On a very (and I mean, very) basic level science fiction can be divided into two categories – Star Wars – like and Black Mirror – like. I’m a huge fan of the latter and not much of one of the former, but this book is allegedly a genre classic and in graphic adaptation it seemed worth checking out.
Was it, though? Well, turns out it really, really wasn’t for me, not only the contents, but the execution – this freaking thing is manga. I don’t like manga, this book has done nothing to change my mind. The people all look the same, weird, basic, near expressionless. On top of it, the art was black and white, which every so often works, but most of the time just looks like someone wanted to save on a colorist. Why would you draw this grand space adventure without color? Seriously? The plot seemed pretty basic too – an intrepid forever 25 but really 200-year-old space adventurer, two funky looking aliens and a babe go have a space adventure and discover the titular ringworld. There’s some mildly amusing banter along the way. That’s about it. Somehow Nivel had spun out worlds and worlds of sequels and prequels out of it, but then again that’s Star Wars all over for you. So, no, this reviewer didn’t love the book and it had absolutely nothing to do with sexism – the thing so many other reviewers on GR seem to be having a conniption about, because this reviewer (being an intelligent mature adult who understands historical context) isn’t going to b*tch and moan about the depiction of women in the book. This was 50 years ago; things were different 50 years ago. Things haven’t changed all that much, really. Just look at the recently (finally) freed Britney, who perpetuated for years under a medieval-like in its paternalism protectorship of her father. Women still get paid less than men for the same jobs. Burn your bra on the modern battlefield, don’t go analyzing old books from your present-day hyperwoke perspective – you will find them wonting. The world (literary and otherwise) didn’t start with you and owes absolutely nothing to your modern delicate sensibilities. Contextualize, people, contextualize. Ok, soapbox away, back to review, to conclude it with…no, not impressed, not with the art, not with the story, don’t care to read more. It goes by quickly, but that’s about it. And still no to manga.
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December 2023
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