A Graphic Double

Many thanks go to NetGalley and to the publishers, NBM Publishing and BOOM! Studios, for allowing me to read advance readers copies of these books in exchange for honest reviews.

I decided to end my this year's blog with two graphic books, one a graphic novel about a new drug, the other a biography about one of the 20th Century's best Sci-Fi writers.

Philip K. Dick by Laurent Queyssi and Mauro Marchesi

Philip K. Dick, one of the greatest Sci-Fi writers of the last hundred years, is one of those writers that I come back to from time to time. Many of his stories and novels were later made into movies, for example Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (filmed as Blade Runner) and Minority Report. I knew little of his real life, except that some of his stories were semi-biographical in nature.

This comic biography, artistically, is quite typical of modern comics. The lines are clear, the colour is there, and they tell the story in actions not words. However, I would have preferred more detail about how and why he wrote the books he did. It is a very quick telling of his life from a baby to his death, and that makes it lack a little something. On the other hand, the vividness of the hallucinations, given through the art work, is quite special.

Star rating: 3/5

This book will be available from 15th January 2019

Bone Parish Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn

The premise behind this graphic novel is simple. A family has created a new drug called Ash, made from the ashes of the dead. They cause you to hallucinate that you are that person, seeing what they saw. However, the business is very successful and has attracted the attention of several large drug cartels who want to buy the business, whatever the cost.

The kind of story that I think PKD would have loved to write in his darkest of moods, this was perhaps not quite my cup of tea. The idea was excellent, and the artwork was really good, however I found the actual story to be a bit flat, maybe a little boring. I'm sure, however, that many people would enjoy it more than I did, but I wouldn't rush out to buy it. Maybe I will look at part two in the future, just to see what happened next, but I'm unsure.

Star rating: 2.5/5

You have to wait until 7th May 2019 for this one!

The Sect Of Angels

Many thanks go to Net Galley and to the publisher, Europa Editions, for allowing me to read an advance readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Andrea Camilleri is one of those writers I can't stay away from too long. I'm always looking for his next Inspector Montalbano books, and have read one of two of his others. I had no idea that The Sect Of Angels was coming out, so the second I saw it on NetGalley, I requested it, thinking that I wouldn't have a chance of getting it. Later that day, I had a nice early Christmas surprise in my email, thanks to the good people at Europa Editions.

When lawyer Matteo Teresi discovers that several young, unmarried, underage girls are all two months pregnant, he sets out to find out who the fathers are. During his investigations, he finds out that there is something sinister going on at several of the local churches. Based on a true story and set in 1901, Camilleri describes the story with humour, pace and quality. The plot is fantastic, and very fitting with today's society as well. The main characters are very vivid and believable, and the rest of the cast, although large in number, are not just background artists.

I have no negative things to say about this book. I loved it from start to finish. I will admit to getting quite angry at the end of the story, but I don't want to spoil the book for you! Enjoy it!

Star rating: 5/5

Unfortunately, you have to wait until March 12th 2019 for this book!

This is my final review before Christmas. I hope you enjoyed it!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Matthew

Queen: Album by Album by Martin Popoff

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Quarto Publishing Group - Voyageur Press, for allowing me to read an advance readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a fan of Queen for many years now, buying my first album when I was at university at the age of 19, up to the present. Queen: Album by Album is very much a book for fans, as it dissects each album in order with the help of industry experts and big names, such as Sir Paul McCartney. But if you like this band, you'll find this to be a fascinating read.

It is difficult to review a book of what are basically album reviews, but I think it has been put together well, in the format of interviews, lead strongly by Martin Popoff. The opinions differ greatly, but for the most part love the early stuff and kind of dislike the mid 80s albums. Also, across th page are some amazing photographs, album covers and single covers from around the world, as well as several memorabilia items that were always a good edition.

I enjoyed the experience of reading this book, and it made me start re-listening to the albums when possible. By the end of Made In Heaven, I was a bit of a wreck emotionally, but that, in my opinion, was the joy of that album experience.

Star rating 5/5

This book is available to buy now