oksi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
snivets's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up on recommendation from the partner of the author via his podcast on architecture. The plot was a bit opaque for me, which lost it a few points, but the art is so gorgeous, luscious, and lovely that I felt totally immersed and wrapped up in the world, and for that it felt totally a 4-star. It did feel like something I could re-read in a year or two and find even more depth waiting for me.
rosof5's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.5
Les dessins sont si contemplatifs. Une vraie inspiration et un ode à la SF. Très K. Dick coloré. On remarque l'effort esthétique qui nous montre les limites glauques du capitalisme. Seulement qu'il y a tellement d'éléments que ça devient déroutant pour l'intrigue où le dévoilement est parfois trop lent. Par exemple j'ai trouvé les vignettes de convo du portable n'aidaient ni à l'ambiance ni à l'intrigue. Tout ça fait qu'on ne se retrouve qu'à plus de la moitié du livre. Tout ce choix de ce qu'il fallait montrer et ce qui restait ouvert à réflexion fait que d'autres aspects ont été explorés superficiellement, par exemple les comportement du reste de la population et la notion même de la réalité augmentée parallèle remplie de pubs 'a pas été développé à sa juste valeur.
chestopherreks's review against another edition
Really slow and kind of confusing. Maybe I'm just not in the mood for it. Beautiful art, though.
wendleness's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story explores ideas around identity, reality, memory, and freedom. As the back of the book itself says: In a city built on digital illusion, who really holds the power? In some ways these concepts are thrown at the reader so obviously and clearly, but it’s also open enough that the reader needs to do some work themself to put more subtle pieces together and consider what life in a world like this would genuinely be like (spoiler: it’s not good).
While the story and concepts are interesting, it is truly the art that brings them to life. It’s outstanding. The level of detail, use of colour, the overlaying of reality with the digital world, the digital interfaces, the use of negative space. Every page, every frame, is an entire piece of art worthy of being framed and hung. I took my time reading this book in order to fully soak up the art and I never got tired of looking at the pages.
A slightly longer review can be found on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
While the story and concepts are interesting, it is truly the art that brings them to life. It’s outstanding. The level of detail, use of colour, the overlaying of reality with the digital world, the digital interfaces, the use of negative space. Every page, every frame, is an entire piece of art worthy of being framed and hung. I took my time reading this book in order to fully soak up the art and I never got tired of looking at the pages.
A slightly longer review can be found on my book blog: Marvel at Words.
disasterfemme's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
a beautiful comic! I loved the illustrations and the ways true reality/augmented reality are depicted. A great thriller that very much portrays a very near future possible cyberpunk reality!
I didn't find the last third as impactful as the beginning, started to find it a bit hard to follow the intrigue and characterization.
also it is a bit hard to read a lot of the text - reading during the day or outside is recommended (:
I didn't find the last third as impactful as the beginning, started to find it a bit hard to follow the intrigue and characterization.
also it is a bit hard to read a lot of the text - reading during the day or outside is recommended (:
saymore's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This is some Black Mirror+ quality tech dystopia. Nuanced commentary; abstract yet gripping scenes; scope ranging from giant and overwhelming to little tactile details; illustrations that interact imaginatively with the page — this is the graphic novel at its peak.
Saying that, I would also love to see this made into a short film or movie. I'm not talking blockbuster — I'm talking an innovative director, who loved and understood the novel, playing with its visceral, tactile visuals and abstract form. Probably won't happen but I'm already imagining it, I guess because the graphic novel is done so well that it feels like I just watched/experienced it.
Saying that, I would also love to see this made into a short film or movie. I'm not talking blockbuster — I'm talking an innovative director, who loved and understood the novel, playing with its visceral, tactile visuals and abstract form. Probably won't happen but I'm already imagining it, I guess because the graphic novel is done so well that it feels like I just watched/experienced it.
perusing_panels's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.5