A Series of Unfortunate Events 568208 225321810 2008-07-13T02:18:06Z Luckas-bot 7320905 robot Adding: [[ms:A Series of Unfortunate Events]] {{infobox Book | | name = A Series of Unfortunate Events | title_orig = | translator = | image = [[Image:Unfortunate Events Book Set.jpg]] | image_caption = ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' Collection (''The Complete Wreck''). | author = [[Daniel Handler]], a.k.a. [[Lemony Snicket]] | illustrator = [[Brett Helquist]] | cover_artist = [[Brett Helquist]] | country = [[United States]] | language = [[English language|English]] | series = | genre = [[Children's literature|Children's]], [[black comedy]], [[Gothic fiction|gothic]], [[absurdist fiction]] | publisher = [[HarperCollins]] | pub_date = [[30 September]], [[1999]] &ndash; [[Friday the 13th|13 Oct]], [[2006]] | english_pub_date = | media_type = | pages = | isbn = | preceded_by = | followed_by = }} {{otheruses4|the book series|the film|Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events|the video game|Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (video game)}} '''''A Series of Unfortunate Events''''' is a [[Children's literature|children's]] [[book series]] of thirteen novels written by [[Daniel Handler]] under the [[pseudonym]] of [[Lemony Snicket]], and illustrated by [[Brett Helquist]]. It is about the adventures of three children, the Baudelaire orphans, after the death of their parents in a fire. The setting of the series is [[anachronism|anachronistic]], and throughout the series there are many literary and cultural allusions. A film adaptation of the first three books in the series was released on [[December 17]], [[2004]], as ''[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'',<ref name="film" /> which also had a [[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (video game)|video game adaptation of the same name]] based on it.<ref name="game" /> Audio books have been released which included songs by [[The Gothic Archies]], and a compilation album of the songs has also been released. ==Origins== [[Image:The Bad Beginning UK.PNG|thumb|[[The Bad Beginning]], UK cover.]] The author of the series, Daniel Handler, has said in an interview with online entertainment-magazine [[The A.V. Club]] that he decided to write a children's story when he was trying to find a publisher for his first novel, ''[[The Basic Eight]]''.<ref name="avclub">[http://www.avclub.com/content/node/42625/1/1 Daniel Handler] - AVClub.com - Interview by Tasha Robinson, [[16 November]] [[2005]]. Retrieved [[13 June]] [[2007]].</ref> One of the publishers, [[HarperCollins]] passed on ''The Basic Eight'', but they were interested in him writing a story for children. Handler thought it was a terrible idea at first, but met with the publishers to discuss the book. They challenged him to write the book he wished he could have read when he was 10. He retooled a manuscript he had for a mock-Gothic book for adults,<ref name=Salon.com/> which became a ''"Gothic novel about children growing up through terrible things"'', a concept which the publishers liked, to Handler's surprise. The first book in the series was ''[[The Bad Beginning]]'', released on [[September 30]], [[1999]]. ==Plot summary== The series follows the adventures of three siblings, [[Violet Baudelaire|Violet]], [[Klaus Baudelaire|Klaus]] and [[Sunny Baudelaire]], after [[Mr. and Mrs. Baudelaire|their parents]] were killed in a fire at the family mansion. In ''The Bad Beginning'', they briefly live with a friend of their parents, [[Arthur Poe|Mr. Poe]], who is the person in charge of the Baudelaire fortune after the Baudelaire parents' deaths, before being sent to live with [[Count Olaf]], whom Mr. Poe describes as either the siblings' "third cousin four times removed, or their fourth cousin three times removed". The siblings discover that he intends to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune, which awaits Violet, the eldest child, when she turns eighteen.<ref name="badbeginning">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The Bad Beginning |origdate=1999-09-30 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064407667 }}</ref> In the first seven books, Olaf, each time in different disguises, follows the children wherever they go so he can get closer to the orphans and steal their fortune. Their roles switch in the eighth through twelfth books, in which the orphans adopt disguises while on the run from the police after being framed by Count Olaf, disguised as Detective Dupin, for the murder of Count Omar (really Jacques Snicket). The Baudelaires routinely try to get help from Mr. Poe, but Poe is always either busy with work, oblivious to the danger Olaf poses, unaware that the disguised Olaf is not who he claims to be or simply thinks the Baudelaires are lying. Each of the three siblings has a distinctive skill that often helps them during their adventures. Violet is always inventing new things to help them, Klaus is always finding out new information through his research and Sunny has extremely sharp teeth that can bite almost anything in two.<ref name=Salon.com/> In later books, Sunny learns how to cook, as she begins to grow to the normal size for her teeth so cooking becomes her primary skill. Sunny originally spoke in single word utterances which are often a variety of incomplete sentences, and some short word sentences as well. Their meaning is either disguised by being spelled phonetically (e.g., 'surchmi' in ''The Slippery Slope''), backwards (e.g., 'edasurc' [crusade] in ''The Carnivorous Carnival'') through cultural references (Sunny says: 'Matahari', followed by a definition of 'If I stay, I can spy on them and find out.'), or being written in other languages (e.g., Shalom or Sayonara), but eventually she begins to speak more in complete English sentences, her first possibly being "I'm not a baby" in ''[[The Slippery Slope]]'',<ref name="slipperyslope" /> or "Like me" in ''[[The Vile Village]]''.