Truth can be stranger than fiction, but according to Bill Dutcher, author of the uproarious book “Fictoids: Short Fiction…Very Short,” a fictoid is undoubtedly funnier than a factoid. But what exactly *is* a fictoid? Dutcher defines it as a concise piece of fictional history, delivering a complete narrative or making a pointed statement within a single sentence.
“A typical fictoid tells who did what, when, and where,” explains Dutcher. His book, published by Dutcher & Company and priced at $12, offers a deliberately inaccurate and irreverent journey through cultural history, spanning from 1220 B.C. to 2004. Prepare to encounter alternative historical accounts and politically incorrect scenarios.
“Fictoids” reveals the surprising origins of self-storage and the dual invention of the periodic table and the occasional chair. Discover the reason behind Henry the Ninth’s dating woes, the founder of General Eclectic, and the artist behind the poignant song “You were always there for me…but I was always here.” Uncover the story of the entrepreneur who boldly told his bankers, “You can call my loan, but it won’t come,” and the visionary who launched New York’s first Squeak Easy, a high-priced helium bar. Finally, learn about the unauthorized autobiography that captivated readers and sold over a million copies.
The book is populated with memorable characters, including Sleeping Beauty’s less motivated sister, Lazy Susan; Norwegian film icon Harrison Fjord; classical rap sensation Yo Yo Mama; and the perpetually ineffective assistant press secretary, Feckless Spinmeister. The illustrations, adding another layer of humor, are the work of renowned New Yorker magazine cartoonist Jack Ziegler.