Key Details Author: Rebecca Pawel Genre: Detective/ mystery novel Goodreads : Link This is an interesting novel which is in the form of a detective story/ murder mystery set at the conclusion of the Spanish Civil war in 1939 where the nationalists under General Franco came to power. The novel follows in the footsteps of the Tejada; an officer in the Guardia Civil (Police) as he investigates the death of a colleague. The novelist has st a touch challenge for herself by having the protagonist be a policeman representing a totalitarian and Fascist regime. Given in our current context where the role of police is being heavily condemned, makes it even more so difficult have sympathy for the character where the novel opens with Tejada killing in cold blood someone who happened to be at the scene of the crime and which sets the novel in open Leaving that aspect aside, the novel is well paced and as new characters are introduced, the reader is kept guessing as to who might be the the true perpetrator of the crime. I also felt with respect to the setting of the novel where hunger and fear are commonplace while living in a bombed out Madrid as well as Tejada's detective work which seems to rely alot on pure luck and alot of mistaken identities, felt very realistic and believable. While you don't need to have a deep understanding of the Spanish Civil war to follow the plot of the novel, you might miss some of the more subtle references and I personally would have liked to see more exposition about these in the novel. The ending was quite unexpected though felt it was a bit rushed and some of the loose ends seemed to be resolved a bit too neatly. But apart from that its an interesting read for someone who likes mystery novels
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Book name: For the Most Beautiful Author: Emily Hauser Genre: Historical Fantasy/ Mythology Goodreads: Link For the most beautiful By Emily Hauser tells the story from the Perspective of two Trojan Women who are mentioned in Homer's Illiad which is the source & inspiration for many retelling of the epic conflict which is waged both amongst mortals and Gods. The two characters at the centre of the novel are Krysayis the daughter of the High priest of Apollo and Briseis, a princess of Pedasus who are taken captive by the invading Greeks and describes their experiences as they survive and attempt to shift the fate of the war. The novel is written by an author who has a historians background and hence aspects of that filter through in terms of the attention to detail given to the days of the months and time periods of the day as well as the different names used by the Trojans and Greeks who keep the same gods. At the same time the author avoids dumping too much information on the reader making it a fairly crisp and easy read. However, apart from these few details, I didn't feel like her background informed the story and characters depicted in the novel. The author doubles down on the stereotypes pertaining to different characters such as a tyrannical Agamemnon, a warmongering Achilles and a conniving Helen. Another strange aspect of the novel is the graphic descriptions of the female characters which felt like it was very much written from a Male Gaze. Would like to give the author the benefit of the doubt this is an attempt to critique the source material of the story and the context of the time period that is being depicted, though I don't see how this improves the story or what purpose this serves. The novel is written from the first person perspective of the two women and has been limited to just two characters which makes it easy follow along. However I felt that the switching between the different POV in terms of the length of each chapter felt too quick. This might have been an attempt to convey a sense of urgency and dynamism (while also trying to provide a 'cliffhanger' ending) but as a result you feel like you don't have time to sit with the character and digest what takes place. In addition, the story of the two women is punctuated by short glimpses into the life and times of the Gods who in the novel acted like Comic relief where they spoke and acted in a very modern perspective while the rest of the mortals followed a more 'classical' style which was a bit jarring. However one of the more interesting scenes of the novel was when one of the characters encountered the God Apollo and realized that the Greeks & Trojans keep the same Gods. The author decision to include the role of the Gods in the novel is also a bit of the issue is terms of the structure of the novel and the agency given to the characters who spend a sizable portion on the novel on a certain matter only for the Gods to intervene and completely throw off their planning. As a result it felt like while the author wanted to tell a fresh story, it has led to the characters having to make choices that requires a leap of logic in order to stay true to the source material. Overall, while the novel had a promising start and placed characters who had been marginalized as the main protagonist, felt the novel didn't really add anything to the Canon of the Trojan war which is already saturated with the event being used as a staging point for so many great and not so great stories using the event. . Key Details Book name: Blade Runner or Do Androids Dream of Sheep Author: Philiip K Dick Genre: Scifi Goodreads Link: Goodreads Publication date: 1968 Like most people, I was introduced to the imagination of Phillp K Dick through the film blade Runner and the more recent Tv Series 'Man in the High Castle'. So imagine my surprise to find out that the plot of the book differs quite abit from the film adaption of it. Even if you have watched the original and the more recent film, the book delves into some of the more philosophical aspects of a world where humans and Androids (Known as Andy's) are indistinguishable from each other Plot Synopsis In a post apocalyptic earth, Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter attached to the Police Department that is responsible for hunting down and 'retiring' Androids that have escaped from their servitude. In the process of 'retiring' 6 Nexus-6 model Andy's; a more advanced form of Androids that are capable of empathy, Deckard begins to question his own humanity and what it truly means to be human The Pro's - What I liked about the Novel "It would seem we lack a specific talent you humans possess. I believe its called empathy." - Garland an Android talking to Rick who had stumbled upon the bounty hunting agency that is peopled by Androids The book explores and questions the role of empathy and if that is a defining aspect of humanity. As Rick goes about his job and 'retires' Andy's in cold blood, he begins to question whether it is right to have empathic responses towards Andy's. This comes into focus when he interacts with Rachel; who Rick figures out is one of the advanced Andy's and start developing feelings towards her. His interactions are further complicated when he meets with Phil Resch; another bounty hunter who has no qualms about killing Andy's. The interesting point is that the novel is ambiguous as to whether Phil himself is an Android. At the same time, while their is no empathy towards Androids who for all intents and purposes are indistinguishable from humans, what humans seem to prize above all else in this world is animals who are few in number due to the effects of a nuclear fallout. The interesting aspect though is that for those who cannot afford actual animals can obtain cheaper Android versions of them which are also indistinguishable from the real thing. Humans seem to transfer all of their empathy towards these animals regardless of whether they are the real thing or not. On the subject of Empathy, an interesting technology that is presented in the book is the Empathy Boxes which is tied to the Pseudo religion of the story known as Mercerism. The people with empathy boxes connect to others through a process known as fusion where they can experience the empathy of other which is usually in the context of empathy towards animals. Something that is suggested by the novel is that people seem to be more empathic with people they never meet in person through this