Welcome to November's RANTS & RAVES, a month packed with a bit of everything, including our first RANT on this LIST and boy was it bad. There is a lot of to get through so without more to say.
23. Rawhead Rex (Film): 4.5 - RANT
For the first time ever, instead of the Golden RAVE, we have the Golden RANT. The extreme alternative of something I enjoyed. The only reason why I watched this film was because I am a die-hard Clive Barker fan and he wrote the original script as well as wrote the original short story which the film is very very loosely based on. I actually own this movie thanks to my local spot having it on sale and I have to say, after watching, someone should have paid me to watch it.
Everything about this film was bad. The characters have zero motivation, some scenes were placed in it for importance but was never clearly explained, the actors were wooden and clearly did not understand the story. The actual monster/ Rawhead Rex seems put together with bad make-up/ prosthetics. The director seemed to really pushed for a creature feature with bad gore and un-necessary nudity, completely ignoring the real depth in the original text.
As I mentioned, this travesty of a movie was based on a short story by Clive Barker, which I made sure I re-read after watching it and the difference between the source and the film is shocking. Mr. Barker himself had such a bad experience with this film, has not only disavowed it but he also drove him to direct his next film which he wrote which became the seminally horror classic, Hellraiser so I guess without Rawhead Rex, we never would have got Hellraiser so we have that.
22. Wytches: 7.5 - OKAY
Scott Snyder and Jock have a reputation attached to them. Everything they have collaborated be it on Batman, American Vampire and You Won't Feel a Thing, have attracted tons of attention. Wytches has been lauded as one of there best collaborations and it was very scary so I decided to give it a try and sadly it did hit as well for me as it has for other people. The story is good, a family which has gone through tough times is being haunted by Wytches, not the generic witches but massive hulking cabalistic horrors and the whole small town they live in seem to be in on it. The story is good with a massive twist I will not spoil and the art by Jock can be hit and miss but mostly good but when I finished it, I did not feel much. I was like, well that was cool but I didn't think it really made an impact on me. What did make an impact on me was the behind the scenes and a peak into the mind of the writer Scott Snyder and how he comes up with his ideas. As a creative, these BTS really help me get into his mindset and how he came up with his ideas. This section alone raised the final score of Wytches a .5 and raised it to a capital OKAY.
21. You Like it Darker~ Stories by Stephen King: 8 - Rave
It is strange to do a review of short stories because all of them are actual self contained but overall as a package I enjoyed a big portion of these stories however some of them were such duds it dropped its overall ranking. Also I want to state that I read this entire collection and not cherry picked stories that interested me and this is a review of its entirety. It did not start on a good foot with the first story in the collection 'A Couple Talented Bastids' was a slow burn that once it finally got good it was worthwhile reading but it took forever to get good. 'Rattlesnakes' (which King said is a proper sequel to Cujo) had tons of hallmarks of old King horror which I feel old skool King fans would enjoy but for me it just felt very hokey. Mixed into these were some really good stories like 'Dan Coughlin's Bad Dream' and 'The Answer Man' which really left an impact on me and then we have really bad stories like 'Finn', 'The Fifth Step' and 'Willie the Weirdo' which I felt had no impact on me at all and if anything, almost made me upset I read them.
The final score is reflective of the collection, a lot of okay stories, some good ones, some really bad ones so it still gets a Rave (a lower case one). It is also low on this month's overall list because while it was a good collection it could have been a much stronger collection if each story hit as good as the good ones and the bad ones weren't as bad.
20. Hellverine Vol 1. Lost Highways: 8 - Rave
I read a lot of graphic novels this month. I am kind of in a weird place with should I review 'arcs'/ volumes as I read them or review them once the story is completed. A lot of higher graphic novel placements this week are after I've read the entire story and a lot of the lower graphic novel placements are because I only read an arc and only got half of the story. Like can a person properly review a novel if they only read five out of sixteen chapters? However some graphic novel's arcs are so good I have to review them, take Absolute Batman and Ultimate Spider-man for example. I still debating where to go with this and will probably make a final decision by the end of the month.
