A TOAST TO SIR TERRY

British fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett passed away last week at the age of 66. He was best known and loved for his Discworld series, which started life as a satirical spoof of the fantasy genre but went on to become a work of rich worldbuilding and unique storytelling in its own right. Consisting of over 40 books, the novels were clever, captivating, fresh, poignant -- and always, always funny.

As a massive fantasy fan, the Discworld books were breaths of fresh air to me in my high school and college days. They were fantasy novels that had something new, fascinating, and hilarious to say. It's been years since I've picked up a Discworld novel, but I still remember my fondness for the world and characters that Sir Terry created.

Here are a few of my favorites:



- The Color of Magic

Pratchett fans will often recommend that newcomers not pick up The Color of Magic, the first book in the Discworld series. Indeed, the novel has a much different flavor from future installments in the series, serving as more of a straight-up satire of the fantasy genre than a solid, standalone fantasy tale. Still, if, like me, you're well-versed in the tropes of epic fantasy, this is the satire for you.



- Pyramids

By this, the seventh novel in Pratchett's series, the Discworld had become a unique fantasy realm in its own right. Pratchett still had fun shaking up his stories by drawing on a variety of tropes and influences, however, and here we get a story heavily influenced by Ancient Egyptian culture (and, to a lesser extent, the fairy tales of the Arabian Nights). Teppic is the young prince of Djelibeybi (sound it out, you Doctor Who fans) who has spent the last few years being educated … by the Assassins Guild. When he returns home to reclaim his throne, complications, as can be expected, ensue -- particularly involving the local pyramids, which are magically constructed to control the flow of Time itself.



- Maskerade

This eighteenth entry in the series features the Witches -- Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg -- and newcomer Agnes Nitt, who they hope to make their coven's new protege. But Agnes is off in the town of Lancre for a job at the local Opera House, and promptly finds herself in the middle of a story not so unlike The Phantom of the Opera ... (This one is extra-delightful if you're familiar with that musical; watch especially for Pratchett's take on Christine, who ends all of her sentences with double exclamation points.)



- Monstrous Regiment

Pratchett excelled in writing complex, relatable female characters. Here we're introduced to Polly Perks, who disguises herself as a man and enlists as a soldier to track down her brother (without him, she'll lose all claim on the family business). Luckily for Polly, she's fully accepted by her fellow soldiers -- but it turns out she's not the only one with a secret to hide.



- The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable

Lavishly, beautifully illustrated by Paul Kidby, this Discworld novella stars my favorite character of the series. Rincewind is a wizard (well, actually a "WIZZARD," if his hat is anything to go by). He only knows one spell, and seems to spend the majority of his time running away from all the various people, things, and circumstances that are constantly conspiring to kill him. Reluctantly teaming up with Leonard of Quirm and Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson, Rincewind finds himself on a mission to stop a hoard of elderly barbarians from killing the gods themselves.



- Good Omens

The Apocalypse. Four Horsemen on motorcycles. A misplaced Antichrist (who is kind of fond of the human race). A book of prophecy. An angel and a demon who actually get along. All co-written with Neil Gaiman. It's not Discworld, but it's my favorite Pratchett novel all the same. Don't miss it.



- Interesting Times

… well. Maybe Good Omens is my second-favorite Pratchett read. This story probably takes the true top spot, as we follow Rincewind the Wizzard as he encounters Cohen the Barbarian, meets up with an old tourist friend, and gets involved in a rebellion against an empire being controlled by a villainous Grand Vizier (aren't they always villainous?). He's only on his unlikely mission because he's determined to earn back his title as a right and proper Wizard -- but with Fate and Luck literally playing a game for the rebellion's outcome, Rincewind's got his work cut out for him.

There is a curse. They say:

"May You Live In Interesting Times."

Browse the works of Terry Pratchett from the Catalog

- ARTICLE: Terry Pratchett's Discworld Might Be the Highest Form of Literature on the Planet

- ARTICLE: Neil Gaiman on Terry Pratchett

- ARTICLE: 50 Terry Pratchett quotes



-- Post by Ms. B 

Laugh and the World Laughs With You

In celebration of comedian Eddie Izzard's recent birthday (February 7), we're here to offer you a highly subjective list of a few of our favorite comedians. Let them tell you a little bit about themselves -- in their own words:


-- Mike Birbiglia

"Growing up, I was discouraged from telling personal stories about insignificant things. Like, I wouldn't make the soccer team, and my father would say, 'Don't tell anyone.' And I would say, 'They're gonna know when they show up to the games and I'm not on the team and I'm crying."

