Review THE SERPENT OF VENICE by CHRISTOPHER MOORE @TheAuthorGuy @WmMorrowBks

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 2014

Venice, a long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from the Queen of Britain: the rascal-Fool Pocket.

This trio of cunning plotters—the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Montressor Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago—have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising an evening of sprits and debauchery with a rare Amontillado sherry and Brabantio's beautiful daughter, Portia.

But their invitation is, of course, bogus. The wine is drugged. The girl isn't even in the city limits. Desperate to rid themselves once and for all of the man who has consistently foiled their grand quest for power and wealth, they have lured him to his death. (How can such a small man, be such a huge obstacle?). But this Fool is no fool . . . and he's got more than a few tricks (and hand gestures) up his sleeve.

Greed, revenge, deception, lust, and a giant (but lovable) sea monster combine to create another hilarious and bawdy tale from modern comic genius, Christopher Moore.

About the Author

Christopher Moore is the author of twelve previous novels: Practical Demonkeeping, Coyote Blue, Bloodsucking Fiends, Island of the Sequined Love Nun, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Lamb, Fluke, The Stupidest Angel, A Dirty Job, You Suck, Fool, and Bite Me. He lives in San Francisco, California.

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

(you may want to read this book using voices from Monty Python) 

This story is a retelling of Othello with  a mash up of The Merchant of Venice but with a mermaid /  sea serpent / um, dragon?  It includes Marco Polo, Desdemona and Portia,  and of course, Fool.  The Fool is sent to Venice by his lovely queen Cordelia to make the Italians stop the crusades which she thinks are stupid and costly.  While in Italy, his queen dies and he is left adrift, taken in a by a (surprise!) Merchant in Venice.  The intrigues of Venetian Court are well detailed in the story in true Shakespearean fashion with choruses and everything.  Of course, the Fool tells them to shut up more than once.  

Without ruining the Serpent angle, there are some delicate and indiscreet moments between the Fool and the Serpent, now named Vivian, because of course, you can be intimate with a sea serpent and not have be named.  Ok, I probably just ruined the Serpent angle for you.  Of course, the Venetians and Genoans are at war and Othello being the admiral he is, commands everything before him and helps Fool on his quest to rescue his protege Drool and Monkey, Jeff.  Don't ask why the Monkey is named Jeff.  As Fool schemes his way through the Italian isles, his one liners will have you laughing whole heartedly.  

This makes up for Fool.  OK, I was not a fan of that book.  I am a huge Christopher Moore fan, but Fool lost me completely.  I was probably in the minority on that one from the book signing I attended for Sacre Bleu ( pure genius) where everyone couldn't wait for this book.  I take it back.  I am going to try Fool again to see if it clicks.  This should really appeal to hardcore Shakespeare, mash up  and of course, Christopher Moore fans.

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