On topic, Volume one of the Hellverine continues after his first limited series and this one is designed to be an ongoing. We pick up Hellverine trying to write wrongs and atrocities and overall it was a good read. I stated in my previous review of Hellverine limited series that I really enjoy Daken/ Akihiro as a character and this has been the first attempt to do something different with him. Sure, it is a bit hokey but Akihiro as a character deserves to be explored and this book does that. A character has been always written has irredeemable now given a conscious and a need to do the right thing is always a good character arc. The art is very serviceable and while it is in the low end of the LIST, I did enjoy this book.
19. The Dark Tower Book 1~ The Gunslinger by Stephen King: 8 - Rave
I am low-key obsessed with Stephen King's Dark Tower meta-verse. I love the connections he has placed in some of his key books like 'The Stand', 'It' and 'Insomnia'. I purchased the graphic novels, own the supplemental materials and have read all eight books in the main canon. However I felt enough time had passed that I was due for another journey to the Tower (told you obsessed) and what a better place to begin then at the beginning. I won't summarize the plot of the book, instead I'll talk about my experience with re-reading it. The first book in The Dark Tower had also been revised and expanded, something he did before he released the final three books in the series and I always recalled the original version of the first book being a struggle for me to read back in the day. King himself has admitted that he was not the biggest fan of it hence the revised edition. I am happy I pressed through despite my issues with the original book because the series eventually became one of my favorite book series of all time.
Now after reading the revised and expanded edition I can say I still feel it maybe one of the weaker books in the canon but at the same time it really does set the scene very well and I've come to appreciated it much more. I feel after reading the original book in my late twenties I would have given this book a 6 or a 7 but now a much more mature reader, I see a lot of the foreshadowing and the atmosphere established in this first entry. Sure, some of it might be the polishing of the revised edition but as it stands (pun intended) I enjoyed much more on my second read and now I look forward to re-reading the rest of the books in the series. I will probably not re-read them as quickly as some other series of books I am reading but I think I will continue my re-visit to a series that really captivated me growing up.
18. Ultimate Comics Thor: 8 - Rave
As frequent readers of this blog know I love me some Jonathan Hickman, so on that note I find myself reading everything he writes. Ultimate Comics Thor by him and Carlos Pacheco is a good book. Filled with the grandiose speeches that Hickman loves to write and his ability to world build is second to none. Tied directly into his Ultimate's run, Hickman re-imagines Thor and gives him a proper backstory, befit for an Asgardian. He reframes his friends and foes with some bold choices and Carlos Pacheco delivers on the art but at the end of the day, this book was just... okay.
The fact it comes so far at the back end of this list should let you know while I enjoyed it I also felt it was missing a lot of the stakes and stuff that makes a Hickman book a Hickman book. This book feels more like a set-up for what eventually happens in the Ultimates and feels much more like a companion piece than a proper story, hence an 8 and a lower case Rave.
17. Ultimate Comics Hawkeye: 8 - Rave
It is funny that both of Hickman's origin stories fall so close to each other. In Ultimate Comics Hawkeye we break down who this version of Clint Barton is. Hickman also clearly explains his powers unlike anyone has before and it makes sense. The storyline is a mixture of him being recruited by Nick Fury and a current storyline which just takes place before the Ultimates main line series. Like Ultimate Thor, Ultimate Hawkeye does not feel like a proper story, it is more of an extended prelude and I think it is why it is lower on the list. While I enjoyed the story and how it sets up brand new factions that Hickman's explores in his main series I could have also just ignored this book and I would not be an worst for wear story-wise.
Hickman's Ultimates does have some really high highs (foreshadow for a later entry maybe) but these two origin stories were just fine to read and sadly kind of just there. I enjoyed Hawkeye more then Thor but in the end, both were just parts of a much bigger story. I was not expecting much from this and I got what I expected, a good enjoyable read with some good art from Rafa Sandoval. Funny aside, Ultimate Thor is not available to be read online strangely so I had to buy it myself but I was able to read Hawkeye online and Hawkeye is probably the one I would have preferred to own... wacky that.
