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Early Earth
The Encyclopedia of early Earth
Winner of the Best Book Award at the 2014 British Comic Awards
Readers! This book is not a real encyclopedia!
It is an epic work of fiction, detailing the many tales and adventures of one lonely storyteller, on a quest for Enlightenment and True Love. This book contains many stories, big and small, about and pertaining to the following things: Gods, monsters, mad kings, wise old crones, shamans, medicine men, brothers and sisters, strife, mystery, bad science, worse geography, and did we already mention true love?
Critics are saying it is probably the best thing since sliced bread. Maybe even since bread knives.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2013
115 people are currently reading
13216 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,082 reviews
August 1, 2018
This book contains many stories, big and small, about and pertaining to the following things: Gods, monsters, mad kings, wise old crones, shamans, medicine men, brothers and sisters, strife, mystery, bad science, worse geography, and did we already mention true love?
I've had my sight on this graphic novel for nearly a year, so I was sad to see myself barely pushing through it now. The set up for The Encyclopedia of Early Earth sounded right up my alley, but the execution turned out to be less so.
Since this has many adventurous short stories set throughout the book, I was waiting patiently for some much need correlation to occur, but it never did... With Greenberg's The One Hundred Nights of Hero I cherished the fact that each tale was either a prequel or sequel of sorts. But the narrative became tedious real quick with the many unrelated anecdotes thrown your way. You get to meet this new set of characters, but then you never see them again for it to make sense why they showed up in the first place. They had no real purpose other than to fill the pages of this book.
That's not to say that all is bad, I did really enjoy the numerous fourth wall breaks and the skilled storyteller protagonist with his rather-quick-of-wit and savvy tales.
Plus, the art had some heart-stopping moments throughout:
That last line in parentheses had me crack a smile.
All in all: Though my hope that Greenberg had penned another gem was squandered, I'm still grateful that I got to read this graphic novel after months of anticipation.
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February 5, 2014
I get very nervous when the library world is all atwitter over a graphic novel. 9 times out of 10, it's something that has a very prose-y narrative and usually confronts some sort of issue of difference. Someone living life as a deaf, gay, conjoined twin with a very serious synaesthetic disorder. Something like that.
I'm not shitting on those types of writers or their books. Some of those books are great. Some of them are not. But what I notice is that certain review outlets tend to strongly favor something for existing far outside the world of capes and tights. A comic that doesn't feature a costume or a secret identity automatically gets a couple extra points from certain reviewers who consider themselves above that sort of playfulness. I'm guessing these people are very good at using words like inasmuch.
The main problem with those reviewers, they tend to judge things differently than I would. For me, the question is "Is this a good comic?"
I always go back to Alison Bechdel's Fun Home on this one. I just didn't find it stimulating to my imagination or curiosity, and it left me feeling a bit cold. But it was an Important book, so it got a lot of great reviews and whatnot. Maybe I'm in the vast minority here, but I just didn't derive any enjoyment from it.
That's why I was hesitant to start The Encyclopedia of Early Earth. If library review outlets are excited about something, ugh this is sad to say, I almost find myself proportionally less excited.
In this case, THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS WERE RIGHT! They did it! We finally agree! I don't think this will be a lasting peace. I still have nightmares of being tied to a table and having Nancy Pearl cut me open and pull out my innards while I yell "Freedom" or more likely "Excelsior!" But for now, we've found common ground.
This is a really great book. A great read. It reminded me of the kind of stories you used to hear when you were young, the different stories about how the earth came to be, how the seasons changed. Another reason to hate science, by the way. Thunder was a lot more exciting when Thor was involved. And I wouldn't mind my weather app showing a Ymir's beard icon when a cold front was blowing in.
At the same time, it's not boring bullshit either. It doesn't have a lot of, "Many moons ago..." The writing style, the way the characters talk, it's a great balance of modern and timeless. The bird god, he's goddamn hilarious.
On seeing the Tower of Babel: "This is HUBRIS! You know how I feel about hubris."
Also, a hilarious scene where the Bird God's son lets it slip that the Bird God's daughter has been dating a mortal:
"By the way, Kiddo has been shacking up with a human and she's going to make him into a God."
[extremely furious bird god face accented by many, many action lines]
This is one of those great graphic novels that I think anyone can enjoy on a number of different levels. Pick it up. Nancy Pearl be damned!
