It's sobering to think that an entire generation has grown up viewing Monty Python from -- let's say -- a cultural/historical perspective; at the time they were still performing together, they were regarded as "comedy rock stars." That pop-culture fact is pointed out in a delightful book about the Python troupe.
Alan Parker (who has come into contact with the remaining members of the group by way of updating their record albums to the CD format), with his partner Mick O'Shea, has written And Now for Something Completely Digital: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Monty Python CDs and DVDs (The Disinformation Co. Ltd., $17.95). That unwieldly title notwithstanding, the book is a very enjoyable history of the Pythons, from their origins with varied British comedy groups and TV shows right up to the present day, covering Eric Idle's Tony-winning Broadway show Monty Python's Spamalot and the aforementioned CDs that are to be issued with bonus Python material in 2006.
Parker is very much the starry-eyed fan -- he confesses to having a wealth of Python dolls and other memorabilia -- and that perspective serves him perfectly well here. He reverently but breezily covers every aspect of the Pythons' careers and provides what could almost be considered the final word on the availability of their audio and video works. (One startling fact is that their legendary TV series is available in its entirety on DVD -- but only in America. Thus far, Britons have had to make do with a "Best of..." compilation DVD. No doubt the team appreciates the Pythonesque nature of that irony.)
I have but two (admittedly subjective) quibbles with the book. Parker goes into great detail about the Python TV shows and movies but gives very short shrift to their record albums, which in their own way were as groundbreaking as their other work. And when describing the plotlines of Python movies, Parker falls into that terrible trap that ensnares far too many Python fans: he does elaborately cutesy Pythonesque non sequitors in the belief that some of the group's wit will rub off on his work. This is doubly disheartening because the rest of Parker's writing, when he's not trying to come off as "the seventh Python," is nicely done.
But that's hardly enough to discourage any Python buff or newcomer-fan from buying And Now for Something Completely Digital, a nicely comprehensive round-up of the vast Monty Python canon that's also just plain fun to read.
Our rating: 
Click on the appropriate link to:
Order And Now For Something Completely Digital from Amazon.com
© 2006, Sit on My Monty Python Website.
