Book Description
There are strange happenings going on at Dactyl, Inc, the world's first and only time travel tourism company. So strange that Joe is promoted to the new position of Chief of Probes. His first probe: find out who's been traveling back in time and torturing his boss in rather disturbing ways.
Joe quickly finds himself catapulted from his dull life into a surreal journey where a blind hog-tying monkey is one of the sanest creatures he meets. Traveling through a past where the only thing that changes the present is death, while dealing with the fabric of space-time slowly unraveling, Joe stumbles into the middle of events that threaten both the Earth's future and past.
Customer Reviews:
Foop! Indeed.......2007-07-21
Foop! is Chris Genoa's first novel and it comes from a small publisher, Eraserhead Press. Nevertheless, Genoa is going to be a major success, and I'll tell you how I know: People like to laugh, and Chris Genoa is hilarious.
Foop! is a bizarre romp through time, chock-full of laugh-out-loud moments, effectively blending black comedy with slapstick. Like all the best humorists, Genoa delivers comedy in ways that resonate on a deeper level than mere punch lines.
The book begins with our first-person protagonist Joe (no last name) leading a time traveling tour group to watch the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's homely appearance puts Joe in mind of an ape, in turn leading him to think of Koko, the gorilla:
Koko was the first of many gorillas taught a type of sign language while in captivity. Towards the end of her life, when her own personal zoo ran out of funding, she was released back into what was left of her natural habitat. There she tried to use sign language to chat with the wild apes.
I used to have nightmares that I was Koko, returning home to my family, trying to tell my daddy, using the elaborate hand gestures taught to me since I was a baby, how much I loved him and in return only getting back blank stares, confused offerings of bananas, and finally hot fresh feces hurled at me.
That is funny stuff, but also a terrific way to introduce Joe's persistent feelings of loneliness, even when surrounded by other people, as he typically is in his overpopulated future world. Joe is the kind of guy who can work in the same office for years without ever learning that there is a cafeteria on the eighth floor where everyone else eats lunch.
In this opening scene, one of the tourists in Joe's group decides to play hero and knock John Wilkes Booth out of commission. Mr. Burk, Joe's boss and the inventor of time travel via wormhole (incidentally, "Foop!" is the sound you hear when you step through a wormhole), insists that Joe take care of Booth's deed instead. Yet we soon learn that it is not necessary for Lincoln to be shot in order to preserve the flow of history. Nothing the group does in the past can affect the present, according to the Shaved Cat Principle - which says if you lock a cat in a room and wait ten minutes, jump back ten minutes in time and shave all the cat's hair off, then return to the present and unlock the room, you will find an unshaved and unruffled cat waiting for you. So Mr. Burk's only reason for carrying out the Lincoln assassination is to give his tourists their money's worth. This is the first inkling we get that perhaps someone should report Mr. Burk's company to the Better Business Bureau.
The Lincoln assassination in one of many destinations for wealthy tourists offered by Mr. Burk, whose company holds a monopoly on time travel. It is creepy to note that, even though Foop! was published well before Hurricane Katrina, one of the popular trips Genoa describes is to go back in time to visit New Orleans before it was largely destroyed by a hurricane.
The story begins in earnest when the neurotic Mr. Burk promotes Joe to Chief of Probes. Joe's top secret assignment (which everyone in the company soon knows about) is to figure out who is traveling through time to take photos of younger Mr.s Burk undergoing humiliations that the present Mr. Burk did not suffer. Once he is put on the job, Joe starts to be followed, none too surreptitiously, by a peculiar pair of men, one midget-sized and the other tall and cadaverous. He also, perhaps coincidentally, begins to have repeated run-ins with the flashlight-wielding followers (including the cutey from work Joe has had his eye on) of Ba Hubba Tree Bob, the leader of a peculiar new cult.
Joe attempts to use time travel to catch Mr. Burk's threateners in the act, but his half-hearted investigations soon uncover a more important problem: the Shaved Cat Principle may not be worth a used hairball, for cracks seem to be appearing in the space-time continuum.
Genoa has a lot of fun with his absurdist take on time travel, using it as an excuse to toss in everything from flying sea lions to robotic construction crews to a blind, hog-tying monkey. But equally entertaining are the scenes in the real world (or rather, a recognizable near-future world) of Joe eating pancakes with a nervous coworker or playing bingo with his obsessive elderly cotenants. Joe's confrontations with his jittery boss Mr. Burk, who will do anything to keep control of a conversation up to and including throwing his head back and screaming like an infant, are particularly funny.