I'm not shitting on those types of writers or their books. Some of those books are great. Some of them are not. But what I notice is that certain review outlets tend to strongly favor something for existing far outside the world of capes and tights. A comic that doesn't feature a costume or a secret identity automatically gets a couple extra points from certain reviewers who consider themselves above that sort of playfulness. I'm guessing these people are very good at using words like inasmuch.
The main problem with those reviewers, they tend to judge things differently than I would. For me, the question is "Is this a good comic?"
I always go back to Alison Bechdel's Fun Home on this one. I just didn't find it stimulating to my imagination or curiosity, and it left me feeling a bit cold. But it was an Important book, so it got a lot of great reviews and whatnot. Maybe I'm in the vast minority here, but I just didn't derive any enjoyment from it.
That's why I was hesitant to start The Encyclopedia of Early Earth. If library review outlets are excited about something, ugh this is sad to say, I almost find myself proportionally less excited.
In this case, THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS WERE RIGHT! They did it! We finally agree! I don't think this will be a lasting peace. I still have nightmares of being tied to a table and having Nancy Pearl cut me open and pull out my innards while I yell "Freedom" or more likely "Excelsior!" But for now, we've found common ground.
This is a really great book. A great read. It reminded me of the kind of stories you used to hear when you were young, the different stories about how the earth came to be, how the seasons changed. Another reason to hate science, by the way. Thunder was a lot more exciting when Thor was involved. And I wouldn't mind my weather app showing a Ymir's beard icon when a cold front was blowing in.
At the same time, it's not boring bullshit either. It doesn't have a lot of, "Many moons ago..." The writing style, the way the characters talk, it's a great balance of modern and timeless. The bird god, he's goddamn hilarious.
On seeing the Tower of Babel: "This is HUBRIS! You know how I feel about hubris."
Also, a hilarious scene where the Bird God's son lets it slip that the Bird God's daughter has been dating a mortal:
"By the way, Kiddo has been shacking up with a human and she's going to make him into a God."
[extremely furious bird god face accented by many, many action lines]
This is one of those great graphic novels that I think anyone can enjoy on a number of different levels. Pick it up. Nancy Pearl be damned!
January 11, 2015
Well, this was an incredible journey!
The Encyclopedia of Early Earth is a story about stories. It's a story about a Storyteller and his lovely adventures discovering Early Earth. I very much enjoyed these stories within stories, the concepts and the very interesting art work.
A long time ago, two people met and fell in love.
But there was one tiny problem. They could not touch each other at all.
So, the boy who was a very great Storyteller in his land told the girl stories about his life which like I mentioned before led to more and more delightful stories.
He tells her about his land called Nord, a land in the very north of the world. Nord is a cold region but in summer it is a beautiful place. He talks about his three mothers who were sisters and how they found him on the shore and decided to take care of him.
He tells her about how his mothers split him into three different parts of himself for they wanted a kid of their own to take care of and did not want to share it with the others. And how they realized it was a big mistake and joined him back together but there was still one piece of him that was missing. And that was how he had left his home in search of that tiny part of his soul.
He tells her about his adventures in various lands, about the Gods and the giants and how an Old Lady slayed a mighty giant. The stories are all wonderfully delightful and adorable. The art work wasn't the best I've seen but it suits the theme of this book. It's a lot like traditional paintings and I really enjoyed this unique art work.
This graphic novel is perfect to read as a bedtime story. It's colorful and has a lovely concept on the whole. Also, the hardcover edition is a really pretty edition to own if you're a collector.
The Encyclopedia of Early Earth is a story about stories. It's a story about a Storyteller and his lovely adventures discovering Early Earth. I very much enjoyed these stories within stories, the concepts and the very interesting art work.
A long time ago, two people met and fell in love.
But there was one tiny problem. They could not touch each other at all.
So, the boy who was a very great Storyteller in his land told the girl stories about his life which like I mentioned before led to more and more delightful stories.
He tells her about his land called Nord, a land in the very north of the world. Nord is a cold region but in summer it is a beautiful place. He talks about his three mothers who were sisters and how they found him on the shore and decided to take care of him.
He tells her about how his mothers split him into three different parts of himself for they wanted a kid of their own to take care of and did not want to share it with the others. And how they realized it was a big mistake and joined him back together but there was still one piece of him that was missing. And that was how he had left his home in search of that tiny part of his soul.
