To be something abnormal meant you were to serve the normal. And if you refused, they hated you …and often the normal hated you even when you did serve them. Who Fears Death is the story of a young woman who, in the face of formidable obstacles, must change the world. Onyesonwu, whose name means “who fears death,” possesses mystical powers. While this makes her unusual in her town, it is not what sets her apart from others, at least not at first. The novel […]
How do you survive when the earth itself fights you.
The Fifth Season is the first book in a trilogy by N.K. Jemisin, it’s so very good and so very hard to push through. The book starts with an incident that essentially sets the tone for the whole novel. I am definitely waiting, with impatience, for the next one though. The book follows three different story lines throughout this strange fantasy world called The Stillness. This world suffers from frequent seismic activity leading to what the people call Seasons, periods of time where there is acid rain, […]
Less in your face hilarity, more story cohesion.
I don’t quite know how to rate this one, because it’s so different from the first two volumes. I’m pretty sure this book marks the occasion of Lumberjanes being made from a limited run series to an ongoing, so changes have been made accordingly, and I’m not quite sure how I feel about all of them yet. The most notable thing of course is that the series has a new artist. Actually, two of them (plus several guest artists in the first issue collected here, […]
Now with dinosaurs.
If you loved Lumberjanes, Vol. 1, you will also love Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max, because it’s the same thing, except MORE. More friendship, more monsters, more weird mysteries surrounding their camp, more little girls riding velociraptors. This volume centers around three main events: a friendship bracelet making session none of the campers are that interested in, but their beleaguered counselor Jen (who is so earnest it’s painful) wants them to learn instead of going to the Raccoon Rodeo (whatever that is), and […]
Friendship to the Max.
I read this yesterday when I was in a truly abysmal mood (all of my stress is currently camping out on my right shoulder, like, roasting marshmallows and felling trees and shit) and it made me laugh so hard. I was immediately charmed by the girls, the style of the art, and the can-do weirdness it has on display. With as much as I enjoyed it as an adult, I’m sure this thing will kill with its target audience. (I’m going to start saying “What […]
A brief visit to New Crobuzon and other exotic locales
Books of short stories are always hard to review, and China Mieville books are also hard to review, so I’m not sure how much I have to say about this one. I love China, and his books always make me think, and he’s amazing at atmosphere. He’s in this weird in-between limbo where I’d almost call him one of my favorite authors, but none of his actual books would make my favorites books list. I’ve been spacing out and savoring his stuff since I discovered him two Cannonballs […]