Book Description
Axis is the StarMan of prophecy and legend, destined to lead the three races of his world to unite as one people. The people of his world all know the Prophecy of the Destroyer, despite the failed attempts of the Seneschal to suppress it in the name of the god Artor the Ploughman, and it predicts and dictates Axis's path through war and destruction to the creation of Tencendor.The Prophecy foretold that Axis would defeat his half-brother and lay claim to the land that Tencendor will be created upon. The Prophecy told of the traitor in Axis's camp-Faraday's champion, Timozel. And the Prophecy foretold many a choice that Axis must make in order to fulfill his destiny . . . but neglected to mention the choice between the beautiful and courageous Faraday, his late half-brother's wife, and the feisty and hauntingly enchanting Azhure.To Faraday, he had pledged his love and a place by his side as ruler of Tencendor; to Azhure, he had given his children, his time, and his devotion.His love for both women is what the last twist of the Prophecy relies on. While Azhure explores her newfound powers as an Icarii Enchantress, and Faraday replants the ancient forests of the Mother, the evil Gorgrael is plotting Axis's downfall, invading the sky with ice and terror and the flesh-hungry Gryphons. His most daring move is to follow prophecy, to taunt Axis with the pain of his beloved.But which beloved woman will Gorgrael choose . . . and will she be the one whose death will distract Axis from saving the world?
Customer Reviews:
Tor should be ashamed........2007-02-20
This book, like all the previous books in this series, is wonderful. The characters have heart wrenchingly real and complex, and the world is as complex and original as any I have ever encountered. However...
Tor should be ashamed to have published this book in such a typographically disastrous format. I have *never* (and I am a long-time, avid reader) encountered so many ridiculously out of place periods, quotation marks, and other grammatical errors. After reading other books by Sara Douglass (all with wonderful, beautiful, correct grammar) I can only assume that there are some editors and copy-editors on Tor's staff that desperately need to find a new career path. Tor should be ashamed and embarrassed to have published such a blatantly unpolished work. That said, read it anyway. It's a beautiful continuation of an epic saga, and even the poor editing cannot take away from its glory.
Great Book!!.......2007-01-15
This is the 3rd of series and is my favorite of the Axis Trilogy, by Sara Douglass. I recommend this book highly!! But should start with the 1st book.
Keep a box of tissue nearby.......2006-12-22
Starman is a well-written march to the inevitable end of the Starman prophecy. There is one vaguely suprising moment at the end, but overall, it is what you expect to happen.
That being said, it was undeniably poignant and it's very difficult not to feel anything but saddness and futile hope for the one character that has had the worst time in this series.
The editorial review that references the strong female characters are correct. I would have been happier with more of a presence of Axis, but I'm also not put off by it.
Starman.......2006-04-14
I loved this book and this entire series!! This series is the best thing I have read in the longest time. Sara Douglass has a way with words that draws you into the novel you are reading. I have not been able to put this series down!!! I think that everyone should read this book!! It has a great plot line that keeps you guessing. The dramatic finish to the Prophecy had me reading for hours!! The twists and turns were very exciting and kept me interested all the way through. Sara Douglass put just the right emotions in this book that made you feel for the charachters. I wish that this series will never end, and when it does I believe I will pick it up and begin to read it again. I truly think you should read this series.
Last book in the first trilogy of the wayfarer redemption-good, but nothing really special.......2006-03-21
Starman is the last book in the Axis trilogy which is the first part of the wayfarer redemption. In it the prophecy enacts its final job and Axis has it out with his half brother the destroyer.
But the book involves more than that. It also has Axis and Azhure finding their true heritage (can you guess it? I did) and Faraday replants the trees. She does more than that though, and strangely, she's exhausted the whole time and nearly dies early in the book (can you figure out why? I did.)
This book is quite poignant and very rough to read emotionally. The ending is very, very sad. And the very last part of the phrophey-about how hate is not the way to end the fighting and forgivness will save the soul of the land-is never resolved. It's like the author forgot about it completely. Still, it's good.
But overall with this series I haven't found that I like it as much as Sara Douglass's stand alone novel Threshold. It's an ok series, but I know I'll never read it again. The series gets very dark in this book-and I don't mean dark like scary but dark about the evil that man can make and the utter suffering some force upon others. I've read many of the authors books and they all seem to have a shadow sitting on them. In Threshold it works-in her other books it doesn't. It doesn't work in this book-and the next three books are much, much darker and confusing and disjointed than anything in this part of the series.
It's just so many of the characters are too perfect, or too annoying to be interested in, and Faraday just breaks my heart with her sadness. Overall I'd rate this part of the series four stars, and this book also four.
