# Order of the Stick - Book 5 Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323 "2009-08-31T04:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 238
**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:** [October 2, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4742 "2012-10-02T00:25:45Z")
Burlew has just posted an [update](http://www.giantitp.com/index.html#iEvzlZ3wY3yvvOzhyxk) (dictated to his wife, she typed) on his condition. Short version, thanks for the sympathy, the doctor is pleased with how well he’s healing, but it’ll still be a while before he can draw. And Ookoodook tells him that “they were expecting to be done with all shipping by today or tomorrow”; not counting things he was supposed to autograph since he can’t autograph them yet. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4743 "2012-10-02T02:45:31Z")
His wife is sweet. And good of them to update us. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4744 "2012-10-02T02:51:52Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And Ookoodook tells him that “they were expecting to be done with all shipping by today or tomorrow”; not counting things he was supposed to autograph since he can’t autograph them yet. I guess I’ll be one of the last (non-autograph-receiving) people to get my package, then. Figures. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4745 "2012-10-02T04:12:24Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > I guess I’ll be one of the last (non-autograph-receiving) people to get my package, then. Figures. ☹ I only got mine last week so I must have been a ways down the list. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4746 "2012-10-05T20:54:34Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > I guess I’ll be one of the last (non-autograph-receiving) people to get my package, then. Figures. ☹ Delivered today. Missing a book. ☹ Hopefully Ookoodook will sort it out for me quickly. In the meantime, I’ll content myself with two compilations and a coloring book. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4747 "2012-10-05T21:21:09Z")
Last week, I ordered “On Origin of PC’s” from the Ookoodook website. I have not received an email notice that the book has shipped yet. Will Rich’s injuries delay shipping? Does he personally go over to the closet and pull a copy out for little old me? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4748 "2012-10-08T06:06:15Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Last week, I ordered “On Origin of PC’s” from the Ookoodook website. I have not received an email notice that the book has shipped yet. > > Will Rich’s injuries delay shipping? Does he personally go over to the closet and pull a copy out for little old me? No, but I think they’re still going kind of nuts with the backlog from the Kickstarter. I got an e-mail response to my complaint within an hour or two–they confirmed the error & will be shipping my missing book, but they said it would be a few weeks. That whole thing ended up _way_ bigger than anyone anticipated, methinks. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4749 "2012-10-08T07:40:53Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Last week, I ordered “On Origin of PC’s” from the Ookoodook website. I have not received an email notice that the book has shipped yet. They’re still trying to ship out the pre-orders on these books. If you just ordered last week, it’s going to take a while 'til they get to you. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4750 "2012-10-17T14:51:22Z")
Guys, forgive me for bumping this, but I have a question. I went to Kickstarter and looked at Rich’s page. He said the offer was good until February 21. Is there any way of still getting some or all of the books? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4751 "2012-10-17T15:06:09Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Guys, forgive me for bumping this, but I have a question. I went to Kickstarter and looked at Rich’s page. He said the offer was good until February 21. Is there any way of still getting some or all of the books? [http://www.ookoodook.com/store/comics\_order-of-the-stick.shtml](http://www.ookoodook.com/store/comics_order-of-the-stick.shtml) Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4752 "2012-10-18T01:17:29Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > > [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > > > Guys, forgive me for bumping this, but I have a question. I went to Kickstarter and looked at Rich’s page. He said the offer was good until February 21. Is there any way of still getting some or all of the books? > > [http://www.ookoodook.com/store/comics\_order-of-the-stick.shtml](http://www.ookoodook.com/store/comics_order-of-the-stick.shtml) > > Hope this helps. Just be prepared for a wait. They are still finishing the Kickstarter stuff, so it may take a while for normal orders to get filled. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4753 "2012-10-18T12:22:51Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > [http://www.ookoodook.com/store/comics\_order-of-the-stick.shtml](http://www.ookoodook.com/store/comics_order-of-the-stick.shtml) > > Hope this helps. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4754 "2012-11-07T21:36:59Z")
[Update on Rich’s injury.](http://www.giantitp.com/index.html#eomrPJiV64l5YHiCvfr) ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4755 "2012-11-08T15:57:03Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > [Update on Rich’s injury.](http://www.giantitp.com/index.html#eomrPJiV64l5YHiCvfr) Dumb question: Why couldn’t Rich get someone else to draw the panels? They are just stick figures after all… Rich could sit right next to the artist, and tell him/her “No, tilt Xykon’s crown just a little further back on his skull, and add fur to Belkar’s feet.” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4756 "2012-11-08T16:21:19Z")
Don’t let the apparent simplicity of the art fool you. They aren’t “just” stick figures…if I see a blond stick figure in someone’s avatar on a message board, I can tell whether it’s Elan or not. Rich’s art looks simple, but it’s distinctive. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4757 "2012-11-08T16:42:50Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Don’t let the apparent simplicity of the art fool you. They aren’t “just” stick figures…if I see a blond stick figure in someone’s avatar on a message board, I can tell whether it’s Elan or not. Rich’s art looks simple, but it’s distinctive. So, are you saying nobody but Rich could draw it, even if Rich was sitting right there supervising? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4758 "2012-11-08T16:48:58Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > So, are you saying nobody but Rich could draw it, even if Rich was sitting right there supervising? Obviously, I’m not stating an absolute negative. I’m just noting that the apparent simplicity of the art doesn’t mean that anybody could come in and fill in for him. And sitting there having someone take “art dictation” is an awfully cumbersome way to create something. Patience…we’ve waited longer than this between strips before… ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4759 "2012-11-08T16:56:54Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Obviously, I’m not stating an absolute negative. I’m just noting that the apparent simplicity of the art doesn’t mean that anybody could come in and fill in for him. And sitting there having someone take “art dictation” is an awfully cumbersome way to create something. > > Patience…we’ve waited longer than this between strips before… I am patient. This is just “small talk”. I read Rich’s update, linked above. His thumb is still pretty messed up. He seems to be operating under the assumption that only he can do the art work. However, we can find artists that can duplicate the style of Schultz’s _Peanuts_, who are _also_ distinctive enough drawings to recognize an individual character at a glance. There are plenty of talented graphic artists out there. Maybe it’s a matter of pride & dedication that Rich won’t let anyone else draw the strips. Maybe it’s money, although I could imagine that someone would be willing to do it for free. I don’t know. I’m just askin’ questions… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4760 "2012-11-08T17:58:54Z")
Rich uses a computer art package. He has a library of images that he can reuse. If he needs to draw Elan, he just cut & pastes Elan’s body#6, Elan’s head #12, mouth#5, eyebrows#3, legs #5, arms #1. To some extent, an assistant could do that, and it would actually be Rich’s art. But it can’t all be done that way, there will be new stuff to draw in every strip: new location that requires a background to be drawn, new character introduced, character in unusual pose, and so on. I don’t think Rich would let anyone else do that for him. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4761 "2012-11-08T18:01:06Z")
And frankly, it’s Rich’s art and it’s Rich’s story and I value it highly enough that I want him to tell it in the way he finds most appropriate. If he was ok with the Jim Davis approach, he’d be doing it already. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=237) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=239)