Chris Genoa is American but has a Pythonesque approach to comedy that, while it may not appeal to everyone, will leave readers who appreciate oddball humor in stitches. My only complaint about Genoa's comedy is that he relies too often on scatological humor, but that is a minor nitpick. Just as the sound "Foop!" announces that you are traveling through time, the novel Foop! announces Chris Genoa as a talented new writer to watch. Kudos on his discovery to Eraserhead Press, the brainchild of Carlton Mellick III, a very talented, offbeat author in his own right.
Where Genoa falls short of the best science fiction and fantasy humorists such as Terry Pratchett, Connie Willis, and James Morrow (who has lavishly praised Genoa) is in his storytelling. The tale of Foop! is generally a little too silly to draw the reader in, and the protagonist too one-dimensional to care much about. It is amusing to watch Joe mope around the book like an abused dog - he describes treasuring his promotion to Chief of Probes "like an old stray dog treasures its first and last pat on the head before being shot" - but his character never develops, and both he and the novel stagger to a rather pointless climax.
Chris Genoa is a very funny writer, but he will need to show more conviction in his own stories to become a great novelist.
Loved it!.......2007-03-14
I really enjoyed Foop! and simply can not wait for more of his stuff to get published. The story was whimsical but still had a serious note of social commentary. His writing style would make me laugh if the plot of book was a guy reading a cereal box.
Buy it, read it, give it to a friend!
Verbose and simplistic.......2007-02-20
I was very dissappointed in this novel. After I read the endorsement by Christopher Moore, I expected a lot better book. I found it boring. It seemed to be written without much effort.
I understand what he was going for but I would have appreciated a better ride to that place.
Amusing - but no Chistopher Moore.......2007-02-17
I purchased this based on the Amazon recomendation. It was favorably compared to Christopher Moore's books. My assessment may be colored by the expectations set in comparing it to Christopher Moore. However, while it is mildly amusing, I found it to be a tedious read. The main character induges in far to much introspection which is not all that amusing nor does it seem to facilitate the plot line. I would recomedn it as worthy airplane reading, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get another Chris Genoa book based on my experience with this one.
Christopher Moore but Not.......2007-02-10
If you like Christopher Moore books than you will definately like this one. Different writing style but equally entertaining and hilarious. Thank god I have another author who's capable of creating a light, funny book on a consistent basis. Less time to wait between books when you have two of them going. Great debut book i hope the next one is just like it.
Book Description
Imbued with the cross-pollinated sensibility of The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste and Roadside America, this is the best of the obscure, the absurd, and the perverse in Los Angeles. In other words, L.A. Bizarro is the Fodor's Guide to/from the land of Never, Never.
Most information available to people traveling to or living in L.A. is geared to mainstream tastes and the peanut-munching crowds. Finally, here's a guide for those who view the world though a psychedelic lens. Inside you'll find a guide to eateries, sex shops, curious tourist attractions, nude beaches, dive bars, off-the-beaten-path museums, murder sites, cemetaries, and more.
L.A. Bizarro includes directions, admission fees, phone numbers, hours of operation, and all the usual details found in traditional "Dad's-screaming-at-Mom-who-holds-the-tourist-guide" books. From the Witch House to a curiosity shop that sells body parts, there are hundreds of funky sites, road trips, restaurants, and places to stay--complete with photos, guides, and tips.
Customer Reviews:
What a Fun Book.......2007-08-03
Looking for fun weird stuff to do in Los Angeles... then you gotta get this book. Very interesting... lot's of information. Highly recommended.
slight pause before purchase .......2005-12-01
i've got a sister who's lived in LA for more than 6 years. i'm looking for a guide to help heighten her appreciation for the place and help her uncover some yet undiscovered treasures. this book appealed on the surface and many of the reviews were positive. sad to say, upon reading some excerpts, i found the book to be crass, bawdy and distasteful, given the prospective recipient.
this book is perfect for the cynical, 'porky's revenge' type person on your list. the one who's not put off by bad taste remarks made about every 'recommended' spot. granted, i should have been warned by the title. but i wanted to be educated, enlightened and amused by what i read. not completely turned off. not for the light of heart, or those looking for positive spin on LA.
Very hard to read!.......2004-01-03
I bought this book from Amazon and wound up returning it for a credit because it was totally unreadable. The very tiny, bold-faced type is, on most of the pages, set against garish green and pink blotches of color, making it a migraine-inducing read. It's probably not a bad book, but the way it is laid out makes it more of a headache than it's worth.