Mike Birbiglia's comedy has appeared several times on NPR, and his Sleepwalk With Me story -- in which he recounts the time he sleepwalked his way out of a two-story hotel window -- went on to become a best-selling book, as well as a film. He also runs an online blog, My Secret Public Journal, where you can read his humor essays and stay up-to-date on upcoming shows.

You can hear his sleepwalking story on NPR's website.

"I wake up at 4:30 am to jump on a plane, which is that part of the morning before the earth even exists. Before they've even programmed the Matrix. You walk out of your apartment and the road isn't even there. You walk out of your house, and there's just a guy with a laptop who yells, 'We need a road, stat!' 'How 'bout a building, Tank!'"

Request What I Should Have Said Was Nothing from the Catalog



-- Ellen DeGeneres

"All we have is the here and now. That's why procrastination feels so right. Procrastinate now; don't put it off!"

Before her long-running daytime talk show and acting career, Ellen Degeneres started out as a stand-up comedian. She gained acclaim for her observational humor in the early 80s, appearing on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson in 1986 (Carson reportedly likened her to Bob Newhart). She's hosted the Oscars, the Emmys, the Grammys, won 13 Emmys and 14 People's Choice Awards -- and voiced the forgetful fish Dory in Pixar's classic animated film Finding Nemo.

"Have you ever heard somebody sing some lyrics that you've never sung before, and you realize you've never sung the right words in that song? You hear them, and all of a sudden you say to yourself, 'Life in the Fast Lane?' That's what they're saying right there? You think, Why have I been singing 'wipe in the vaseline?'  How many people have heard me sing 'wipe in the vaseline?' I am an idiot."

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-- Eddie Izzard

"It's the cutting edge of politics in a very extraordinarily boring way."

Born in England, Eddie Izzard's comedy incorporates world history, politics, religion, languages, and film study into his comedy (I was first introduced to his stand-up when a college linguistics professor showed us a few clips from Izzard's shows). But when your Henry VIII sounds like Sean Connery and you've got Death Star Stormtroopers sipping tea and waving flags, the resultant show is anything but dry. Izzard's humor effortlessly juxtaposes the everyday with the truly quirky, and the result is wholly unique.

"We stole countries! That's how you build an empire. We stole countries, with the cunning use of flags. Just sail halfway around the world, stick a flag in. 'I claim India for Britain.' And they're going, 'You can't claim us; we live here! There's five hundred million of us!' - 'Do you have a flag?' - 'We don't need a bloody flag, this is our country!' - 'No flag, no country! You can't have one. That's the rules that I've just made up!'"

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-- Louis C.K.

"People on planes are the worst. They get off the plane, they come to your house, and they tell you about their whole flight experience. 'That was the worst day of my life!  I had to sit on the runway for forty minutes!'  For forty minutes?  Oh, my God, really?  What happened then??  Did you fly through the air, like a bird, incredibly?  Did you soar into the clouds, impossibly?  Did you partake in the miracle of human flight, and then land softly on giant tires that you couldn't even conceive how they put air in them??  How dare you! Complaining about flying! 'I had to pay for my sandwich --' YOU'RE FLYING!  You're sitting in a chair in the sky!  You're like a Greek myth right now!!  [You think] air travel is too slow?  [It's] New York to California in six hours!  That used to take thirty years!"

Combining his self-deprecating humor with his observations on modern society, Louis C.K. manages to make us laugh at our own shortcomings, as well. Releasing his annual stand-up shows on his website, LouisCK.net, he is also the creator, head writer, and star of the hit FX series Louis. 

"So then my doctor's like, 'Well, okay. How far into a meal do you typically realize you're full and stop eating?' And I'm like -- 'I don't stop eating when I'm full. The meal isn't over when I'm full. The meal is over when I hate myself.'"

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-- Post by Ms. B 

Laughter: The Instant Vacation

Despite living in Pennsylvania all my life, I am not a winter person. Of course, I'm hardly alone in that: with below-average temperatures, and sunset falling around 5:30 p.m., it can be hard not to get a bit down as the winter season rolls in.

So what's the best way to beat the winter blues?  Laughter, as they say, can be the best medicine. Read on for some recommendations of my personal favorite comedies -- guaranteed to make the cold dark of winter seem just a little bit brighter.



-- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

"And there was much rejoicing." Arguably the funniest film outing from the Monty Python comedy trope, the movie's a loose retelling of King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail. It allows for a marvelous collection of history-flavored skits that cover everything from witch hunts and Black Plague to sword duels and arranged marriages. There's also a song-and-dance number and a Trojan Rabbit. It's really not to be missed.

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-- The Princess Bride (1987)

"Is this a kissing book??" In many ways, The Princess Bride has a similar flavor to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with the routines taking jabs at fairy tales (instead of history). But the story of The Princess Bride has a stronger structure and gets layered more deeply, letting most of the humor come directly from the characters. The fairy tale plotline is framed as a bedtime story being read by his grandfather to his under-the-weather grandson, giving an additional twist (and plenty of extra humor) to the set-up.

