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mkhare's review against another edition
5.0
I came across this book in the flesh for the first time the other day. I love the podcast, and knew of the book's existence but had never thought to seek it out. My original thought process was that I really had no need for a script of a podcast that I could listen to any time my little heart desired. Then I started to read through the episodes and a wonderful revelation struck me as I crouched on the worn book store carpet. I absolutely adore reading books aloud, and I absolutely adore listening to WtNV - here was a chance to read aloud some of the most joyful and imaginative writing I have had the pleasure to encounter. I am now very excited to get a copy of this book. Very Excited.
P.S. I'm thrilled that they chose to include the end of episode proverbs, there sure were some good ones. One that sticks in my mind is 'Ask your doctor just who he thinks he is. Say it just like that. Say, "Who do you think you are?" See if he starts crying. I know I would.'
4.5 stars
P.S. I'm thrilled that they chose to include the end of episode proverbs, there sure were some good ones. One that sticks in my mind is 'Ask your doctor just who he thinks he is. Say it just like that. Say, "Who do you think you are?" See if he starts crying. I know I would.'
4.5 stars
towelmas's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I had a lot of hope for this book because I heard soo many great things about the podcast. Being able to take in Night Vale at my own pace in my favourite form (literature) just sounded like the perfect thing for me. I turned to the first page and quickly realised I was reading an acknowledgment by the creators about the episode. I initially thought “I’ve never listened to the podcast so anything they say here will go over my head. I’ll just skip to the episodes themselves.”
I love a good fictional story. I love lore. I love world building and atmosphere. This wasn’t it. Maybe it’s because it’s the beginning of the series and the creators didn’t have their proper footing yet but oh my god was it a challenge to actually stay focused on. Everything is nonsensical on purpose but I feel as if there are better ways to express that (again, could be because it’s the beginning. Like most, if not all things begin rockier compared to the mid-end eras). Silly funny wacky characters keep getting mentioned to progress the “plot” or “joke” or whatever the theme is for the episode in question but that’s all they’re really there for. Comedic fuel for a fire that doesn’t truely burn.
Eventually I began skipping each episode and began focusing on the pre-episode acknowledgments because they were actually more interesting to learn about. Reading up on how the creators came up with the ideas for the episodes had me HOOKED, but yet that’s not the point of trying to get into the series. Swing and a miss.
I’m sure there are many people who eat this stuff up but brain-rot be damned it’s not for me.
I love a good fictional story. I love lore. I love world building and atmosphere. This wasn’t it. Maybe it’s because it’s the beginning of the series and the creators didn’t have their proper footing yet but oh my god was it a challenge to actually stay focused on. Everything is nonsensical on purpose but I feel as if there are better ways to express that (again, could be because it’s the beginning. Like most, if not all things begin rockier compared to the mid-end eras). Silly funny wacky characters keep getting mentioned to progress the “plot” or “joke” or whatever the theme is for the episode in question but that’s all they’re really there for. Comedic fuel for a fire that doesn’t truely burn.
Eventually I began skipping each episode and began focusing on the pre-episode acknowledgments because they were actually more interesting to learn about. Reading up on how the creators came up with the ideas for the episodes had me HOOKED, but yet that’s not the point of trying to get into the series. Swing and a miss.
I’m sure there are many people who eat this stuff up but brain-rot be damned it’s not for me.
benebacon's review
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reminds me why I am glad to have this on my shelf, even if in this case my shelf is in storage somewhere across the country.
annabellesan's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sleepingnerd's review against another edition
5.0
an incomplete list of things that feel like home:
• the little soft sigh my dog gives as he settles for a nap
• crotchet rugs
• my old faded tiger plushie
• the cracked spines on a stack of books
• the creamy, rich taste of canjica
• Welcome to Night Vale
I started listening to Welcome to Night Vale way back on 2015, as a teenager. It was my first of many things: my first podcast, my first foray into horror and weird fiction and, most notably of all, the first piece of unapologetically queer media I ever came across. Right from the first episode it is made clear that, in this weird little town where the impossible walks and crawls the streets, being queer is not something that makes you an outsider. Since then, every time I hear Cecil's deep voice, I feel at home.
Reading this book was, of course, not the same as listening to the podcast, in which the element of sound and voice is intrinsic to the experience. Still, I liked revisiting old episodes, to take my time to appreciate the writing, the small weird details, the jokes. I could hear Cecil narrating everything in my head, and surprised myself by how much I remembered of even those first episodes, which I listened to almost a decade (a decade!) ago. Not all episodes are hits, but I did enjoy most of them.
