Glacial Periodby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 7 Thousands of years in the future, a group of archeologists and their genetically modified talking dogs are searching for clues to humanity's lost history in the current ice age. They stumble upon the Louvre, and the interpretations are as absurd and fanciful as the actions taken by the artifacts.This book takes a while to get going, but once it hits that moment, it's a smooth progression into strangeness. The talking dogs, for example, are not really explained till close to the end of the book. The fact that it's set in the far-flung future is evidenced right away through a certain "artifact" that one of the expeditioners is wearing and their fascination with graffiti. And it is the futuristic setting that allows me to just go with the flow with regard to fat, glasses-wearing, talking dogs on skies that still rely on humans for things like food. These dogs look like obese Labradors, definitely not suited to snowy terrain (barely suited for moving around!). The dogs are named after supposed deities of today's world like Hulk and Spiderman -- though since the main dog's name is Hulk, which fits with other imagery associated with his round body, the humor falls a bit flat. The most interesting parts of this story happen when the archaeologists (and Hulk on his own) discover the Louvre and try to understand what they find. It certainly puts art and history in perspective, questioning what we ourselves know about some of these pieces. The interpretations have logic behind them, but are way off-base. Some things hit the nail on the head, though we would not acknowledge them as such today (like women's bodies being objectified). In fact, the main woman on this journey is desired to be used by three different male characters, though not necessarily sexually. It's disappointing that the author sees humanity in the same situation regarding gender that far in the future, though it does help us grasp the line of thought for humanity through the ages. The exciting twist comes when the pieces of art reveal themselves to be alive to Hulk. Through the art some history is explained, including the Louvre's history, and the reason for the glacial period. Hulk takes the reigns, figuratively and literally, to lead the art, the lady, and one other explorer to a new freedom. Interestingly, right before the final imagery of the art emerges from the buried-in-snow Louvre, the imagery of Jesus Christ from the Louvre makes itself seen to the other part of the archaeological team. This provides for some very interesting commentary with religious and philosophical connotations, especially considering the interactions we've just had with the "pagan divinities" inside the Louvre. While off to a slow start, this book ends on a fascinating, if absurd, note. The art has a nice amount of detail, combined with soft lines and colors. The art is recognizable (and there's a credit's page for the art in the back). While I wouldn't pick up the book based on the art style, it works well for the story, the snowy setting, and the old art. If you like historical fiction and unusual futuristic stories that manage to throw in some philosophy, this is a good book to pick up. Written: June 13, 2014
|
|
|
Home |
Features |
Columns |
Culture Vultures |
Report Card
Indicia | Contact | Archives © Sequential Tart, 1998 – 2021 |
