A Confusion of Princes

Reviewed By: Emily

Basic Info:

Science Fiction/YA, 368 pages , Available in paperback, Kindle, Kobo and Nook.

Author Bio:

Garth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia. A full-time writer since 2001, he has worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, bookseller, and as a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve. Garth’s books include the award-winning fantasy novels Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen; and the cult favourite YA SF novel Shade’s Children. His fantasy novels for children include The Ragwitch; the six books of The Seventh Tower sequence, and The Keys to the Kingdom series. More than five million copies of his books have been sold around the world, his books have appeared on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, The Guardian and The Australian, and his work has been translated into 37 languages. He lives in a Sydney beach suburb with his wife and two children. His website can be found here.

The Break Down:

This story follows the deaths of Prince Khemiri. Taken from his parents as a child, Khemri is now a Prince of the Empire, an enhanced human being equipped with biological and technological improvements that make him faster, stronger and smarter than the ‘average bear’.  Not to mention the perks of (biased) immortality: should he die, and be deemed worthy, he will be reborn... A blessing for this Prince, for as soon as Khemri graduates to full Princehood he learns the terrible truth behind the Empire: there are ten million princes, and all of them want each other dead. Told in his own words we follow him as he discovers the hidden workings of the Empire. One day, given no choice, he is dispatched on a secret mission and comes across the ruins of a space battle. In the debris he meets a young woman named Raine, who challenges his view of the Empire, of Princes, and of himself.

The Verdict:  

Garth Nix is a genius of the multilayered world and this book does not disappoint. The culture Khemri is born into is fascinating, it takes about half the book to set the world up but it is done in such an engaging way that you don’t really mind the slow build up to the story’s main point. Seeing it from the eyes of one who is supposed to be at the top of the evolutionary chain was a good choice as we find out at the same time Khemri does that he has not been told the whole truth about the universe. At first Prince Khemri acts like an arrogant arse, convinced of his own superiority even though the first couple of assassinations should tell him otherwise.

But as we move into the second half of the book and meet Raine, a romance blooms that is completely alien to Khemri and turns his lifelong ideals on their head. Garth Nix skilfully shows the changing of Khemri’s values in a realistic way unlike some novels where love at first sight seems to always worm itself in. In the end, the main crux of the novel is an exploration of what it means to be human from a totally alien perspective. It has you asking yourself, if you could choose between humanity and a super human life, which would be more fulfilling? I would recommend it for an older YA audience (And of course the adults who don’t give a damn if it’s YA or not) due to the time it takes to get the technology and terminology right in your head.

Side Note:

For those of you who love Garth’s fantasy novels be aware, this is unabashedly a science fiction novel, if that doesn’t float your boat you may want to read the sample chapter on Amazon first. However, ACOP is written with Garth’s ever brilliant prose so if you haven’t read much sci-fi before now, this would be the perfect book in which to introduce yourself to the genre.

Star Rating:

**** Four Galactic Battle Cruisers

The Thirteen and a Half Lives of Captain Bluebear

Reviewed By: Emily

Basic Info:

Fantasy/satire (+cartoons), 704, available via paperback on Amazon.

Author Bio:

Walter Moers, (born in Germany) is one of the best-known and commercially most successful German comic creators and authors.  Moers has been publishing since 1984. He first became known with cartoon-like comics that were marked by an ironic view of the world and a conscious violation of political correctness. Many of his works first appeared in the satirical magazine Titanic. In addition to these comics clearly intended for an adult audience, Moers also writes stories and books that he has been publishing since 1985. In 1988, his first "Käpt'n Blaubär" story was published, a character that has since been popular on TV, in books, and on audio cassettes. Recently, Moers also became famous for his novels, especially the Zamonia series. Biography source: Wikipedia.

The Break Down:

Captain Bluebear, as the name suggests, is a bear with blue fur and this book chronicles his first thirteen and a half lives spent on the mysterious continent of Zamonia. Bluebears’, according to German author and illustrator Moers, have 27 lives. Which is fortunate for this bear because he’s not the smartest tool in the shed. The plot is set in the fictional continent of Zamonia on Earth before the ‘great descent’ in which Zamonia and several other continents sink beneath the waves.  An orphan floating in a nutshell on the Sea, the azure-furred Bluebear is rescued by Minipirates, tiny nautical geniuses, who raise him. However, once he gets too large, they abandon him to live out twelve and a half lifetimes of adventure populated by many an eccentric character. Among them, are hobgoblins, argumentative waves known as the ‘Babbling Billows’,  dinosaurs who perform daring ‘last-minute’ rescues, Professor Nightingale who transfers his intelligence via an infectious bacteria, and the creatures who inhabit Atlantis.  Magnificent sugarstorms, captured mirages, tornadoes inhabited by old men, the inside of a giant’s head and "dimensional hiatuses" propel the independent and overly trusting Bluebear from one corner of Zamonia to the other. It has been noted on many occasions to being similar to Douglas Adam’s ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’, except with more cartoons.