It also delighted me to see how many important characters and storylines make their first appearance right from the start, whether it was foreshadowing or unintentional (the angels! the dark planet lit by no sun! Hiram!). Finally, it was nice to read a bit from the creators of the podcast, their thoughts and feelings as they made what would become such an important part of my life.
For any fans of the podcast, I can't recommend this enough!
• the little soft sigh my dog gives as he settles for a nap
• crotchet rugs
• my old faded tiger plushie
• the cracked spines on a stack of books
• the creamy, rich taste of canjica
• Welcome to Night Vale
I started listening to Welcome to Night Vale way back on 2015, as a teenager. It was my first of many things: my first podcast, my first foray into horror and weird fiction and, most notably of all, the first piece of unapologetically queer media I ever came across. Right from the first episode it is made clear that, in this weird little town where the impossible walks and crawls the streets, being queer is not something that makes you an outsider. Since then, every time I hear Cecil's deep voice, I feel at home.
Reading this book was, of course, not the same as listening to the podcast, in which the element of sound and voice is intrinsic to the experience. Still, I liked revisiting old episodes, to take my time to appreciate the writing, the small weird details, the jokes. I could hear Cecil narrating everything in my head, and surprised myself by how much I remembered of even those first episodes, which I listened to almost a decade (a decade!) ago. Not all episodes are hits, but I did enjoy most of them.
It also delighted me to see how many important characters and storylines make their first appearance right from the start, whether it was foreshadowing or unintentional (the angels! the dark planet lit by no sun! Hiram!). Finally, it was nice to read a bit from the creators of the podcast, their thoughts and feelings as they made what would become such an important part of my life.
For any fans of the podcast, I can't recommend this enough!
dreaming_book_witch's review against another edition
5.0
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Title: Mostly Void, Partially Stars
Author: Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Synopsis:
A friendly desert community, where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and the mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep.
Welcome to Night Vale.
In June 2012, the creators of Welcome to Night Vale began airing twice-monthly podcasts about a fictional town in the American Southwest where ghosts, angels, aliens, and government conspiracies are all commonplace parts of day-to-day life. Mostly Void, Partially Stars contains the first year of episodes from the podcast that would become a worldwide sensation.
Offering both an entertaining reading experience as well as a valuable reference guide to past episodes, Mostly Void, Partially Stars features a foreword by Cory Doctorow, an introduction by creator and co-writer Joseph Fink, behind-the-scenes commentary and guest introductions by both authors as well as podcast performers and collaborators including Cecil Baldwin (Cecil), Dylan Marron (Carlos), and Kevin R. Free (Kevin), among others. Also here is the full script from the first Welcome to Night Vale live show, “Condos.” Beautiful illustrations by series artist Jessica Hayworth accompany each episode.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars is an absolute must-have whether you’re a fan of the podcast or discovering for the first time the wonderful world of Night Vale.
Don’t miss The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe, featuring the second year of episodes from the Welcome to Night Vale podcast!
Initial thoughts:
Before the book was released, I was (and am still) a huge Welcome to Night Vale fan. The podcast on itunes was so creepy and wonderfully weird that when the book that transcribed all of the episodes together, I had to get it. I also got the second volume of the book when it was released and found myself once more drawn into episodes I had experienced before, but in a new and inviting way.
Plot:
What I liked:
I loved how there was added information that had been cut out or had been somewhat difficult to hear at times. I also found that certain things were less distracting when reading the book than when it is spoken (however I do recommend listening to it simply for Cecil). The illustrations, though sparsely put within the book, were fantastic and well constructed and the information about each episode was refreshing to get a look and see why the writers did what they did.
What I didn't like:
To be honest, there isn’t much I have to say negatively about this book. The story is scattered much like how a radio show would, but I find it endearing. I loved how the readers get to see how things change in Night Vale from one episode to the next and it all translated well into the book format.
Characters:
Cecil Palmer: He is the host of the show and I seriously love him. He goes through the show explaining what is happening in Night Vale, like what you should avoid and what new thing has suddenly popped up.
Kevin: The radio personality for the Desert Bluffs (the rival town) radio station. I have mixed feelings about Kevin, but I recommend listening to the podcast for his story.
Carlos the Scientist: I love this guy and his perfect hair! He is in charge of doing research on the abnormalities of Night Vale and will tell the residence of what is happening.
Characters that show the show’s abnormalities:
Khoskekh: Khoshekh is a floating cat in the men’s bathroom at the radio station.
