Gary Larson created eight original color cartoons exclusively for this collection--including portrayals of Wiener Dog Art in the style of the great masters. The book also exhibits more than 100 "Far Side" cartoons for the first time in book form, displaying in breadth of humor that "Far Side" fans have come to expect.

Gary Larsen was born with a talent. Yes, drawing is his talent, but coupled with that is his inherent ability to entertain, to amuse, to delight. In short, Gary Larsen is an entertaining artist. Look no further than "Weiner Dog Art."

The first 48 pages contain Larsen's standard (quirky and bizarre by others) cartoon art. For example, the boss is shaking hands with a client and says, "OK, Johnson--we've got a deal. We'll let your people and my people work out the details." Standing around each man is a little circle of little people with their little briefcases, just waiting for an assignment. (I wish this were possible.)

However, the focus of this book is the Wiener Dog Art located in the middle of the book (centerfolds)? The first is "Cave Art" and features the Wooly Dachshund on the wall of a cave in Southern France. "The B_____ of Paradise" is created after the Rubens School and features four mighty hefty Dachshunds lolling in the fresh air.

A favorite is "Wiener Dog with Head Turned" by Pablo Picasso(?). The artist has disassembled the parts of the dog's head and reassembled them to present the look he seeks. Another favorite is "The Persistence of Wiener Dogs" by Salvador Dali(?), although the painting is signed Labrador Dali. You will recognize the painting by its draping dogs over bare tree limbs.

A final example is "The Whine" by Edvard Munch(?). You know the painting: a dachshund stands on a bridge with his paws to his head, screaming. Colors swirl around him. All sorts of meanings are attached to this painting.

The rest of the book contains more delightful Larsen cartoons as humor. This book is filled with humor, laughs, and hours of entertainment. Highly recommended.

This is an adorable book, however, it is lacking in the quantity of dachshunds. The few that are included are fantastic, high quality and the "other" drawings are good, too....But I wanted a wiener book!

I love the Far Side...and this has many of my favorites!

5 stars all the way

This is the best Far Side Book ever, IMO. It's a must for any fans of the weiner dog, and for those looking for a good laugh in general. Plus, it's got my seven-year-old interested in reading. He wants to know what's going on in the cartoons, so he has to read the captions (but sometimes the humor is lost on him!). Classic Larson, and lots of fun.

Imagine, if you will, a book containing a selection of Far Side illustrations. Further imagine that the center portion of this book contains eight full color images of wiener dogs as various artists, such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, could have imagined them. If you can imagine a book such as this, you will have entered the wiener dog zone.

Gary Larson has always been one of the most imaginative cartoonists of any era. This collection contains more than 180 Gary Larson illustrations that, as with all Gary Larson collections, run from subtle puns to bizarre perspectives. How about Wharf Cows scampering the ropes that tie ships to docks? Or perhaps a scene from Giraffes IV, where they are out for more than acacia leaves?

If there is a drawback to this collection, it is that the two volume set "The Complete Far Side 1080 - 1994" is a more cost effective way to buy all of Gary Larson's cartoons. Unfortunately for me, I already have six or eight or perhaps more Gary Larson collections already. Maybe I'll just keep on buying them. I know I keep reading them. Enjoy!