Current Readings

Dead Astronauts was published in 2019 and is the second book set in the world of Borne . However, keep in mind that it is not a typical sequel. The only reason I would suggest reading Borne first is that it’s a much more accessible book compared to what I’m about to delve into here. Here, things are more complex, more allegorical, and undeniably experimental. If the first book was, let’s say, the In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson , then this one is the A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers by Van der Graaf Generator . If you don’t know what I’m referring to, this might be a good opportunity to check out those albums and bands. So, what actually happens in Dead Astronauts ? Chaos. Madness. A complete unraveling. This novel is by far the most challenging of VanderMeer’s works that I’ve read, but in the best possible way. If I had to describe it broadly, I’d say it feels more like a transcendental experience than a traditional narrative, and you realize that within the ve...

Let’s go back to 1977, when A Scanner Darkly was published, what a brilliant title for a book. The story unfolds, within its own narrative frame, in a dystopian version of California in 1994, with Bob/Fred as the central character. Why two names? Because the protagonist lives a double life. In order to uncover the origin of the dominant drug, Substance D, Arctor (I’ll use his last name to avoid confusion) infiltrates the underground world, exposing himself to this highly addictive substance. To achieve this and prevent any connection to his fellow officers, he wears a scramble suit, a device that constantly alters his appearance and voice to preserve his anonymity. The problem, however, is that Substance D gradually destroys the brain, separating the two hemispheres and causing severe disorientation for its owner, to the point where Arctor eventually no longer knows who he is. This theme of fractured identity is one Dick explored repeatedly, especially during that period of his life...

In the third volume of the series, published in 2010, Joe Hill invests heavily in character development. While the overall mythology and plot continue to evolve, he places particular emphasis on his characters, how the events of their lives shape who they are, and especially how they interact with those around them. A central focus is placed on Nina, the mother of the family, who is sinking deeper into her grief and self-destructive behavior. Her depression intensifies, manifesting through alcoholism, leading to emotional volatility. Despite her downward spiral, she clings to life out of a sense of responsibility toward her three children. It’s truly impressive how precisely Hill captures each character’s psychological makeup. Tyler’s voice stands out clearly from Kinsey’s and Bode’s, yet they all share subtle common threads, something that makes perfect sense, given they are siblings. Crown of Shadows opens with a sequence of pages that reminded me of European comics: a quiet, h...

I had been seeing Martha Wells ’ books featured on lists and receiving awards for quite some time, and I really wanted to read something by her. Naturally, I had to start with The Murderbot Diaries . So the day finally came when I got the first two books in a beautifully bound omnibus edition, and I read them both in a single week. That was 320 pages of pure enjoyment, fast-paced, cleverly written, and thoroughly entertaining. It’s a space adventure told from the point of view of a robot who, as the name suggests, is highly efficient at killing. Now, you might wonder how a character like that can be at the center of a story and still make you care. I don’t know about you, but for me, that premise alone felt bold, fresh, and instantly captivating. What excites me even more is that this is a series, not just a standalone story or novella. The author has clearly invested in a larger arc, the story of the SecUnit, who, I assume, will gradually uncover astonishing things throughout its jou...

Every year, no matter what trends come and go, a comic book reader can usually find something worth reading, there's something out there for every taste. But how often do you come across a work that truly captivates you, that grabs you the moment you open it and makes you feel like you've stumbled upon a masterpiece? Something you instantly know you’ll never forget, something you feel compelled to share with as many people as possible, as if spreading the word is a way of giving back, a gesture of appreciation for its existence. That’s why today I’d like to talk briefly about the first three volumes of The Department of Truth . Once I’ve read the rest, I’ll follow up with thoughts on those too, one by one. Let’s begin with the first volume, The End of the World . Here we’re introduced, thrown headfirst, really, into the dark, violent, mysterious, and at times grimly humorous world crafted by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Martin Simmonds , who feels like the spirit...

So far, we’ve been introduced to the following keys: the Anywhere Key, the Head Key, the Gender Key, the Echo Key, and the Ghost Key. There has also been a reference to the Omega Key. With the exception of the latter, we’ve seen how each of the others works and what they’re capable of. In this second volume of the series, the focus shifts to the Head Key, as the title suggests, while the characters and the overarching mythology continue to develop. As I mentioned in a previous post, I assume that if you're reading this, you're already familiar with certain aspects of the story. So, yes, there will be some mild spoilers; otherwise, this text wouldn’t really hold together, and I think you understand why. Our protagonists are trying to move on with their lives after the traumatic events of the first volume. But now, they're haunted by something far worse than a murderer: a sadistic and extremely resourceful figure named Dodge, who, as we learn, was the one manipulating S...

