Hits and Misses

June 15, 2018
Eighteen new flights of fancy from preternaturally gifted humorist Rich (Spoiled Brats, 2014, etc.).Art, ambition, and Hollywood stardust are at the heart of this new comic collection from Rich, just coming off producing three seasons of sitcom Man Seeking Woman, itself based on his own The Last Girlfriend on Earth (2013). Professional jealousy gets a twist in "The Baby," in which a novelist finds himself competing with his unborn child for literary recognition. The funniest story to read aloud follows in "Riding Solo: The Oatsy Story," in which Paul Revere's unsung horse laments his historical obscurity. Making art is literally addictive in "Relapse," in which a one-hit wonder tries to escape the ugly realities of adulthood. Shades of Christopher Moore's historical slapstick fall over two stories: "Hands," about a Christian monk struggling with his own ethical deficits, and "The Great Jester," a Python-esque medieval farce. There are a few frivolities that might have been better left on the cutting-room floor, including the one-joke "Physician's Lounge, April 1st," the simplistic "Tom Hanks Stories," and the self-flagellating satire "The Book of Simon." It's not that Rich can't be acidic: See "Adolf Hitler: The GQ Profile," the mordantly funny "Upward Mobility," or the sheer irony of "Artist's Revenge." But he also has a sweet spot between mockery and respect for old Hollywood that most notably appears in "New Client," in which an old-time talent agent strikes a deal with his last client, and the tartly charming "Stage 13," about a starlet who finally makes good.Lovingly crafted comedies from a writer beginning to match wit with wisdom.

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September 24, 2018
The latest collection from Rich (Spoiled Brats) lives up to its name, gathering 18 tales of varying quality that too often fail to linger beyond their brief page counts. A David vs. Goliath theme appears in several plot lines: in “The Baby,” a struggling writer and father-to-be is in a race against time to complete his historical novel when he discovers his unborn son is hard at work on a similar book of his own; “Riding Solo: The Oatsy Story” tells the story of Paul Revere’s famous ride from the perspective of his horse, who is left behind after Revere gains celebrity; and “Upward Mobility” pits a personal assistant against his cruel boss for the last available ticket into Heaven. “Adolf Hitler: The GQ Profile” is a smart and darkly humorous skewering of celebrity worship. “Hands,” one of the longest and best stories of the bunch, pokes fun at religion to chronicle a competitive monk who decides to elevate his martyrdom over his brethren by cutting off his hands. When Rich slows down, his stories can hold emotional resonance, but one-joke, pithy entries such as “Tom Hanks Stories” and “Physician’s Lounge, April 1st” are forgettable. The collection has a punchline-over-prose feeling that’s hard to shake.

February 15, 2018

Former Saturday Night Live writer, New Yorker contributor, two-time Forbes 30 Under 30 designee, and past president of the Harvard Lampoon, Rich boasts a handful of deftly droll story collections. Here's the latest, wherein Paul Revere's horse shares a revisionist view of that famous ride and a World War II dictator gets celebrity-style magazine coverage. With a 30,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2018

Former Saturday Night Live writer, New Yorker contributor, two-time Forbes 30 Under 30 designee, and past president of the Harvard Lampoon, Rich boasts a handful of deftly droll story collections. Here's the latest, wherein Paul Revere's horse shares a revisionist view of that famous ride and a World War II dictator gets celebrity-style magazine coverage. With a 30,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.