The Hippopotamologist

A collection of 21 humorous short stories, told in rhyme. Suitable for adults and well-read teenagers. These stories are all about the funny side of being human. They deal with quirky events that happen to imaginary people, and the way people respond to them. The take is imaginative, sometimes slightly philosophical, and full of action, twists and surprises. Don't expect any of them to deal with crime, evil, politics or contentious issues, because they don't. The author clearly feels there is enough magic in being human for us to entertain ourselves, without resorting to other-worldliness. Some of the stories might make you look inside yourself for a brief moment, without being moralising or heavy. Some will just make you laugh. The title story is about an academic who goes to Africa to see for himself how hippos behave, and has an action-packed immersion in reality. The Slang Police examines what would happen if the use of loose or ungrammatical language were to be banned. Foozlefoz is a character totally unimpressed with being human, and who tries desperately to be accepted by groups of animals, as one of their own kind. Mr Kabbobolis has an excruciatingly difficult time trying to find a suitable wife. Jimmy Jongo gives his all in his efforts to be accepted into a percussion band. Some of the other story titles are: 'The Naming of Nonkatrink Ninx', 'The Giant Guitar', 'The Forgery', 'Mosquito, Bandito', and 'Caveman 421'. If you like excursions into your imagination, try these stories.