Surreal? Yes! Terrifying? Yes! Entertaining? Yes!.......2003-10-16
I've lived in and around L.A. for almost all of my life, and I've never been to a lot of the places in this book, nor do I know many people who have been to more than a couple of these places. Having a lot of relatives in the Midwest, the South, and the Eastern Seaboard, I hear a lot about how we Californians are perceived in other parts of the country, and this little guide can only solidify our reputations of being...well...weird. It's easy to become jaded by the perversity that surrounds us all the time, so to have it stare at me from between the pages of this book is quite a jolt of reality, or unreality, or whatever you want to call it. Just think, the people with the kind of imagination that can dream up and create these landmarks have lived (or are still living) among us normal, decent folk....that kind of scares me!
Anyway, even if you never plan to visit the City of Angels, this is a fascinating read. The variations of the old "is that a pickle in your pocket" line gets repetitive, but the subject matter and the authors' deliciously twisted points of view counteract that. As far as I can tell, it's pretty well-researched (I especially enjoyed comparing my own experience with the Men's restroom at the Madonna Inn with that of the authors). Be warned, though: this is not suitable reading for the rugrats, and you wouldn't want to leave it lying around the house if your strict, judgemental Baptist grandmother decides to pay you a visit.
Funniest book ever!.......2003-09-21
Whether you live in L.A. or never plan on entering the Belly of the Beast, this book is an amazing read. Hilarious. And brilliantly written. If Matt Maranian ever turned his considerable talents to fiction, he'd be walking away with literary prizes.
Book Description
Do you breed rats and mice that could preen like poodles in a pet show? Have creative juices yearning to be set loose on a 20-ton block of packed snow? Possess a melodious voice best suited to singing the praises of SPAM? Nope? That's okay, with America Bizarro, you can find out all about people who do!It's a weird place, America, and even if you have a hobby or interest that no one you know shares, there's probably a group of people meeting somewhere in America to enjoy it together. Not only that, but someone else's obsession or bizarre display of civic pride is being celebrated right near you. Organized state-by-state, and illustrated with some pretty funny pictures, America Bizarro is an hysterical armchair read which doubles as a practical guide in case you want to:See the Jumping Frog competition immortalized by Mark Twain in Calaveras County, CA Be a delegate at the Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club Convention Munch on Rocky Mountain oysters at Montana's Testicle Festival Get lost in Grandpa John's Amazing Maze in a Nebraska cornfield Tickle, caress, and seduce the ivories in Las Vegas' Liberace "Play-A-Like" Competition Join Polar Bear plungers in the Atlantic in February at the Jersey Shore Win a truck in Texas' famous Hands on a Hardbody contestYou never know. You could be the next International Pack Burro Race champion or just enjoy taking in the annual ArtCar Parade in San Francisco. America is what you make it, so make it Bizarro!AUTHORBIO: Nelson Taylor is a Content Editor at iUniverse.com and has written for Maxim, Details, Time Out New York, and Paper, among others.He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Customer Reviews:
It's a start..........2004-12-28
I just received this book as a gift and I'm a little disappointed. It does have some weird events to visit and I'll be putting most of them on my TO DO list, but I guess the book itself wasn't what I expected and seems somewhat limited. I really like Roadside America just because it has absolutely SO MUCH stuff to see and do. I like this book and I'll use it in my crazy travels, but I'm not as excited about it as I was when I read the other reviews and put it on my wishlist.
A Fun Trip into America the Wacky.......2004-09-27
This book is getting a little dated - however it is still a great resource for those wacky Americians who will put on a show for a nickle or a dime. I have read it twice and appreciate the author's attempt at covering an ever growing awareness of out wonderful Country - the U.S. OF A. - this book makes me proud to be and Americian.
Not just "Burning Man" but obscure funky happenings..........2000-09-25
This takes precendence over "Roadside America"...for ultimate in eccentricity. Includes Texas Aggie Bonfire, (World record on height,'69) as a last minute choice just after the Nov.'99 accident, of which there is a commemorative statement. To add send inquiries to: americabizarro@hotmail.com
This ain't your parent's guide to America!.......2000-09-04
Mr. Taylor takes us for a walk on the wild side in this guide to the off kilter, out of hand and off the beaten path fests, events and happenings. Wondered if America really was as strange as you suspected? Wonder no more. Organized by state, America Bizarro is... well, Think Tom Robbin's Another Roadside Attraction meets that outrageous show from the 1970s - Real People. This Book is for everyone who just can't stomach one more summer roadtrip to overrated, overdone and overpriced attractions. Hell, the Big Mouse down South doesn't need any more of your hard earned money... so get a copy of America Bizarro and start checking out the freaks, geeks and charming underbelly of the land of the free to be you and me.