16. Genie Make a Wish (K-drama): 8 - Rave
Similar to how Hickman writing promises me a good comic book, certain K-drama writers also have the same guarantee. Among K-drama writers Kim Eun-Sook or KES for short is probably the writer me and my wife look forward to the most. Anything she writes is normally top tier material. I mean look at her resume; The Glory, Mr. Sunshine, King: Eternal Monarch and Goblin/ Guardian: The Great and Lonely God. A lot of those dramas if rated today will get 9.5, maybe even a 10 so for me to give Genie... just a 8 feels almost sacrilegious.
However it is how I feel after watching it. Genie... is a black/ dark dramedy with fantasy elements (hello Genies!) with an amazing cast. First we get a reunion of Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy since they tore our hearts out in 'Uncontrollably Fond'. As always the Nation's mother/ grandmother Kim Mi-kyung delivers too. Also this drama introduce me to newer stars like Noh Sang-hyun who plays Kim Woo-bin's antagonist angel and Ahn Eun-jin in a role I won't spoil but needless to say, she killed it. KES also recruits some amazing cameos which I won't spoil. So the cast and their acting is definitely not the issue. No, in the end I feel my main issue with Genie... was how it handled some of the storylines. For once, I feel KES let the multiple characters get in the way and in the end some storylines felt un-finished or rushed. When one characters story ended I was like shocked and disappointed which is rare in one of KES' dramas. The tone of Genie... also threw me for a loop going back and forward between serious and extreme comedy sometimes within the same scene. On the positive side, KES' did give us a rare happy ending (in a way only she can) so there is that and we needed one because as mentioned above, 'Uncontrollably Fond' left a lot of us upset and the scope, special effects and cinematography was amazing with incredible usage of Dubai in many scenes. I definitely feel it'll stand as one of the weaker series in her catalog but it was still worthwhile watching.
15. It Ends With Us: 8 - Rave
I did not know much about It Ends With Us outside of the whole controversy and lawsuits between the shows two main leads Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. I also know my wife had read the books and was looking forward to this adaption and we were finally able to watch it thanks to Netflix. As it stands I want to review purely as a form of media and I actually enjoyed it.
The story was compelling and I am a fan of tragic love stories and I felt all the actors did their jobs very well. I for one * SPOILERS * was thrown for a loop when the Male Lead went from the good guy to a complete villain. * End SPOILERS * and once everything made sense at the end it really made me re-examine the story I was told. Also since I did not read the novel this did not effect me as much but my wife did swear up and down that the actors they got to play the two main male characters are nothing which she expected and that was what threw her off the most. For me, it seemed directorial oversight and a bit of hubris for Justin (the director) to also play the main star and mold the book character to suit him but that's just me. In the end though, I enjoyed it and it has an 8 because of that.
14. Faefever by Karen Marie Moning: 8 - Rave
So last time we left the Fever series, we reached a strange point where I was debating should I continue with it. I really did not enjoy how Bloodfever (the book before this one) put everything into a holding pattern and nothing changed story-wise. I ended up rating it 7.5 and I actually did not immediately borrow the next book in the series. It was only after talking with my wife who had read most of the Fever series that convinced me to continue with it and I am happy I did. Faefever does move the needle forward for the series and ends with much better cliffhanger than the second book did. We learn more about the main characters, add some new interesting characters in the form of some druids and the threat feels much more magnified.
The book does have some ick moments especially the ending which I won't spoil and if the main characters whom I think are going to get together they have a slower burn than some k-dramas but overall this book has put me back on board and I think I will continue with the Fever series again if anything but to see the resolution of multiple cliffhangers. Karen Marie Moning also has a very easy to get into writing style which I appreciate as well and now I need to know what happens next.
