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lyndiane's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
I'm binging on superhero novels at the moment. This one has been on my to-read list for ages, and I finally gave it a bash this weekend.
There are a number of layers to the narrative. The first layer of the story is about Aidan Salt, a fairly nondescript, socially awkward teenager who doesn't even really fit into his own family. He realises that he has super powers and decides to try a life of crime, accidentally killing a superhero on his very first attempt at robbing a bottle store.
What follows is an indictment against just about everything that makes us tick as human beings. The writing is very, very clever, with some not-so-gentle mockery of our current fixation with talent shows and a wonderful scene where Voice of the Nation channels Simon Cowell. The author paints a sordid picture of the superhero celebrities, with sex, drugs, murder and conspiracy. The narrative also contains what must be the cleanest, least graphic sex scene I have ever read.
There is plenty of swearing, which some readers may find offensive. I don't recommend it for readers under the age of 18.
I'm binging on superhero novels at the moment. This one has been on my to-read list for ages, and I finally gave it a bash this weekend.
There are a number of layers to the narrative. The first layer of the story is about Aidan Salt, a fairly nondescript, socially awkward teenager who doesn't even really fit into his own family. He realises that he has super powers and decides to try a life of crime, accidentally killing a superhero on his very first attempt at robbing a bottle store.
What follows is an indictment against just about everything that makes us tick as human beings. The writing is very, very clever, with some not-so-gentle mockery of our current fixation with talent shows and a wonderful scene where Voice of the Nation channels Simon Cowell. The author paints a sordid picture of the superhero celebrities, with sex, drugs, murder and conspiracy. The narrative also contains what must be the cleanest, least graphic sex scene I have ever read.
There is plenty of swearing, which some readers may find offensive. I don't recommend it for readers under the age of 18.
mirificmoxie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Drug abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Sexism, and Vomit
i_dream_of_books's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a fun read!
Aidan Salt has powers. The problem is, so do a lot of other people. He's idolized some of the biggest superheroes his entire life and wants to be just like them. With the riches and fame, who wouldn't? The only problem is, becoming a major super hero isn't easy when everyone else is trying to do the same. Then one day it hits him, he doesn't have to be a superhero, he can be a supervillain. Supervillains have been gone since the War on Villainy and Aidan believes it's time for a true supervillain to return.
So he gets a costume (all black leather and a motorcycle helmet) and a name (Apex Strike) and sets about his first mission to rob a small liquor store. Things go wrong from the beginning and it becomes very clear that being super, villain or hero, is not what it seems.
Aidan Salt has powers. The problem is, so do a lot of other people. He's idolized some of the biggest superheroes his entire life and wants to be just like them. With the riches and fame, who wouldn't? The only problem is, becoming a major super hero isn't easy when everyone else is trying to do the same. Then one day it hits him, he doesn't have to be a superhero, he can be a supervillain. Supervillains have been gone since the War on Villainy and Aidan believes it's time for a true supervillain to return.
So he gets a costume (all black leather and a motorcycle helmet) and a name (Apex Strike) and sets about his first mission to rob a small liquor store. Things go wrong from the beginning and it becomes very clear that being super, villain or hero, is not what it seems.
ghost_name's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad for a first novel. A fast read. Interesting concept. A little crude and had some slight errors in editing, but that's a silly excuse not to read it. Well-done, Matt.
corvarchist's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a fan of villains. So when I saw this while looking through the newly-added section at my library, I figured it was pretty much necessary for me to at least check it out. With a bit of trepidation, mind, because the unfortunate prevalence of young guys primarily interested in moral edginess for its own sake in the real world, is enough to make me wary of media seeming to featuring similar individuals as its protagonists. And reading through the first chapter, with Aidan's disaffected commentary on his high school life and casual objectification of female classmates, I began to get a sinking feeling that that apprehension might be correct...
