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Review Essays of Academic, Professional & Technical Books in the Humanities & Sciences

 

The Complete Far Side: 1980-1994 by Gary Larson, Steve Martin (Andrews McMeel) See examples A two-volume set of a masterpiece of comic brilliance, containing every Far Side cartoon ever syndicated with more than 1100 cartoons that have never before appeared in a book.
"Every one of these cartoons is just something that drifted into my head when I was alone with my thoughts. And, for better or worse, I 'jotted' them down. It was only later, when perhaps I received an angry letter from someone, that it struck me: Hey! Someone's been reading my diary!" -Gary Larson, from the preface to The Complete Far Side.
Over 4,000 cartoons presented in (more or less) chronological order by year of publication. Larson offers a rare glimpse into the mind of The Far Side in quirky introductions to each of the 14 chapters. Also, additional Far Side cartoons Larson created after his retirement are included. This is the definitive work in two impressive volumes packed in a handsome slipcase that fans have been waiting for.
Actor, author and comedian Steve Martin offers his pithy thoughts in a foreword and Gary Larson's former editor describes what it was like to be "the guy who could explain every Far Side cartoon."
A masterpiece of comic brilliance, The Complete Far Side contains every Far Side ever syndicated--over 4,000 if you must know--presented in (more or less) chronological order by year of publication, with more than 1,100 that have never before appeared in a book. Also included are additional Far Side cartoons Larson created after retirement: 13 that appeared in the last Far Side book, Last Chapter and Worse, and six cartoons that periodically ran as a special feature in The New York Times' Science Times section as The Far Side of Science. Creator Gary Larson offers a rare glimpse into the mind of The Far Side in quirky and thoughtful introductions to each of the 14 chapters. Complaint letters, fan letters, and queries from puzzled readers appear alongside some of the more provocative or elusive panels. Actor, author and comedian Steve Martin offers his pithy thoughts in a forward and Gary Larson's former editor describes what it was like to be "the guy who could explain every Far Side cartoon."

Revered by its fans as the funniest, most original, most "What the ... ?"-inspiring cartoon ever, The Far Side® last appeared almost nine years ago and still its millions of loyal readers cannot get enough. Since the cartoon's debut in January 1980, fans have bought more than 40 million Far Side books and more than 60 million calendars. The demand for the twisted, irreverent genius of The Far Side has been insatiable. Until now. Now, at long last, the ultimate Far Side book has arrived as a hefty, deluxe, two-volume slipcased set. Printed in full-color on specially milled paper, The Complete Far Side is a lavish production that takes its place alongside collector's-edition art books.

During its 14-year run, The Far Side was syndicated internationally to over 1,900 daily newspapers. It spawned 22 books from AMP and has been translated into a total of 17 different languages.

For his work with The Far Side, Gary Larson received the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year from the National Cartoonists Society in both 1991 and 1994. The National Cartoonists Society also named The Far Side Best Syndicated Panel in 1985 and 1987. In 1993 The Far Side was awarded the Max & Moritz Prize for Best International Comic Strip/Panel by the International Comics Salon. In 1995, Larson's animated film Gary Larson's Tales From The Far Side won the Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animation Festival in Annecy, France. His second animated film, Gary Larson's Tales From The Far Side II, premiered in 1997 in the United States at the Telluride Film Festival and in Europe at the Venice International Film Festival.

 

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