First off, full disclosure: Adam P. Knave is one of my best friends. We collaborate on a great many projects, co-writing or editing each other’s work on many occasion. Wauh heck, we even once took a sous-chef class together. (One of those things is not true.) Still, as Adam knows, I am one to keep it real, so this here review will be as unbiased as anything I’ve ever written.

This collection of essays and short stories I am about to review, PG-13ingly entitled I SLEPT WITH YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND, was written by Adam P. Knave and published by Creative Guy Publishing. As not only a fan of Adam’s writing but also a friend (a real one with whom he hasn’t slept), I purchased this book and commenced the reading. Having finished it, I am now glad I learned to read. Finally.

This attractively slim tome, containing quick, ADD-appropriate entries of everything from stories about mad scientists to essays exploring comic book wackiness and Pop Tarts, is, first and foremost, just a fun darn read. One surprising surprise for me was that, despite having already read some of these on the interwebnets (I often visit his site and was also an editor for a site where some of these bits of word amusement first appeared), I found myself chuckling quite a bit, especially considering I read most of this particular collection completely sober. Part of this might be the joy of words on dead trees that, despite my love of the internet, a computer screen just cannot replicate.

Twenty-six tales in 108 pages. That’s some jam packed jam packedness, people.

Standouts include “Hooray For Luke Cage,” which I had indeed read on the interwebs before, but it definitely contained extreme re-readiblilty. Adam explores the lengths Marvel’s Hero For Hire will go to for $200. Like all the entries about comics (others featuring the debuts of Dazzler and The Legion of Super-Heroes), it takes an amused and jokey look at these stories, but the affection Adam has for the comics about which he’s writing is clear. It actually makes me want to read a comic about Dazzler singing to a crowd of superheroes overdressed for the disco, which is no small feat.

There are a couple multi-part stories featuring the reckless science of Professor Ezekiel Alphonse Horatio McFlurryphontos, the results of which are always catastrophic yet thoughtful, and diary entries by an emo teen — oh, who is also happens to be a ninja.

Two standouts, for me anyway, include the first story, “Why I Don’t Date.” Now, normally I’d encourage a single guy with lots to offer like Adam to get out there and meet some ladies, but after reading this? I understand why he might sometimes avoid such things. I also laughed situations in a way that cause me shame due to my repressed nature. Another tale, “Handbasket,” has a slightly darker tone that’s very compelling — I don’t want to give anything away on that one.

Variety. That’s what Adam P. Knave whips up in I SLEPT WITH YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND. A variety of different words put together in different arrangements about different subjects that all form to make twenty-six fun word groupings.

Here’s the deal: 10 bucks for a minimum of 1,000 laughs. That’s a penny a laugh. A penny! We all need some laughs now and again, and in these difficult economic times, a penny is one heck of a deal. That’s the deal.

My Baltimore Comic Con 2009 Adventure began before I even arrived in that city on the harbor — way before. In preparation to schedule everything with the Lone Ranger to my Tonto, Adam P. Knave, I sent him my flight itinerary. He responded with, “Why are you flying into Dulles?”

“Because… William Shatner told me to?”

“That’s in D.C. — an hour from the convention.”

“Craptastic.” (Drink!)

Muh-effin’ Priceline! And, well, muh-effin’ me for just buying a ticket based upon price but not double-checking the cities, though, to be fair, I requested LA to Baltimore — I figured the Shat would get it! (Yes, I imagine William Shatner manning all requests at Priceline headquarters.)

So, the battle to figure out how to get to the convention after landing in D.C. began. I was getting in at midnight, and the Amtrak didn’t run again until 3:15 AM, so I’d have to hang out at the train station for around three hours, which I immediately began trying to convince myself would be a worthwhile experience because: taxis were too expensive; it’d cost twice my initial ticket price to change the flight at that point; and the last time I hitchhiked, I lost a kidney (and my dignity… but not my hope — that would go later). So, yeah, I decided to go with Amtrak. That meant I’d arrive in Baltimore around 4:30 AM. Then have to get to the hotel from Penn Station. Excitement!

Indeed, the seeds were planted for fretting, but I just pressed on. Then almost missed my flight out of LAX due to bad traffic and more of my poor planning. Yikes! Anyway, I did make it (just), and the flight there was swell, save for the gut rot given to me by the $25 turkey cold cut sandwich I bought due to extreme hunger. How does that happen? It was turkey and lettuce! Curious.

Anyway, after arriving at Dulles, it became clear getting to Union station for the Amtrak was going to be an ordeal… so I lazied up and went to the Super Shuttle. They weren’t sure if they’d have a shuttle running, but heaven smiled upon me, and they graciously decided to take my 90 bucks to drive me to my hotel in Baltimore… after dropping off eight other people all over Maryland. It was like that episode of Arrested Development — you know, when Tobias met his future acting coach, Carl Weathers, on the Super Shuttle? Everyone on that shuttle bonded, though. The soldier on leave from Iraq, the Texan mom and son in town for the gay pride parade, the NASA scientist, the Baltimore historian — the whole gang. This bonding was mostly from fear of the driver’s texting and GPS address entering while driving. Some close calls, folks. And close sitting. Bonding. Touching? None that I initiated.

I was the last one to be dropped off… at about 4 AM. Yeah, got there the same time I would’ve if I’d taken the Amtrak. Lessons.

The stalwart Adam P. Knave let me into the fancy Hyatt hotel, and we proceeded to chat and giggle and pillow fight, getting to sleep around, I dunno, 6 AM? Next day: the con! On two hours of sleep! Yay!

(to be continued because I need to do other stuff right now…)