The Book of Enitharmon

It fits easily into the palm of the hand. It comes bundled with hundreds of games, some of them for solo play, some for exciting multi-player real-time interactive play. It's very reasonably priced, if you can find it. But it's very hard to find.

I went looking for a pack of cards this morning. Not that I actually needed one at the moment but I wanted to know where to get one when I do. Nothing fancy. Just plain, standard backs. Nothing promotional. Nothing with Harry Potter or Star Wars characters in place of the court cards. Not Pokemon or Top Trumps or other collecting cards. Not in a big box with plastic poker chips and your own green eyeshade. Just a pack of playing cards. Simple enough, really.

I did find a source. Tucked away at the remotest corner of the top floor of John Lewis, with the childrens toys.

Well, you can't make a fat profit from playing cards, can you? You can't market a New Improved Hi Tech version every Christmas and make parents feel mean for not buying one at great expense. You can't tie it in with fast food or reality TV.


What depresses me almost as much as the lack of availability of simple pleasures is the sheer gullibility of a public which lets itself be manipulated by the marketing oiks. They should be first against the wall when the revolution comes.