process, compared to the people around them as is the case between Rick and his wife. This could be a critique of modern technology and its role in weakening the empathic bonds. Another aspect I found really interesting was that when it comes to the android versions of animals, the humans are not looking for animals which are 'perfect'. i.e Don't break down and fall 'sick'. Instead the animals are Disease circuits built into the false animals where hen a primary circuit misfired, the whole thing appeared not broken but organically ill. This seeming 'imperfection' may in fact be the reason why emphatic bonds can be formed with even the fake animals. "I tell you what we trust that fouls us up, its our goddamn superior intelligence" - Irmgard to Roy Baty Towards the end of the novel, this aspect of empathy is also questioned by the Andy's who are in hiding in an abandoned building where they are sheltered by John Isidore, a human of low IQ as a consequence of the nuclear fallout. One of the Andy's argues with Roy Baty; the leader of the Andy's and who plays a much more central role in the film as the main antagonist to spare Isidore's life. The Con's The 1980's film is regarded as a groundbreaking movie in the Scifi genre particularly due to its popularization of the 'Steam Punk' genre and the distinct look of it that makes it a defining film of its era. In contrast, the novel is very sparse in its descriptions of the world and instead invokes a much more bleak environment. In addition, the action is very limited and any violence is limited to a few sentences. While this maybe the authors intent in order to convey the lack of empathy being exhibited in these confrontations between Rick, Resch and the Andy's, it seems less effective and evocative than the film. Another aspect that is not fully dealt with in the book is the role of Mercerism and the strange supernatural occurences that takes place towards the end of the novel. As a result of it, the novel in my view has a less than satisfactory ending. Verdict If you are a fan of philosophical questions raised in a Scifi context then this is definitely something worth checking out. If however are looking for something with more action and a bit less confusion, then watching the movie might be the better option. Regardless of this even if you have already seen the film and enjoy it more, I believe the book is a good supplement to it at exploring some of the deeper philosophical questions raised by the film. Bonus: Trivia Did you know that the term 'Blade Runner' is something that was introduced by the movie and has no mention in the books? The director Ridley Scott borrowed the title from another Scifi author. Read more about this here and how such a seminal part of the film Franchise was an afterthought. Key Details Title: Templar Written By: Jordan Mechner Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham & Alex Puvillard Year of Publication: 2013 Goodreads: Link A brooding not so pious not so brave knight? Check A colourful cast of side characters providing comic relief and daring rescues? Check Sword fights, chase scenes & hidden treasure? Check Check and Check This was a random graphical novel that I picked up at the Big Bad Wolf sale which I thoroughly enjoyed. The story is set during the late 13th Century after the Siege of acre in 1291 where the Crusaders lost their last substantial foothold of the Holy land and follows the events leading upto the dissolution of the Knight's Templar the most famous crusading warrior monks of the time who are the centerpiece of the story. The story follows the antics of Martin; a not so pious and not so brave Templar and his band of Misfits who come together after the dissolution to locate the fabled treasure of Solomon which is supposed to have been uncovered by the Templar's in the Holy Land and was the main motive of the Phillip IV; the King of France who was deeply in debt to the Templars to dissolve the order. The novel is in the tradition of a crazy heist caper al la Ocean's Eleven, The Italian Job where Martin & Co have to band together to locate and steal the treasure literally under the noses of Chancellor Nogaret who is the chief antagonist of the novel. Throughout the novel, there are some good character developments and attempts to challenge some of the typical stereotypes of the genre such as Madame De Chalancon who is Martin's love interest who is the main (and only) female lead in the novel who is a strong character who stands her ground in a strongly patriarchal society. I was also surprised by the role of her brother who is a Bishop and where alot of the religious authority figures tend to get alot of the negativity from authors writing a few centuries down the line, it was interesting to see how his character was treated. In terms of the book, don't be fooled into thinking this is a light read due it being a graphical novel and is in fact a mammoth book with over 400 pages. Having said that the pacing of the story is good where the buildup and planning of the heist is dealt with in great detail while the action sequences deliver the punches effectively. The art style is reminiscent of other illustrated stories of Robin Hood and the artwork during some key moments really does shine through. Overall, If your a fan of the Tales of Robin Hood or Walter Scott novels like Ivanhoe this is definitely the book for you Martin & Co getting ready to embark on their heist Some of the great artwork in the novel which is keeping with the tradition of the medieval adventure novels
Key Details Title: Frankenstein Writer: Mary Wolstonecraft Shelley Year of Publication: 1818 Goodreads - Link Mary Wolstonecraft Shelley’s Frankenstein regarded as the pioneering work of science fiction is a product of its time and is influenced by the Gothic horror and Romance movements of the time. As most people know, Frankenstein refers to Victor Frankenstein, the creator rather than the creature of the novel and most of the novel is retold directly or indirectly from his perspective. The character of Frankenstein is clearly meant to be a cautionary tale on the danger of human hubris. While you may think you know the story of Victor Frankenstein and the creature he brings to life given the countless Hollywood depictions of it, the book has a number of surprising elements and explores a number of themes dealing with the hubris of humans and the dangers of Science without consequence which seems very relevant and resonates with our current technological age. Victor Frankenstein = The modern Prometheus I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. - Victor about to begin his experiment to reanimate the creature The alternative title of the book is the 'The Modern Prometheus' and like the Greek titan Prometheus who stole fire from the Gods and bestowed it on humans, Victor Frankenstein the main focal point of the novel engages in a similar endeavor by attempting to discover the secret of life by reanimating a creature of his creation. The novel follows his obsessive journey towards achieving this goal and like Prometheus who was later chained to a rock and tormented at the behest of Zeus, had to face the consequences of his action. Victor: The Serial Entrepreneur I would sacrifice my fortune, my existence, my every hope, to the furtherance of my enterprise. One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race. The central theme of the novel is about the hubris of humans and the and dangers of obsessive knowledge. Victor lusts after knowledge and pursues it with a single minded determination foresaking his friends, family and health. The way he dismisses the learnings of the past and the fact that he is not satisfied with settling for reanimating an animal or a human but rather a giant is a testament to the hubris he demonstrates. In the pursuit of this knowledge, Victor has no scruples about violating the dead in Charnel houses and graveyards in the dead of night in the pursuit of this knowledge. The curious thing though is after having surrounded himself with the 'Instruments of life' and completed his creation, his reaction is described as: I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. - Victor’s reaction to seeing the creature for the first time While at first