**spoiler alert** I am sure there is something I am just not grokking about Superman, but I could not finish this book. One thing that bothered me tha**spoiler alert** I am sure there is something I am just not grokking about Superman, but I could not finish this book. One thing that bothered me that's less about Superman and more about the style is that I felt it jumped around quite a bit in the story. It starts "in the middle of the action" which is usually fine but this time just felt incomplete. It then seemed to embrace that strategy of starting in the middle and applied it to every scene. This was compounded by never staying on any one scene particularly long and just moving on. I never felt settled into any scene or conversation as it quickly moved on to something else. Perhaps this was intentional? Maybe this is how it feels like to a man that can move faster than a bullet. If so, I found it a difficult storytelling device. When a conflict surfaced - or, more likely, I was dumped into the middle of one - it resolved within "moments" not allowing me to appreciate it. Characters just jumped into an emotional state with barely any reflection on how or why they got there. It frankly boggled me that they only spent a few pages on Lois' whole day of having Superman's powers. Here is a character who can finally experience life the same way as her romantic partner! That alone is amazing but, on top of that, her partner happens to be the most powerful superhero on the planet. A unique experience all around with many layers there which could have been explored in its own story, yet it's treated as a lark. Maybe it's been done before - I am not familiar with Superman stories - but it added to the feeling that this whole volume was just a bunch of different ideas, lightly explored, and loosely tied together.
On top of how much the pacing turned me off, I found most of the characters rather juvenile. Particularly embarrassing was Samson and Atlas thirstily fawning over a scantily-clad Lois attempting to "steal" her from Superman by regaling her with "feats of strength". The only thing that topped it was when Superman "relented" to their taunting and arm wrestled them both at the same time, resulting in him breaking both of their arms. Why would he bother? Did he really fear that Lois would be impressed by them and leave him? Is he only with Lois because he likes that she finds him strong and powerful? Is that what Superman needs in a relationship? Or maybe he was too prideful to let their sophomoric dare game go unanswered? Did he break their arms just so they would leave him alone? I don't understand him. It seemed to be a teenage boy's idea of how a grown and strong man should respond to such asinine and disrespectful behavior from a couple of buffoons.
I did not understand this book or the characters within and found myself not wanting to continue with Volume 1 at all because I just didn't relate with any aspect of it....more
This was a fantastically fun and geeky read. The last few chapters are hilariously dated which is not surprising due to the age of the book, but disapThis was a fantastically fun and geeky read. The last few chapters are hilariously dated which is not surprising due to the age of the book, but disappointing that a book which so seamlessly tackles the history of computing dated itself so thoroughly by referring to the technology levels at the time of writing using present tense language. Glad I read this!...more
Another Scalzi page turner, this dark science fictional fantasy is set in a universe where a totalitarian theocracy rules the stars and all men.[returAnother Scalzi page turner, this dark science fictional fantasy is set in a universe where a totalitarian theocracy rules the stars and all men.[return][return]The richness and detail of the universe which Scalzi was able to convey in the few pages of this novella is nothing short of impressive. The characters are engaging, lovable and terrifying.[return][return]I would go into more detail but it is very difficult to review this book without major spoilers. Suffice to say, I loved every word and recommend this to any lover of SF as long as they don't mind some blood and gore!...more
One of my favorite romps in this universe. A very blatant tug at the reader's emotions, but still effective.One of my favorite romps in this universe. A very blatant tug at the reader's emotions, but still effective....more
This is the third time which I have gotten halfway through this book and cannot finish it. Steven Brust is a great writer and this is a very well writThis is the third time which I have gotten halfway through this book and cannot finish it. Steven Brust is a great writer and this is a very well written book, but that's the problem with me. I find the characters to be unbearably childish. Now, I think that this was the correct way to portray the characters, so that's not the problem. The problem is that they're way too annoying for me and I just cannot go through this book without getting annoyed at how stupid the characters are being....more
