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 · 10,575 ratings  · 102 reviews

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Dec 07, 2015 Ron rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Anyone in need of a laugh

The Far Side by Gary Larson was one of the two comic strips I've loved most (the other being Calvin & Hobbes). In my opinion, Larson was a twisted genius. I had cut his one-panel comics out of the newspaper on a regular basis. They were taped and tacked to my bulletin board, walls, refrigerator, etc. Then I could look my favorites for a chuckle – 100 times I could look at the same comic and still laugh.

I was really bummed when Larson announced retiring The Far Side in 1995. But to his credit, he

The Far Side by Gary Larson was one of the two comic strips I've loved most (the other being Calvin & Hobbes). In my opinion, Larson was a twisted genius. I had cut his one-panel comics out of the newspaper on a regular basis. They were taped and tacked to my bulletin board, walls, refrigerator, etc. Then I could look my favorites for a chuckle – 100 times I could look at the same comic and still laugh.

I was really bummed when Larson announced retiring The Far Side in 1995. But to his credit, he thought the series was getting repetitive and did not want to enter what he called the "Graveyard of Mediocre Cartoons."

The Far Side Gallery 4 is one of many book collections showcasing his cartoons. It includes 150+ pages of monsters, mad scientists, four-eyed kids, goofy wildlife and a foreword by Robin Williams. I found it at a local thrift shop, and snapped it up. Overall, I give The Far Side 5-stars, but this book does not typify Larson's incredible humor. It did transport me back in time. And, there were a few favs in there.

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There are a number of clever yet simple (as in pen and ink) cartoonists out there today who I think can capture on one small box the simplicity of life, its absurdity and pass a humours twist on it, without being vulgar, demeaning or repetitive. The far side (along with in my view Dilburt and Calvin and Hobbs) is one of the masters of this and as such is a joy to read. The book has a lot to get through over 160 pages with on average 4 images a page, this is a book you cannot wade through but to There are a number of clever yet simple (as in pen and ink) cartoonists out there today who I think can capture on one small box the simplicity of life, its absurdity and pass a humours twist on it, without being vulgar, demeaning or repetitive. The far side (along with in my view Dilburt and Calvin and Hobbs) is one of the masters of this and as such is a joy to read. The book has a lot to get through over 160 pages with on average 4 images a page, this is a book you cannot wade through but to dip in to when time allows.
I know this is not my usual fair however sometimes a change is good and since I have been trying to rearrange my library I stumbled across it and though why not give it a go. ...more

What, no Scientists?
29 December 2018 – Adelaide

I probably should open this review with a Far Side cartoon, as is probably appropriate in the circumstances, though as it turns out Gary Larson really doesn't like his cartoons appearing on the internet, so instead of posting it on Goodreads, I'll just provide a link.

It is pretty clear that in the world of the Far Side, God is God, or at least the lovely old man that we all picture him to be, and hell is hell, with cold coffee and demons and devi

What, no Scientists?
29 December 2018 – Adelaide

I probably should open this review with a Far Side cartoon, as is probably appropriate in the circumstances, though as it turns out Gary Larson really doesn't like his cartoons appearing on the internet, so instead of posting it on Goodreads, I'll just provide a link.

It is pretty clear that in the world of the Far Side, God is God, or at least the lovely old man that we all picture him to be, and hell is hell, with cold coffee and demons and devils making fun of us and getting us to do silly things. In fact, Gary Larson's hell is a particularly unpleasant place, well at least for the humans that end up there, and it certainly isn't portrayed as the type of place that sounds to be much more fun that heaven, even though Gary Larson's heaven, once again, is the heaven that we probably all picture heaven to be, you know clouds and all that.

It was a bit of a shame that there were no scientist jokes in this particular volume, but that probably has something to do with the collections that were included. Still, the scientist jokes were actually particularly amusing, namely because we picture scientists as being very serious people, working on very serious projects, yet Larson pictures them as, well, just normal people like everybody else, who laugh, joke, and play tricks on each other (though of course some of these tricks are probably the type of tricks that might actually find yourself on the wrong side of the unemployment queue, or in the middle of a smoking crater).

Yet his animals are particularly impressive, especially since, like the scientists, he pulls aside the curtains to show us a world that we rarely see – in a way animals are simply living their lives just like us, getting jealous over who they are seeing, wandering into the wrong bar, throwing cocktail parties, and even sitting in the lounge reading the newspapers. Yet there are two things that stand out – each of them have their own little eccentricities, or the true reality of their world is being purposely hidden from us, namely because we, humans, really don't deserve to see this wonderful world. This is why, with the cows, there is always a lookout for a car, so that they can quickly end their cocktail party, and go back to appearing to chomp grass in the way that us humans have witnessed them doing throughout the ages.

Well, as I started with a cartoon, I probably should finish off with one as well (or at least a link to one).

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Sep 17, 2011 Philip rated it it was amazing

My trek to The Far Side and back is finished for now. I've read through all the galleries... I want to read the 10th anniversary edition. That looked pretty sweet.

