Excellent for a few good laughs
Ok, I admit it. I went to the midnight release of thelast Harry Potter book. I went with someone who had preordered a copy and because I wanted to go. Waiting in line once the book was finally released wasn't any fun, but I was more intrested to see how both the kids and adults were reacting to the release.
While there I saw this little book, "The Government Manual for New Wizards." I picked it up and skimmed through it, getting a couple of good chuckles before I put it down and walked away. But I walked right back to it a couple minutes later just to look through it some more. This went on for fifteen-twenty minutes before I finally convinced myself to actually buy it. I was finding it funny, just a spoof book that poked fun at Harry Potter, the fantasy genre in general, things like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the first and second installments in "The Santa Clause trilogy. government manuals,ghosts, etc.. If I bought it, then I'd have more time to pursue it at home without being distracted too often by the folks there at the store that night. Well, I have been pleased that I did.
As I said, the book is clearly meant as a spoof. The first thing that should clue on in on this is the synopsis on the back. It tells you flat out that this book is a spoof. And that's ok because it's not meant to be taken seriously. Nor is it meant to deride things like Harry Potter. It is simply meant to get a few laughs out of it. And that is exactly what it does.
According to the book there is a right way and a wrong way to greet various types of dead beings. For example, a right way of greeting a vampire is asking it what blood type goes with a certain type of fish while a wrong way is to invite it to see your crucifix collection. Now all the legends, stories, and such I've ever heard about vampires usually makes it clear their not gonna eat fish, or anything else for that matter. They typically are depicted as being sustained off blood alone. And the crucific is depicted as something vampires despise and are repelled by. Plus most people wouldn't think about greeting a vampire, the natural impulse would be to run. But it's the thought of how you might greet these dead beings (and I'm not talking just vampires) that lends itself to the humor here.
Or what about getting into a chocolate factory? How many of us have read the book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" or seen the movies based on the book? If the real Willy Wonka manufacturing company were to run a promotion whereby if you got a gold ticket you got a tour of the factory then there would be folks who'd be intrested in finding one of those tickets. Now imagine you could turn lead into gold. Be real easy to take a lead ticket that looks like the gold one andtransform it into a winning ticket, right? Well under the book's seventh chapter, it's illegal to do exactly that.
When buying a ticket to a magical form of entertainment or a sporting event, one should always be wary of the fine print. Remember "The Santa Clause?" The fine print on the Santa buisnes card said putting on the coat made you Santa. But there was even finer print, revealed in "The Santa Clause 2," that said you had to have a Mrs. Claus by a certain time or you stopped being Santa. Well that buisness card had nothing on the tickets mentioned in this book. Their fine print may even be written in a different dimension so you can't see it when you buy the tickets!
Nothing that might have even a hint of magic to it in some way is beyond the reach of this book to spoof.
Silly rip on Harry Potter fans
This tried to be a clever enhancement to the Harry Potter sensation. But it falls very flat. JK Rowling gave us a world that the writer of this book could have really done magic with, but no. Waste of $$$.
Complete Joke!
This book is not a Wizardry book! I mean... It says the Dark Lord<< Is "HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED!!!"<<<<(Like I've never seen Harry Potter)... Melvin!! It's a complete joke, and is yet, a waste of one's money... Sorry Wizards-to-be... don't buy this!
Hi I'm Troy McClure...
Hi I'm Troy McClure, you might remember me from such reviews as the The Government Manual for New Superheroes. Okay, well that's what reading these books always makes me think of. If you liked the GMfNS then you are going to like the GMfNW. Very amusing throughout but I just liked the GMfNS better. You get things like wizardolesence, where to go to school, summoning demons, useful magical items for the new wizard, tips for gaining your animal companion, and how to deal with the dead. Artwork is minimal but that's alright. There was still room for more stuff and different material could have been used to make this book better such as spells gone awry. None-the-less, still a funny book. I enjoyed the "magic is real and 'this science' can be easily explained away by using magic".
Overall, very light reading and you will laugh multiple times, I think the Government Manual for New Superheroes is better and am looking forward to the GMfNew Pirates. Hopefully this series will continue with something along the lines of GMfNew Aliens on Earth or Space Marine, you catch the drift.
More hilarity from Brozik and Weinstein
I admit it. I know Matthew Brozik. He is a very funny man. Funny, and a little nervous. Kinda jumpy. That's OK, though. I think it explains his very quick wit. I don't know Jacob Weinstein, although he must be pretty funny too, if he's also responsible for this very funny little book.
Harry Potter fans, reformed role playing gamers, and smart people in general will really enjoy this book. It's one of the best "fake information" books I've read. Full of specious facts and guidelines for magicians, the Govt. Manual pokes fun at popular fantasy texts and conventions with occasional (and forgivable) puns, non-sequitors, and hyperboles that remind me of Mel Brooks movies and Woody Allen short stories rolled into one. These guys should be writing for the New Yorker. Discover them now.
(18 reviews)
