Sunday, November 19, 2017

Let's Take A Ride

Ben Aaronovitch “The Furthest Station” (Subterranean Press, 2017)


Is London home to more haunted city books than any other place on earth? It sure seems like it.

Ben Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant series is certainly one of the best of the micro genre. 

The Furthest Station is a novella set in world of the series. It turns out that the underground is haunted, and Peter has to investigate.

I think that your enjoyment is helped if you are already a series reader, but it really isn’t totally necessary.

All of the Peter Grant books I’ve read have been a pleasure, and this novella is certainly no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for a review copy.

Dinner Tuesday?

Francis Manapul & Clay Mann “Trinity Volume 1: Better Together” (DC Comics, 2017)


I think that when this book is being evaluated, it’s important to think about when this book is being produced.

It is being put out at the beginning of the “Rebirth” launch. It’s coming out of the Nu52 – the most 90s of all events. Suddenly the heroes are heroic again. It’s been years since we have spent time with these characters, and in-universe, they need to get to know each other.

So what we have here is really a simple story, one that would not have been out of place in the silver age. Batman and Wonder Woman come over to have dinner with Superman and Lois. Of course some rando villain ruins the evening.

This is a book that isn’t so much about being BIG and IMPORTANT as it is just reaffirming who these characters are and letting us spend time with them.

Personally I’ve missed them, and felt like it was time well spent.

The art is a bit too fussy for my tastes. His style feels a bit overdrawn to me.

Overall, though, this was a solid read that I enjoyed.

Thanks to NetGalley and DC Comics for a review copy.