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-- The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

"You threw off my groove!" Kuzco is a spoiled Incan emperor whose royal advisor accidentally transforms him into a llama. Teamed up with a good-hearted farmer (whose house Kuzco was was about to knock down to make way for his new palace), Kuzco has to learn how to find a little humility ... or risk remaining a llama forever. It would be a straight-up buddy comedy if not for the abundance of sight gags, sly references, and snappy dialogue -- making this unusual Disney animated movie a film that borders on satire.

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-- Galaxy Quest (1999)

"By Grabthar's Hammer ... what a savings." Jason Nesmith and his actor pals haven't had a real acting gig since the cancellation of their cult-classic sci-fi series Galaxy Quest. These days, they eke out a living with convention appearances and publicity stunts -- all the while growing increasingly frustrated with Jason, who seems to think he's really as important as his on-screen alter ego, Captain Taggart. But when a group of fans show up who turn out to be literally out of this world, Jason and his Galaxy Quest crew suddenly find themselves in the center of an intergalactic adventure that they're not quite prepared for. You don't have to be a Star Trek fan to appreciate this clear Star Trek satire -- but if you're a Trekkie, this is not one to be missed.

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-- The World's End (2013)

"Face it, we are the human race and we don't like being told what to do!" When Gary King was in high school, he and his four best friends attempted "the Golden Mile," an infamous pub crawl across their hometown of Newton Haven, England. Now, some twenty years later, Gary's decided to put the gang back together to complete the Golden Mile once and for all. But as it turns out, it's not so easy to go home again -- particularly when your hometown just might be the center of the upcoming alien apocalypse!  The trappings sound like a sci-fi take on The Hangover, but nothing could be further from the truth; instead, it's a delightfully quirky and surprisingly sweet movie that's all about growing up and finding your way out in the "real world" past high school.

Request The World's End from the Catalog

-- Post by Ms. B 

Staff Recommendation #29: Daria

"I'm too smart and too sensitive to live in a world like ours at a time like this with a sister like mine. Maybe I do miss out on stuff -- but this attitude is what works for me now."

From Freaks and Geeks to Friday Night Lights; from Beverly Hills, 90210 to Buffy the Vampire Slayer; from The Wonder Years to Smallville -- television shows exploring the trials and tribulations of high school are hardly in short supply. And the variety of approaches that such shows have taken are truly extraordinary, incorporating elements of everything from sci-fi to soap opera.

But for me, there is no show about high school that's quite like Daria.

Daria and Friends

(Such as they are)

The show centers on the title character, a seventeen-year-old high school student whose family has just recently moved to the town of Lawndale. Her family includes her mother, Helen, a workaholic attorney who nonetheless means it when she says that family comes first; and her father, Jake, a slightly-unbalanced but well-meaning consultant, who rarely understands his kids but is always there for them. And then there's Quinn, Daria's younger sister, a materialistic and Popular girl who becomes vice president of her new school's Fashion Club within the first week ... and who has more depth to her than anyone (least of all Daria) might always see. They are characters who contradict themselves, making them a fitting family for Daria herself -- as complex a character as you could ask for.

Filled with biting wit and sarcastic observations, Daria is known as a dorky "brain" at school. She's an outsider to most of her fellow students, and has few friends. Luckily, she's got one -- a best friend, Jane, who comes from her own quirky family and wants to be an artist.

Daria and Jane on a school field trip.

Heavy emphasis on the "field."

There's a lot of reasons to love Daria: she's a reader, a writer, and a person willing to think for herself. But it's also hard not to admire her for her quippy one-liners:


"Sometimes, your shallowness is so thorough, it's almost like depth."

"Do you think if you breathe on me, I might catch your enthusiasm?"

"My biggest fear right now is that I'll wake up and this conversation won't be a dream."

"I've been busy procrastinating all day."

"I don't like kids. I didn't even like kids when I was a kid."

"It never would've worked. I mean, unless I tried, or something."

"There is no moment in life that can't be improved with pizza."

"You're never going to make friends if you keep your nose buried in a book!"
"Let's hope."

Daria and her baby-sitting charges

But Daria isn't quite the cynic she makes herself out to be. She's not miserable or hard-hearted -- she just likes to think for herself. And she knows there's often a price for that -- including the undeniably tough position of not always feeling accepted. "I'm so defensive," she admits at one point, "That I actively work to make people dislike me, so I don't feel bad when they do." Her sarcasm is more of a shield than a sword -- though she's not afraid to wield such verbal weapons as needed when she finds a cause she believes in.

