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The Dog That Laid Eggs
Something Strange is Happening in Bufkin County
Hitch saw his dog Salem’s golden frame collapsed and quivering on the ground, and he knew something was wrong. She’d been fine the day before, swimming in the creek just as careless as a dog swimming in a creek should be, but Salem was now moaning, fussing and generally acting as if a cat had just been elected governor.
Hitch knelt down in front of his dog and felt her fur, which was a little mangy. He also noticed how swollen Salem’s belly was. The ol' girl's giving birth! He thought. And her unborn offspring's roughly the size and shape of a gigantic egg!
What Will Happen When it Hatches?
If you think this is the end of the tale, then you don’t know Bufkin County. Come along with young Hitch, Constable Buford Bumford and Jethro as they discover that their dog Salem is going to launch something that will turn their lives upside down, and change the world in ways that no one could ever imagine.
Hitch saw his dog Salem’s golden frame collapsed and quivering on the ground, and he knew something was wrong. She’d been fine the day before, swimming in the creek just as careless as a dog swimming in a creek should be, but Salem was now moaning, fussing and generally acting as if a cat had just been elected governor.
Hitch knelt down in front of his dog and felt her fur, which was a little mangy. He also noticed how swollen Salem’s belly was. The ol' girl's giving birth! He thought. And her unborn offspring's roughly the size and shape of a gigantic egg!
What Will Happen When it Hatches?
If you think this is the end of the tale, then you don’t know Bufkin County. Come along with young Hitch, Constable Buford Bumford and Jethro as they discover that their dog Salem is going to launch something that will turn their lives upside down, and change the world in ways that no one could ever imagine.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2016
201 people are currently reading
1245 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Maas
31 books367 followersJon Maas was born in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating from Stanford University with degrees in Biology and History, he's earned a living as a Musician, Peace Corps Volunteer, Standup Comedian, TV Producer and Web Designer.
He has published ten books, and has more on the way.
He has also directed the movie 'Spanners' starring Shawn Christian and Eric Roberts, and wrote its sequel book - 'Spanners: The Fountain of Youth.'
He writes on his bus commute to and from work, and has a soft spot in his heart for all types of Public Transportation.
He has published ten books, and has more on the way.
He has also directed the movie 'Spanners' starring Shawn Christian and Eric Roberts, and wrote its sequel book - 'Spanners: The Fountain of Youth.'
He writes on his bus commute to and from work, and has a soft spot in his heart for all types of Public Transportation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 12, 2017
This book is awesome. There is no simpler way to put it.
Maas masterfully weaves a modern folk-tale, with an abundance of charm and a story that draws the reader in right from the get-go. This is a unique book, highly imaginative, original, and filled with great characters and setting. It is a fantastical comedy, or comedic fantasy, with many layers to the story.
An intelligent story about good vs evil, littered liberally with many puns. I'd heartily suggest this book to anyone with a sense of humour, who enjoys a good read.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Maas masterfully weaves a modern folk-tale, with an abundance of charm and a story that draws the reader in right from the get-go. This is a unique book, highly imaginative, original, and filled with great characters and setting. It is a fantastical comedy, or comedic fantasy, with many layers to the story.
An intelligent story about good vs evil, littered liberally with many puns. I'd heartily suggest this book to anyone with a sense of humour, who enjoys a good read.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
December 12, 2017
A masterful modern folk-tale, with both charming humour and depth!
This book is awesome. There is no simpler way to put it.
Maas masterfully weaves a modern folk-tale, with an abundance of charm and a story that draws the reader in right from the get-go. This is a unique book, highly imaginative, original, and filled with great characters and setting. It is a fantastical comedy, or comedic fantasy, with many layers to the story.
An intelligent story about good vs evil, littered liberally with many puns. I'd heartily suggest this book to anyone with a sense of humour, who enjoys a good read.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
This book is awesome. There is no simpler way to put it.
Maas masterfully weaves a modern folk-tale, with an abundance of charm and a story that draws the reader in right from the get-go. This is a unique book, highly imaginative, original, and filled with great characters and setting. It is a fantastical comedy, or comedic fantasy, with many layers to the story.
An intelligent story about good vs evil, littered liberally with many puns. I'd heartily suggest this book to anyone with a sense of humour, who enjoys a good read.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
August 8, 2017
Honestly did not know what to expect when I started this book, but realized quickly that the author was writing in a similar mode to Terry Pratchett's Discworld. I have to say the author not only makes his take on the absurd and truly fantasical unique and very much his own but does it on a level on par with Prachett's. Reading this book was a total joy, with many chuckle, numerous outright laughs and and at least once when I laugh so hard I cried. But this book is not just about the humor, the author's character development is so good that characters like Jethro and Vera-Lee who could have been one-dimensional and used just for the laughs become people that you care about what happens to them and the other residents of Bufkin County. This book was so very affirming and though fantasy it has many relevant insights into our own world today and how we are humans choose to live in it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to the sequel.