<ref name="vilevillage">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The Vile Village |origdate=2001-04-24 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064408655 }}</ref> Lemony Snicket, the author of the stories and the pseudonym of Daniel Handler, is actually a character himself on the periphery of the stories. He follows the Baudelaires, researching and recording their exploits. Bruce Butt noted in 2002 that in each book a letter from Snicket to his editor is included, presented as exciting updates on Snicket's research into the Baudelaire orphans, which Butt considered to be "the most sly aspect of the way this series has been ingeniously promoted".<ref name="Butt"/> Over the course of the series, the Baudelaires learn some vague information about Snicket and possibly meet him briefly in ''[[The Wide Window]]'' and ''[[The Penultimate Peril]]''.<ref name="penultimateperil">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The Penultimate Peril |origdate=2005-10-18 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064410153 }}</ref> == Setting == The books seem to be set in an alternate, "timeless"<ref name="Butt"/> version of [[Earth]] with stylistic similarities to both the 19th century and the 1930s, though with contemporary, and seemingly [[anachronism|anachronistic]] scientific knowledge. One example of this "technological disconnect" is documented in ''[[The Hostile Hospital]]'', where the Baudelaire children send a message via [[Morse code]] on a telegraph, yet in the Last Chance General Store, there is fiber-optic cable for sale.<ref name="hostilehospital">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The Hostile Hospital |origdate=2001-09-04 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064408663 }}</ref> An "''advanced computer''" appears in ''[[The Austere Academy]]'', which, while outdated by current standards, is nonetheless more advanced than the earliest computers.<ref name="austereacademy">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The Austere Academy |origdate=2000-08-31 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064408639 }}</ref> The setting of the world has been compared to ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' in that it is "[[suburban]] [[Gothic fiction|gothic]]".<ref name="Butt"/> Although the film version sets the Baudelaires' mansion in the city of [[Boston, Massachusetts]], real places rarely appear in the books, although many are mentioned. For example, in ''The Reptile Room'', Uncle Monty and the Baudelaires plan a trip to [[Peru]]; there are also references to the fictional nobility of North American regions, specifically the Duchess of [[Winnipeg]] and the King of [[Arizona]]. A book in Jerome and Esmé Squalor's library was titled ''Trout, In [[France]] They're Out''.<ref name="ersatzelevator">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The Ersatz Elevator |origdate=2001-02-19 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064408647 }}</ref> ===Recurring themes and concepts=== {{main|Recurring themes in A Series of Unfortunate Events}} The majority of the books in ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' pick up where the previous book ended, and the plots of the first several books follow the same basic pattern: each book is thirteen chapters long (for unlucky 13), the Baudelaires are in a new predicament in a new location with a new guardian who has a literary name.<ref name="Butt"/> The location of each book's critical events is usually identified in the book's title. Handler works the siblings' respective skills into the story line. Violet always has something to invent, Klaus always finds a library to do research in, and in the early books, Sunny always finds something to chew on or, in later books, cook, as she begins to grow into her teeth and develops culinary skills (except in ''[[The Miserable Mill]]'', where Violet and Klaus swap roles, with Klaus being the inventor and Violet being the researcher). Lemony Snicket often explains words and analogies in incongruous detail. When describing a word the reader may not be aware of, he typically says "a word which here means...".<ref name=Salon.com/> Despite the general absurdity of the books' storyline, Lemony Snicket continuously maintains that the story is true and that it is his "solemn duty" to record it. Snicket often goes off into humorous or satirical asides, discussing his opinions of various matters, or his personal life. The details of his supposed personal life are largely absurd, incomplete and not explained in detail. For example, Snicket claims to have been chased by an angry mob for sixteen miles. However, some details of his life are explained somewhat in his fictional autobiography, ''[[Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography]]''. Lemony Snicket's narration and commentary is characteristically cynical and despondent. In the excerpt for each book, Snicket warns of the misery the reader may experience in reading about the Baudelaire orphans and suggests abandoning the books altogether. However, he also provides ample comic relief with wry, dark humor. In the excerpt for ''The Grim Grotto'', he writes: "[...] the horrors [the Baudelaire children] encounter are too numerous to list, and you wouldn't even want me to describe the worst of it, which includes mushrooms, a desperate search for something lost, a mechanical monster, a distressing message from a lost friend and tap-dancing".