# Fakin' again: FAKE BOOKS (list or guess 'em) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 13, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061 "2007-02-13T19:36:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/21 "2007-02-13T21:20:23Z")
_Ethel the Aardvark Goes Quantity Surveying_ , and about fifty more from that marvelous Python sketch. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/22 "2007-02-13T21:26:16Z")
[QUOTE=DigitalC] The **Necronomicon** is probably the most famous “fake” book out there. [/QUOTE] Not the _The Princess Bride_ as written by S. Morganstern? ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/23 "2007-02-13T21:27:35Z")
My hands-down favorite is **The Unstrung Harp** from _The Unstrung Harp: Or, Mr. Earbrass Writes A Novel_ by Edward Gorey. (“The Unstrung Harp” is the name both of Mr. Gorey’s real book, and his character Mr. Earbrass’s novel, which would be the “fake” book.) The story of Mr. Earbrass’s saga to write a novel is endlessly amusing, especially with Gorey’s signature illustrations. It’s a book that’s close to the heart of many an aspiring author. If I could get a first edition of _The Unstrung Harp_, I would be sublimely happy. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/24 "2007-02-13T21:34:49Z")
De Selby’s metaphysical blockbuster _Golden Hours_, from Flann O’Brien’s _The Third Policeman_. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/25 "2007-02-13T21:43:23Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] My hands-down favorite is **The Unstrung Harp** from _The Unstrung Harp: Or, Mr. Earbrass Writes A Novel_ by Edward Gorey. (“The Unstrung Harp” is the name both of Mr. Gorey’s real book, and his character Mr. Earbrass’s novel, which would be the “fake” book.) The story of Mr. Earbrass’s saga to write a novel is endlessly amusing, especially with Gorey’s signature illustrations. It’s a book that’s close to the heart of many an aspiring author. If I could get a first edition of _The Unstrung Harp_, I would be sublimely happy. [/QUOTE] **Jodi** : GREAT one. For the hell of it, I searched the Godternet for a first addition, just to see what prices came up. I’m sure with more research, you could find others, but [AbeBooks](http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&an=edward+gorey&pn=&tn=The+Unstrung+Harp&yrl=&yrh=&isbn=&prl=&prh=&kn=&cty=-1&bx=off&bi=0&sortby=2&fe=on&ds=30&x=0&y=0) seems to have all manner of options from $150 - $1000. You made me want to go home & pull down Amphigorey & reread this. Let’s move it along now, work-day. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/26 "2007-02-13T22:40:06Z")
_sigh_ I really, really thought that the thread title said “FAKE BOOBS.” I’m not sure if it’s a case of being too tired to browse or simply wishful thinking. Well, since I’m here, I may as well add my favorite (next to **Hitchhiker’s** ) fake: **The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch**. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/27 "2007-02-13T22:47:28Z")
[QUOTE=JKellyMap] _Ethel the Aardvark Goes Quantity Surveying_ , and about fifty more from that marvelous Python sketch. [/QUOTE] Grate Expectations by Charles Dikkens, the well known Dutch author. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/28 "2007-02-13T22:49:25Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] How about the **Necrotelicomnicon** , written by Achmed the Mad. [/QUOTE] Don’t you mean [Achmed the I Just Get These Headaches](http://www.electric-escape.net/pratchett/Moving-Pictures#146)? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/29 "2007-02-13T23:02:52Z")
_The Book of Night with Moon_; a fictional book in the Young Wizards universe, which is also the title of a _real_ book set in that universe. _Sternenkrieg_ by Gustav Anderman and _Tenets of war_ by Tanakov, both treatises on warfare in the Honor Harrington universe. _The Book of Silence_, book of the God of Time and creator of the universe in the _Lords of Dus_ series; to speak a single word from that book is death. ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/30 "2007-02-13T23:15:50Z")
[QUOTE=Birdmonster] Kilgore Trout has a veritable [library](http://www.vonnegutweb.com/vonnegutia/trout/index.html) of non-novels. …Now It Can Be Told… [/QUOTE] I’ve read this. Of course I read the one by [Leslie Groves](http://www.amazon.com/Now-Can-Told-Manhattan-Paperbacks/dp/0306801892/sr=1-1/qid=1171408008/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0598609-6145543?ie=UTF8&s=books) not Kilgore Trout. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/31 "2007-02-13T23:16:43Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Ahh. I missed that **JThunder** beat me to the Woodchucks! [/QUOTE] You got the correct title though, which I missed. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/32 "2007-02-13T23:17:03Z")
The ‘Encyclopedia of the Marvels, Life Forms and Other Phenomena of Zamonia and its Environs’ by Professor Abdullah Nightingale from **The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear** is lovely…if anyone’s familiar with it… ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/33 "2007-02-13T23:21:11Z")
_Diuretics_ - **Repo Man** _Kid Shilleen and the Murder at Whiskey Gulch_ - **Cat Ballou** _Dixon Hill in the Big Goodbye_, _Dixon Hill in the Long Dark Tunnel_ - **TNG** The Simpsons: _The Big Book of British Smiles_ _How To Cook For Forty Humans_ _Your Gimmicky Restaurant_ by Bennigan and Fudrucker ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/34 "2007-02-13T23:25:09Z")
_The Theory And Practice Of Oligarchical Collectivism_ (political treatise) ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/35 "2007-02-13T23:26:39Z")
“The Cryptonomicon” is a fictional book in Neal Stephanson’s real book, “The Cryptonomicon”. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/36 "2007-02-13T23:29:32Z")
From Gilligan’s Island Four Masted Schooners I have Known A Million ways to make a Million How to Tell A Mushroom From a Toadstool by the late Dr. Morton Kepstone ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/37 "2007-02-13T23:39:16Z")
**Hotel Royale** by Todd Matthews. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/38 "2007-02-14T00:10:30Z")
**Emperor of the Asteroids The Builders of Mars Fight for the Stars The Twilight of Terra Savior from Space The Master Race The Thousand Year Rule The Triumph of the Will Tomorrow the World** All by the noted science fiction writer Adolph Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/39 "2007-02-14T00:22:07Z")
_The Omega Glory_, from “Star Trek: Next Generation” (I think it shows up in a couple of other Star Trek series, too. _Quiddich Through the Ages_, from the Harry Potter series. Oh, and there are also all of Harry’s textbooks, Mrs. Weasley’s recipe book, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061/40 "2007-02-14T00:22:30Z")
Are you all forgetting Oolon Coluphid’s trilogy of philosophical blockbusters: **Where God Went Wrong** , **Some More Of God’s Greatest Mistakes** , and **Who Is This God Person Anyway?** [QUOTE=Sampiro] **Alls I Know** , **Alls the Other Stuff I Know** , and **Alls I Know About Politics** (essays and memoirs of a failed journalist and politician) [/QUOTE] Would those be by Stuart Best? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fakin-again-fake-books-list-or-guess-em/392061.md?page=3)