Bendis sets up an interesting heist team focused on taking out the uber-rich. Solidly plotted, with good art from Alex Maleev. Didn't quite hit for meBendis sets up an interesting heist team focused on taking out the uber-rich. Solidly plotted, with good art from Alex Maleev. Didn't quite hit for me enough to be jazzed about the next chapter, but fun to read anyhow....more
Gyre exaggerated her experience caving in order to get this job, surveying a dangerous cave in a science fiction future on a planet crushed under the Gyre exaggerated her experience caving in order to get this job, surveying a dangerous cave in a science fiction future on a planet crushed under the weight of late stage capitalism. But as she delves deeper, trying hard to avoid drawing the attention of the deadly 'tunneler' worms, she finds even more danger than she expected.
A few thoughts: - This book is pretty intense, but not as scary as I thought it would be. It's a more psychological horror story than I expected. - The idea and technology tied into this environment, along with the scary aspect of caving itself, is a great setting for a story like this. - I love the evolving relationship between Gyre and Emelia, Gyre's guide on the surface and her only connection to the outside world. - The book felt a bit too long -- maybe 50 pages could have been trimmed to make it a tighter story.
Worth a read if the idea of the book grabs you....more
The end of the Dark Tower saga, long but satisfying. Filled with the kinds of drama we'd hope for.The end of the Dark Tower saga, long but satisfying. Filled with the kinds of drama we'd hope for....more
Delightful, fascinating, amusing comic with a weird-tales feel to it. Oscar Zahn feels like a character who drifted over from one of the funnier HELLBDelightful, fascinating, amusing comic with a weird-tales feel to it. Oscar Zahn feels like a character who drifted over from one of the funnier HELLBOY comics, or maybe an extra from THE GOON. Either way, wondrous....more
It's been a while since I read any Rumpole of the Bailey stories, adaptations of the television series episodes, but I have enjoyed them generally, ovIt's been a while since I read any Rumpole of the Bailey stories, adaptations of the television series episodes, but I have enjoyed them generally, over the years. In returning to the beginning to check out the first one, I find they may have aged a decade too far. A few thoughts: - John Mortimer brings a distinctive, hilarious, dusty dry voice to the titular character, a cranky, honorable man who is stuck in his ways and very, very good at being a barrister. The turns of phrase Rumpole uses, his personal asides and witticisms and poetry, and his unvarnished opinions still stand delightful. - But the casual misogyny and sexism both of Rumpole and of the era have gotten old and older and oldest to the point of being too dusty. As much as I love Rumpole's witticisms, the views of the time feel too old. - One case, in particular, is pretty grim to read. In "Rumpole and the Honourable Member," Rumpole gets assigned a sexual assault case and his legal tactics are what we'd expect of a male lawyer in the 1960s to a female witness. I'd advise readers to skip this story. - I do enjoy Rumpole's clever moments, which fit well with the kind of legal shenanigans we'd find later on shows like Ally McBeal and Boston Legal.
Overall, I enjoyed the stories, but their rampant and undeterred sexism marred the overall effect this time around. ...more
When Ji-won's father leaves her mother, she and her sister are left to pick up the pieces in what feels, at first, like a family drama. But as the stoWhen Ji-won's father leaves her mother, she and her sister are left to pick up the pieces in what feels, at first, like a family drama. But as the story progresses, we come to recognize in the story a strangeness and an unhinged mind, one that progresses ever toward the events implied by the cover art (which, for me, shows a pair of chop sticks holding an eyeball).
A few thoughts: - It's been a long time since I read a slow-burn horror novel like this one. It exists right on the edge of horror, maybe drifting toward thriller. But either way, it's psychological rather than supernatural. Kim's writing style keeps you on your toes, and seeing the world through Ji-won's eyes gives everything a strange tint. - Among the more awful things in this book, to me, are the men Ji-won meets, many of whom embody the worst in the spectrum of today's masculinity. Kim walks a fine line in which she helps us see the world through Ji-won's perspective, but also keeps some empathy for the men she meets. - I've read plenty of gruesome books, and I can say that this book plays at that level. There aren't a ton of vicious scenes, but the ones that are here really hit you in the gut.
Well worth a read if you like psychological horror novels. ...more
Really interesting discussion on the basis of moral thinking, what we understand about how human cultures work, and why people view different values aReally interesting discussion on the basis of moral thinking, what we understand about how human cultures work, and why people view different values as more or less important.
As often happens when I read books about biology, it does leave me feeling a bit too overwhelmed by the effect biology has on our day-to-day behavior. We like to think of ourselves as in control, but the metaphor Haidt uses is a rider on an elephant -- the rider tries to steer the elephant, but mostly it goes where it wants.
Interesting, but also reacting to the politics of 2012, which are far less volatile than the current politics, and thus its tactics and discussion feel a bit underwhelming in 2025....more
This thoughtful meditation on religion, belonging, divorce, and late-teen angst is delightfully packaged in an adventure story about demon fighting. WThis thoughtful meditation on religion, belonging, divorce, and late-teen angst is delightfully packaged in an adventure story about demon fighting. While the humor in this book isn't the same thing you'd get from the Jordan Morris who appears as a ribald jokester on JORDAN, JESSE, GO or FREE WITH ADS, you can see an evolutionary similarity there. And the heart is there too.
As a stogy middle aged atheist, this book feels a bit out of my wheelhouse, but it's relatable enough that it hearkens back to the time in my youth when it felt like lots of people were in these wild youth groups that were half night club, half cult.
Bowen McCurdy's art fits the story nicely, giving a gentleness to the characters but using just enough edge that the demons feel threatening.
Loading...
