![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/c74/d8277c53-81ff-4d2c-8007-2bac329f4c74.jpg?m=1553205006)
David McK (3227 KP) rated Norse Mythology in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Mainly since I don't have a shelf for 'mythology'.
Which is what this is: a straight re-telling of various of the Norse myths by [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg], an author who is most familiar to me through his colloboration (and friendship) with the late, great, Sir [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg] in [b:Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|12067|Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1392528568s/12067.jpg|4110990], but who I am aware is famous in his own right and has written many other tales - some of which I have read (such as [b:Stardust|16793|Stardust|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459127484s/16793.jpg|3166179], [b:American Gods|30165203|American Gods|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462924585s/30165203.jpg|1970226] and [b:Neverwhere|14497|Neverwhere|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348747943s/14497.jpg|16534] all spring to mind), others of which I haven't (such as his Sandman series) .
As a straight re-telling, some of these myths are already familioar as they are ingrained in our popular culture (such as Ragnarok), whereas others have become more 'popular' and familiar over the years since the inclusion of Thor (and Loki) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It is unusual, however, to find such a retelling that is aimed at an adult audience - even if, by reading some of the prose within this, you might think it was aimed at kids (until you realise what's going on)!
![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/c74/d8277c53-81ff-4d2c-8007-2bac329f4c74.jpg?m=1553205006)
David McK (3227 KP) rated Death of Wolverine in Books
Jan 30, 2019
As if.
The Temporary Absence of Wolverine? (from the Marvel Universe). perhaps.
Admittedly, that doesn't sound *quite* as catchy, but I think that we all know by now that the death of any major comic character rarely stays that way: Superman, Captain America and Spider-Man (for instance) have all previously 'died' and later been resurrected. In the comics, indeed, I can only think of a few characters - all with mainly supporting roles - who have died, and stayed dead. Characters such as Uncle Ben (Spider-Man), Jonathan Kent (Superman) or the Wayne's (Batman), for example.
With all that said, this story starts with Logan stripped of his healing powers by unspecified events and with a huge bounty placed on him, leading several of the worlds bounty hunters to try to collect.
How this all fits into 'Old Man Logan' (which I haven't read, but have heard of), I have no idea - in this, he does, indeed, 'die' by the end of the stories. Like the character, the (linked) stories are also pretty brutal, with the art not shying away form showing the injuries sustained by a healing-powers-less Logan, and with blood spilt on a fairly regular basis.
There's also a throw-away line in one of the X-Men movies (the first?), where Logan is asked - when referring to his claws popping out - if that hurts, and in which he answers "Every damn time". The reason I bring that up? Because that fact is woven into this story as well, with Logan trying to avoid using his claws until absolutely necessary and with close-ups of his hands (when he does) showing just how painful it can be.
Worth a read? Yes, but I very much doubt the character will stay dead for long!
![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/0e3/630e4ff5-bfdf-4760-9e37-29f3ad9090e3.jpg?m=1522362006)
ClareR (5589 KP) rated Heroes (Stephen Fry’s Great Mythology Volume 2 in Books
Oct 24, 2019
So, Stephen tells us about Heracles, Perseus, Jason and others that I wasn’t as familiar with, like Oedipus and Bellerophon. Honestly, this book is bursting with heroes, and whilst this sounds like a ridiculous thing to say, what I actually mean is that I didn’t feel as though they were short changed in their space. All of the heroes were given their moments of glory again: their stories were told with care, with humour and with feeling. I’m hoping more will come out of this ‘Great Mythology’ series, because I am well up for listening to more. I’ll even pick up my Audible subscription again. I just need to get through the long list of Audible books that I have first...
Anyway, I would highly recommend this book and Mythos as well, and if you can, definitely listen to the audiobook version. You won’t regret it!
![Michael Allred: Conversations](/uploads/profile_image/607/522551e6-dab2-47df-b5be-67d7c0a0b607.jpg?m=1522337102)
Michael Allred: Conversations
Book
Michael Allred stands out for his blend of spiritual and philosophical approaches with an art style...
![Robot: Visual Atlas from Ancient Greece to Artificial Intelligence](/uploads/profile_image/557/db6274ca-5975-4435-9759-c5c25653c557.jpg?m=1522331687)
Robot: Visual Atlas from Ancient Greece to Artificial Intelligence
Book
From Ancient Greece onwards, humans have been swept up in a race to replicate and rebuild...
![The Beauty of Physics: Patterns, Principles, and Perspectives](/uploads/profile_image/d68/f7b8c29f-4cfc-4c2f-82bf-20c8b395fd68.jpg?m=1522353921)
The Beauty of Physics: Patterns, Principles, and Perspectives
Book
The beauty of physics lies in its coherence in terms of a few fundamental concepts and principles....
![Parsnips: Buttered: Bamboozle and Boycott Modern Life, One Email at a Time](/uploads/profile_image/2e6/1bce1684-d0cd-4cfa-9284-ceb5da3c42e6.jpg?m=1522325867)
Parsnips: Buttered: Bamboozle and Boycott Modern Life, One Email at a Time
Book
Dear Reader, Life is hard. We are a bombarded generation: Facebook, billboards, Twitter, Instagram,...
![Cuba Cars: Classic Cars of the Caribbean](/uploads/profile_image/b2e/4a0bcf29-8c81-4c8d-94d9-2108fb3d6b2e.jpg?m=1522339591)
Cuba Cars: Classic Cars of the Caribbean
Book
Cuba is worth a visit. Or, as the authors of this book discovered, several. The average package...
![The Paper Time Machine: Colouring the Past](/uploads/profile_image/277/2f72e6ae-c3ef-4b83-b2e1-137411969277.jpg?m=1522324970)
The Paper Time Machine: Colouring the Past
Wolfgang Wild and Jordan Lloyd
Book
The Paper Time Machine is a book that will change the way you think about the past. It contains 130...
![Transmedia Marketing: From Film and TV to Games and Digital Media](/uploads/profile_image/90d/8a7bc00f-9975-40b6-b37b-09cabb4d590d.jpg?m=1522329214)
Transmedia Marketing: From Film and TV to Games and Digital Media
Book
Transmedia Marketing: From Film and TV to Games and Digital Media skillfully guides media makers and...