Novel: Geektastic, edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castelluci
This is actually an anthology of short stories and comics. I picked this up because one of the short stories was written by John Green, and then I noticed that other authors I really like--M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Garth Nix, and Scott Westerfeld--also contributed. The rest of the stories are written by the editors of Geektastic as well as: Cassandra Clare, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Tracy Lynn, Wendy Mass, Cythia & Greg Leitich Smith, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr. The comics are drawn by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Hope Larson.
It's Like: This doesn't really work for an anthology... But like everything you could possibly consider geeky under one roof.
Summary: This also doesn't work for an anthology... My blog post structure is falling apart :(
Notes:
- I thought it might be a good idea to write a few sentences on each short story because it would be hard to review Geektastic as a whole.
- "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way" (Holly Black & Cecil Castelluci): I found this short story really amusing and a good way to start off the anthology; plus, it was the story that started the creation of Geektastic, so.... I liked the changing perspectives because both main characters were so different. I suppose third person could have worked as well, but I don't think it would have conveyed the emotion and thoughts behind their actions as well as changing perspectives did. Also, I now have a burning desire to go to Comic-Con.
- "One of Us" (Tracy Lynn): This one was one of my favorites, and a good story to start with if you are interested in becoming a nerd/geek. The plot might have been a little predictable, but it was still cute and fun.
- "Definitional Chaos" (Scott Westerfeld): I usually like Scott Westerfeld's writing, but I found this story confusing and without direction. I could see what Westerfeld was trying to do, set up a story that explained all sections of the alignment matrix, but he didn't execute it very well. It ended up being a lot of discussion without much explanation.
- "I Never" (Cassandra Clare): I've been told I NEED to read Cassandra Clare's books, and I guess it's a good start that I liked this story. I'm not sure that an online multiplayer game like the Game exists, but it sounds fascinating! I found it hard to like Jane until the end of the story, but I like how Clare chose to write in the perspective of a non-geek discovering geek culture. Also, it mirrored Cyrano de Bergerac quite well.
- "The King of Pelinesse" (M.T. Anderson): I wasn't really sure how to feel about this story. I found that I liked the writing, though sometimes it seemed inconsistent. It was interesting but really odd.
- "The Wrath of Dawn" (Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith): This story was cute and had a predictable ending, but I enjoyed it, probably for those reasons. I also need to watch Buffy apparently.
- "Quiz Bowl Antichrist" (David Levithan): I have read Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so I know Levithan's writing. It was smart and witty and another story written from an outsider's perspective. My favorite character was probably Wes because he's quiet but observant and therefore insightful. I was also impressed by the vast knowledge Quiz Bowlers must have in order to succeed.
- "The Quiet Knight" (Garth Nix): I've only read Nix's Abhorsen Trilogy (which I love), so it was somewhat odd to read a story of his that did not take place in a fantasy world. It was still brilliant, of course, and I would love to read a full-length novel with Tony as the main character. You've got to love a gentle giant :)
- "Everyone but You" (Lisa Yee): This story reminded me that there are more definitions of being a geek than just the classic ones (Trekkers, Comic books lovers, etc.) It was odd to read a YA story with such a peppy main character, because the majority of YA novel main characters that are nerdy are also cynical and quiet. I found the time jump near the end somewhat off putting, but otherwise I liked the story.
- "Secret Identity" (Kelly Link): My opinion towards this story is similar to my opinion of M.T. Anderson's: it was odd but interesting. The idea of superheros being real in the story's universe was cool, but ultimately you figure out the symbolism behind it. Ultimately, I think I would have appreciated a story just about superheros more than a lost 15-year-old, though.
- "Freak the Geek" (John Green!!): John Green has a different writing style that you have to get used to, but I enjoy it and I loved this story. It was short but it did a very good job encompassing what it means to be a geek/nerd.
- "The Truth About Dyno Girl" (Barry Lyga): I really like characters that have something they are insanely passionate about and know from a young age they want to pursue. I didn't really like the end though; I'd like to think that nerds/geeks are above revenge, even revenge for the greater good.
- "This is My Audition Monologue" (Sara Zarr): Theater geek alert! I found this story interesting, possibly because it sounded like what a teenage girl in Rachel's position would say. There are tangents and some exaggeration, really capturing the teenage voice. It also made me really appreciate my high school drama director. :)
- "The Stars at the Finish Line" (Wendy Mass): This one was my favorite because it was so dang cute and it involved astronomy. That is all.
- "It's Just a Jump to the Left" (Libba Bray): A story that goes into the apparent awesomeness that is Rocky Horror Picture Show, making me once again have the need to see it. I didn't particularly like the main character, Leta, and the plot was somewhat confusing because it consisted of so many separate, spaced out events, but I think that was the point.
On a scale...: from 1 to 10, even though I wouldn't give top marks to every individual story, Geektastic is a 10 overall.
Recommendation: If you are a geek/nerd, read it. Otherwise, it probably won't interest you.
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