We'll Always Have Parrots
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 7/10/2016
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 7/10/2016 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I've loved this book for some time, so I was glad to find this fair-condition ex-library hardcover at a local Goodwill thrift store for another release copy.
The story's about a murder mystery at a fan convention, and it reminded me a lot of the very funny Bimbos of the Death Sun. [That one deals with a fantasy convention and this one's about the fans of a cult TV show, but there's a lot of overlap!]
The heroine, Meg, has a fiance who has a minor role on a cult TV show, and she tags along with him to a fan convention. [She's a blacksmith, as it happens, and has some swords and other ironmongery to take along to the dealer's room. Is this a marriage made in heaven, or what?] As the show is set in an exotic locale, somebody has the bright idea to decorate the hotel in jungle style, complete with live parrots and monkeys - hence the title, and a good deal of chaotic humor.
I knew from early on that this was going to be funny; the name of the cult TV show, for example, is Porfiria, Queen of the Jungle, and I was sniggering at the use of a rather nasty medical condition as the name of a fantasy heroine long before the reasons for this were explained in the story. [Yes, there's a reason; yes, it's very funny. And yes, "Porfiria" would be a great fantasy-character name. {grin}]
As in Bimbos, this story's both a pastiche and a homage to fandom; its quirks are highlighted, but so are its temptations and delights. And the writing's lively and very, very funny. [Minor-but-fun spoiler - select blank space to see: It shows attention to detail as well; what with all those parrots at the hotel it's perfectly believable that one of them would begin to imitate the "ding" sound of an arriving elevator, thereby causing much confusion to guests waiting for a lift!] There are little references to computer geekery and forensic TV shows and even slash fan-fiction, and wonderful digs between the characters. Oh, and the mystery's OK too! Definitely recommended.
[I was tickled to see this book featured in this Unshelved Book Club comic strip. And there's a TV Tropes page on the Meg Langslow series.]
The story's about a murder mystery at a fan convention, and it reminded me a lot of the very funny Bimbos of the Death Sun. [That one deals with a fantasy convention and this one's about the fans of a cult TV show, but there's a lot of overlap!]
The heroine, Meg, has a fiance who has a minor role on a cult TV show, and she tags along with him to a fan convention. [She's a blacksmith, as it happens, and has some swords and other ironmongery to take along to the dealer's room. Is this a marriage made in heaven, or what?] As the show is set in an exotic locale, somebody has the bright idea to decorate the hotel in jungle style, complete with live parrots and monkeys - hence the title, and a good deal of chaotic humor.
I knew from early on that this was going to be funny; the name of the cult TV show, for example, is Porfiria, Queen of the Jungle, and I was sniggering at the use of a rather nasty medical condition as the name of a fantasy heroine long before the reasons for this were explained in the story. [Yes, there's a reason; yes, it's very funny. And yes, "Porfiria" would be a great fantasy-character name. {grin}]
As in Bimbos, this story's both a pastiche and a homage to fandom; its quirks are highlighted, but so are its temptations and delights. And the writing's lively and very, very funny. [Minor-but-fun spoiler - select blank space to see: It shows attention to detail as well; what with all those parrots at the hotel it's perfectly believable that one of them would begin to imitate the "ding" sound of an arriving elevator, thereby causing much confusion to guests waiting for a lift!] There are little references to computer geekery and forensic TV shows and even slash fan-fiction, and wonderful digs between the characters. Oh, and the mystery's OK too! Definitely recommended.
[I was tickled to see this book featured in this Unshelved Book Club comic strip. And there's a TV Tropes page on the Meg Langslow series.]
Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at Little Free Library, Middle Rd And Lawrence St in Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA on Monday, July 11, 2016
GoryDetails at Little Free Library, Middle Rd And Lawrence St in Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA on Monday, July 11, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (7/11/2016 UTC) at Little Free Library, Middle Rd And Lawrence St in Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this book in this charming Little Free Library at around 2 or so; hope the finder enjoys it!
