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whiskyrob's review against another edition
2.0
For an anthology about people getting super-powers, there isn't much of a focus on people using those powers. Most of them feel more political focused or focus on how the world changes when people start getting powers, rather than on traditional super-hero/villain interactions.
A lot of hit and miss stories, mostly miss, probably because a majority of the stories were focused on the "Jokers" rather than the "Aces, which I just did not find very interesting.
A lot of hit and miss stories, mostly miss, probably because a majority of the stories were focused on the "Jokers" rather than the "Aces, which I just did not find very interesting.
mollysticks's review against another edition
1.0
A couple stories were good but mostly I did not care for it. I wish the Goodread star system was different, cause I feel this should be a 2 star book, but I didn't even find it ok. The premise was great but it did not meet the expectations I had. The last story was my favorite I would say.
hellsfire's review
3.0
I wish I had known more about this book before I read it. It might have softened some of the problems I had with it. For one, I didn't know it was an anthology. All I see is GRRM's name plastered on it. Not that that's a bad thing, but it kind of is here. It also made the book super long.
Because it was an anthology, some of the stories are hit or miss. My biggest problem was the fact that when I got into some stories, they just ended and I wanted to know more. My other problem was that a lot of the stories or interludes were told instead of shown. I felt as if they wasted a huge opportunity. The following stories sometimes made up for that, but not always.
Another failing was probably the sci-fi portion. The alien bit was cool, but looks aside, the doctor just seemed too human. Not to mention the naming of the disease just happened. I don't remember poker or cards being that big back in the 50s.
What I liked most about the book were the powers. The aces had all the boring powers like you would find on the X-Men or Heroes. The Jokers had the far more interesting powers like those found on 4400. Their stories when it didn't deal with discrimination were better.
I don't know if I'll be reading more. I might because the publisher is finally re-releasing them since they've been out of print as affordable ebooks. But we'll see.
Because it was an anthology, some of the stories are hit or miss. My biggest problem was the fact that when I got into some stories, they just ended and I wanted to know more. My other problem was that a lot of the stories or interludes were told instead of shown. I felt as if they wasted a huge opportunity. The following stories sometimes made up for that, but not always.
Another failing was probably the sci-fi portion. The alien bit was cool, but looks aside, the doctor just seemed too human. Not to mention the naming of the disease just happened. I don't remember poker or cards being that big back in the 50s.
What I liked most about the book were the powers. The aces had all the boring powers like you would find on the X-Men or Heroes. The Jokers had the far more interesting powers like those found on 4400. Their stories when it didn't deal with discrimination were better.
I don't know if I'll be reading more. I might because the publisher is finally re-releasing them since they've been out of print as affordable ebooks. But we'll see.
junior_godel's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
webjoram's review against another edition
Me da pena decirlo pero he abandonado este libro, en ningún momento he conectado no con la historia no los personajes. Todo me parece un refrito de estereotipos, superhéroes, marcianos y malos muy malos y posts eso ya tengo los cómics de marvel o dc.
okcomp16's review against another edition
4.0
As i mentioned before it happens with every collection of stories, you got some that are more interesting than others, some are more profound than others, is understandable that having this many stories back to back would lead to readers comparing them with each other
So this is the introduction to a world of super powered people and the unlucky deformed people, known as Aces and Jokers respectively. I’m happy to be part of the readers of this franchise, and excited to see what the 25 other releases (as of 07/2018) can show me, to find out how many of my favorite characters of this book will show up in the next installments.
Most of the book tells the origin story of and Ace or Joker (mostly Aces), and so if you like origin stories ¯\(◉‿◉)/¯ you're going to love this books, these stories can be appreciated individually, but there is always excitement whenever a character appears in the story of a different character.
Each story takes place in a decade of the 20th century going from 1946 (The Wild Card virus is release) until the 80's (when this book was published for the first time).
It isn't a conventional superhero book C= C= C= C= C= C= ┌(;･_･)┘ ））, there isn't much saving the world, is more of a semi realistic or adult oriented version of a world with superpowers.
So this is the introduction to a world of super powered people and the unlucky deformed people, known as Aces and Jokers respectively. I’m happy to be part of the readers of this franchise, and excited to see what the 25 other releases (as of 07/2018) can show me, to find out how many of my favorite characters of this book will show up in the next installments.
Most of the book tells the origin story of and Ace or Joker (mostly Aces), and so if you like origin stories ¯\(◉‿◉)/¯ you're going to love this books, these stories can be appreciated individually, but there is always excitement whenever a character appears in the story of a different character.
Each story takes place in a decade of the 20th century going from 1946 (The Wild Card virus is release) until the 80's (when this book was published for the first time).
It isn't a conventional superhero book C= C= C= C= C= C= ┌(;･_･)┘ ））, there isn't much saving the world, is more of a semi realistic or adult oriented version of a world with superpowers.
hneite's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tarugani's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the first several and last few stories, but there was some truly awful nonsense in the middle.
I read a couple of the later Wild Card books a while back and remember liking them more.
I read a couple of the later Wild Card books a while back and remember liking them more.
mx_parall_el's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating look into society following the world wars and into 1970s culture, with a twist of an alien virus outbreak. In my opinion a bit too visceral with graphic sexual exploitation scenes along with disturbing descriptions of the sensations of what the mutations some effected by the virus experience. It's well written but just a bit rough to read given the rather dark angle of humanity's flaws the authors (plural) highlight.