Book Review 237 // Gods of the North by Robert E. Howard

Continuing our quest to read all the Conan adventures in one go! It has been easy going so far, and we can continue this trend with the following short: Gods of the North.

Title: Gods of the North

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: "The Frost-Giant's Daughter" is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard, but not published in his lifetime. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and details Conan pursuing a spectral nymph across the frozen snows of Nordheim. Rejected as a Conan story by Weird Tales magazine editor Farnsworth Wright, Howard changed the main character's name to "Amra of Akbitana" and retitled the piece as The Gods of the North.

Format: 11 pages, ebook

Review

Wow, seven stories into Conan already! So far, I think my favourite has been Conan the Pirate or the only one where he faces an Elder God/Beast. But this time, we have Conan in the Mountains, facing some very similar feeling Gods (based on Norse Mythology).

Sadly the story reads like filler and has some issues. Firstly the title length, 11 pages, is truly short and a bit disappointing, to be honest. The next issue I had was the uninteresting and straightforward narrative. It all felt very much like a copy-and-paste formula was used.

The story itself sees us joining Conan as the only survivor in this harsh cold land. As he lies dying he is tempted by Atali the daughter of Ymir a Frost Giant. If he had accepted he would have died and passed over, but due to his resistance, he survived to be found by companions searching for battle survivors.

Overall a rather lacklustre tale. Nicely written by a bit dull for me sadly.

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Comic Review 233 // Slaine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book 1 by Pat Mills

Continuing my adventures into the Worlds of Slaine. This title is the beginning of something new. The series is called The Brutania Chronicles and is spread over four books (I believe). It is also a change in art styles as we get treated to Simon Davis's version of the world. So let us dive in.

Title: Sláine: The Brutania Chronicles - Book One

Author: Pat Mills

Illustrator: Simon Davis

Blurb: THE CELTIC WARRIOR RETURNS!

ANCIENT ALBION. Celtic barbarian warrior Sláine united the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland. After ruling for seven years, he fought for the Goddess, travelling through time to battle her enemies before returning to save his people from the Fomorian sea devils. Now, he's crossed over onto the isle of Monadh in an attempt to rescue Sinead from the evil clutches of the Drune Lords...

This brand-new chapter in the life of Sláine is the perfect jumping-on-point for new readers as writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law) transports the Celtic warrior to the ancient world of Albion. This book also introduces the fully-painted art style of Simon Davis (Ampney Crucis) to the strip for the first time.

Format: 112 pages, Kindle Edition

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Review

Wow, a change of pace with this title. Slaine is a changed man, older, wiser, disgruntled and grizzled. The wars and deaths have taken their toll, and now Slaine wanders Albion alone, almost a shade of his former self. This is a depressed Slaine; the world has changed, and his people have gone to a new dimension to live in peace with the Earth Goddess. The temples of old now lie abandoned and cold, many being plundered by raiders. Whilst the few Fomorians still left alive have carved out a new empire where they impose their fearsome nose tax!

It does feel like Slaine has lost his spark, finally beaten by the constant fighting and loss. He isn't the hero of old, but that makes this title interesting. He fights only when he has to; he no longer seeks out adventure. This is a true insight into what happens to the hero who lives for too long. What happens when you become broken and disenchanted by the world around you. It is an exciting direction to take Slaine, and it also feels like a point many reviewers miss.

I am a big fan of Simon Davis's work; it feels like proper fantasy artwork, which you would have seen in the 70s and early 80s. The creatures are genuinely fantastical, with a hint of realism still about them, whilst the large panel artwork keeps you focused on the story. But the problem you have is this is following on from such an epic story arc, "Invasions," that it is hard not to compare. Our heroic saviour of his people being broken and depressed will not please everyone. But this arc promises to be great and seems very fitting for the times it was written in.

Let me know your thoughts. Are you reading these as well?

By far a highlight!

Book Review 212 // The BFG by Roald Dahl

As mentioned in another post, I have been struggling with my reading of late. I seem to be going through a slow reading period. It normally passes, but until then I am focusing on reading to my kids. They recently discovered Roald Dahl's books and have been enjoying the tales. Though I personally was a fan of these I also have come to understand that they have problem areas that have to be discussed when reached.

Title: The BFG

Author: Roald Dahl

Illustrator: Quentin Blake

Blurb: Captured by a giant! The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater, the Bonecruncher, or any of the other giants-rather than the BFG-she would have soon become breakfast.

When Sophie hears that they are flush-bunking off in England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

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Format: 199 pages, Hardback

Review

As mentioned, I like many, enjoyed the BFG and wanted to share this with the kids. It is also such a well-known title that I can't add much new information to the review. It has such a fun, lightheartedness to it. It fills the imagination with giants and humour. 

What is truly well done by Dahl is the combining of the real world with the fantasy world. You end up with a mashed landscape that has you questioning what is around the corner and if that shadow that moved outside was actually a giant. After reading we had collective fun hunting giants around the house and yard and for this alone reading, the story was worthwhile.

But for me, it definitely felt different. Firstly the humour is on point and very obvious, but made it seem more fun. The kids enjoyed it as a funny word, but as an adult, you understand the meaning which makes it more magical. But as I mentioned the book is not without its problems, suffering from some 1970s stereotyping and just low-level humour. In some lines, I skipped with the kids and in others, we chatted about why they are wrong and poorly chosen. I feel it is important to point this out to kids so they start noticing these issues while allowing them to still enjoy a fun story.

Overall a fun and entertaining story, revisiting a book I read twenty-five plus years ago.