<ref name="grimgrotto">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The Grim Grotto |origdate=2004-09-21 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064410145 }}</ref> Snicket's narration has been described as "self-conscious" and "post-modern". Snicket displays a great aversion to macabre elements, but also gives off a sense of squeamishness with passages like the above excerpt. When giving accounts of bravery or resilience on the part of the Baudelaires, Snicket often calls himself a coward either explicitly or otherwise. His tone betrays admiration for the children as well as his own severe insecurity. This contrast between the Baudelaires' actions and Lemony Snicket's bemused, reverent reactions underscores one of the themes of the books. By emphasizing the vitality of the Baudelaire orphans, Daniel Handler seems to urge the reader to find courage in him or herself and in his or her friends and if not to challenge despondence then at least to take it with a grain of salt. In this way he uses the persona of Lemony Snicket as a [[foil (literature)|foil]] for the Baudelaires. Snicket translates for the youngest Baudelaire orphan, Sunny, who in the early books can say only words or phrases that make sense to her siblings. This becomes less common as Sunny begins to speak real words, one of her first longer sentences in the series being "I'm not a baby" to her sister Violet in ''The Slippery Slope''.<ref name="slipperyslope">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The Slippery Slope |origdate=2003-09-23 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064410137 }}</ref> The words she uses are often from another language, such as "Arigato" (Thank you in [[Japanese language|Japanese]]) when thanking Quigley, or a cultural reference. For example, "Busheney" ([[George W. Bush|Bush]]-[[Dick Cheney|Cheney]]) means a "You're an evil man with no concern whatsoever for other people".<ref name="theend">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The End |origdate=2006-10-13 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064410161 }}</ref>. When describing a character whom the Baudelaires have met before, Snicket often describes the character first and does not reveal the name of the character until they have been thoroughly described. He never does this when the disguised Olaf is introduced to the children. Lemony Snicket starts each book with a "post-modern dissection of the reading experience" before linking it back to how he presents the story of the Baudelaires and what their current situation is. Snicket often uses [[alliteration]] (repeated starting sounds on consecutive words) to name locations throughout the story. He uses this writing technique for the titles of the books (the only exception being the final book, ''The End'').<ref name="theend">{{cite book |last=Snicket |first=Lemony |authorlink=Lemony Snicket |title=The End |origdate=2006-10-13 |series= A Series of Unfortunate Events |publisher=HarperCollins |language=English |isbn=0064410161 }}</ref> A theme which becomes more prevalent as the series continues is the simultaneous importance and worthlessness of secrets. In the final book, ''The End'', the concept is especially important, as demonstrated by a several page long discussion of the phrase ''In the dark''. Ultimately, however, the mystery of the Baudelaire orphans is never solved. The vast secret comprised of the V.F.D., Count Olaf, the orphan's parents and so forth remains a mystery. There are several possible interpretations of this -- that secrets are unimportant, or that some things are best left unsolved, for example. Clues pointing towards the semi de-facto ending were in the introductions to the books by Lemony Snicket, as we are constantly tolds to put the books down, and that they will not end well. [[Social commentary]] is a major element in the books, which often comment on the seemingly inescapable follies of human nature. Although the books are [[melodrama]]tic and [[Escapist fiction|escapist]], they also depict "the sinister menace of an all-too-real adult world". The books consistently present the Baudelaire children as free-thinking and independent, while the adults around them obey authority and succumb to mob psychology, peer pressure, ambition and other social ills. A high account is given to learning: those who are "well-read" are often sympathetic characters, while those who shun knowledge are villains. The books have strong themes of [[moral relativism]], as the Baudelaires become more confused during the course of the series about the difference between right and wrong, feeling they have done wicked things themselves and struggling with the question of whether [[Consequentialism|the end justifies the means]]. In the final book, in an allusion to Biblical [[Original Sin]], a [[Serpent (symbolism)#Hebrew Bible, originally the Aramaic Bible and story from Mesopotamia|snake]] offers the children a life-saving [[Apple#Apples as symbols|apple]]. Evil characters are shown to have sympathetic characteristics and often have led difficult lives. Similarly, good characters' flaws become major problems. Almost every major character in the books has lived a life as difficult as that of the Baudelaires, especially the villains. The books highlight the inevitability of temptation and moral decision-making, regardless of external situation. This indicates that regardless of one's outside influences, one always has the final choice in whether they will be good or bad. Characters that make brave decisions to fight back and take charge are almost always "good" and characters that just go along end up as "bad". However, people are also described as being