Customer Reviews

Nuklear Age

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Brian Clevinger's "Nuklear Age" seems to have a few, divided camps squabbling about how his long-awaited book is. Some blindly praise it so much that you can almost hear them speaking `leet' in their daily lives, some are disillusioned that it is not 8-bit Theatre without the pixels, and some are just bitter.

As with nearly anything so reviewed on Amazon, the truth lies somewhere in between. "Nuklear Age" has a lot of problems. Most of them are minor, but a few are major. The minor ones can be more than likely written off as a difference of taste. The major ones ... well, that's where it turns into a debate.

The first major problem is with the beginning. In the introduction, Brian tells the reader that the book is not to be read like a normal book, that it is intended to be read as one or two chapters per day. Fair enough, but I don't like to be told how to read my books. However, I gave it a go and, quite frankly, it doesn't help the book. The first, say fifteen chapters, amble along. In retrospect, upon rereading they might not seem as difficult to get through, but for a first time reader, it was a chore. Some jokes felt horribly forced ("A letter that could be a clue from my mysterious past?!"), the characters started off as paper cutouts (which, as expected, they eventually evolved beyond. For the most part). It's hard to get into and there are only a few chuckles during the tedious first battle with Dr. Menace and the subsequent victory meal. But once the Crushtacean appeared (about Chapter 20, I think. I wish I could be more accurate, but I've leant the book to a friend) the book felt to have found its niche.

Some other minor problems: editing, as has been mentioned in I think all but 2 of the current reviews, is nonexistent. Certainly, the author can't be faulted for most of these, especially since it looks that a lot of the misspellings are the result of a computer error. However, Brian's sentence structure and pacing can be grating at times. When he gets something right, it's wonderful. When it's wrong, I'm mentally pulling out the red-pen and scribbling over the page (then again, I do this with major authors too, just not with as much frequency). This isn't horrible, it just detracts from the pacing and the flow of the novel.

Now then. The characters. Atomik Lad felt like the only one who had any sort of dimension. Nukie was shallow, and I understand that was the intent, so no squabbles there. But everyone apart from Docs Genius and Menace felt like an assembly-line supporting cast with one characteristic apiece. Angus is temperamental; MMMM is suave; Nihel is Evil (with a capital "E"); Superion is a Douchebag (with a captial "Douche"). They served their purpose, but I didn't really care about them. And with over 600 pages of text, the reader SHOULD know more about them than their attitude and their powers. I felt that trimming some of the superfluous Nuke plot treads down a bit and focusing on the supporting cast could have helped a great deal.

It also felt terribly episodic at points. Nihel and his gang just show up in the last 100 pages and yet Nihel is the Nemesis (with a capital ... oh, you get the idea). Simply tossing in some foreshadowing toward his coming would greatly help strengthen the character (maybe attacking another planet beforehand, something like that). I understand that yes, comic books are episodic, but plot threads in them are still left dangling, mysteries are hinted at and resolved later on. It doesn't always have to be "SUDDENLY!". And for the most part, the book is not, but especially with the later chapters, it came off as such.

The last major problem is the ending. In the Author's Note, Brian explains that suddenly taking the book from satire to grim is funny. Why? Because it's unexpected. Bravo. You've just cheapened the story. What happens (spoiler-free) isn't funny because it has nothing to do with anything. As a satire, the book has no themes, so the big turning point has no effect because it can't operate on any themes. It just changes gears. I'm not arguing for a happy ending, I'm merely pointing out that, in trying to write a 600 page joke, the story suffers. The fact of the matter is that a joke is funny, not as Brian claims, because it's unexpected. And ONE-LINER is funny for that reason, but not a joke. A joke's punchline is predicated on an irony or an absurdity in the buildup. That's why the ending doesn't work. It's not because one "doesn't get it".

That isn't to say the book doesn't have its merits. There are several points of wonderful genius. The KI fields come to mind, as do some of the battles (I loved Superion). I'd love nothing more than to have "Nuklear Age" come into the mainstream and become on of those books like "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" that serves as an apotheosis for a genre. But without some major changes or at least and OPENNESS to change, I sadly can't see any publishers wanting to invest their money in it. Publishers are stupid. With a little guidance and some sleeves-rolled-up editing, "Nuklear Age" could be one of the more ingenious works of fiction out there. As it stands, it will probably become a cult sensation.

