Book Review: Fence (volumes 1 and 2) by C.S. Pacat

Fence 1 + 2
by C.S. Pacat [YA PB (Graphic Novel) Pacat]

The intense characters on the covers of the first two entries in this series of graphic novels are what initially caught my attention — that, plus I’ve always been fascinating by the competitive sport of fencing.

Nicholas Cox, the illegitimate son of a former U.S. Olympic fencing champion, has followed his father into the sport, but without any traditional training. When he enters a fencing competition, he finds himself up against one of the rising talents in the sport, Seiji Katayama. Though Nicholas’ unorthodox fencing skills initially give Seiji some difficulties, the intense Japanese fencer quickly adapts and then destroys Cox in their match, belittling him in the process. This drives Cox into developing a revenge fantasy in which he can ultimately improve enough to take on Seiji and defeat him.

Which becomes somewhat ironic, when Cox is surprisingly able to an elite boys school with a stellar fencing program — and finds that his newly assigned roommate is none other than…Seiji Katayama. The other fencing students, and staff at the school, make for a large cast of recurring characters. There are lots of different personalities at play, with intense rivalries, growing friendships, and the complications of massively different social backgrounds. Throw all of that into the pressure cooker of a competitive sport the requires you to always be at the top of your game, and some fascinating stories are told.

Admittedly, I could have easily done without some of the subplots, involving flippant relationships and a cult of fannish adulation. But I’m willing to put up with those in order to find out what is ultimately going to happen to Nicholas, Seiji and the other fencing students. This was originally intended to be a short limited-series, but the publisher was so happy with the early issues of the comic that they allowed writer/artist C.S. Pacat to turn it into an ongoing, continuing series. These first two trade-paperback “graphic novel” books collect the first 12-or-so issues of the comic book, and each book ends on something of a cliffhanger. I look forward to reading the third volume!

[ Wikipedia page for the entire Fence series ] | [ official C.S. Pacat web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Audiobook Review: Anathem by Neal Stephenson

Anathem
by Neal Stephenson

Anathem is a grand sci-fi adventure novel, initially set in a strange sort of monastery where philosophers, mathematicians, and the like have been separated from the rest of the world and are only allowed to use a limited set of technology. Their vocabulary seems off, but familiar, e.g: the men are called Fraas, the women are Suurs, and they study theorics in a concent hoping to have an upsight. It’s a bit confusing at first, but thankfully the human story of a young Fraa named Erasmus getting involved in sneaky business with his friends is so relatable that the lingo will make its way comfortably into your head.

The first section of this book is like a cozier version of The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, complete with seemingly pie-in-the-sky philosophical discussions that turn out to be integral to the plot. Eventually some of the characters you’ve grown to know and love venture into the outside world in a Jules Verne style adventure. Something unprecedented has happened forcing the outside powers to call in these cloistered thinkers for help.

Audiobook format highly recommended, if you overlook the brief pre-chapter quotes that are read by the author. William Dufris — the main narrator — is now one of my favorites.

Recommended to people who love world-spanning adventures, philosophy, and well thought out science fiction.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne, The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco, The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell or A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller.]

[ official Anathem page on the official Neal Stephenson web site ]

Recommended by Garren H.
Bennett Martin Public Library

Have you read or listen to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Book Review: Cicada by Shaun Tan

Cicada
by Shaun Tan [YA Tan]

Having long been a fan of Shaun Tan’s imaginative graphic storytelling, in books from The Arrival to Tales From Outer Suburbia to The Bird King, I was excited to see a new Tan title on the Young Adult “New Books” display. It does not disappoint.

Cicada is a very short picture book for all-age readers. It tells the short story of a cicada who is living the drone-like life of an office worker in a stereotypical big office building. Think Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” crossed with either the British or U.S. version of The Office television series. Only, in this case, the gigantic bug is wearing a three-piece suit, and all the humans around him take him for granted as just another little schlubb behind a desk.

Over the course of this short tale, we see how Cicada interacts with his co-workers and the heirarchical structure at his company, but we also see how his very cicada nature is being held back. A not-unexpected twist at the end gives this slightly depressing story a bit of a happy ending. Shaun Tan’s artwork is, as usual, gorgeous, and a feast for the eyes. I really enjoyed this one.

[ official Picture Books page on the official Shaun Tan web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

New BooksTalk Booklist: Bibliomysteries!

Former Lincoln City Libraries staff member Mary S. (now with the Nebraska Library Commission), was the guest BooksTalk presenter at Bethany Branch Library on April 12, 2019. Her theme was mystery fiction dealing with books, literature, libraries and bookstores.

Check out her list of recommended reading at the following link:

Bibliomysteries