Three months later-in retrospect I don't think I like this series very much. It's not very well written, it has no likeable well drawn charecters and a lot of the actions are brutaly offensive. In retrospect I think I find Sara Douglass's writing to be very dark and depressing and gloomy-but not always in a way that works. I wouldn't advise reading her stuff, excepting Threshold, unless you can work a two week depresion into your life.
Average customer rating:
- Sterling work from the Golden Age
- Almost Flawless Work
- Impressions, plus a bit of speculation
- An Important Book
- Solid, not outstanding, and a bit dated
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Starman Jones
Robert A. Heinlein
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Heinlein, Robert A. | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Heinlein, Robert A. | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1416505504 |
Book Description
A classic novel from the mind of the storyteller who captures the imagination of readers from around the world, and across two generations
Science Fiction Grand Master
ROBERT A. HEINLEIN
STARMAN JONES
It was a desperate time, when one's next meal and the comforts of home couldn't be taken for granted. Max Jones, a practical, hard-working young man, found his escape in his beloved astronomy books. When reality comes crashing in and his troubled home life forces him out on the road, Max finds himself adrift in a downtrodden land. Until an unexpected, ultimate adventure -- as a stowaway aboard an intergalactic spaceship -- carries him away...but to where? And when? And how could he ever get back? With the ship's pilot dead and his charts and tables are destroyed, Max must call upon all of his untested knowledge and skills in order to survive....
Customer Reviews:
Sterling work from the Golden Age.......2007-07-28
I believe this is the first science fiction novel I ever read -- shortly after it came out, when I was in [...]. It certainly hooked me on adventure stories about space and aliens, and it increased my interest in future technology, . . . as it was understood at that time, with slide rules and printed logarithm tables, and with huge "computing machines" filled with wires and tubes. Max Jones, the hero of the story, is a self-confessed hillbilly who yearns to get into space. (The author seems to feel the animal-powered cultural isolation of the Ozarks in the mid-20th century would continue into a time of extra-solar colonization, in a rather hidebound society run by inherited guild membership.) He comes under the questionable influence of an ex-spaceman and, through forgery and chicanery, gets his wish as a low-ranking steward's mate on a commercial star liner. But Max also has considerable talents as a mathematician -- plus a very handy eidetic memory -- so he's shortly being pulled up the ranks into the ship's control room itself. And as the emergencies begin to stack up, Max, naturally, becomes a hero, even as he confesses to his earlier fraud. It's a better-than-average yarn, with good dialogue, a worthwhile moral, and engaging characters. Even with the lack of "modern" technology, it's still worth recommending to adolescent readers.
Almost Flawless Work.......2007-06-15
Heinlein's work went through a number of different periods almost all tied together by a future history. None are so accessible or entertaining as the series of novels written ostensibly for young adults that finally ended when Heinlein's publisher refused to publish Starship Troopers. These novels present Heinlein views in many forms and are also full of the rich invention that characterized his work. Though these books were written for young people with teens or children as central characters, the stories are not childish. The series of books succeeds so well because Heinlein never talks down to his audience.
The novel cover the adventures of a young teen Max Jones who ought to have become a navigator on a starship but by loses his chance when his beloved uncle dies. He runs away from home and meets a strange man who at first steals from him but later helps him stowaway aboard a starship where he is finally able to live out his dream of becoming a starship navigator until another death plunges the ship into unknown space.
The book has some violent moments. The alien races might be disturbing for very young children but for the intended audience the book should present no problems. The future world is vividly sketched. The only aspect that really dates the book is Heinlein's singular blind spot at the time, computers. Able to envision so much future technology, Heinlein never seemed to be able to see the ramifications of electronic computers. So the human interaction among the navigators in the ship's 'worry hole' may leave contemporary readers scratching their heads and wondering where the computer is.
Despite this flaw, this is Heinlein at his best in a form and style in which he was a clear master.
Impressions, plus a bit of speculation.......2007-03-01
I reread this book recently after nearly thirty years since my first reading, as a high school student. I was amazed at how much I remembered. It must have had quite an impact on my young mind because so much of it came back as I read. Unlike the story's protagonist, my memory for past reading is abysmal.
This story is wonderfully crafted. I had to check the publication date a couple of times, because I've read far less convincing descriptions of FTL travel in more recent novels. The drama and interplay of the crew and officers on the ship is excellent, particularly so for a young man learning his way in society.
In my opinion, the conversations between the protagonist and his female love interest are of a different character. These seem stilted, awkward, and less credible. Heinlein has been taken to task for this in other venues so I won't belabor it here. I have to wonder if my own early lack of success communicating with the opposite sex was influenced by his juveniles, but I suspect the problem is more widespread and genetically based.
Speculation...
Spoiler Warning: The following reveals some plot elements. Stop reading further if you haven't read this book, and plan to.
