The Complete And Totally True Book Of Urban Legends

Fiery, Ann

ISBN 10: 0762410744 / ISBN 13: 9780762410743

Published by Running Press, 2001

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Synopsis:

Most of us have repeated them. Some of us have believed them. But none of us has actually played a part in them. ...have we? What's that in your food!? What's that in your pipes!? What's underneath your bed!? Are you being betrayed by someone you love? Will evil be punished? Are there things you haven't even thought of that will harm you? Are people what they seem? Are you safe? No. Urban legends. They're the definitive tales of the 21st century, in all their grotesque and goofy glory. The ancient Greeks had their Iliad and their Odyssey. The northern tribes had their sagas and epics. The dainty Victorians had their fairy tales. Let 'em keep 'em. We've got The Microwaved Dog and The Girl Who Burnt to a Crisp in the Tanning Salon. They're a little paranoid, a litte creepy -- even a little ridiculous, sure -- but they're ours, and it's time they got some respect. This book is filled with the legends you love, the legends you laugh at, and maybe even the legends you always thought really happened to your next door neighbor's best friend's youngest cousin. A treasury that cherishes the folklore of our time.

Review: As it happens, that little dog that got nuked in the microwave was named Vince. That's one of the priceless details Ann Fiery has added to breathe new life into 25 old stories in The Completely and Totally True Book of Urban Legends. The tanning-booth disaster becomes a tragedy of suburban banality, the hydrogen beer fiasco levels a city, and subtle anti-American sentiments find expression in a simple toothbrush. Fiery's prose is sharp and engaging, her characterization lively, and her pacing brilliant. Artist Mark Ulriksen captures the essence of each tale with a creepy (if often quite funny) painting that leers from a facing page. The retelling of these legends in short-short story form forces the reader to think about how they hold our interest, why we love to hear and spread them, and why so many are about dogs. --Rob Lightner

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Complete And Totally True Book Of Urban ...
Publisher: Running Press
Publication Date: 2001
Binding: paperback
Condition: Very Good