Features

The book is based on Land’s Web site of the same name, spamletters.com, which I discovered a few years ago and submitted a letter. The spam letter in question is about hydrogen peroxide and it’s included in the book (p. 112). The original letter is presented along with Land’s creative and hilarious reply to the spammer.

He takes on the role of lawyer, doctor, pastor, casting director, and woman (Joan). Pastor Land is the proud pastor of Church of Our Mistress of the Perpetual Blonde where he spent the ’80s importing hydrogen peroxide he baptizes his brethren through the blonding process. If anyone knows how he can get 500 gallons of the stuff, contact Pastor Land.

That’s what Land has been doing, replying to spammers, and in some cases, the spammers have written back and those are included in the book. He produces works of fiction (don’t tell anyone) and for once, spam is fun instead of an aggravation.

If the book is based on the Web site, why should we read the book? Here are the reasons:

1. There are many letters; it’s difficult to read more than a few online.
2. It’s great reading material away from the computer and the Internet.
3. Laptops don’t handle beach sand, ocean water, or other exotic locales very well.
4. After a lousy day at work, who wants to get on the computer at home? Get a good laugh with the book instead.
5. The book organizes the letters by topic and you can see which ones have replies from the spammers.
6. A book doesn’t make your legs go numb like a laptop on your lap while in the bathroom.
7. No downloading time involved!

You can try before you buy by going to the Web site and reading the letters. Also, check the table of contents to find out what letters are included in the book. Bet you’ve received over half of them. Take out your spam frustrations by reading Land’s retorts. Those who like reading humor books will enjoy this one, it’s one-of-a-kind.

Oh, if you’re one of the few people who buys books at those stores with bricks around them — you can’t miss this one. It’s bright pink. Odd, eh? At least, it will be harder to lose the book since it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Title: The Spam Letters
Author: Jonathan Land
Publisher: No Starch Press
ISBN: 1593270321
Date: June 2004
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Price: USD$14.95 CDN: 19.95 UK: 11.99