At the end of this novel, an intelligent species of centaur-like beings bent on the enslavement of humans has examples of our "advanced" technology, plus two complete sets of Astrogation Manuals. These manuals were hidden, but the planet has various species of creatures that excel at spying on humans.
I have to wonder if the Grand Master wasn't planning a follow-up novel in which an older Starman Jones (or descendant) is tasked with helping to defend our civilization from these aggressive creatures.
"Hello, Spider Robinson? Ready for the next round?"
An Important Book.......2006-08-18
I have been a fan of Robert A. Heinlein since I was 8 years old. This book is from what many consider his most creative period. The so-called juveniles he wrote for Charles Scribners Sons had an immediate and lasting impact. None of them has ever been out of print. This is despite their awful titles and their original target audience.
Maximilian Jones is from a poor family. The star of the family was his late Uncle Chester who was a member of the Astrogator's Guild. Max runs away from home with his Uncle's astrogation manuals with a vague notion of following in his Uncle's footsteps. Along the way he meets with and is robbed by another tramp, Sam.
In a interesting twist of events, this thief becomes the best friend a man ever had. Between the Max's brilliance and Sam's avarice and cunning,their mutual loyalty, and series of fortunate and unfortunate events, Max achieves his goal.
Obviously a novel written during the fifties has dated technology. The ships computer is two steps above Eniac. There are effectively no female crewmen. But none this detracts from a fine story. Along the way lessons are given, regarding leadership, friendship, responsibility and of all things rule of law.
Having read this as a child, I did not understand everything at the time that I read it. But as I grew older the lessons learned helped me in life.
The book is still an excellent read even if you're an adult. Personally I have gone so far as to track down an old library hardcover with the original illustrations.
Solid, not outstanding, and a bit dated.......2006-04-30
This is one of the classic Heinlein juvenile novels in which a precocious teenage protagonist throws caution to the wind and risks life and limb on adventures in space. Max Jones is a young boy in an unhappy family situation who decides to leave home and jump on a spaceship. Overall, this is a good, but not outstanding novel. There are definitely some dated ideas (Max memorizing tables of logarithms, for example) that would be absurd to the 21st century reader. The story follows the development of Max as he goes from stowaway to valued member of the crew, and ultimately everyone's life depends on him. We watch Max gain confidence, both in himself and of the crew around him. Not Heinlein's best, but worth a look.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best reads from the 90's.......2007-05-16
As with the first trade, this book is packed with story. Starman Vol. 2 is where many characters and long running plot themes are introduced. I've read this all before so it's really a treat to see how many of the later stories are seeded by this one volume. Very recommended.
a believeable hero!!!!.......2004-07-11
Starman is what I beleive a real hero would be like. This vol. has one of the most wicked villian's in memeory Harris's artwork is amazing Robinson's writing is top notch this is the reason I got back into comic's in the first place. Be sure to read all the 8 volumes in the collection, the ninth is on it's way!
Starman is the .....!!.......2003-06-19
This book took me by surprise. The real believeable aspect of the character was entertaining. The way that James Robinson depicted his character was different in a good way. I can't forget to applaud the new mist, Nash one messed up individual who has a weird love/hate relationship with Jack Knight. I highly recommend it for not only the writing but also the Tony Harris artwork as well. I also suggest you read book 1 for better insight of the character unlike i did.
What makes a man a hero?.......2001-06-26
In this collection Jack Knight starts to assume the role of hero. Whether fighting to free enslaved carnival performers (and in the process meeting another of DC's various Starmen), or meeting the new Mist and running her gauntlet; Jack Knight starts his transformation into a true hero. Not fighting for revenge or glory, he is a hero because it's the right thing to do. That may sound trite to some, but the truly wonderful thing about this character is Robinson's ability to create a superhero that has no agenda other than protecting his city and the people in it. Comic readers often ask themselves," What if a real person became a superhero?" This might be as close as we'll get to the answer.
Great book! Highly recommended!.......2000-08-08
Starman: Night and Day is a joy to read. It's full of well developed characters in a great story, told in an innovative way. Robinson thought this out very well. It is nothing like the mindless storylines you encounter in most comic books, which seem to me mostly made up as they go along. There is a point to Starman, and it's fun to discover it.
Another rare quality in this book is that it can be reread often and still retain much of it's original charm. My only knitpicking critism is that some of the artwork could have been better. But the plot more then makes up for it, and I love the dialog. Check this book out. It won't disappoint.
Customer Reviews:
starmen of times past.......2005-09-26
Although the art wasnt done by Tony Harris, the book was very well done. For instance it keeps up with its name sake, this book is primarily about the previous events that happened to starmen. It starts with Jack and Ted but moves on to the Shade, Mikaal and eventually even Gavyn the starman who never made it to earth(so far as I can tell). I was dissapointed that they never had a story focusing on Will Payton(I believe he was the starman of the eighties, but I could be wrong) or the starman of 1951 but this was really good. Its also a book you can read anytime in the series since its made up of one-shots and therefore not directly following the story, so over all you can read the first book and then this one and it wont be too bad, although it may be a good idea to read the books in order either way. All in all I really liked this book and suggest if your a Starman fan, a JSA fan, a James Robinson fan or just plainly like DC books, I think you'll like this one.