June 13, 2016
Odd, very.
January 17, 2016
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Jonathan Maas is one of the most intriguing independent authors to emerge during the recent years, because he writes versatile stories that blend many elements and range from fantasy to science fiction. He has his own writing style and he has an ability to surprise his readers by using familiar themes and writing about them in an unexpected way. Because I enjoyed reading his previous works, I was eager to take a look at this novel.
The Dog That Laid Eggs was a positive surprise for me, because it turned out to be an entertaining and original modern fantasy novel with an emphasis on entertainment. It's a novel that is not to be taken seriously, because it's pure entertainment. It's much lighter entertainment than the author's other works and it offers good laughs to those who enjoy reading humorous and slightly twisted fantasy fiction.
The Dog That Laid Eggs boldly differs from other fantasy novels by being more humorous and inventive than them. It's a delightfully quirky and hilarious glimpse into a community that suddenly has to face an unexpected threat in the form of supernatural creatures and monsters.
If you're fed up with formulaic modern fantasy and urban fantasy, you will most likely enjoy reading The Dog That Laid Eggs, because it will surprise you. The author blends modern fantasy, urban fantasy, rural atmosphere, humorous storytelling, monsters and a few horror and science fiction elements in an entertaining and amusing way.
One of the best things about The Dog That Laid Eggs is that it feels fresh when compared to other fantasy novels. It's unlike any other modern fantasy novel I've read recently, because the author approaches fantasy elements from a new and humorous angle.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
- The events take place in Bufkin County.
- In the beginning, Hitch Tull sees his dog Salem give birth to a big egg. Soon Salem lays a gigantic egg and the residents of Bufkin County prepare themselves for its hatching. Nobody knows what will come out of the egg, but after a while people find out that the egg contains a cyclops.
- Soon the residents of Bufkin County realise that the birth of a cyclops was only just the beginning of their problems, because they have to deal with something much worse that will change everything...
This is the beginning of an amusing story that gradually grows into a fascinating battle between good and evil.
The characterisation is interesting, because the author has created a diverse cast of quirky characters that are fascinatingly strange in their own ways and have their own views about the happenings. The author gradually reveals new sides of some of the characters as they experience strange things and try to deal with the changes in their lives.
Here are a few words about the characters:
- Hitch Tull is a young boy whose dog, Salem, gives birth to eggs. Hitch misses his mother, but is sure that she will someday return to Bufkin County to do something important. He is unlike his relatives and is much smarter than his father.
- Jethro, Hitch's father, is a man who has a few problems with his wife, Vera-Lee. He is not a very smart man, but he gets by as well as he can.
- Vera-Lee is Jethro's wife. She leaves her family, because she is a bit fed up with her life and wants to follow her heart.
- Constable Bumford is a police officer who does his best to make sense of the happenings.
- Shiloh Brownhart is a salesman of questionable reputation. He has had a few problems with the law.
- Hitch's dog, Salem, is an important character, because her eggs start the chain of strange happenings in Bufkin County. She has an interesting bond with her offspring.
This novel has plenty of funny, ironic and sarcastic humour, because Jonathan Maas delivers humour throughout the story. For example, the conversation with Jethro and his wife at the beginning of the story is wonderfully humorous and contains a nod towards the TV show 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'. I'm sure that readers will also be delighted to read about what Dr. Pubblish O. Parrish has invented and how he acts around other people.
I enjoyed reading about what happened to Vera-Lee after she left her family. Her letters were funny and made me chuckle a lot, because the author had a good and sharp sense of humour. He wrote well about what Vera-Lee did and how her life changed, because she became interested in weight-lifting.
It's great that Jonathan Maas manages to demonstrate how eccentric scientists can be and what they may do when they're asked to solve problems. Dr. Parrish is quite an interesting character, because he seems to be more interested in collecting data than actually solving problems. He's interested in academical achievements and fame, but he is also capable of helping others.
The author writes humorously about life in the countryside and pays attention to simple-minded people and their lives. He wonderfully highlights the quirkiness and down-to-earth kind of way of life of the residents of Bufkin County.
One of the things that I like about this novel is that the author uses clever and funny names in an excellent way. Because I enjoy reading humorous and satirical stories in which names are twisted into clever forms, I immediately liked the author's way of using names and naming his characters. For example, the story features such characters as Reverend Darkcloak and the candy maker Hercule 'Tappetou' Dia-Bêtes.