Book Description
What goes on in the head of Dan Piraro-stand-up comedian, fine artist, animal rights activist, and creator of the award-winning syndicated comic strip Bizarro? This wildly inventive compendium of cartoons, never-before-seen sketches, photographs, and paintings-along with Piraro's own hilarious and thought-provoking insights into his life and the world at large-takes readers inside the mind of the mad genius with a nationwide following. Much more than just a collection of cartoons, this is the first comprehensive book incorporating all of Piraro's work in a variety of media, interwoven with autobiographical passages that shed light on the evolution of the artist's left-leaning worldview. It's a must-have for Bizarro fans and a terrific introduction for the uninitiated.
Customer Reviews:
Great illustrations, great humor, great message -- great fun.......2007-08-21
Pop quiz: Name an artist whose wildly popular daily cartoon frequently promotes veganism - and who is not Dan Piraro. Stumped? Well, there really isn't anyone else. Indeed, Piraro has that niche pretty much covered and is regarded as the veg community's most-recognized comic voice. His print cartoon, "Bizarro," which began two decades ago, is syndicated in more than 200 newspapers and routinely takes on topics ranging from animal rights and religion to gay rights and politics. The surreal cartoon has spawned a number of equally surreal book-length collections, the latest of which is "Bizarro and Other Strange Manifestations of the Art of Dan Piraro."
But this new volume is no mere anthology of "Bizarro" cartoons. Accompanying the pages of comics, paintings, sketches and personal photographs is an extended autobiographical essay that is at turns hilarious and a compelling indictment of agribusiness. The author-artist never misses an opportunity to promote the cruelty-free lifestyle (mentioning, for example, that he won't buy paint brushes made from animal hair), and the book chronicles Piraro's transformation from, as he puts it, "a creative misfit class clown in Oklahoma to a passionate animal-rights advocate in New York City."
As an outspoken vegan activist, Piraro proves himself to be articulate, well-informed and clever. He writes: "Some argue that while we started as vegetarians, we have `evolved' to eat meat. Biologically speaking, we haven't changed at all in this regard. You might as well say we've evolved to smoke tobacco. We've been doing it for centuries and we enjoy it, but we haven't developed a natural need for it, or a defense against its ill effects." You can bet I'll be keeping that analogy handy.
Among the biggest treats in Piraro's revolutionary cartoons are the richly detailed backgrounds and extra jokes for those with the time (and eyesight) to look closely. Regular "Bizarro" readers know that Piraro hides symbols in his cartoons, such as spaceships, sticks of dynamite and pieces of pie. While he purports to explain these objects on his website, bizarro.com, he includes them simply for fun. More serious are the animal-rights messages punctuating his comics. A typical cartoon reproduced in Bizarro and Other Strange Manifestations depicts several men at a bar; one guy has a "no veal" button on his jacket while another sports a "Farm Sanctuary" tattoo. Yet another cartoon shows two characters (actually Piraro and his wife Ashley) walking past a vegan café. Perhaps best of all, the themes in these particular cartoons aren't even animal rights, making the premise of compassionate living all the more mainstream.
Even if you're not a fan of comics or Piraro's work, this oversized paperback will look great on your coffee table (even if you don't like coffee - or tables, for that matter). Who knows how many houseguests, unaware of the inhumane practices involved in factory farming, will peruse this colorful, hip-looking book, get to laughing and then realize the deeper truths within its pages? Piraro could be contributing these books for some time. He writes: "People in my family tend to live well past life expectancy, no matter how badly they abuse their bodies, so I figure with regular exercise and my vegan diet, I should live well into the next century." Let's hope so.
Mark Hawthorne, author of Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism
Could not put it down!.......2007-01-04
Dan Piraro's new book is so funny I could not stop reading it. I took it to work with me to read during breaks, but found myself sneaking a read or two whenever I could! Still, I did not realize how hooked I was until I found myself staying up until 3:00 am to finish it.
This book is great because Piraro does more than just gather a bunch of comics together. Instead, he tells his life story and then gives examples of comics from each stage of his life. Not only is his writing hilarious, but the added dimension of seeing how his simple, one-pannel gags spring directly from his life was a behind the scenes look at how creativity happens.
A great read. Literally, laugh out loud funny!
What kind of person creates this much visual sense....?.......2007-01-04
I stumbled on Bizaro years ago, and never followed it closely. I picked up this book on a whim at the book store.
It is a well-written summary of Dan Piraro's life (so far) his values and how they have changed, and the things he has done besides being a wise artist/businessman. It is all punctuated with outstanding cartoons and narative about them.
After reading this, I felt I knew the person behind the humor, and was better for it. Time Very well spent.
