The Reading List: REAMDE, The Boys, and Sweet Tooth

So on my trusty Sony ebook reader I've been working my way through Neal Stephenson's latest novel REAMDE, which is World of Warcraft meets Chinese hackers meets Russian mafia meets Islamic terrorists set in China and the American/Canadian outback.  Or something like that. Despite that awkward introduction, it really is quite enjoyable - a real page-turner.

On the iPad, thanks to the excellent reader app CloudReaders, I've been going through all available issues of The Boys, one of the most fucked-up superhero universes you will ever find. Power corrupts, and super-power corrupts superbly. And The Boys are there to keep the supers in check. Brutally. Along the way, the story takes time to investigate the origins of these super-powers, appalling levels of corporate corruption, the history and background of the members of the Boys, and it's all pretty hardcore. Not for the faint of heart.

I've also started on Jeff Lemire's Sweet Tooth, which I've heard described as Mad Max meets Bambi. That seems about right. With religious prophecy thrown in. And mutated animal-kids. It's really very good.

REAMDE
Rating: *****
Comment: Neal Stephenson remains one of the better current SF writers

The Boys:
Rating: *****
Comment: HOLY SHIT

Sweet Tooth:
Rating: *****
Comment: Mad Max meets Bambi. 'Nuff said.