neither good nor bad,but a mix of both. ===Allusions=== ''To see more examples of allusions to literature and the real world in ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'', see the individual page for any book in the series.'' While the books are marketed primarily to children, they are written with adult readers also in mind; the series features references more likely to make sense to adults. Many of the characters' names allude to other fictional works or real people with macabre connections. More obscure literary references abound,<ref name=Salon.com/> perhaps in keeping with the common theme of being "well-read". There is also an on-going reference throughout the entire series to the secret society, the [[Illuminati]]. Count Olaf has a triangle and an eye tattoed onto his ankle, both are symbols of the Illuminati. In the series, this tattoo is a sign to membership of the V.F.D., which is a secret society that the orphans cannot figure out. For example, the Baudelaire orphans are named after [[Charles Baudelaire]], and Sunny and Klaus take their first names from [[Claus von Bülow|Claus]] and [[Sunny von Bülow]],<ref name="quidditch">{{cite web|url=http://www.quidditch.com/lemony%20snicket.htm|title=Lemony Snicket|accessdate=2007-01-06|publisher=Quidditch.com}}</ref> while the character of Mr. Poe and his children may refer to [[Edgar Allan Poe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1274516/bio|title=Biography for Daniel Handler|publisher=[[IMDb]]|accessdate=2007-01-06}}</ref> Also, most or all of the inhabitants of the island in which the Baudelaires find themselves on in ''The End'' are characters from ''[[The Tempest]]'', a play by [[William Shakespeare]]. This links together using word play when Kit Snicket tells the orphans about her story. == Genre == This series is most commonly classified as [[children's fiction]], but it has also been classified in more specific genres such as [[gothic literature]] or some variety thereof, whether it is mock-gothic,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/books/08/08/lemony.snicket/index.html|title=Author suggests you read something else - Making light of 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'|last=Leopold|first=Todd|accessdate=2007-10-06}}</ref><ref name=Salon.com/> a [[satire]] of gothic literature,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/?id=2066314|title=Tales of a Seventh-Grade Scare Tactic - The new Gothicism of children's books|last=Redmond|first=Moira|publisher=[[Slate Magazine]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> neo-Victorian<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,238386~5~~,00.html|title=www.slate.com/?id=2066314|title=Lemony Snicket is the new Harry Potter|last=Fierman|first=Daniel|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> or "suburban gothic".<ref name="Butt"/> Other genres that the series have been described as are [[absurdist fiction]], because of its strange characters, quirky writing style and improbable storylines and [[black comedy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansible.co.uk/sfx/sfx098.html|title=Lemony Who?|publisher=ansible.co.uk|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=286685|title=Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)|publisher=[[New York Times]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> because of the mix of humorous and [[macabre]] elements. They have also been classified as '[[steampunk]]',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.lunaescence.com/index.php?s=steampunk|title=Futeishi Anime Dictionary - Dictionary of Anime Fandom|publisher=dictionary.lunaescence.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> in that they involve anachronistic settings and technology. == Distribution == ===Books=== [[Image:The grim grotto uk.jpg|thumb|UK cover of ''The Grim Grotto''|right]] The series includes thirteen main books as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonysnicket.com/books.cfm|title=The Bothersome Books|publisher=lemonysnicket.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> * ''[[The Bad Beginning]]'' * ''[[The Reptile Room]]'' * ''[[The Wide Window]]'' * ''[[The Miserable Mill]]'' * ''[[The Austere Academy]]'' * ''[[The Ersatz Elevator]]'' * ''[[The Vile Village]]'' * ''[[The Hostile Hospital]]'' * ''[[The Carnivorous Carnival]]'' * ''[[The Slippery Slope]]'' * ''[[The Grim Grotto]]'' * ''[[The Penultimate Peril]]'' * ''[[The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events)|The End]]'' There are books that accompany the series, such as ''[[The Beatrice Letters]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonysnicket.com/descpage.cfm?bookid=97490&type=hardcover|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Beatrice Letters|publisher=lemonysnicket.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> ''[[Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonysnicket.com/descpage.cfm?bookid=86072&type=paperback|title=Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography |publisher=lemonysnicket.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> and ''[[The Puzzling Puzzles]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonysnicket.com/descpage.cfm?bookid=97485&type=hardcover|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Puzzling Puzzles|publisher=lemonysnicket.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> journals ''[[The Blank Book]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonysnicket.com/descpage.cfm?bookid=97476&type=hardcover|title=The Blank Book|publisher=lemonysnicket.