Collection of 'Starman' oneshots.......2002-01-04
This book is comprised of several oneshots printed during the latest 'Starman' run for DC comics. Each story deals with an individual from the past who took up the identity of Starman, the hero of Opal City. The stories are interesting, and are a welcome addition to any fans collection who has just started reading 'Starman'. Even though this collection is the 3rd in the series of trade paperbacks, there is a story in it which takes place many issues later.
Learning from the past.......2001-06-27
Throughout Starman's run, Robinson has often taken the opportunity to show what happened in the past to many of the characters in the series. While basically fill-ins, these stories give the reader some insight into these characters and answer some questions that are raised throughout the series, like what happened to The Ragdoll? While some stories are not quite successful (Mikaal's "far-out" disco tale) the stories are pleasant and sometimes unsettling journeys into Opal's past.
For sentimental comics fans everywhere.......1999-07-31
James Robinson loves the past, and in this book it really shows. I's great to see a modern comic writer pick up old character, dust them off, and actually do something constructive with them. The characters are well written, the storys aren't your regular shallow super hero fare, and you can't help but fall in love with the whole thing. If you are a new Starman reader, I recomend starting with the 'Sins of the Father' TPB. You don't really need to read it first, but it certinly helps
Customer Reviews:
Continuing the excellent series.......2006-11-12
This book continues the excellent Starman series. The writing continues to be top-notch here, though the art suffers. I know that I am in the minority in this opinion, but I felt that once Tony Harris left, the art went SIGNIFICANTLY downhill, not only in specific style, but, more importantly, in how well it conveyed the script. Yes, all of the essentials are still there, however there is just some personality, especially in regards to the settings and the background, that is gone. This is made more painful by the exclusion of any of the second half of the Times Past stories, which had excellent art and somehow tided me over during the initial run. I also feel that the lack of those stories in a collected format takes away from some of the valuable backgrounds to the events taking place during this book.
However, my artistic gripes aside, the story continues to build here and it is a must read.
Still learning..........2001-06-27
From the introduction of "Bobo" Benetti (a character who definitely deserves his own series)to an excellent explanation of all the various personas of Solomon Grundy, Robinson is in top form in this collection. Filled with some of Tony Harris's best art; this collection shows the series at its best, Starman still learning the role of hero, Shade unleashing a bit of the anger he usually keeps in check, and a great visit with David that shows us the other side (literally) of heroism.
STARMAN - Not Quite as Bright.......2001-03-18
The 5th TPB Collection of James Robinson's Starman is the weakest so far. I should prefice this by saying that this volume is still better than 90% of the comics out there. Robinson's writing is in the top echelon of the industry and he's doing some neat things with the development of the character of Jack Knight. So, where does this TPB stumble...VILLAINS! Jack (Starman) isn't given a strong antagonist in any of his adventures in this volume. The best villain MIST has a stand alone storyline (which is quite good) but Starman needs someone to battle to help him further become the hero that he is capable of being.
This aside, Infernal Devices does have several strong points. The annual 'Talking with David' story is the best to this point. The relationship with Jack and his father (Ted) is still a strong central point for all of the STARMAN ADVENTURES. And, it's always nice to see Jack in over his head when surrounded by heroes like Batman and Sentinel. I hope future stories will just provide a stronger motivation and supervillain to keep things more hectic. Read Starman: Infernal Devices and then go and reread Starman: A Wicked Inclination to see how GREAT this character can be when confronted by a true menace.
Starman-The Best Written Superhero in Comics.......2000-10-22
As the fifth in a series of Starman Trade Paperbacks, Infernal Devices follows the continuing adventures of Starman VII Jack Knight as he teams up with Batman and The Original Green Lantern Alan Scott (now known as Sentinel), to save the life of Solomon Grundy. James Robinson's writing and Tony Harris's artwork is top-notch and is certainly worth the price of this collection. It features stunning revelations (by Nash(The Mist II) and Solomon Grundy)and contains the best Talking with David story, which features ghosts of departed golden age mystery men. Only problem is that I wish this book was also printed in glossy paper like the first three volumes of Starman Trade Paperbacks, all in all, this is one book Golden Age and JSA fans should not miss, a definite must-read.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
You get what you pays for, with this title. Big fight, and dead people, brought about by plotting and scheming, with the Shade-powers, Jack, and the local hero-cop family in the middle.