I love... LOVE Gary Larson. Seriously, what's that guy doing these days? I bet he's accumulating mountains of Far Side water colors in his basement... one of a white whale yukking it up with Ahab and a giant squid. One of Pluto making some obscene gesture at the other "planets." And there definitely have to be cows and cavemen. Possibl

My trek to The Far Side and back is finished for now. I've read through all the galleries... I want to read the 10th anniversary edition. That looked pretty sweet.

I love... LOVE Gary Larson. Seriously, what's that guy doing these days? I bet he's accumulating mountains of Far Side water colors in his basement... one of a white whale yukking it up with Ahab and a giant squid. One of Pluto making some obscene gesture at the other "planets." And there definitely have to be cows and cavemen. Possibly cave-cows.

One of the benefits in reading every word in a book is that I come across stuff like this: "No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews." That was written in Galleries 1, 2, and 4... I'm not sure why it wasn't in 3, but it wasn't there... In my reviews of the previous 3 galleries, I described my favorite Far Sides. Alas, I just don't do them justice. A picture is worth a thousand words, or in Gary Larson's case - far more.

Time travel fascinates me, but I'd also be interested in observing how the views of time travel have changed with time. This is why Cowboys and Aliens could have been so successful. (From what I hear, it wasn't worth it... I still want to see for myself.)

Anyway, thank you Far Side. I'll be back sooner this time, I promise.

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Who knew cows could be so funny...and sneaky, not to mention, dogs, cats and so on. The Far Side is probably a never to be repeated comic that stands as one of the few unique examples of what cartoons can be. These may not be for everybody, but try them. If you haven't been introduced to these you'll thank me (or whoever introduced you). Who knew cows could be so funny...and sneaky, not to mention, dogs, cats and so on. The Far Side is probably a never to be repeated comic that stands as one of the few unique examples of what cartoons can be. These may not be for everybody, but try them. If you haven't been introduced to these you'll thank me (or whoever introduced you). ...more

Aug 01, 2012 Cole rated it it was amazing

Looking back on these years after Ive last taken a look at them, I find them that much more poignant and hilarious. Many of them were lost on me in my youth and now, knowing more, are even funnier than the first time around. Its always good to go back and take a look at things like this, even if only to remind yourself that life shouldnt be taken too seriously.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A bit inappropriate, but extremely funny. kind of like family guy ;)

Mar 27, 2020 Kayla rated it did not like it

A lot of these comics were a repeat from Wiener Dog Art, which I really didn't like. If I didn't like them the first time around, I liked them even less the second. A lot of these comics were a repeat from Wiener Dog Art, which I really didn't like. If I didn't like them the first time around, I liked them even less the second. ...more

This collection contains Larson's usual mix of brilliant gags, good gags, pedestrian gags, and gags that make me roll my eyes. Fortunately, there are more of the first two than the latter. This collection contains Larson's usual mix of brilliant gags, good gags, pedestrian gags, and gags that make me roll my eyes. Fortunately, there are more of the first two than the latter. ...more

Sep 24, 2016 Linda rated it really liked it

Ruth saw that I was reading a graphic novel, so she insisted on finding this book for me to read.

5 out of 10

I really enjoy the Far Side comics. It's always nice to see what creativity you can see in a one-panel comic. This collection wasn't as good as some of the other collections, but it still gave me a few laughs. This collection was definitely a little more inappropriate than I'd like it to be, and some of the material was quite boring. I enjoyed some of the other Far Side collections a lot more than this one. There is some decent material in the collection, but you have to comb through

5 out of 10

I really enjoy the Far Side comics. It's always nice to see what creativity you can see in a one-panel comic. This collection wasn't as good as some of the other collections, but it still gave me a few laughs. This collection was definitely a little more inappropriate than I'd like it to be, and some of the material was quite boring. I enjoyed some of the other Far Side collections a lot more than this one. There is some decent material in the collection, but you have to comb through some boring material to get to it.

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When I was 12 years old, I picked this book up at the W&M campus bookstore in Colonial Williamsburgs on a school trip. I remember reading it everyday for months after. I never realized until I was much older how much it actually steered me towards my love for comedy and the arts. I still have the book and enjoy reading it on a nice summer morning on my porch. Just something about the way Gary Larson creates his cartoons that is unlike anything else. Clever, funny and just all-around enjoyable.

Can't review. Won't review. I own every Larson book available. He was the king.

