Customer Reviews

Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Like many other reviewers here, I bought this book because of its apparent tie-in with the TV series. The title (Lois and Clark); the picture of Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher on the cover; the cover description of the book as a 'sparkling romantic adventure'; all these persuaded me that it was worth buying.

Instead, basically it acted as a cure for insomnia while I was staying in a not-very-comfortable hotel.

It is *not* about Lois and Clark. It's about Superman, and to a degree about Lois; Clark is barely mentioned. It is certainly not a 'romantic adventure' - where's the romance when the two lead characters are separated for the entire book and don't even speak to each other? Superman disappears to assist with a natural disaster in Russia, without letting Lois know where he is. Somehow, no news or wire service manages to pick up his presence in that region, which is somewhat incredible anyway, so Lois can't find out through that means. Yet she has other things on her mind - including visiting Lex Luthor in prison. Why!

I will concede that there were parts of the book which were mildly interesting, but I haven't re-read it since and can't see myself wanting to do so while there's so much better available on the Internet. For anyone looking for romantic Lois *and* Clark adventure fiction, just check out the fanfiction archive instead! You'll save yourself a lot of money and get far better stories to read at the same time.

What's surprizing is that I liked it. I didn't expect to like it because I read the reviews below before I read the book.

Clark/Superman isn't the forgetful lover, disappearing for days or weeks on end without Lois knowing where he is. He's barely gone a day, and Lois doesn't have time to worry or search fantically because she's too busy saving trapped children from a collapsed building - and she proves she's not totally helpless without Superman rushing to the rescue - I liked that!

Later when Superman is off again to continue aiding the villagers he rescued, Lois is once again busy, this time trying to find out why the building collapsed. I didn't find it surprizing that Lois visited Lex in prison, afterall, she was investigating his possible involvement in the collapse of the building. It would have been surprising if she didn't visit him.

The story moves back and forth between Lois and Clark, intersecting occasionally, and then moving forward to the conclusion. We get to see thru their eyes and into their thoughts. I liked that part as it gave a view into how misunderstandings occur, because even Superman can't read minds - not even his lover's.

There is personal interaction between Lois and Clark, and not just at the end of the book. They're not separated thru-out the book as I was lead to believe by the reviews. Their relationship is portrayed as a normal one - not a lovey, dovey, I would die without you, romance novel relationship. It's much more realistic. They are shown as loving each other, but you can't live in or on love alone. They question if their lives will fit - he's Superman and she's a high-powered reporter. Both of them are used to going their own way, and yet they have to find a way to combine their lives into a 'partnership'. This is new to both of them. Will it work? Can Lois maintain a relationship when she's blown every other one before? Can they have a relationship without the world finding out Clark is Superman? And my favorite question which is asked by Clark: Can they have children? and if so will one of them be like him?

I have no problem seeing this as a Lois and Clark episode. The only reason it wouldn't be is that it moved a little too slow in places. Once I got past the first 30 pages or so the writing picked up and improved, but the author did have a tendency to repeat herself, as if she wanted to make sure you got her point. But overall, it was a good story, and I liked it.

If you're a total fan of Lois and Clark like me, you probably look for anything to do with the show. This, unfortunately, is not what I was looking for. The author makes Clark seem like an absentee-lover. We all know (at least those of us who've seen all the episodes tons of times) that yes, Superman does take up certain amounts of Clark's time, but when it all comes down to it, Lois is his first priority. I don't believe that Clark would leave for days on end, or almost a week and not find some way to tell Lois what's going on in his life. There is hardly any interaction between the two main characters at all. The thing I like most about Lois and Clark the series, is that it focuses on the relationship of Lois and Clark, that's what attracted me to the show in the first place. I will keep the book if for no other reason that to add it to my LnC collection, but I won't read it again any time soon. Give me a good dose of fanfiction any day!:)

I'd read some of the other Lois & Clark novels and absolutely hated them. I found them juvenile, fluffy, and riddled with the problems that had been a part of the tv show itself. The show, I loved, but I was not blind to its faults and the novels seemed to build themselves on those faults. Not so with this novel, this is a novel which does something Lois & Clark never quite managed to do, make Superman, Lois, Clark, and their world *REAL*. Superman truly goes international (and brings in the political problems that would inevitably arise with that, the US feeling proprietary over him) and Lois is competent, strong, and sure in herself which is something most incarnations of Lois Lane are not. This is a book I could *NOT* put down. That is something I cannot say for the other Lois & Clark novels I've read. They could barely be called novels, this one? It's a novel for Lois & Clark and general Superman fans alike. It could be a 'gateway' book for Superman fans, introducing them to the Lois & Clark world. It's definitely one I'm going to be re-reading on a frequent basis.

