The Town Drunk, October 2007

The October 2007 offering from The Town Drunk, “In the Shadow of the Fryolator” by Lucy A. Snyder, poses the question: Is there anything worse than finding out your prince is an abrasive toad? Answer: Yes, he could be a slimy squid.

Emma Legrasse’s mother told dire tales about single women and their fate. Why else would Emma have settled for Benny, who cares more about his video games than he does about his girlfriend being stranded at work in a snowstorm? In the same twist of fate that keeps Emma at work long after her shift ends, she meets someone who puts it all into perspective. But being “the Queen of the heir apparent to the throne of Y’harneth, nestled in the briny depths of the Esoteric Trench” will involve some real compromises, the worst of which might still be better than having sex with Benny.

Snyder does a great job at making the speculative elements pop out of the realistic scenes. She infuses some classic stereotypes with new life, and clever wordplay jazzes up current events. It’s the kind of funny that makes you chuckle while you shake your head, wishing it weren’t so true.

“Well, mother raised us Republican…so I guess in theory I might be okay with subjugating the Earth…but I need to know that I’ll still have…stuff.”

A biting, sarcastic take off on a Prince Charming tale. Emma doesn’t exactly kiss Benny’s replacement, but she does get to drive off into the snowstorm in search of her dream guy.