13. DCeased: 8.5 - RAVE
DCeased takes the concept explored in Marvel Zombies and gives it a DC tinge and I actually really enjoyed it. This is our first 8.5 and capital letter RAVE for this month and it deserves it. DCeased aims to shock and awe and it does it at a rapid-fire pace. Writer Tom Taylor has caught my eye before but it seems he really found his voice with this macabre tale which never lets up.The fact that he was able to get away with some much * SPOILERS * The big 3 or DC's Trinity all die. * End SPOILERS *.
This was a bold take by DC and I think because it took chances (despite it being set on a alternative world) I ended up enjoying just how far heroes would go to save a doomed world. The art, provided by Trevor Hairsine was also detailed, gory and pulled no punches. I have noticed this world has been expanded with spin-offs and what not but I hope that they don't water down the concept like they do with most spin-offs because as a standalone story, this was a gut punch, a good scare and a great time.
12. Transformers One: 8.5 - RAVE
There is just something un-deniable about Transformers One. Maybe it is how much they respected the Transformers lore, or how well it is animated with some stellar action scenes or even how the voice talent did their great jobs with Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry especially really getting their characters and their respective arcs. Sure, Scarlett Johansson may have played it safe with just playing Black Widow but in a robot body but it was not distracting. The story itself wasn't even any special, a origin story with a big twist anyone could see from a mile away but the main story was how two best friends became bitter enemies and movie showed us that, in real time. The moment when D-16 embraces his dark side and becomes Megatron still sticks with me. It is a shame though this movie didn't do well and was marketed as a children's film because it had some real deep themes and depth to it. Also a big shame was due to the failure of this film and it's live action cousin 'Rise of the Beasts' the Transformer IP was given back to Michael Bay after writers tried to do something different and it failed. So now we get more Bay Transformers which is not the worst thing BUT Bay's Transformers was getting stale and instead of exploring fresh new stories like Transformers One and Bumblebee, we are getting more of the same.
11. Playdate: 8.5 - RAVE
Playdate is just loud, silly, a bit crude bonafide fun. Me and wife stumbled on it while looking for something to watch and we were pleasantly surprised. The movie's plot doesn't try to re-invent the wheel and it plays all the clichés of mis-matched buddy cop films but it does them well. Kevin James as always is solid but the real showcase was Alan Ritchson of Reacher fame. This film was able to showcase Alan's comedic side, something we get a glimpse of in Reacher but this film allowed him to fully lock-in and me and wife both agreed, this is the role Alan was born to play.
Add some crazy set pieces (the car chase being a real highlight), un-expected heart and some good chemistry and you have a good time. Playdate is the epitome of a popcorn flick where you just sit down, turn your brain off and enjoy the chaos and there is nothing wrong with that.
10. Ultimate Comics The Ultimates Vol. 2: 8.5 - RAVE
Now, this is what I am talking about. Earlier I mentioned Hickman's Ultimates run has some highs? This is definitely one of them. So much happens in this book but one particular scene has sat with me for days after I read it. This is Hickman at his finest, writing some of the most insane, action packed stake raising fiction I have ever read in a Marvel comic. I think it helps that the Ultimates is set in an alternative Earth because there is no way Marvel editorial would have let him get away with the stuff he does in this volume. Hickman also secures the Maker * SPOILER * aka Reed Richards gone evil * End SPOILERS * as one of the best villains of all time.
The second volume of The Ultimates is also where Hickman starts sharing his plotting with Sam Humphries (starting with issues 11-12) and you can see this is where Hickman wanted to start passing the torch to the next writer on the book but there is definitely enough of Hickman's DNA in here that it still feels like his vision for the book. While this is barely in the top 10, this was definitely one of my favorite reads of this month.
9. Predator Badlands: 8.5 - RAVE
The Predator franchise continues to go from strength to strength with Badlands. Under the vision of Dan Trachtenberg who also directed the incredible 'Prey', we finally have a Predator film where the Predator is the good guy... kinda. He is still the predator but now we have a much bigger enemy in the form of androids representing Alien's Weyland-Yutani. This film was my introduction to Elle Fanning, who I know about but this is the first time I've seen her in a film and she really delivered in her dual role. With the Predator not speaking English (which I felt was a real good touch), one of her roles is to be our eyes and voice for the film.
