Political humor does not get any funnier or more salient than it does in The Book of Axe, a trilogy on free speech. This collection of plays by keen observer and funny woman Artie Anderson is peppered with salty dialogue and fresh metaphors, sure to have readers looking at the current world order in an entirely new way.
It may not seem possible to create comedy from horror, but the heady topics tackled by Anderson include acts of terrorism and the reactionary government that threatens civil liberties. The author's sparkling wit and raucous sense of humor make these sober events and their dire consequences easier to consider-this is a book for people who like to laugh without ignoring what troubles the human race today.
The three unique plays can be read as stand-alones or as a complementary trilogy. From "Phartlefugue" and "O Brother That Saint!" to the concluding work, "Aceldama: Eugenics as a Field of Blood," Anderson challenges readers to reconsider dogmatically held beliefs and think for themselves. Thanks to the hilarious, comedic voice, Anderson wields a light touch while making a deep impression.
About the Author: Artie Anderson holds degrees from Southern Arkansas University, where you can see folks riding mules for sport, and the University of Texas at Dallas, whose athletic claim to fame peaks with the chess team. Go fighting Checkmates!
Her personal experiences with freedom of speech, and the inevitable complications of foot-in-mouth disease, have inspired a creative endeavor or two. States Anderson, "If I can get past the toes, I'll freely say everything I think."
An active proponent of human rights and civil liberties, Anderson was born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in a conservative south Arkansas household. Tired of being told to hush, stay home, and have babies, she takes up the mantle of the good ol' boys and raises some serious heck. Whether you laugh or cry, you will be captivated by her comedic timing and the sense of humanity in her writing.