One thing about the title was right: it is a *Superman* novel. It is not a *Lois and Clark* novel: if you're looking for Lois and Clark interaction you won't get it. There is a vaguely interesting story about Superman assisting with a natural disaster in Eastern Europe, while Lois is depicted missing Clark and unaware of where he is. The plot around substandard building work which causes collapses in Metropolis is interesting, and of course seeing Lois depicted as a hero makes a pleasant change. But why on earth does Cherryh make Lois visit Lex in prison? And why do we only get a page or so of very unsatisfying L&C interaction right at the end, since the story takes place shortly after their engagement.

If you're looking for an interesting story with plenty of L&C interaction, you'd be better saving your money and visiting the fanfiction archive on the Internet.

...I had thoroughly enjoyed Cherryh's fantasy novels and so had high expectations of this book - based, so the blurb claimed, on my favourite series and penned by one of my favourite authors. How could it fail?

Well, quite simply, it failed for me because calling it a novel based on the TV series was a fraud and a misnomer. Calling it a novel based on the comic books would have been more honest.

What a huge disappointment! If you are a fan of the comic books you will probably enjoy this tale of Superman battling disasters while Lois investigates an entirely separate plot strand back in Metropolis. I think they were together for about 2 paragraphs in total.

Okay, slight exaggeration. But what I wanted to read about was the characters in the TV show and I didn't find them anywhere in this.

Coupled with the Superman dominated storyline, I found myself increasingly irritated with references and characterisations lifted straight from the comic books - in direct contradiction to the characterisations set up in the TV show. In Cherryh's novel for instance Lois has a cat. She does in the comics, certainly. It must have been invisible on the screen because I never saw it there. Or ever heard it mentioned. There were other such anomolies throughout.

By the end of this book I was wondering if Cherryh had even watched an episode of the show before penning this one.

Nice cover though.

I am an avid fan of Lois & Clark (or is that rabid? Check my profile) and I am constantly reading fanfiction. If you are the same as I am, DO NOT BUY THIS. But if you are a comic book type, get this. It has entirely too little contact between the two. Clark/Superman has more interaction with a grandmother from somewhere in the Caucasus than with his new fiancee! It's very frustrating, and if I were Lois, (which I wish I were) I'd be veeery angry. But don't listen to me...read it yourself. It's not even that well written if you ask me. Oh well...please become a FoLC, even if it takes reading this book. But remember this...this story is nothing at all like the incredible show. READ FANFIC!!

C J Cherryh: A Superman novel?

About as likely as the lady advertiser: IQ 185, favorite TV programme Xena: Warrior Princess.

Could Ms Cherryh be jumiping ship and joining the other TV tie-in bottom feeders?

Fortunately not - This Superman book is way above and beyond the TV series it's based upon and which I am not a fan of. Great tender-heart sections, finely detailed descriptive passages such as: the dam and tower block sequences, and the consideration given by Superman to the consequences of his actions at the dam site, and the belongings of the peasant farmers in Eastern Europe. The story line works very well, Lois doing her bit independantly of Superman until the last section, where they both team up to foil Lex Luthor & Co. This is the crux of the book. Lois, and Clark, together, but not joined at the hip.

My only criticism is that the text would have benefited from some judicious pruning, especially if works of this nature are being contemplated in future. Which I think she should

How about a Xena: Warrior Princess book?

I have to say, that I was very disappointed in this book. I have read far better stories on the fanfiction archive, and believe me when I say they are also more loyal to the show. The book was one long drag, and thinking back I can't remember how I even ever got to the end.

I bought this for my daughter who is a huge Smallville fan. She loved the book, and suggested I read it. I gave it a try, and I greatly enjoyed it. This book is a great buy for any fan of the Man of Steel!