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> and ''[[The Notorious Notations]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonysnicket.com/descpage.cfm?bookid=97489&type=hardcover|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Notorious Notations|publisher=lemonysnicket.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> and short materials such as ''[[The Dismal Dinner]]'' and ''[[13 Shocking Secrets You'll Wish You Never Knew About Lemony Snicket]]''. The books were at one point published at the rate of three or four books per year.<ref name="Butt"/> The [[endpaper]]s were "designed in a suitably Victorian style", with cloth binding on the spines matching the colours of the cover. A paperback release of the full series, featuring restyled covers, new illustrations and a serial supplement entitled ''The Cornucopian Cavalcade'' is in progress, with ''[[The Bad Beginning#Orphans!|The Bad Beginning or, Orphans!]]'', ''[[The Reptile Room#Murder!|The Reptile Room or, Murder!]]'', and ''[[The Wide Window#Disappearance!|The Wide Window or, Disappearance!]]'' currently published.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonysnicket.com/Paperback/|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events ::: NOW IN PAPERBACK!|publisher=lemonysnicket.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> Humorous quotes from the series were used in a book published under the Snicket name, ''[[Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonysnicket.com/descpage.cfm?bookid=71452&type=hardcover|title=Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can’t Avoid|publisher=lemonysnicket.com|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> In an interview with the 667 Dark Avenue fansite, Daniel Handler alluded to more Lemony Snicket books focused on the world of ''A Series of Unfortunate Events''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asoue.proboards11.com/index.cgi?board=documents&action=display&thread=1184328101|title=The Insidious Inquiries: 21 Questions, 21 Answers|publisher=[[proboards]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> Every book's dedication is to a woman named Beatrice, who is supposedly the dead beloved of Lemony Snicket, who married another and died before the events of the books. ===Audio=== ====Audio books==== [[Image:Tragictreasury.jpg|right|thumb|Cover of the Tragic Treasury, a collection of songs related to'' A Series of Unfortunate Events'']] Most of the series of unabridged audio books are read by actor [[Tim Curry]], though Handler as Lemony Snicket reads books 3 to 5. Of narrating the audio books, Handler has said: "It was very, very hard. It was unbelievably arduous. It was the worst kind of arduous."<ref name="audio">{{cite web|url=http://audiofilemagazine.com/features/A1464.html|title=Talking With LEMONY SNICKET|publisher=audiofilemagazine.com|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> As such, future narrating duties were handed back to Curry, of whom Handler states: "he does a splendid job".<ref name="audio" /> The “Dear Reader” blurb is usually read by Handler (as Snicket) at the beginning, although it is missing in ''The Hostile Hospital''. Handler usually reads the 'To my Kind Editor' blurb about the next book at the end. Starting at 'The Carnivourous Carnival' there is another actor who replaces Handler in reading the two blurbs, although they are skipped entirely in ''The Grim Grotto''. All of the recordings include a loosely related song by [[The Gothic Archies]], a novelty band, featuring lyrics by Handler's [[The Magnetic Fields|Magnetic Fields]] bandmate Stephin Merritt.<ref name="gothicarchies">{{cite web|url=http://www.houseoftomorrow.com/archives/000002.php|title=Gothic Archies Theme Songs for Lemony Snicket Audio Books|publisher=houseoftomorrow.com|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> ==== Album ==== {{Main|The Tragic Treasury: Songs from A Series of Unfortunate Events}} In October 2006, ''[[The Tragic Treasury: Songs from A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' by The Gothic Archies was released. The album is a collection of thirteen songs written and performed by [[Stephin Merritt]] (of [[The Magnetic Fields]]), each one originally appearing on one of the corresponding thirteen audiobooks of the series. Two bonus songs are included.<ref name="gothicarchies">{{cite web|url=http://www.tragictreasury.co.uk/|title=The Gothic Archies The Tragic Treasury: Songs From A Series Of Unfortunate Events|publisher=tragictreasury.co.uk|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> === Film === {{main|Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events}} A film adaptation, ''[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'', based on the first three books, was released on [[December 17]], [[2004]].<ref name="film">{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339291/|title=Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)|publisher=[[IMDb]]|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> Directed by [[Brad Silberling]], it stars [[Jim Carrey]] as Count Olaf, [[Meryl Streep]] as Aunt Josephine, [[Billy Connolly]] as Uncle Monty, [[Emily Browning]] as Violet, [[Liam Aiken]] as Klaus, [[Kara & Shelby Hoffman]] as Sunny, and [[Jude Law]] as the voice of Lemony Snicket.<ref name="filmstars">{{cite web|url=http://www.unfortunateeventsmovie.com/main_flash.html|title=Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events|publisher=unfortunateeventsmovie.com|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> The film tie-in editions of the novels feature a variation on the usual reverse-psychology blurb: the blurb takes the form of a message from Count Olaf, listing the good points of the story (such as "a dashing count") but suggesting that it would be much easier and less boring to watch the movie instead.