Opal City is a wonderful looking place, but now is the time it really needs its heroes. You know what Guignol in the title is going to mean, as well.
Definitely *not* the volume to start with.......2005-11-01
This volume collects twelve issues of the magazine and the story is about . . . -- well, I'm really not sure *what* it's about. There's Jack Knight, an apparently non-superbeing (since he has to rely on some kind of unnamed tool-weapon to fly and is otherwise vulnerable to the usual threats of violence), whose father was an earlier version of Starman -- but there are several alluded-to earlier, future, and alternate-world Starmen. He apparently has a girlfriend, and he apparently got some other chick pregnant, but those themes are just dropped into the script without explanation. And someone Bad is attacking Opal City, but I have no idea why. The prose is excessively purple, the artwork is mediocre even by the 1960s style it resembles, and I lost patience halfway through, just giving the remainder a skim to see if I could pick up the plot somewhere. Yes, this is not the first volume published (there were sixty issues of the comic before this), but nearly every other middle-of-the-story book I've seen makes at least an effort to provide some backstory, if only by adding an introductory "catch up" chapter. Unless you are intimately familiar with all that went before in this series -- which I am not -- save your money.
The high point of James Robinson's Starman series.......2005-02-05
I didn't get a chance to read this storyline when it was first published by DC. (I quit buying comics when Robinson's Starman series was only beginning.) I am so glad I have bought this volume, and its predecessors, in trade paperback form. Starman is an grand, epic adventure story, but Jack Knight himself is a believable and likeable individual. He is not your typical superhero, and that's a very good thing!
"Grand Guignol" does not disappoint. Readers of the previous 8 volumes and fans of good superhero comics in general will treasure this book. Without giving too much away, we experience the tragedy of bombings and a full-scale criminal assault on Opal City, which is Jack's hometown and also the enigmatic Shade. Has the Shade really went off the deep end, returning to his super-villainous ways? Or is there a darker evil lurking?
To say that this is an excellent addition to any comic book collection is an understatement. This is one of those rare collected editions that make me proud of the industry, and it gives me hope that there is (and always will be) a market for quality monthly comics in the superhero genre. "Grand Guignol" is the type of action-packed, fun, and poignant trade paperback which elevates comic storytelling into an artform.
Recommended without hesitation!
Aptly named.......2004-10-16
This is the aptly-titled climax of the series, as the elaborate plans of the Shade (or are they?) come to fruition, and everyone gets into the act fighting for or against him. Folks die on both sides, and the action hurtles forward even with repeated and frequent digression issues on one or another cast member's past, or the past of the Opal itself. This is epic comic writing in a class of its own, with more backstory and foreshadowing than you can shake a cosmic rod at. Though it's way late in coming, I applaud DC for (3-4 years later) reprinting it. One more volume, and we should be set (and ready to reread the whole thing again).
Customer Reviews:
The modern comic book heroes are refreshing.......2005-04-04
One of the simplest ways to plot the changes in society over time is to examine how comics have changed. The super heroes of the fifties and sixties were powerful and for the most part pure as a fresh snowfall. They rarely expressed self-doubt and their love life was almost platonic. Furthermore, the portrayal of alternative lifestyles was absolutely forbidden. In this book, a modern comic version of several of the heroes of decades ago, most of those past taboos are ignored.
The main character is a next generation Starman and he is human all the way. He has a girlfriend and they are sexually involved, showing a great deal of skin. The original Starman and his female sidekick Black Canary are portrayed as being married, although not to each other, and are having an affair. The current Starman is also filled with self-doubt and when a retired hero (Bulletman) is accused of treason, his task is to delay Captain Marvel until the evidence can be found that will clear Bulletman of the accusations. While the battle is an epic one, it is very much a modern one. Even though he is winning, Captain Marvel ends the fight, realizing that he is on the wrong side, after all there is a sense of community among the superheroes.
At the end, the current Starman and others blast off into space, looking for Starman's brother. Along the way there are cameo appearances by the members of the Justice League of America, an explicit depiction of a male homosexual relationship and a reappearance of Nazis. While some people may decry the changes as a loss of values, I enjoyed the changes very much. In an era of extreme sex and violence in all areas of entertainment, this book depicts the complex world that we live in. The days of any entertainment figure being clean and pure are gone and in many ways, that fact makes my happy. The current heroes are much more interesting.
A very mixed bag........2001-06-27
This collection is a potpourri of tales involving Jack with Captain Marvel, a jarring crossover that serves neither character well, and tales of the past which all lead to Jack's eventual journey to the stars. This book merely serves as a connecter to a more epic adventure and probably would have worked better if divided among the other collections. As it is the stories barely hold together and leaves you just waiting for the next journey.
