I’ve always been a big Star Wars fan but it has been a while since I have read any books in the universe. I was an avid Star Wars book reader as★★★1/2
I’ve always been a big Star Wars fan but it has been a while since I have read any books in the universe. I was an avid Star Wars book reader as a kid but fell off on that hobby. I’ve been impressed and fascinated with Disney’s new in-canon publishing initiative called the High Republic that tackles interconnecting stories from a previously unexplored era in Star Wars history along a wide variety of mediums including adult novels, young adult novels, audio dramas, comic books, and upcoming live action television. So I though what better way to jump back into Star Wars reading than this!
Light of the Jedi is the first novel that introduces the High Republic, set over 200 years before the events of the first film, A New Hope, when the Republic and the Jedi Order were at their grandest, and starting to fully expand into the Outer Rim of the Galaxy. It opens on the cusp of the unveiling of the new Outer Rim outreach space station Starlight Beacon when a massive hyperspace disaster threatens to destroy multiple solar systems.
As expected, the book is crazy readable and sucks you in to this new world, introducing you to the new Jedi characters as well as the Nihil, the new big bads of the High Republic initiative. The book suffers a little from tackling a bit too much, which is of course due to having the responsibility of introducing so many ideas and characters. I wish that the book had a bit more focus and I hope that the later books don’t suffer the same introductory burden. The other issue is that the characters (particularly the Jedi) aren’t very interesting so far, with everyone feeling pretty stoic and untouched in regards to relatable nuance and emotional complexity. Every Jedi seems to be a stalwart knight without problems beyond the cliché (like Padawans not being sure of themselves) and they’re just not that interesting. Except for maybe Elzar Mann, who shows a little more potential for being actually singular and complex.
But the creative ideas here are really compelling and build onto the already vast Star Wars mythos in fascinating ways, especially with the exploration of the way hyperspace works. Also the audiobook version is one of the coolest books I’ve listened to, with sound effects and score that really suck you in! But the character of Marchion Ro is what really saves the book, presenting a mysterious antagonist that is riveting, becomes a real threat, and seems to have layers that I can’t wait to see peeled away.
So this is a decent start to this initiative and at the very least, I’m excited to explore more!...more
I was not sure what to expect with this series but it hit me like a runaway train as it pulled me away on it's adventure.Bold. Imaginative. Visionary.
I was not sure what to expect with this series but it hit me like a runaway train as it pulled me away on it's adventure. I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot as it might be best to go in almost completely fresh the way I did, and jump headfirst into the trip down the rabbit hole and into the onion as this flawed crew of travelers try to survive their dangerous trip through countless dimensions.
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The biggest thing that struck me was how fast the story moves. It drops the reader right into the middle of the action from the beginning and NEVER stops. There is no exposition to get you acquainted with the world at the start, and there is no time to take a breather during the entirety of its 400+ pages.
I've seen reviews talk about the speed of its storytelling was a problem with it being too confusing but I totally disagree. I really appreciated that the creators didn't treat the readers with kid gloves and trusted us to keep pace with the story. And learning more about the rules, the background of the expedition, and info about the characters while the story was moving forward really added to the experience. So buckle your seatbelt before jumping into this one, and keep up!
The artwork here, especially the inking and the color work, was a real standout here, providing a singular atmosphere that's really memorable. Whenever I think about this story in the future, I'll visualize those sharp lines and bold neon-ish colors. It's awesome to look at in this large hardcover format too. [image] There are a few reasons why my grade for this was dropped a couple points though. The constantly shifting POV narration became a little obnoxious and sometimes distracted from the flow of the story, I wish that there was a bit more variety in the nature of the different dimensions, and I wish some of the action was easier to follow. This story also seems like it might benefit from it being read in big chunks like this premiere volume, which collects the first three trade paperback. I seemed to have responded to this better than other friends who started reading it in the shorter paperback volumes.
For me, this was a wild ride and I can't wait to continue.
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Merged review:
Bold. Imaginative. Visionary.
I was not sure what to expect with this series but it hit me like a runaway train as it pulled me away on it's adventure. I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot as it might be best to go in almost completely fresh the way I did, and jump headfirst into the trip down the rabbit hole and into the onion as this flawed crew of travelers try to survive their dangerous trip through countless dimensions.
[image]
The biggest thing that struck me was how fast the story moves. It drops the reader right into the middle of the action from the beginning and NEVER stops. There is no exposition to get you acquainted with the world at the start, and there is no time to take a breather during the entirety of its 400+ pages.
I've seen reviews talk about the speed of its storytelling was a problem with it being too confusing but I totally disagree. I really appreciated that the creators didn't treat the readers with kid gloves and trusted us to keep pace with the story. And learning more about the rules, the background of the expedition, and info about the characters while the story was moving forward really added to the experience. So buckle your seatbelt before jumping into this one, and keep up!