I've had this book in my shelf for a while, but I kept putting off reading it because, while I was mildly interested, I wasn't sure I would like it. II've had this book in my shelf for a while, but I kept putting off reading it because, while I was mildly interested, I wasn't sure I would like it. It seemed like a bit of a childish fantasy book and, to some extent, it is. The story is nothing to write home about, but the storytelling is way better than I expected and halfway through I found myself really captivated by the events. I enjoyed this book and I'm glad I finally got to read it....more
I've been listening to Greg Taylor's Red Panda and Black Jack Justice podcasts for years. He has a great gift to bringing the pulp style of yesteryearI've been listening to Greg Taylor's Red Panda and Black Jack Justice podcasts for years. He has a great gift to bringing the pulp style of yesteryear to today. His stories feel simultaneously modern and classic. I am very happy to find that he successfully jumped from audio drama to comic book. This was a great Red Panda story of the kind I am used to loving. I can't wait for more!...more
As other reviewers have stated, this book will break your heart. It is an example and how the Holocaust is still affecting generations of Jews. SharinAs other reviewers have stated, this book will break your heart. It is an example and how the Holocaust is still affecting generations of Jews. Sharing the author's journey through the process of learning about his parents and how the terrible events they suffered shaped their life and his is a humbling experience. I loved this book....more
I never knew superheros could be so interesting and deep! I am now a Batman fanatic thanks to Frank Miller and this book. This book also opened up a wI never knew superheros could be so interesting and deep! I am now a Batman fanatic thanks to Frank Miller and this book. This book also opened up a world of tights for me which I had previously looked down upon. The story is rich and realistic and I couldn't get enough of it!...more
Brilliant! A sci-fi thriller epic unlike any I have read in its completeness and ability to engage me even with a high level of detail. 2000 pages (inBrilliant! A sci-fi thriller epic unlike any I have read in its completeness and ability to engage me even with a high level of detail. 2000 pages (including the first book) and not one word felt superflous. Can't wait to read the rest of the books in this universe....more
**spoiler alert** Not too bad. Many of the characters are not likeable mostly because of how infuriatingly stupid they were, but most of them died any**spoiler alert** Not too bad. Many of the characters are not likeable mostly because of how infuriatingly stupid they were, but most of them died anyway. Having so many cliffhanger as an ending to such a long book is amusing, but I'm looking forward to reading the next one. ...more
Since it's a collection of older style monthlies, what I got was a series of really short almost stories that could have been more interesting if flesSince it's a collection of older style monthlies, what I got was a series of really short almost stories that could have been more interesting if fleshed out but ultimately wound up feeling merely like an outline of a story....more
A very powerful story of which there are many which are simultaneously just like this one and utterly unique and personal. The comic book format is veA very powerful story of which there are many which are simultaneously just like this one and utterly unique and personal. The comic book format is very well used to convey more than mere words could. Brilliant!...more
It was fine. Kinda like reading one of the sources for World War Z. Not a particularly good one, just one that added more fodder. The cliffhanger endiIt was fine. Kinda like reading one of the sources for World War Z. Not a particularly good one, just one that added more fodder. The cliffhanger ending was bizarrely abrupt and annoying....more
I actually read it from cover to cover, which I hadn't meant to do, but it was very easy to consume and, as an experienced Vim user, I got way more ouI actually read it from cover to cover, which I hadn't meant to do, but it was very easy to consume and, as an experienced Vim user, I got way more out of it than I thought I would....more
I'm not an expert on go and this is the first go book I've ever read. But I've read dozens and dozens of rule books for board games and this book certI'm not an expert on go and this is the first go book I've ever read. But I've read dozens and dozens of rule books for board games and this book certainly works for me....more
After getting past Heinlein's usual Oedipal fantasies, this quickly became a wonderful book - one of his best!After getting past Heinlein's usual Oedipal fantasies, this quickly became a wonderful book - one of his best!...more
It's ok, but I couldn't really get into the character, so I didn't finish it.It's ok, but I couldn't really get into the character, so I didn't finish it....more
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