The Epic of Gilgamesh

(Short review)

“The Epic of Gilgamesh” by ??? (translated by Andrew George)

Perhaps the ultimate in ‘referred to, but never read’ stories, The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest known stories on earth. This recent translation pieces together the known fragments into a very readable and lyrical prose poem. In some places it seems surprisingly modern, in others it seems completely alien.  Gilgamesh, a king of the city-state Uruk makes a new friend and goes on several adventures before having to face his own mortality – there’s not much more to it than that, but it’s the granddaddy of all literature and certainly worth a read.

Descent

(Short review)

“Descent” by Ken MacLeod

An entertaining and thought-provoking coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of a future Scottish industrial revolution and UFO paranoia. Nothing is quite what it seems, even this book.

Authority

(Short review)

“Authority” (Southern Reach 2) by Jeff VanderMeer

The story of ‘Area X’ started in ”Annihilation” continues from a completely different angle as we follow John Rodriguez in his first days as the new leader (“Control”) of the Southern Reach organisation. He struggles to find out what became of his predecessor and why so little is still known about the mysterious area they study. A mixture of office politics and growing horror with a promise of revelations to come in the third volume.

Annihilation

(Short review)

“Annihilation” (Southern Reach 1)  by Jeff VanderMeer

30 years ago  weird things started to happen in a coastal area of Florida now known as ‘Area X’. The shadowy  Southern Reach organisation was set up to study and explore the anomaly. This book follows  the 12^th expedition into the area as experienced by an unnamed female biologist . Its pure creepy atmosphere and I found myself completely immersed in the storyline and its ongoing mysteries. Excellent stuff.

Saga (Volume 1 - 3)

(Short review)

“Saga” (Volume 1 – 3) by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples.

These are the so-far collected graphic novel versions of the ongoing comic series. The initially simple story of soldiers from both sides of an interplanetary war falling in love and having a child. They are pursued across the galaxy by both their own factions, mercenaries and the media. The art and writing are great and definitely not for kids.

The Screwtape Letters

(Short review)

“The Screwtape Letters”(Annotated edition)  by C.S. Lewis

One of those often referred to but never read (until now) books again. Originally a newspaper column, the text takes the form of letters of advice from an elder demon to his younger prodigy. Some wry comments about society and people’s habits,  but I found it a bit disappointing. Lewis took his Christianity very seriously and it shows. The later annotation helps but was often more interesting than the main text.