Talk:The Life Eaters

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Science Fiction Low‑importance

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Notable?

Can this be restored? @Cunard @Daranios _{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 21:27, 21 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Piotrus: Search looks pretty promising, actually: Rechtsextremismus, Rassismus und Antisemitismus in Comics, p. 220-221, has 3/4 of a page on the comic including critical analysis. And The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Vol. 106, p. 33, seems to have a review. Unfortunately I only get snippets, but those do have commentary: "The Life Eaters has all the drama, scope, and power of one of the old Norse sagas, for Brin is working on a grand scale here, juggling many balls, and not dropping any. There is thoughtful — and dark — speculation on how things might - have turned out if the story's premise had actually played out, how technology we take for granted now was developed in different circumstances, how world politics would have adjusted. There's a gripping storyline, and dialogue that suits all the different voices" etc. There are more hits here and here, but I checking those has to wait for someone or sometime else. Daranios (talk) 15:21, 22 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Daranios I will be expanding this shortly based on English sources; any chance you could access and use the German source? _{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 11:03, 11 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Piotrus (talk · contribs). Here are some sources about the subject:

De Lint, Charles (April 2004). "The Life Eaters". The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Vol. 106, no. 4. p. 33. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11 – via Internet Archive.
The review notes: "The Life Eaters has all the drama, scope, and power of one of the old Norse sagas, for Brin is working on a grand scale here, juggling many balls, and not dropping any. ... Scott Hampton displays some expected comic book art (regular panel breakdowns, outlined figures), but most of the book is painted, magnificently bringing Brin's dark visions to life."
Di Filippo, Paul (August 2004). "On Books". Asimov's Science Fiction. Vol. 28, no. 8 #343. p. 137. Retrieved 2024-08-11 – via Internet Archive.
The review notes: "David Brin expands his award-nominated story "Thor Meets Captain America" into The Life Eaters (hardcover, $29.95, 144 pages, ISBN 1-4012-0098-2), with the aid of artist Scott Hampton, whose harsh-edged, yet graceful painted art is the perfect match for a grim tale. Hampton's palette is appropriately subdued as well, but it allows for such bright contrasting flashes as the blue of a Hindu deity."
Raiteri, Steve (March 2004). "The Life Eaters". The Life Eaters. Vol. 129, no. 4. p. 60. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11 – via Gale.
The review notes: "Brin's desire to downplay the role of heroes and highlight the good work of the average person is notable in a field full of superheroes, but in the end it mitigates the strength of the story. Hampton's full-color paintings are realistic and often powerful."
Zaleski, Jeff (2004-01-05). "The Life Eaters". Publishers Weekly. Vol. 251, no. 1. p. 42. EBSCOhost 11844964. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
The review notes: "But there's also a certain amount of heavy-handed preachiness: an inappropriately clunky vision of ash-induced global warming; a dreadfully sappy scene in which leaders of every religion put aside their differences to defend the planet; and a climactic scene in which a human is tempted by divine power that's straight out of a mid-1960s superhero comic. Fantasy artist Hampton is at his best when he gets to illustrate larger-than-life images ..."
Speer, Cindy Lynn (2003). "The Life Eaters". SF Site. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
The review notes: "Fans of David Brin might find The Life Eaters strikes a familiar cord. This book was inspired by his Hugo-nominated 1986 novella, "Thor Meets Captain America." This cleverly written what-if story explores so many things. ... Scott Hampton's art is a good match for Brin's prose. I confess, I am far more used to the Sandman versions of Loki and Odin, and of the Marvel version of Thor, so seeing how he chose to portray these Aesirs was really interesting."