9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Darker Type Of Fairy Tale., November 11, 2002
This review is from: Delicate Creatures (Hardcover)
Delicate Creatures shatters whatever preconceived notions you might have about Fairy Tales. Starting with a breezy introduction, where we get to know the various Fairies and Sprites inhabiting the walls of a Castle in an anonymous foreign land, the story quickly moves into darker territory, dealing with the real-life terrors of war and genocide. The darker aspects of the tale are dealt with honestly, but delicately enough that younger readers will be able to deal with them. There were parts of the story that brought a lump to my throat; I think that parents and children reading together would find a lot to discuss about Delicate Creatures, particularly the themes of love and loss. The story is told in prose, with occasional illustrations by Artist Michael Zulli. Zulli's art is fantasic and the lush colors (By Steve Firchow) make the pictures come to life. The story, by Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski, is gut-wrenching at times, but in true Fairy-Tale fashion, things turn out ok in the end. I believe all involved have created a new classic, one that will hopefully be discovered by Parents and Children alike in years to come.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wild new look at fairy tales by a brilliant author, February 13, 2002
This review is from: Delicate Creatures (Hardcover)
Let's take a quick count -- so far J. Michael Straczynski has revolutionized television sci-fi ("Babylon 5"), horror ("Midnight Nation") and superheroes ("Spider-Man" and "Rising Stars"). Why not tackle fairy tales next?
The story centers around a group of fairies who live in a house, unseen by its human inhabitants. New ones arrive and it's like they've always been there. Old ones disappear and they are mourned. It's a clever story, but not exactly groundbreaking...
Until the twist at the halfway point. I refuse to give it away, but the curveball Straczynski throws regarding something as simple as the setting takes this story down a path no one would have guessed, turning it from a simple children's story to a heartbreaking cautionary tale that can appeal to anyone with even a passing knowledge of the some of the real-life horrors that have been perpetrated in this world.
Good for kids, great for adults, "Delicate Creatures" is, simply put, a must-read.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Vastly Underrated Classic, July 28, 2004
This review is from: Delicate Creatures (Hardcover)
Even if you've been following the diverse goings-on of the profilic author J. Michael Straczynski over the decades, you may not know about DELICATE CREATURES. A parable on the roots of Faerie which is as ancient as the oldest woods, and as modern as issues of internal security, DELICATE CREATURES is a superb prose novel finely illustrated by Michael Zulli, known in Sequential circles for his standout work for Neil Gaiman's SANDMAN. Released by Image Comics, by way of its Top Cow imprint, it all but vanished follwing its initial release in 2001.
Known best as the creator, chief scripter, and major domo of the epic televised SF saga, BABYLON 5, Straczynski is a writer's writer, one of the grandmasters of the field. From the impossible task of attempting THE NEW TWILIGHT ZONE in the 1980s, and the eerie wanderings of MIDNIGHT NATION, to the finest tales seen in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN since the Lee-Ditko-Romita originals, Straczynski is simply the very best at what he does.
DELICATE CREATURES, however, is a particular treat, being
Straczynski's first work delving into the genre of Classic
Fantasy. Never content with simply doing what has been done,
the author concocts a contemporary parable which places the
origins of Faerie as much in the thwarted anxieties of Humanity,
as in the familar truths behind myths and legends spun
just beyond the camplight.
From its finely attuned plot to its wicked character play, DELICATE CREATURES is humble finesse from an author responisble for some of the most brilliant moments in all of Fiction. So concentrated is the simplicity of Straczynski's delivery, so smoothly executed with such charm, that the sheer bounty of his story greets you with a firm grasp on your attention, even as the ethical impact of this work evokes sobering questions.
Here is a master storyteller examining the desperate adult sensibilities which fuel our most enduring need to experience childlike wonder. In achieving this, Straczynski addresses the
real matter-at-hand; why aesthetic expression is so essential
to the well-being of all who live.
Time and attention will prove DELICATE CREATURES to be one
of the great classics of the times, and a hallmark piece of Fantasy
lore. As it stands now, it is a most unique entry from one of
the most unique literary artists around. On that point alone,
it merits a fresh look, and your immediate reading discretion.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