The green-eyed man that people see in their dreams is an intriguing addition to the story, because it creates a mysterious and dream-like atmosphere. The green-eyed man offers advice and warns people of what is about to happen. He affects everyone who dreams of him.
It was fun to read about the blood-thirsty squirrels. They're a fascinating combination of pure evil and charming cuteness. It's nice that the author has blended scary and cute elements, because it works well and adds style to the story.
It was interesting for me to read about the different types of cyclops and how they procreated. The author has clearly spent a lot of time on creating his own vision of how cyclops are born and how they protect their young after their hatching, because his descriptions of the cyclops are intriguing. I'm sure that readers will enjoy reading about the cyclops and what kind of life cycles they have.
Reading about how people reacted to problems and difficult situations was also interesting, because they had different views about things. The author writes well about how the people deal with the cyclops and what takes place afterwards. Reading about how the resident of Bufkin County had to deal with the evil presence was fascinating for me, because the author wrote a bit differently about good and evil. There was an interesting link between the cyclops and the evil presence.
The chapter in which Jethro and Vera-Lee are on their second honeymoon is wonderfully humorous and weird. It was fun to read about how Jethro tried to make his marriage work and followed advice given by his therapist. I won't write any spoilers about the happenings, but I can mention that Jethro and Vera-Lee's visit to the snake farm was something extraordinary.
The cover image by Manthos Lappas is beautiful. It emphasises the strangeness of the beings and monsters that suddenly appear in Bufkin County. This novel also contains an interesting image featuring blood-thirsty squirrels created by the author himself (this image is called "The Flying Squirrels of Nosferatu").
Before I write the final words of this review, I'll mention that the ending suggests that a sequel will be forthcoming in the near future. This is nice, because it'll be fun to read what happens next.
I give this novel strong four stars (on the scale from one to five stars) for its entertainment values, because it's a fun read. I enjoyed it and can recommend it to readers who enjoy entertaining and humorous novels.
Jonathan Maas' The Dog That Laid Eggs is an entertaining fantasy novel, because the author combines different elements and entertains his readers with quirky scenes. If you want to read something totally different and want humorous entertainment from your fantasy fiction, you should take a look at this novel.
Good and intriguing entertainment!
Jonathan Maas is one of the most intriguing independent authors to emerge during the recent years, because he writes versatile stories that blend many elements and range from fantasy to science fiction. He has his own writing style and he has an ability to surprise his readers by using familiar themes and writing about them in an unexpected way. Because I enjoyed reading his previous works, I was eager to take a look at this novel.
The Dog That Laid Eggs was a positive surprise for me, because it turned out to be an entertaining and original modern fantasy novel with an emphasis on entertainment. It's a novel that is not to be taken seriously, because it's pure entertainment. It's much lighter entertainment than the author's other works and it offers good laughs to those who enjoy reading humorous and slightly twisted fantasy fiction.
The Dog That Laid Eggs boldly differs from other fantasy novels by being more humorous and inventive than them. It's a delightfully quirky and hilarious glimpse into a community that suddenly has to face an unexpected threat in the form of supernatural creatures and monsters.
If you're fed up with formulaic modern fantasy and urban fantasy, you will most likely enjoy reading The Dog That Laid Eggs, because it will surprise you. The author blends modern fantasy, urban fantasy, rural atmosphere, humorous storytelling, monsters and a few horror and science fiction elements in an entertaining and amusing way.
One of the best things about The Dog That Laid Eggs is that it feels fresh when compared to other fantasy novels. It's unlike any other modern fantasy novel I've read recently, because the author approaches fantasy elements from a new and humorous angle.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
- The events take place in Bufkin County.
- In the beginning, Hitch Tull sees his dog Salem give birth to a big egg. Soon Salem lays a gigantic egg and the residents of Bufkin County prepare themselves for its hatching. Nobody knows what will come out of the egg, but after a while people find out that the egg contains a cyclops.
- Soon the residents of Bufkin County realise that the birth of a cyclops was only just the beginning of their problems, because they have to deal with something much worse that will change everything...
This is the beginning of an amusing story that gradually grows into a fascinating battle between good and evil.
The characterisation is interesting, because the author has created a diverse cast of quirky characters that are fascinatingly strange in their own ways and have their own views about the happenings. The author gradually reveals new sides of some of the characters as they experience strange things and try to deal with the changes in their lives.
Here are a few words about the characters:
- Hitch Tull is a young boy whose dog, Salem, gives birth to eggs. Hitch misses his mother, but is sure that she will someday return to Bufkin County to do something important. He is unlike his relatives and is much smarter than his father.
