When it comes to comedy, alter egos have long been a firm staple of the genre. Letting people explore taboo ideas they couldn’t otherwise espouse in real life (think Larry David) or just providing the space to be outright goofy, they offer the perfect comic template.
So, with that in mind, today we’re applying that concept to the world of books with five of the funniest novels written by totally fake people.
I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan – Alan Partridge aka Steve Coogan, with Armando Iannucci, and Rob and Neil Gibbons (2011)
View on Amazon.comAs a longtime Partridge fan, I’ll hold my hands up to my bias here. The real difficulty came in deciding which book of his to pick, as they’re all so good. But I’ll go with this one. Not only because it was his first, but because it so effectively deconstructs the celebrity autobiography.
Filled with anecdotes where, needless to say, he has the last laugh, it’s a brilliant reflection of Coogan’s iconic comic creation. But it’s far more than mere fan service; it’s also a pitch-perfect satire of the format in all its pomposity.
Don’t miss the audiobook either, where Coogan gives it his all (with plenty of extra asides to boot). It also laid the groundwork for his From the Oasthouse podcast.
The Timewaster Letters – Robin Cooper aka Robert Popper (2005)
View on Amazon.comWith connections to Steve Coogan (appearing in several Alan Partridge skits), Robert Popper is another stalwart of the British nineties/noughties comedy scene. And here he dedicates his impressive credentials to their highest purpose: wasting the time of, well, anyone and everyone. A list that targets department stores, royals, hotels, and fan clubs to name just a few.
Posing as Robin Cooper, a man of many professions and talents (from architect to wasp expert), he’s mastered the art of making a nuisance of himself. Sending the letters with patently absurd questions, here he relays their back-and-forth exchanges, with many of his recipients attempting to maintain an air of professionalism.
It’s pretty goofy (and outright juvenile in some places), so it won’t appeal to everyone. But it appealed to me because I like goofy and juvenile. So blah.
Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America – Leslie Knope aka Nate DiMeo, with Michael Schur (2011)
View on Amazon.comFollowing in the path of shows like The Office, Parks and Rec became an instant classic of the mockumentary style that defined the 2010s. It was the launching pad for a bunch of A-list stars (including Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman, and Chris Pratt, who went on to star in every animated film ever), and it gave us Amy Poehler’s indefatigable public servant, Leslie Knope.
And, while her politics may feel like a relic of a more (dare I say it) innocent time, her character remains the same: ambitious and persistent, despite everything being, well, the way it is. She’s a classic comedy character in one of the better sitcoms of the era (not the best, mind. That would be 30 Rock and I could do a whole separate list for Tina Fey).
That’s why this tie-in from the show’s writers works so well; its foundations are rock solid. Usually, books like this are simply cash grabs, but it retains Knope’s tone and outlook making it perfect for fans.
Delete This At Your Peril – Bob Servant aka Neil Forsyth (2007)
View on Amazon.comSimilar to The Timewaster Letters, this also involves nonsense interactions and wasting people’s time. Except here the targets are a little more deserving, as comedy writer Neil Forsyth adopts his Scottish online persona, Bob Servant, to take on internet spammers. From Nigerian princes to Russian brides, there isn’t a scam that Bob won’t respond to.
And he turns the tables on them.
Providing schemes of his own, he strings them all along, taking the scammers for a ride with endless absurdist back-and-forths. I honestly believe many of the YouTube spammer payback channels wouldn’t be what they are today without this. Sure, catching criminals is useful, but why can’t it also be fun? And this is definitely that, so much so that the likes of Irvine Welsh and Private Eye claimed it as one of the funniest books out there. Not only that, it spawned an entire series.
The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature – Neal Pollack aka [the real] Neal Pollack (2002)
View on Amazon.comThis last choice may be borderline in terms of ‘fictional personality,’ as it’s Pollack presenting a version of himself. But, again like with Larry David, it’s a version that’s heightened for comic effect. Because nobody could be this insufferable in the real world. Could they?
Here Neal Pollack seeks to answer some of the great questions of our time, in what is essentially a piece of metafiction. Starting out as a series of live performances in the nineties, he satirizes the literary establishment in all its pomposity. Mimicking sixties gonzo journalism, Pollack perfectly captures the self-indulgence of many writers. Comparing himself to the greats, including the likes of Steinbeck et al., he’s convinced himself to the point of being delusional. And that’s what makes it so funny for us as mere observers of his sheer genius.
If you want to be a writer, this is a perfect encapsulation of what not to become.
Anybody we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A lifelong lover of quality storytelling, Sam grew up in rural England with little else but reading (okay, and some gaming). Starting with Charlotte's Web, he developed a passion for ghost stories and comedy. With his background in narrative and scriptwriting, he writes for Book Notification, providing recommendations both good and not so terrible.