out and is mostly available though UK dealers such as the Internet Bookshop UK and Amazon.com UK.

The Boomer Bible
R. F. Laird

Without sacrilege or heresy, Robert Laird has created a complete "bible" of our society and culture. All of our beliefs, no matter how selfish, banal or benign are captured in this very funny, very accurate book.

It has been set out to look just like another famous bible book, with chapters and verses. It is highly annotated and extensively cross-referenced throughout. As it says on the back cover of this 3-inch thick, four pound book, "The Boomer Bible is a dazzling invention, a darkly comic and devastating mirror of our age. Look into it and see how far we've come—and gone astray."

If you are at all open to reading great works, please please please do not pass this one up. It is still available in larger bookshops and through Amazon.com

NEW... If you have enjoyed The Boomer Bible and want to see more, or if you want to see how brilliant the twists, turns and level of details that go into the book, you MUST VISIT the official web site:

http://www.boomerbible.com

Do not delay.

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Jack Hopkins' trilogy about a news team based in the largest man-made satellite ever built, circling the moon. The team consists of a young, beautiful female anchor, her hard-drinking, older male counterpart, their ace cameraman (who happens to be an android disguised as a human) and their equipment man. Actually, their equipment "giant-being-from-another-part-of-our-galaxy-who-looks- like-a" badger. These were published in 1993 and 1994. Please look for them at used book stores such as Powells Books.

Venus on the Half Shell
Kilgore Trout Published in 1974

Ever read Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut? Remember the hero's favorite author, Kilgore Trout?

Well, Phillip Jose Farmer, an author of some prestige, brought life to Kilgore Trout and his masterpiece, Venus on the Half Shell.

Follow the exploits of Simon the wanderer, his faithful dog, an owl that pecks one of his eyes out, and a beautiful female android (see the cover art).

I don't think that it is mandatory to have read the Vonnegut book prior to enjoying this one. It is a good, self-contained story, well-written by Farmer. It is out of print, but should be obtainable through good used book stores.

Bored of The Rings
The Harvard Lampoon Published in 1969

J.R.R. Tolkein's classic series is great. Hobbits, Middle Earth, everything. It has two major failings. 1) It isn't very funny, and 2) It IS very, very long (which also adds to its lack of "fun"). But Cliff Notes are also pretty dull.

The Harvard Lampoon folks put out this delightful telling of the entire saga. Of course, to avoid any copyright problems the characters have changed. This book follows the exploits of Frito and GoodGulf, Moxie and Pepsi, and all the other inhabitants of Middle Earth. Although I have only vague memories of Tolkein's works, this one sticks in my mind as being fairly faithful to the story. It is just a whole lot more enjoyable to read. AND... it is much shorter.

Now back in print! Roll over for new cover art. —>

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Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley have collaborated on three amazing novels. They follow the trials and tribulations as a famous minion of The Devil attempts to prove his value. They are funny and hauntingly familiar to anyone who is fairly well read. I see these off and on at major retailers. I am sure that you could order them from any of the large on-line services such as Amazon.com.

Pandora's Planet
Christopher Anvil (Harry C. Crosby)
Published in 1972

Imagine you are the head of a planetary invasion fleet, from a planet that has long-distance space technology, but whose weaponry and tactics are about akin to the Earth, circa WWI.

Then imagine that you are invading the Earth in the 1970's.

This is a strange book, where the first 35% reads like a very funny short story, and the last 65% reads like a completely different story tacked onto the end of the first. But it works!

I've read this book at least once every two years of so since it first came out.

Although far out of print, it is available through used bookstores, or might be ordered from Powells.

Here are some possible places to try ordering used copies of the above books that are out of print.

Powells Books