REVELATIONS GALORE!!!.......2001-05-04
The climax nears. This book, the sixth compilation of James Robinson's alternative cutting edge quasi super hero series-Starman, is the turning point of the series. This book in my opinion provides the best read since Sins of the Father, Robinson and artist Tony Harris' first story arc. The characterization, mood and most especially the big revelations spotlighted in this collection is worth the price. Though not printed in glossy paper, like the first three compilations, and a little more espensive than the other books, the last story arc of original creators Robinson and Harris makes it really worth it. This thing elevates James Robinson among the elite comic writers up there with Chris Claremont, Alan Moore, John Byrne, Peter David, etc. Definitely a must have for DC, Golden Age (for Jack's roots)and JSA fans alike.
REVELATIONS GALORE!!!.......2001-05-04
The climax nears. This book, the sixth compilation of James Robinson's alternative cutting edge quasi super hero series-Starman, is the turning point of the series. This book in my opinion provides the best read since Sins of the Father, Robinson and artist Tony Harris' first story arc. The characterization, mood and most especially the big revelations spotlighted in this collection is worth the price. Though not printed in glossy paper, like the first three compilations, and a little more espensive than the other books, the last story arc of original creators Robinson and Harris makes it really worth it. This thing elevates James Robinson among the elite comic writers up there with Chris Claremont, Alan Moore, John Byrne, Peter David, etc. Definitely a must have for DC, Golden Age (for Jack's roots)and JSA fans alike.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
When someone tries to blow up Jack Knight, and in the process gets some of his family, he will slowly come to the realisation that he has some growing up to do.
He kicks against this for some time, but his father, a couple of local cops, Opal City herself, and the need to do something about The Shade and The Mist start to move him in the right direction.
Starman!.......2006-11-21
Starman, written by James Robinson,with art by Tony Harris, Peter Snejbjerg and others, details the exploits of Jack Knight, the son of the aging 1940's Starman, as he struggles with the family business, his personal business and Knight's Past, his, um, business business. It's got science, mystery, romance, cowboys, pirates, and some of the most pure heroism that was presented in the grim and shallow world of 1990's comics. This is one of those great series, Sandman-style, which is loved by comic and non-comic readers alike. This is where I first saw the pencils of Ex Machina artist Tony Harris. I had such a man crush on this creative team, when I met them at a convention in 1996 I giggled Japanese schoolgirl style and averted my eyes. I palpitate at the thought! James Robinson complimented me on my shirt, which I had cleaned especially for the occasion. This is the comic that made me love DC comics, made me embrace my inner collector, and kept me returning to the comic store.
Starman the everyman superhero...but not for kids..........2004-06-26
I have to admit I like the new Starman alot. But I donthtink everyone would.
Great stories, great art, coloring...I have all the 7-8 volumes in the tpb format. The character is written very well. The Sandman stories are especially good, as well as JSA related and even the filler stories with Starman's brother, and Opal City's historical characters. Bank robbers, pirates, aliens, poets, fantasy, sci fi, tattoos, etc...what more could one want?! Also the substitute/guest artists are as good as the regular artist.
However I am a little dissappointed that DC never mentions any ratings for their books similar to Marvel. The new Starman Series by James Robinson is NOT FOR KIDS. Although not overly gratuitous visually, there are bedroom scenes, with semi-nudity(no full frontal), drug use(only one issue), as well as homosexual characters(which is not overly emphasized or distracting to the comic. only noticed this rare&few times. no sex, just words of "love forever")but it may offend some people, and confuse or harm children's moral upbringing. As an adult, they dont get in the way of the main characters virtuous and heroic qualities but they may cause some people who are offended by that kind of thing to miss the overall well-crafted story plots. For others it may cause them to imitate those scenes. I dont like them in a comic book. Personally the parts of the story that show those scenes really dont add that to the plots very much. But I dont believe the writer was trying to shock anyone, just make society more comfortable with this type of relatonship. I would have rather those ideas/characters remained out of the books, or "faded to black" (as one homosexual scene was). I still give the books the highest marks for overall artisitic presentation.
Starman has since departed from the superheroe scene(i think?) but this run of stories has many many great moments in the modern super hero context. Just be careful if you are scensitive to the "adult" situations. They show this Starman superhero and related friends, associates, as very human persons, equiped with fallen human nature, and have to go through their own personal, yet in some cases, universal, spiritual and vocational superhero trials and tribulations. These trials are moral & emotional, that many people can relate to on a down-to-earth level. I tend to think of these stories as kind of modern greek mythological hero/fable stuff anyway. But just because greek stories have all the sex and stuff doesnt mean I like to read, or see, in contemporary novels. I pretty much find it insteresting how Robison included the adult situations, but ignore it overall. However, there is more to emotional maturity then sexual relationships, or positions. At least Robinson provides enough character depth & developement to overshadow these unnecessary plot developments. That is where his writing talent really impresses in dealing not with physical strength, but virtuous strength, in terms of acquiring courage, and in some cases, emotional & spiritual growth. Interpersonal relationships between family and friends also play a strong part in the stories as well.