He tells her about his adventures in various lands, about the Gods and the giants and how an Old Lady slayed a mighty giant. The stories are all wonderfully delightful and adorable. The art work wasn't the best I've seen but it suits the theme of this book. It's a lot like traditional paintings and I really enjoyed this unique art work.
This graphic novel is perfect to read as a bedtime story. It's colorful and has a lovely concept on the whole. Also, the hardcover edition is a really pretty edition to own if you're a collector.
February 14, 2019
I found this really dissapointing, the illustrations are very good, so detailed, a very interesting style, beautiful colours and very skilful but I found the plot rambling and in places boring and a hotchpotch of myths, stories and legends. The title as many people and even the blurb points out is misleading. I really liked the idea of the book and I really liked the handwritten font. In places the book felt like it was purposely trying to be far out and to shock, other places it was quite nice. I'm not sure what age group this is aimed at but it does include hunting, ritual sacrifice, lots of killing, beheading, forced marriage and rape, the rape is alluded to and not shown. This book must have had so much work put into it, I wish the storyline and the age range had been more clearly defined.
March 30, 2016
This graphic novel is one I have owned for years without feeling quite in the mood to read it. The other night I was reading a truly dark and heavy book which really brought my mood down, and I thought it was finally time to give this one a go to bring my mood back up. I was so right, and this book did just that and more making me happy and excited whilst reading and learning about the truly bizarre but wonderful world of Early Earth.
This storyline follows two lovers who meet at the beginning of the story. We see them in their boats as they draw near to one another and instantly fall in love (slight cliché but the whole book is based on folk stories, myths and legends so it's understandable). The problem is that once they are back on their icy land they seem to be unable to touch one another due to a magnetic field disruption. Instead of embracing like most lovers would, the pair of them spend all of their days living as close to one another as they can and telling stories, particularly the man who is actually a professional storyteller.
The main body of this book is divided into 4 sections which each focus on one element of the Storyteller's travels to meet his new wife. Within these sections almost every double page spread is a mini story of its own, maybe focused on people, or Gods, or tribes or landscape.
The artwork within this has a very tribal blocky feel, but it's such a vibrant style that it really draws you in. I loved the freedom Isabel Greenberg allowed within her characters and her narrative, and you can see the imagery reflecting this freedom too.
One of the wonderful things about this story is that it doesn't take itself too seriously either and the whole book is peppered with jokes and quips that really add a fun dynamic. Of course the world of Early Earth and the events which take place are entirely mythical, but some are based on our own cultures and myths and history, and seeing what she chose to keep and what she chose to change was really great.
Overall I massively enjoyed this storyline and I would hugely recommend this to anyone who's feeling a little down and wants something joyful and lovely to read. It's so packed full of stuff that my review can't quite cover it all, but just know I really, really loved it and gave it a 4.5*s overall!
This storyline follows two lovers who meet at the beginning of the story. We see them in their boats as they draw near to one another and instantly fall in love (slight cliché but the whole book is based on folk stories, myths and legends so it's understandable). The problem is that once they are back on their icy land they seem to be unable to touch one another due to a magnetic field disruption. Instead of embracing like most lovers would, the pair of them spend all of their days living as close to one another as they can and telling stories, particularly the man who is actually a professional storyteller.
The main body of this book is divided into 4 sections which each focus on one element of the Storyteller's travels to meet his new wife. Within these sections almost every double page spread is a mini story of its own, maybe focused on people, or Gods, or tribes or landscape.
The artwork within this has a very tribal blocky feel, but it's such a vibrant style that it really draws you in. I loved the freedom Isabel Greenberg allowed within her characters and her narrative, and you can see the imagery reflecting this freedom too.
One of the wonderful things about this story is that it doesn't take itself too seriously either and the whole book is peppered with jokes and quips that really add a fun dynamic. Of course the world of Early Earth and the events which take place are entirely mythical, but some are based on our own cultures and myths and history, and seeing what she chose to keep and what she chose to change was really great.
Overall I massively enjoyed this storyline and I would hugely recommend this to anyone who's feeling a little down and wants something joyful and lovely to read. It's so packed full of stuff that my review can't quite cover it all, but just know I really, really loved it and gave it a 4.5*s overall!
