Mud and Glass

Early praise for Mud and Glass Mud and Glass is a glorious screwball comedy that propels readers headlong through college classrooms, mysterious underground passages, and the halls of a retirement home with insouciant abandon. Along the way we meet a charming cast of heroes and rogues all chasing after a lost manuscript, which may either be a McGuffin or the font of all knowledge. A motley cast of wacky academics, rogue librarians, ninja students, insubordinate security guards and clueless bureaucrats is presided over by the winsome geographer Celeste, a protagonist who puts the luck in pluck. Join her for romance and intrigue, purloined theses and homemade cookies in Laura E. Goodin’s hilarious new novel. – James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards Mud and Glass is a glorious comedic romp, scything through the sententiousness of the academic world while showcasing modesty, courage and cleverness as virtues. Storytelling rules aren’t so much ignored as imprisoned, beaten up and twisted into outrageous new shapes. Our hero finds love in the arms of a lecturer in the Dramatic Arts—of course she does—but, more importantly, learns to love herself. And through it all Goodin captures perfectly, and with affection, the absurdity of academic life. I’ve not read comedy this clever since Jasper Fforde.” – Russell Kirkpatrick, author of the acclaimed science-fiction trilogies Fire of Heaven and Husk High jinks in the groves of academe! Concerning matters of tenure, footnotes and postgrad research, along with a secret underground society of librarians, a mysterious Codex in need of a key and an evil Board of Governors seeking total domination of (first) the university and (then) the universe. Shades of Tom Sharpe! A barrel-load of fun! – Richard Harland, award-winning author of Worldshaker and The Black Crusade Adventure, mystery and the quest for permanent tenure. The pace does not let up in this sharp and funny romp through the underfunded halls of research academia. – Shauna O’Meara, Winner, Writers of the Future Contest and Aurealis-shortlisted writer and artist