Excerpts From Nonexistent Books

Burt Vespin, billionaire playboy, stalked the Vespertillius Cavern, looking for information on The Twiddler and his confederates in the Puppeteer Gang. Their last caper, with the Very Large Bat, had failed, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they struck again.
“Perhaps, Master Burt, the answer is to think like they do,” said his loyal manservant, Frederick.

“Think like a mentally ill freak in a costume?” scoffed Burt. “That’ll be the day.”

Frederick cleared his throat. “Yes, well, the stockholders for VespinTech are here with the quarterly financial statements. Perhaps it’s time to place the bat hobby on hold and see to pressing matters?”

“VespinTech is the hobby,” Burt muttered. “This is what really matters.”

“Yes, well, it also generates no income, as you refuse to license your likeness and allow bootleggers free reign,” said Frederick. “Perhaps just a little bit of business, at least until the bills are paid?”

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If we continue to fragment our wilderness
Our cryptids will lack places to hide
They might then evolve into smallness
And begin letting themselves inside

A compact sasquatch lurks in the kitchen
Flatbrush pixies are on the lanai
Mothmen orbit floorlamps in the den
Chubacaprae in the garage wave goodbye

If we don’t want them in our spaces
If we wish to bid them goodbye
Perhaps it’s our turn to downsize
Before the very last forests will die

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“Now, Janey?”

“Yeah, Dad?”

“I need you to tell me what, exactly, you put in the gene splicer, okay?”

“Umm…some crocodile pieces…your weird bird fossil…and some of my bubblegum.”

“Is that why there’s a sticky creature with wings and sharp teeth eating everything at Daddy’s birdbath?”

“It’s called a bubblegumcrocodileopterix, and it’s splendid.”

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Let’s face it, we’ve all been there: a well-meaning relative, or even a liberal whom you are not allowed to kill in this so-called democracy, has offered you a salad. And for whatever reason, you can’t throw it back in their face and demand red meat like a true American should. What do you do?

We’ve all got our solutions. Hiding the salad, Cutting it into smaller pieces so it looks eaten. Smuggling leaves onto others’ plates or back into the basket.

But no more!

Thanks to the revolutionary new Pants for Salad™ system, those days are over! Now you can hide your salad in a special pouch that slips down the front of your pants and store it safely for later disposal. No mess, thanks to our patented leakproof lining, and no awkward laundering like competing products, because Pants for Salad™ is disposable!

Simply choose the size and capacity you need, install before any meal you think might involve salads or liberals, and voila! You’re good to go. And with the new Pants for Salad™ DX, even salads that are dripping with dressings or festooned with croutons can easily be secreted away. And don’t forget to try our new Pants for Meats™, a revolutionary complementary product that allows you to smuggle fine smoked meats into gatherings of vegetarians or Democrats without having to worry about them canceling you!

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“Look!” the guards at Chateau le Barre cried, pointing toward the roof, which was bathed in the light of the full moon.

“That is correct, fools!” cried the masked figure, clad in blue, that stood atop the peak. “It is I, the Phantom Phaunterplook, and I intend to spirit your captives to safety!”

“Hang on a tick,” one of the guards shouted back. “What the blooming hell is a ‘phaunterplook’ exactly?”

“It’s a kind of flower,” The Phantom Phaunterplook shouted back. “It’s in the aster family. I’m going to leave one at the scene of my triumph here as a calling card.”

“There’s no such flower!” another guard cried. “I studied botany for two years!”

“Well, I studied it for six,” the Phaunterplook retorted. “And trust me when I say the phaunterplook is a real flower. You might know it as the genus Anagallis, the chaffweed, or the swizzlechud.”

“You made those up!”

“I did not! The Dutch also call it the vanterplüken! Look, I have a boquet of them right here!”

“Those could be silk flowers for all we know!”

“Look,” sighed the Phaunterplook. “Are you going to raise the alarm or not?”

“Are you going to raise the issue of you naming yourself after a fake flower or not?”

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“Lumpomancy?” cried Gregor. “What can I do with lumpomancy? I want the gift of a cooler -mancy. What about pyromancy?”

“I’m sorry, Gregor,” Counselor Iort said. “Your Magical Aptitude Score in pyromancy was only 17. That’s not even enough to prevent you from working in a match factory.”

“How about technomancy?” Gregor said.

“15. Don’t fool with any complex machinery unless you have the proper tools and two years’ technical training.”

“…and my score in lumpomancy?” Grego asked, miserably.

“97. Since the scores are based on percentiles, this means that you are better than lumpomancy than 97% of the magically-gifted population. I think you should seriously consider it as a career.”

“Doing what,” Gregor mumbled.

“Well, most lumpomancers work in ore processing, identifying and moving lumps of raw ore. If you were a bit more gifted in life magic, there might also be room for you in a magical oncologist.”