The show, which premiered in 1997 on MTV, ran for five seasons. Throughout its run, Daria faces challenges to her friendships, her relationships, and her own belief system. By the end of the series, Daria is not only graduated from high school and preparing for her first semester of college -- she'd also discovered that it might be okay to leave some of her cynicism behind.

She finds her answers in an unquestionably Daria-ish fashion, and without compromising the core of her wholly unique character. But her unique character is precisely what makes her so easy to relate to -- even after you've left high school behind.

Request Daria: The Complete Animated Series from the Catalog here

-- Post by Ms. B 

Staff Recommendation #28: "Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened" by Allie Brosh

Hyperbole and a Half:

Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

by Allie Brosh

It began as a blog. The website Hyperbole and a Half is a collection of stories from the life of its creator, Allie Brosh. While there are hundreds of blogs that could fit that description, Brosh's stands out for three reasons: her hilarious writing style, her quirky but utterly fun artwork, and the fact that she can tell a good story.

Her illustrated tales are a mixture of childhood remembrances, adventures from her day-to-day experiences, and reflections on herself and on life in general. Many of her stories are laugh-out-loud hilarious -- such as when she's remembering her beloved dinosaur costume or her childhood fondness for cake. But she's not afraid to tackle more serious fare -- such as her courageous two-part tale detailing her struggles with depression. (In fact, if I have any criticism for the book at all, it's that she is far too hard on herself for what she sees as her personal shortcomings.)

When turning her stories into a book, Brosh plucked several classic entries from her website for publication. But there is also a plethora of new material in the book, including an ill-begotten hiking trip from her childhood and the truth behind her lifelong love of hot sauce. The book was as delightful a read as her webpage stories have been, and I'm already hoping a sequel might be in the works.

Want to try a few of her tales?  Here are five of my favorites (just click on the title to read the story on her website):



1. The Milk Crisis of 2005

Before I was a librarian, I spent nine months working as a waitress. That memorable experience gives me a special appreciation for this story: a simple, heartwarming tale that rapidly turns into full-blown horror. (Of the most humorous kind.) A cautionary tale for anyone contemplating a career in the food service industry.



2. Texas

Brosh's first trip to Texas was somewhat ill-timed. Having grown up in the frigid Northwest, the beginning of summer was not a good time to make her first trip down south -- particularly not to compete in a regional track meet. Factor in a fever, fireflies, and a few inadequately-sympathetic teammates, and it's a recipe for certain disaster.



3. The Party

Dental surgery and birthday parties don't mix. Little Allie's not about to let that stop her. All she has to do is prove to her mother that she's sufficiently recovered from her surgery sedation to make it to her friend's birthday party. What could go wrong?  (This one's included in the book.)



4. Sneaky Hate Spiral

Perhaps you've already read the children's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Here's another look into days like that.



5. Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving

As a long-time dog owner, I'm admittedly biased when it comes to our canine companions. And nothing tickles my funny bone like a great dog story. So I couldn't resist this tale, in which Brosh and her boyfriend must transport their two dogs -- one smart as a whip and highly neurotic, the other a gentler soul who still manages to cause all manner of mischief -- to their new home. Complete with 2 a.m. wake-ups, sled dog booties, and a Bon Jovi shout-out, this is easily my favorite of Allie Brosh's stories. (Also included in the book.)



-- Post by Ms. B 

The Feast of Fools

"That, of course, is the great secret of the successful fool -- that he is no fool at all."

~ Isaac Asimov

As April Fools' Day winds to a close, take a look at some recommended reading focused on some of our favorite fictional jesters, jokesters, and fools. They'll be sure to put a smile on your face!



-- Fool by Christopher Moore

Of all of Shakespeare's tragedies, King Lear is one of the darkest. It tells the story of a king who pits his daughters against each other, tearing the family apart as Lear himself slowly spirals into insanity. And the consequences, as one can imagine, are catastrophic.

So was it a stretch for humor novelist Christopher Moore to turn it into a comedy?  It's surprisingly hard to say. Told from the perspective of Pocket, Lear's court jester (unnamed in the original play), Moore spins a tale that blends together elements of King Lear with a number of other Shakespearean stories -- while throwing generous dollops of his own racy and twisted humor into the mix. The result is a bawdy satire that you don't have to be a Shakespeare fan to enjoy (although it won't hurt).

Click here to request from the Catalog.




-- The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

Phillippa Gregory is best known for The Other Boleyn Girl and its sequels, in which she uses her in-depth historical research to imagine the lives of the family, court, and citizens of Tutor England.