During the entire time I was reading Traveling to Mars , I kept thinking about something Neil deGrasse Tyson once said, that instead of pouring resources into colonizing Mars, wouldn’t it be wiser to focus on making Earth a place we don’t need to flee from? After all, we haven’t yet exhausted what this planet has to offer; there are still regions we've never even reached. And if resources truly are the issue, then why not do something to preserve the Earth, rather than deplete and pollute it to the point where it becomes uninhabitable? But the answer, of course, is obvious. These decisions are driven by motives far removed from the common good. Tyson may not have said this part, I did. Just a guy writing down his thoughts on a blog. With this work, the talented and exceptional writer Mark Russell has earned a place among my favorite contemporary authors, and honestly, among my favorites overall. Even if he never published anything else, Traveling to Mars alone would be enough fo...

The book was published in 2009 and is one of several works delivered by this gentleman, alongside, of course, a remarkable and widely admired music career. We're talking about the driving force behind Talking Heads , who began releasing albums in 1977, continued until 1988, and then pursued a solo career. Notably, in 1981, he also released an exceptional album with Brian Eno . In any case, David Byrne is already quite famous and beloved, so you don’t really need me to tell you much more about him. This book came into my hands as a gift about a year and a half ago, or something like that, thanx E, and I waited for the right moment to read it. What that moment was, I couldn’t say. I just picked it up, started reading, and finished it in three days. It reads very easily and enjoyably, because it feels like the diary of a well-traveled and deeply thoughtful man, observant and introspective. At his fairly advanced age, his perspective is quite compelling, at least for me. I was curious...

The first volume of Locke & Key was released in 2008. Many years ago, of course, yet despite knowing how much time has passed and everything that’s happened since, those dates still feel oddly close to me. Like a habit that refuses to fade, or maybe, deep down, I don’t want it to. Decades like the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s give me the same sensation: as if they’re just around the corner. But of course, that’s not the case. Anyway, that’s a whole other conversation. Welcome to Lovecraft introduces us to the mythology of the series and presents the main characters. But beyond the protagonists, the house itself, where everything unfolds, plays a central role. It serves as a symbol, an allegory, or perhaps more accurately, a canvas upon which memories, traumas, desires, dreams, and anxieties are projected, all warped and transformed by the story’s supernatural and horrific elements. As you might guess from the title, the locks and keys are crucial to Hill’s entire narrative. With this co...

Continuing my re-read of Criminal and being here with you today to talk about the second volume, whose title you can see in the heading of this post, one of the first things that struck me was the absence of first-person narration in the captions. This stood out because, later in his career, Brubaker would frequently lean on that technique, and quite effectively so. Over the years, Brubaker quickly evolved into a distinctive writer, one who knows how to unravel the inner worlds of his characters with remarkable sensitivity. He always gives their emotions the necessary weight without picking sides. His portrayal feels, we could say, objective. “Stripping them bare” might be a better way to describe it, and that is a true narrative strength. He honed it through constant writing, arriving at a point where he now possesses all the right tools, though he's up against new challenges like time, inspiration, clarity of mind, and all those daunting creative forces. Still, so far, he’s been ...

The first issue of Phantom Road was released in March 2023 by Image Comics, another quality title from this beloved publisher and yet another strong entry in the extensive body of work by its writer. This is a creation that’s absolutely worth your time. I’d noticed it when it first came out, but I was waiting to get the collected volume before reading it. You know how things go sometimes, it got lost among the endless stream of daily information and simply slipped my mind. That is, until I stumbled upon it again recently. With two volumes now available, I sat down and read it in one sitting. It was exactly what I needed, though I wished there had been more. Not because I wasn’t engaged, far from it, but because I wanted more time with it. Now I’m eagerly awaiting the third volume. Until then, I’ll dive into something else. Thankfully, there are plenty of options. So, what’s Phantom Road about? Well, it’s one of those ideas that instantly brings to mind The Twilight Zone , or somet...