“What’s my life magic score?” said Gregor.

“10,” replied Counselor Iort. “Frankly, any lower than that, and I’d expect you to be dead. No, my boy, I’m afraid it’s ore processing or nothing for you.”

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“Stripe Wiggly T is the real breakout character from ‘The Wibbly-Wombles,’ so he would be a perfect spokesman for your product,” said Mr. Cabinet, the network executive man. “The word ‘tea’ is right there in his name, after all. Shall we start the negotiations at, oh, say a million?”

The high-backed chair, which had been facing the window, swiveled to reveal the enigmatic Mr. H. M. Wigglesburgh, Esq., the mysterious, reclusive, and eccentric founder and owner of Wigglesburgh Teas. “So allow me to summarize the proposed transaction,” Mr. Wigglesburgh said, his long gloved fingers steepled, his face unreadable beneath his bright top hat and above his ruffled ascot. “Based on some perceived similarity of name, you wish me to hire your children’s television host—and actor—to peddle your wares. To children.”

“Absolutely,” said Mr. Cabinet. “I’m glad we could come to an understanding.”

“Here is what I understand,” said Wigglesburgh. “Children are not an ideal market for tea. It is often too hot for them; they might injure themselves. They prefer it cold, with milk and sugar, all of which are anathema to my fine teas. Now, this is not the children’s fault, Mr. Cabinet; rather, it is yours for having the temerity to suggest such a matchup in the first place.”

“Come now, Mr. Wigglesburgh,” said Cabinet. “Perhaps we could knock the price down to half a million, on account of your moral objections. But I’ll have you know that Butterglut Tea is on the hook as well, and if Stripe Wiggly T isn’t working for you, why he’s working for them. The children will burn their poor little tongues no matter what.”

“Butterglut,” said Mr. Wigglesburgh. “Tell me, Mr. Cabinet, have you ever seen my magnificent vats of Earl Grey, our best seller?”

Without waiting for a response, he touched a control at the arm of his chair that abruptly clamped Mr. Cabinet to his chair and tilted him forward, even as a trap door opened to reveal the steaming vats of Earl Grey below, worked by the tireless Tea Weasels.

“Okay, okay! I take it back! My client is not for sale to teamakers!” Cabiner shrieked.

“Are you sure?” said Mr. Wigglesburgh, examining his nails. “Even Butterglut? I’d hate to be accused of unfair practices.”

“Yes, of course, please!” Cabinet howled.

“Very well.” The trapdoor shut, and the testraings vanished as the chair tilted back. “But do remember the agreement we have made here today. If you do not, the price will be…steep.”

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To have followed such a trajectory, on purpose, would have required a team of physicists and engineers working around the clock for two years. Every variable seemed accounted for, from the ambient temperature and humidity to the gentle west-southwest wind. The slight spin that had been imparted was perfect, enough to keep the lightly irregular object stable but also compensating for its irregularity.

It was, in short, an aerodynamic miracle, the like of which few had ever seen and fewer still would ever see again.

It was almost a shame that such kismet had been used—wasted, one might say—to guide a mushy potato from Jimmy Panfield’s hand directly to the head of his second-period teacher, Mrs. Petersen.

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“Have you decided what you’re going to do with this disco roller rink?” said Sam, running a finger over the dusty railing separating the roller floor.

“Dunno,” Chris said. “On the one hand, the land is in a decent location. I could sell it and even after taxes. “On the other, there might be just enough demand for something this retro.”

“The chance for a disco turnover, and you’re thinking of throwing it all away for a few bucks?” Sam said, incredulous.

“It’s not my time, it’s not my dream, and it might suck every ounce of life from my body,” replied Chris.

“But on the other hand, it might not,” Sam countered. “Do you think your Uncle Harvey was all-in on disco at first either?”

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“Oh no, m’lord,” the peasent said. “You must not take that road. That path will take you through the Forest of Swingles, and you will surely not emerge unscathed therefrom.”
“Nonsense, simple farmer,” said the duke, “that route may mean death for you, unarmed and untrained, but my sword is keen and my armor strong. I fear neither death nor injury.”

“Nay, m’lord, the Forest of Swingles offers peril not to one’s body, but one’s soul. It tempts them with pleasures of the flesh, and few who travel through it are able to stay true to their marital vows.”

“Oh?” the duke said.

“Aye, m’lord. To come out of the Forest of Swingles without a dryad side chick or a centaur himbo is exceedingly rare.”

“I thank thee for the warning, simpleton,” said the duke, flipping a coin to the peasant. Then, to his horse: “Onward to the Forest of Swingles!”

“But m’lord! What about the duchess?”

“What about her?” the duke, already half a league away, called over his shoulder.

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