In The Queen's Fool, Hannah is a young teen girl from Spain who currently lives on Fleet Street with her father. Disguised as a boy to protect herself, Hannah nonetheless ends up being recognized as having "the Sight" -- that is, the power to see the future. She soon finds herself a member of the court of Edward VI (Henry VIII's son) as the "holy fool." What follows through this fictional character's eyes is the historically-accurate unfolding of the fates of two queens, Mary and Elizabeth, as Hannah herself is trained by the jester Will Sommers -- a real-life historical figure.

Click here to request from the Catalog.



-- Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

"When shall we three meet again?"
"Well, I can do next Tuesday."

Terry Pratchett has been known and loved for his Discworld series for over thirty years. Starting life as a straight-up fantasy satire, the Discworld series has evolved into an always-hilarious series that -- while still parodying other authors, stories, and genres -- tells fantastic tales in its own right.

Wyrd Sisters, which makes clear nods to the world of Shakespeare, centers on a trio of witches (the naive Magrat, the irrepressible Nanny Ogg, and the stern-and-practical Granny Weatherwax). But there's also the Fool, who has his hands full trying to avoid a destiny he's not entirely certain he's cut out for. When reading Pratchett, the ideas as are much fun as the story itself -- so this is a novel not to be missed.

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-- Hop-Frog by Edgar Allan Poe

Sharing similar themes to The Cask of Amontillado, this short story tells the tale of a court jester who has his own ideas as to what makes rulers great and what makes jesters funny -- and he's determined to open the people's eyes to these truths with his last, and "greatest," jest. To say more would spoil the twists and turns of this horror-filled tale from Edgar Allan Poe, which delivers a surprisingly poignant message on the nature of power and and prejudice.

Click here to request from the Catalog.



-- Mad Love by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm

All's fair in love, war ... and supervillainy. In the world of comic books, the Joker is the constant thorn in Batman's side -- but he's not always alone in his schemes and scams. He's got a right-hand henchwoman to help him out: the jester-like Harley Quinn.

In this classic graphic novel, written by Harley Quinn's original creators, we get the back story into one of the more twisted romantic relationships in comic book history. Formerly a psychiatrist, Quinn's now got her own problems, namely: how to get her best guy to pay a little bit more attention to her and a little less attention on defeating his arch-enemy. The solution seems simple to Harley: it's time to put a stop to the Bat once and for all. Of course, like any good scheme, things don't always go exactly according to plan.

Click here to request from the Catalog.

-- Post by Ms. B

Tickle Your Funny Bone

Are you looking for something to read that will make you laugh? Then why not think about reading one of the many books written by some of America's humorists.

What's a humorist, you say? Isn't that the same as a comedian? Well, yes and no. A humorist can be a comedian and vice versa, but humorists tend to be more focused on the written word than comedians are. A humorist is more likely to tell a story that happens to be funny, while a comedian is telling a joke or anecdote to make you laugh.

One of America's greatest humorists was Will Rogers. Born in Oklahoma (November 4, 1879), he lived a somewhat nomadic life searching for a profession. As a young man, he developed a talent for roping tricks, which he learned from cowboys when he was just a kid. This led to a life as a performer. While performing his tricks for audiences he began telling stories. Finally people were coming to hear his stories more than his rope tricks. These "stories" were actually more of a commentary on the articles he had read in the paper.

Rogers continued performing (including several appearances in motion pictures) and by the 20s he had also added public speaking to his other skills. This led to radio appearances, which led to a newspaper column.

Much of his writings were political in nature, but Rogers was probably the most read and popular columnist of his day. He had an everyman quality about him that his readers could identify with. At the time of his death in 1935 (an airplane accident) he was at the pinnacle of his career.

-- Request works by Will Rogers from the Catalog

Looking for some other humorists when you're done with Will Rogers? Then check out some of these other American humorists. Hopefully you find one that will tickle your funny bone!

James Thurber -- Known for his cartoons, he was also a prolific writer of humorous short stories.

Bill Bryson -- His books cover everything from hiking the Appalachian trail to the history of domestic life to the oddities of the English language.

Nora Ephron -- She was a woman of many talents - writer, journalist, director and blogger. Her look on life, love and growing older made her a favorite of many.

Dave Barry -- The former syndicated columnist has had a successful career from his quirky look on American life. His writings were even turned into a television show, Dave's World.

David Sedaris -- He reached mainstream success when he was featured on NPR's This American Life. His (somewhat exaggerated) stories and observations of life have put him at the top of the bestseller's lists for years.

Erma Bombeck -- The author of more than a dozen books which take a very humorous look at suburban life.

Jon Stewart -- As host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, Stewart entertains millions of people on a nightly basis with his off beat look at the day's events.



-- Post by Tracy

Polka Face

A few months ago, I went to a Weird Al Yankovic concert. Though I'm something of a recent Weird Al fan, it was easily one of the most fun concerts I've ever been to.