Will I read "Nuklear Age" again? Most certainly, though not for a while. If Brian writes another book, would I pick it up? In a heartbeat. "Nuklear Age" is the origin of a fresh voice in the published industry. The voice just needs a little refining is all.

So, maybe I'm crazy, but I didn't find the book to be all that similar to 8-Bit theatre. Sorry. For one thing, it's not just funny. I mean, it's funny, but it's not only that...it has a whole heck of a lot more to offer than one-liners and gags. If you're reading it just for humor, fine; there's plenty. If you don't want anything other than humor, or if you want a narrative version of 8-Bit, this ain't it. In case you didn't notice all the stars, I was really impressed by this book...I stayed up most of last night finishing it, and there are relatively few books that hold my interest that overwhelmingly these days. Most of them I put down around 2 or 3 am. Nuklear age, I put down when I had turned the last page over and was debating whether to burst into tears or hail Brian as the next Douglas Adams. (See, it's not just funny. Those weren't tears of laughter...never mind. Read the book.) I'm not sure if I got out of it what Brian intended, but I think that's ok...a good book should mean different things to different people. Anyway, I'm not doing this very well..sleep deprivation kinda cuts into my ability to turn thoughts into words. It was entertaining, if that's what you want. It was maybe a little earthshaking. It was very, very, very worth the thirty-odd bucks...quite a bit more, actually. I'll read it again; I'll reccommend it to my friends. Did I like it...I'm not really sure. I don't really think it matters. It's good. Buy it. Form your own opinion.

I hate seeing responses to other reviews, but this is too good to pass up.

Your "friend" bought this book and you "happened" to read through "most of it" (in a day!) even though you're not a fan of Clevinger's work. Your review goes on to offer no specific information about the book you (mostly) read, but it IS filled with bland insults directed at Clevinger and his fans. Surely you're not some lamer who would use the anonymity of the internet to troll a review board! I couldn't imagine such a thing!

Can we please limit reviews to people who have read the book? Oh wait, here's one now!

While the book does lag in parts, once the momentum is built up everything clicks. The problem with the pacing is there's a whole world to introduce us to. So be patient, the pay off is more than worth it! The more you read, the better it gets.

I don't want to talk about too many specifics because it might give away something. So I'll say Angus is the best character, the court room parody was painful (in a hilarious way), and I think I've been at that drive-thru window.

This book earns 3 stars for the first half and 5 stars for the second half, so I'm giving it a 4.

Brian Clevinger is best known for his webcomic, 8-Bit Theater. Nuklear Age is his first novel, and it was published by a small non-traditional publisher. The book was poorly edited; it contains many typographical errors, and some sentences seem to have words missing or out of place. The author's style is awkward and amateurish, and contains much Gratuitious Capatalization. The first few chapters are barely readable and are difficult to get through.

Despite all of its problems, Nuklear Age still manages to be a brilliant work of fiction. Once you get past the opening chapters and get used to the awkward writing style, it starts to become incredibly funny. Lots of absurd and bizarre things happen; a recurring joke about an accidentally created race of intelligent mutated spiders (which live behind a door labeled "Danger: Religious Differences) is particularly rewarding.

Nuklear Man, the book's most powerful superhero and a major character, is a completely self-obsessed idiot who manages to annoy everyone around him (as well as the reader), but fortunately, most of the humor isn't of the "Ha ha, let's all laugh at the poor dumb idiot" variety. The book's real main character is his sidekick, Atomik Lad, who is one of the few characters in the book to posess actual sense and is human enough to have actual depth. You do end up caring about Atomik Lad and his (ordinary) girlfriend Rachel, but this is only to set you up for the book's biggest twist.

For the first two thirds of the book, the story consists of one absurd situation and hilariously silly comic-strip-like moment after another. However, the story gradually becomes more serious, and it eventually metamorphoses from a hilarious farce to something far more dramatic and sad. It's like the movie "Life Is Beautiful" - things start out lighthearted, but by the end, you'll be crying. Bad things happen, and they're not just jokes any more. The cartoon character doesn't just get back up when the anvil falls from the sky. Main characters die and don't come back to life. Life doesn't just go on as it did before. The ending is very powerful and reminds me of the final scene of many of Shakespeare's tragedies; the fighting is over simply because there's nobody left to fight any more.

