Saga continues to impress and shock. This series is definitely not for everyone and I feel like this issue went farther when it comes to controversialSaga continues to impress and shock. This series is definitely not for everyone and I feel like this issue went farther when it comes to controversial issues and content than any previous issue. It makes it one heck of a ride, but proceed with caution if you offend easily!
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For me, the controversial content (which I cannot specify without spoilers) is presented in a fascinating and moving way. It is not always easy to weave sensitive content into a story, but this volume handles two or three hot button topics pretty perfectly.
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The art continues to be fantastic: detailed, beautiful, at times grotesque, always wonderful to look at. I am so glad that this series has kept up a high standard of illustration through eight volumes.
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Graphic novel fans, sci-fi fans, fans of stories that do not hesitate to shock in order to make a statement - you must all read this series!
Merged review:
Saga continues to impress and shock. This series is definitely not for everyone and I feel like this issue went farther when it comes to controversial issues and content than any previous issue. It makes it one heck of a ride, but proceed with caution if you offend easily!
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For me, the controversial content (which I cannot specify without spoilers) is presented in a fascinating and moving way. It is not always easy to weave sensitive content into a story, but this volume handles two or three hot button topics pretty perfectly.
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The art continues to be fantastic: detailed, beautiful, at times grotesque, always wonderful to look at. I am so glad that this series has kept up a high standard of illustration through eight volumes.
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Graphic novel fans, sci-fi fans, fans of stories that do not hesitate to shock in order to make a statement - you must all read this series!...more
I was not sure if I would finish the Gwendy trilogy. I really liked the first book but did not care much for the second one. If it was not for the facI was not sure if I would finish the Gwendy trilogy. I really liked the first book but did not care much for the second one. If it was not for the fact that this book was available on Overdrive when I was looking for something to listen to, I am not sure I would have given it a shot.
I must admit I am glad I did. It was much better than the second book and a fitting end to the story.
A mix of mystery, sci-fi, and horror; it has all the elements you love from Stephen King. His collaboration with Chizmar was very good on this and I wonder how much of it is King and how much of it is Chizmar. Something I read previously (don’t ask me to site my source because I honestly don’t remember) led me to believe this series is mostly Chizmar with King mainly serving as inspiration. I cannot say if that is truly the case, but it would make sense.
One maybe “complaint” is that this book gets very political. I didn’t used to have an issue with politics in books, but after the past few years I am exhausted by it and want my books to be an escape. You are definitely not escaping modern political opinions in this one. I am not going to focus on which side of things the politics fall in this book (I am bet all of you probably can guess which way they fall) because all of it exhausts me!
So, politics aside, it is a better book than the second one, has a good ending, and I am 100% glad I finished this adventure. Should you try the trilogy? I am not sure that I can recommend it, but I am also not sure I can discourage you. At least each of the books are short so if you get to a place you just don’t feel like it is working for you, at least you will have not committed too much time to it! ...more
I swear that I read this when I was younger, but when I went to add this to Goodreads as a re-read (it was the January selection for my Completist BooI swear that I read this when I was younger, but when I went to add this to Goodreads as a re-read (it was the January selection for my Completist Book Club), I did not find it in my list. And, because this is one of those books that has a plot people tend to know because of movies and/or its general pop culture relevance, it is difficult for me to know which parts of my memories of this are from the book and which are from other places. But, re-read or not, I am glad I read it in January 2022.
This is classic sci fi. It is easy to see how many parts of this led to the tropes we see in literary and cinematic sci-fi today. And it is pretty amazing the creativity Wells had for coming up with such vivid and scientifically based alien technology and biology. This book was way ahead of its time!
While the setting is late 1800s England (horse carriages, telegrams, etc.), it is not hard to picture this in a modern setting. Wells did a great job making the story timeless. Often when I read books set in this era, they may be good, but they can also feel dated – not a bad thing, it is just that time moves on. But, with this one, society may have advanced, but it did not feel like time had moved on.
If you love the classics and/or love sci-fi and you have not read this book, I feel like it is a must for you to get it on your list right away. I was leaning toward 4 stars on this book, but the classic status and the effect it has had on sci fi over the years push that up to 5 stars!...more
“Seems to be a deep instinct in human beings for making everything compulsory that isn't forbidden.”
Politics and space . . . not a surprise when readi“Seems to be a deep instinct in human beings for making everything compulsory that isn't forbidden.”
