Carl Hiaasen has written some fantastic fiction. He's kept both adults and kids entertained for years with his storytelling, which is usually set against the backdrop of sunny -- but often scandal-infused -- Florida. On rare occasions, the author pulls his excellent columns from the Miami Herald together into one collection, much to the delight of both Hiaasen fans and nonfiction fans. Lucky us: He's just done it again with Dance of the Reptiles: Rampaging Tourists, Marauding Pythons, Larcenous Legislators, Crazed Celebrities, and Tar-Balled Beaches: Selected Columns.

In this particular collection, Hiaasen addresses such issues as pollution, animal well-being, Bernie Madoff, and politics -- and as one reads, one may glean from what gets him going sources of inspiration too. And, of course, Hiaasen's humor isn't lost in any of his writing, as evidenced by his recent talk at the Key West Literary Seminar.

Whether or not you're familiar with Hiaasen, Dance of the Reptiles is a great move -- and as a bonus you can check it out on audio, read by veteran narrator Arte Johnson. Listen to an excerpt below.