May 17, 2021
Enciclopedia Pământului Dintâi este deopotrivă roman grafic, bildungsroman și basm despre un popor care duce o viață aspră, însă, prin ger și printre lupte, reușește să găsească emoție chiar și într-un fulg de nea. Ba chiar are peste o mie de cuvinte pentru a descrie fiecare varietate de ninsoare. Venerația lor pentru nea merge până la compararea acesteia cu iubirea, ambele fiind atât de așteptate. O carte care surprinde de multe ori, când prin gingășie, când prin brutalitate. Fragmentată și lipsită de cursivitate, dar, privită ca o colecție de povești istorisite de un narator omniprezent, devine o lectură complexă, cu multe substraturi și trimiteri către istorie, religie și mitologie. Recenzia aici: https://bit.ly/33RIKEq.
,,Au ei un proverb complicat, care compară zăpada cu iubirea. Nu-i ușor de tradus și se bazează în principal pe asemănarea derutantă între cuvântul norzilor pentru iubire și cel folosit pentru a descrie prima zăpadă a iernii, un eveniment așteptat cu nerăbdare în calendarul nordic. Cuvântul evocă frumusețe și asprime, momentul în care vezi un fulg perfect atingând pielea și topindu-se într-o clipă. Pudra fină în care ți se afundă pașii și fiorul cumplit de gheață din oase care-ți învinețește buzele și-ți înnegrește degetele. Durerea cruntă și bucuria delirantă.''
,,Au ei un proverb complicat, care compară zăpada cu iubirea. Nu-i ușor de tradus și se bazează în principal pe asemănarea derutantă între cuvântul norzilor pentru iubire și cel folosit pentru a descrie prima zăpadă a iernii, un eveniment așteptat cu nerăbdare în calendarul nordic. Cuvântul evocă frumusețe și asprime, momentul în care vezi un fulg perfect atingând pielea și topindu-se într-o clipă. Pudra fină în care ți se afundă pașii și fiorul cumplit de gheață din oase care-ți învinețește buzele și-ți înnegrește degetele. Durerea cruntă și bucuria delirantă.''
March 30, 2014
The first few pages in, I felt like I was going to looove this. It's just beautifully put together, from the sparing, elegant use of muted color in the woodcut-like artwork to the charming font made from Greenberg's handwriting, and the narrative style is wonderful--equal parts clever and sweet, qualities not always easily paired.
This is a collection of loosely connected stories--all mythical or myth-like in nature, many of them retellings of tales from the Bible and the Odyssey--told by a wandering boy storyteller searching for the missing part of his soul. I'd read it again, and I'd recommend it, but in the end I didn't love it. Its main detraction is just that the retellings are very little more than literal retellings--Babel, the Sirens, Cain and Abel, among others; not straight retellings, but not quite re-imagined, either. They're just kind of . . . retold. Mixed in are some original bits, which are very good, but too few and far between.
I guess I wanted there to be another layer--deeper, and either profound or faux-moralistic, tying the anecdotes together to reveal a greater truth behind them, in keeping with the fable-like tone. In the end, these are just stories. They are really fun, though. You should read them.
This is a collection of loosely connected stories--all mythical or myth-like in nature, many of them retellings of tales from the Bible and the Odyssey--told by a wandering boy storyteller searching for the missing part of his soul. I'd read it again, and I'd recommend it, but in the end I didn't love it. Its main detraction is just that the retellings are very little more than literal retellings--Babel, the Sirens, Cain and Abel, among others; not straight retellings, but not quite re-imagined, either. They're just kind of . . . retold. Mixed in are some original bits, which are very good, but too few and far between.
I guess I wanted there to be another layer--deeper, and either profound or faux-moralistic, tying the anecdotes together to reveal a greater truth behind them, in keeping with the fable-like tone. In the end, these are just stories. They are really fun, though. You should read them.
May 23, 2014
Really loved it. Definitely my favourite read of the year so far and definitely the best graphic novel I've ever read (though I've not read many) - it was just so lovely and entertaining.
The illustrations weren't anything spectacular but they suited the tone of the story well. I adored all the stories within stories, they were all done so brilliantly, I was hooked on the little made up mythologies and various small but epic adventures the MC went on. It was funny, charming, and rather bittersweet. Highly recommended.