- Jethro, Hitch's father, is a man who has a few problems with his wife, Vera-Lee. He is not a very smart man, but he gets by as well as he can.
- Vera-Lee is Jethro's wife. She leaves her family, because she is a bit fed up with her life and wants to follow her heart.
- Constable Bumford is a police officer who does his best to make sense of the happenings.
- Shiloh Brownhart is a salesman of questionable reputation. He has had a few problems with the law.
- Hitch's dog, Salem, is an important character, because her eggs start the chain of strange happenings in Bufkin County. She has an interesting bond with her offspring.
This novel has plenty of funny, ironic and sarcastic humour, because Jonathan Maas delivers humour throughout the story. For example, the conversation with Jethro and his wife at the beginning of the story is wonderfully humorous and contains a nod towards the TV show 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'. I'm sure that readers will also be delighted to read about what Dr. Pubblish O. Parrish has invented and how he acts around other people.
I enjoyed reading about what happened to Vera-Lee after she left her family. Her letters were funny and made me chuckle a lot, because the author had a good and sharp sense of humour. He wrote well about what Vera-Lee did and how her life changed, because she became interested in weight-lifting.
It's great that Jonathan Maas manages to demonstrate how eccentric scientists can be and what they may do when they're asked to solve problems. Dr. Parrish is quite an interesting character, because he seems to be more interested in collecting data than actually solving problems. He's interested in academical achievements and fame, but he is also capable of helping others.
The author writes humorously about life in the countryside and pays attention to simple-minded people and their lives. He wonderfully highlights the quirkiness and down-to-earth kind of way of life of the residents of Bufkin County.
One of the things that I like about this novel is that the author uses clever and funny names in an excellent way. Because I enjoy reading humorous and satirical stories in which names are twisted into clever forms, I immediately liked the author's way of using names and naming his characters. For example, the story features such characters as Reverend Darkcloak and the candy maker Hercule 'Tappetou' Dia-Bêtes.
The green-eyed man that people see in their dreams is an intriguing addition to the story, because it creates a mysterious and dream-like atmosphere. The green-eyed man offers advice and warns people of what is about to happen. He affects everyone who dreams of him.
It was fun to read about the blood-thirsty squirrels. They're a fascinating combination of pure evil and charming cuteness. It's nice that the author has blended scary and cute elements, because it works well and adds style to the story.
It was interesting for me to read about the different types of cyclops and how they procreated. The author has clearly spent a lot of time on creating his own vision of how cyclops are born and how they protect their young after their hatching, because his descriptions of the cyclops are intriguing. I'm sure that readers will enjoy reading about the cyclops and what kind of life cycles they have.
Reading about how people reacted to problems and difficult situations was also interesting, because they had different views about things. The author writes well about how the people deal with the cyclops and what takes place afterwards. Reading about how the resident of Bufkin County had to deal with the evil presence was fascinating for me, because the author wrote a bit differently about good and evil. There was an interesting link between the cyclops and the evil presence.
The chapter in which Jethro and Vera-Lee are on their second honeymoon is wonderfully humorous and weird. It was fun to read about how Jethro tried to make his marriage work and followed advice given by his therapist. I won't write any spoilers about the happenings, but I can mention that Jethro and Vera-Lee's visit to the snake farm was something extraordinary.
The cover image by Manthos Lappas is beautiful. It emphasises the strangeness of the beings and monsters that suddenly appear in Bufkin County. This novel also contains an interesting image featuring blood-thirsty squirrels created by the author himself (this image is called "The Flying Squirrels of Nosferatu").
Before I write the final words of this review, I'll mention that the ending suggests that a sequel will be forthcoming in the near future. This is nice, because it'll be fun to read what happens next.
I give this novel strong four stars (on the scale from one to five stars) for its entertainment values, because it's a fun read. I enjoyed it and can recommend it to readers who enjoy entertaining and humorous novels.
Jonathan Maas' The Dog That Laid Eggs is an entertaining fantasy novel, because the author combines different elements and entertains his readers with quirky scenes. If you want to read something totally different and want humorous entertainment from your fantasy fiction, you should take a look at this novel.
Good and intriguing entertainment!
July 15, 2016
I received this book free from Goodreads Giveaways. This book . . . man, this book was not good. There's some stuff in it that could've been good. There are parts of a good book in here. Constable Bumford, and the young Hitch, are reasonably good characters. There are some parts that are well-written and interesting.
