# Throwing a monkey wrench into the MacHinery **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2002, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwing-a-monkey-wrench-into-the-machinery/145180 "2002-12-27T17:06:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwing-a-monkey-wrench-into-the-machinery/145180/1 "2002-12-27T17:06:16Z")
This is more of an MPSIMS, but it deals with “literature.” When I was in high school a quarter century ago, a classmate lent me a book of his called “Sir MacHinery” (or “Sir Machinery”) by a chap named McGowan. I seem to recall it as having been written for a younger audience, but found it enhoyable all the same. _A quarter century later. . ._ I thought this would be a good book for my growing number of nieces and nephews, and sought a copy. Alas, it is long out of print. But that was not the discouraging part. . . I took a quick look at Ebay, and one had shown up there in the past month or so–selling for about $100! _YIKES!_ So I checked out some used book search engines (Bibliofind, Advanced Book Exchange, etc.)–The Ebay price was a bargain in comparison! Makes me wish I had purchased a dozen or so copies back then–even though I would not have had the money for even one. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwing-a-monkey-wrench-into-the-machinery/145180/2 "2002-12-27T17:12:20Z")
Well, the one listing I saw was for a 1st edition hardback at $224. Maybe you can find a paperback somewhere. I did see a listing that it has been turned into a screenplay, so there could be a reprint coming out, if a movie is actually made.