In the 90’s it was the thing for all comedians to get a TV pilot and four out of five failed pretty miserably because, well, they weren’t funny. Now that that fad has passed for the most part, it seems to be if you’re a person of humor, you need to write a book of humor (and it’s much more cost effective than 30 minutes of prime time air space and all the cast and crew that goes along with it). But, unfortunately, it still seems that four out of five really aren’t that funny, or at least, not consistently funny over 200+ pages.
The typical comedian’s book goes like this: Intro, stand up routine, memoir, stand up routine, memoir, stand up routine, memoir, etc. It’s the memoir part that tends to feel like filler, while the stand up routines are often recycled material or just devoid of the delivery that comedians work so hard to perfect. Not surprisingly Patton Oswalt’s new release Zombie Spaceship Wasteland follows the same format, but manages to have a much worthier outcome.
The comedy bits are hilarious. Patton follows his knack for description by adding new light to old standards like Dungeons & Dragons, Vagabond comics, and Werewolves and Lollipops’ movie punch up bit. While satisfyingly entertaining, it’s actually his memoir bits that offer the most reward.
A good memoir should be equal parts reflection, self-searching and storytelling. Growing up in a suburban 80’s Virginia that catered zilch to his personal geekdom left Patton with a hunger for substance and frustration with mediocrity that only the long road and his still-blooming career has been able to appease. Oswalt’s reflection shows such clear hindsight how small events can encompass an entire upbringing, making him the rare comedian/philosopher that can see through the meaningless fluff the world often chokes on. He’s basically George Carlin for geeks.
Ultimately, you have to respect a man who can blend the insult “You’re going to miss everything cool and die angry” with references to Blade Runner and the Pixies and top it off with an alliterated fart joke.
Patton Oswalt will be at BookPeople on Saturday, Jan. 15th at 2pm to sign copies of Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.
–Nolan Fellows
BookPeople 
he comedy bits are hilarious. Patton follows his knack for description by adding new light to old standards like Dungeons & Dragons, Vagabond comics, and Werewolves and Lollipops’ movie punch up bit.
Yeah! That was totally weird of me, but let’s do it! Want to meet at Book People