But for the most part, the book sucks. There's an over-reliance on humour, and the humour just isn't funny. Almost all characters have pun names, for no real reason other than to have pun names. For example, Hitch's parents are Jethro Tull (you know like the band hahahaaa!) and Vera-Lee (because it sounds like "verily" which is a real word hahahahaa!). There's all sorts of names like that, and it's just stupid. There's a woman named Demi Gogg, who's there purely for Maas to talk about how stupid conservative pundits are. I'm about as liberal as it gets, and I still found that to be stupid. The book is just so full of such stupid, terrible attempts at humour, and it's just unbearable.
This book could have been OK if it had toned down the humour. But it kept trying to be funny, and every time it tried to be funny, it fell completely flat and just got annoying.
Don't bother with this book.
But for the most part, the book sucks. There's an over-reliance on humour, and the humour just isn't funny. Almost all characters have pun names, for no real reason other than to have pun names. For example, Hitch's parents are Jethro Tull (you know like the band hahahaaa!) and Vera-Lee (because it sounds like "verily" which is a real word hahahahaa!). There's all sorts of names like that, and it's just stupid. There's a woman named Demi Gogg, who's there purely for Maas to talk about how stupid conservative pundits are. I'm about as liberal as it gets, and I still found that to be stupid. The book is just so full of such stupid, terrible attempts at humour, and it's just unbearable.
This book could have been OK if it had toned down the humour. But it kept trying to be funny, and every time it tried to be funny, it fell completely flat and just got annoying.
Don't bother with this book.
February 29, 2016
The Dog That Lays Eggs
A fantastic story of unique happening in a small wilderness fourth town. With many tales to tell. That leads the reader to the battle between good and evil. Masterfully written. I enjoyed every word.
A fantastic story of unique happening in a small wilderness fourth town. With many tales to tell. That leads the reader to the battle between good and evil. Masterfully written. I enjoyed every word.
July 22, 2017
From the title, you can guess that this book is not going to be any ordinary book. It's weird, funny, downright silly in some places, and that's what I loved about it. Full of characters with groan-inducing names, puns, and strange situations, you definitely need the right sense of humour for this book! And yes, it did make me laugh out loud a few times. It also has its slightly more serious side, with a battle of good against evil, and a town under threat. A great book I'd highly recommend.
November 25, 2019
A very solid but different take on monsters and the conflict between goos vs. evil
Not your typical good-vs-evil tale in the telling; quirky, tongue-in-cheek, yet with great empathy and deep feeling.
The names in the story are surprisingly entertaining as well.
Bring on the next battle, Mr. Maas!
Not your typical good-vs-evil tale in the telling; quirky, tongue-in-cheek, yet with great empathy and deep feeling.
The names in the story are surprisingly entertaining as well.
Bring on the next battle, Mr. Maas!
October 29, 2017
I couldn't stop laughing through the whole book. I was describing it to my daughter and she thought I was going bonkers. The book was very entertaining and quite interesting, If you need some thing to get you out of a bad mood,you have to read it.
June 16, 2017
Was not a fan of this one. Just not my style.
June 25, 2017
The ad described Maas as being in the same category as Piers Anthony. Not even close. Anthony never treated his characters as so unbelievably stupid.! And, nor made fun of them for it.
August 9, 2016
Frank Zappa once said, “Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” I feel that this is definitely the case with Jonathan Maas's latest book. Over the last 4 or so years, Maas has managed to not only produce at least a book or two a year, but also capture the attention of the sci-fi / fantasy community with his heavy hitting masterpieces, like City of Gods: Hellenica, a story about the 4 Horsemen, Spanners: The Fountain of Youth A Mystery / Detective novel feature characters with insanely great abilities, and my all time favorite, Flare, a dystopian world ravaged by the sun. Honestly boys and girls, that last one haunts my dreams. But I digress.
The Dog that Laid Eggs is the most interesting project Maas has put out, thus far. Subtly blending comedy with end-of-the-world scenarios [a common and well executed theme of Maas] with nostalgic feels reminiscent of Douglass Adams and Anthony Miller while still managing to hold his own voice.
I knew instantly after 20 pages in, when I learned that all of this story would take place in lovely little tri-county zone comprising of Bufkin/ Monframboise/Ulton-Kerrtown, or more locally know as BuMFUK, that I was in for a hilarious ride. Jethro Tull [awesome name!], our otherwise ignorant protagonist is faced with a marital problem as his wife, Vera-Lee Tull is convinced she is going to die in 72 hours unless she undergoes liposuction, while their son, Hitch Tull is battling with understanding the concept of Time.
The local lawman, Constable Buford Bumford is, at this moment the only somewhat sane individual in the foreseeable tri-county area and all he wants to do is keep the citizenry of Bufkin county safe and accounted for, that is until Salem, the Tull family's dog begins giving birth to eggs that are seemingly getting larger by the day.
