| |
|
In re: the Appendix: anybody else ever read The Dictionary of Imaginary Places, edited by Gianni Guadalupi and Alberto Manguel? Because in light of that remarkable document, there are large section of the Appendix which seem.... hm. Predictable. Familiar, even.
In fact, while I have noooooo doubt whatsoever that Alan Moore has indeed reead every single one of the books he references, cover-to-cover, it has also occurred to me that even an undereducated layman like meself could, in a couple of afternoons, knock off a document rather like the LoEG2 Appendix simply by cutting and pasting chunks of the Dictionary.
Not that Mr. Moore would ever ever ever do such a thing.
Lead story is fucking ripping, though. The major difference this time is that the plot and its complications seem to be growing more organically out of the characters--and they are full-fledged characters now, rather than gimmicks or devices, which is something that I thought hurt the first series--a certain emotional distance.
The assault on Mina was as horrible as it was because we felt for her, and knew the depths of his wickedness. Quatermain is floundering, uncertain--in his innate decency he can hardly understand the magnitude of the horror that's upon him. Nemo's pessimism and ferocity will have to win the day (this is war, remember).
And Hyde's ferocity? Hyde's got a more personal agenda, I reckon. He's being set up as a sort of love-struck avenging angel, isn't he? It'll be bad for Griffin: remember, as established in the first series, Hyde can see Griffin (his heat patterns, anyway) but Griffin doesn't know that--though I think he suspects.
Griffin's in for it, though: either the Martians will betray him, or Hyde will eat his entrails in a way we'll all enjoy. The sheer burning hatred in his pronouncement, "He was here. He was naked." --god, my stomach twisted, reading that. Edward Hyde, from sociopath to Wrong Bastard: transformed by the simple act of daring to allow himself to love someone. Just great.
Can't wait for the next 'un. |
|
|
