What you did to me was unbelievable, Connor. But then I got stuck in a hell dimension by my girlfriend one time for a hundred years, so three months under the ocean actually gave me perspective. Kind of a M.C. Escher perspective, but I did get time to think.

Angel ,'Conviction (1)'


We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good  

There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."


Polter-Cow - Jul 17, 2004 9:13:47 am PDT #5157 of 10002
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!

So the novelizations aren't awful, then?

She's only read No Man's Land. I've never heard of the Vachss one.

But...No Man's Land. Will look it up ASAP.

And, I just edited. You have to read The Dark Knight Returns.

When do I get more stories to read, by the way?

Uh, um, you want more? I'm running out of ones that are worth passing around. I'll send you one if you promise to go all critical on it so I can start revising it.


Amy - Jul 17, 2004 9:54:36 am PDT #5158 of 10002
Because books.

I'll send you one if you promise to go all critical on it so I can start revising it.

I will gladly give you constructive criticism.

No Man's Land (and Dark Knight Returns came up on Amazon as graphic novels. The Vachss thing is actually pure novel -- all text, no illustrations. Struck me as very odd, but intriguing. I may go back for it soon just to see what it's like.

I do want to read Batman: Year One before the movie comes up. Googling Batman this morning, by the way, I found a website for Batman Begins, with nothing on it but a few early photos. Such a tease!


P.M. Marc - Jul 17, 2004 10:12:58 am PDT #5159 of 10002
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

You can get NML 1-5 as graphic novels, but the shortform I rec is the Greg Rucka (and accomplished novelist in his own right, and former classmate of our own JZ), NML, which you can get in regular paperback.

For posterity, my current introset recommendations

  • Batman: Year One (Frank Miller)
  • Robin: Year One (Chuck Dixon)
  • Batgirl: Year One (Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon)

This gives you a basis for the core three.

After that, recs get tailored to what you're getting into the 'verse for.

The No Man's Land novel rec is for those who want to get kind of up to speed with where things are at in the Batfam, but don't have the time or money to spend on the massive list of trades that one would suggest for that.

DKR is good, but I actually rarely re-read it, and while it's on the default list of "You Must Have This Book" for many people, I think it's not aging as well as many others.


Amy - Jul 17, 2004 10:22:03 am PDT #5160 of 10002
Because books.

Thanks for the recs! I definitely feel the beginnings of a new fascination coming on. (And I hope it's okay I called you Plei...)


Connie Neil - Jul 17, 2004 10:24:16 am PDT #5161 of 10002
brillig

Isn't the Vachss novel the one about child abuse?


Amy - Jul 17, 2004 10:34:35 am PDT #5162 of 10002
Because books.

Connie, yeah, that's what it said. And something in the bio said that Vachss writes primarily about that topic, and his law practice focuses on children and families only.


P.M. Marc - Jul 17, 2004 10:35:12 am PDT #5163 of 10002
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

Thanks for the recs! I definitely feel the beginnings of a new fascination coming on. (And I hope it's okay I called you Plei...)

Yep! It's perfectly fine to call me Plei.


Sheryl - Jul 17, 2004 11:21:13 am PDT #5164 of 10002
Fandom means never having to say "But where would I wear that?"

Vacchs, in his primary mystery series, does focus on child abuse and similar things. I stopped reading his a while back when things got too dark and nasty for me. YDMV.


Consuela - Jul 17, 2004 1:02:35 pm PDT #5165 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

I don't remember whether anyone has posted about Set This House in Order by Matt Ruff here. I'm about halfway through and enjoying it immensely. However I'm getting nervous that things are about to go desperately wrong for these people.


Jesse - Jul 17, 2004 3:39:06 pm PDT #5166 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Add me to folks who can't deal with the darkness of what Vachss usually writes. And I like dark. His stuff is just too real.