Scan barcode
the_sunken_library's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent novel for steam punk fans. From Christopher Golden who has written some cracking World of Warcraft novels and is an excellent world builder and creates awesome characters and the man who brought you Hell boy, Mignola. Clever, sweet and truly brilliant. If you love HB and BPRD you will love this.
seaclauss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
waiting4catbus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.75
hufflepuffbiologybuff's review against another edition
3.0
It was mildly interesting. I was not a fan of the ending though.
mehitabels's review against another edition
4.0
this was really great. I love Mignola's art, so this was a treat. What I found interesting was the serial feeling to the chapters. There was a little repetition that twinged my neck each time (and they are obvious lines that get repeated). Each chapter felt like a new issue of a comic book, which makes sense for the style of writing these gents do.
still, no complaints, the story is really fascinating (NY under water!), golems are one of my favorite tales, and the art is lovely. Can't wait to read the next one!
still, no complaints, the story is really fascinating (NY under water!), golems are one of my favorite tales, and the art is lovely. Can't wait to read the next one!
mc_j_ho's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this story overall but it felt like it would have worked better as a graphic novel. In parts the prose dragged in a way that felt would have worked better in images. It was also a shame to not see more of the relationship between Felix and Molly as this was very interesting up front but then not focused on as the plot progressed.
mirable's review against another edition
4.0
SLJ review:
MIGNOLA, Mike & Christopher Golden. Joe Golem and the Drowning City: An Illustrated Novel. 288p. St. Martin’s. 2012. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-0-312-64473-4. LC 2012013269.
Adult/High School–Molly McHugh is a jaded, yet still good-hearted girl, living on the fringes of society with a strange old man called Orlov the Conjurer in a steampunkish alternate reality. A cataclysm in 1925 caused lower Manhattan and Brooklyn to flood and, ever since, resilient New Yorkers have adjusted, living on the top floors of mostly underwater buildings and getting around by boat and rope bridges. Felix Orvlov is not what he seems, but he is the closest thing Molly has to family and his kidnapping by the sinister Dr. Cocteau spurs her into a desperate search to rescue him. She joins forces with a mysterious man named Mr. Church and his overlarge friend Joe, searching not only for Felix but also for a mysterious artifact called the Pentajulum, which holds the possibility of opening paths to other worlds. She faces many trials in her quest, but the more Molly learns, the more she realizes she doesn’t really know anything, and that most people are not what they seem–Mr. Church is more machine than man and Joe is literally made from stone and earth–and nothing is sure, not even the sanctity of death. Highly descriptive writing and grotesque imagery help to place readers in this truly fantastic setting with hints of elder gods and worlds beyond worlds. Enhanced by multiple points of view and deeply philosophical in its underpinnings, the lavish illustrations add immediacy to Molly’s world. Both teens who like their fantastic sprinkled with a little Lovecraft and steampunk and those who are interested in a wider view of the world should enjoy this.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
MIGNOLA, Mike & Christopher Golden. Joe Golem and the Drowning City: An Illustrated Novel. 288p. St. Martin’s. 2012. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-0-312-64473-4. LC 2012013269.
Adult/High School–Molly McHugh is a jaded, yet still good-hearted girl, living on the fringes of society with a strange old man called Orlov the Conjurer in a steampunkish alternate reality. A cataclysm in 1925 caused lower Manhattan and Brooklyn to flood and, ever since, resilient New Yorkers have adjusted, living on the top floors of mostly underwater buildings and getting around by boat and rope bridges. Felix Orvlov is not what he seems, but he is the closest thing Molly has to family and his kidnapping by the sinister Dr. Cocteau spurs her into a desperate search to rescue him. She joins forces with a mysterious man named Mr. Church and his overlarge friend Joe, searching not only for Felix but also for a mysterious artifact called the Pentajulum, which holds the possibility of opening paths to other worlds. She faces many trials in her quest, but the more Molly learns, the more she realizes she doesn’t really know anything, and that most people are not what they seem–Mr. Church is more machine than man and Joe is literally made from stone and earth–and nothing is sure, not even the sanctity of death. Highly descriptive writing and grotesque imagery help to place readers in this truly fantastic setting with hints of elder gods and worlds beyond worlds. Enhanced by multiple points of view and deeply philosophical in its underpinnings, the lavish illustrations add immediacy to Molly’s world. Both teens who like their fantastic sprinkled with a little Lovecraft and steampunk and those who are interested in a wider view of the world should enjoy this.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
vlphildreth's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book I want on my shelf. I want it to get dusty. I want to pull it down on a rainy day, blow the dust off the cover, hear the spine creak when I open it. I'm a huge Mignola fan, so this book was very up my alley; however, I didn't initially like it. It seemed too apt and aware of what it was. I don't want to spoil anything, but I am glad I stuck with this book.
glimnore's review against another edition
4.0
First Day of Summer (Officially) and I finished a book. Now this is how to start a summer! :D
Disclaimer: PAUSE! No matter what I say in this review, please let it be known that I did like this book. I truly did, on a personal level. From a critics level...well let's see.
