# Sir Apropos of Nothing

By Peter David · Sir Apropos of Nothing, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/sir-apropos-of-nothing-7acea0c5/

Apropos has survived a violent childhood by looking after himself. A thief with little use for heroic ideals, he nevertheless finds himself caught up in a mission to rescue Princess Entipy, with a phoenix and the alarmingly brave Tacit among his complications.

## What makes it funny?

Even his name punctures knightly grandeur: David imagined a succession of impressive court introductions interrupted by a young man announcing himself as Apropos of Nothing. Tacit, meanwhile, claims unicorns raised him, an awkward companion for an angry, reluctant hero.

### The comedy at work

David gives a fantasy hero the motives usually reserved for someone less noble. Apropos wants to get ahead and stay alive; the author uses that self-interest to unsettle the familiar jobs assigned to heroes, villains and their disposable companions.

### Try this if…

Cynical antiheroes are the attraction here. David identifies Flashman and Blackadder as forebears, which gives a useful sense of the company Apropos keeps: men whose concern for themselves complicates any claim to heroism.

### Good to know

Sexual violence lies behind Apropos's birth, and his childhood is abusive. David has said he deliberately joined comedy to tragedy, so the fantasy satire includes painful material alongside its jokes.

## What to expect

- Genre: Adventure · Fantasy
- Kind of humor: Parody · Satire
- The atmosphere: Irreverent
- Format: Novel
- Published: 2015

## Sources & further reading

- Review: [Publishers Weekly review](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780743412339)
- Author commentary: [Author interview](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/18679-pw-talks-with-peter-david.html)
- Author commentary: [Author publication announcement](https://peterdavid.net/2015/12/07/sir-apropos-of-nothing-is-back-in-print)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.crazy8press.com/books/sir-apropos-of-nothing-volume-1)