40 years ago I bumped into Bill Mauldin's "Up Front" on my father's book shelf and got my first glimpse into the life of a cartoonist. I got the same great insight reading Piraro's book.
bizarro bonanza.......2006-04-17
i just picked this up on a recent trip to NYC, being a long-time fan of dan's work. the comics themselves are always amazing, some of them made me burst out laughing on my bus ride home, garnering stares from my fellow passengers. the commentary that goes with the comics is what really makes this book special. by the end i felt like i really know dan and have a sense of what makes his work stand out in the comic world. he also has a great way of conveying the urgency of his politics and views on animal rights in a simple way that is easy for people to understand. dan is a man who has a talent for changing the world for the better with humour, and god knows we can use that these days. the book is highly recommended.
Awesome!!!!!!!!!.......2006-04-03
Wow! What a comprehensive book! Colorful and insightful, it covers everything about the MULTI-talented Dan Piraro. Great cartoons, cool early sketches, awesome fine art, old photos (Dan with afro is my favorite), even pumpkin carvings! Everything you can imagine in a beautifully designed book! Buy now!
Book Description
There's a new genre rising from the underground. Its name: BIZARRO. For years, readers have been asking for a category of fiction dedicated to the weird, crazy, cult side of storytelling that has become a staple in the film industry (with directors such as David Lynch, Takashi Miike, Tim Burton, and even Lloyd Kaufman) but has been largely ignored in the literary world, until now. The Bizarro Starter Kit features short novels and story collections by ten of the leading authors in the bizarro genre: D. Harlan Wilson, Carlton Mellick III, Jeremy Robert Johnson, Kevin L Donihe, Gina Ranalli, Andre Duza, VIncent W. Sakowski, Steve Beard, John Edward Lawson, and Bruce Taylor.
Customer Reviews:
Weird stuff!.......2007-09-16
I'll start by saying that I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning what Bizarro fiction is. My summation after reading this book is that Bizarro is a hell of a lot of fun!
Packed full (and I mean packed)of some of the funniest, grossest, weirdest, most surreal stories I have EVER read! What I liked the most about Bizarro is that it's fun to read. It's less like experimental writing (which I find mostly hard to read) and more like a good B horror movie or a cult film.
After reading this collection I am definitely going to check out other books by these authors!
A goldmine of weirdness........2007-08-17
First, for anyone wondering if they should pull the trigger and buy this: DO IT. For the money that Amazon is asking, this is SO worth it. The stories are printed so that there are two columns of text on each page which allows them to stick more stories and novellas into the book. It's 236 pages but really you are getting twice as much.
I won't go through each and every story (someone has already done that)... but just know that you are getting a selection of the cream of the crop of the bizarro movement. Now, when I say "movement", it's not a snooty artsy movement. Nah, this is all fun and bizarro games. Crazy satire, wit, and intelligence abounds in this volume.
Two stories stick out.. the classic "Baby Jesus Butt Plug" by Carlton Mellick.. and "The Greatest F**king Moment in Sports" By Kevin L. Donihe. Those two are probably my favorites. Classic works, in my opinion.. and I think they'll be remembered for a long time to come.
So, if you are thinking about getting into the weird new genre called BIZARRO.. then pick this up. For people in college, this is a great book to keep with you so when you're waiting for class, you have something to read that'll last you a long time.
However, for the casual reader, some of this stuff is VERY strange and sometimes offensive (to those who are religious, etc). But I implore you, look beyond your offense and just appreciate some good old fashioned fun. Just think of some of this stuff as Dr. Seuss or Alice in Wonderland for adults. Just dive in and enjoy the pretty colors.
Coming out of the closet..........2007-07-19
... monsters that is. Minds out of the gutter people- well... Consider The Bizarro Starter Kit a compilation, a phantasmagoria, surrealism, an abstraction, experimentation, a nightmare, a whatever; you'll have something to say about it regardless if you love it or hate it- but how often we confuse the two. And from what I've gathered reading these stories, what you write about is as important as how you write it. As a writer I've explored many techniques and approaches to voice a story, so I recognize when other writers are sticking with a logical path, but are certainly taking the reader down the rabit hole. Some of these stories have an apocolyptic twist and some are crude reflections of modern society and some are down right dirty little fantasies. And I don't necessarily mean the ground dirt or sexual dirty. What could I mean? See, you're mind's already twirling around. I would imagine that a lot of the Bizarro writers are influenced by Vonnegut, Alejandro Jodorwsky, Poe, David Lynch, Kafka, Dali- in fact, I know they are because there are author profiles in which the authors list some of their influences. So if you can, imagine that dark, surrealistic, experimental art manifested in the literary form. And if you're not familiar with any of the above mentioned artists you're probably going to be in for a treat. Like a haunted house for your mind. The Starter Kit is a great way to begin your journey in the avant-garde, or to peek behind another 'door'. The Starter Kit brings the reader to another world, and even if that reader is already in that world they're just brought to another continent. These stories are original, and I think that is why they're a little bit frightening- but oh so entertaining. The genre name says it all. It's bizarro, with a downward twist. Warning: Do not read before operating heavy machinery.
