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NOVEMBER 4, 2003 at 5:38 PM
Posted by GRAE
Source: The Tartan via Wizard News
First there was Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody
, which - you guessed it - parodied the Harry Potter novels. Now, just in time for Christmas, we have the aptly named Barry Trotter and the Unnecessary Sequel : The Book Nobody Has Been Waiting For - and after reading The Tartan's review, you may understand exactly why nobody has been waiting for Michael Gerber's latest book.
In this book, Barry Trotter is a 38-year-old wizard. He is married to Ermine and has a son and a daughter. Son Nigel’s upcoming start at Hogwash brings everyone back to the school. The first death there sets the tone for the rest of the book.
Dorco Malfeasance, the Headmister of Hogwash, dies by explosion. This isn’t caused by magic — while making a flying entrance into the Hogwash dining hall, he collapses under his own weight after falling from a height. Barry, dining nearby, keeps eating, and is wholly unaffected, apart from being offered Dorco’s job.
This doesn’t even make the list of the top ten worst moments in the book. Byron, one of Nigel’s classmates, introduces himself to Nigel by saying, "I’ve had sex with my sister, and tasted of human flesh."
When Barry runs into Colin Creepy at the Hogwash reunion, Colin brings up the time that they were caning other students together in the Headmister’s office. Barry and Ermine bring up their extensive sexual histories several times, often in front of Nigel.
The book may be bad, but there are some bright spots. Nigel’s character is the most developed and mature, despite being an 11-year-old. Though he suffers from some of the maladies common to all the characters, such as murderous tendencies (helping to kill every player on the Silverfish Quiddit team and killing Byron by putting earwigs in his head that eat his brain), he is capable of shame, and acts his age.
He also plays Accountants and Attorneys — the fantasy kid’s version of Dungeons and Dragons.
Gerber’s vision of students weaned on Trotter stories coming to Hogwash and imagining themselves to be Barry, Ermine, or Lon hits the mark as well. Searching the Internet for fan fictions proves that this isn’t uncommon.
Unfortunately, flashes of humor and insight like this are rare. More often, its jokes are about combing pubic hair, morning-after spells, and vibrating books used for sexual pleasure. Keep your £6.99, and stay far away from Barry Trotter and the Unnecessary Sequel.
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Prefect
Points: 319
enowonkenobi says:
I am both angered and disgusted whenever someone does this. Why is it that some people just like to pervert every good work out there? These trashy parodies are just spitting in the face of a good and wholesome HP series.
Posted Nov 4, 2003 at 11:38 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1908
Opera Ghost says:
Hmmm...not quite my taste, I think I'll stick with the real thing....
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 12:06 AM EST
Witch
Points: 975
Lilune says:
I've got the first one, Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody. It was mildly amusing, but sometimes a little over-the-top, like he was trying too hard to be funny, which just ruined it. It's the small things which were funnier, as someone said before, the name changes such as Lord Valumart and everything.
But this second book sounds a lot more blatantly sexual, in the first it was mostly just kind of ... innuendo.
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 12:16 AM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
harryzbestgurl- I know your deranged ---> (( wink wink ))
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 12:47 AM EST
Student
Points: 254
potter says:
I think its stupid...
Some parodies are hillarious, but this one..
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 1:12 AM EST
Witch
Points: 611
Mdm Rosmerta says:
I read the first book and wasn't overly impressed. I'd never go for a second book anyway. Only very few things are worth having a sequal, like Harry Potter, or Lord of the Rings.
This book falls under the catagory Rocky films. The first one is interesting the second one, you'd have to pay me to see.
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 3:19 AM EST
Witch
Points: 585
harryzbestgurl says:
hermionefan1
tehehe!! THATS ME!! tehehe!
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 9:59 AM EST
Supreme Mugwump
Points: 2893
S.P.E.W. fan says:
No one was interested? I was barely interested enough to read the HPANA article about it.
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 3:03 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1506
Paint Horse says:
The funniest thing about this book, is the people(person?) who willingly give up their money to buy this garbage.
