Book summary

The pieces collected here, which initially ran in Hiaasen's popular Miami Herald column between 1985 and 2000, observe the more unusual goings-on in and around Miami, where the tense political atmosphere, culture clashes, and tourism industry provide Hiaasen with plenty of material on which to focus his dark wit. As a novelist, Hiaasen is able to bring his power of observation and love for the uncanny to bear on current events.

Media reviews

"Illuminated by all the wit and keen descriptive powers of his fiction, these columns...not only demonstrate the depth and diversity of Hiaasen's talents as a journalist but also establish him, in the words of the book's editor, Diane Stevenson, as 'an advocate for realistic growth and decent government in Florida.' Taken together with his novels, they create a colorful profile of place and a one-of-a-kind literary achievement."