Ocean, Orbiter

Ocean 1-6

Warren Ellis’ work may not be quite as good as I remember, but I’m certainly excited enough by it to read more every night after I’ve finished my writing.  Ocean is another on his list of “entertaining read, excellent setup, disappointing conclusion” stories.  Actually, looking back at the things I’ve read so far from this box, that description fits just about everything I’ve reviewed so far, with the exception of Fell and Crecy.  (Which are, probably not coincidentally, the best things of Ellis’ so far.)

Following in the footsteps of Global Frequency, Ellis sets up a cool story of humanity’s ancestors hibernating in the depths of Europa’s oceans.  Then, having written himself into a corner, his solution is to blow everything up to remove the threat and abruptly end it all with a pithy bon mot.  

It’s not the worst formula, but it usually leaves me hungry for something more substantive.

The quintessential Ellis conversation.    

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Orbiter

More of the same in terms of formula - In the near future, a space shuttle returns to Earth after disappearing for ten years.  A group of scientists spend the length of the graphic novel figuring out what happened to it, and the whole thing ends with them taking off into space right when they come upon the answer.  

It’s so unsatisfying to read about all the cool stuff that happened, but it’s all secondhand as the investigators piece it together after the fact.  What makes it particularly painful is that Ellis does such a wonderful job of setting the stage; This is a world and situation that I desperately want to spend more time in, and I’m denied that and have to settle for a delicious appetizer.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good