Lost In The Library Of Life 11/06/97

June Life Update

Things at work continue to get busier, with jobs coming it from all over the place. I’m currently building web sites for a large oil company and a big cement manufacturer, whilst helping advise cable TV companies what to do. What worries me, is I keep getting told I’m doing a good job. I’ve never had that happen to me before, and there’s part of me that keeps thinking that I’m going to get found out one of these days… Oh well, despite the recurrent impostor syndrome, it’s really all rather fun, if at times a tad hectic. They’ve also finally decided that I can be based at the London office rather than in Berkhamsted, so I get an extra hour in bed every day…

Outside the office life is going well, and I’ve been having fun visiting Cornwall, The Lake District and the various Royal Parks around south west London, and inventing seriously alcoholic desserts for picnics. I’ve also found time to finish a four part series on Internet tools for PC Plus, as well as finding that my SFX review of The Reality Dysfunction has made its way onto the US paperback…

Strangers In Comic Land

Sometimes a work of fiction comes along that drags you in, trapping you beneath the entwined lives of powerfully drawn characters. A month ago I found just such a work - and this time the characters really are drawn! This time it’s a comic, with some of the most amazing black and white art I’ve seen.

Terry Moore is the Eisner award-winning creator of Strangers In Paradise [Antarctic Press (Vol.1, 1-3); Abstract Studios (Vol.2, 1-14), Homage Comics (Vol.3, 1-6)], the story of the lives, loves and misfortunes of a group of 20-something Houston-dwellers Francine Peters and Katina Choovanski - known as “Katchoo” - and their friend David Qi. Nothing like your typical superhero comic, Strangers in Paradise mixes slice of life reality with a touch of ciné noir, as Katchoo’s lost years catch up with her at last.

The various Antarctic Press and Abstract Studios issues of the comic are currently collected as three graphic novels, covering the three main arcs of the story. A further collection is due later this year, when the Homage arc finishes. As the early issues of Strangers in Paradise are somewhat difficult to get hold of, the graphic novels make it easier for the newcomer to the story to catch up with previous events.

The first collection, The Collected Strangers In Paradise [Abstract Studio, 7th edition, March 1997] introduces us to the main characters, via every-woman Francine’s doomed romance. Katchoo is in love with Francine, and leaps to her friend’s defence - leaving Francine’s ex in a very embarrassing position indeed… Katchoo also meets the young art student and poet David, who quickly becomes attracted to her. A simple start to a complex story, this collection leads gently into the second volume, I Dream Of You [Abstract Studios, 3rd edition, 1996]

The longest part of the story so far, nine issues take us through Katchoo’s hidden history. It’s three months after the end of the previous volume, and Katchoo is returning from a sudden trip to Canada. She’s also being watched by a shady figure from past - a Mrs. Darcy Parker. As events begin to unfold we find out Katchoo’s secrets: her time as a call girl in LA, her dying friend Emma, and a missing $850,000 of mob money. Meanwhile David is falling more and more in love with her, whilst Francine picks up the pieces of her life. As events build to a violent climax, Katchoo has to confront her past and decide on her future.

The third collection, It’s A Good Life [Abstract Studios, 1st edition 1996], follows directly on from the end of volume 2. As Katchoo recovers, she and Francine try to come to terms with their relationship - are they to be friends or lovers? At the same time Katchoo must reassess her friendship with David, and Francine must come to terms with her previous failed love affairs.

The story continues in the current Homage Comics series, with an uncollected Abstract Press containing the unusual and erotic illustrated short story Molly and Poo. Told in flashback from 10 years on, the current arc is focusing more on Francine that Katchoo, though it appears that we haven’t see the last of the mysterious Mrs Parker. A brief flirtation with colour hasn’t been successful, and Terry Moore has returned to black and white with the current issue.

 Like Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, Strangers in Paradise is attempting to use the comic book form to do more than just save Gotham City one more time. This is a story of real people in somewhat extraordinary situations - and one where the characters and their reactions drive the plot. Well worth reading, Strangers In Paradise is available from most good comic shops. There are two issues due from Homage, and then Terry Moore will revert to self publishing under the Abstract Studios label.

Flickering in the candlelight: capsule reviews.

As always, I’ve been reading far too much- both new books and clearing up the to-be-read book case. A bank holiday trip to Hay brought a few additions, but the closure of Five Star books was a sad discovery. Despite its musty air, it was a place where I found many interesting paperbacks. It will be missed.

On with the books…

Deadmeat “Q”, Sceptre 1997

The London club scene and the Internet are the unlikely settings of this gripping thriller. Filmic in style, and owing a debt to Burgess’ Clockwork Orange, Q takes us on a journey into a different London. Here ex-convict Clarkie finds his brother Bones is the new multimedia guru, running web sites and dance clubs with equal ease. But something is rotten at the heart of Bones’ success, and jealousy and betrayal lead to murder. As a paedophile-hunting cyber-vigilante leaves his white rat calling card across London, Clarkie finds himself having to track down the killer before he finds himself the next victim. Written with poetry and verve Deadmeat is likely to become one of the cult novels of 1997.

Hard Questions Ian Watson, Vista 1997

Quantum physics and artificial intelligence lie at the heart of Ian Watson’s new techno-thriller. Packed with characters from central casting (the beautiful but flawed physicist, the charismatic cult leader, the staid Cambridge sociologist, and the gambler-engineer) this is Watson-lite. However it remains a fun read, and Ian has fun playing a new variation on the old alternate worlds riff.

Babylon 5:Season by Season (Volume 1: Signs and Portents, Volume 2: The Coming Of Shadows) Jane Killick, Boxtree 1997

Two for the addict, these slim volumes are a set of extended episode guides for season 1 and season 2 of Babylon 5. Copiously annotated, these are likely to form the basis of any Babylon 5 reference library. Each episode guide also includes a whole raft of background and production detail, giving an insight into the creation of a successful piece of TV science fiction.

That’s All Folks!

Life catches up with the library, and Monday morning beckons. See you next month, with exciting tales of house hunting, yet more books, and a peek at another graphic novel, the occult Nancy Drew, Chance Falconer in Leave It To Chance: Shaman’s Rain.