glance, this seems a very strange reaction, in my opinion I believe this demonstrates Mary Shelley acute understanding of the human Psyche. Victor attitude upon seeing his creation while may have been joyous, is also mixed with sadness as he knows that he has completed what it is he has been working towards. I believe that the 'Horror and disgust' that he experiences is not merely due to the appearance of the creature, but due to the realization that his journey has come to an end. The attitude of Victor who loses interest upon completion of his creation seems to me to be echoed in alot of autobiographies of those who call themselves serial entrepreneurs. Victor seems to display alot of the attributes such as curiosity, restless and obsessive nature with which they pursue the gaining knowledge or solving a problem. Frankenstein: the hero? But the interesting thing is did Frankenstein actually save humanity by not creating another companion for the creature?. This has scary parallels for current developments in A.I, Stem cells research etc of blindly pursuing things while ignoring the warning signs. This is quite similar to the scientists who were behind the Manhattan project becoming the most vociferous opponents of the proliferation of Atom Bombs. But it is quite clear that Frankenstein did this not out of some sudden revelation as to the danger of what he was doing but rather was purely and act as spite as well as being a demonstration of the power he had over the creature and it. Later the same passion that fuels Victor to create the creature enables him to pursue him across the frozen wasteland and eventually to his doom. But even as he laid dying on the ship in the company of Captain Robert Walton, his main concern is about maintaining his righteousness in his actions. So on the whole there is very little redeeming qualities about Victor and far more so that his creation, he is clearly the monster of this tale. The Creature: Who is the monster and who is the man? I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous." - The creature bringing Victor to task for forsaking him While I have never actually seen a single Hollywood depiction of Frankenstein (Except perhaps in a Scooby Doo episode!). The ubiquity of Frankenstein's creature is such that you have a very specific image of Frankenstein of being a tall, shambling creature with a square head with pins coming out of his neck. This was probably influenced by Boris Karloff's 1931 depiction in Frankenstein the movie and that image seems to have struck ever since. Another important aspect of the creatures depiction in a lot of popular depictions is that he seems to be mute and can’t managing anything beyond a few animalistic groans. So imagine my surprise to discover that not only is the creature not mute he also is the most eloquent of all characters. The creature seems to be a typical renaissance/ enlightened man where he quotes Shakespeare, devours texts of Marcus Aurelius and is even a vegetarian to boot! The creature who is abandoned by his creator at the point of his creation needs to fend for himself and learns by emulating others. The family he observes and the books he reads provides the knowledge he requires to survive. It is clear that the creatures deepest longing is for affection and acceptance by his creator and in the absence of that, his plea to Frankenstein was to create a creature who would be accepting of him. I find it quite interesting that the only condition the creature asks of Frankenstein is that he makes his female companion as hideous as him. To me this seems to speak to the fact that society has shaped Frankenstein's self worth and his perception of himself where in the absence of any other validation has taken that to be the known. Remember, thou hast made me more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine, my joints more supple. But I will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me. – The creature describing his nature to Frankenstein This brings up another point that the creature in the absence of any guidance purely relies on the reactions of society which shapes his nature. Despite all the attempts he makes to gain the acceptance of society he is rejected at every turn. Interestingly, he even seems to gain the obsessive nature of his creator by doggedly pursuing Victor throughout Europe. I see alot of parallels between this and the current debates over the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI). While AI itself is neither good or bad, but because it learns to emulate humans with all its prejudices and shortcomings it essentially becomes what society wants it to be., and hence this aspect should be taken into account. I had cast off all feelings, subdued all anguish, to riot in the excess of my despair. Evil thenceforth became my good. Urged thus far, I had no choice but to adapt my nature to an element which I had willingly chosen. The completion of my demoniacal design became an insatiable passion. By the end of the novel, there is no hope for the creature who has come to accept the role society wants him to play and becomes the monster of the Hollywood films. Science vs Nature In other studies you go as far as others have gone before you, and there is nothing more to know; but in a scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder. - Victor on Scientific knowledge The alternative title of the book is 'The modern day Prometheus' may have partly been inspired by 'prometheus Unbound'; a drama written Percy Bishey Shelley where he praises Prometheus's selfless act of bringing the knowledge of the Gods to humans. While the author herself seems to have a positive view on learning and the pursuit of knowledge, what she seems to warn against is the pursuit of knowledge without consequence or that which is to the detriment of society This is evident in victor who seems to have no vision as to why he is attempting to create the creature accept to fuel his own ego. This seems to be the attitude with alot of tech people have with regard to AI, stem cell research etc. where their view is that they should be given the freedom to do what they want, damn the consequences. But having said that some of the biggest developments in tech seemed to have happened been because of pursuing unrealistic and seemingly fruitless objectives. Ex: Going to the Moon or Race to the North Pole as Robert Walton who appears in the novel and whose character is very similar to that of Frankenstein seems to be doing. The author seems to pit the pursuit of science against nature through vivid displays of the awesome power of nature in the form of lightning, waterfalls and mountain peaks that make up the Swiss landscape. These displays of beauty which can be experienced in the wide outdoors is contrasted in commune with nature is contrasted with the secretive experiments taking place in the Charnel houses and Frankenstein's labs which only bring death and disease. Frankenstein himself more often than not succumbs to. which humbled even a man of science like Victor Taking this into account, the solution the author seems to be advocating is one filled with varied experiences which are in collaboration with society and nature. This is the approach that by Frankenstein's friend Henry who has a great curiosity for knowledge but never lets it override his duty to his friends and the wider community. The Mantra that Mary Shelly seems to advocate is: If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind. By the end of the novel, it is too late for victor to go back on his attitude Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. A note on the Narrative Structure 'concerning his history; he asked to see them and then himself corrected and augmented them in many places, but principally in giving the life and spirit to the conversations he held with his enemy' - Robert Walton recording Victor’s story The novel is written in the first person perspective where what each character said is retold through the eyes of another in the form of reading their correspondence or through them narrating stories. Correspondence is used heavily in the novel, similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula which was written over 80 years after the publication of