If you like Brian Clevinger's webcomic and can get through the awkward first few chapters, you will find Nuklear Age to be very rewarding. Clevinger's sheer brilliance and imagination do manage to overcome the problems with the story's presentation, but the problems are still there. If Brian can find a good editor to work with, his next book will be amazing. Until then, we'll have to live with what we have.

Don't let the three stars fools you, "Nuklear Age" is a nice fantasy joyride. It comes across like some hybrid of DBZ and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. If you enjoy 8-bit humor, then the gags will have you trying to hold your sides together while your guts spill out through your fingers. The episodic pacing is also a good feature, allowing you to tackle the story issue by issue like you would a comic book, only without that grating month long wait in between adventures. You'll probably end up reading it straight through though; the story is gripping. Then there's the Deathly Neon-Yellow that infests the book cover. Even the smallest reflection of light off of it can stun adults at fifty paces. The sheer mass also makes the book a handy substitute cudgel in a tight spot.

So...why three stars? It's because I'm taking a holistic approach. Everything but the last 73 pages is four to five star material, even with the presence of a few annoying misspellings and missed words in high-tension moments. But those last 73 pages...

I'm not going to give any spoilers away. I'm just going to give you a warning: The End is Not Funny. In fact, it's so incredibly not funny that Brian felt obliged to tack on an apology to explain himself. I won't spoil that either, except to give another warning. After calmly reading through his reasoning for doing what he did, you will most likely come to the inevitable conclusion that what you had previously thought to be not funny is, in fact, infinitely more not funny than you would have ever thought possible. I mean even with the aid of medications that are only legal in really laid back Third World countries. The worst part is that none of it seemed necessary, like it was all done for the express purpose of screwing with the reader rather than advancing the story. It's a little too real; I suppose that's why it hits like it does. If you're into that kind of thing you'll love it to death, but I was left feeling like I'd been cheated.

I may have said too much already by pointing this out, but I think it's only fair to be forewarned. Had I known beforehand, I wouldn't have paid extra to get the thing shipped to me so quickly. I might've even waited for a used copy to surface. "Nuklear Age" is a good read, but you can wait a few extra weeks before diving into it.

let me just say: wow. This book is awesome, awe-inspiring, and some just plain "ahhh." The same humor evident in his 8BT webcomic manifests itself in this book, only more so. The number of refrences to "geeky" pursuits is high, and unlike many books they are cleverly placed within the story. It has me laughing as much (or more) than the entire Hitch Hikers' Guide series. It's not what I expected, it's better. My only regret is that I couldn't get a giant hardcover copy of this book.

Working 12 to 16 hours a day, 6 days a week, it takes something phenomenal to get me to sit down and read anything during my precious time off. I found myself getting to my house at around 5 am in the morning... and reading Nuklear Age until about 7 am. Then sleeping the blessed sleep that I get so little of... and waking up at 11 am...ish, reading another hour or so, followed briskly by another 12-16 hour work day.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

So, it did take me a bit of time to get through the book, but it was well worth it. I found myself laughing during every episode/chapter. I especially found my sides hurting when I read the line that Dr. Nukie says right before he opens his birthday present. I won't type it hear because:

a) might be inappropriate :P

b) you should read the book yourself!

Toward the end of the novel, I found myself slightly reminded of the old classic Watchmen... you never see the ending coming until BAM! it hits you.

The only major issue I have with the novel was the poor spelling. I usually am not very picky when it comes to spelling... but the mispelling and the poor grammar were a constant thoughout the monsterous length novel.

Other than that... like the title of the review says, Wow.

Christopher J. Aurelio

(8-bit fanatic)

P.S. Angus was my favorite character, followed by Nuklear Man pre-last hundred or so pages.

Why are people reviewing this book without reading it?

No its not Febreeze.

Yes we all trust Brian, but wait until you get the book please. Its not necessary to be using the reviewer space as a forum. Once purchasing Nuklear Age you may review it as a responsible customer. On a side note, I don't have it yet either.

I rolled a four-sided dice. It got 4 stars.

Oh and just so you rate this review helpful. Here is a friendly tip on how to remove grass stains.

1. Take a pair of scissors.

2. Slice around the stained area.

3. Throw either the scissors, the stained cloth, or the original piece of clothing out.

You win a pie.

