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afrp's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as the first one, I think partly because I'd already had the fun of discovering this world. Still, a fun story, and anything that references both James Bond and Wind in the Willows is alright in my book.
ninethreeo's review
4.0
Sherlockian/James Bondesque steampunk adventure with animal heads on. Fab stuff. Lots of literary/film puns and references, and I suspect I missed more than I spotted. Very enjoyable.
Excluding from reading challenge as it was a quick read
Excluding from reading challenge as it was a quick read
saidtheraina's review
5.0
Srsly.
I thought about dropping this series, but I'm so glad I didn't.
This one plays with ideas ripped from art history - particularly featuring the rise of abstract art as a counter to the political content of some of the figurative art during the cold war (see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/modern-art-was-cia-weapon-1578808.html for some of the real story). Lebrock tangles with corporate villains, mad scientists and depressed artists in a Bond-style adventure. Workers rights, racism, and class dynamics feature prominently. Meanwhile, Billie, Lebrock's current love interest, gets some seriously badass moments. Oh, and there's a meerkat gang, a creepy looking lady raccoon, and lots and lots of fun gadgetry.
SOO yummy. I feel like this needs more attention than it gets.
I thought about dropping this series, but I'm so glad I didn't.
This one plays with ideas ripped from art history - particularly featuring the rise of abstract art as a counter to the political content of some of the figurative art during the cold war (see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/modern-art-was-cia-weapon-1578808.html for some of the real story). Lebrock tangles with corporate villains, mad scientists and depressed artists in a Bond-style adventure. Workers rights, racism, and class dynamics feature prominently. Meanwhile, Billie, Lebrock's current love interest, gets some seriously badass moments. Oh, and there's a meerkat gang, a creepy looking lady raccoon, and lots and lots of fun gadgetry.
SOO yummy. I feel like this needs more attention than it gets.
kittymamers's review
3.0
no ma ei tea, mulle endiselt meeldib nii see maailm kui see joonistusstiil väga, aga endiselt ei suuda suhestuda nende intriigidega, mis seal tekivad ja mida kodanik detektiiv lahendama peab:( see tapmine ja tagaajamine lihtsalt tüütab mind.
lisaks selgub, et mäger on ka ikkagi ainult inimene, hakkavad kooruma välja varasema elu traumad ja kompleksid - no selliste kangelasdetektiividega lugude stereotüüpne värk. aga mulle käib närvidele.
nautisingi siis jälle Londonit ja Pariisi ja väikseid naljakaid viiteid (kohe esimeselt leheküljelt leidsin nt karupoeg Paddingtoni, what's not to like). aga pean nüüd pikema vahe, enne kui järgmise osa kallale asun.
lisaks selgub, et mäger on ka ikkagi ainult inimene, hakkavad kooruma välja varasema elu traumad ja kompleksid - no selliste kangelasdetektiividega lugude stereotüüpne värk. aga mulle käib närvidele.
nautisingi siis jälle Londonit ja Pariisi ja väikseid naljakaid viiteid (kohe esimeselt leheküljelt leidsin nt karupoeg Paddingtoni, what's not to like). aga pean nüüd pikema vahe, enne kui järgmise osa kallale asun.
rikki's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
otherwyrld's review
4.0
Grandeville Bete Noire is the third (and probably final) part of this alternative history, steampunk, anthropomorphic graphic novel by Bryan Talbot.
In this story, the one-badger-army Detective Inspector Le Brock of Scotland Yard takes on big business in the form of Baron Krapaud. The Baron is Toad of Toad Hall dressed up as Ernest Blofeld (complete with pet - toad!), and he is quite clearly a villain in this work, as are his cohorts in business. This might make uncomfortable reading for those people who advocate free market economics, and for that reason it may not be well-received in the USA. The character's rants about the evils of nationalised industries, free education, workers pensions, anti-pollution legislation, etc, etc is possibly a little heavy-handed though.
The other plot device is the use of abstract art - the idea that the rich would suppress figurative art for their own devices seems a strange one, until you read the author's afterword which explains that the CIA did just this - they apparently used abstract art as a cultural weapon against the Soviet Union, because abstract art could carry no overt political message. I have no idea if this is true, but it is just crazy enough to be just that!
Le Brock also has a personal development which seems to come out of nowhere, which was a bit irritating, but only a minor niggle in an otherwise fine work.
As with all of these stories, the fun is in the small details, and it's one of those books that you could easy read several times and still spot something new.
In this story, the one-badger-army Detective Inspector Le Brock of Scotland Yard takes on big business in the form of Baron Krapaud. The Baron is Toad of Toad Hall dressed up as Ernest Blofeld (complete with pet - toad!), and he is quite clearly a villain in this work, as are his cohorts in business. This might make uncomfortable reading for those people who advocate free market economics, and for that reason it may not be well-received in the USA. The character's rants about the evils of nationalised industries, free education, workers pensions, anti-pollution legislation, etc, etc is possibly a little heavy-handed though.
The other plot device is the use of abstract art - the idea that the rich would suppress figurative art for their own devices seems a strange one, until you read the author's afterword which explains that the CIA did just this - they apparently used abstract art as a cultural weapon against the Soviet Union, because abstract art could carry no overt political message. I have no idea if this is true, but it is just crazy enough to be just that!
Le Brock also has a personal development which seems to come out of nowhere, which was a bit irritating, but only a minor niggle in an otherwise fine work.
As with all of these stories, the fun is in the small details, and it's one of those books that you could easy read several times and still spot something new.
collegecate's review
3.0
In addition to all the other things I love about this series, this particular volume includes an art-based conspiracy and a sexy, BDSM, badass lady-badger.
house_of_scatha's review
4.0
Another excellent episode in the Grandville series. Badgers have never been sexier.