Adventures of Wim

infobox Book |
name = Adventures of Wim
orig title =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Luke Rhinehart
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Comedy, Philosophical novel
publisher = Grafton Books (UK) & AuthorHouse (USA)
release_date = 22 May 1986 (UK as "Adventures ..." 27 November 2002 (USA as "Whim")
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 320 pp (hardback edition) (orig UK) & 452 p. (hardback edition) (USA revised)
isbn = ISBN 0-246-12769-4 (hardback edition) (orig UK) & ISBN 1-4033-4799-9 (hardback edition) (USA revised)
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Adventures of Wim" or "Whim" is a book by George Cockcroft, written under the pen name Luke Rhinehart. It was published (as "Adventures of Wim") in 1986, and was sold as "The sequel, well almost, to "The Dice Man". This version is no longer in print. A "major reworking" of the book was later published under the title of "Whim" in 2002. cite web | title=Luke Rhinehart's own comments on the two titles | url=http://www.lukerhinehart.net/Whim.html ]

Plot summary

The book takes Luke's style to its logical conclusion, as the entire book is made up of sections taken from other, fictional books. The preface to the book claims that it was written in Deya, Majorca, in 2326. According to the book, an entire industry has grown up publishing books about a Montauk named Wim - including "The Gospel According to Luke" (Luke Forth, not Luke Rhinehart) and the screenplay of a movie. The screenplay is possibly in there as a result of Luke Rhinehart's continuing frustration in trying to get "The Dice Man" turned into a good movie. Adventures of Wim, then, is an effort to create a new interpretation of the story of Wim, drawing on the many previous efforts, and so providing a multi-faceted and whimsical account of 'one of the greatest figures in the 20th and 21st Century'.

A boy is born of a virgin mother and is named "Wim" (in "Adventures of Wim") or "Whim" (in "The Book of the Die" and "Whim"): Montauk for "Wave Rider". He is pronounced to be the saviour of the Montauk nation by his tribe's navigator, and educated in their ways. Sadly, the humans steal him away and attempt to educate him in more useful skills, such as American Football. Wim, also known as "He of Many Chances", proves to be an inefficient saviour, as God sends him on a quest for Ultimate Truth. This does not seem to be something that will benefit his tribe terribly, but the navigator isn't one to stare down the barrel of a lightning gun, and sends him on his way. After a long and arduous search, Wim finds ultimate truth (in a potato), and with it the cure for the sickness of the human condition.

Main themes

This book contains a much more open view on philosophy previous books. The book ties in with the views of "The Dice Man", but in a softer and more accepting way, and with more paths to enlightenment. It's also reckoned by some to be the funniest book Luke has written to date.

Literary significance & criticism

"Anarchic, hip, subversive and comic . . . " — The Times, London; "One of my favorite reads of the year . . . Pure entertainment" — Belfast Telegraph; "Zany, bizarre, inventive . . . often touching." —Bestsellers.cite web | title=Reviews | url=http://www.lukerhinehart.net/Whim.html ]

Release details

*1986, UK, Grafton Books ISBN 0-246-12769-4, Pub date 22 May, 1986, hardcover (as "Adventures of Wim")
*1987, UK, Grafton Books ISBN 0-586-06752-3, Pub date 19 November, 1987, paperback (as "Adventures of Wim")
*2002, USA, AuthorHouse ISBN 1-4033-4799-9, Pub date 2002, hardcover (as "Whim")
*2002, USA, AuthorHouse ISBN 1-4033-4798-0, Pub date 2002, paperback (as "Whim")

Footnotes