At this point, insert an wonderful assortment of monsters, ghouls, demons and witches and you have yourself one heck of a hillbilly hoe-down! All in all I am so very pleased with this [Book One of the "Every Monster Comes from Somewhere" series] novel and the progression at which Maas was able to take a step back and write something not only great, but fun as well. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and encourage readers of all ages to take a chance and deviate from the norm. Grab a copy of this and just be ready to laugh!
The Dog that Laid Eggs is the most interesting project Maas has put out, thus far. Subtly blending comedy with end-of-the-world scenarios [a common and well executed theme of Maas] with nostalgic feels reminiscent of Douglass Adams and Anthony Miller while still managing to hold his own voice.
I knew instantly after 20 pages in, when I learned that all of this story would take place in lovely little tri-county zone comprising of Bufkin/ Monframboise/Ulton-Kerrtown, or more locally know as BuMFUK, that I was in for a hilarious ride. Jethro Tull [awesome name!], our otherwise ignorant protagonist is faced with a marital problem as his wife, Vera-Lee Tull is convinced she is going to die in 72 hours unless she undergoes liposuction, while their son, Hitch Tull is battling with understanding the concept of Time.
The local lawman, Constable Buford Bumford is, at this moment the only somewhat sane individual in the foreseeable tri-county area and all he wants to do is keep the citizenry of Bufkin county safe and accounted for, that is until Salem, the Tull family's dog begins giving birth to eggs that are seemingly getting larger by the day.
At this point, insert an wonderful assortment of monsters, ghouls, demons and witches and you have yourself one heck of a hillbilly hoe-down! All in all I am so very pleased with this [Book One of the "Every Monster Comes from Somewhere" series] novel and the progression at which Maas was able to take a step back and write something not only great, but fun as well. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and encourage readers of all ages to take a chance and deviate from the norm. Grab a copy of this and just be ready to laugh!
June 7, 2016
5 stars
I love the humor, vocabulary and the mixed messages. I thought I was reading something light but I find myself going back and rereading parts... it's layered and interesting and presents itself almost like a fairy tale ...all my favorite things. I will definitely read this book again..... I enjoyed everything about this book except how it ended....I really don't like books that end without an ending.
I love the humor, vocabulary and the mixed messages. I thought I was reading something light but I find myself going back and rereading parts... it's layered and interesting and presents itself almost like a fairy tale ...all my favorite things. I will definitely read this book again..... I enjoyed everything about this book except how it ended....I really don't like books that end without an ending.
April 6, 2016
A humorous tale of a dog that laid an egg that became a cyclops pug and helped saved the county from Dracula and all the monsters. Yes. Yes I said that. For some reason I am reminded of Douglas Addams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Same sort of goofiness; same sense of humor. I liked the 4 books of the Trilogy way back in the day, so I liked this book.
September 8, 2016
Goodreads win
I recieved this book this morning and already I am halfway through the book. It is so good and original. Highly recommend it. Can't wait to finish it. I just couldn't wait to do a small little review.
I recieved this book this morning and already I am halfway through the book. It is so good and original. Highly recommend it. Can't wait to finish it. I just couldn't wait to do a small little review.
February 9, 2016
Another interesting look into man's light and dark world from Jonathan. This time with many a whimsical twist and turn to keep you entertained and guessing.
June 22, 2016
This is a fantasy written in the manner of Robert Aspirin. It was good but the puns weren't as successful as Robert Aspirin's.
October 29, 2016
This book was just plain weird. I put it down after a couple of chapters.
Read
May 20, 2016This is the stuff that dreams are made of. The stuff that scares kids at night. Interesting read.
October 2, 2018
I received a print copy of The Dog That Laid Eggs from author Jonathan Maas some time ago and was finally able to read it.
This book operates on so many levels it is hard to categorize. Most of the message is going to be interpreted by the reader based on their own beliefs. I see messages about social justice, sycophantic followers, self elected arbiters of morality, academic snobbery, xenophobia, marital relations and more. Fortunately for my reading tastes, these messages are well couched in the sometimes downright silly activities of the eclectic collection of eccentric (who knows, they might be rich) characters. Humor is the name of the game here. Anyone trying to keep discussion of The Dog That Laid Eggs on a serious tone will quickly become frustrated. The story is so full of puns, veiled nods to pop culture and downright bizarre action that the reader has to really pay attention so as not to miss any of the fun. The lazy zombies are a real kick.
I have read several of Mr. Maas' books and enjoyed them all. I can't say The Dog That Laid Eggs is my favorite, but it is still a book that made me laugh out loud often, and think occasionally. Pretty much the order I prefer.