Frankenstein and shares many similar troupes with the novel. This structure also makes for an interesting read as the events and depictions of the characters are filtered and distorted by the views of the narrator. As a result one is not really sure whether one is telling the truth or not. For example: Frankenstein describes the creature as getting sadistic pleasure when he kills William and Henry but when the creature relates his tale he is clearly remorseful of what he did. Another example is the character of Elizabeth Lavenza who doesn't get her own voice in the novel and hence through the eyes of Frankenstein is portrayed in the novel as a very demure and passive character and is most likely due to the fact that we see her character through the eyes of Frankenstein who looks upon her as an object that is his by right. Hence the reader is never really sure to what extent the narration is being filtered through Victor’s ego which makes for an interesting and thought provoking read. Verdict Overall this is one of my favourite classic novels and given the timely nature of some of its themes, I would highly recommend it. Key Details Title: Ready player One Writer: Ernest Cline Year of Publication: 2011www.goodreads.com/book/show/9969571-ready-player-one Goodreads - Link I confess that I only heard about this book after having seen the 2018 film version of it which i thought was extremely enjoyable and was infused with that pure Spielberg magic that we come to know and love. Hence I was quite excited to pick up Ernest Cline's book which is part ode to 80's Pop culture Nostalgia and part a description of a very real future where most people spend their waking moments removed from the goings on in the real world and in a virtual world. While I overall think the movie is superior in terms of its narrative structure, storyline and character development, I do believe that the novel takes a more radical stance with regard to the exploration of some scifi themes which makes it worth picking up and reading. The world of Ready Player One The world that the teenage protagonist Wade Watts Inhabits is a dreary/dystopian world marked by mass unemployment, poverty and environmental degradation where the only respite is the OASIS; an online immersive virtual world created by James Halliday. In this world Wade Watts goes as Parzival and like the knight of Arthurian legend goes on a quest created by the recently diseased Halliday which involves finding clues and solving a number of challenges in order to gain control of his company and hence the OASIS. Naturally, he is not the only one keen on winning this prize and is soon joined by a host of other players and IOI; a mega corporation bend on world domination through control of the OASIS. The world building aspect is one of the strongest aspects of the novel and is one of the best I have seen when it comes to Scifi novels. The world that Ernest Cline paints of the virtual world is a very vivid and immersive world which keeps you hooked on it. The novel is littered with references to 80's pop culture references with a particular emphasis on Arcade Video games. In the novel you would find references to games like 'joust' as well as movies like Monty Python's King Arthur & the Holy Grail which was the final challenge of Halliday's quest. Entire blogs have been dedicated to cataloging the various references in both the book and movie. However, at times the descriptions and 80's pop culture references feels like an info dump and it calls into question as to what sort of audience the novel is actually catering to (if you are actually into 80's pop culture you wouldn't need this much exposition). At the same time the authors intent seems to have been to pack in as many references as possible without any consideration given to continuity or how the different games and puzzles fit into the wider narrative as was done brilliantly in the case of the Movie. For example, as pointed out by Movieslinger Reviews the movie incorporated Stanley Kubrick's Shining which was a film adoption that the author Stephen King hated, much like Halliday who grew to loathe his creation. When it comes to describing the real world, the descriptions are much more grim and sparce which underlies the fact that citizens are disinterested with the problems of the real world and choose to instead take the Blue pill of ignorance by spending time in the OASIS where life seems more exciting and purposeful. While the real world of the novel is more dystopian than what is depicted in the film adaption, In some aspects though the real world of the novel seems less believable. For example, the Bus that Wade travels in is Armor plated and has armed guards. It also needs to charge several times along the trip. But as long as the bus provides an uninterrupted high speed link to access the OASIS everyone seems to be happy (They don't really explain what the power source is coming from for all of this energy consumption!) The Writing Style If the world building is the books strongest suit, I feel that the narrative style is its main weak point. The book is written from a first person perspective and hence the action is from Parzival's perspective where he spends most of his waking moments alone researching and solving the puzzles required to complete Halliday's challenge. While this kind of behaviour is true in most video games which tend to be a solitary pursuit, when it comes to a virtual world like the OASIS, a central tenant of such a world and the main appeal should be the ability to cooperate. While this is because of the chosen narrative style, I felt that it didn't fit as well with the type of world that was being portrayed and I feel this is one of the books biggest weaknesses. As a result of this constraint, Parzival is portrayed as this almost Superhuman individual who at times is a Sherlock Holmes having a deep knowledge of the lore that is required to solve Halliday's puzzle, a master tactician at the final battle, an in the real world is even a master hacker to boot which allowed him to hack in to one of the largest corporation in the world despite their being no such indication early on that he possesses such a skill! I find It particularly strange that Wade believes that there is no way the IOI corporation and its army of players known as the sixer's could have solved any of the puzzles without cheating despite so many resources being devoted to it. In contrast, I felt like the movie captured the sense of cooperation much better where the characters had to work together and where each character was able to bring their specific expertise to overcome the challenge posed by the rival groups. Another weakness of the novel style is that by seeing things only from the Portagonists point of view we only view the world from one teenage boys perspective. This is in contrast to what most video games offers which is to experience things from different characters perspectives. For Example, as part of the 'Film sync' parts of Halliday's Challenges where characters need to replay characters in a film, Art3mis is able to only take the challenge from the Male actors point of view. However in fairness to the author, this could be a critique of the video game industry which tends to be male dominated and it has only been more recently that some steps are being taken to rectify this. On identity Parzival: "This is the OASIS, We exist as nothing but raw personality here." Art3mis: "I beg to differ. Everything about our Online personas is filtered through our avatars, which allows us to control how we look and sound to others. The OASIS lets you be whoever you want to be. That's why everyone's addicted to it. The underlying appeal of a virtual anonymous environment is the freedom it offers by allowing people to take on any persona that you wish to be. The freedom that is offered in online chat rooms and online games is taken to the next level in the OASIS where you can be whatever you want to be, human or otherwise. , although as Art3mis pointed out above in her exchange with Parzival that it all could just be an illusion. The novel also points out the downside of this personality centric culture that is promoted by the Virtual World which has seeped into the real world where