The artwork here, especially the inking and the color work, was a real standout here, providing a singular atmosphere that's really memorable. Whenever I think about this story in the future, I'll visualize those sharp lines and bold neon-ish colors. It's awesome to look at in this large hardcover format too. [image] There are a few reasons why my grade for this was dropped a couple points though. The constantly shifting POV narration became a little obnoxious and sometimes distracted from the flow of the story, I wish that there was a bit more variety in the nature of the different dimensions, and I wish some of the action was easier to follow. This story also seems like it might benefit from it being read in big chunks like this premiere volume, which collects the first three trade paperback. I seemed to have responded to this better than other friends who started reading it in the shorter paperback volumes.
For me, this was a wild ride and I can't wait to continue.
While we still are in the long wait for the final volume of The Old Guard, Greg Rucka whets our palate a little with this compilation of stories by a While we still are in the long wait for the final volume of The Old Guard, Greg Rucka whets our palate a little with this compilation of stories by a great group of writers and artists and feature all of the Old Guard in small stories throughout history. It proves that there is so much material that can be mined from such a cool concept. There are countless stories that I would love to read with the Old Guard and many eras that I would love to see explored.
Most of the stories are good but three stories really stood out to me and those were “How to Make a Ghost Town” written by Matt Fraction, “An Old Soul” by Jason Aaron, and “My Mother’s Ax” by the man himself, Greg Rucka. ...more
Maybe it was bound to happen at some point. Maybe it was too much to hold out hope that McCammon could maintain the high quality that I’ve come to expMaybe it was bound to happen at some point. Maybe it was too much to hold out hope that McCammon could maintain the high quality that I’ve come to expect from the wonderful Matthew Corbett series, even with it being eight books deep at this point. Well here it is, this book marks the dip in quality.
I’m not sure why this book was even written. It blows my mind that the author thought that it would be a good idea to have a random side quest for the entirety of the penultimate book in a 9 book series, when the momentum should instead be rising to a climax. But, that's exactly what happens here, grinding the overall story to a halt while Matthew and his unlikely band of colleagues find themselves stuck on a mysterious Mediterranean island isolated from society. I had a similar nitpick with The River of Souls and I forgave it because it was still enjoyable. But this is the same times 100 here!
And like with River of Souls , I could forgive it if said side story was interesting on its own. But it’s the opposite. It feels lazy and pedestrian and not even remotely interesting, with a strange, half-baked cop-out of an answer to what was happening on the island. It also had side quests within the side quests, as we spend like 200 pages flashing back to the origins of new characters we don’t really give a shit about.
So essentially, the book reads like the rejected drafts of about 4 supplemental novellas that should have been released on their own, as further reading into the Matthew Corbett universe, but instead they were cobbled together here in an unsatisfying collection and labeled the 8th book in the main series. A total disappointment....more
The series has come to an end and while I have my doubts that any of this makes much sense, it does wrap up in a satisfying way with a focus on the chThe series has come to an end and while I have my doubts that any of this makes much sense, it does wrap up in a satisfying way with a focus on the characters and their collective relationship. This is definitely the most wacky installment in an already outlandishly zany comic book series but I’m a sucker for timey-wimey shit. And if you’re like me, give this a try!
Here’s a book made for us Song of Ice and Fire nerds!
Seriously, if you’re new to Martin’s epic world, don’t make this the first thing you read. StartHere’s a book made for us Song of Ice and Fire nerds!
Seriously, if you’re new to Martin’s epic world, don’t make this the first thing you read. Start with the main series or watch the Game of Thrones show instead. This book is written as an historical account rather than a novel and that might be a turn off to someone who isn’t a big fan already. I thought it was going to be a difficult, plodding read but I was pleasantly surprised by how well this flowed! I’ve always been overwhelmed by the history of the Targaryen dynasty but this book actually showed me that’s it’s actually not too difficult to get a grasp on.
The book is styled as a translation of a text by Grandmaester Gyldayne from information gleaned from various historical accounts. It covers the reign of the Targaryen Dynasty in the continent of Westeros from the initial conquest by Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys Targaryen through the end of the tumultuous civil war that nearly saw the end of the dysnasty. It takes place during a period of roughly 150 years, which in itself begins 300 years before the events in A Game of Thrones.
The material could’ve been tedious but the writing style happened to be pretty engrossing, making the whole thing very readable. And of course there are all the betrayals, backstabbing, murder, sex, and tragedy that fans have come to expect from an Ice and Fire story! There's something for everyone here in this rich history: from the wartime intrigue of the Conquest and Maegor the Cruel's battle against the Faith, to the noir-ish thrills of Maegor's reign and his Black Brides, then the epic family drama of King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne's reign, and the political maneuvering during Aegon III's regency. But one of my favorite parts in the book were the ones focused on the book's centerpiece, the infamous Targaryen civil war called the Dance of the Dragons!