But if you are senstitive to the adult themes maybe the original Starman Archives is your style. There are moments where Harris's & Robinson's modern Starman stories really are the best I have ever read. All though there is alot of art deco, art nouveau, and film noir symbolism throughout their work that allows their style to be respectful of the past. Some of Harris's visual treats could make terrific posters. The inker is especially sensitive to his style. The modern Starman handles the adult themes well in many instances, but they couldve been done even better. If you look at film noir, alot happened that you didnt need to see to help create drama. I am afraid Robinson couldve been more graphic, but he also couldve been less so. For instance issues about adultery(not shown in this particular issue) had wonderful, morally and spiritually uplifting conclusions, with effects that run throughout the Starman series, but he didnot have to show the adulterous act to make us know it happened. For me the resolution was marvelously handled, that it overshadowed what was "shown", however many people might have missed the great ending because of being "shown" too much. "One does not have to see the sin, to learn from it." However, I must restate, Robinson didnt necessarily cross the line of decency, but got right up close to it...even dance over it...to close for me, but still accomplished a great piece of story telling.
No offense meant by my comments, just some thoughtfulness that I think DC should include in its packaging, or on its website. Right now one would think Starman is just like any other comic for kids, when SOME issues, NOT ALL, are more like R rated, G, or even PG.
I hope DC puts out the remaing issues. I believe about 20 more need to be released in tpb.
Yankstar
The characters is what makes this series stand out.......2004-05-27
James Robinson shows his brilliance in crafting vivdly fleshed out characters in his highly entertaining revision of the superhero genre in the 'Starman,' series. This first volume opens up in typical anti-hero fashion with a mortal character reluctantly thrust into the role of superhero and his subsequent struggle to assume such a larger then life identity. While the story and plotting in vol. 1 is decent and perfectly serviceable, the strength of this series is ultimately found in the wonderful character development that takes shape through dozens of chapters. Jack Knight, the hero of this tale, comes across as an everyman with a fascination for kitsch collectibles and pop culture while constantly struggling to find comfort from his transformation to super-being. Good heady stuff without taking itself too seriously.
up there with Moore and Busiek.......2003-12-29
Almost everyone in comics got the wrong message from "Watchmen" and "The Dark Knight Returns." Rather than learning that superhero comics could be about more than adolescent fantasies they simply embraced the violence of those books and created comics that catered to a darker set of adolescent fantasies than the old Superman or Spiderman comics did. Comics didn't grow up; they just went from being geeks to juvenile delinquents.
I say almost everyone because there are a few notable exceptions where people have written superhero comics for grown ups, or to use Neil Gaiman's words comics that are "about something" (about something other than muscles, spandex, and maiming and killing "evil doers" that is). Kurt Busiek of course, and strangely enough Alan Moore himself are the examples everyone knows about. Unfortunately, James Robinson's work often falls between the cracks, and that is a shame, because "Starman" is a comic that is truly about something.
Aptly enough a good bit of what the comic is about is growing up. Early in the series Knight mocks things like family, duty, and honor, but Jack coming to embrace those things as well as responsibility is the heart of the whole series. Spiderman and Superman are great metaphors for adolescence, "Starman" is a story about coming out of a prolonged adolescence. Jack Knight isn't an obsessed Rorschach or Batman driven by internal demons in a near psychotic quest for vengeance. Rather, he's a self-centered hipster who gets in the superhero racket out of duty, family oligations, and loyalty to his beloved home town.
But really I make it sound all stodgy and positively 19th century Prussian, and it isn't. As well as being about something the series is a lot of fun. Robinson clearly loves all those old guys in tights and all the baggage that goes with them, but in his hands it really isn't baggage. You get explosions, evil plots, crime waves, superhero team ups, and everything you expect in comics, but you get meaning too. On top of that Robinson has a knack for creating characters and enough attention to detail to bring them to life. The O'Dares could have degenerated to Irish-cop stereotypes, the Shade a mere metropolitan killer, or Knight a hipster with superpowers, but none of them did. They all seem like living breathing people, and that's not something you can say for characters on a good many acclaimed television shows.
"Starman" was one of the best comics of the 90's and the best place to start is at the beginning.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent - Very satisfying
- Awestruck and breathless, so how do I write a review?
- Great end
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Starman: Sons of the Father (Book 10)
James Robinson
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Starman: A Starry Knight (Book 7)
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Starman: Times Past (Book 4)
ASIN: 1401204732 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent - Very satisfying.......2006-11-12
As with my earlier review of the previous volume, I admit to my disappointment in the artwork here. I feel that the style is less to my liking, but, more importantly, a lot of personality is lost to the settings and backgrounds that we, the readers, were spoiled by Tony Harris to come to expect.
