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wyrmbergmalcolm 's review for:
Asterix the Gaul
by René Goscinny
This volume, being the first of the series, has always been the lesser book in my memory. The artwork of the characters is quite off from what is later established and the opening is very basic and introductionary in nature. I also first read it in a black and white book form edition with the pages falling out of it.
In rereading this for the first time in a long time, I can say that my memory doesn't know what it was talking about. Yes, the art and introduction is like that but the rest of the story is first-rate, very funny (strawberries scene in particular) and very endearing. It was also surprising how many of the later established Gauls feature here. There's the five that feature in the introduction page of every book as well as Fulliautomatix (doesn't look anything like him, but his physical displeasure of Cacofonix's singing is).
These books are full of bright, fun and delightful characters who go on various adventures and get to beat up a bunch of Roman soldiers. Accompanying the story and the characters is a plethora of clever puns and word play that the translators should get a medal for. There are always a few gags or phrases in Latin that may mean nothing to the non-Latin speakers (such as myself) but Google can lend a helping hand there.
In rereading this for the first time in a long time, I can say that my memory doesn't know what it was talking about. Yes, the art and introduction is like that but the rest of the story is first-rate, very funny (strawberries scene in particular) and very endearing. It was also surprising how many of the later established Gauls feature here. There's the five that feature in the introduction page of every book as well as Fulliautomatix (doesn't look anything like him, but his physical displeasure of Cacofonix's singing is).
These books are full of bright, fun and delightful characters who go on various adventures and get to beat up a bunch of Roman soldiers. Accompanying the story and the characters is a plethora of clever puns and word play that the translators should get a medal for. There are always a few gags or phrases in Latin that may mean nothing to the non-Latin speakers (such as myself) but Google can lend a helping hand there.