I really enjoyed Badlands, it had heart, a great story about the found family and some great actions scenes (the scene where Elle's two body parts destroys an enemy is particularly notable) however I did have some minor issues with it which brought its overall score down. My first ding was the scene where the Predator Dek shows off all his cool weapons, some Predators have never used before and then promptly loses most of them. Like okay. Also I was really not a fan of the first fight scene between Dek and his brother where I could not figure out what was going, both characters were wielding the same weapon and both worn masks and I think this as the first action scene being really un-readable made me worried. Thankfully the action scenes started getting farmed (and lit) much better. I am happy Dan is currently in control of the Predator franchise because from all his efforts so far, he seems to real get the IP and I think he can only bring us more hits like this one.
8. Storm Vol. 1 Earth's Mightiest Mutant: 8.5 - RAVE
Okay, going forward, all media (including this one) are really good. Storm latest solo scores an 8.5 because writer Murewa Ayodele was told the title needed to live up to its title as 'Earth's Mightiest Mutant' and he said BET. Storm has always been written well but this maybe the first time a writer has fully embraced all aspects of Ororo. The humanitarian, the friend, the lover and goddess. Along the way she teams up with Doctor Voodoo, clashes with Doctor Doom and so much more. I have not been able to read this book online but even if I had a chance to read online I would still buy it because this book is just amazing.
Also we can't discuss this book without talking about the art. Hands down the best looking book on my LIST this month, artist Lucas Werneck understands the art assignment just as well as Murewa understood the story. Never has Storm look this majestic and breath-taking. Every panel is a work of art and Lucas has made the list of an artist I will follow to any book. He is that good.
So why with all this praise (which it deserves) does it only get a 8.5? Well, this really comes down to the meta story, I feel the final issue of this volume kind of spends too much time world building and setting up and it really takes away from the four solid issues before it, for a book called 'Storm' this fifth issue really takes the focus off her and I feel it hurts it. Also it loses a .5 because I feel the painted covers are good but I feel Lucas' drawn covers would represent this book much better. His variant cover for the first issue is a perfect example of the amazing story before you. However this does not detract from this maybe my next comic which I will buy every volume going forward.
7. Ultimate Spiderman Vol 3 Family Business: 8.5 - RAVE
Speaking of a comic book where I look forward to every volume, we have Ultimate Spiderman by Hickman. I have mentioned before that Hickman's reimagining of Spiderman maybe my favorite incarnation of Peter in years and I am annoyed and pissed that they will be ending their run with issue # 24. This volume has everything, more Peter and Harry bromances? Yep. More awkward Ben Parker and his symbiote suit, also does he have a love interest in teen Black Cat? Sure. More Gwen, more Mysterio and Kraven? Hell yes. I especially love Hickman's take on Mysterio and 'he' really makes 'him' one of the best re-imaginings in this universe.
While the previous volume got kind of wordy and too much world building, not enough action (cough my complaint about Storm above) this issue rectifies it with a mixture of both and it is amazing (pun intended). This really is the Ultimate Spiderman and while I am sad it'll be ending soon, once it is done you know I will be buying an omnibus so I can experience it all over again as one long narrative and if something Hickman is a master of, it is the long game.
6. Hostage (Netflix): 9 - RAVE
Our first 9 on this LIST and it is a banger. Hostage is how TV should be made, within 5 episodes it tells a compelling, human story about the sacrifices we are forced to make when we have no choices. Hostage does not waste time establishing a conflict and it does not let up, wasting no episodes and constantly upping the stakes. There is a scene that if you watch it you'll know what I am talking about and you are legit surprised it went there.
It only real weakness is the ending was a bit lack-luster and I feel it was resolved a bit too easily but the ride to get to said ending was well worth the price of admission. This drama had me and my wife dying to watch more. With a solid story, a great cast and wonderfully shot and directed, it deserves the first 9 on this LIST.
