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blurrypetals's review against another edition
4.0
This is not a story about Night Vale; it's a story about King City. This is not about Cecil, Carlos, or anyone else we've come to love. This is not the normal fare we see on the podcast. This, essentially, probably shouldn't have been marketed as a part of Night Vale; rather, just as a book from the creators of WTNV.
I've noticed with their live shows and now with this that they do not like to take risks with anything outside the podcast. What I mean by that is that whether you read the book, listen to the live shows, or consume any other supplementary material this is the fact: nothing will have consequence in the bigger picture. I was expecting this sort of thing to a degree but in the end I was left dissatisfied with the book as a whole because it was a Night Vale story; I expected the usual fare and, as I said, this is not what we get on the podcast.
Instead, we get a novel that's somewhat good, if a little bit of a slow burn but also never dips or rises in quality. What you see is what you get at all times. It's a very, very safe approach to the medium and, while there were a few great parts (such as The Voice of Night Vale" sections, Carlos's chapter, and the conversation Diane has with her car insurance) it was all just a safe, almost bland way to use Night Vale, which is why it's unsuitable that this counts as part of Welcome to Night Vale's lore.
I understand why it is the way it is. They wanted to make it accessible to new readers. They didn't want to market this story in any other way than as Night Vale because they wanted to draw their massive podcast listeners. They wanted to play it safe and, with a podcast that constantly breaks the rules, pushes boundaries, and takes risks, safe just doesn't fit with this weird wonderful lore and that's what leaves a bad aftertaste in my mouth now.
I've noticed with their live shows and now with this that they do not like to take risks with anything outside the podcast. What I mean by that is that whether you read the book, listen to the live shows, or consume any other supplementary material this is the fact: nothing will have consequence in the bigger picture. I was expecting this sort of thing to a degree but in the end I was left dissatisfied with the book as a whole because it was a Night Vale story; I expected the usual fare and, as I said, this is not what we get on the podcast.
Instead, we get a novel that's somewhat good, if a little bit of a slow burn but also never dips or rises in quality. What you see is what you get at all times. It's a very, very safe approach to the medium and, while there were a few great parts (such as The Voice of Night Vale" sections, Carlos's chapter, and the conversation Diane has with her car insurance) it was all just a safe, almost bland way to use Night Vale, which is why it's unsuitable that this counts as part of Welcome to Night Vale's lore.
I understand why it is the way it is. They wanted to make it accessible to new readers. They didn't want to market this story in any other way than as Night Vale because they wanted to draw their massive podcast listeners. They wanted to play it safe and, with a podcast that constantly breaks the rules, pushes boundaries, and takes risks, safe just doesn't fit with this weird wonderful lore and that's what leaves a bad aftertaste in my mouth now.
miles's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rainjrop's review against another edition
3.0
If I started at page 200, I would've gotten just as much out of the story, but enjoyed it much more. I think the audio book version is probably a lot better since WtNV is a podcast. The rambling-ness doesn't translate that well to novel form.
fscolli93's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
erikstl's review against another edition
4.0
A quirky book in the Night Vale universe. I feel you would need to not be familiar with the content of the podcast so much as the style of it to enjoy this book properly. Mostly because if you're not aware of the world this book inhabits, you're going to be taken off-guard by the non-sequiteurs, and other random things that make no sense other than for the sake of making no sense.
jesskhall's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
medievalwitch's review against another edition
2.0
I was a big fan of this podcast many years ago, and I preordered this book and the audio version because why wouldn't I? I loved it. But then, when it was released, I tried listening to it. Remember being bored out of my gourd. So, fast forward to January of 2023 I have tried once more and managed to finish it.
I have several thoughts.
Infuriating. Tiresome. Unsatisfying. What worked in a ~30 min podcast does not work for a 400 page/12hr long book. The weirdness, the colorful characters, and the blase normalness of having a dangerous library and a floating cat in a town where all the weird problems are solved during a 2-5 min. "weather report" are cute and funny in a short episodic form. But in book format, it draaaaaaaags.