Politics and space . . . not a surprise when reading Heinlein. With his writing will always be some very interesting sci-fi space travel, action, etc., but the political allegory is also always there. And, while some authors hide the point they are making under the story, I feel like Heinlein unapologetically puts his right on the surface. Sometimes this has not worked for me (I was not a huge fan of Stranger in a Strange Land), but with The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, I found the balance perfect; not only was I entertained by the sci-fi, but it made me think without feeling like I was being preached at (too much).
But as you can see with the quote below . . . as I said . . . it is right there on the surface!
“A rational anarchist believes that concepts such as "state" and "society" and "government" have no existence save as physically exemplified in the acts of self-responsible individuals. He believes that it is impossible to shift blame, share blame, distribute blame. . . as blame, guilt, responsibility are matters taking place inside human beings singly and nowhere else. But being rational, he knows that not all individuals hold his evaluations, so he tries to live perfectly in an imperfect world. . . aware that his effort will be less than perfect yet undismayed by self-knowledge of self-failure.”
If you like just straight up action sci-fi to mainly escape with for a while, Heinlein may not be for you. But if you are a fan of a bit of political introspection in the midst of your Artificial Intelligence and laser battles, this book is worth trying. ...more
V is for Vendetta is one of those graphic novels that I would think that everyone at least kind of knows about due to the 2005 movie with Natalie PortV is for Vendetta is one of those graphic novels that I would think that everyone at least kind of knows about due to the 2005 movie with Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving or the fact that the Guy Fawkes mask from it has become a popular pop culture symbol. It has been a long time since I have seen the movie, but it feels like in many ways it followed the graphic novel closely. But, if you want the full experience of the story as it was meant to be, reading the graphic novel is a must.
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This was definitely the longest it ever took me to complete a graphic novel. This is not the fault of the graphic novel itself, it just happened to be chosen as the monthly read for one of my book clubs when I was in the midst of one of the worst reading slumps of my life. Because of this, I never really gained any momentum with this one. So, do not look at the length of time it took me to read this one and it does not really reflect my experience with it at all.
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However, I would not say I am in with the people who were blown away by this book or feel like the experience is life changing. I know that this story has a passionate following considering it has become the symbol of how some people feel about government in general. It is very easy to see why this is the case as this book doesn’t pull any punches in the same way that 1984 didn’t pull any punches. And, while I can 100% appreciate that, I didn’t quite connect with this as much as I had hoped. I truly think that this relates to the fact that time in my life that I met this book. Over the past few years of dealing with political debate in America, I have become quite exhausted with it all, so I think this felt like reading the news that I have been trying to avoid!
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All that being said, it is a good and thought-provoking story. If you enjoy dystopian fiction and don’t mind when it doesn’t fall too far from the reality tree, then you will find something here to scratch your reading itch.
So far, I enjoy this series despite frequently having trouble keeping characters and events straight in my head. TThe sprawling Space Opera continues!
So far, I enjoy this series despite frequently having trouble keeping characters and events straight in my head. There is just so much content here that it is like drinking from the firehose (on top of retaining events from previous firehose-consumption books). It is a series worthy of a study guide and a flowchart.
One of the most intriguing parts of this entry in the series is the indepth speculation on the effects of space travel on the human body. Most sci-fi series just accept that the characters are traveling quickly through space without issue. In this series, and this book in particular, there are many scenes where space travel does not go as expected and the results are fascinatingly gruesome.
So, while the series still occasionally has me going back to reread parts or sometimes trying to hunt down recaps online, I continue to enjoy it and I think any sci-fi fan should give it a try....more
This was another audiobook with my wife during our evening couch time. Before Netflix or Hulu, its Overdrive or Hoopla!
This book is a thinker! A creatThis was another audiobook with my wife during our evening couch time. Before Netflix or Hulu, its Overdrive or Hoopla!
This book is a thinker! A creative new look at time travel: living life non-sequentially and what that would mean to your relationships and the decisions you make. Join Oona on this journey and discover how Margarita Montimore approaches this crazy conundrum.
I imagine this book will get under the skin of some due to the potential of time travel paradoxes and how certain consequences are ignored. While it is true that I thought about these and even discussed a few with my wife along the way, I was able to suspend disbelief and just sit back and enjoy. If you think you might struggle accepting paradoxes in a story, this is not the book for you.