Sep 20, 2012 Luna123 rated it it was amazing

This book is hilarious!!! I've read it at least three times! This book is hilarious!!! I've read it at least three times! ...more

More hilarity, more fun, and many things surprisingly still relevant / more relevant than ever! Plus there are still some that I definitely didn't understand or fully appreciate until being older and learning more. Larson's work just hits on so many levels, and probably even more that only scientists, farmers, or those who just know more random facts will understand. I realized that when there was a joke I didn't laugh at, it was because I either knew it to well, or have seen it done somewhere e More hilarity, more fun, and many things surprisingly still relevant / more relevant than ever! Plus there are still some that I definitely didn't understand or fully appreciate until being older and learning more. Larson's work just hits on so many levels, and probably even more that only scientists, farmers, or those who just know more random facts will understand. I realized that when there was a joke I didn't laugh at, it was because I either knew it to well, or have seen it done somewhere else. Which is an even better testament to the cartoons, because I could also appreciate that it WAS funny before. Every frame is a classic, and the forward here from Robin Williams is something to treasure. ...more

Jun 26, 2021 Angel rated it really liked it

The fourth gallery collection of Larson's comic strip. This volume collects his books Wildlife Preserves, Wiener Dog Art, and Unnatural Selections. Robin Williams provides a short foreword for this one, and as he writes, Larson is "the best of a weird breed." Larson certainly proves that in this series. Two of my favorites in this volume are the primitive think tanks and the vaccination man, which I think may be just what we need to get more people vaccinated for COVID-19. Larson may have been a The fourth gallery collection of Larson's comic strip. This volume collects his books Wildlife Preserves, Wiener Dog Art, and Unnatural Selections. Robin Williams provides a short foreword for this one, and as he writes, Larson is "the best of a weird breed." Larson certainly proves that in this series. Two of my favorites in this volume are the primitive think tanks and the vaccination man, which I think may be just what we need to get more people vaccinated for COVID-19. Larson may have been a visionary with that. As always, the comics have that nice blend of the bizarre and humorous, and for me, they make for nice comfort reading. Another volume I really liked. ...more

Apr 18, 2019 Roger Smitter rated it it was amazing

As a fan of Gary Larson's success in connecting clever images with commentary, I knew I would give this collection of his work five stars. His ability to match diverse and clever images with clever language is extraordinary. His ability to create comedy from history, literature, biology, and other themes is remarkable. It takes only an hour to read the book and it is time well spent. As a fan of Gary Larson's success in connecting clever images with commentary, I knew I would give this collection of his work five stars. His ability to match diverse and clever images with clever language is extraordinary. His ability to create comedy from history, literature, biology, and other themes is remarkable. It takes only an hour to read the book and it is time well spent. ...more

Dec 12, 2019 Ben rated it really liked it

More Far Side goodness. This time with a very interesting (and in retrospect sad) forward by Robin Williams. (Sad because he discusses how he looks forward to a world envisioned by Gary Larson. This collection came out in 1993.)

There was several classics in this one, and this is the first paperback collection to use some of his colored cartoons.

Nov 19, 2016 spike marlin rated it it was amazing

I haven't read this book in years. But every time I do it cracks me up. One of the best cartoons ever published. I haven't read this book in years. But every time I do it cracks me up. One of the best cartoons ever published. ...more

Some of them were good, but I didn't find a lot of them to be very funny, possibly because of references I don't get, or current events at the time. Some of them were good, but I didn't find a lot of them to be very funny, possibly because of references I don't get, or current events at the time. ...more

Feb 22, 2018 Kathleen rated it really liked it

Weird, hilarious, occasionally veer into dude not funny but mostly just an extremely funny sideways look at life.

Never fails to tickle my humerus. I go back again and again.

Jul 10, 2018 Ronald rated it it was amazing

Foreword by Robin Williams, some of the cartoons/comics are in color.

Oct 08, 2019 Lila rated it it was amazing

It's very funny and I can read it again and again. It's also very silly but still amazing.

Dec 25, 2019 Ethan West rated it it was amazing

The Far Side. What to say? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. There are no words for how funny these cartoons are.

Dec 30, 2019 KennyO rated it it was amazing

I love Larson's work but I am reluctant to want him as a neighbor. I'd probably be apprehensive walking out the door at any time of day.

Gary Larson was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. His parents were Vern, a car salesman, and Doris, a secretary. He attended Curtis High School before attending Washington State University and graduated in 1972 with a degree in communications. In 1987, Larson married Toni Carmichael, an archaeologist.

Larson credits his older brother Dan for his "paranoid" sense of humor. Dan would pull countl

Gary Larson was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. His parents were Vern, a car salesman, and Doris, a secretary. He attended Curtis High School before attending Washington State University and graduated in 1972 with a degree in communications. In 1987, Larson married Toni Carmichael, an archaeologist.

Larson credits his older brother Dan for his "paranoid" sense of humor. Dan would pull countless pranks on Gary, taking advantage of his phobia of monsters under the bed by, for example, waiting in the closet for the right moment to pounce out at Gary. Dan is also credited with giving Gary his love of science. They caught animals in Puget Sound and placed them in terrariums in the basement; even making a small desert ecosystem, which their parents apparently did not mind. His adept use of snakes in his cartoons stems from his long-standing interest in herpetology.
Since retiring from the Far Side, Larson has occasionally done some cartooning work, such as magazine illustrations and promotional artwork for Far Side merchandise.

In 1998, Larson published his first post-Far Side book, There's a Hair in My Dirt!: A Worm's Story, an illustrated story with the unmistakable Far Side mindset.

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