Gary Larson calls The Complete Far Side, the massive two-volume collection of his Far Side cartoons, an "18-pound hernia giver." Sure to give any coffee table a solid workout, the handsome and heavy 1,272-page "legacy book" is a must for fervent fans; over 4,300 single-panel comics with more than half in color and 1,100 that have not appeared in any book form before (the popular--and far less weighty--paperback collections).

Set in rough chronological order, the comics share pages with occasional letters from fans, detractors, editors, folks made famous by a particular cartoon, and those begging for explanations. Though few explanations are provided (Larson personally supplies merely one, plus a single apology), this collection helps answer the inevitable "how do you think up these things" conundrum. Before each year's cartoons, Larson provides insight with essays about his childhood, various travels, occupational hazards, and his official rules for dealing with bedtime monsters (which often turned out to be his older brother). Most wonderful is the first essay on how the comic started. (His longtime editor Jake Morrissey's long introduction is a must read on The Far Side's story).

Despite no central characters, it's easy to spot patterns in Larson's wild and wacky cartoons. Animals, insects, and inanimate objects often exhibit all-too-human impulses. Larson's subjects are often in scenes of peril--disasters, visits to hell, and perhaps a hundred cartoons set on a one-palm tree deserted island. It is what Larson's fertile imagination mined from those situations that created fans and enemies for 14 years. (Larson retired at his peak and then went into jazz music). The comics are not indexed (how could they be--first lines? listings of cartoons with cows?); finding a favorite requires a great memory for its publication date. Best simply to peruse the pages of this beautiful collection in which you will certainly find more than a few new chuckles before landing on your beloved Larson sketch.

Before office people faxed around Dilbert strips, they faxed the good ol' Far Side. This big 192-page treasury collects the first three standard collections: The Far Side, Beyond the Far Side, and In Search of the Far Side. Watch out for funny snakes, cows, and nerds--and don't let your boss catch you near the fax machine.

I'm not sure how Gary Larson continues to write consistently funny books. But, I'm not going to complain. This book has a laugh on every page. Once again there are the hilarious human and animal characters that make up Larson's wacky world. In addition, there is a centerfold of cows of our planet. It is definitely a worthy addition to the Far Side collection. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a good laugh in their life.

These are some of the funniest Far Side cartoons. This is probably the funniest Far Side collection, in my opinion. A must have for any real Far Side fan.

Welcome to the exhibit: a spectacular retrospective of more than 300 Far Side cartooons - in both black and white and color. The exhibit is not Larson's most popular cartoons; it is his own personal favorites. And indeed, this is the first glimpse Larson's millions of fans worldwide have ever had of the personal side of Gary Larson. As Larson says in his Foreword, "This may or may not be of particular interest to anyone, but my therapist says it should do ME a lot of good." As with all great exhibits, it begins by putting The Far Side, and Gary Larson, in context. In the first section, "The Origin of the Species," we see Gary's childhood drawings, such as the one done in black crayon, of little Gary sitting on top of a tire, his earliest memory of riding in the car on vacation. The next documented section, "Evolutioon of the Species," gives the view the first insights into the creative process of Gary Larson. (He admits, for example, that "off days" are a part of life, whether you're a cartoonist, a neurosurgeon, or an air-traffic controller.) In this section we see cartoons that worked - and often, surprisingly, how he made them work better. Then there is the section called "Mutations," the ones that didn't work because somebody (no names heres) goofed up. And finally, leading up to the exhibit itself, the section "Stimulus/Response," in which Gary shares some of his fan mail: "You should be severely reprimanded by animal protection authorities, in newspaper publication, and, if possible... you should be fined at least $1,000 for each such cruel cartoon." And Larson's defense: Complaints are "usually from people who misinterpreted the cartoon and were angered by a cartoon they didn't 'get.' Well, hell - I don't understand all my cartoons." We also see never-before-published cartoons that landed on the editorial cutting-room floor. So here's the whole history of The Far Side, some ten odd years - from Mesozoic to Modern, from Early Weird to Late Weird. Only Larson thinks it may not be very interesting, but as he says, once "you've got it in your brain cells you're stuck with it."

Gary Larson has most definitely outdone himself this time. This book is truly brilliant. Every drawing gets his point across and will make you laugh until you cry. Larson is undoubtedly the funniest cartoonist to ever live. Once you buy this book make certain that you do not have anything planned. Because once you start reading you will forget all about your plans. A must have for any Far Side fanatic or for anyone who likes to laugh.

Each page outdoes the next. I read this late at night, and nearly exploded trying not to laugh out loud so as not to wake up my mother. The strangest, the funniest, the best of the Far Side books.

My English and my background to understand Larson's humor are not the best but anytime I grab one of his books from my self I crack with the old jokes I have read many times. Each time I find a new sense and a new kind of humor, and all depends on my animus and circunstances. If someday I don't crack with a single one, I'll know my illusion for the common things of life and my youth have come to an end. David

Gary Larson does it again with another compilation of his crazy, weird, sometimes unusual cartoons. Join him this time with hijinks at the zoo, Nature scenes we rarely see, the Mr Potato Head court case, cavemen adventures, ducks and many more hilarious situations from the funnier side of life. Recommended to everyone!!!!

Bride of The Far Side, the fourth in the Far Side series, is a must have for any true fan of The Far Side. Packed with 200 cartoons, this book is hilarious. I have read this book dozens of times over the years and it seems to grow funnier each and every time. All of the classic, warped animals and insects and bizarre human characters are contained in this collection. If you do not have this one in your Far Side collection yet then add it to your shopping cart right away. You will not be disappointed. It is truly a gem of a book.

The daily Far Side cartoon, a staple item for legions of Gary Larson fans, is no longer published in the morning newspaper but continues to have one more incarnation as the final published volume of these eccentric, off-beat depictions of Larson's unusual perspectives. Last Chapter And Worse features more than 140 cartoons which have never been published in book form before. Only in The Far Side world can fans experience Aunt Vivian's Prison for Ne'er Do Wells or discover the ultimate boon to evading customs inspectors: Marv the kangaroo's secret pouch. Where else have two astronauts discovered that is is only a paper moon? Or that Noah played poker with some of the dumb animals (until God told him to knock it off)? Last Chapter And Worse is a badly needed fix for all Far Side fans suffering withdrawal symptoms since their favorite cartoon addiction can no longer be sampled daily in their local paper.