LIBRARY POLICE!

September 4, 2018 9:49 PM

Bookhunter, Jason Shiga (previously) . Officer Bay tracks down heinous criminals and rare volumes for the Oakland Library, 1973.
posted by the man of twists and turns (9 comments total)

If you grew up going to the Oakland main, and you like clever and comics, I can tell you from experience this is one of the most pleasurable books you'll ever read.
posted by latkes at 9:54 PM on September 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

"Let me tell you something, funny boy... You know that little stamp? The one that says New York Public Library? Well, that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole helluva lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before -- flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... Why's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me.... Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world. What about that kid, sitting down, opening a book right now in a branch of the local library and finding pictures of pee-pees and wee-wees in The Cat in the Hat and The Five Chinese Brothers. Doesn't he deserve better? Look, if you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped. Or maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld... Maybe that's how you get your kicks... You and your goodtime buddies... I've got a flash for you, joy boy. Partytime is over."
posted by fairmettle at 9:56 PM on September 4, 2018 [7 favorites]

Oh man, this really is good. I was going to sleep, but I guess I'm finishing this first.
posted by colin.jaquiery at 4:23 AM on September 5, 2018

I will read and enjoy this mometarily but first I must inform you all that library police can be sung to the tune of raspberry beret
posted by poffin boffin at 4:51 AM on September 5, 2018

I ordered everything Shiga did off his website (or patreon? or something) last time he appeared on the blue.

Meanwhile the iOS app can run on an Apple TV too. That's kind of fun to hand the controller to someone and let them figure it out.
posted by DigDoug at 6:16 AM on September 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

That was THRILLING reading. I want to live in a world where library police of this caliber defend literature and justice with grit, determination, unlimited resources, and terrible posture. I gasped at the intensity and hilarity of the speeding bookmobile sequence. I will now go to sleep grinning.
posted by threecheesetrees at 8:04 AM on September 5, 2018 [2 favorites]

That was fsking amazing. thanks!
posted by kaibutsu at 11:23 PM on September 5, 2018

Excellent, many thanks for posting this!
posted by carter at 5:31 AM on September 6, 2018

I detested Shiga's Demon ... but this is amazing
posted by jpolchlopek at 6:35 AM on September 6, 2018