Marina - StarWars Aficionado
Bio
I'm just about to recieve my degree in Dragon Slaying, with a minor in The Jedi Arts (and another degree involving teaching America's youth about History and English), but until the economy picks up and PETA gets off my case, I'll settle for being a bookseller and a teacher. I love coffee, food, and Star Wars, and all things nerdy. Most of my reading consists of Fantasy and Graphic Novels, with some expertise in Science-Fiction, Fiction, and History. If one was to say anything about me, they'd say I was an Epic Nerd...
....and although I love Lord of the Rings, “There is only one Return, and it’s of the Jedi.”
For my Fantasy picks check out my blog by clicking here or visit: http://www.speaknerdandenter.blogspot.com/
$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780545224901
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Press, 10/2011
This tale is derived from Scottish, Irish, and Manx mythology where stunningly beautiful and deadly water horses jump out from the ocean and attack people. In this world that Stiefvater has created, once a year on this tiny island water horses are captured and raced in a death defying competition that brings a large reward for the winner, and death to many of the more unlucky competitors. This book covers the race of the first female competitor Puck, a young seventeen year old girl whose parents were killed by water horses. She desperately needs to win the races, so she enters despite the terror and the lack of support from her community. “The Scorpio Races” is an amazing novel of will power, myth, suspense, and overcoming adversity! It is truly an engaging read and is one of the best young adult titles I have read in a very long time!
$24.95
ISBN-13: 9781932386905
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Archaia Entertainment, 12/2010
Anorev is a land of only children and machines, where the robots work, and the children play. Time never progresses; it merely moves on in a meaningless sort of fashion. There are no real adults and everyone is fairly content for the way things are: insignificant and segregated between the children and the machines. Until one day when the Dapper men return. Not only is this graphic novel visually astounding, but the writing is philosophical and heart wrenching as well. Everyone should read this award winning work. For its visually masterful artwork and its powerful message.
$19.99
ISBN-13: 9781401229696
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vertigo, 2/2011
This 2011 Eisner nominee for best limited series is absolutely breathtaking. It does more than give the reader a look at life, it gives the reader a reason to treasure life. The story is focused around a man named Bras, a Brazilian obituary writer and son to a very famous and loved author. He ponders life itself, focusing the reader on very different yet important moments in his life that are both beautiful and terrifying. In each of these moments, Bras gives an obituary of his current history. Beautiful, intriguing and heart warming, this is a must read for anyone that reads in general.
$12.99
ISBN-13: 9781401225650
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vertigo, 1/2010
This series follows the man that was the inspiration for a children's book phenomenon, similar to that of Harry Potter. That is he has always thought he was the inspiration but as things unravel it appears that he could literally be the boy wizard from the books! This series is riddled with fantastic story telling, humor and classic literary usages (Traveling through Frankenstein and Moby Dick!) This series is one of the best I have read in along time and pulls from other literary works including Kipling and Melville. Great for any lover of Harry Potter, fantastic fiction, classic literature, or comics. This series is for adults however, so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 16 years old, but it's great. Carey does a great job of carrying three different story lines at once, between the current, the children's book that Tommy is based off of, and classic literature. I can't recommend this series enough to book lovers, it's awesome.
$7.99
ISBN-13: 9780316068130
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Orbit, 9/2011
This new series opener by Weeks, is astounding. I was skeptical at first on reading the synopsis of this book, but it truly does not give this original and imaginative storyline and world justice.In this world magic is controlled by the seven colors of the spectrum. Every color has different characteristics and powers, but the magic of the colors depend on light itself. In this world it is rare that someone can use 2 colors or more but there is only one that can control call seven colors and he is called the Prism. Gavin Guile is the Prism, and he is the best Prism that his world has seen in a very long time. He is loved and adored by most of his followers. The Prism is the servant and hand of the creator. However, Gavin Guile has a terrible secret that could rip his world apart if discovered. He has sacrificed everything to be the Prism, and this secret begins to unravel, when he finds out that he has a bastard. Can Gavin Guile protect the people from his shocking truth?Weeks' characters are funny and lovable, which is odd because the book has such a dark undertone. The violence is graphic and explicit, but not glorified. The parts I enjoyed most were the inner monologues of Kip, which are hysterical and accurate for a 15 year old. Every reader will love Gavin, but his secret is what will keep you reading straight to the last page. BUY IT!
$19.99
ISBN-13: 9780785134121
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Marvel, 3/2009
Marina's thesis: Tony Stark is super awesome. Now that coming from someone as important as I am, I expect these to start flying off the shelf. If my word isn't enough for you pessimistic types then I’ll make you a believer. This series received the award for best ongoing series and the Eisner award for best new series. This title is the first volume in the series. The downfall is that it doesn't give you much of Tony's origins or back story. The five nightmares start with a responsible, guilty Tony. He's sober, in charge of Stark Industries and S.H.I.E.L.D, whilst still being the Iron Man. In the aftermath of The Civil War, Tony took the lead of the registration side which has separated him from his friends and loved ones, because of all these factors we see a Tony that is deeper than almost any other depiction of him. WARNING: in-between this volume and the next one The Secret Invasion takes place, which is also a must read. This graphic novel is a great place to start for someone that wants to start reading comics, or just likes Iron Man.