5. Watchmen (HBO): 9 - RAVE
Watchmen HBO is a bold idea. It takes a IP which one of the creators (Alan Moore) has asked not to be associated with, continues the story of the graphic novel not the movie which was produced by the same studio mind you and reframes one of the biggest characters as a different race but makes it make sense and somehow, it works and it works well. It also takes a traumatic period in American History (The Tulsa Race Massacre) and actually uses it as a basis and builds from it (which was a slight I had for Lovecraft Country where I felt they used it more for shock value) creating real breathing characters filled with rich back stories and motivations. Regina King absolutely kills it as Sister Night and Louis Gossett Jr. show he still has it too. Those are the highlights but the entire cast understood the assignment and delivered.
So why a 9 and not a 10 or a 9.5? It really comes down to a couple factors, the first is the momentum of the show is slowed a lot but some strange intermissions that happens nearly every episode featuring Jeremy Irons characters (who I won't spoil) and his 'quest', these intermissions do nothing for the overall story and sadly I feel Irons is wasted even tho he does the best with what he was given. My second major complaint is the ending. While the final scene is poignant, everything leading up to it felt a bit deus ex machina and I fell the main villains a defeated a bit too easily. Sadly it reminds me that creator of the show Damon Lindolf of Lost fame is great at set-up but sucks at the follow through. However those issue do not detract from this was an amazing ride and well worth the watch. At first I had my doubts that a Watchmen TV was needed but I was convinced by the end.
4. The Wicked + The Divine (Full series): 9 - RAVE
Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie's The Wicked + The Divine has always been on my radar, so when I had the chance to read the whole epic I decided to make a investment. Now 51 issues later (45 main line issues and 6 specials) I am happy I dived in. It is hard to summarize Wic + Div (as people call it) but here we go. Every 90 years the Gods are resurrected as pop stars and celebrities, they live for 2 years and then they die and the cycle never ends. It is an almost Shakespearean saga told with pictures and blurbs, the characters are full formed with witty dialogue and real motivations and a interesting plot that drives everything forward. I really enjoyed many of the characters in this series, Laura Wilson the main character (MC) for example is one of my favorite MC in recent history, she is divinely power yet so human and flawed and that makes her such a great character. I would say more but I am planning on doing a full RAVE about it (similar to the one I did for Secret a couple months ago) so I'll save my thoughts for that one. All in all, this series comes highly recommended and would have topped this LIST if not for the stiff competition below it.
3. Secret Warriors (Full series): 9 - RAVE
Earlier in this blog I commented that Jonathan Hickman is at his best when he is able to tell a story from the beginning to the end. It is why most of independent stuff like East of West, Secret and The Nightly News speak to me much better compared to when his vision is truncated like his X-Men or to use a more modern example his most recent event Imperial which both felt were great first acts but he was not entirely in control in how they ended. I say this because when Hickman is able to write the story he wants to write, the end result is normally something as jaw-dropping, inspiring and as memorable as Secret Warriors.
Secret Warriors at the core of its 28 issues (and 3 specials) all written by Hickman and drawn by various artists is a story about Nick Fury as his war against Hydra and Leviathan. He recruits some teen heroes to his cause, calls in favors from his old squad the Howling Commandos and even his own family but in the end, it is Nick who pulls the final trigger. Now when I say Vol. 4 and Vol. 5 of this series if it was reviewed on its own, we would have got a 9.5 for Vol. 4 and 10 for Vol. 5. They were that good. So it begs the question, why is Secret Warriors number 3 on this months list and a 9 and not a 9.5? I hate to say it but I feel the final volume while it definitely had its moments, it did not hit as hard as I wanted it to, at least for me, especially after the insanity of the previous volumes. I also wished we explored some of the other teen heroes stories outside of the main ones he focused on. I am also rating it slightly lower because while the art was good, it was never amazing to me and I was never a fan of the main artist changing out every couple issues or so. I feel if Secret Warriors had a constant artist (my dream being frequent Hickman collaborator Jim Cheung who drew the lion's share of the amazing covers) this series could have easily gone to the 9.5 mark. However despite those small gripes, Secret Warriors is in the upper echelon of work Hickman has done for Marvel and hands down my favorite comic in a month of many good comics.
