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The rating is mostly thanks to the art, which is simple yet also perfect for the fantasy world. Unfortunately, though, I didn't find much else of substance with regards to the plot. I read somewhere that the author didn't know where the story was going during writing and just let the plot wander, and the finished work definitely suffers for it. The titular protagonist essentially wanders around, being told where to go by others who know more than we do (but who never tell us what's going on), and many of the encounters serve no purpose to the story at all. The characters don't really change in any meaningful way (with the exception of maybe one), and while at first I thought the climactic moment showed that our hero had fallen into his role as prophesized savior of the world, this turned to be a one-off moment which didn't really have an impact. I'm referring to the final confrontation between Rice Boy and Spatch II, where Rice Boy angrily tells Spatch that neither of them really knows anything at all about the prophecy. It's a cool moment, but it ends too quickly.
The story's ending is quite somber and quiet, and I do like that. I'll probably come back for the art and the world but not really for the story.
The story's ending
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
How delightfully strange.
If you live as long as I have, you will see that there is more to this world than we see at first. For centuries, I thought I was working for that perfect, solid god we are told of as children. But there is some deception there. There is some mystery between all of these perfect, solid things... ...and that is my god. My god is what I don't know. - T.O.E.
I did not love this, but I liked it really quite a lot. And really, the only reason I didn't love it is that it didn't go the distance that it had the strength for. But for a thing that was as much a an unplanned exploration by the author, it went a nice ways. It gave me a lovely heartache when Rice Boy discovered his origin and when T.O.E. (The One Electronic) found his fate. It was a journey worth taking, and if you do not ask it more than it offers, you may find that you love it much more than I did. I will certainly be giving Dahm's later efforts a try.
I did not love this, but I liked it really quite a lot. And really, the only reason I didn't love it is that it didn't go the distance that it had the strength for. But for a thing that was as much a an unplanned exploration by the author, it went a nice ways. It gave me a lovely heartache when Rice Boy discovered his origin and when T.O.E. (The One Electronic) found his fate. It was a journey worth taking, and if you do not ask it more than it offers, you may find that you love it much more than I did. I will certainly be giving Dahm's later efforts a try.
I first read this in 2009 on its website. I was impressed by the scope of the story and the creativity of the world it's set in.
The print version lacks a some of the nuance in the lines and texture of the original comic, and also is printed in a darker, more saturated ink. I wish it had been printed on a matte paper instead of a glossy one. While I almost always prefer reading a book format to an online format, but this is one of the ones that I'd recommend the webseries for because the finesse of the art is more easily seen.
I like that Rice Boy is so simply drawn as to serve as a cipher for anyone reading, but his dialogue is so simplistic as to sometimes be annoying. I know it was a choice to give him very simple spoken language, which makes him appear guileless and pure, but it's so simple as to not reveal anything into his thoughts or motivations.
Anyway, I loved this book a lot when I first read it. I like it a little less now, but would still recommend reading, especially for fans of dark epic fantasy.
The print version lacks a some of the nuance in the lines and texture of the original comic, and also is printed in a darker, more saturated ink. I wish it had been printed on a matte paper instead of a glossy one. While I almost always prefer reading a book format to an online format, but this is one of the ones that I'd recommend the webseries for because the finesse of the art is more easily seen.
I like that Rice Boy is so simply drawn as to serve as a cipher for anyone reading, but his dialogue is so simplistic as to sometimes be annoying. I know it was a choice to give him very simple spoken language, which makes him appear guileless and pure, but it's so simple as to not reveal anything into his thoughts or motivations.
Anyway, I loved this book a lot when I first read it. I like it a little less now, but would still recommend reading, especially for fans of dark epic fantasy.
You all need to read this. It's incredible. I can't spoil anything. Go into it knowing nothing. Just read it.
I'll wait.
I'll wait.
Rice Boy has that indie/hipster feel without the pretentiousness and all the imaginative fantasy you want.
The one qualm I do have is almost every character calls a member of their species brother (I guess it's akin to sista/brotha), so it's confusing to know which characters are really related or just being friendly. I mean who's out here tonguing down dudes they call brother?
Yeah. That's really not important. Anyway, I felt like I was on a journey with Rice Boy. Every discovery he made, I made. All the plot twists kept me on my toes too. I recommend it!
The one qualm I do have is almost every character calls a member of their species brother (I guess it's akin to sista/brotha), so it's confusing to know which characters are really related or just being friendly. I mean who's out here tonguing down dudes they call brother?
Yeah. That's really not important. Anyway, I felt like I was on a journey with Rice Boy. Every discovery he made, I made. All the plot twists kept me on my toes too. I recommend it!
Strange and Wonderful: “Riceboy” is a Delicious Treat to Be Devoured
Riceboy is described as a “naïve, impoverished, little person. No arms or legs. Lives in a stump. Surely not a threat.”
