This book has to be by far one of the funniest fantasy novels I've read. At the time, I was attending Renaissance faires and the movie had just come out. My favorite part in the book is where you need to write to the author for a chapter that fully explains an event in the book. Which I did. Months later I received a copy of the missing chapter. And thus imbedding the event into my pysche for the rest of eternity. What was the chapter about? I don't remember. Do I still have the chapter? Probably not.
You really wouldn't guess from watching the film that the story is 100% true, but it is. This book just astounded me with its insight into history and folklore. The unearthing of old tales, the struggle for publication. I laughed, I cried, I nearly wet myself, fantastic!
For the uneducated, this is about as good as writing can get. William Goldman struck a nerve with this book, and Rob Reiner and his gang of goofballs created about as good a movie as can be made. If you haven't read the book, and if (God forbid) you haven't seen the movie, please, PLEASE do both. They are both worth the time you put in, and will climb quickly to the top of your lists, both of favorite books and favorite movies. (and, in the movie, you will discover or rediscover Marc Knopfler as you never knew him.) And for all you writers out there, if you haven't read it, it is almost as good as Charlotte's Web. Almost.
You can get the "missing chapter", otherwise known as the first chapter of the sequel -- Buttercup's Baby -- by buying the newest edition of the book. Paperback, 20th Anniversary edition or whatever. There is also another book, also, "written by" S. Morgenstern (actually William Goldman) called The Silent Gondoliers. Cute tale. Not an epic by any means, but a nice short story type deal.
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And for all you writers out there, if you haven't read it, it is almost as good as Charlotte's Web. Almost.
Great movie - better book (but aren't they always?)
I feel cheated.
Seriously, though. TPB, I heart you.