Stark Naked: A Paranomastic Odyssey

Stark Naked is a book of humor written by Norton Juster^[1], an American architect and author. It was published by Random House^[2] in 1969, Library of Congress Control Number 71-85568^[3]. It is currently out of print. The illustrator was Arnold Roth^[4]. The book is a series of names, each of which is play on words. Juster himself, talked about the funny fake names he would invent as a child.^[5] The title is unusual, the word Paronomastic^[6] means "play on words" or "punning". The misspelling "Paranomastic" might be intentional, but this spelling is often used.^[7]

Plot summary

Emotional Heights is a town where everybody's name is a play on words. The hero, Stark Naked, is a naked (except for a beret and a large 1930's-era motion picture camera) film-maker who wanders about the town seemingly amazed and perplexed by the unusual names of the townspeople. He walks in from the highway and makes his way past the town's distinguished and not so distinguished citizens. Some of the names are in lists, other names are illustrated by Roth, in a melancholy, yet humorous style. He marvels at the school ("Get High" with principal Martin Nett), the business district (home of Walter Wall Rugs) and the university (where he finds the intellectual Noel Lott). He finishes up at a restaurant (Chef Al Dente), the hospital (Carson Oma, M.D.) and finally the town cemetery (Last resting place of Dustin Toodust).

Characters

Main characters

• Stark Naked, an unclothed cartoon-figure cameraman, the main character. He is a polite, unobtrusive and quiet observer.

• Emotional Heights, is the town where the cameraman makes his incredulous journey.

Minor characters

• Arnie Swa, husband of K. Molly Panse. This husband and wife team on the back cover give the point of the book. Their names are based on Honi soit qui mal y pense which is the motto of the English Order of the Garter^[8]. It means literally "shame upon he who thinks ill of it" or in American vernacular: "Evil to he who thinks evil"^[9].

• Ellis Dee, a drugged-out bearded college student seen floating above the University Groove U.

• Yetta Nother, a haggard mother with about twelve children.

References

1. ^ See interview at Scholastic.com
2. ^ Official Site
3. ^ Library of Congress Call Number Page
4. ^ See three-part interview with Arnold Roth
5. ^ Stark Naked: A Paranomastic Odyssey, Random House, New York, 1969, Second Printing, (Foreword)
6. ^ Online Dictionary
7. ^ David L. Hall and Roger T. Ames. Thinking From the Han: Self, Truth, and Transcendence in Chinese and Western Culture. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1998. Page 299, note 22
8. ^ Very detailed, illustrated history of the Order
9. ^ (Quotations Page) From Edward the Third: "Evil to Him Who Evil Thinks"