The illustrations weren't anything spectacular but they suited the tone of the story well. I adored all the stories within stories, they were all done so brilliantly, I was hooked on the little made up mythologies and various small but epic adventures the MC went on. It was funny, charming, and rather bittersweet. Highly recommended.
February 19, 2014
Completely charming. Wonderful illustrations, especially the use of color. Every detail of the stories within stories enraptured me. The world of kiddos hair! The mapmaker's monkeys! South Pole woman and Nord man! This is my new favorite mythology. I got this out from the library, but have now ordered my own copy to keep.
October 7, 2017
I can’t put my finger on why, but I liked this much better than The One Hundred Nights of Hero. Both have gorgeous artwork and feature stories within stories within stories, but the humor in The Encyclopedia of Early Earth landed with me a lot more (although sometimes there were moments that I could tell would be much funnier for a Brit). I also found some of the turns of phrase in here truly enchanting. These tales are a mix of references to the Bible, to ancient Greek and Scandinavian gods, and to other world mythologies, and the colloquial style is both refreshing and clever, making old stories feel subtly new. Recommended for readers and non-readers alike.
June 3, 2018
Brilliant. Read both books by Isabel Greenberg. you wouldn't regret even a single page.
April 23, 2014
I'm so confused about how everyone is drooling all over this book. I thought it was so boring! Or, no, not exactly boring; I think more that the book doesn't quite know what it wants to be, and so is halfway a lot of things but not really committed to any. That probably doesn't make a lot of sense. #sorrynotsorry
So what I mean is that this book is basically a series of vignette-y myth-y fables. It's not really an encyclopedia—it's much too short for that. And it's not really a series of shorts because there is an ur-story, but it doesn't really get paid that much attention to. And it's kind of mythy because it has these origin stories for different kinds of people, some of which are really cool and inventive, and but then others are just retellings of myths we already have, like Jonah & the whale, or the Sirens from the Odyssey, or such like that. Which, why do that? Why have a story of the daughter of a god who creates a tiny world in her hair, but then follow it with a story we've all heard a billion times? And then about that ur-story, it's like the whole focus in the beginning—this baby who gets split into three babies because he's got three moms who can't share—but then we watch the boy (who later gets all his selves reintegrated) go off and travel the world, and never again is it mentioned that he was once three freaking people! And also the go
I don't know. The art is really cool, and it's got a cute hipstery quirk tone to it, but it just left me really unsatisfied.
So what I mean is that this book is basically a series of vignette-y myth-y fables. It's not really an encyclopedia—it's much too short for that. And it's not really a series of shorts because there is an ur-story, but it doesn't really get paid that much attention to. And it's kind of mythy because it has these origin stories for different kinds of people, some of which are really cool and inventive, and but then others are just retellings of myths we already have, like Jonah & the whale, or the Sirens from the Odyssey, or such like that. Which, why do that? Why have a story of the daughter of a god who creates a tiny world in her hair, but then follow it with a story we've all heard a billion times? And then about that ur-story, it's like the whole focus in the beginning—this baby who gets split into three babies because he's got three moms who can't share—but then we watch the boy (who later gets all his selves reintegrated) go off and travel the world, and never again is it mentioned that he was once three freaking people! And also the go
I don't know. The art is really cool, and it's got a cute hipstery quirk tone to it, but it just left me really unsatisfied.
February 19, 2017
Eisner award nominations came out and this beautiful book and its artist are all over these award noms. But I have had this book around for three weeks and do not finally love it. It does not really move me. Might just be a mood I'm in. And part of it is that I am not a real mythology guy (anymore. I read my Edith Hamilton long ag0).
Early Earth features gorgeous wood-cut like art and terrific colors, all inviting comparisons to early Inuit and Nordic and Biblical art and myths. Many of the myths in this book are retellings of such myths, but not really recasting of them. The basic story here involves three sisters who in a complicated way all become mothers of a son, who becomes The Storyteller and he travels the earth, encountering different early earth lands and myths. The dialogue makes it accessible because it is mostly kinda contemporary, and a little amusing and/or familiar. So if you love mythology and great art you might still like this a whole lot. I just didn't because I never felt quite emotionally involved in the story, I guess.
