Some New Kind of Slaughter or Lost in the Flood (and How We Found Home Again) [Hardcover]

A. David Lewis (Author), Marvin Mann (Author, Illustrator), Joshua Neufeld (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 2009

If there is one constant throughout most of Earth's historical nations, cultures, and religions, it is the threat and the destruction of the Great Flood. In the wake of the recent Indian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and alarm over global warming, the award-winning creators of The Lone and Level Sands return to plumb the depths of the world's great myths with this graphic novel exploring how this legendary fear may be more relevant now than ever before. Like Noah, sea-bound Ziusudra and other heroes across time must strive against the coming Floods and the baffling will of the gods.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Powerful and gorgeous, this graphic novel looks at catastrophic floods and the stories we tell about them. In the framing story, the Sumerian king, Ziusudra, guides his people through a massive flood. As the water rises and his wife lies in a coma, he has visions of other floods and flood victims in other lands, such as the biblical Noah a modern ecologist trapped in a Katrina-like hurricane and flood myths from around the world. mpMann's simple, expressive character art and endless swirling waters are a perfect fit for the hallucinatory, dreamlike quality of the story. His work on the Chinese creator goddess Nuwa, guarding her clay children from the flooded world, is particularly beautiful and evocative. Lewis is a Ph.D. student in religious and theological studies, and it shows—for good and for ill. He blends myth with myth and his own work with an intuitive assurance, and from this, the book draws much of its momentum and raw emotional power, but a bibliography at the end explaining where to find more information or even a simple list of the myths' countries and cultures of origin would have been invaluable to the curious reader. (Aug.)
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From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up—A collection of intertwined stories reinterpreting flood-related material taken primarily from Babylonian, Old Testament, Chinese, and Native American Memomine sources. The work is divided into four sections: "Warnings," "Preparations," "Deluge," and "Aftermath." Sumerian storyteller Ziusudra, mentioned in Gilgamesh, as well as turtle and snake motifs remain constant threads throughout the narratives. A contemporary story features Dr. Sharon Boatwright, whose professional life as an environmental researcher comes in conflict with her personal life during Hurricane Carla. Originally published as a series of four comics, the title is now reissued in hardcover with a 10.5-inch by 6.75-inch trim size. The change to a landscape format works well with the story line, suggesting the flow of water. Thoughtful panel layout and subtle color changes enhance readers' experience. Teens familiar with these legends can follow the undulating format. For those less familiar with them, it is difficult to follow the continually alternating stories, and there is no explanatory back matter. The authors have taken artistic liberties with several of the tales. For example, readers acquainted with the Da Yu legend, may be surprised at the emphasis on Nuwa, and those familiar with the Biblical account of the great flood may find that this reinterpretation is not consistent with the standard Old Testament versions.—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Archaia Comics; 1st edition (August 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193238653X
• ISBN-13: 978-1932386530
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,539,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Cross-Fit Workout For the Brain, April 7, 2010

By 

David Hall (Steilacoom, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Some New Kind of Slaughter or Lost in the Flood (and How We Found Home Again) (Hardcover)

This graphic novel is superbly-illustrated, and brilliantly-written. The aspect I enjoyed the most of "Some New Kind of Slaughter" was how it required me to actively think as I read it. I work in emergency management, so I was intrigued by the myth and mystery of floods. I highly recommend this book!