There's no denying that "Weird Al" Yankovic is a truly talented musician (listen to "White and Nerdy" sometime, and note how he manages to spit out those rapid-fire lyrics). But a large part of his brilliance can be ascribed to his talent as a song parodist, taking well-known hit songs and giving them his own unique twist -- be it Michael Jackson's "Beat It" becoming "Eat It," James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" becoming "You're Pitiful," or Miley Cyrus's "Party in the U.S.A." becoming "Party in the CIA."

Weird Al Yankovic is a brilliant musician in his own right -- but it's the humor and fun of his parodies that add an extra dimension of awesome to his performances. With October 23rd marking his 54th birthday, it's a good time to recommend some other parodies that are sure to make you smile:



- Robin Hood: Men in Tights

I know, I know -- Mel Brooks's comedic masterpieces are clearly Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles. Tough. This one's my favorite.

Besides, when it comes to parodies, this one is the most direct in its target (archery pun intended). While Men in Tights is plenty amusing in its own right, it's best enjoyed if you've first seen the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The Costner vehicle was released in 1991, making Brooks's 1993 parody offering a direct response to the original blockbuster.

Starring Cary Elwes as Robin Hood (who rightly noted, "Unlike other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent"), Men in Tights tells much the same story as the original movie it parodies. Robin Hood puts together his band of Merry Men to bring down the evil Prince John and his right-hand man, the Sheriff of Rottingham (whose first name happens to be "Mervin," not that you asked). The beats of the movie more or less follow Prince of Thieves to a T; there's even a bonus cameo of Sir Patrick Stewart, taking on the Sean Connery role of King Richard. How can this not be my favorite?

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- Galaxy Quest

You may have gathered this by now, but I'm a big Star Trek fan. So it was pretty much preordained that I would fall in love with a Star Trek parody this good.

The story centers on a group of actors, who were the stars of the campy sci-fi series Galaxy Quest some twenty years ago. With their show long cancelled, the "crew" find themselves making their living by attending conventions and doing commercials. They snipe at each other -- particularly at Jason Nesmith, who played the captain on the show -- and generally find their lot in life to be a disheartening one. That all changes when a group of real aliens show up. Aliens who are admirers of the show. Aliens who don't have a concept of "fiction" in their society. Convinced that the Galaxy Quest actors are really a crew of space-exploring heroes, the aliens promptly pressgang the actors into helping them defeat an evil alien warlord.

It goes about as well as can be expected.

The Trek parodies are spot on ("Hey, don't open that [hatch]!  It's an alien planet!  Is there air??  You don't know!") But there's a real heart to the story that makes this film more than the sum of its parts. It's a genuine comedy that also has something to say about the nature of science fiction, imagination, and inspiration -- and it remains one of my very favorite films.

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- Dave Barry's "Fangs of Endearment: A Vampire Novel"

Every once in awhile, ever feel like a favorite author or actor has created something specifically with you in mind?

In his latest essay collection, I'll Mature When I'm Dead, humorist Dave Barry tackles a wide range of topics, from dance recitals to Hollywood to youth sports to colonoscopies. But my favorite chapter is the one entitled "Fangs of Endearment: A Vampire Novel." It's a clear parody of the third volume in Stephenie Meyer's popular Twilight series, Eclipse, and I could only conclude Barry had written it because he knew how much I'd enjoy it:

"The more I thought about it, the more I knew what I had to do: I had to go out into the woods alone. It seemed crazy, like the plot of a bad horror movie where the teenage girl hears a scary noise in the basement, but instead of doing what anybody with an IQ higher than a Chicken McNugget would do, namely sprint out of the house, she goes down into the basement. But I knew I had to do it, because that's what I always do with my trademark stubbornness: I place myself in grave plot peril when there is no coherent reason to do so. Some people may call this ridiculous, but I am guessing that 'some people' have not sold 50 million books to date.

"'I'm tired,' I informed [my father] Pete, yawning with my mouth open for emphasis. 'I think I'll go up to my room now.' I leaned over to give Pete a goodnight kiss, only to trip forward with my trademark heartwarming clumsiness and head-butt him in the temple. He went down like a sack of gravel, out cold on the kitchen floor, eyes open, pupils dilated. I decided it was best to leave him there. I knew that he couldn't do anything anyway. It was up to me. Only me. Me me me me me."

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- South Park, Episode 12.2: "Britney's New Look"

Choosing a favorite South Park parody episode is sort of like choosing a favorite child -- at least for me, a huge South Park fan. But if truly pressed, I'd have to go with "Britney's New Look," an episode which aired in the show's 12th season.