My only complaint: with a character named Jethro Tull, I kept waiting for him to reveal an Aqualung hidden in his barn (people my age will get that).
The Dog That Laid Eggs by Jonathan Mass is seriously entertaining. If you possess a working sense of humor, I think you will like this book. Enjoy!
This book operates on so many levels it is hard to categorize. Most of the message is going to be interpreted by the reader based on their own beliefs. I see messages about social justice, sycophantic followers, self elected arbiters of morality, academic snobbery, xenophobia, marital relations and more. Fortunately for my reading tastes, these messages are well couched in the sometimes downright silly activities of the eclectic collection of eccentric (who knows, they might be rich) characters. Humor is the name of the game here. Anyone trying to keep discussion of The Dog That Laid Eggs on a serious tone will quickly become frustrated. The story is so full of puns, veiled nods to pop culture and downright bizarre action that the reader has to really pay attention so as not to miss any of the fun. The lazy zombies are a real kick.
I have read several of Mr. Maas' books and enjoyed them all. I can't say The Dog That Laid Eggs is my favorite, but it is still a book that made me laugh out loud often, and think occasionally. Pretty much the order I prefer.
My only complaint: with a character named Jethro Tull, I kept waiting for him to reveal an Aqualung hidden in his barn (people my age will get that).
The Dog That Laid Eggs by Jonathan Mass is seriously entertaining. If you possess a working sense of humor, I think you will like this book. Enjoy!
August 18, 2017
When I first read the synopsis of this book I thought it would be light-hearted and something that I could just relax and tickle my funny bone. Sadly, that is not what I received. I even looked through the other critiques and have determined that this is one of those books that either you love it or you hate it.
For me, it was strictly the humor that I did not enjoy. I have never been one to like parody movies for I feel like my intelligence is being insulted. The jokes are right in your face and I find nothing funny about them. This pretty much sums up the humor in this book. Now if you enjoy this type of humor you will most likely find yourself suddenly bursting out laughing.
The author does lay down a good story and good characters. Personally, I did have trouble getting around their names only because they would at times take me out of the story instead of keeping me within the weave of the land they created. However, I did enjoy the first part of the book but it did not take long before I found myself struggling through it mainly because of the puns with the names.
As I said this is one of those books that you will love or hate. I have been reading other books since I started this and finally decided I will not be returning to this story. I hope this helps in some ways. I do suggest getting a sample unless the book is offered for free or you can read it through Kindle Unlimited.
For me, it was strictly the humor that I did not enjoy. I have never been one to like parody movies for I feel like my intelligence is being insulted. The jokes are right in your face and I find nothing funny about them. This pretty much sums up the humor in this book. Now if you enjoy this type of humor you will most likely find yourself suddenly bursting out laughing.
The author does lay down a good story and good characters. Personally, I did have trouble getting around their names only because they would at times take me out of the story instead of keeping me within the weave of the land they created. However, I did enjoy the first part of the book but it did not take long before I found myself struggling through it mainly because of the puns with the names.
As I said this is one of those books that you will love or hate. I have been reading other books since I started this and finally decided I will not be returning to this story. I hope this helps in some ways. I do suggest getting a sample unless the book is offered for free or you can read it through Kindle Unlimited.
August 17, 2017
3.75 stars
Another imaginative book by Mr. Maas. Very imaginative.
There is so much going on in this creative work that I will not get into too much detail due to spoilers, and this book should be read to be appreciated. It's main premise is good verses evil, will lots of plot twists and exceptionally humorous names, such as Bufkin County, Dr. Quinn (sound familiar?), Constable Buford Bumford, Hercule "Tappetou" Dia-Betes (the county's candy maker), Dr. Publish O. Parrish, MD, MA Esq., MBA with a duel PhD in rare-mammology and crytpoforensics, Ms. Fussbucket the librarian, Gretel Gummalot, the eldest and loudest resident of Bufkin County, the Constable's horse named Bucephala, General P. T. "Rusty" Lipschitz, the county's Quattuordecennial Bi-Hemisfair, the county hospital named Our Lady of Perpetual Motion, the J. T. Dog-Egg's Cyclops-Kissed Snackers, Mr. Hanwash Owen-Lee, the Bells Pargo First Mercantile Savings and Loan Blood Bank, and many, many, many others.
This book is the first of a series, with "The Flying Squirrels of Nosferatu'" coming next.
This work was a joy to read and I breezed through the smooth plot and descriptive character evolution. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea (which plays a part in the plot), this reader found it a particularly wonderful romp of fantasy, humor and a mix of villainy and goodness.
Another imaginative book by Mr. Maas. Very imaginative.