Overall, this was enjoyable. My only criticisms would be around the pacing and the tightness of the story: it started to drag a little at times and I could feel the plot starting to meander. But the fact that the story could basically restart every chapter with a new year refocused my attention.
I recently read The Midnight Library, which has a somewhat similar theme and I liked a bit better, but this was still a good one worth checking out if you might enjoy a less sci-fi take on time travel and a little magical realism. ...more
Slaughterhouse-Five is a weird book. In prepping to review this adaptation I saw several mentions of it being practically unadaptable to any other forSlaughterhouse-Five is a weird book. In prepping to review this adaptation I saw several mentions of it being practically unadaptable to any other format. However, I think this graphic novel version does a pretty darn good job.
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Both the original and this version are weird. They are hard to follow. But they are oh so beautiful in their melancholy cynicism that is tainted with a little bit of hope. The story is a non-linear reflection on life that varies from the gut-wrenchingly real to the outlandishly absurd. It really is a story worthy of classic status and it was expertly handled and adapted by Ryan North and Albert Monteys.
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The art is perfect and wonderful to look at. It goes from light to dark and realistic to far fetched with perfect fluidity around our tragic hero, Billy Pilgrim. It is detailed where it needs to be, simple in other perfectly placed areas. I think it was the art that really helped make the unadaptable adaptable. I would love to read more works illustrated by this artist.
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I always say you should read the source material first – and I agree with that statement here. However, this is an adaptation worthy of the original and should be checked out by fans of Vonnegut’s work.
I have to admit something kind of embarrassing here. I have never really given much thought to the title of this book. Also, there has never been muchI have to admit something kind of embarrassing here. I have never really given much thought to the title of this book. Also, there has never been much reason for me to use leagues as a unit of measurement. But, up until reading this book I always thought of the "Leagues Under the Sea" as the distance under the surface they go. But, actually, it is indicating a distance AROUND the world that they are travelling under the water. So, yeah . . . my face is a bit red!
Verne may be the king of speculative sci-fi. He wrote so many books covering scientific discoveries that were just conjecture at the time, but ended up coming true. Maybe not all of it ended up in reality, but a lot of it did. I had to keep reminding myself that the things that sounded pretty normal for submarine travel were remarkable and unheard of at the time.
I am not sure if this classic will appeal to all. Some of the sections do get repetitive and tend towards dryness. However, for me, the whole experience was worth it and I am glad to add another classic to my list of books read....more
As an issue by itself: 4 stars As an issue continuing the storyline of a series: 2.5 to 3 stars
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I am not really sure what happened to this seriesAs an issue by itself: 4 stars As an issue continuing the storyline of a series: 2.5 to 3 stars
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I am not really sure what happened to this series, but it seems to have gone off the rails from the original plot. What started as an intriguing mystery (which may still be in there somewhere) turned into an action packed revenge story for this issue.
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As mentioned in my star rating at the top, I really did enjoy the action and the revenge. And, if this stood alone I could easily walk away giving it 4 stars. But, trying to reconcile it with the plot I was given 4 issues ago, I am totally lost. I think there is only one issue left so we will see if it comes full circle.
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The art is just okay for me in this series. There are a few really great frames but a lot of the times the faces and expression seem slightly off/incorrectly proportioned. The covers are much better and I wish that had been the art used in the story.
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So, I cannot say I continue to recommend this title. It had some cool stuff early on, but feels like it is fading away....more
Very nice start to a series! The first volume of graphic novels does not always draw me in, but Descender did a pretty good job of hooking me for the Very nice start to a series! The first volume of graphic novels does not always draw me in, but Descender did a pretty good job of hooking me for the long haul!
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My first impression was that this was going to be an odd one so I worried that it would take me a while to get into. When I read another sci-fi title, Saga, I ended up enjoying it, but it was so unusual that it did not click for me right away. It was not until vol 2 or 3 that I was hooked. With Descender vol 1, the writer and artist did a fantastic job of giving backstory, introducing characters, and world build in short order without causing too much confusion.
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I really enjoy what they have done with the art here. It is impressionistic – fuzzy lines, incomplete images, etc. - room for your imagination to run wild even with some of the imagery defined for you. Sometimes I don’t care for impressionistic art in graphic novels, but it really works and is very well done here.
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If you enjoy sci-fi and graphic novels and you have not tried this one, I think you should. I am really glad that I did and I am looking forward to checking out more volumes.