When South Park is at its best (which is often), it becomes more than a showcasing of outrageous jokes and crude humor. Many episodes excel at using parody and farce to make a point, a skill which is put to good use in this episode. When the South Park kids discover that Britney Spears has come to Colorado, they decide to snap her picture and sell it to the tabloids for cash. They sneak into her hotel by claiming to be her children ("It's okay," an excited Britney says on the phone, moments before the boys walk in. "My kids are here. I feel better now.") The boys promptly walk into her room, and Britney's devastation at not seeing her children, and at the relentless media bombardment, give the boys more than they bargained for.

Surprisingly sympathetic to the real Britney Spears (in their own South Park-ian way), show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone use this episode as commentary on our culture's obsession with celebrity and the preying nature of the paparazzi who surround them. The ending of the episode is a brilliant spoof of Shirley Jackson's classic story The Lottery, with the thrown stones of the original story being replaced by paparazzi camera flashes.

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- "The Saga Begins" - Weird Al Yankovic

There are a lot of beautiful Weird Al parodies. This one just might be the best.

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Happy Birthday, Mr. Yankovic!

-- Post by Ms. B

And Now For Something Completely Different ...

On October 5, 1969 the people of England had the opportunity to see a show quite unlike any other. That show was Monty Python's Flying Circus. It would run for a total of four seasons and go on to make millions of people all over the world laugh.

The group was made up of five Englishmen (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin) and one American (Terry Gilliam). Cleese and Chapman knew each other from Cambridge University, where Idle also attended. Palin and Jones were friends and collaborators from Oxford University. Gilliam was an artist with an eye for the surreal. Through their work on The Frost Report and other shows, they came to admire each other's talents.

When they decided to start working together, Barry Took, a comedy consultant for BBC Television, helped them get their own show. The BBC were a little reluctant at first, so they only committed to 13 episodes. Theirs wasn't the first sketch comedy show in history, but it had a decidedly different take on the format. Instead of punch lines or conclusions, the sketches would often end with the actors (the writers playing most of the parts) simply walking away, ending in the middle or just flowing right into the next bit. Interspersed between sketches were crazy and wacky animations from the mind of Terry Gilliam.

It took awhile for the show to reach America, but when it did their popularity spread. I'm not sure when I was introduced to this brilliant show, but it was probably some time while I was in high school in the 1980s. I've been a fan ever since!

The internet is full of websites with lists of the best Python sketches, but most fans have their own favorites. Here are mine, in no particular order. I would try to explain them, but it's not easy and that would take the fun out of it. Enjoy!



-- Argument Clinic (1972)






-- The Dead Parrot (1969)






-- The Lumberjack Song (1969)






-- Spam (1970)






-- The Philosopher's Football Match (1972)





-- Post by Tracy

Bad to the Bone

There was a little girl 
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very, very good --
But when she was bad, she was horrid.

Okay, it's kind of a silly way to describe a kid. But if we were talking instead about the art of writing poetry, those last three lines are right on target.

Writing poetry is hard. After all, poetry is the art of using the imagery and melody of words to convey the deepest of human emotions. It is, to put it mildly, a tricky balance act to get just right.

So it really shouldn't come as much of a surprise when it sometimes goes so, so wrong.

It's not that kind of "apology," but you can still appreciate the sentiment.

I took several poetry classes in college, and I came away with a deeper appreciation of poetry than I'd had before. I also came away with a strong love of bad poetry, because -- well, as you'll see, the bad poems can have a charm all their own. (I'm not alone in feeling this way: August 18 is the semi-official holiday of Bad Poetry Day.)

Bad poetry doesn't always happen accidentally, of course. Some of the best examples are poems written by their authors to be deliberately bad, either to serve a story or simply to entertain the audience. Gordon R. Dickson, a classic sci-fi writer, had the hero of his novel The Dragon and the George compose the following ode to the boredom of long trips:


An hour, an hour ... another hour ... 
Without a difference I can see, 
Like faceless children on a wall 
That stretches to eternity ...


It's not the best simile, maybe, but I'll give it that the image sticks with you.

The Internet is quite good at producing intentionally-bad poetry.

Then there was humorist Dave Barry, who was invited to write a poem by a "publishing company" who was soliciting some 3,000 other poems for publication in an anthology, which they would then sell to their 3,000 poets at the steal-away price of $49.95. Barry seemed to sense some funny business about the whole enterprise, and so he may not have been taking himself overly seriously when he wrote his entry for the project, simply titled Love. Here's a sample:


Love is what made Lassie the farm dog run back to the farmhouse to alert little Timmy's farm family whenever little Timmy fell into a dangerous farm pit;
Love is a feeling that will not go away, like a fungus in your armpit;
So the bottom line is that there will always be lovers
Wishing to express their love in an heirloom quality book with imported French marbleized covers;
Which, at $49.95 a pop multiplied by 3,000 poets
Works out to gross literary revenues of roughly $150,000, so it's
A good bet that whoever thought up the idea of publishing this book
Doesn't care whether this last line rhymes.


