What's Barry Trotter? A spoof by Michael Gerber, dedicated to 'JK Rowling, with impudent admiration'. It's a Fantastic book, less due to its contents than because it's been published by a company called Fantastic.

Characters here are spin-offs from Harry Potter. Ordinary folk, referred to as Muggles in HP are called Muddles here, and while Harry goes to Hogwarts in the company of Ron and Hermione, Barry studies at Hogwash along with pals Lon and Ermine! Other parodies: Gryffindor - Grittyfloor, Hagrid - Hafwid, Dumbledore - Bumblemore and of course Lord Voldemort - Lord Valumart.

You can expect 'a lot of "potty humor" in this book, as well as a lot having to do with sex,' according to a reviewer on amazon.com.

So it wouldn't be appropriate for children? 'These days, is life appropriate for children?' asks Gerber, who adds that as the characters in Barry Trotter are 22 years old, they don't live G-rated lives.

While the publishers market BT as something that's 'poorly written, incredible crass, and contains jokes about bodily functions that would embarrass a five-year-old', it has obvious merits and can be enjoyed by fans of the Harry Potter books, as well as those who have only seen the movie.

While the book isn't online, you can read the first chapter here and check if your bookstore has a copy.

One other thing: At the author's behest, do consider instances of nonstandard spelling, grammar and punctuation to be intentional jokes. And if you truly admire Gerber's creativity, you can even make a donation, though 'donors are hereby warned that they may be spent on liquor'.

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