I feel like reviewing this could be dangerous. There are many who have strong feelings about this book. Also, as my statWhat just happened to me . . .
I feel like reviewing this could be dangerous. There are many who have strong feelings about this book. Also, as my status updates for this were hitting Twitter, I was getting several likes from random Pynchon fans, so I feel like this could be under more of a microscope than usual.
So . . . here is how I am going to do this review. The first paragraph will be my experience with the book and my star review. This is strictly my experience and does not reflect on how I feel others should feel about this book. If it triggers anyone, that is not my intention . . . but nothing surprises me anymore. After that I will have just a few bullet point observations that are not necessarily pros or cons, but just things that went through my mind while reading.
Here goes!
Overall . . . I am giving this book 3 stars. At times I felt like I was at 1 star and ready to give up. At other times I was at 5 stars and what I was reading was creative genius. So, it only seems fair to average things out around 3. It was not an easy book to read, follow, or stay interested in. I often found my mind wandering and had to go back several times to recap. But, when a section stuck with me, it really stuck with me and, overall, it is a book I will not forget.
Now . . . random Gravity’s Rainbow thoughts . . .
- If David Foster Wallace was not partially inspired by this book to write Infinite Jest, I would be very surprised. There is such a similar feel between the two. - Throughout the book I also kept thinking this felt at times like Catch-22 (released 12 years before this book), so I feel like Pynchon must have had some inspiration from that classic. - I heard that this book won the Pulitzer, but they retracted the award because of the extreme nature of the content. After reading the book, I am not saying it is right that they did it, but I can say that I am not surprised. - If you are sensitive or easily offended (and blush easily), this may not be the book for you. It has been a long time since I have been this shocked about things that were put down on the page. Also, proceed with caution when reading my next bullet point. - If there was a book about The History of the Penis, it would refer to penises less than this book does. To be blunt, I think penises (and ejaculation) came up so much in this book as a symbolism of rockets, their trajectory, and the force of a launch. - This is a book I feel you might need online resources to help you get through/understand it. It has so much bizarre stream of conscious imagery and so many outlandish plot points that a little extra help won’t hurt.
I am going to stop there for now, but this book was so long and led to so many thoughts while I was on my journey that I may come back later to add additional bullet points as I think of/remember them.
Do I recommend this book? Did you like Catch-22 and Infinite Jest? Do you like very epic, very bizarre stories that will likely make your head hurt but also might blow your mind? Are you trying to complete a list of recommended books? Then yes! But otherwise . . . no or proceed with extreme caution. ...more
This is a classic book that I could not remember if I have read before or not. I know the story and have seen many different uses, references to it, rThis is a classic book that I could not remember if I have read before or not. I know the story and have seen many different uses, references to it, retellings, etc. My favorite is probably Angry Video Game nerd on YouTube who HATES the video game version from the original Nintendo. However, now I have 100% for sure read it!
This has a similar format to other Victorian horror novels: lots of letters and retellings from some of the main characters and some bystanders. This format is well known from the books Dracula and Frankenstein. In fact, when I was done, I tried to remember if the reader ever actually meets Dr. Jekyll, or if he is just referenced in other peoples' anecdotes.
It is a decent, quick read. Maybe not really all that scary or horrific (if that is what you are looking for). But, the mystery is a bit spooky and the characters interesting. Whether you like it or not, it will only take two or three hours of your life and then you can check another classic off your list (and, you can then see how it compares to all the other references you have seen to it!)
Click below for Angry Video Game Nerd's take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde:
Sure, it is loaded down with science and math. And, at times, the science and math can slow down the narrative a bit. BuWoah! This book was excellent!
Sure, it is loaded down with science and math. And, at times, the science and math can slow down the narrative a bit. But there is no need to understand the math and science to enjoy this unconventional sci-fi story. And, in a world flooded with sci-fi literature for the past 75 years or so, it is kind of amazing to find a fresh new take. (Note: I am sure that someone who is more well read in sci-fi is going to read this review and give some examples where this is not actually as creative as my experience was. But, at least for me, it was fresh, new territory!)
If you have enjoyed Weir’s other books, I have no doubt that you will enjoy this adventure. It is another case of someone “Science-ing the s#%t” out of many tight spaces. A perfect blend of humor, suspense, and heart; I laughed, I cried, I screamed out loud! This was a great way to help start of my reading in 2022....more
A decently entertaining volume of this very odd sci-fi/horror/western! At times, I ask myself why I am reading this because I can’t real4 Stars
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A decently entertaining volume of this very odd sci-fi/horror/western! At times, I ask myself why I am reading this because I can’t really tell if I am enjoying it or not. But, usually by the end of each volume I think to myself, “Yeah, that was pretty cool!”