It wouldn't be Barry's final poetry-writing efforts, I'm happy to say.

Of course, the poems that are written in genuine earnestness -- but don't turn out to be quite as awe-inspiring as their authors intended -- are probably the most fun. Take this quatrain by John Close, a nineteenth-century poet whose output might be considered by critics to be inversely proportional to his talent:


Around the gods, each seated on a throne,
The poets, crowned like royal kings they sat.
Around their heads a dazzling halo shone,
No needs of mortal robes, or any hat.


Hats aside, I'm sensing a little hubris here anyway.

The Vogon aliens in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy torture their prisoners by reading terrible Vogon poetry to them. 

Sometimes bad poetry presents itself in the most unexpected of places. Poor Elisha Woodruff wasn't even a poet, but may be doomed to remembrance at the hands of Bad Poetry. Born in 1746, he would grow up to oversee the construction of two saw-mills in Vermont. He kept both in operation until 1816, when he was killed in an accident by his own merchandise. The epitaph on his tombstone mostly speaks fondly of Woodruff, as a husband, father, and friend, but the inscription begins with these verses:


How shocking to the human mind
The log did him to powder grind.


At least he'll be remembered.

There are times when bad poetry is unexpected because it's written by a poet who should know better. Eulalie might be the best example of this phenomenon, being written by Edgar Allan Poe, who is generally known as, y'know, a rather talented guy. Here's an exert from this particular masterpiece:


I dwelt alone
In a world of moan,
And my soul was a stagnant tide,
Till the fair and gentle Eulalie became my blushing bride ...


That the vapor can make
With the moon-tints of purple and pearl,
Can vie with the modest Eulalie's most unregarded curl --
Can compare with the bright-eyed Eulalie's most humble and careless curl.


This was most likely written the same year as Poe's poetry magnum opus The Raven. Apparently, he either wrote The Raven first and used up all his efforts for the year doing so, or he wrote Eulalie first and was saving his strength for more important works later.

In the hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the fearsome vampire Spike was previously known as William the Bloody because ... he wrote bloody awful poetry.

Poe wasn't alone in his ability to be a great writer who, like all human (and therefore fallible) artists, could still occasionally drop the ball. William Wordsworth, who is notable for writing my personal favorite poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, was also the "artist" behind The Thorn:


This heap of earth o’ergrown with moss,
Which close beside the Thorn you see,
So fresh in all its beauteous dyes,
Is like an infant’s grave in size,
As like as like can be:
But never, never any where,
An infant’s grave was half so fair.


I suppose we can't argue with that.

I'd be remiss in this entry if I didn't mention William McGonagall. He was a nineteenth-century poet who, much like director Ed Wood, has developed a cult following out of sheer admiration for the level of bad he was able to achieve. A weaver by trade, McGonagall found himself one summer morning suddenly inspired to write. His first effort was a tribute to his friend, the Reverend George Gilfallan, which began:


Rev. George Gilfallan of Dundee, there is none can you excel;
You have boldly rejected the Confession of Faith, and defended your cause quite well.
The first time I heard him speak, 'twas in Kinnaird Hall,
Lecturing on the Garibaldi movement, as loud as he could bawl.


Although my personal favorite is a tribute he wrote in honor of Sir John Ogilvy, a politician:


He was a public benefactor in many ways.
Especially in erecting an asylum for imbecile children to spend their days.


(You can read lots more of McGonagall's poetry here.)

Ross, of Friends fame, has been known to perform what he refers to as "wordless sound poems." Whether they're truly poetry or music, their ... quality remains unaffected.

It might surprise you to know (or perhaps not), but there is actually a contender for the Worst Poem Ever Written. It was composed by Theophilus Marzials, and is entitled A Tragedy. You can read the whole thing here, if you dare, but here's a sampling:


My thought is running out of my head;
My love is running out of my heart,
My soul runs after, and leaves me as dead,
For my life runs after to catch them -- and fled
They all are every one! -- and I stand, and start,
At the water that oozes up, plop and plop,
On the barges that flop
And dizzy me dead. 
I might reel and drop.
Plop.
Dead.                                            


It's not really any worse than My Heart Will Go On, if you ask me.

In the end, we probably shouldn't judge our less-talented poets too harshly. As Oscar Wilde observed, "All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling." It may be fun to laugh at the more unusual poetic offerings -- but it leaves me a little appreciative of poets from all levels of talent. Bad or good, their writings do, indeed, inspire emotion in their readers.

It just may not always be the emotion they intended.

-- Post by Ms. B