Customer Reviews

The Sound and the Furry (The Complete Hoka Stories)

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THE SOUND AND THE FURRY(2001) is an SFBC omnibus, comprised of two sometimes hilarirous short story collections (which are still published separately by Baen): Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! (1998), and Hokas Pokas! (2000). It is about the escapades of a newly-discovered alien race called the Hokas, who look much like small bears (or large teddy bears), and act bizarrely - having trouble sorting out fact from fiction.

Following are brief reviews of each of the short stories:

Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! 1998.
--Prologue, 1983. (Hoka! 1983.)
--The Sheriff of Canyon Gulch, 1951. (as Heroes Are Made, in Other Worlds, May, 1951.) Our wayward hero Ensign Alex Jones gets his first taste of Hoka culture, when he is forced to crash land in the backwaters of the Planet Toka.
--Interlude I, 1998. These short Interludes appear as highly beauraucratic interstellar memorandums, and provide a descriptive backdrop that binds the short stories together.
--Don Jones, 1957. (novelette) (Earthman's Burden, 1957.) Alex Jones, now back on Earth with his fiance Tanni, and is enlisted to act as a guide to the first Hoka ambassadorial party sent to Earth - but reluctantly finds himself thrust into the role of Don Juan.
--Interlude II, 1998. Alex, along with his new wife Tanni, is assigned as the plenipentatiary to the Planet Toka. His job: slowly introduce modern culture and technology to the backward and "inventive" Hokas.
--In Hoka Signo Vinces, 1953. (Other Worlds, June, 1953.) Hilarious tale of the voyage of "The Space Patrol" spaceship "Fearless".
--Interlude III, 1998.
--The Adventure of the Misplaced Hound, 1953. (novelette) (Universe, December, 1953.) Decent "Sherlock Holmes" tale.
--Interlude IV, 1998.
--Yo Ho Hoka! 1955. (novelette) (F & SF, #46, March, 1955.) Sub-par tale of "piracy".
--Interlude V, 1998.
--The Tiddlywink Warriors, 1955. (novelette) (F & SF, #51, August, 1955.) Alex "enlists" in the Hoka version of the French Foreign Legion.
--Interlude VI, 1998.
--Joy in Mudville, 1955. (novelette) (F & SF, #54, November, 1955.) "Alien Baseball", and "Casey" gets a 2nd chance to win the big game.
--Undiplomatic Immunity, 1957. (novelette) (F & SF, May, 1957.) Subpar "Cloak and Dagger" story.
--Mysterious Message, 1998.

Hokas Pokas! 2000.
--Full Pack (Hokas Wild), 1957. (novelette) (F & SF, October, 1957.) Uninteresting tale, based on "Jungle Book".
--The Napolean Crime, 1983. (novelette) (Analog, March, 1983.) Average story involving Hokas incited to the point to armed conflict.
--Star Prince Charlie, 1983. (novel) (Star Prince Charlie, 1983.) Decent full-length story, with different main character than previous tales.

Orbiting the G2 star, Brackney's Star III, is the earthlike planet Toka. And, inhabiting the world of Toka are the Hoka, a small, teddy bear-looking race, who are surprisingly strong for their size. Unfortunately their longsuffering human plenipotentiary, Alexander Jones, the Hoka are the most imaginative race in the galaxy, as soon as they discover a new book of fiction, they adopt the roles and live the story...invariably with comedic results!

This book is an anthology containing all of the Hoka stories written by Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson. That's right, ALL of the hilarious stories from the books "Hoka! Hoka! Hoka!" and "Hokas Pokas!" are included in this one great book!

Each of these stories is literally laugh out loud funny, with lots of action thrown in. Most story collections out there are a mix good and not-so-good stories, but that is not the case with this book, all of the stories are hilarious! This is a great book, one that I highly recommend to everyone!

I am absolutely speechless as to why this book is not more popular. I've been reading it to my kids for over ten years....the oldest of them is now 21, and they STILL listen in on when I read from it.

I would give this extra stars if I could. If you are having a hard time getting your 13 year old boy to read, introduce him to Poul Anderson, but with this warning he will not want to put it down. :) Think Pirates of the Caribbean meets Star Wars, add tons of laughter and you have Poul Anderson.