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The story of East of West is so weird, each time I start a new volume I am not really sure what is happening. But, then again, it is likely that I had no idea what was happening at the end of the last volume either. This is a title where you just have to sit back and go with the flow.
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This volume seemed extra heavy on the big, epic art panels. Instead of a bunch of cells per page, I felt like I was more often looking at one large focused image. This was pretty cool as it allowed me to really take in the art without words in the way. And, the art is really, really awesome so I was glad to see this.
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If you are into bizarre, mind-bending, sci-fi/horror mixed with a bit of alternate history, this is for you! (Did I add too many criteria points there? If someone specifically defines their interests as “weird, mindbending, sci-fi/horror, alternate history” I would be surprised. But you never know!
Once again – speculative sci-fi has been mastered by Blake Crouch!
5 stars and the best of the Forward series.
This is a perfectly crafted techno-thrilOnce again – speculative sci-fi has been mastered by Blake Crouch!
5 stars and the best of the Forward series.
This is a perfectly crafted techno-thriller from page one. The concept was unique and the results surprising on almost every page. At times my heart was wrenched. Other times my mind was blown. It is surprising that my body is still in one piece after this experience!
I will say this, if you are a video gamer, you may never look at the non-player characters again after reading this one!
For those who have seen Black Mirror – this story would fit in perfectly with all the wonderfully weird, technology driven tales you find there. In fact, the whole Forward series could easily be the next season of the show.
Crouch was the mastermind behind putting the Forward series together and I hope he does it again. The results were awesome! ...more
Book five of the six title Forward series for me. This one by the author of A Gentleman In Moscow - which I read earlier this year and enjoyed 3 Stars
Book five of the six title Forward series for me. This one by the author of A Gentleman In Moscow - which I read earlier this year and enjoyed - so I had high hopes going in.
But, overall it was just okay.
I thought the first part - half to three-fourths or so - we're very good and built up my expectations for the ending. The idea basically being could you predict the life of your future child in the same way your credit score predicts how good you are with money. The scenarios presented were interesting and thought provoking.
But, then the story went off in a different direction and the intrigue of the concept was lost for me. I can tell what the author was trying to do and say, it was just that the content of the end felt so disjointed that it didn't enthral me like the beginning did.
Hopefully if you try you will have a different experience. But, so far, probably my least favorite of the series....more
Emergency Skin was my next (and fourth) journey into the Forward series. I have been enjoying these little bites of speculative science 3.5 to 4 stars
Emergency Skin was my next (and fourth) journey into the Forward series. I have been enjoying these little bites of speculative science fiction. So far, I would highly recommend this group of short stories to any science fiction fan.
This entry from N.K. Jemisin focuses on the question of who would really be at fault if we are forced to abandon a ruined Earth someday? In addition to this, do the people with the most money and power know what’s best for our planet as a whole? The one-sided delivery of the narrative with a lot of the responses implied is unique and not too hard to get used to. There is a lot of food for thought contained in a small package here.
Not much more to say! :) Short story, short review - but, a story worth an hour of you time!...more
I have to be honest and say that approached this short story with trepidation. My open-mindedness to review this was tainted. I have rea3 to 3.5 stars
I have to be honest and say that approached this short story with trepidation. My open-mindedness to review this was tainted. I have read two Paul Tremblay novels and didn't like either of them - REALLY didn't like either of them (1 and 2 star reviews). Of all the Forward stories, this is the only one I really didn't want to listen to.
So, today I decided to just rip off the band-aid and jump in feet first. At least it was only an hour and forty five minutes on audio so I knew if I didn't like it, I didn't have to commit too much of my time.
But, in the end, it was pretty good - definitely the best Tremblay I have read so far. It was a unique story of a post-apocalyptic world - one in which you really are not quite sure what is happening (but you can tell something is happening) for most of the story. I won't say too much more to avoid spoilers, but I will give you a hint by saying that even the last sentence of the story adds to the evolution of the plot.
The Last Conversation is a worthy entry in the Forward series and may have re-established some of my faith in Tremblay's writing . . . just a little! ...more
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