as Wade describes it has meant that "only Movie stars, reality tv personalities or radical televangelists can get elected" which is scarily prescient in the current context. At the same time though, for someone like Wade who spends almost all of his waking moments in the OASIS feels more real and relatable in the virtual than in the real world. In the real world Wade drinks energy supplements to counteract the Vitamin deficiencies he faces by not being exposed to sunlight, and he uses a non toxic hair removing solution that completely removed hair and body hair including his eyebrows in order to enhance the feel of the virtual world which makes him look less human than his online persona Parzival. In short, Wade feels more real as his virtual avatar than himself. On relationships in a virtual world "You don't live in the real world Z. You're like me. You live inside the illusion." .. "You can't possibly no what real love is" - Art3mis Another interesting thought experiment that is brought up by the novel is whether intense emotional attachments are possible in a purely virtual world. While even in the present context where online platforms have connected people together which have turned into relationships in the real world, the novel seems to argue that such intense and lasting relationships can be formed in a purely virtual environment. One case in support of it is Parzival who for a good part of the novel is pining after Artemis to such a degree that he even forgets about Halliday's quest. At the very end of the novel Parzival is rewarded where he meets Art3mis in real life which supports the books claim, although we don't get to see if the same feeling is shared by Art3mis. But a more interesting relationship is that between Daito & Shoto who despite having never met in real life share such a strong bond with each other in the virtual world. In the case of the film, this argument brought up by the novel is less visible as the characters interact alot in both the real and the virtual world and hence the distinction between the two is less clearcut. Hence with regard to this aspect I believe that the novel takes a more radical and interesting viewpoint. On lonliness in an interconnected world "Capitalism would inch forward, without my actually having to interact face-to-face with another human being. Which was exactly how I preferred it, Thank you." - Wade on their not even being a need to go to the door for a Pizza delivery "It had become a Self Imposed Prison for Humanity" - Ogden Morrow on the OASIS when he split with Halliday The novel also highlights that despite this seemingly endless possibilities offered by a virtual world to collaborate and interact, it is still possible to end up alone as Parzival was after breaking up with his team. The world is also no different to the real world where spaces for interaction can become echo chambers of your own beliefs while rejecting those of others which is particularly easy in the OASIS where they can mute their emotions as well as mute someones responses, thus you. no longer a need to be bothered to hear what others have to say. A more meritocractic world? The OASIS was the best thing that had ever happened to both women and people of colour. - Aech relating her tale and why she created a Male Caucasian Avatar Apart from highlighting the potential of using Virtual Reality for education which is already being explored by Google Arts & culture Virtual Reality tours, another point that is brought forward in the novel is the potential for a more meritocratic society to develop where in the virtual world individuals can break free of prejudices imposed by society due to gender, race, religion etc. As illustrated by the story told by Aech about her mother who had used the online world to her advantage in order to overcome the sexism and racism that you have to deal with the real world, there is a sense that the virtual world can potentially be a more meritocratic place. But having said that, the world of OASIS can be subject to the same sort of prejudices as in the real world, where money is the determining factor which determines your ability to buy and play with the coolest gadgets on offer and which has contributed to the domination of the online world by IOI a global conglomerate. Conclusion Overall, while I did enjoy the film adaption more than the book, I feel that the world building aspect of the book and some of the themes that were explored was interesting and if you are a fan of 80's pop culture references and video gaming, it is worth checking out. Key Details Title: Yakada Yaka (The Burgher Trilogy, Book 2) Writer: Carl Muller Year of Publication: 1994 Goodreads - Link "It is universally known that the railway is a watering hole for the mentally deficient" - Carl Muller on the railways in early 20th Century Ceylon Yakada Yaka which literally means "Iron Demon" is the name given by the locals to the loud coal-fired trains that belched black smoke as they wound their way around 20th Century Ceylon. The book is a continuation of Carl Muller's Burgher Trilogy and compared to the first Novel in the Series 'The Jam Fruit Tree' (Click for the Review), the novel is more narrow in its focus and deals almost exclusively with the Burgher communities experience as part of the Ceylon Railway Service where they primarily served as engine drivers. The experience of such communities tends to be neglected by other histories detailing the experiences of the Burgher Community where they nevertheless made a significant contribution to the development of the plantation economy in Ceylon where crops such as tea gained world fame during the British era. Carl Muller whose own father was a Railway driver probably drew on alot from his own experiences growing up as part of the railway community which lends the novel a particularly authentic feel to it. " A man who did not take kindly to discipline. A vastly lovable man, true, but a pain in the ass to pompous authority" - On the character of Sonnaboy Von Bloss The novel primarily follows the exploits of Sonnaboy Von Bloss as he staggers from the footplate from one train engine to another and details his experience as a railway driver. Sonnaboy's hot headed nature which is quick to take offense and who prefers to resolve situations with his fists involves a significant part of the humour of the novel. From blackening the British Club Gala anniversary by releasing a volcano of smoke while driving a wood-fueled train to beating up 'Mr. Ceylon'who was badgering him for a fight, the novel is packed with many such humourous incidents. However, the novel goes beyond this archetype of Sonnaboy that was built up in the first book and the story reveals the sentimental and emotional side of Sonnaboy where he is devastated by the accidental loss of lives that occur which is part an parcel being an engine driver. Throughout the novel, we also meet a cast of Burgher railway drivers that are equally colourful as Sonnaboy and add colour to the novel. The railway attracted personalities Like Dickie Byrd who fell upon a Pentecostal meeting like Satan due to the Cacophony of sound it was creating as it was adjacent to the railway bungalow thus disturbing his rest. Other colourful characters include the food connoisseur Van Der Smaught pilfering and eating a human heart which was bound for the general hospital in Colombo thinking it was ox-heart and even Von Haght who was hailed as a model Burgher, in a moment of annoyance told the M.P from Vavuniya to go and put a J-U-M-P "asking Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Rita, Saint Sebastian,Saint John, Saint Christopher,... can do miracles if want no? So i told them. This is last warning. If you won't stop the rain out you go! Took the cane and beat them also. - The Eccentric Mavis Kelaart and her collection of religious statues The novel is also interspersed with humourous moments such as the above which highlights life amongst the Burghers in Colombo and also touches on the trials and tribulations of Beryl's Sonnaboy's wife as she brings up their ever expanding brood of boys and girls. Like the first novel, Yakada Yaka also touches on some serious issues taking place at the time. In the post World War I period, the rising