The Unmentioned

Shirow Masamune (pseudonym) is a master of science fiction manga, and Ghost in the Shell is one of his most critically acclaimed and fan-favorite works. It's inspired sequels, movies, and even video games, and it's easy to see why.

It's a tale set in a futuristic Japan where the line between man and machine often fades or even seems to disappear completely. Most human beings' "ghosts"--or souls, psyches--inhabit bodies augmented by technology. Human minds are interconnected in a vast network, like computers, and both the good guys and the bad guys use information and data to survive.

Major Motoko Kusanagi, the gun-toting heroine, takes point on operations conducted by Public Security Section 9, a black ops group of enforcers who hunt down terrorists, cybercriminals, and other targets. The rest of the cast is equally endearing, not to mention multifaceted, and even the prime antagonist, the Puppeteer, isn't just some bland criminal mastermind.

The sheer amount of detail and information in this graphic novel may make it hard to swallow for some; for the first several volumes, you'll probably feel lost and confused by all the unfamiliar terms and references. But the more time you spend in the world within, the more you'll start to understand it all, until you feel like you could be a resident of it, yourself. Of course, not everyone will have that kind of patience.

The artwork is gorgeous, especially the colored sections at the start and end of every volume. I wish the rest of it would have received the color treatment, too, but the price of the book probably would have gone up a bit (and the time it would have taken the artist to complete it would have increased exponentially). Still, even the black and white artwork is engaging enough to keep you interested, and there's always an abundance of things to look at and admire. The drawings are full of about as much detail as the text. There's also lots of action, for those of you who want it.

If I have one real complaint about this work, it's that the plot seems to wander too much and become disconnected at times. You'll read about all kinds of missions and events Section 9 gets involved in, but sometimes they don't really seem relevant to the central plot (granted, this is a work that was originally published in separate volumes, which may account for that somewhat). It's all a joy to read thanks to the style, but when you put it down after you've finished it, you'll probably feel a little confused about why certain elements of the story were included.

This is a highly recommended read, especially if you like to scrutinize. You'll find a lot here worth thinking about.

8/10

(Note: I read and reviewed the 2004 Dark Horse edition of the book, which combines all 8 of the original volumes into one. It's rated for explicit content, due to the fact that a lot of the adult content that didn't make it into the original American printings was reintroduced in this version.)

Posted by ChrisU at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Alex Robinson's Tricked, a graphic novel, delivers a thoughtful reflection on human nature. The tales of six different characters--each with a unique personality and problems--intertwine to create a twisting plot that reveals how a web of relations can connect complete strangers.

The artwork is good enough, meaning that it gets the job done; but don't expect a lot of experimentation or expressive effects to pop up. I was left wishing for more exaggeration in the depiction of the characters' moods and actions, but maybe that would distract the reader from what's really important here: the relationships.

The writing is top-notch. The characters talk like people, and despite the fact that they do a lot of emotional brooding, the plot and the dialogue don't read like the soap opera they could have been.

You'll probably find yourself disturbed to find that you can actually relate to some of the characters in this tale, thanks to the slivers of shared, true-to-life human experience you'll find tucked into this story. Most of them aren't the kinds of situations you want to be in, but they'll feel familiar because they're depicted with honesty and respect.

Altogether, a worthy read.

7/10

(If you are (or become) a fan of Alex Robinson's works, you might find this interview interesting.)

Posted by ChrisU at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I just finished reading Lois McMaster Bujold's Paladin of Souls. What a subtle charmer!

I've never read her works before, but I picked this book up after the cover art caught my interest the other day.

The story started off slow--a bit too slow for my tastes, actually--but the endearing characterization and the vivid descriptive detail kept me going until I reached the second third of the book, where the plot picks up. From there, it was a page-turner all the way. I had trouble putting it down and forcing myself to go to sleep, for a few nights.

The tale describes the growth and redemption of Ista, a middle-aged noblewoman who suffered from a bout of madness in the early years of adulthood and the subsequent loss of her husband and son. As the story begins, Ista has decided that she can no longer bear to live trapped in her royal home with her grief, and seeks a way to escape the suffocating habits of her dutiful attendants. She devises a plan that will allow her to leave her home for a time on official business--a religious pilgrimage, in fact--but encounters more trouble than she bargained for on her journey.

Ista's prior madness, readers learn, was actually not madness at all, but part of a curse over her family that forces them to act as servants of the gods. The effects she suffered became dormant for a time, but as the story progresses, they surface again and she must find a way to contend with the meddling of the gods as their chosen agent. She is charged with the duty of solving a mystery that leaves one brother dead but walking and the other forced into an unnatural sleep that only ends for a few short hours each day.

By far the character I found most interesting was Ista. She understands courtly manners and observes them, but her actions are constantly shadowed by interior monologues that reveal her true personality: a lonely woman with an iron will and a wry, witty sense of humor. She's the oldest and most eccentric main character I've ever seen in this kind of high fantasy story, and I was thoroughly impressed that Bujold made her worthy of that role despite her atypical age and demeanor. The characterization of the other major players in the story deserves similar praise.

You'll fall in love with at least one of these characters. You'll be moved to pity and fear and sorrow. Ista's journey is one worth sharing.

9/10

Posted by ChrisU at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My parents got me a copy of Eragon for Easter, and after reading some scathing reviews, I feared a major disappointment.

Fortunately, the movie wasn't a complete disaster. The plot was thin and predictable, but I think the book is to blame for that, not the film producers. The special effects were certainly top notch (props go to the flame and magic effects used in the final battle scene), and I thought some of the flight scenes were particularly breathtaking. Unfortunately, the movie seemed to breeze through the action a bit too quickly for my tastes and there was little room for character development (by the end, I only really cared about Eragon and Saphira, whereas the rest of the cast seemed like almost total strangers in the strict sense of watching the film). I think the movie would have been better suited to a longer showing time--somewhere around 2.5-3 hours--so things could have developed gradually. Then again, the shallow plot might not have been able to support that.

Altogether, a good one-time flick. I probably won't be watching it again unless a sequel is made and I need a refresher, though (and a sequel is likely, as the end of the film almost screams it).

Score: 6.5/10

For a somewhat different perspective, check out popsyndicate's review.

Posted by ChrisU at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)