<ref>{{cquote2|quotetext=I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely boring. If you are looking for a good time, you would have a better time watching a motion picture starring a handsome count.|personquoted='''Count Olaf'''|quotesource=[http://www.lemonysnicket.com/descpage.cfm?bookid=97478&type=hardcover The Bothersome Books - The Bad Beginning: Movie Tie-in Edition]|quotewidth=##px|quoteheight=##px}}</ref> Considering the success of the movie, the director and some of the lead actors hinted that they are keen on making a sequel, but no one has written a script as of yet. {{Quote|When I took the decision to take the movie I said I’d obviously do it with the right to refusal, I’m not going to give in to anything. I asked the studio how they were going to deal with the sequel. But they didn’t want to talk about it until the first film was out. It’s amazing; a script has not yet been worked on for the sequel, which I find a bit baffling.|[[Brad Silberling]]|<ref name="silberling">{{cite news|url=http://www.moviehole.net/news/5406.html|title=The latest on Snicket sequel|publisher=moviehole.net|date=[[8 April]] [[2005]]|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> }} Browning has said that further films would have to be produced quickly, as the children do not age much throughout the book series.<ref name="browning">{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/lemony2.php|title=Interview Emily Browning - Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events|publisher=darkhorizons.com|date=[[13 December]] [[2004]]|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> Violet and Klaus are both said to have a birthday throughout the series, Sunny becomes a toddler, and in ''Chapter Fourteen'', the children have been castaways for exactly a year. All in all, the children can appear, at most, two years older than they were in ''The Bad Beginning.'' The film takes place in and around Boston, Massachusetts: The envelope at the end of the film is addressed to Boston, Mass.<ref name="boston">{{cite video | people = | title = Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | medium = DVD | publisher = [[Paramount Pictures#Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount]] | date = [[26 April]] [[2005]] }}</ref> Perhaps incidentally, [[Viacom]], Paramount's parent, owned two TV stations in Boston at the time of the film's release: [[CBS]] affiliate [[WBZ-TV]], and [[UPN]] affiliate [[WSBK-TV]] (they are now owned by [[CBS Corporation]]). ===Video game=== A video game based on the books and film (more so the film, as the name and many plot elements seen in the movie but not the book are seen) was released in 2004 by Adrenium Games and [[Activision]] for the [[PlayStation 2]], [[GameCube]], [[Xbox]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and the [[personal computer|PC]] as ''[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (video game)|Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events]]''. The player plays as all three orphans at points in the game, and encounters characters such as [[Mr. Poe]], [[Montgomery Montgomery|Uncle Monty]] and [[Josephine Anwhistle|Aunt Josephine]], along with villains such as [[Count Olaf]], the [[hook-handed man]], the [[white-faced women]], and the [[Count Olaf's theatre troupe#The bald-headed man|bald-headed man]].<ref name="game">{{cite news|url=http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4923-lemony-snickets-a-series-of-unfortunate-events-game-news|title=Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Game News|publisher=kidzworld.com|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> ===Board game=== A board game based on the books was distributed by Mattel in 2004, prior to the movie. "The Perilous Parlor Game" is for 2-4 players, ages 8 and up. One player assumes the role of Count Olaf, and the other players play the Baudelaire children. Count Olaf's objective in the game is to eliminate the guardian, while the children try to keep the guardian alive. The game employs Clever Cards, Tragedy Cards, Secret Passage Tiles, and Disguise Tiles in play. ===Card game=== "The Catastrophic Card Game" is the second game based on the books. In this card game, players are looking to complete sets of characters. There are 4 different sets: The Baudelaire Orphans, Count Olaf in Disguise, Olaf's Henchmen and the Orphans Confidants. Players take turns drawing a card from either the draw pile or the top card from the discard pile in hopes of completing their sets. For 2 - 4 Players, Ages 8 and Up. == Reception == === Reviews === Reviews for ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' have generally been positive, with reviewers saying that the series is enjoyable for children and adults alike,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ypress.org/reviews/books/0064407667.html|title=The Bad Beginning|publisher=ypress.org|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> and that it brings fresh and adult themes to children's stories.<ref name=Robinson>{{cite paper|author=Jennifer Robinson|title=Life Isn’t Fair: Adult Lessons for Children from Dahl and Snicket||version=|publisher=San Jose State University|url=http://66.102.1.104/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=cache:kTVtCIXiZKUJ:www.blogger.com/r%3Fhttp://www.swellsville.org%252Fjen%252FDahlSnicket_Robinson.pdf+%22daniel+handler%22| format=[[PDF]]|accessdate= 2007-08-19 }}</ref> The [[The Times|Times Online]] refer to the books as "a literary phenomenon", and discuss how the plight of the Baudelaire orphans helps children cope with loss - citing the rise in sales post [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001]] as evidence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article403148.ece|title=Unhappily ever after|publisher=[[The Times|Times Online]]|date=[[18 December]] [[2004]]|accessdate=2007-09-07}}</ref> Although the series has often been compared to ''[[Harry Potter]]'' due to the young heroes and the sales of the two series, reviewer [[Bruce Butt]] feels that the series' tone is closer to [[Roald Dahl]] and [[Philip Ardagh]].