# Glory Days

By Simon Rich

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/glory-days-b14b6f78/

Super Mario reaches forty with doubts about the life he has spent rescuing a princess. Goliath faces a disastrous public image before his fight with David. Even a discarded participation trophy gets to remember its best day. Simon Rich's stories give these familiar figures the disappointments of approaching middle age.

## What makes it funny?

The Tooth Fairy has an employment grievance. His supplies are dangerous, his tutu comes from the company store, and the parents of his assigned child have made the teeth impossible to retrieve. He seeks help from a labor lawyer.

### The comedy at work

Rich gives figures with apparently straightforward purposes the worries of adults reconsidering their jobs and relationships. Mario can question whether his devotion to the Princess meant more than accumulating points; Goliath has to think about media coverage as well as combat.

### Try this if…

The short-story format suits readers who enjoy a comic premise explored quickly. Millennial nostalgia matters, particularly if childhood games and trophies have become awkward reminders of how much time has passed.

### Good to know

Expect profanity, sexual jokes and irreverent treatment of biblical figures. Kirkus enjoyed the collection's cleverness but found Rich's basic joke formula repetitive.

## What to expect

- Genre: Contemporary & literary
- Kind of humor: Absurdism · Parody · Satire
- Format: Short story collection
- Published: 2024

## A few distinguishing details

- A participation trophy remembers better days

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/simon-rich/glory-days/9780316569118)
- Review: [Kirkus review](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/simon-rich/glory-days-4)