I'm incredibly glad to say that my initial worries were utterly unfounded. Aidan is indeed, as the cover blurb describes, "unambitious, selfish, and cowardly," not to mention shallow, self-absorbed all out of proportion considering the ridiculous situations he gets himself into, prone to viewing women primarily as sex objects, and lacking in even the faintest impulse toward curiosity or prodding at his instincts - and throughout the book, the various threads of the narrative ream him for all these things mercilessly. He's surrounded by other characters who not only call him for his own stupidity, but who provide scathing attacks in varying degrees of subtlety on the sorts of attitudes and tropes that would make a less intelligent story with a similar premise an unpleasant chore to read.
And not only does Almost Infamous provide commentary (in the characters' mouths and on a narrative structural level) on common character and character interaction tropes in popular media and fan reaction to them; it also draws in several layers of sociopolitical commentary through worldbuilding backstory (the "War on Villainy" inevitably brings to mind other real-life "Wars On...", such as Terror and Drugs, providing one of the first hints to the particular nature of superheroes' antagonistic place in this story), front-and-center details of the plot including the ultimate reveal of the superheroes' motivations, and most interestingly to me, a meta-level look at the complex interactions between personal circumstance, political and ideological expedience, and actual ethical wrongdoing in the cultural determining of what makes a "villain".
Alongside all the thematic material being drawn through the events of the narrative - my personal favourite aspect because of how many different layers I kept noticing! - I've barely even touched on the other aspects of this book that made it an enjoyable read, including a glut of amusing references (Watchmen, pro wrestling, Women In Refrigerators...), a great ensemble of main and secondary characters with clear and distinct perspectives (my heart belongs to Firewall/Trojan Fox), interesting worldbuilding and alternate history, quality character development, and (not kidding) the power of friendship.
Ultimately, (after growing progressively more engrossed in the book until I ended up finishing it more quickly than I'd intended), the main critiques I have of Almost Infamous are relatively minor, mostly to do with the occasionally rough prose and editing, and a desire to see various aspects of the characters and events of the book dug into more deeply to give a richer and more thorough depiction of the entire narrative picture outside of that most immediately relevant to Aidan, both to sate my own curiosity as well as to more fully match the thematic scope of the book. On the whole though, it was a strikingly intelligent, thoroughly enjoyable read that I'm glad to have obeyed my whim to take a look at.
I'm incredibly glad to say that my initial worries were utterly unfounded. Aidan is indeed, as the cover blurb describes, "unambitious, selfish, and cowardly," not to mention shallow, self-absorbed all out of proportion considering the ridiculous situations he gets himself into, prone to viewing women primarily as sex objects, and lacking in even the faintest impulse toward curiosity or prodding at his instincts - and throughout the book, the various threads of the narrative ream him for all these things mercilessly. He's surrounded by other characters who not only call him for his own stupidity, but who provide scathing attacks in varying degrees of subtlety on the sorts of attitudes and tropes that would make a less intelligent story with a similar premise an unpleasant chore to read.
And not only does Almost Infamous provide commentary (in the characters' mouths and on a narrative structural level) on common character and character interaction tropes in popular media and fan reaction to them; it also draws in several layers of sociopolitical commentary through worldbuilding backstory (the "War on Villainy" inevitably brings to mind other real-life "Wars On...", such as Terror and Drugs, providing one of the first hints to the particular nature of superheroes' antagonistic place in this story), front-and-center details of the plot including the ultimate reveal of the superheroes' motivations, and most interestingly to me, a meta-level look at the complex interactions between personal circumstance, political and ideological expedience, and actual ethical wrongdoing in the cultural determining of what makes a "villain".
Alongside all the thematic material being drawn through the events of the narrative - my personal favourite aspect because of how many different layers I kept noticing! - I've barely even touched on the other aspects of this book that made it an enjoyable read, including a glut of amusing references (Watchmen, pro wrestling, Women In Refrigerators...), a great ensemble of main and secondary characters with clear and distinct perspectives (my heart belongs to Firewall/Trojan Fox), interesting worldbuilding and alternate history, quality character development, and (not kidding) the power of friendship.