Anyway, casual readers just starting to delve into A Song of Ice and Fire should look elsewhere, but hardcore fans dedicated to diving deep in Westeros and Game of Thrones lore should snatch this up!...more
I made a two-week trip to Egypt early this year and explored up and down the Nile, growing more and more fascinated with Egyptology and the rich histoI made a two-week trip to Egypt early this year and explored up and down the Nile, growing more and more fascinated with Egyptology and the rich history. And I'm usually pretty engaged with Michael McBride's work, which reads like less wordy Michael Crichton books. I also was looking for something quick and easy to read while I'm in the middle of a big job, so when I discovered this novella, it ticked all the boxes. But, like eating a bag of chips in the middle of the desert, it was a bit of a waste and left me wanting something more satisfying.
An expedition team in the Siwa Oasis searches for the final resting place of the army of Cambyses II that vanished thousands of years ago. When they discover mysterious underground ruins, they also discover that they're being stalked by deadly creatures that have survived millennia.
I was left pretty dry with this one. It felt like the most generic parts of every creature-feature I've read all thrown into 90 pages. It's nowhere near as entertaining or scary as books like the fantastic Sunblind or Snowblind. There's nothing actively bad about this book, it's simply just not that memorable and terribly bland. That's it. There's not much else to say....more
I enjoy Christa Faust’s work, and when I saw that she recently released a post-apocalyptic western, I was excited to jump into it. The story, set in aI enjoy Christa Faust’s work, and when I saw that she recently released a post-apocalyptic western, I was excited to jump into it. The story, set in a gritty American wasteland where water is the number one commodity, looks at a young lady named Rose on a mission to save her mother from execution by the corrupt leader of the town of Redemption. Her efforts lead her to the reclusive and mysterious Cat Tanner, known everywhere as The Butcher, a former gunslinger for hire with a violent past and a reason for not wanting to get involved.
I really wish that the story was longer, as there’s enough world-building potential here to warrant an entire full-length series, but I was so impressed by how much Faust was able to cram into this book in just over 100 pages. There is a ton of well-done action, great twists, and plot developments that feel earned and work well for developing character. The art is suitably grungy and fits the mood. I especially loved the rendering of Cat Tanner in all her grizzled glory, showing us the sadness in her weathered face, and drawn as an older, more worn Linda Hamilton from Terminator 2.
The book is filled with intense action and great dialogue, never forgetting its Western influences, and giving us a sense of how dangerous the world is overall, with the lawlessness and the threat of cannibalism. And if Faust wants to explore this world more in the future, I’m all here for it, because I would really welcome seeing more stories with Cat Tanner. ...more
It’s exciting starting another Blake Crouch novel, akin to heading to the theater for the latest summer blockbuster, anticipating the spectacle ★★★1/2
It’s exciting starting another Blake Crouch novel, akin to heading to the theater for the latest summer blockbuster, anticipating the spectacle and excitement. This new novel is set in the near future where genetic engineering has reached a dangerous height and genetic study and practice in general has been deemed illegal. And after a raid gone sour, Genetic Protection agent Logan Ramsay starts to notice that he’s changing…
While the concept is fun and much of the material here is pretty thought-provoking, I couldn’t help but feel that this one fell a bit flat for me. It was thrilling to read how Logan's ability kept evolving and I was constantly pausing to Google genetic science shit and do more research. But I’m used to his novels hitting hard in the emotional feels just as equally as the cerebral ones, and the attempts here at sentiment just didn’t work for me and felt tacked on. The book is still fascinating in concept and has the excitement that I’ve come to expect. In general though, it felt a little “paint-by-numbers.” In other words: “Crouch-lite.”...more
I’m always interested to see what new directions they can take Green Lantern stories. At this point, the mythology and universe is so rich that there I’m always interested to see what new directions they can take Green Lantern stories. At this point, the mythology and universe is so rich that there are so many possibilities. It was a great idea bringing Hugo-award winning sci-if author N.K. Jemisin into this universe to create the newest Earth Lantern, Sojourner “Jo” Mullein. Her character stands out because she’s secretly recruited for a very specific detail in an out-of-jurisdiction sector with a second-rate, battery-less ring with a long recharge time, in a story that is independent of the rest of the DC Universe. And, like Dennis O’Neal did in the 70’s, Jemisin sets up Green Lantern as a literal Social Justice Warrior, as Jo investigates a series of rare murders on a planet that has outlawed emotions and uncovers political corruption and persecution.
Jemisin’s sci-if skills are fully on display here with the rich world-building being the strongest elemen, as she portrays the City Enduring as a detailed, colorful metropolis populated by three fascinating races, including one race of personified data and a group of intelligent plant-life for which the consumption of another person is a religious and social-bonding experience. And the other huge stand-out here is rising artist Jamal Campbell, who is quickly becoming one to look out for. While he still has some work to do with rendering action, there’s no denying his dynamic and energetic, colorful art, which is a joy to look at. Jo is also a great character and well-developed in this short span of 12 issues, with so many great character quirks, like the fact that she’s a Lantern with a total fear of flying.
Even if you’re new to reading the world of Green Lantern, this is still a great read, especially for sci-fi/fantasy fans,. And if you’re already a Lantern fan, you’ll enjoy this new addition to the universe and you’ll be excited to see how they integrate Jo Mullein into the larger DC Universe, if and when they do so!...more
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