<ref name="Butt"/> Handler acknowledges [[Edward Gorey]] and Roald Dahl as influences.<ref name=Salon.com>{{cite web|url=http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2000/08/17/snicket/index.html|title=The Mysterious Mr. Snicket|publisher=[[Salon.com]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> Mackey attributes the series' success to the "topsy-turvy moral universe".<ref name=Mackey>{{cite journal|title=Risk, Safety, and Control in Young People's Reading Experiences|publisher=Edmonton|year=2003|month=January|last=Mackey|first=Margaret|journal=School Libraries Worldwide|volume=9|issue=1|pages=50}}</ref> ===Criticism=== The series has come under criticism from some school districts for its dark themes. Citing objections to the suggested [[incest]] (referring to Olaf's marriage attempt to his distant niece Violet in ''[[The Bad Beginning]]'', although his motivation was not sexual in nature, but rather an attempt to gain her inheritance)<ref name=Salon.com/> and use of the word "damn" in ''The Reptile Room'', the books were banned in [[Decatur, Georgia|Decatur]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Handler later commented that the word's use was "precipitated by a long discussion of how one should never say this word, since only a villain would do so vile a thing! This is exactly the lily-liveredness of children's books that I can't stand."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/childrenandteens/story/0,6000,611852,00.html|title=Move over Harry Potter|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|date=[[4 December]] [[2001]]|accessdate=2007-09-07}}</ref> Access to the books was similarly restricted at [[Katy ISD#Elementary schools|Katy ISD Elementary School]], [[Katy, Texas|Katy]], [[Fort Bend County, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aclutx.org/files/2006%20Banned%20Books%20Report.pdf|title=2006 Banned Books Report|publisher=[[ACLU]]TX|accessdate=2007-09-07}}</ref> <!-- The "Happy Endings Foundation" are a hoax organised by the U.K. publishers of ASOUE; see [http://www.inkygirl.com/happy-endings-foundation-a-book-marketing-ploy/ here]. They may be notable in some respect, having taken in national newspapers and allegedly appeared on the radio, but they do not constitute genuine criticism. (Criticism of THEF, however, may qualify.) In short, please do not mention them here. --> The series has been criticised for formulaic and repetitive storytelling.<ref name="repetitive">{{cite web|url=http://www.booksforkeeps.co.uk/issues/134/386|title=The Snicket Letters|publisher=Books For Keeps|accessdate=2007-09-07}}</ref> Bruce Butt, a reviewer, hopes that the "literary and wider allusion[s]" of character names within the books will encourage readers to later read more widely, and believes that the "narrative, rather than the content" is the attraction of the series.<ref name="Butt">{{cite journal|title=‘He's behind you!’: Reflections on Repetition and Predictability in Lemony Snicket's ''A Series of Unfortunate Events''|publisher=Springer|year=2003|month=December|last=Butt |first=Bruce|journal=Children‘s Literature in Education|volume=34|issue=4|pages=277–286|doi=10.1023/B:CLID.0000004895.65809.71}}</ref> === Sales === ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' has been printed in 41 different languages,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2006-10-10-lemony-snicket-main_x.htm|title=Friday the 13th closes the book on Lemony Snicket|publisher=[[USAToday]]|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> selling at least fifty-five million copies as of [[May 2007]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:J3Gwk2R7FCQJ:news.corporate.findlaw.com/prnewswire/20070503/03may20071319.html+For+the+first+time+since+they+began+ravaging+the+New+York+Times+bestseller+lists+353+weeks+ago,+the+books+in+A+Series+of+Unfortunate+Events+are+being+released+in+paperback+next+Tuesday,+May+8,+2007.&hl=en&client=firefox-a&gl=uk&strip=1|title=More Misery for Less Money - Lemony Snicket|publisher=findlaw.com|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> ===Awards=== In addition to its strong reviews, the ''The Bad Beginning'' won multiple literary awards, including the Colorado Children's Book Award, the Nevada Young Readers Award and the Nene Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780064407663/A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events_1_The_Bad_Beginning/index.aspx|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> It was also a finalist for the Book Sense Book of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookweb.org/btw/awards/BSBY.html|title=ABA: The Book Sense Book of the Year|publisher=bookweb.org|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> Its sequels have continued this trend, garnishing multiple awards and nominations. Among these are three IRA/CBC Children's Choice Awards, which it received for ''The Wide Window'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780064407687/A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events_3_The_Wide_Window/index.aspx|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events #3: The Wide Window|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> ''The Vile