Early Earth features gorgeous wood-cut like art and terrific colors, all inviting comparisons to early Inuit and Nordic and Biblical art and myths. Many of the myths in this book are retellings of such myths, but not really recasting of them. The basic story here involves three sisters who in a complicated way all become mothers of a son, who becomes The Storyteller and he travels the earth, encountering different early earth lands and myths. The dialogue makes it accessible because it is mostly kinda contemporary, and a little amusing and/or familiar. So if you love mythology and great art you might still like this a whole lot. I just didn't because I never felt quite emotionally involved in the story, I guess.
July 17, 2017
A gorgeously drawn, cannily structured graphic novel about stories, beginnings and true love, with poisoned sausages and appendices.
August 26, 2024
Mėgstu įprastai skaitomus romanus paįvairinti ne tik kitokiu žanru, bet ir kitokia forma, todėl grafiniai romanai dažnai tampa tam tikra atgaiva. Patinka ir skirti vaikams, ir vyresnei auditorijai, nes dėl autoriaus talento dažnai paprasčiausiose istorijose gali atrasti daug gėrio, šviesos ir šilumos. „Ankstyvosios žemės enciklopedija“ irgi gula į tą sėkmingų ir smagių grafinių romanų lentyną – puikus vieno vakaro skaitinys, papuoštas išskirtinėmis iliustracijomis, gal pasaulio ir neapverčiantis, bet įtraukiantis iki pat pabaigos, jautrus, išradingas, o ir vietomis leidžiantis panosėje pakikenti.
Autorė savo kūrinyje įpina daug įvairiausių nuorodų tiek iš Biblijos, tiek iš istorijos, todėl smagu jas visas rankioti ir atpažinti. Ji kuria itin žavius veikėjus, visa ko centre pastatydama du žmones ir jų meilę, todėl pasakojimas tampa tik dar labiau ypatingas. Istorija dinamiška, gana greitai keičiasi jos aplinka, todėl nuobodu tikrai nebūna ir knygą surijau itin greitai – puslapiai patys vertėsi. Tikrai neskirta itin jauniems skaitytojams, mat tiek tam tikri juokeliai, tiek apskritai kertinė idėja gal kiek labiau komplikuota ir pritaikyta jau labiau paaugliams arba vyresniems skaitytojams. Gražiausia kūrinio dalis yra autorės fantazijos laisvė, leidžianti ir tau skaitant pasinerti į kuriamą pasaulį, fantazuoti ir kurti jį dar toliau kartu, taip tarsi grįžtant į vaikystę, kai kurdavai ištisus pasaulius savo galvoje. Tai būtent už tą nostalgiją knygą labiausiai ir vertinu ir džiaugiuosi, kad ji praskaidrino tą vieną jaukų skaitymo vakarą.
Autorė savo kūrinyje įpina daug įvairiausių nuorodų tiek iš Biblijos, tiek iš istorijos, todėl smagu jas visas rankioti ir atpažinti. Ji kuria itin žavius veikėjus, visa ko centre pastatydama du žmones ir jų meilę, todėl pasakojimas tampa tik dar labiau ypatingas. Istorija dinamiška, gana greitai keičiasi jos aplinka, todėl nuobodu tikrai nebūna ir knygą surijau itin greitai – puslapiai patys vertėsi. Tikrai neskirta itin jauniems skaitytojams, mat tiek tam tikri juokeliai, tiek apskritai kertinė idėja gal kiek labiau komplikuota ir pritaikyta jau labiau paaugliams arba vyresniems skaitytojams. Gražiausia kūrinio dalis yra autorės fantazijos laisvė, leidžianti ir tau skaitant pasinerti į kuriamą pasaulį, fantazuoti ir kurti jį dar toliau kartu, taip tarsi grįžtant į vaikystę, kai kurdavai ištisus pasaulius savo galvoje. Tai būtent už tą nostalgiją knygą labiausiai ir vertinu ir džiaugiuosi, kad ji praskaidrino tą vieną jaukų skaitymo vakarą.
December 21, 2016
A delightful story about the power of stories and oral tradition.
Familiar archetypes with new faces, pulling from First Nations, Homerian, and Biblical mythology (and maybe even a little George R.R. Martin?) to create a delightful story-within-a-story of humans and gods.
The eagle-headed BirdMan is Master of the Universe, and his two Raven children - Kid and Kiddo - play cosmic games, creating planets and inhabiting them for fun. Kiddo, the Raven girl goddess creates "the world" and gives life to humans in her very own hair:
Fiercely creative, witty writing, and fun to read/gaze at the art - I can't wait to see what Isabel Greenberg does next.