The story told at its core is boring and nonsensical. I really wish it had been focused on characters and plotlines established in the pod, or at least new characters who can act as the "straight man" that can help the newbie relate to the weirdness, because the reader is absolutely bombarded by podcast in-jokes and random non-sequiturs that add absolutely nothing to the narrative. The new characters are actually a little boring.
Do not recommend this one, especially if you haven't listened to the podcast and you dislike magical realism and weirdness with no satisfying purpose. But if you must, the audiobook is the way to go. It's just as well produced as the podcast, narrated by the host himself, Cecil Baldwin, and involves atmospheric music by the pod's composer. The community radio sections were absolutely the best parts of the book and did more to tie the narrative together than the actual action.
Unfortunately, this novel reminded me of why I eventually stopped listening to the pod. The unending weirdness wears on a person. It wears out its novelty and charm, esp at 400 pages. I get it; it's meant to be a metaphor for the fact that life, as it is, is just plain weird and we should just accept the weirdness as it comes and try our best. But I also . . . Don't get it. Maybe I really am a bitter anti-fun witch lmao
I have several thoughts.
Infuriating. Tiresome. Unsatisfying. What worked in a ~30 min podcast does not work for a 400 page/12hr long book. The weirdness, the colorful characters, and the blase normalness of having a dangerous library and a floating cat in a town where all the weird problems are solved during a 2-5 min. "weather report" are cute and funny in a short episodic form. But in book format, it draaaaaaaags.
The story told at its core is boring and nonsensical. I really wish it had been focused on characters and plotlines established in the pod, or at least new characters who can act as the "straight man" that can help the newbie relate to the weirdness, because the reader is absolutely bombarded by podcast in-jokes and random non-sequiturs that add absolutely nothing to the narrative. The new characters are actually a little boring.
Do not recommend this one, especially if you haven't listened to the podcast and you dislike magical realism and weirdness with no satisfying purpose. But if you must, the audiobook is the way to go. It's just as well produced as the podcast, narrated by the host himself, Cecil Baldwin, and involves atmospheric music by the pod's composer. The community radio sections were absolutely the best parts of the book and did more to tie the narrative together than the actual action.
Unfortunately, this novel reminded me of why I eventually stopped listening to the pod. The unending weirdness wears on a person. It wears out its novelty and charm, esp at 400 pages. I get it; it's meant to be a metaphor for the fact that life, as it is, is just plain weird and we should just accept the weirdness as it comes and try our best. But I also . . . Don't get it. Maybe I really am a bitter anti-fun witch lmao
njdarkish's review against another edition
5.0
It's difficult to pinpoint what exactly it is about Night Vale that makes it so entertaining. As I've listened to the podcast I've grown to love the desert town with its inane semi-logic and the everyday madness of its citizens. I love that there are lights over the Arby's, that there's an underground civilization beneath the bowling alley, that antiques are alive and dangerous. Each story that Cecil delivers in his semi-smug community radio voice had made me laugh out loud while somehow drawing me in to its surprisingly complex and compelling worldbuilding. As the podcast has gone on I've become very invested in the plight of the town and its characters, particularly at the height of the Strex incident. I have spent hours listening and loving (and trying to get everybody I know to listen to) the Night Vale podcast, so naturally I was thrilled when I heard about the novel.
The novel is everything I love about the podcast, but with a more personal touch. Instead of a series of episodic stories we get a long-form story with two new characters who are weird, interesting, and who bring a great deal of poignance. Plus, we still get much of the random weirdness, plus radio broadcasts interspersed throughout, while the story pays off things that have been long-running ideas throughout the podcast.
I listened to the audiobook version (because duh) and as usual, Cecil Baldwin delights.
The novel is everything I love about the podcast, but with a more personal touch. Instead of a series of episodic stories we get a long-form story with two new characters who are weird, interesting, and who bring a great deal of poignance. Plus, we still get much of the random weirdness, plus radio broadcasts interspersed throughout, while the story pays off things that have been long-running ideas throughout the podcast.
I listened to the audiobook version (because duh) and as usual, Cecil Baldwin delights.