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Are We There Yet? The Simpsons Guide To Springfield (Amazon.com)

Are We There Yet? The Simpsons Guide To Springfield (Amazon.co.uk)

Are We There Yet? The Simpsons Guide To Springfield (Powell's Books - new or secondhand)

Matt Groening (creator)

Are We There Yet? The Simpsons Guide To Springfield

This is a 128-page full colour "travel guide" through the fictional city where the Simpsons cartoon is set. The appearance of Matt Groening's name on the front cover is shameless self-promotion: this book was actually written by someone called Scott M. Gimple. It's more-or-less a celebration of the innovative humour of the Simpsons design department, who have created the environment known as Springfield.

So, take a look at all the historical sights (e.g. the lemon tree); the attractions (the historic cider mill; truckasaurus; the Duff brewery); the inns (the SLEep-eAZY motel); the bars (Moe's, the She She Lounge); the restaurants (Planet Hype, Luigi's); the shops (Tacomat - 100 tacos for $100!); and festivals (the Chili Cook-off, StaceyCon) that have appeared in the TV series.

The shopping section is particularly extensive: Suicide Notes (formerly Good Vibrations); the Leftorium; Stoner's Pot Palace; It Blows (the air conditioner store); Herman's Military Antiques; the Kwik-E-Mart; Plunderer Pete's; the Android's Dungeon etc. etc.

If you have a good memory for Simpsons trivia, you won't find this book as funny as someone who doesn't - but there are a few new jokes. For example, Blather readers will enjoy the sight of a Malibu Stacy (the Simpsons version of Sindy or Barbie) in the form of the *Crackpot Stacy*, who wears a pyramid-with-an- eye on her head and holds a sign that says "Ask me about the Trilateral Commission".

There are also pieces "written by" Bart Simpson, Hollis Hurlbut, Rev. Lovejoy, Kirk Van Houten and Dr Hibbert.

- Barry Kavanagh

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