Nationalism amongst the Singhalese and Tamil Communities is touched upon. The Burgher's while staying out of the political discourse of the time increasingly came into contact with the other communities. In the case of the railway's while the Burgher's were content with their lot of being engine Drivers more Singhalese and Tamils with the benefit of English Education were jockeying for administrative roles within the railway which put them at times at loggerheads with the Burghers. The novel exploits these situations superbly for comedic effect which is well illustrated from the following extract from Sonnaboy's letter to Mr. Gonpala, the Sinhalese C.M.E explaining that the train was delayed due to Buffaloes. "..Buffaloes know the times of the normal trains so they stay in the jungle or on the side of the railway line. But the train I was driving was a special. Buffaloes don't know about the specials. ...The railway pays me to drive the engine. Who is going to pay me to get down and drive wild buffaloes? if you think that I am going to get down and chase wild buffaloes you are a bigger buffalo than the buffaloes on the line." If you enjoyed the first novel, it's well worth picking this up for a second helping of life in Colonial Ceylon. Key Details Title: Born a Crime : Stories from a South African Childhood Writer: Trevor Noah Year of Publication: 2016 Goodreads - Link "Where most children are proof of their parents’ love, I was the proof of their criminality." - Trevor Noah on Being Born a Crime Over the course of this autobiography you follow young Trevor Noah through the ups and downs of his quite simply tumultuous life as he takes the reader on a journey of the key events that shapes his life. From his early life of being 'born a crime' in Apartheid South Africa to a Black Mother and White father. From an early age, Trevor was self aware of his difference and was brought up to believe in himself that he is different and he would be able to escape the cycles of poverty and crime that dogged his early life. The first half of the book is written in a slightly non linear way where alot of the information Trevor receives about his early days which is narrated to him by his mother as and when she imparted this knowledge to Trevor. Over the 2nd & 3rd parts of the book,the story takes a more serious tone where Trevor gives more opinions based on his own and others experiences on topics such as Poverty, criminality etc. The book is interspersed with some tender moments. For example, when Trevor rediscovers his birth father who has been maintaining a scrapbook of Trevor's achievements. Thee final scene between Trevor and the mother who is lying in hospital from a gun shot wound is particularly touching. Te book is also not without its humor which is what many people associate Trevor Noah with and his tumultuous childhood which is filled with violent faith healers, lead Dancers named Hitler makes for an entertaining read! On Race and Discrimination "Then apartheid fell, Mandela walked free, and black South Africa went to war with itself." -Trevor Noah on Post-Apartheid South Africa The book is quite informative about the history of South Africa with each chapter in the first half of the book giving a brief insight into the history of South Africa. Trevor was born into a repressive time while at the same times makes clear that the end of Apartheid was not the end of South Africa's problems. He touches on the suspicion and conflict between the different races in South Africa which had been cultivated during colonial and later under Apartheid where the minority white government used it to keep the much larger black population in check. This resonates with Sri Lanka's own history where similar policies that were followed in Colonial and Post Colonial period that had stoked ethnic fears for decades. It is also quite informative on the distinction between 'Coloured' persons and people of 'Mixed race' which is two completely different things and which does relate to the ethnic makeup in the Sri Lankan context as well. The book critiques the system has been designed such that a little bit of whiteness confers advantages and leads to resentment and division among groups. At the same time, Trevor acknowledges that he himself benefits from the racist system - The little bit of whiteness that he possessed gave him power and vastly improved his chances in life. Even his grandparents don't know how to discipline him and his closest relatives treat him in a different manner. From an early age, Trevor was brought up to be different and the Mother firmly believed that he had the best chance of escaping from the cycles of poverty and crime that surrounded life in South Africa This is possibly why even his mother viewed him very differently compared with her other children as she saw that he had the potential to aspire to a different way of life because of the colour of his skin. On the Power of Language “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” - Trevor Noah quoting Nelson Mandela Alongside the race concerns, South Africa has a multitude of languages with different languages denoting different ethnic and class divisions. By putting Nelson Mandela's words of into practice, Trevor learnt to become a chameleon and mix between different groups which allowed him access to different worlds in South African Society. Trevor highlights that in addition that racial grouping has a strong hold on people and defines many aspects of South African Society. At the same time, the book also highlights that language is not an insurmountable barrier between groups as was the experience of Trevor where he went to a high school dance with a girl he had been seeing for awhile only to later discover that neither spoke a common language! The Mother "When it was time to pick my name, she chose Trevor, a name with no meaning whatsoever in South Africa, no precedent in my family. It’s not even a Biblical name. It’s just a name. My mother wanted her child beholden to no fate. She wanted me to be free to go anywhere, do anything, be anyone." Apart from his own life, the novel is very much an ode to Trevor's mother; Patricia Nombuyiselo who played such an integral role in Trevor's life. Apart from Trevor's unique circumstances of being a mixed race child, where his mother brought him up on her own, the novel also explains the important role women played in Apartheid South Africa where absent fathers was a common occurrence where many fathers were away working in mines, fighting for a cause or in prison or exile. Trevor's Mother is a complex and contradictory character which makes her a very fascinating person. On the one hand she is extremely devout and a headstrong character which clashes with her actions This might be because this is the story that is narrated by the son point of view and it is possible that Trevor's memory of the experiences has been altered to fit the narrative. The story is one of choices and they show that the mother is always in control. Even when she is abused by Trevor's Step father Abel; She chooses to stay and support him, which is something the reader might grapple with given her strong character. On Poverty & Crime People always lecture the poor: “Take responsibility for yourself! Make something of yourself!” But with what raw materials are the poor to make something of themselves? People love to say, “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” What they don’t say is, “And it would be nice if you gave him a fishing rod.” That’s the part of the analogy that’s missing. -Trevor Noah on not being judgmental on poverty The novel highlights that the lines between whats right and wrong becomes blurred when people are desperate and impoverished. At the same time, these moments of poverty that mark Trevor's upbringing also brings out his entrepreneurial side which ranged from burning music CD's, taking orders and waiting in the queues at the school tuckshop as well as hustling in hood where he had some of his best memories. But at the same time, the story emphasizes the optimistic nature of South African's which is highlighted in the fact that driveways being a mainstay of houses in Soweto even though nobody owns a car. The story of Soweto is the story of the