Yet, the hero’s journey makes the call and the adventure of a lifetime waits for no one. In short, Rice Boy lives a simple and idyllic life in the mystical land of Overside until he’s called upon to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
What you need to know is that Riceboy is the tiny and reluctant hero. He is joined by, aided by, tossed by, and hunted by an electric number of creatures on his journey across the vast and fantastic world of Overside. There’s “The One Electronic” who becomes a sort of mentor to him, attempting to explain a great idea in their first meeting. There’s Gerund, a new friend who happens to find and lose him several times before it is over. There are battles to be fought, wizards to impersonate, paths to walk upon, lots of funny bits and many, many tears to shed in his travels to far and scary and amazing places.
The art just POPS on the pages with color! It is never over the top, instead, a welcomed addition to all the new characters you meet with each new set of pages you read. Speaking of characters: everyone and everything from the frog kingdom to machine men to tree guardians to giants and machine critters make our acquaintance. Riceboy who is so unbearably cute with his simple character design has a full cast everything and everyone under the sun to compliment his journey and you will quickly find yourself emotionally invested in their struggles and triumphs the longer and longer you read.
For those who may be intimidated by the size of this offering: with five books in total that make up this tome of 400+ pages, I just have to assure you–please don’t be! Seriously. This is not a book you want to miss based on something as silly as that. The lore of this universe that the narrative is set in does come slowly, bread crumbs here and there yet you’ll still be engaged. In fact, I sat down and read some 180 pages in–forgetting myself and be enthralled by the happenings on.
At 460 pages, this is an epic, a saga to lose yourself in one or a few sittings. Evan Dorham’s tome is worth its weight in gold or orange popping plants. I’ve read that Riceboy has been likened to a few beloved tales including Alice In Wonderland (for its topsy-turvy premise and narrative) Anything Tokien but to name a specific tale Lord Of The Rings (for its journey and all the many faces that help/dismiss a prophecy) and lastly Saga for its strange cast of characters.
I’d describe Riceboy as a cocktail made with three ingredients: part high fantasy, part slice of life and lastly part epic quest. It stands in good company to be likened to those three great bodies of work (with a gentle reminder than Riceboy was created before Saga from Image Comics came into existence and found a way to all our pull lists) yet I want to be clear that Riceboy is its own unique book with a compelling story that deserves its own place on your bookshelves and in your hearts.
Read the rest of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/riceboy-review/
Riceboy is described as a “naïve, impoverished, little person. No arms or legs. Lives in a stump. Surely not a threat.”
Yet, the hero’s journey makes the call and the adventure of a lifetime waits for no one. In short, Rice Boy lives a simple and idyllic life in the mystical land of Overside until he’s called upon to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
What you need to know is that Riceboy is the tiny and reluctant hero. He is joined by, aided by, tossed by, and hunted by an electric number of creatures on his journey across the vast and fantastic world of Overside. There’s “The One Electronic” who becomes a sort of mentor to him, attempting to explain a great idea in their first meeting. There’s Gerund, a new friend who happens to find and lose him several times before it is over. There are battles to be fought, wizards to impersonate, paths to walk upon, lots of funny bits and many, many tears to shed in his travels to far and scary and amazing places.
The art just POPS on the pages with color! It is never over the top, instead, a welcomed addition to all the new characters you meet with each new set of pages you read. Speaking of characters: everyone and everything from the frog kingdom to machine men to tree guardians to giants and machine critters make our acquaintance. Riceboy who is so unbearably cute with his simple character design has a full cast everything and everyone under the sun to compliment his journey and you will quickly find yourself emotionally invested in their struggles and triumphs the longer and longer you read.
For those who may be intimidated by the size of this offering: with five books in total that make up this tome of 400+ pages, I just have to assure you–please don’t be! Seriously. This is not a book you want to miss based on something as silly as that. The lore of this universe that the narrative is set in does come slowly, bread crumbs here and there yet you’ll still be engaged. In fact, I sat down and read some 180 pages in–forgetting myself and be enthralled by the happenings on.
At 460 pages, this is an epic, a saga to lose yourself in one or a few sittings. Evan Dorham’s tome is worth its weight in gold or orange popping plants. I’ve read that Riceboy has been likened to a few beloved tales including Alice In Wonderland (for its topsy-turvy premise and narrative) Anything Tokien but to name a specific tale Lord Of The Rings (for its journey and all the many faces that help/dismiss a prophecy) and lastly Saga for its strange cast of characters.
I’d describe Riceboy as a cocktail made with three ingredients: part high fantasy, part slice of life and lastly part epic quest. It stands in good company to be likened to those three great bodies of work (with a gentle reminder than Riceboy was created before Saga from Image Comics came into existence and found a way to all our pull lists) yet I want to be clear that Riceboy is its own unique book with a compelling story that deserves its own place on your bookshelves and in your hearts.
Read the rest of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/riceboy-review/
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes