Fans of the 1984 film and book The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension will be thrilled to learn that, finally, the chronicles of the world-famous Buckaroo Banzai, MD, GBE (adventurer, scientist, rock star, race car driver, and neurosurgeon) are being continued. As promised at the end of the film, the title of the next adventure is Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League: A Compendium of Evils. The author, as with the first book, is Earl Mac Rauch, but the cover says it was written by The Reno Kid with the assistance of E. M. Rauch, who claims to be a Professor of Oratory at the Banzai Institute.

Pretending that the book was actually written by one of its characters is only the first layer of fun. It is also assumed that the reader lives in the world that our hero Buckaroo (and his band, The Hong Kong Cavaliers) recently saved from the Lectroids from the 8th dimension. The book claims to be a very serious attempt to document various misunderstood historical events surrounding its mysterious and highly accomplished protagonist.

Sadly, this includes a Preface, written in hilariously unreadable faux academic-ese, and an ongoing attempt to explain or revise history citing a variety of (non-existent, I hope) academic sources. The well-informed reader will see through the supposed scientific objectivity, but it makes very dense reading. I must confess that I have not yet finished the book. Readers unfamiliar with the Buckaroo Banzai legend will likely be completely lost.

This is a great Christmas present for those who are already fans. Others are advised to watch the film and become fans as soon as possible.

Buckaroo Banzai, etc, hardcover, $29.99