2. The Empyrean # 1: Fourth Wing: 9 - RAVE
A couple LISTs ago I reviewed Rebecca Yarros' 'The Things We Leave Unfinished' and I was blown away by how descriptive and emotive her writing was. So it was to my surprise to see one of the most popular romantasy writers right now was Rebecca. Spurred on by the fact I enjoyed 'The Things...' as well as seeing nothing but good buzz and tons of talk about how epic it was, I decided to give The Empyrean series a try with the first novel in the series 'Fourth Wing' and I am so happy I did. It has been a minute since I've been fully invested in a series like I was with The Empyrean. It had action, romance, longing, tragedy and dragons... really freakin' cool dragons. After I was hooked, I dived in and for the first time, I actually listened to a book in audio form.
Now the audio book also deserves a shout-out and maybe even partially why this book ranks so high this month because it had a full voice cast, sound effects, a score and more. So yes, I now enjoy audio books and its all thanks to the Fourth Wing. I also appreciate learning some of the harder terms/ words thanks to the audio book as well because sometimes I would read along with the audio book and it has inspired me to do it with other epic fantasies I aim to read. So yeah I am all in for The Empyrean saga. I really looking forward to diving back as soon as I finish some of the other series I am reading. However despite all its epic-ness, Fourth Wing is not my # 1 pick for this month. That honor belongs to...
1. The Paper Menagerie and other stories by Ken Liu: 9 - RAVE
The winner of the Golden RAVE and my # 1 spot for last month is Ken Liu's collection of amazing short stories titled 'The Paper Menagerie and other stories'. The irony exists that one collection of story stories by an established writer I love is at the back end of this LIST and on the extreme opposite is my favorite content of this month by an author I never heard of before 'The Paper Menagerie...'
I've been thinking what can I say about this collection for over a month now because I finished reading really early in the month of November and I could not stop thinking about it. All I can say is in this selection of short stories and novellas, I cried at least twice real tears over two different stories. The Paper Menagerie maybe one of the best short stories I have read in recent history and Mono No Aware also just hit different for me. On the strength of those two stories alone, this collection deserves a 9 but I also immensely enjoyed Good Hunting, Simulacrum, All the Flavors and The Litigation Master and the Monkey King. Even the short stories I didn't love where still worth reading and it was the opposite of the Stephen King collection mentioned above where there was no duds and each story left me in awe of Ken Liu's imagination. However while there was no duds, some stories did not hit with me as much as the ones I like and it is why this collection gets a 9 and not a 10.
On the strength of this collection alone, I have now looked into everything Ken Liu has done. I have watched Netflix shorts of Good Hunting, I am reading his other collections of short stories, I have started his epic silkpunk (to quote him) fantasy epic The Dandelion Dynasty and I aim to watch the tv series he created and produced 'Pantheon'. When I say I never been this excited to find a new author I am not joking. Reading Liu's works reminds me how excited I was when I first got into Clive Barker (my favorite author of all time) and Jonathan Hickman (my favorite comic book writer of all time). So yes, with all this praise, its is no wonder why it gets my # 1 spot and the Golden Rave for this month.
IN CLOSING:
Phew... that was a lot of reviews. I debated near the end of this month should I put a cap on how many reviews I do but I realize after talking to my wife, I am not restricted by any editorial mandate or word limit here, it is my blog and this is all the content I consumed.
Looking ahead, The Wicked + The Divine will get its full RAVE, we will have Decembers' list (expect more Ken Liu) and we will do our first yearly re-cap of my first full year doing RANTS & RAVES reviews where I put everything I have reviewed in a top 20 LIST. Until then.
AV