driveways, It’s a hopeful place. Even during times where Trevor has to face such extreme hardships of sleeping in cars or having to eat dog bones, he remains optimistic and in the case of living in Hood, he applauds the camaraderie and the friendships he formed there. But at the same time Trevor doesn't romanticize the hood and knows full well the gravitational pull the hood has where people are trapped in cycles of poverty by it due to its very nature. "The hood has a gravitational pull. It never leaves you behind, but it also never lets you leave. Because by making the choice to leave, you’re insulting the place that raised you and made you and never turned you away. And that place fights you back." Humor "If you’re Native American and you pray to the wolves, you’re a savage. If you’re African and you pray to your ancestors, you’re a primitive. But when white people pray to a guy who turns water into wine, well, that’s just common sense." Even when dealing with serious topics like poverty and crime, Trevor Noah's humor shines through the novel. Interestingly, the novel actually doesn't talk about specific instances or actions that put him on a path to become a comedian, but rather the tumultuous nature of his childhood may have helped him develop his humorous outlook in life and would have provided ample material for his comedy sketches! Trevor makes good use of exaggeration in his humor to satirize certain issues such as the ridiculousness of the Apartheid System. One of the most humorous moments in the books is where Trevor in his role as a DJ is performing at a Jewish school with a dance troupe where the lead dancer is named 'Hitler". Apart from the comedic value it may also be aimed as a critique of Western Education and values where he highlights that certain incidents like the Holocaust are highlighted above all else as incidences of human tragedy while the many genocides and conflicts that have scarred the African continent are ignored. His sense of humor also seems to have been influenced by his mother where while being an extremely devout woman was also utterly practical and is able to engage in a form of double-think and justify certain actions that may on the one hand conflict with her beliefs. This is brought out in scenes such as this which takes place right at the end of the book where Trevor's mom lying on a hospital bed and responding to Trevor's questioning on why she doesn't have health insurance: “Jesus.”“Jesus is your health insurance?”“If God is with me, who can be against me?”“Okay, Mom.”“Trevor, I prayed. I told you I prayed. I don’t pray for nothing.”“You know,” I said, “for once I cannot argue with you. The gun, the bullets—I can’t explain any of it. So I’ll give you that much.” Then I couldn’t resist teasing her with one last little jab. “But where was your Jesus to pay your hospital bill, hmm? I know for a fact that He didn’t pay that.” She smiled and said, “You’re right. He didn’t. But He blessed me with the son who did.” Verdict Overall, with its mix of humor, the amazing personal story makes this a really enjoyable and compelling read. Going beyond the enjoyment factor, the broad topics of discrimination, lack of education, Crime & poverty that are discussed resonates with our own Sri Lankan experience which makes it a compelling book. I highly recommend checking it out. Quotes "race-mixing doesn’t merely challenge the system as unjust, it reveals the system as unsustainable and incoherent. Race-mixing proves that races can mix—and in a lot of cases, want to mix. Because a mixed person embodies that rebuke to the logic of the system, race-mixing becomes a crime worse than treason." - On the uselessness of Race Discrimination "One of the most sinister things about apartheid was that it taught colored people that it was black people who were holding them back. Apartheid said that the only reason colored people couldn’t have first-class status was because black people might use coloredness to sneak past the gates to enjoy the benefits of whiteness". 'It’s easy to be judgmental about crime when you live in a world wealthy enough to be removed from it. But the hood taught me that everyone has different notions of right and wrong, different definitions of what constitutes crime, and what level of crime they’re willing to participate in.' "For my mother’s part, the fact that this man didn’t particularly want a family with her, was prevented by law from having a family with her, was part of the attraction. She wanted a child, not a man stepping in to run her life." "As a nation, we recognized the power of women, but in the home they were expected to submit and obey" - Trevor Noah on the role women played in the struggle against Apartheid "Christian karaoke, badass action stories, and violent faith healers—man, I loved church". - Trevor Noah on his experiences of church "The whole issue of Santa Claus is a rather contentious one when it comes to African Christmas, a matter of pride. When an African dad buys his kid a present, the last thing he’s going to do is give some fat white man credit for it. African Dad will tell you straight up, “No, no, no. I bought you that.” Key Details Title: Funny Boy Writer: Shyam Selvadurai Year of Publication: 1994 Goodreads - Link The debut novel by Srilankan/ Canadian author Shyam Selvadurai is a coming of age novel of Arjie; a Tamil boy from a well off Colombo family set in Sri Lanka in the 70s -80s amidst the growing ethnic tensions. The Novel is written from the first person perspective and is in the form of six short stories set at different points in Arjie's life and at different moments in Sri Lanka's history. Overview of the Novel Each short story seems to offer a commentary on a different aspect of Sri Lankan culture and Norms which the author brings to the forefront through a series of events highlighting Arjie's life The novel begins with a seemingly cheerful story in 'Pigs can't fly' where amidst Arjie's carefree childhood where days are spent with his siblings and cousins at his grandmother's place (Ammachi), gender Roles are explored where tensions arise during a game of 'Bride-Bride'. In 'Radha Aunty' issues of filial obedience where Arjie's Aunt Radha has to make a choice between love and Family. The reader is also introduced to Issues over race consciousness and ethnic tensions. The 3rd and 4th story ; 'See No Evil, hear no Evil' and 'Small Choices' provides readers with more background to the ethnic tensions and offers a commentary on a dark aspect of the conflict done by the two sides of the namely. Namely; allegations of torture and political Assassinations. The most personal story in the novel is found in the 'Best of School of All' which is a critique of School Culture as a breeding ground where the seeds of Ethnic Tensions are planted. In stark contrast to the first story, the novel ends on a dark note with 'Riot Journal: an epilogue' where where Arjie and his family are caught up right in the middle of the events of Black July in 1983. The Structure of the Novel With Each story the focus of the novel narrows in its scope. From a focus on Arjie's extended family in the 1st & 2nd stories, to his parents on the 3rd & 4th stories and by the time we come to the final story in "The Best School of All" the narrator finally graduates from an observer (Which at times involves some light eavesdropping) to being the protagonist of his own story. At the same time the Ethnic Conflict which underlies the whole novel also gets more and more personal for Arjie. Beginning with Radha Aunty getting attacked on the train in Jaffna and Uncle Daryl investigating allegations of government torture in the North & East. Things get more personal by the time Arjie is transferred to the Victoria Academy where Arjie experiences first hand the tensions between the Sinhala and Tamil Class. Things finally come to a head in the epilogue. It is interesting that the writer went about exploring the varied themes from the first person perspective through the eyes of a Narrator who at the start of the novel is a 7 year old boy. The context for the reader is mainly provided through hearsay with Arjie listening in to the grown ups talk about varied issues. This technique unfortunately seems at times to be a bit clumsy as