The Philosophical Strangler (Joe's World) [Mass Market Paperback]

Eric Flint (Author)

Book Description

Series: Joe's World | Publication Date: February 26, 2002

When Greyboar, a professional strangler, discovers the Supreme Philosophy of Life, he becomes a new man--but how can a villain in good standing pay the bills with his philosophical exploration getting in the way? Then Greyboar's long-lost sister asks him to help persecuted dwarves escape their human oppressors.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This oddly satisfying humorous fantasy usually achieves the zany and frequently the bizarre. In the city of New Sfinctre the professional strangler and amateur philosopher Greyboar and his agent and sidekick, Ignace, accept a contract they're unable to fulfill, but which leads to some amusing adventures. At their watering hole, the Sign of the Trough, the pair encounter a nearsighted swordswoman named Cat (actually Schrdinger's Cat, but she can't find Schrdinger) and learn that Gwendolyn, Greyboar's Amazonian sister (who's active in the literally underground dwarf-liberation movement), has an artistic lover named Benvenuti. After Benvenuti's disappearance, the duo have to spring Cat from prison, help Abbess Hildegard of the Sisters of Tranquility intimidate a fallen angel and harrow hell and several even worse places to get Benvenuti back. The author's inventiveness is unblushingly demanding of the reader passages in the journey to hell satirize (or more accurately, skewer or even impale) role-playing games, Dante, the Greek playwrights and the Norse sagas with ferocious accuracy and a complete lack of scruples. Good taste prevails most of the time, and there are a fair number of serious grace notes, such as the cult of Joe, the caveman who invented God (aka the Old Geister). The sexual content is higher, but otherwise Flint can stand comparison with at least early Terry Pratchett. Fans of Harry Turtledove's elaborate wordplay will also revel in this volume. (May)with David Drake, and for the novel 1632.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Greyboar's professional career as an assassin for hire falls prey to his penchant for philosophy as moral qualms intervene to cause disaster in even the simplest tasks. The latest fantasy by the author of 1632 features an angst-ridden hero, a fast-talking side-kick, fast-paced action, and bawdy humor. Though sometimes the comedy misses the mark, Flint tells a multilayered tale of camaraderie in the face of misadventure with apologies to the great philosophers. A good choice for large libraries' fantasy collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Baen (February 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743435419
• ISBN-13: 978-0743435413
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,137,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Flint is the co-author of three New York Times best sellers in his Ring of Fire alternate history series. His first novel for Baen, Mother of Demons, was picked by Science Fiction Chronicle as a best novel of the year. His 1632, which launched the Ring of Fire series, won widespread critical praise, as from Publishers Weekly, which called him an SF author of particular note, one who can entertain and edify in equal, and major, measure. A longtime labor union activist with a Masters Degree in history, he currently resides in northwest Indiana with his wife Lucille.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Frothy Fantasy Fun, July 25, 2005

By 

Mark Towler (Boston, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Philosophical Strangler (Joe's World) (Hardcover)

While not in quite the same class as Terry Pratchett(Discworld) or Peter David (Sir Apropos of Nothing), Eric Flint provides a welcome addition to the world of humorous fantasy. Laughter is on every page and very few fantastical memes remain unskewered. Readers with no knowledge of philosophy, physics, Dante or the Beowulf will find themselves missing out occasionally, but overall the laughs are clever and accessible. The translation of metaphorical concepts into real life are frequent and funny, if sometimes a bit too ridiculous. It's one thing to be told that God writes on stone tablets in words of fire, but quite another to see that one of His correspondants maintains a collection of the burning slabs she receives in a separate alcove and uses them to keep down the heating bill. I also laughed out loud at the description of the enigmatic female warrior Shrodinger's Cat, especially when it comes to her combat technique: her opponents are aggravated to learn that while they can see where she is or where she's going, it's somehow impossible to determine both at any given moment.

However, the joy ride is not without its flaws. Grayboar's philosophical leanings quickly recede into the background and the book begins to feel like a bunch of incomplete short stories that were mashed together for expediency. That said, this is still perfectly good book for fantasy fans looking for lighter, less-serious fare.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even funnier than Discworld, May 2, 2001

By 

Geoffrey Kidd (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Philosophical Strangler (Joe's World) (Hardcover)

The book is written from the viewpoint of Ignace (the whiney, I call him), agent to Greyboar, greatest assassin/strangler in the world, "the man by whom professional thuggee should be judged." You'd think that would be an easy life. Sit back and let the assignments roll in. The Amazon editorial commentary on this book mentioned the problems: Philosophical conundrums and ethical dilemmas. What it didn't mention is the greatest horror of all, LOST COMMISSIONS. Mind you, you get all three of these things in just the first chapter of the book. After that, things get weird.

This book is a riot. You'll understand after you've read it why I'll never be able to deal with the term "aftermarket" again without a giggle.

My advice, get this book, and Fetch the Comfy Chair, one you can't fall out of no matter how hard you laugh. Make sure you have some privacy for reading, lest you cause concern, remarks on your cackles and gusts of laughter, or frantic calls for the men in the white coats. After that, in Robin Williams' immortal words, "Y' on y'own. Good night."

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I seem to have a different opinion on this one......., October 8, 2002

By 

Amberblade (New England, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Philosophical Strangler (Joe's World) (Mass Market Paperback)

Well, looking at the other reviews of this book, I can't help but feel I must have been reading a completely different book altogether.
I really, really did not like this book. At all. As a matter of fact, this is the first book in many years that I have seriously considered stopping in the middle of, and not finishing. I finished it, but I really didn't see any improvement.
That said, I will explain.
It was interesting, and different, having the main characters be.... well, a strangler, and his manager. It had a lot of promise, but right from the start this book just rubbed me the wrong way. I have nothing against stranglers, or their managers, but....Well, I found myself with an intense dislike of these characters from the beginning.
The first-person writting style doesn't bother me at all, but in this case I just really, REALLY didn't want to be in this guy's head.
I couldn't see what the various parts of the story had to do with any of the others, and my frustration was getting the best of me.
The overall book was.... not good. I was disappointed, and annoyed that I had actually spent my time on this.
In this case though, this is only my opinion. The reason I went with 2 stars, as opposed to 1, or none if I could, was because most of my problems with this book were personal. I really disliked the plot, and the characters, and the story was just dull. So, 2 stars for the book based on the elements that were good about it.
I find it strange, because I like Eric Flint.
Sorry, but this one I will not be reading again, nor it's sequels, if there are any.