*Because this is an "illustrated novel" I'll be rating the illustrations as well.
REVIEW
Plot (3/5) - I'm not gonna lie, I felt a lot more could have happened with the plot in this novel. It spans a good 250+ pages, but at a glance, one could say that there were only a few long scenes held together; now in terms of a potential sequel, there isn't much material out there aside from, oh, aberrant entities from 'un-dimensional' space. I am not much of a Cthulu Mythos fan, but I will admit that the subject is interesting, however the book didn't seem to play as much on the interesting components as they did on the aberrant entities from 'un-dimensional' space concept. (Which only occurred in the last fifty or so pages...)Furthermore, I feel as if some people might try to stick this into the realm of steam-punk...but I feel that it is too dystopian for that.
Pacing (3/5) - Once again, a lot more could have been done in the pages that this novel had occurred in. A major gripe, but not so bad that the book itself became too difficult to follow.
Characters (3/5) - The main villain is a pscyho. I couldn't seem to feel the slightest bit of remorse for Felix Orlov. Church, the brilliant detective was just a plot device. Molly, the main female lead was a good character, but the sheer lack of development was dissapointing. Joe Golem however, the titular character of the book resonated incredibly well. That was until the later half of the book, which made me sad....
Prose (5/5) - Here is where the novel shines. The prose of a dystopian drowning New York is freaking beautiful. Clear, concise imagery is brought to life with a rich vocabulary. Flames burn brighter, scenes are painter with quality ink. Everything is described in wonderful detail, and it isn't a hazard to read about at all. The scenes, sometimes fast, were told efficiently and no words were lost in their communication. BRAVO for the prose!
World (5/5) - An extra star was added because of the prose. The world of the Drowning City is vastly entertaining and a curious collection of tales. I feel as if the lands created could potentially house much more mysteries and oddities that I would definitely want to read about.
Illustrations (3/5) - I wish they were in color and I wish they were a little bit more concise. The occasional image of Joe Golem was just epic though!
Totals:
3+3+3+3+5+5=22/6 = 3.67, which I will happily round to 4 stars.
Final Verdict: I will read the sequel. Just to know what happens to JOE!
Disclaimer: PAUSE! No matter what I say in this review, please let it be known that I did like this book. I truly did, on a personal level. From a critics level...well let's see.
*Because this is an "illustrated novel" I'll be rating the illustrations as well.
REVIEW
Plot (3/5) - I'm not gonna lie, I felt a lot more could have happened with the plot in this novel. It spans a good 250+ pages, but at a glance, one could say that there were only a few long scenes held together; now in terms of a potential sequel, there isn't much material out there aside from, oh, aberrant entities from 'un-dimensional' space. I am not much of a Cthulu Mythos fan, but I will admit that the subject is interesting, however the book didn't seem to play as much on the interesting components as they did on the aberrant entities from 'un-dimensional' space concept. (Which only occurred in the last fifty or so pages...)Furthermore, I feel as if some people might try to stick this into the realm of steam-punk...but I feel that it is too dystopian for that.
Pacing (3/5) - Once again, a lot more could have been done in the pages that this novel had occurred in. A major gripe, but not so bad that the book itself became too difficult to follow.
Characters (3/5) - The main villain is a pscyho. I couldn't seem to feel the slightest bit of remorse for Felix Orlov. Church, the brilliant detective was just a plot device. Molly, the main female lead was a good character, but the sheer lack of development was dissapointing. Joe Golem however, the titular character of the book resonated incredibly well. That was until the later half of the book, which made me sad....
Prose (5/5) - Here is where the novel shines. The prose of a dystopian drowning New York is freaking beautiful. Clear, concise imagery is brought to life with a rich vocabulary. Flames burn brighter, scenes are painter with quality ink. Everything is described in wonderful detail, and it isn't a hazard to read about at all. The scenes, sometimes fast, were told efficiently and no words were lost in their communication. BRAVO for the prose!
World (5/5) - An extra star was added because of the prose. The world of the Drowning City is vastly entertaining and a curious collection of tales. I feel as if the lands created could potentially house much more mysteries and oddities that I would definitely want to read about.
Illustrations (3/5) - I wish they were in color and I wish they were a little bit more concise. The occasional image of Joe Golem was just epic though!
Totals:
3+3+3+3+5+5=22/6 = 3.67, which I will happily round to 4 stars.
Final Verdict: I will read the sequel. Just to know what happens to JOE!