Like many (if not all) customers who reviewed this book and/or bought it in the first place, I've been a fan of Brian Clevinger's work for some time. Incidentally but not surprisingly, he does not promote 8-Bit Theater in his book, which probably stems from the little known fact that he started his site purely because he was writing a novel. But I digress.

Nuklear Age is not what you expect. Even if you're reading it now, I guarantee it isn't what you think it is. There is always something unexpected around the corner, and even if you've finished the book, there is always another level of text. Many people have compared his work to that of Douglas Adams, only I found Brian's to be more consistent. Every detail you think isn't important is. Well, not every detail. In fact, I find that he likes to tease you sometimes with unecessary details.

By the way, I have chosen to ignore the typo problem in the book because, well frankly, it wasn't entirely Brian's fault. I suggest you check out www.nuklearpower.com and go through the archives to see why, but in short, he had a ton of bad luck.

To conclude, I wouldn't use 8-Bit Theater as a gauge for how well you would like this book. See, the comic is an ongoing Brian Clevinger story, but the book is complete. And believe me, for being the first Brian Clevinger ending I've read, well, let's just say I can't wait for the next one, comic or novel. In fact, he'd better have a sequel. I have friends who will riot otherwise.

So, I had this idea to write an impartial review for Brian Clevinger's 650 page novel, Nuklear Age, but I decided that it's really pointless for me to attempt to remain impartial. It will probably suprise none of you to learn that I'm a fan of 8 Bit Theater, so there was obvious bias from the start. But bias isn't necessary in order to enjoy Nuklear Age. In fact, having just finished reading it last night, I can honestly say that unless you are dying/being shot at/on fire, there is absolutely no excuse for you to not be reading Nuklear Age right friggin' now. And even then, it's a toss up.

First off, let me dispatch with the 8 Bit Theater fans that have expressed resistance to the book simply because it is not just another reproduction of 8 Bit Theater. The core elements of Brian's humor are larger than the mediums he works in, and Nuklear Age demonstrates this fact. He sketches out deeply flawed yet highly amusing accidental heroes in Nuklar Age. The twisted violence of Black Mage, the underhanded manipulation of Thief, the frustrating innocence of Fighter, the self-defeating micromanagement of Red Mage, the overanxious brawling of Black Belt, the desperate resignation of White Mage. . . these are all facets of his overall view on humor, and you will find each and every one of them in Nuklear Age.

That's not to say that Nuklear Age is simply 8 Bit Theater with a new skin on it. It's a far more in depth exploration of these humorous themes, and the novel format allows Brian to explore gags in a less segmented manner. In addition to the on-the-spot, quick pay off jokes, which are necessary to sustain an episodic comic, Nuklear Age also presents a subtext of humor that builds as the book developes. In fact, there are jokes set up within the first few chapters of the book that do not completely pay off until several hundred pages later. But you are carried along to these greater payoffs very willingly.

Actually, describing the book as a series of developments is very accurate. As I read it, I felt that every aspect of the book was evolving, both in the characters themselves and in their ability to interact with each other. I also felt as though his language was developing, and while I was at first slightly put off by some of his sentence structure and immediate descriptions, I could feel them becoming more complex and more evolved the further into the book I got. In fact, I thought the last "episode" was some of the best written material I've seen in a long time. The book itself is somewhat episodic if you view it from an "enemy" perspective, though the character evolution moves at a constant rate, providing the book with steady momentum.

There are a great many things in this book worth discussing, but I don't want to bring the up here. Nuklear Age is not what you are expecting, no matter what you are expecting. It is a work of humor, and yet I found myself growing more attached to its characters (gawdy personalities and all) than I have to the characters in a novel in quite some time. The pseudo-narration, provided by casually peeking into the mind of Atomik Lad (Nuklear Man's sidekick/babysitter), provide a scope of vision that many serious novels fail to fully grasp, despite their use of absurd things like "realistic physics" and "non-abrasive cultural stereotypes".

In short, Nuklear Age is best suited to very particular market: anyone living. Although, now that I think of it, I am sure the undead would find both laughter, mirth and meaning in it as well. As a novel, a comedy, and a narrative, it succedes brilliantly. As a first novel, it is an accomplishment that almost makes me sick with envy.