Wow, what an awkward sentence that was...
Art aside, this is an excellent story, and a worthy conclusion (and must read) to the series. The trip back in time is a little brief for my taste, but still very satisfying and, in an attempt to avoid spoiling anything, it does give more character and appreciation to certain characters who were otherwise... not fully given life to in this series.
Definitely a must-read, though disappointing in that, well, this is the end...
Awestruck and breathless, so how do I write a review?.......2005-06-04
For Starman fans, it goes without saying. James Robinson took the name of a third-tier DC Comics hero whose best days were in the 1940s and had never amounted to much since then, and delivered to readers the single best mainstream "DC Universe" series of the late 1990s. James Robinson, who I will always respect even more for the "Elseworlds" miniseries The Golden Age, wove an intricate and poignant tale of a young man coming into his own in the middle of the complex and often maddening DCU. And he did it with such grace that it's almost heresy to note my first reaction...
I remember seeing the promo art for Starman #0 as part of the hype for "Zero Hour: Crisis in Time" in 1994, and thinking "another lame revamp which won't last a year." Thank God that I was utterly wrong. (On the other hand, does anybody even remember "Anima?" Or "Xenobrood?" Or the new versions of "Fate" and "Manhunter?" Good grief.)
Anyway, enough about DC, Robinson, and even the importance of this series. "Sons of the Father" is not only a cleverly-titled wrap-up to this 10-volume trade paperback series, it is a breathtaking tour of what it really means to be a hero. And to be a father. Without giving anything away (I hate that, and refuse to do it here), I can honestly say that while not the best of the Starman TPBs, this is right up there with the early Robinson/Tony Harris collaborations.
If you're a Starman fan, why haven't you bought this already? If you aren't a Starman fan, you should be. If you know someone who isn't, help them. Christmas... birthday present... trying to get into that special, somewhat-bookish girl's pants? "Sons of the Father" is one hell of a read!
And I've never written anything directed to a fictional character, but...
JACK KNIGHT, WE MISS YOU! GODSPEED!
Great end.......2005-04-25
A great end to a great series. The art takes getting use to but soon you feel strange and comfortable like Opal City. I did not follow this comic until it was in graphic novel format. It is the best way to enjoy the series. Collect all ten volumes if they are available.
Customer Reviews:
Starman Vol.3 - A Wicked Inclination.......2006-06-28
Volume 3 of James Robinson's well-written Starman series, starring Jack Knight(son of of the original Golden Age Starman,Ted Knight).
This trade collects issues 17, and 19-27.
Here's how the back cover describes the contents:
"This collection features the final team-up between Starman and the Golden Age Sandman in the Eisner Award-winning story "Sand and Stars". Also included is "Hell and Back", Jack's terrifying battle within a demon-possessed poster, as well as the touching tales "Talking With David '96" and "A Christmas Knight"."
A hero continues his education.......2001-06-29
There is a great scene in this collection where Wesley Dodds, the original masked crime fighter in DC's reconfigured universe, thinks back to a time when the original Starman saved his life. Now planning to help Jack Knight, he is faced with his own age and moratlity and he rises to the occasion with the words: "Life should be measured by quality. And so...if this must be the last thing I do, I am content." To be moved by comic book dialogue is a rare thing, and it is even less likely when it is a super hero comic, but this is just one more example of how well Robinson has crafted this series. It's just great fun to watch this hero grow up, and I think all comic fans should give this series a try.
"Stars and Sand" is *must* reading for Golden Age Fans.......1999-05-30
This trade paperback of probably one of the *best* books on the market also contains "Sand and Stars", in which the "next generation" (Jack Knight" teams with the one who "started it all" (Wesley Dodds, aka Sandman). A well-written meditation on life, growing old, and age, it even features a "cameo" by Guy Davis, who drew the late, lamented SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATER. Plus, you get the "Demon Quest" arc, a Christmas story with a difference, *and* a "Talking with David" segment. Trust me, at this price, it's a *bargain*. And after reading this, begin reading STARMAN. You'll be glad you did.
Books:
- Straken (High Druid of Shannara)
- Succubus Blues
- Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism
- Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos
- The Bridesmaid Guide: Etiquette, Parties and Being Fabulous
- The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
- The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5)
- The Funkmasters-the Great James Brown Rhythm Sections
- The Gentle Subversive: Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, and the Rise of the Environmental Movement (New Narratives in American History)
- The God of Animals: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
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Enchanter (The Wayfarer Redemption, Book 2)
Sinner (Wayfarer Redemption)
Pilgrim: Book Five of the Wayfarer Redemption
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The Wayfarer Redemption: Book One (Wayfarer Redemption)
