GoodReads Review: Hercules Amongst the North Americans

[bobquasit]

Hercules amongst the North Americans by Mark Marek

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a f^&*ing funny book. It's also incredibly rare these days. If you're lucky enough to get your hands on a copy, grab it!

It chronicles the adventures of Hercules in modern-day America, circa the mid-1980s. Much of the modern world is confusing to the mighty Hercules; he mistakes a subway train for a monster and battles it to the death. Victory goes to the son of Zeus, of course! The many passengers who are casualties of the affair are an unfortunate side-note.

Hercules also works as a bike-messenger in New York, kills his psychiatrist and carries off his lovely receptionist, discovers the wonder of the Heavy Metal Gods (blasphemy!), and reviews several Greek restaurants.

These comic strips originally appeared in National Lampoon (back when it was funny) and High Times. They're drawn in a deliberately crude style that sets the perfect tone for the book. The whole book, in fact, is packed with good stuff; this is a gem that will have you laughing uncontrollably more than once.

View all my reviews.

Comments

[oldwolf.livejournal.com]

Ever read Phule's Company(Robert Asprin)? His career began with his court martial. Good series.

[bobquasit.livejournal.com]

I've only read a little Asprin, and not that one. I assume it's fantasy?

[oldwolf.livejournal.com]

Sci-fi, but good for killing a weekend. He wrote a lot of stuff.

If you want fantasy from him, I recc' the Castle Perilous series.

What do you do with a castle that has doorways to 144,000 alternate dimensions/realities??? Answer: You go golfing! But beware of the quicksand traps and landmines. And if a T-Rex eats your ball it counts as a mulligan.