A sickly twisted introduction to the Bizarro Genre.......2006-12-17
There are a lot of talented authors out there who are writing gut-twisting tales that just don't fit into the accepted mainstream of the New York Publishing Houses. If you are a horror or punk fan, then this tasty little sample simply should not be passed by. I for one love the Odd, the Bizarre, the Sick & Twisted, and the breath of freshly foul air that comes from hidden fictional treasures. This isn't a book for the squeamish or faint of heart. 'The Bizarro Starter Kit' is a collection of short and flash fiction grouped by author rather than story, so I'll give the lineup by author:
D. Harlan Wilson - 'At The Funeral', 'Cops & Bodybuilders', 'Hairware, Inc.', 'The Man In The Thick Black Spectacles', 'Classroom Dynamics', and 'Digging For Adults'. Wilson proves a spectacular ability for the new flash-fiction genre with his absurdly bizarro tales. My favorites were Hairware Inc. and Digging For Adults.
Carlton Mellick III - 'The Baby Jesus Butt Plug'. Adopting cute little Baby-Jesuses as pets, sickos who use their pets as b*tt toys, wolf spiders, pointless jobs, clones, zombies, and music boxes, this is one bizarro story. Mellick is a true master of bizarro. See my individual review of 'The Baby Jesus Butt Plug' for Mellick's stand-alone copy of this bizarre little treasure.
Jeremy Robert Johnson - 'Extinction Journals'. A cockroach suit in an apocalyptic nightmare. I believe Johnson is a writer to keep on your watch-list. Check out 'Siren Promised' and 'Angel Dust Apocalypse'.
Kevin L. Donihe - 'The Greatest F***ing Moment In Sports'. A hilarious and nightmarish account of Oscar Legbo's last bicycle race. Donihe co-authored 'Ocean Of Lard' with Mellick, a book that I loved.
Gina Ranalli - 'Suicide Girls In The Afterlife'. A strange tale of wandering through a bizarre Afterlife Hotel. Don't get lost on the wrong floor!
Andre Duza - 'Don't F(beep)k With The Coloureds'. An exotic, erotic female experiment terrorizes the Harrington House Retirement Center and the local police force. But it's the animation crouching inside that will get to them. This is a truly bizarro story, one of my favorites! And, it comes with a very peculiar illustration.
Vincent W. Sakowski - 'The Screaming Of The Fish', 'Peel And Eat Buffet', It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Ragnarok'. Another author shows talent at the new flash-fiction genre. My favorite is 'The Screaming Of The Fish'.
Steve Beard - 'Survivor's Dream'. Disjointed dreamlike tale of Dead Girl and the many traumas she must endure inside her own mind in order to return to the living. Another favorite, but extremely twisted and more than a little confusing.
John Edward Lawson - 'Truth In Ruins'. A post apocalyptic, landscape of Serial Profilers and Serial Killers takes you on one of the most surreal journeys in this collection. Lawson also edited the incredible collection 'Sick: An Anthology Of Illness'. I love Lawson's quote in his Description, "Reality is for people who can't handle fiction."
Bruce Taylor - 'The Breath Amidst The Stones', 'A Little Spider Shop Talk', 'Of Tunafish And Galaxies', 'City Streets'. More strange than sick, these short tales breath life into the lifeless. My favorite is "A Little Spider Shop Talk": ever wonder what a conversation with your spider-neighbor would be like?
Reading this introduction to bizarro is like reaching your arm out into some blackened void that has piqued your curiosity for years. Sometimes dreamily intense and sometimes almost childishly scrawled, these tales can be called nothing less than intriguing. I enjoyed the collection because it's so cultish and outlandish, and gives more than one author's view into this macabre, magnetic genre. It's a nice sampling that showcases some great (though warped) talents using an eclectic blend of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, punk, outlandishness, and insanity.
The book includes biographies, previous works, and information about each of the authors (some comically embellished) and websites to visit to find out more about your favorites. Talent doesn't always come out of a New York Publishing House; sometimes it creeps out from underneath strangely shaped and slimily pungent rocks. Enjoy!
Cool Stuff For Those Who Love Spinach With Ice Cream.......2006-10-30
The Bizarro Starter Kit is an intriguing colection to say the least. For those readers out there who are into well-written but bizarre, outrageous, and offbeat lit, this is the book for you. I was familiar with a few of the authors presented here, and the likes of Carlton Mellick III, Gina Ranalli, Andre Duza & Kevin Donihe do not disappoint.
