Everything you wanted to know about Porkington's World
Get to know Porkington Hamm
J. Porkington Hamm - a true gentleman
A Short Guide to Porkington’s World
The name Porkington Hamm popped into my head one day while I was pulling weeds. Maybe because the name Hamm is not so unusual in my part of the world. Maybe because I was a fan of the British television series Downton Abbey, still in production at the time, and Porkington sounded to me like a name belonging to the landed gentry.
But Porkington didn’t start out as a gentleman. Porkington started life as a pig.
Now, I am not a farmer, nor do I know much about livestock, but I do read the news. Pigs have long been in the scientific news because they are useful in medical research, being mammals with certain similarities to humans.
So when the name Porkington Hamm came to me, I imagined that he had received a dose of an experimental stem cell serum which turned him into a human, but with a few traces of his original appearance.
That’s when I started wondering what life would be like for Porkington, who knew in his heart of hearts that he was a human and a gentleman, but looked a little different on the outside. I was concerned about how he might be perceived and treated by others.
I developed a real soft spot for Porkington Hamm. The result is this six-book series (with another on the way!)
In Porkington Hamm, the first book in the series, we learn that he was born in the animal science department at City University. Like his relatives, Porkington grew to maturity quickly, and would have to come up to speed about the world. Tom Major, a young professor, shelters Porkington in his apartment. It’s there that Porkington becomes a fan of the fictional TV series, Uptown Manor, learns to talk, gains his sense of style, and discovers his interest in cooking.
Even so, it’s hard for him to go out into the world on his own. There’s so much he doesn’t know! He’s uncertain about what to wear and how to act. And often people give him nasty looks, or are genuinely afraid of him.
Tom’s departure leaves Porkington vulnerable. A troublemaker from Tom’s past appears, and through trickery takes Porkington hostage, planning to return him to his original state. But her evil plans don’t stop there. Will Porkington escape before he’s barbecued?
The second book in the series, Porkington Returns, focuses both on our hero and his new friend, Swinson McHoag. Swinson became human in a similar way at a university in the Midwest where animal testing goes on unchecked. Swinson happily relocates to the City, and he and Porkington share an apartment.
Swinson’s new job at City Library puts him in contact with the public, so he must learn to get his squeaky, growly voice under control. But that’s not his only problem at the library. One of his co-workers wants his job, and tries to get him fired.
Another thing is troubling Swinson. When he moved to the City he left a brother behind, and now Bo is not safe. In fact Bo is only being kept alive because scientists want to harvest his organs for transplant.
A rescue attempt ensues, but Bo wants more than freedom. He was “created” through an injection of stem cell serum, and wants a mate to be created for him the same way. He takes a hostage in order to force his would-be rescuers to create his bride, and a piglet is injected with the serum. But things don’t turn out the way Bo has imagined.
Bonny’s Debut is the third book in the series. You can probably guess that it focuses on Bonny McHoag, Swinson’s ward who is rescued from the university in the Midwest and raised by Swinson and Porkington in the City.
Her guardians try to spare Bonny the indignities they have suffered and actually give her a childhood, but Bonny can’t wait to gain her independence and come out of hiding.
She gets her chance when Porkington and Swinson leave town for the summer. With a new job, a summer class at City School for the Arts, and people to look after her, Bonny is excited to embark on new adventures. But she quickly learns that not everyone is accepting. In a classic story of school bullies and coming of age, Bonny learns about herself and her place in her found family.
Porkington Hamm and the Lost Gold, book four in Porkington’s World, is a true wild west adventure. Porkington searches for gold in New Mexico while on a trail ride with the mysterious One-Eyed Jack, a mammoth donkey named Duncan, and a dog named Kitty. And did I mention snakes?
When Porkington gets separated from the rest of the party, the gold hunter becomes the hunted. But ultimately Porkington learns some life lessons, and gains a lot of self-confidence.
Since Porkington lives in our world, he is exposed to many of the holidays we celebrate. In Christmas Hamm: How Porkington Found the Holiday Spirit, we see him trying to get into the mood for the sake of his family. But his work is hectic, decorating is a disaster, and shopping makes him shriek. The holiday excess is getting on his nerves, and the Scrooge in him is winning out.
Top that off with his growing awareness of how some on the margins of society suffer from want of basic necessities, and ho-ho-ho turns to humbug. Only when he learns that people do care, and sees how he can join them in helping others, can he experience the joy of Christmas.
The focus is back on Mugsy’s Café in Porkington Hamm and the Killer Tomatoes. Mugsy’s is Porkington’s workplace and home away from home. Unfortunately, Mugsy’s is struggling. A new café is gobbling up customers faster than you can say cappuccino, and Bonny goes undercover to discover what really goes on there.
Meanwhile, Porkington’s timely invitation to cook for the Gustatory Arts Guild and their famed head, James Templeton Brockley III, should bring the café a much-needed publicity boost. But when Brockley is found dead under suspicious circumstances before the dinner can take place, Porkington turns detective to help solve the crime.
Ask your library or local book store to carry all the books in Porkington’s World. Or find them at your favorite online store.