If there’s a list of guys or gals who could be considered lucky when it comes to media in the last fifteen years or so, Kevin Smith would be one name high on such a list.

Let’s be real.

He made a film using credit cards. Might have heard of it. Clerks. Got really lucky when Miramax snapped it up and distributed it nationally. Went on to make more films. Mallrats. Chasing Amy. Dogma. Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. Jersey Girl. And of course, Clerks II now on DVD.

And along the way, he’s done some work on various comics, an animated cartoon series - yes, Clerks: The Cartoons - and in general shared a lot of his life with pretty much anyone who wanted to listen about it. Pretty sweet.

So, I’m stalking the local Barnes & Noble one night in search of something I haven’t read before. While I haven’t given up completely on fiction, I am pretty tired of the same stories that book editors seem to shepherd from the computers of countless authors like so many burgers stamped out at any fast food franchise. You know it’s bad when the same cover art seems to end up on similar books from the same publisher. In one case, I could swear the only thing that was different from one book to the one next to it on the shelf was the authors name and title. And even the title was too close for comfort. Wanna hear about angst from a writer? Let me know and I’ll pass along a web page link to one I know.

So, I’m off in search of amusement on the printed page when I happen to pass the film and television section. Among the titles on the shelf?

“Silent Bob Speaks - The Collected Writings of Kevin Smith”

(Buy it from Kevin direct, get it autographed, too.)

To me, Kevin is the kind of guy who I envisioned my future self to be way back in those junior college film school years. While I don’t share his successes, I do have some of the same interests. Comics were once a big part of that. I was one of the folks who had my comic saver at the local shop(s) and religiously followed my favorite titles. So over the years that Kevin has gone public, I’ve enjoyed following him from time to time. Whether watching his appearances (such as last year at Wondercon here in San Francisco) or the Evening(s) with Kevin Smith on cable (and now on DVD’s).

So, I thought, “Why not?” and bought the book. What we have here is a series of columns he wrote for various outlets that cover some of the time between the production of “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back” through “Jersey Girl” and ends with a romp of a good time with an insiders look at Comicon that a British magazine couldn’t see the humor (or as they would spell it - humour) in.

We’re not talking anything earth shattering or ground breaking if that’s what you’re looking for in the printed page. What you do get is some pretty straight forward expression that continues along the line Kevin Smith has already set. If he’s someone who makes you laugh (and I hope he does if you’re part of my generation right now; you know the crowding 50 demographic), then the book does more of the same.

If he’s not your cup of tea, move along. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for. And you probably will miss that reference, too. Such a pity...

But, by now, you probably guessed that I liked what I read or you wouldn’t be reading about it here, would you?