Girl Genius Novels
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Liked It “I’ve been looking forward to this novel for a while now. I ordered it on Girl Genius day, January 12th, in honor of Kaja’s birthday. Kaja and Phil Foglio, the authors of both the comic and the book, have been in the business for a long time, so I was really expecting something fun. |
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“I picked this up for my Kindle from Baen Books and love, love loved it! A very funny "novelization" of the Girl Genius graphic novel series. I'd read the comics but I always felt some of the characters got passed by. This is a much clearer retelling of the storyline. Try both versions - you'll like them.”
humbledaisy wrote this review Thursday, September 6, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I’ve been looking forward to this novel for a while now. I ordered it on Girl Genius day, January 12th, in honor of Kaja’s birthday. Kaja and Phil Foglio, the authors of both the comic and the book, have been in the business for a long time, so I was really expecting something fun.
Mel Nogrady wrote this review Friday, October 14, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I was not disappointed in Agatha H. And the Airship City. It follows the plot of the first three books of the comic, but it’s so much more than a novelization of the images. Agatha has a lot more depth for one, and following her adventure from the Beetleburg University to the Wulfenbach Castle, she becomes quite charming and engaging. More characters are delved into, and some faces that got very little screen time online get more of a chance on stage, engrossing characters that thicken the plot and make the pages turn like crazy. Having been a fan of the comics for some time, I thought I knew what to expect, but the plot is much richer, expanding with the media.
However, some things were lost in translation. Although Girl Genius makes use of a gloriously bright color palette, the visual gags and settings are lost in print. The characters, while deeper and more insightful, seem stiffer, the fluid action and comedy not quite projected. This has more to do with the writing, though. While concise, clipped sentences work well in comics, it made the book feel more juvenile than the intended audience. Though definitely something I would recommend for all ages, as a college student I felt a little impatient with the short, no-nonsense approach. I would have liked more purple prose, I suppose.
Altogether, though, Agatha H. And the Airship City was a brilliant read, and I finished the whole book in one day. I would recommend it to young adults and adults alike, the smart wit and fun ride a pleasure to all. While no Rowling or Westerfeld sometimes something light and steamy is just the ticket. 4 of 5 stars!”
“I was very excited to find this book on the shelf at my local bookstore (it took them a while to get it in). I have been reading the Girl Genius comic for several years, so a novelisation was of interest to me.
Shadrach Anki wrote this review Thursday, April 7, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The writing is solid, though some stylistic elements may take getting used to, particularly if you are unfamiliar with steampunk and/or Girl Genius. Content-wise this novel covers the same time period and story elements as the first three volumes of the Girl Genius comic. There are some minor differences between the two, and the novel expands on several background story elements that aren't really covered predominantly in the comic.
Unfortunately, reading the novel doesn't let you see all the intricate background details that are shoved into the art in the comic. Including said details would be impractical; if nothing else it would completely bog down and derail the story. So as an example, in the novel we have to be content with knowing Gil's personal library has bookcases crammed with books, and some of the broad categories those books fall under. In the comic we can read the titles of many of those books (things like Who's Who, What's What, Cultivate a Maniacal Laugh, and Oops!) and get some chuckles.
All in all I would say this is a good companion work to the comic, not a replacement or substitute. They work best together. Reading the novel had me jumping back in to reread the comic, because I was craving all the little humorous details that just didn't translate over to the written word.”
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