Plumage from Pegasus

What happens when the tools and themes of science fiction are applied to the genre of science fiction itself-and to publishing in general? Surprisingly the result is not a black hole of dreary self-referentiality but a supernova of literary comedy in the manner of classicists such as S. J. Perelman Stephen Leacock and Robert Benchley and postmodernists such as Mark Leyner Will Self and Steve Aylett. In this collection of short sharp satirical gems Paul Di Filippo-noted for his own fiction and criticism which gives him an insiders perspective-turns a keen eye on the foibles fallacies fads and failures of science fiction the industry mining comedic gold from the gaffes pomposities and pretensions of authors publicists reviewers publishers editors fans librarians and bookstore owners. Using their own words as springboards in many cases he extrapolates wildly in the classic manner of the best GALAXY magazine stories to give us such improbable but inevitable scenarios as literary hit men self-blinded authors agents as personal servants and a Victorian internet. Although these japes abound with in-jokes nothing more is required to enjoy them than a basic familiarity with science fiction an empathy for the human condition and a willingness to laugh heartily.