This is an entertaining book, and a novel approach to introducing several distinct talents to the mass readership they deserve. Check it out - you might not enjoy all the stories & styles, but like me, the ones you dig you'll really dig.
Average customer rating:
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Frontiers in DNA Research
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ASIN: 1594549257 |
Book Description
Welcome back to the fertile imagination of Dan Piraro. Following the success of his first book, Bizarro, and a phenomenally rapid increase in newspaper syndication, Piraro now presents his second delightful collection of cartoons. A must for both old and new fans these 200 cartoons showcase Piraro's acclaimed drawing style and his wonderfully skewed life-view.
Customer Reviews:
Very funny!.......1998-05-02
My favorite book of cartoons! I bought it ona lark and now I can't stop re-reading it.
Average customer rating:
- Am I just being touchy, or what?
- Viva la Boulware!
- Bring this with you...
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San Francisco Bizarro: A Guide to Notorious Sites, Lusty Pursuits, and Downright Freakiness in the City by the Bay
Jack Boulware
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0312206712 |
Book Description
San Francisco. The very name may bring to mind anything from Sam Spade dodging bullets to drug experimentation at Fillmore West to the first openly gay community in the Castro district. Ever since the gold rush, the city has been a haven for the unusual and the well-before-their-time, but there's no better time than now to see the downright bizarre.If you want to see the Golden Gate Bridge and eat Ghirardelli chocolates, there are many fine books that will hold your hand through the process. But if you'd rather:Visit the birthplace of LSDTake home a toilet guitarWorship at the church of John ColtraneHave a pint and a nosh at O'Greenberg'sPhotograph the attractive Manson family homeRide with the Hell's AngelsTake a Black Panther legacy tour, orVisit the nation's only fully restored nuclear missile site,then San Francisco Bizarro is the book for you. With addresses, hours, and phone numbers, you'll be fully equipped for the most bizarre visit ever. Because America doesn't get any freakier than this.
Customer Reviews:
Am I just being touchy, or what?.......2000-06-21
I'll start by saying I like this book. I bought it yesterday and did not sleep last night for reading it, even though I had a very important meeting this morning. Boulware's look at San Francisco is entertaining. But it's not exactly fresh. This book tries to take over where Eldritch Weirde's "A Guide to Mysterious San Francisco" left off several years ago, but falls severely short of the mark.
Perhaps what annoys me, or irritates me or alienates me about this book is the fact that it is written from an outsider's point of view. Boulware writes many of his articles from an "us vs. them" point of view, the "Us" in question being intelligent, right-minded people and the "Them" being the freaks from San Francisco. The tone is not reverent, but mocking. Boulware belittles us at every turn, whether making fun of the way we dress while dining late-night at Sparky's, or swimming the Bay with the Dolphin Club. Boulware treats San Franciscan's like his own private freak show. It's obvious that he's not from around here.
That said, the book is still entertaining and chock full of interesting facts. It will take you to places you wouldn't find in an ordinary guide book and you may or may not be the better for it.
For a real treat, a reverent, loving guide to SF strangeness, pick up the aforementioned book by Dr. Weirde. It's out of print, so it will take some hunting, but it's well worth it.
Viva la Boulware!.......2000-05-17
Reading this book has put my life back in the fast lane to simian utopia. I have purchased two copies one for reading and one to keep safely sealed in plastic. Mr. Boulware may very well be the next John Updike. SF Bizarro is both true and touching in it's ginger yet whimsical exploration journey into the very soul of San Fran. I hope to find Mr. Boulware very soon and let him know how much we have in common. SF Bizarro is not just a "guide to freakiness" it is a self help guide to just being you in the topsy-turvy quagmire, nay, rock-n-roll soup that is Frisco. Peace
Bring this with you..........2000-04-27
I had a few extra days in San Francisco on a recent trip, so I got this hilarious and irreverent guide to the "unknown" San Francisco. Boulware gives us the insider's tour of weird Chinatown bars, the Coltrane Museum, the scary Musee Mechanique, wife-swapping motels for swingers and much much more. With hours, phone numbers and directions for the very intrepid explorer. A must for even the most jaded Bay Area lifers.
Customer Reviews:
Far better than Larson.......2005-07-27
Piraro is a true American original. His humor is witty, often shocking and enlightening. Best of all, unlike the overrated Gary Larson, Piraro can DRAW.
Loaded with hits and misses..........2004-08-09
This comic does bring to mind the great Gary Larson but only in certain moments. When Dan Piraro hits the target the result is nothing short of great, but it would be a sacrilege to compare him with Larson because what he lacks is consistency.