There is so much going on in this creative work that I will not get into too much detail due to spoilers, and this book should be read to be appreciated. It's main premise is good verses evil, will lots of plot twists and exceptionally humorous names, such as Bufkin County, Dr. Quinn (sound familiar?), Constable Buford Bumford, Hercule "Tappetou" Dia-Betes (the county's candy maker), Dr. Publish O. Parrish, MD, MA Esq., MBA with a duel PhD in rare-mammology and crytpoforensics, Ms. Fussbucket the librarian, Gretel Gummalot, the eldest and loudest resident of Bufkin County, the Constable's horse named Bucephala, General P. T. "Rusty" Lipschitz, the county's Quattuordecennial Bi-Hemisfair, the county hospital named Our Lady of Perpetual Motion, the J. T. Dog-Egg's Cyclops-Kissed Snackers, Mr. Hanwash Owen-Lee, the Bells Pargo First Mercantile Savings and Loan Blood Bank, and many, many, many others.
This book is the first of a series, with "The Flying Squirrels of Nosferatu'" coming next.
This work was a joy to read and I breezed through the smooth plot and descriptive character evolution. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea (which plays a part in the plot), this reader found it a particularly wonderful romp of fantasy, humor and a mix of villainy and goodness.
May 31, 2018
"Every single cyclops stopped their destruction to look at her, and Hitch knew he would have one chance to convince them to leave Bufkin county alone, and if the surrounding giants weren't convinced, then no words from him, no bullets from Greyhunter, and no strategy from the National Guard would be able to save them." (139)
I would like to thank Jonathan Mass for providing me with a copy of this book!
If you are looking for a super serious book, this is not the book for you. It is filled with action and comedy, which made this book a pager-turner. However, I found this book a bit random at times, making it a little hard to follow.
This book was a medium read, as I read it in 3 days!
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves action and comedy!
I would like to thank Jonathan Mass for providing me with a copy of this book!
If you are looking for a super serious book, this is not the book for you. It is filled with action and comedy, which made this book a pager-turner. However, I found this book a bit random at times, making it a little hard to follow.
This book was a medium read, as I read it in 3 days!
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves action and comedy!
April 3, 2022
He has done it again.
Do you ever get the impression that there are no unique storylines left? If so, you don't know Jonathan Maas.
Jonathan Maas proves once again that he has the ability and imagination to craft something entirely new and entirely unexpected.
THE DOG THAT LAID EGGS is the story of a dog named Salem who collapses one day and gives birth to ... a giant egg.
What follows will keep you reading long into the night.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Do you ever get the impression that there are no unique storylines left? If so, you don't know Jonathan Maas.
Jonathan Maas proves once again that he has the ability and imagination to craft something entirely new and entirely unexpected.
THE DOG THAT LAID EGGS is the story of a dog named Salem who collapses one day and gives birth to ... a giant egg.
What follows will keep you reading long into the night.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
April 3, 2022
Do you ever get the impression that there are no unique storylines left? If so, you don't know Jonathan Maas.
Jonathan Maas proves once again that he has the ability and imagination to craft something entirely new and entirely unexpected.
THE DOG THAT LAID EGGS is the story of a dog named Salem who collapses one day and gives birth to ... a giant egg.
What follows will keep you reading long into the night.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Jonathan Maas proves once again that he has the ability and imagination to craft something entirely new and entirely unexpected.
THE DOG THAT LAID EGGS is the story of a dog named Salem who collapses one day and gives birth to ... a giant egg.
What follows will keep you reading long into the night.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
August 7, 2020
Weirdest, silliest story ever. Took me a while to get through it because it didn’t exactly call me when I was away from it but I did want to see how it ended. This author is a master at word play, which makes it interesting. I’d recommend it, if you’re looking for something totally different and kinda fun.
September 3, 2022
I was really excited about this book and thought it would be some exciting sci-fi story. It was not that. Instead, it is the story I imagine a 5th grader obsessed with puns and fairy tales who just took a fatal dose of acid would write. If that is your thing, you will love this book. It was not my thing.
July 20, 2017
very funny and ass backward logic and foolery. but in between the nonsense there was sense that made sense(pun intended). i just wish it ended with a solid finality. is there a sequel?or is the reader meant to ponder the existence of good and evil?
September 4, 2019
Tedious reading
This book was not my favorite. As much as I find reading enjoyable, I found this book tedious to read. The story line was convoluted and the characters were contrived. I did find a few chuckles in the character names.
This book was not my favorite. As much as I find reading enjoyable, I found this book tedious to read. The story line was convoluted and the characters were contrived. I did find a few chuckles in the character names.
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