John Hodgman has an impressive resume. As a professional literary agent, he represented the legendary Bruce Campbell. As a former professional literary agent, he answered the pressing questions of the day for fans of McSweeney’s [#]. As part of the new wave of efforts to make the boring literary reading a relic of history, he coordinates the monthly Little Gray Books lecture series in Brooklyn (and sometimes Brookline). His contributions to This American Life have included reporting on his adventures with Bruce Campbell [#] as well as trying to understand what your choice of superpower (flight vs. invisibility) says about you [#].

As if that didn’t keep him busy enough, he’s just written “an almanac of complete world knowledge” called THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE, which looks like one of the better buys for people looking to significantly increase the humor quotient of their bookshelves, coffee tables, or holiday gift exchanges. Unlike other volumes of trivia, all of the amazing true facts and historical oddities within are made up by him and there are hobos in it. (700 of them, on the website [#]).

As is the habit of today’s professional writers, he’s now in the midst of a publicity blitz [blog]. Tonight, if you tune your television receiver to Comedy Central, you’ll find him chatting with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. Tomorrow, you’ll find him at Elliott Bay Books [#] along with musical accompaniment by Jonathan Coulton. He also agreed to be Metroblogging Interviewed by me. The following conversation took place by e-mail between 14 and 16 November, please reward his participation by showing up at Elliott Bay tomorrow at 7:30 pm.

Josh: You’re a former professional literary agent. How’s your agent doing with THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE? Has your agent benefited from any of your advice?

 John: Many have asked me if I represented myself on this deal. No: you have guessed correctly that I do have an agent, and her name is Kassie, and she has done a remarkable job. It is important to have an advocate who is not yourself who will be sure to ask for the things you may be too shy to ask for, such as jet skis and gems and an alpaca farm in Western MA. I didn’t get those things (well, I got the alpaca farm, but later, in a game of chance). But we tried, and that’s what matters.

Is it harder to be a fake know-it-all or a real know-it-all?

As you know, the writer AJ Jacobs is a real know-it-all: he read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. I am glad I did not have to do that. So in that way it is easier. But in another way it is harder, for the truth has no obligation to be interesting. But AJ and I recently did a radio show together, and was thing was clear: we both loved hobos.

What’s your favorite Bruce Campbell performance?

 His work as “Ash” in Evil Dead 2 is, of course, required reading for all. But his “Elvis” in Bubba Ho-Tep just floored me. It was a clear leap forward for him as an actor, and I would say so to his face, and I think he’d agree. I never say this without joking, but I do now: oscar material.

It seems that you’re beloved by just about everyone who matters. Was it difficult to choose which people would have their glowing blurbs included on the “praise” section of THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE website [#]? Certainly you must have an arch-nemesis out there?

 I am very grateful to my friends and colleagues, some of whom I don’t know very well, for lending words of praise and/or cartoons of praise, and it was not hard to choose them: I have always felt chosen by them. And gratefully so.

I am certain there is a nemesis out there. But I do not know who it is. Which is appropriate. Clearly he/she is just biding his/her time, waiting to strike. And when it comes, it will come with knives.

Size up your competition: on Thursday night you’re reading with a band in the basement at Elliott Bay. The New Yorker has Andy Borowitz, Bruce McCall, and David Owen and the cast of The Second City on campus at the UW. Both events are free. In your expert opinion, why should Seattleites go to Elliott Bay?

 I owe a lot to Bruce McCall in my life, including some cash, so I will be very sorry to miss him (but not too sorry: you’ll get that 20 back in hell, McCall!). I don’t know what they’ve got planned, but I promise you this: Jonathan Coulton, my guitarist, will wear a coonskin cap and sing his famous folk rendition of “Baby Got Back.” Also: fake trivia. That is all I can offer.

Speaking of tours, any aspirations to take the Little Gray Books lecture series on the road?

 We have taken them to Brookline (for our Lecture on Brookline) and Philadelphia (for our lecture on radio, as Philadelphia is the birthplace of radio, sort of. also: cheesesteaks), and we would love to travel to other cities, such as Seattle, once we finish building the jet we’re making out of bamboo and palm fronds and gin.

What do you plan to say about the Daily Show’s new set?

 It seems awfully elaborate for a radio show. I just made that up, but I think maybe I’ll use it.

Is there a superpower that trumps both flight and invisibility, making the choice between them irrelevant?

 The only superpowers I think come close in their implications are invulnerability and the ability to slow time (which I suppose would amount to super speed, objectively). But neither are as simple or iconic as the others. Obviously we can agree though: stretching sucks.

Thank you, Josh. That is all.

Thanks for the interview.

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