dacs.doc electric

I’M A BIG Dilbert fan, so it was obvious for me to request a review copy of another technology based cartoon book. O’Reilly has just released User Friendly,the Comic Strip, a book containing early episodes of the technology-oriented comic by Illiad.

The strip documents the daily happenings at Columbia Internet, a small Internet service provider. The cast of characters includes a Dust Puppy (with feet), some techs, a designer, a sales guy, and the administration. I almost forgot the mischievous Artificial Intelligence. Maybe the strip isn’t based on reality, but it sure gets interesting when the AI wants to have some fun.

Having worked in the computer business for many years, it’s scary how close to reality Illiad has come with his strip. There’s always the misguided marketing guy (Stef), the techs who just want to play Quake and code, the clueless administration, and of course the token female—who must endure all of the sexist treatment of working with a bunch of “guys.”

I especially appreciate how O’Reilly has captured the conflict between technical and marketing people. He has created characters with real personality, characters who reflect the differences between the geeks and the normal people. O’Reilly’s other creations, the Dust Puppy and AI, add to the strip by providing an interesting diversion to the human interaction. This strip reminds me of Bloom County, with traces of the Doonesbury-style humor thrown in.

If I had to find something to complain about in Illiad’s User Friendly, it would definitely be the art. Although Scott Adams of Dilbert fame is hardly a Picasso, Illiad has a nice style. Although he lacks the finesse of Schultz (Snoopy) or Trudeau (Doonesbury), Adams more than makes up for it in pure geek comedy.

I think Illiad is insane to publish a new cartoon every day, as he has for the past few years, but I have to admit that I’m enjoying his frenzied effort. He posts the new comics to his site without the typical delay of most comics—you can always read the latest one online at http://www.userfriendly.org/static. You can also read every comic on his site, beginning with the first in November 1997.

You can pick up the book at any major online or analog (brick and mortar) store. Be sure to visit the site: www.UserFriendly.org. Warning: you might spend a few hours there.