This humorous collection brings attention to the every day struggles and obstacles faced by persons with disabilities while transforming the political incorrectness of the word "crip" into a message of disability activism through which we reclaim our bodies and our lives.
Excerpt
Foreword
By Mat Fraser
Criptionary" is a new tome of Crip-related re-worded definitions by Maria Palacios, a disabled wordsmith who displays great wit, passion, humor, sexuality, irreverence, good and bad taste gags, in this thought provoking, and hugely entertaining book. Though perhaps initially for a niche market, I think anyone reading it would be amused and find themselves further critiquing our language.
Much of this book is as much silly as it is serious. But even the silly stuff has a serious aftermath for it forces the reader to consider the issue raised in the word's meaning, and therefore explodes so many of the negative myths and clichés around disability that still linger in society. Virtually every word brings forth an interlocking of thought pattern, confused at times by the imaginative re wording, spurred on at others to appreciate the cleverness with which she has constructed some words from others, and her commitment to bringing crip love and stories to the World through this witty method of a brand new dictionary for Crip prism living, which shines out on every page.
Speaking as a CripRex ( "known for their abnormally short arms." That's me! - I'm also "Cripendowed", so there - No, buy the book and look it up for yourself) I can say that you don't have to suffer from being a Cripevert (" According to Society, anybody who finds a disabled person sexually attractive”) to think this book is worth having and using for all manner of moments, and could get you singing Criptanamera ("popular crip Latin song") for joy.”
-- Mat Fraser -Actor, writer, comedian & activist/multi disciplinary Performing Disability Artist
Professional Reviews
Criptionary
“Maria Palacios has taken back language like Hip-Hop does and she twisted it, made it hers,ours and politicized it with humor. I love it and as the founder Krip –Hop Nation, I know her book will be Droolilicious.” --Leroy Moore Jr, Founder of Krip-Hop Nation/Journalist/Poet
Criptionary
Maria Palacios’ lexicon of criptology, her criptionary, in an era of political correctness, is a refreshing and enlightening look at wordplay. I laughed all the way through her crip list, not because it was picking fun of crippled people like me, but because people with disabilities deserve the right to have fun with words that were often meant to hurt and turn them into something positive. I hope that you will burn these definitions into your memory and use the words in good fun wherever you are. Can’t wait for her sequels in gimpology and spazology.” --Ronal W. Hull (Ron) EdD Author of the Kaleidoscope Effect, three other novels and two books of short stories ronhullauthor.com C4-C6 Quadraplegic
Criptionary
“Finally we have a creative sense of humor about the disabled. It is not offensive but funny. I love the boldness of the way it is in dictionary mode. Very powerful and funny.” --Meena Dhanjal, Author of the books Mattie Has Wheels and A Moment In Time.
A naïve councilman and a down-on-her-luck single mom try to save their county’s last stand of forest from greedy developers and a dysfunctional government.
The Wholly Book of Doo-Doo-Rot-on-Me is adult satirical humor featuring adult language and adult content, and the work is a parody of the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy.
The Wholly Book of Genesis is a humorous satire on the first book of the Old Testament where the Story of Creation, the building of Noah's Ark, Sodom and Gomorrah and the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are thoroughly spoofed and broadsided.