I came upon Piraro reading some very good reviews about him but after having read through "Bizarro Number 9" i wound up with mixed emotions. This by no means implies that i was dissapointed or that Piraro isnt a good humorist. He is. It's probably the Larson comparisons that threw my expectations way high, expectations that "Bizarro Number 9" didn't overall live up to.
But comparisons aside, this is indeed a good read (some would associate a certain room of the house as appropriate for leafing through it..).
Cool for a gift as well, and cool for fans of this genre of comics, recommended for those who seek intelligent humor.
In the class of Gary Larson.......2000-05-10
Dan Piraro's bizarre humor is close to that of Gary Larson, though a little less simplistic. And his drawings are more sophisticated, without being exagerratedly artistic.
I've had the first volume of »Bizarro« for a decade or so, and it still provides me with uncontrollable laughs. This ninth volume is still very good, though it does not come up to the level of Piraro's earlier collections.
If you love the Far Side, you'll love Bizarro.......2000-04-15
Bizarro is awesome! It's hilarious antics make you want to roll out of your chair. This is a book I really enjoyed and would recommend to anyone who needs a good laugh. If you're in need of a good book, order this one, you'll be on the floor within the first 20 pages.
Book Description
Dan Piraro lives in a warped and twisted world, and he enables the rest of us to see that we all live there with him. Wherever he gets his weird inspiration, Piraro's single panel comic, Bizarro, has captured worldwide attention. Fans say they identify with the cartoonist's surreal take on everything from passive-aggressive crime to hair transplants to the modern job interview. Syndicated since 1995, Piraro was honored by the National Cartoonists Society with a 1999 Reuben, cartooning's highest accolade. This Sunday Treasury collect the best of Bizarro in a book that will keep fans panting for more!
Customer Reviews:
Fan After The Fact.......2003-11-18
i interviewed dan piraro when this book came out. later i became a fan.
cool book......cool dude.
it makes me go laugh laugh.
it makes me eat more cereal. wear less hairspray.
jack e. jett
the jack e. jett show
Life is Strange--But not for Dan Piraro.......2003-08-06
This book is a fabulous collection of Dan Piraro's "Bizarro" Sunday comics. Unlike other cartoonists, Piraro has the incredible ability to portray realistic ideas and situations while still maintaining a "cartoon atmosphere." His ability to create such imaginative cartoons makes him one of the most original and hilariously funny artists out there. These full-color Sunday cartoons will give you an idea of how witty and true-to-life Bizarro can be.
In addition, each cartoon includes a small caption, perhaps explaining the meaning of the joke, or how Piraro came up with the idea for a certain cartoon. These small bits of information even sometimes explain who certain characters represent and their purpose in the cartoon. Also, in the back of the book, there is an in-depth explanation of each of the hidden symbols that Piraro hides in his comics. This is a genuinely funny book and should be read by all comic lovers--Bizarro or not. Such a chance to take a ride inside Dan Piraro's head is one that should not be passed up.
What's it all about?.......2002-03-11
I think Dan Piraro is one of the few people who have a handle on what life is all about. His cartoons show an insight into our world that precious few have. This latest of his books exceeds what I expected. The comments on his thinking are an added plus that put him over the top.
I don't know how his next book can be any better, but I'm sure it will be. Why am I sure? because I saw his Bizzaro Bologna Show when it came through town, and he was even funnier than I thought was possible.
I really feel sorry for the people in the towns that don't have him in their daily newspaper!!!
Dan Piraro is a comic genius!.......2002-01-22
I've been a fan of Mr. Piraro's work for several years, and almost creamed myself when I heard he was coming out with a collection of his greatest Sunday cartoons!! "Life is Strange and So Are You" lived up to my utmost expectations, keeping me in hysterics for hours on end. My husband threatened to call poison control because he thought I must've accidentally eaten hallucinogenic mushrooms on my pizza, I was laughing so hard-but I assured him through my tears of hilarity that it was all Dan Piraro-who's just too freakin' funny!
I love his drawing style, the vibrant colors he uses, the secret symbols he sneaks in the art, and his outlandish sense of humor illustrated in every gag. The personal notes included with each cartoon give new and much-appreciated insight , sharing the author's comments and inspiration on each panel.
BUY THIS BOOK, IT WILL CRACK YOU UP!!
P.S. Thank you, Mr. Piraro, for giving of yourself, and for gracing the world with a heaping dose of laughter--exactly what we need!
Life Is Strange and So Are You.......2002-01-20
Bizarro is by far one of the best cartoons in print today. He is clever, extremely funny and obviously he is a good artist. This book is cleverly done with all the little extra comments on each cartoon. They give a small insite into the mind of this cartoonist. It is truly a Sunday Treasury.
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