Village'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780064408653/A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events_7_The_Vile_Village/index.aspx|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events #7: The Vile Village|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> and ''The Hostile Hospital'';<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780064408660/A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events_8_The_Hostile_Hospital/index.aspx|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events #8: The Hostile Hospital|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> a best book prize at the [[Nickelodeon (TV station)|Nickelodeon]] [[Kids' Choice Awards]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/all_nick/specials/kca_2005/kca05-vote.jhtml|title=Kids' Choice Awards 2005|publisher=[[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> and a 2006 Quill Book Award,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thequills.org/2006.html|title=The Quill Awards | The 2006 Awards|publisher=thequills.org|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> both for the Penultimate Peril. While not technically awards, the Ersatz Elevator was named a ''Book Sense 76 Pick'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780064408646/A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events_6_The_Ersatz_Elevator/index.aspx|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events #6: The Ersatz Elevator|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> and ''The Grim Grotto'' is an Amazon.com Customers' Favorite.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780064410144/A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events_11_hhhThe_Grim_Grotto/index.aspx|title=A Series of Unfortunate Events #11: The Grim Grotto|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> ==Translations== * [[Ancient greek language|Ancient Greek]]: ''"Άθλια Τολμήματα"'' (lit. "Miserable adventures")(still being made) * [[Croatian language|Croatian]] ''"Niz nesretnih događaja"'' * [[Czech language|Czech]]: ''"Řada nešťastných příhod"'' * [[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ''"Ellendige avonturen"'' (lit. "Miserable adventures") * [[Finnish language|Finnish]]: ''"Surkeiden sattumusten sarja"'' * [[French language|French]]: ''"Les Désastreuses Aventures des orphelins Baudelaire"'' (lit. "The disastrous adventures of the Baudelaire orphans") * [[German language|German]]: ''"Eine Reihe betrüblicher Ereignisse"'' * [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''"{{lang|gr|Μια Σειρά από Ατυχή Γεγονότα}}"'' * [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: ''"{{lang|he|סדרה של צרות}}"'' * [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]: ''"A balszerencse áradása"'' (lit. "The flooding of misfortune") * [[Italian language|Italian]]: ''"Una serie di sfortunati eventi"'' * [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]: ''"Den onde greven"'' (lit. "The evil Count") * [[Polish language|Polish]]: ''"Seria niefortunnych zdarzeń"'' * [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]: ''Uma Série de Desgraças'' ([[Portugal]]) and ''Desventuras em Série'' ([[Brazil]]) * [[Russian language|Russian]]: ''"{{lang|ru|Тридцать три несчастья}}"'' (lit. "Thirty three misfortunes"), Azbuka, 2004–2007 * [[Serbian language|Serbian]]: ''"Серија несрећних догађаја"/"Serija nesrećnih događaja"'' * [[Slovenian language|Slovenian]]: ''"Zaporedje nesrečnih dogodkov"'' * [[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''"Una serie de catastróficas desdichas"'' ([[Spain]]) and ''Una serie de eventos desafortunados'' ([[Latin America]]) * [[Swedish language|Swedish]]: ''"Syskonen Baudelaires olycksaliga liv"'' (lit. "The Baudelaire siblings unfortunate life") * [[Turkish language|Turkish]]: ''"Talihsiz Serüvenler Dizisi"'' * [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]: ''Поредица от злополучия'' == References == {{reflist|3}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}}<!--{{Wikiquotepar|A Series of Unfortunate Events }}--> * [http://www.lemonysnicket.com/ Lemony Snicket official website] * [http://www.unfortunateevents.com/ Official ASOUE UK website] * [http://www.quidditch.com/lemony%20snicket.htm/ List of all cultural references and literary allusions in ASOUE] * [http://www.BaudelaireMansion.com/ Lemony Snicket resource] * {{iblist series | id=94 | title=A Series of Unfortunate Events}} * [http://asoue.proboards11.com/index.cgi?board=documents&action=display&thread=1184328101 Exclusive 667 Dark Avenue interview] {{LS}} {{ASUE}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Series of Unfortunate Events, A}} [[Category:Absurdist fiction]] [[Category:British Book Awards]] [[Category:Children's novels]] [[Category:Media franchises]] [[Category:Lemony Snicket]] [[Category:Series of children's books]] [[Category:Steampunk novels]] [[Category:Novels by Daniel Handler]] [[cs:Řada nešťastných příhod]] [[de:Eine Reihe betrüblicher Ereignisse]] [[el:Μια Σειρά από Ατυχή Γεγονότα]] [[es:A Series of Unfortunate Events]] [[fa:ماجراهای بچه‌های بدشانس]] [[fr:Les Désastreuses Aventures des orphelins Baudelaire (romans)]] [[hr:Niz nesretnih događaja]] [[id:A Series of Unfortunate Events]] [[it:Una serie di sfortunati eventi]] [[he:סדרה של צרות]] [[hu:A balszerencse áradása]] [[ms:A Series of Unfortunate Events]] [[nl:Ellendige avonturen]] [[ja:世にも不幸なできごと]] [[no:Den onde greven]] [[pl:Seria niefortunnych zdarzeń]] [[pt:A Series of Unfortunate Events]] [[ru:33 несчастья]] [[simple:A Series of Unfortunate Events]] [[fi:Surkeiden sattumusten sarja]] [[sv:Syskonen Baudelaires olycksaliga liv]] [[th:อยากให้เรื่องนี้ไม่มีโชคร้าย]] [[tr:Talihsiz Serüvenler Dizisi (kitap)]]