The Verdict:

 I am very torn about this absurd book. It’s a complete mix bag and has some absolutely marvellous characters, situations and zany ideas. But it took me weeks to finish, and I’m a fast reader. The reason it took me so long was because the author insists on informing you of every single minute aspect of his fantasy world. This would stop me in my tracks and having me flipping forward to see how much of it I could skip. A good book should never be so full of detail you want to rip out those pages and use them for origami.

For example, when we first arrive in Atlantis we are told of every species that exists in the city, which takes 16 excruciating pages, and only three or four actually turn up in the story. He then explains every aspect of the city from transport to architecture and none of it has any bearing on the story at all. The author proceeded at one point to detail the specific colours a species comes in which resulted in two pages of him listing every colour he could get his hands on. Bluebear even has an encyclopaedia in his brain which gets whipped out every- single- time-he comes across a new species, concept or ‘natural’ event which is about once every ten pages (not the best way to integrate information into a book, no finesse, and very dull). This results in some of the bear’s lives being utterly boring and others being fast paced and amusing. Frankly, an editor should have gone through a dozen red pens to cut this mammoth of a tomb to a third of its size. That would have made it a ripper of a read. At the very least make the extraneous stuff an appendix rather than inhibiting the pace.

The difference between Hitchhiker’s and Captain Bluebear is Hitchhiker’s is concise and only introduces you to the elements of the fantasy world that relate to the story or the humour. The overall feeling I get from Captain Bluebear is the author created a detailed fantasy world, and he wanted some place to show people how awesomely complex it was.  Parts of the book made me smile, but I can’t remember laughing out loud. In saying that, there are some gems to be found if you’re willing to dig and the illustrations are excellent (and provide some relief from the overly detailed text!).  But damn, this author has imagination in spades!

Side Note:

 If you’re a person who loves to know every minute detail of the fantasy world you’re reading about, then this book is for you. If you find detail a bore, but you can’t bring yourself to skip pages and only read half a book, then find the strongest stimulant you’ve got because it’s going to be a long haul.

Star Rating:

*** Three Verbose Bluebears

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Reviewed By: Emily

Basic Info:

Young Adult Fiction, 295 pages, published by Allen & Unwin, Available in paperback, Nook, and Kindle.

Author Bio:

Jesse Andrews is a writer, musician, and former German youth hostel receptionist. He is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in Brooklyn, New York. This is his first novel and is currently being turned into a screenplay with Dan Fogelman for Indian Paintbrush. Visit him online.

The Break Down:

Until senior year, Greg has maintained total social neutrality, slipping in and out of every social group with no allegiances. He has one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, re-dos of cult classics. Greg would be the first one to tell you they’re f***ing terrible, but he and Earl don’t make them for other people. Until Rachel. Rachel has leukaemia. When Greg’s mum declares he must spend time with her, he’s not impressed. But as Greg and Earl get to know her, they try to make her days suck less. Then Rachel decides to stop treatment, and Greg and Earl find themselves making her a movie, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made, bringing Greg in a spotlight he has spent his entire life avoiding.

The Verdict:

This delightfully weird book was a true pleasure to read, funny and sincere, not trying to be anything it isn’t. Like the main character said from the onset: “This is not a book about romantic love or big life changing moments. I can’t believe you’re reading this shit.” It’s a funny (and sometimes disgusting!) account of Life how it is – inexplicable, complex and not a fairy tale.  Humour is not something you’d expect from a book on teen cancer, and even though Rachel is very sick, the book isn’t overwhelmingly sad.

What really makes this book is the relationship between Earl and Greg and how they respond to the situation like real teenagers. You don’t get the feeling that you’re really hearing the middle aged author masquerading as a teenager to impart some grand life lesson. Earl is hilarious and possibly the most random character I have come across in a YA book, yet for all his oddness he has his head on straight. I really enjoyed Greg’s self defacing humour and the fact that he’s completely oblivious to the effect Rachel’s death really had on him. It wasn’t an event he learnt anything from, it just happened and it hurt – this came across really beautifully.

Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good face pulling laugh, something a little out of the ordinary, easy to read and with real characters.

Side Note:

This comic novel may not be for everyone on account of some foul language and some fairly disgusting commentary on what young boys get up to on their own. If you’re a boy, you already know what grossed me out, if you’re a girl, it’s probably better you find out about it now.

Star Rating:

**** ½ - Four and ½ Really Bad Movies