The Complete Far Side 1980-1994 (2 vol set)
by Gary Larson, Steve Martin
|
List Price: Our Price: $94.50 You Save: $55.50 (37%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $69.59 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Complete Far Side 1980-1994 (2 vol set)
Book Review: twenty pounds of hilarity
Summary: 5 Stars
normally i don't buy my comedy by the pound, but this compendium offers both quantity AND quality. there does seem to be some discrepancy as to the set's actual weight--and frankly, i haven't had the time nor the inclination to actually weigh it, but suffice it to say it is BIG.the volumes are beatifully bound in hard cover and printed on a very heavy , archival bond. top notch printing and a gorgeous slip cover make these tomes a joy to behold.
i won't gush in any detail about how larson is a genius or how his comic changed my life because i figure if you are reading this review to begin with, you are familiar with the farside. i will say this however, had i been drinking milk upon my first reading of this book, it would have surely spewn from my nose. it is THAT funny.
one warning: the literal-thinking, slow witted, closed minded and/or acerebral witlings need not apply. if you don't "get" this kind of humor, buying this book will be a colossal mistake and will yield nothing more than a very nice, 20 lb paper weight. on the other hand, if you do get it--buy the book. trust me--have i ever lied to you before?
Book Review: WORTH THE PRICE
Summary: 5 Stars
Not only will you enjoy reading these classic cartoons, they will look terrific on your bookshelf! The cartoons are printed on a very fine paper, the books are beautifully bound, and they are placed inside a very attractive display case. I was impressed that the publisher has taken the time to put together a nearly comprehensive collection of every Far Side cartoon ever published. The cartoons are arranged roughly in chronological order. At the start of each year is an essay written by Larson, describing various fascinating aspects of his formative years along with how he came up with some of his ideas. Right before each essay is a two-page panoramic cartoon with the year emblazoned on it. Beautiful work. And very funny too. It is a a volume demanding your respect and it should be treated as that. Do not give it to your child, until he or she deserves it :-) Another great book that I highly recommend, both for its great cover design and very interesting story line, is "Why Some cats are rascals"Why Some Cats are Rascals ( Book 3)Book Review: Amazing Collection - Highly Recommended!
Summary: 5 Stars
WOW, I love Gary Larson's "Far Side" and have have always wanted this massive two volume set but never could justify buying it for myself, so I was absolutely thrilled to receive it as a gift this year!
First thing to note that while these are cartoons, it is not "light" reading since each volume weighs more that I comfortably hold on my lap (seriously, they must come in at almost ten pounds each). The books and case are generally high quality and should hold up well for years of repeated viewing.
The cartoons are the complete run of the Far Side, from 1980-1994, and contain over 4300 individual cartoons. I am surprised how many of them I didn't originally see and even more surprised about how many I remember and still find absolutely hysterical. The forward and commentary by Larson is also an enjoyable look into the creative process that went coming up these offbeat cartoons.
Not necessarily relevant to the review, but definitely to my enjoyment of the collection, Larson liked to pick on the name "Carl", which happens to be my first name.
Highly Recommended
CFH
Book Review: Greater than great!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recieve the Far Side day-by-day calendar as a gift every year for Christmas and always found myself saving more and more of the days every year. I recently threw out my scrapbook of yellowing calendar pages and bought this wonderful collection. Wow, what a move up! After a tough day at work, on a rainy day or basically any other time is perfect to thumb through this deluxe collection. It is not a rush-to-production, strike-while the iron is hot collection. This set was well thought out, well-packaged and even better made than anything I have seen, deluxe is almost not enought to describe it.
My favorite personal Far Side story is the day (about twelve years ago) I wore a shirt to high school with a reproduction of the "Midvale School for the Gifted" panel on it, with my alma matter's name substituted. I was ordered to turn the shirt inside out or go home. Duh, I took the day off! As I read the excerpts of letters included from people who haven't been blessed with a sense of humor, I keep expecting to see one from my high school principal! Thanks for the memories Gary Larson!!
Book Review: Two of the world's greatest word-jewellers.
Summary: 5 Stars
Gary Larson and Steve Martin in one volume? Get it, whatever the price. Both authors polish their words until they shine; until they sound so familiar that they ease into your ear, yet literally contain such astonishing content that you can't contain your laughter.
Larson, I think, is more a wordsmith than a cartoonist. How many of his cartoons are just literal depictions of a verbal pun? And how many quite funny cartoons become gems though their perfect captions? ("Latte, Jed?", or the incomparable "She's lookin' good, Vern..." stick in my memory)
Larson uses the rhythms and patterns of normal speech to lull us into a false sense of security, then subverts our interpretation of of the sentence with a surprising image. A true master of uniting the verbal and the visual.
Why did he choose the world of natural science so often for his subject matter? Maybe nature is plastic, fluid, and playful (as he shows in his visuals) whereas the way we use language nowadays, sadly, is not.
Shrug off your sticker shock (didn't Larson do a cartoon about that phrase once?) and get it.