Like so many fantasy novels inflicted on an undeserving public, this was written by a teenager. What sets it apart from the rest is that, before rushing into print, the author waited until he was old enough to know better, and then decided to release an annotated version, mocking it ruthlessly for your entertainment.
THRILL to intriguing characters and plot arcs that are introduced and then never appear again!
BE SURPRISED BY the surprise twist which is blatantly obvious 150 pages before it happens!
YEARN to live in the city of Larosis, where one of the major industries is standing on the city gates 24/7 waiting to spit on passing wizards!
GASP as the epic hero defeats his enemies through the power of rambling dream sequences and punching everybody in the head!
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By Samuel Stoddard
Oct 15, 2009
"Great self-punishing book." Why is David Parker so hard on himself? The Cat's Meow isn't a bad novel, really. Which is not to say that his annotations, in which he mercilessly derides himself for poor plotting and writing choices, aren't hilarious. They are. He certainly cannot be accused of taking himself too seriously. In a genre where the most ridiculous stories are treated with somber reverence, the self-deprecating way in which he chides himself is refreshing. But there are the seeds for a great fantasy epic here. In between the laughs I got from the footnotes, I was genuinely drawn into the story and the world. This is not just a Tolkien retread with stock elves and stock dwarves plugged into their requisite places. Real thought has gone into creating this city of Larosis, its culture, and the stranglehold the villain has over certain natural resources. It was, seemingly, more than the teenaged version of David Parker could handle. But the annotations, written about... More > 15 years later, demonstrate (however humorously) that he's since figured out how to make this story work. When do we get to see the rewrite? Whether he ever takes on that rewrite, this version of the story is refreshing and hilarious. Highly recommended.< Less
