The Keasman Literary Guide
John Martin Paulk
 
1982
How I Came Upon the Keasman Antics
The Story of the Rhizoids
The Rhizoids Ride Again
The Rhizoids Encounter the Smellie One
The Day O'Donahue Made His Presence Known
Nursery Rhymes Revisited
Untitled
A File

When John Paulk emerged into the field of Keasman Literature in 1982, he seemed to have as much humor and promise as anyone else. However, by the end of this period he had become the least notable of all Keasman writers.

A File is a collection that contains all of the singles listed above. However, it is notable only for the picture of a moose.

"How I Came Upon the Keasman Antics" is the only readable piece here. It is mildly interesting for providing insight to an entrance into the Keasman world.

The remainder of these pieces are simply some of the most formulatic and uninteresting works in Keasman Literature. Forgettable.
 
1983-1984
Physic's Test
The Adventures of Pheebee
U.T. Comics
The Legend of Captain Milk
The Story of Rapunzel, the Steamy Girl-or-Hey Baby Don't Fog up the Window

"Physic's Test" was one of the best works of 1983. Paulk realized that satire was one of his more formidable creative weapons. After all of the Chris Jones imitating of 1982, he produced an original and satisfying literary piece.

"The Adventures of Pheebee" and "U.T. Comics" continued in this sarcastic style with good results. Had it not been for a rushed ending "Comics" might have been very good.

"Captain Milk" is like an old Paulk story, dispensible, but this is the only poor effort from this period. "Rapunzal" is Paulk's first good story. It contains a lot of good lines, but is restrained from greatness by some bad wording and general dullness.
 
1984
A Tribute to Salt Instances
Bert in Plaid Grasps and Finds a Bone
Diary of a Dishwashing Martyr
Raking the Coals

The material in this collection, Raking the Coals, seems to be an extension of the story "Rapunzal". The best piece here is probably "A Tribute to Salt Instances" and the least is without question "Bert". Aside from "Bert" all of this work is fairly well thought out, imaginative and slightly dull.

 
1985
Waiting Up for Wilma

"Wilma" is a good, solid story from Paulk. Aside from a pointless sub-plot in the beginning, the plot is tightly focused and contains some good humor, not to mention being a tad bizarre. This story, however, falls short in transcending itself from a good to a great piece. The main reason is the failure of the before-mentioned sub-plot. Instead of being humorous and inventive, it seems to be pure filler. Aside from that, it is a solid effort and is worth reading.

CJ/CM
 
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The Keasman Literary Guide