Hiram McDaniels: A five headed dragon. So what?
The Glow Cloud (All Hail): A glow cloud who is school board president.
Hooded Figures: You will probably find them by the dog park, which doesn’t exist so you should forget about it.
And many many others (don’t get too attached to anyone. Someone who is there one day might disappear the next).
Overall:
To be honest, I believe that I actually enjoyed the script of this book more so than the actual podcast. It was a lot easier for me to take everything in as I read the book rather than listened to it. I did read this book along with listening to the podcast at the same time and I found that an enjoyable experience as well. Welcome to Night Vale is one of those stories that I recommend to those who enjoy the weird and the absurd. Fans of Gravity Falls, I believe, would really enjoy this series of podcasts and coupled transcribed books.
Title: Mostly Void, Partially Stars
Author: Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Synopsis:
A friendly desert community, where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and the mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep.
Welcome to Night Vale.
In June 2012, the creators of Welcome to Night Vale began airing twice-monthly podcasts about a fictional town in the American Southwest where ghosts, angels, aliens, and government conspiracies are all commonplace parts of day-to-day life. Mostly Void, Partially Stars contains the first year of episodes from the podcast that would become a worldwide sensation.
Offering both an entertaining reading experience as well as a valuable reference guide to past episodes, Mostly Void, Partially Stars features a foreword by Cory Doctorow, an introduction by creator and co-writer Joseph Fink, behind-the-scenes commentary and guest introductions by both authors as well as podcast performers and collaborators including Cecil Baldwin (Cecil), Dylan Marron (Carlos), and Kevin R. Free (Kevin), among others. Also here is the full script from the first Welcome to Night Vale live show, “Condos.” Beautiful illustrations by series artist Jessica Hayworth accompany each episode.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars is an absolute must-have whether you’re a fan of the podcast or discovering for the first time the wonderful world of Night Vale.
Don’t miss The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe, featuring the second year of episodes from the Welcome to Night Vale podcast!
Initial thoughts:
Before the book was released, I was (and am still) a huge Welcome to Night Vale fan. The podcast on itunes was so creepy and wonderfully weird that when the book that transcribed all of the episodes together, I had to get it. I also got the second volume of the book when it was released and found myself once more drawn into episodes I had experienced before, but in a new and inviting way.
Plot:
What I liked:
I loved how there was added information that had been cut out or had been somewhat difficult to hear at times. I also found that certain things were less distracting when reading the book than when it is spoken (however I do recommend listening to it simply for Cecil). The illustrations, though sparsely put within the book, were fantastic and well constructed and the information about each episode was refreshing to get a look and see why the writers did what they did.
What I didn't like:
To be honest, there isn’t much I have to say negatively about this book. The story is scattered much like how a radio show would, but I find it endearing. I loved how the readers get to see how things change in Night Vale from one episode to the next and it all translated well into the book format.
Characters:
Cecil Palmer: He is the host of the show and I seriously love him. He goes through the show explaining what is happening in Night Vale, like what you should avoid and what new thing has suddenly popped up.
Kevin: The radio personality for the Desert Bluffs (the rival town) radio station. I have mixed feelings about Kevin, but I recommend listening to the podcast for his story.
Carlos the Scientist: I love this guy and his perfect hair! He is in charge of doing research on the abnormalities of Night Vale and will tell the residence of what is happening.
Characters that show the show’s abnormalities:
Khoskekh: Khoshekh is a floating cat in the men’s bathroom at the radio station.
Hiram McDaniels: A five headed dragon. So what?
The Glow Cloud (All Hail): A glow cloud who is school board president.
Hooded Figures: You will probably find them by the dog park, which doesn’t exist so you should forget about it.
And many many others (don’t get too attached to anyone. Someone who is there one day might disappear the next).
Overall:
To be honest, I believe that I actually enjoyed the script of this book more so than the actual podcast. It was a lot easier for me to take everything in as I read the book rather than listened to it. I did read this book along with listening to the podcast at the same time and I found that an enjoyable experience as well. Welcome to Night Vale is one of those stories that I recommend to those who enjoy the weird and the absurd. Fans of Gravity Falls, I believe, would really enjoy this series of podcasts and coupled transcribed books.
millyferg's review against another edition
5.0
Really neat to see the behind the scenes stuff as well as see the transcripts of the episodes
bronzestars's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
autumn_riley05's review
4.5
Read and listened to WTNV for weeks instead of “properly” reading anything but you bet I’m counting it! I loved the little extras and behind-the-scenes from the first year of episodes~