Ultimately, (after growing progressively more engrossed in the book until I ended up finishing it more quickly than I'd intended), the main critiques I have of Almost Infamous are relatively minor, mostly to do with the occasionally rough prose and editing, and a desire to see various aspects of the characters and events of the book dug into more deeply to give a richer and more thorough depiction of the entire narrative picture outside of that most immediately relevant to Aidan, both to sate my own curiosity as well as to more fully match the thematic scope of the book. On the whole though, it was a strikingly intelligent, thoroughly enjoyable read that I'm glad to have obeyed my whim to take a look at.
havoc's review against another edition
1.0
I do not recommend this book. I finished it so I didn't absolutely hate it but I don't think its a good read for what I can only assume was a target audience of 16-19 yo boys who don't normally read.
The premise, while not the newest thing in the world, is fun and many of the mentioned characters and events are creative and interesting. However, the main character is a grade-A asshole, who grows little as a person. I'm sure this was the point/intention but still, I just don't feel that young adults need to be idolizing a sex-obsessed, quick to drugs, selfish teenager.
The premise, while not the newest thing in the world, is fun and many of the mentioned characters and events are creative and interesting. However, the main character is a grade-A asshole, who grows little as a person. I'm sure this was the point/intention but still, I just don't feel that young adults need to be idolizing a sex-obsessed, quick to drugs, selfish teenager.
theangrylawngnome's review
3.0
Fun but forgettable. Maybe bit too violent for the younger kiddies.
First time I've ever seen a book available for a library borrow that is also listed as being part of Kindle Unlimited. Interesting, that.
First time I've ever seen a book available for a library borrow that is also listed as being part of Kindle Unlimited. Interesting, that.
vinayvasan's review
4.0
This was actually fun if a bit dark. Remember the adage, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is a book just for that.
In the wonderful movie Incredibles, there is statement that the baddie makes - If everyone is super, then no one is. Taking that concept further, if only superheroes existed, then there would be no need for them and the book explores it deftly.
It is a fascinating exploration through the eyes of particularly lazy, cowardly, barely in control of his abilities teenager who decides that being a super villain holds more value than being a super hero, only to find that he is recruited to become part of a super villain league that is stage-managed and scripted to make the heroes look relevant
What follows is an examination of what it means to be a super villain (and indeed,a super hero) in a world where super heroes rule. Friendships are formed, forged and fettered away even as the super heroes themselves are increasingly debauched, straddling the thin line between hero and villain. The book is fascinating while being a bit predictable towards the end while nonetheless being a lot of fun
As a character, Aidan is alright. Like most teenagers, he is self-absorbed, whiny, horny while still maintaining a naivete and a shred of decency when sober. The supporting cast is interesting as well while the tit-bits revealed through the #Lessonslearned are witty
In the wonderful movie Incredibles, there is statement that the baddie makes - If everyone is super, then no one is. Taking that concept further, if only superheroes existed, then there would be no need for them and the book explores it deftly.
It is a fascinating exploration through the eyes of particularly lazy, cowardly, barely in control of his abilities teenager who decides that being a super villain holds more value than being a super hero, only to find that he is recruited to become part of a super villain league that is stage-managed and scripted to make the heroes look relevant
What follows is an examination of what it means to be a super villain (and indeed,a super hero) in a world where super heroes rule. Friendships are formed, forged and fettered away even as the super heroes themselves are increasingly debauched, straddling the thin line between hero and villain. The book is fascinating while being a bit predictable towards the end while nonetheless being a lot of fun
As a character, Aidan is alright. Like most teenagers, he is self-absorbed, whiny, horny while still maintaining a naivete and a shred of decency when sober. The supporting cast is interesting as well while the tit-bits revealed through the #Lessonslearned are witty
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