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 5:06 PM EST
Witch
Points: 574
Tonks007 says:
I never herd of the books at all they look really interesting and scarry.
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 7:22 PM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5499
Spazzingduck says:
I read the first one and thought, even though it was rather stupid, that it was clever. It had a lot of puns only an HP reader would get. The plot, however, was extremely confusing. I would not reccomend reading 'Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody' (The first one) or 'Barry Trotter and the Unneccesary Sequel', even though I've never read the second one. They're just stupid parodies. Though I agree, the back cover is amusing ;)
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 8:01 PM EST
Witch
Points: 561
zorro says:
This book sounds funnie. but you know i should read it just to inspect it you know. and i agree this isn't for littel kids to read so i'll just see if it is.Kow you sai that it is in stores rite .
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 8:12 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1303
wahnaroo22 says:
It sounds sorta funny. I do really love Harry Potter parodies, but this is just lame. Someone has to rip off another persons book to make thier own books. I like parodies on Saturday Night Live and stuff, but this is pretty stupid.
Posted Nov 5, 2003 at 9:59 PM EST
Witch
Points: 676
Madame Rosmerta says:
Everyone is trying to cash-in on the HP phenomenon... From what I read, I will be keeping my 6.99, thanks...
Posted Nov 6, 2003 at 10:22 AM EST
Witch
Points: 684
Malakite says:
I've never read these, but MAN, I hope they don't sell them to children. I mean, I don't want my kids being exposed to so many sexual comments, and if it looks like a Harry Potter book, or even a joke *regaring* a Harry Potter book, I know a lot of kids who would want to buy it. Sometimes, I think people ought to back off on cashing in on the magic of Harry Potter.
Posted Nov 6, 2003 at 3:01 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1092
quidditch_queen says:
I'm with betsabeg. It's stupid...
Posted Nov 6, 2003 at 8:51 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1645
morgana witch says:
When I went to the bookstore, they had Barry Trotter in the Harry Potter section. I read the back, and didn't think it sounded good. Just a question: how come everyone's after Tonya Grotter and how its illegal and stuff, but Barry Trotter is legal? Aren't they both parodies? Or am I missing some important detail???
Posted Nov 7, 2003 at 6:20 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
Bad parodies can spoil the fun with Harry. I wouldn't want to read a book like this after reading the article above.
Posted Nov 8, 2003 at 12:50 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
(Moderator)
Points: 1217
shadowlife says:
And here is another example of someone trying to cash in on someelses ideas.
Posted Nov 13, 2003 at 3:38 PM EST
Student
Points: 283
LunaDea says:
Well...that's...er, interesting. I think I [i[will[/i] keep my £6.99.
Posted Nov 23, 2003 at 11:33 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 321
Isis says:
i read the blurb and it was hilarious. I wanted to buy it but i was strapped for cash as usual. so good thing i didn't get it then.
Posted Jan 16, 2004 at 7:40 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1155
MissMaryPotter says:
Prim example that potter fans don't suck up EVERYTHING on our favorit subject. Hee hee!
Posted Jan 22, 2004 at 12:48 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1503
liLchogurL says:
I agree with anyone who thinks this book this baad. I've never read it, but it sounds terrible.
Posted Jan 23, 2004 at 10:10 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1987
tigerlili_08 says:
Thats sounds a bit odd...
Posted Jan 28, 2004 at 5:06 PM EST
Witch
Points: 841
evangalista says:
This book sounds awful, not just for the obvious reasons, but just think of children Harry Potter fans who think this might be a funny off-beat parody and read it? It could scar them for life!!
Posted Jan 28, 2004 at 9:26 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1445
PotionMaster says:
Never read it. Don't want to read it. I did the mistake of buying the Lord of the Rings parady, Bored of the Rings, got as far as the fifth page, then put it down completely disgusted. I figure that this will be the same way.
Posted Mar 8, 2004 at 9:32 PM EST
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