The Asti Spumante Code
 | |
| Author | Toby Clements |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre |
Parody Thriller |
| Publisher | Time Warner Books |
Publication date | 2005 |
| Media type | Print (paperback only) |
| Pages | 247 pp (May change depending on the publisher and the size of the text) |
| ISBN | 978-0-7515-3768-0 |
| OCLC | 60319730 |
The Asti Spumante Code (full title: The Asti Spumante Code: A Parody) is a 2005 parody novel written by Toby Clements as a parody of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. It is noteworthy for being among the first works of fiction to parody the Dan Brown novel (the first notable parody was The Va Dinci Cod by Adam Roberts).[1][2][3]
Plot
Due to the detailed nature of the overall story within the novel, the plot has been divided into Backstory and Modern Day respectively in order to provide a more coherent timeline for the events depicted in the novel.
Backstory
In the 13th century, there once existed a circle of authors and playwrights known as the Order of Psion (a parody of the Knights Templar), most of whom were females writing under male pseudonyms, who once predicted the coming of "the ultimate book" that would render publishers obsolete. The formula for the making of the ultimate book – known as the Asti Spumante Code – is contained within the Mure de Paume (French for "The Blackberry of the Palm"), otherwise known as "the legendary keystone".[4]:86
Fearing the consequences of the ultimate book, a group of publishers named The English Book Guild was established in Stevenage, England to try to counteract the progresses made by the Order.
Modern day
The book itself focuses on American Prof. James Crack – a professor of "Paraliteral Metasymbolist studies" – and Belgian Emily Raquin, a "bibliotechnical cryptologist", as they discover a set of clues left by the deceased Grand Master of the Order of Psion that will ultimately lead to the discovery of the Asti Spumante Code.[4]:73
However, the two are hindered by the efforts of Uxbridge Road Group, a fanatical offshoot of the English Book Guild situated in Brussels, whose members encourage sadomasochism and segregate works of fiction by gender stereotyping (e.g.: men read only adventure fiction, women read only romance novels), who wish to destroy the Asti Spumante Code before it can be put to use by anyone.[4]:77
See also
- The Da Vinci Code – The novel by Dan Brown
- The Da Vinci Treasure – A 2006 film by The Asylum
- The Va Dinci Cod – Another parody of The Da Vinci Code
References
- ↑ The Asti Spumante Code: A Parody: Amazon.co.uk: Toby Clements: Books Archived October 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ The Asti Spumante Code by Toby Clements Archived October 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Internet Book List :: Book Information: Asti Spumante Code, the Archived February 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 3 Clements, T. (2005). The Asti Spumante Code. London: Time Warner Books.
External links
- The Asti Spumante Code at Fantastic Fiction
- The Asti Spumante Code at the Internet Book List