The Fantastic Homonculus

mgrasso mentioned Ricky Jay's new book about dice the other day and so I thought I'd write something about Jay's last book, Jay's Journal of Anomalies. Alas, it was snatched from me by Widener's recall service—stupid other patrons, making me return "my" books after only a few months!—so until I can get it back I will make do with these evocative if nonlinear excerpts:

Ingesters of stones, stoats, and swords have long compelled my attention. Signor Hervio Nano, the fantastic homunculus, defied conventional taxonomy. The well-trained flea has shown sufficient rationality to drive a chariot, impersonate Napoleon, or reenact the siege of Antwerp. Note the enduring popularity of severing from the head its most protuberant organ -- the nose. The Bonassus, advertised as unique, was in 1821 the most numerous hoofed quadruped on the face of the earth. In an era rich in examples of animal scholarship, Munito was a star.

And yes, I did have an idea for turning it all into an RPG.