Arjie at times needs to be in situations where a 7 year old boy is unlikely to be in which is a bit of a stretch of the imagination. In addition, while the narrative is told from the first person, the protagonist while observing everything around him seems detached and remains aloof from a few characters and as a result their doesn't seem to be much character development and interaction. At the start of the novel Arjie and his sister Sonali seem to have a close relationship and is a willing accomplice in their antics as children. however in later chapters this is not explored further and many characters just seem to fall by the wayside. At the same time, certain characters in the novel seem to go through abrupt changes in their personality. For example, Arjie's mother who at the start of the novel is presented as a very progressive character who understands and is very receptive to Arjie's needs seems to undergo a dramatic change by the 3rd story where she is portrayed as someone giving into the temptations of the open economy and is presented in a different light. This may partly be because that the individual stories are separated by time and hence when the reader is presented with this, some of the changes seem quite abrupt which at times makes it difficult to relate to the characters predicament. Having said that, the author does add a level of complexity to certain characters and circumstances where the outcome is a bit ambiguous and it is left upto the reader to decide whether the right course of action was taken or not. One example is the case of Radha Aunty on whether she chooses to folow her heart and marry the man she loves or does she acquiesce to her families wishes. Arjie : 'If two people love each other, the rest is unimportant" Radha Aunty : "No it isn't. Ultimately, you have to live in the real world and without your family you are nothing" A more interesting example is the case of 'Black Tie'; the stereo-typically strict and cruel principal of the Victoria academy who despite his flaws is also the only one who stands in the way of a more divisive principal taking over his role. It is upto the reader to decide whether the vengeance Arjie's institutes on him during the prize giving was the best course of action, with all the ensuing consequences be damned. Themes of the Novel Role of Class "An English girl, would never fit with his family. Also, she was from a working class family, and "low class was low class whether it was English or Sri Lankan." - Arjie's father on an infatuation he had developed with an English Girl while studying at University Apart from the more obvious themes of ethnicity and cultural norms, another theme I found interesting was the role class played in the novel which is another aspect of Sri Lankan culture. The suspicion that people of a lower social class are more suspect is illustrated in the case where the police immediately suspect Uncle Darryl's Servant Boy of having ransacked despite Arjie's mother pleading his innocence on his behalf. At the same time, Arjie friend and later lover Shehan's last name is 'Soysa' and the fact that he lived in Cinnamon Gardens makes Arjie's parents eager to invite him over for lunch although their opinion of him shifts when they see his tardiness. Authority and violence As I gazed at the idyllic scene, the refrain from "The Best School of All" Came to me: For Working days and holidays/ And glad and Melancholy days,/ They were great days and Jolly day..' What foolish lines they were. Still, as I looked at the Victoria Academy, a voice in me said that this was how I would remember the school when I was no longer it's captive . This was how my father would remember I, washed in the coral pink of memory. No, I vowed to myself, I would never remember it like that... Right and wrong, fair and unfair had nothing to do with how things really were. - Arjie Reflecting on the unfairness of system where violence is doled out to those who are most vulnerable. Power and the abuse of it in the form of violence that is wielded by authority figures is another theme highlighted in the novel. Ammachi's caning of Arjie, Jegan and Uncle Daryll at the mercy of the Police, the students of Victoria Academy under the tyranny of Black Tie and even Arjie slapping Shehan are just a few examples of violence dotted throughout the novel. By the end of the novel the futility and senselessness of it is highlighted in stark detail. The role of Religion (or lack thereof) A theme that is surprisingly missing from the novel is the prominent role religion plays in Sri Lankan culture. As Arjie begins to embrace his sexuality, he has second thoughts about the developing feelings he has towards Shehan and the loathing he feels for what he had done doesn't seem to stem from the point of view of religion which is what one would usually expect in the Sri Lankan context where ethnicity and religion are strongly linked. Hence for a novel that deals with issues of ethnicity it is quite surprising about the lack of reference to religion. It may be a case that the author has oversimplified things by seeming to imply that all Sinhalese are Buddhists. This is even though it is suggested in certain parts of the novel that Arjie's family are Christians. Verdict Overall, while the novel has a few shortcomings and while dealing with some bleak topics, the novel is quite enjoyable to read as incidences such as Spend the days at ones Grandparents and the experience at public schools are present in an authentic manner and resonates alot with the typical childhood memories of Sri Lankans. The novel is also quite accessible to those with limited knowledge of the historical context of Sri Lanka. Hence I would recommend the novel to anyone who is just starting off on Sri Lankan literature. Key Details Title: Batman Hush Writer: Jeph Loeb Artist: Jim Lee Year of Publication: 2002-2003 Goodreads - Link The caped crusader is hounded by an extensive line up of Villains from Batman's Rogue Gallery who are being manipulated by an unknown and shadowy new villain from Batman/ Bruce Wayne's past. Over the two volume novel, it features some intricate plots, memorable fight scenes and character moments, most notably is the relationship between Batman and Catwoman who by the end of the novel has wholeheartedly become and ally and more of Batman. The book doesn't disappoint in terms of pitting these villains against Batman which are brought to life in the powerful illustrations. Batman at times appears to be very muscular and larger than life which is reminiscent of the artwork of Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns. At the same time Villains like Killer Croc appear to be particularly savage and the Joker appears insane as ever. The comic is dotted with great two-spread splash pages where the action seems to be spilling off the pages The 2nd half of the story also features members of Batman's extended family. The emphasis on Family which features even the reintroduction of minor characters such as Harold who worked in the Bat cave is a central part of the story and is a key factor in the villains identity. The artwork by superstar artist Jim Lee takes centrestage and is definitely the highlight of the novel with a number of memorable scenes which are richly illustrated. It is definitely worth getting a hardcover edition of the book purely for the artwork. The artwork is matched by the intricate plot crafted by Jeph Loeb which keeps the reader guessing as to the identity of the Villain. The novel also has a number of big revelations which has implications for the wider Batman Canon including the big one such as Batman's Identity being revealed to certain characters. While it is more predictable and over the top than Loeb's early work on Batman the Long Halloween (See my earlier review) While some of the plot is a bit over the top and filled with too many coincidences, the artwork of the novel and the many memorable moments makes it well worth it and fully deserves its status as one of the great Batman titles of all time. |
AuthorAvid reader of Historical fiction, High fantasy novels, Comics & Graphic Novels. Passionate about teaching & the future of education in general. Categories
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