Familiar archetypes with new faces, pulling from First Nations, Homerian, and Biblical mythology (and maybe even a little George R.R. Martin?) to create a delightful story-within-a-story of humans and gods.
The eagle-headed BirdMan is Master of the Universe, and his two Raven children - Kid and Kiddo - play cosmic games, creating planets and inhabiting them for fun. Kiddo, the Raven girl goddess creates "the world" and gives life to humans in her very own hair:
Fiercely creative, witty writing, and fun to read/gaze at the art - I can't wait to see what Isabel Greenberg does next.
November 5, 2016
“In the beginning there was nothing, only time. But since there was no one to count the time, there might as well have been nothing. And then there was an egg. Don't ask how it got there, OK.”
I should've loved this. The quotes where there, the art was there, the myth was there. Yet, the combination did not work for me at all. Perhaps it was that I've read so much myth that a re-imagined one did not impact me. Or that the opaque colours did not make for my favourite art. But somewhere along those lines, I did not like the graphic novel as much as everyone else.
I do however, recommend it for everyone, because it feels like everything I did not enjoy, is exactly what everyone else loves.
“Follow your gut, Storyteller, it will lead to your happy ending.”
I should've loved this. The quotes where there, the art was there, the myth was there. Yet, the combination did not work for me at all. Perhaps it was that I've read so much myth that a re-imagined one did not impact me. Or that the opaque colours did not make for my favourite art. But somewhere along those lines, I did not like the graphic novel as much as everyone else.
I do however, recommend it for everyone, because it feels like everything I did not enjoy, is exactly what everyone else loves.
“Follow your gut, Storyteller, it will lead to your happy ending.”
April 11, 2020
The best storytellers knows all the old tales
April 13, 2020
Somehow disappointed in how beautiful illustrations and praiseworthy stories have been strung together in a note of carelessness that made me unable to appreciate it in its entirety- worth a read nevertheless.
March 11, 2017
This is a lovely comforting and quick read.
Because it's a big book with pictures it reminded my of reading The Lorax over and over as a child many moons ago!
It's not in any way a similar story but how it made me feel was comparable.
It's very funny and imaginative and absolutely brilliant for a cosy one reading sitting - the title adequately describes the content - highly recommended.
Just like The Lorax it has a lot to say about the nature of people in the guise of a great story/stories.
Because it's a big book with pictures it reminded my of reading The Lorax over and over as a child many moons ago!
It's not in any way a similar story but how it made me feel was comparable.
It's very funny and imaginative and absolutely brilliant for a cosy one reading sitting - the title adequately describes the content - highly recommended.
Just like The Lorax it has a lot to say about the nature of people in the guise of a great story/stories.
August 4, 2016
It was cute, but I kinda missed the point of it all...?
September 16, 2021
“The Encyclopedia of Early Earth” is not the Biblija we deserve but the Biblija we need. Predivna, topla, magična, dirljiva, inovativna i zabavna grafička novela, toliko lepog stila da sam jedva čekao da okrenem svaku novu stranicu kako bih otkrio šta će me novo na njoj dočekati.
June 20, 2019
I was caught under the spell. Started late late late at night and kept thinking I’d put it down to get some sleep, but keep going, drawn by the narrative of stories merging into other stories which all seemed familiar because based on familiar ancient tales,only told with a unique twist. Love the unique artwork too, which looks like rough linocut or woodcut printmaking style of line work which has also been compared to Kate Beaton’s work, best known for “Hark, a Vagrant!”. Not at all an encyclopedia, but a story about a storyteller and storytelling and a retelling of how the world came to be in graphic novel format. Good fun!
March 30, 2018
Apenas amei!
July 5, 2017
I liked this, and the art is beautiful (to no one's surprise), but I feel like I needed a more solid overarching plot to tie all these stories together.
October 25, 2018
So good! I love the art and use of color, the stories, and the mix of “old” tales with modernized dialogue. Hilarious and beautiful.
September 13, 2023
Unfotunately I didn't love this one as much as The One Hundred Nights of Hero. The illustrations are still wonderful, but I didn't really connect with the story.
January 18, 2015
Visually this was exactly what I like in a graphic novel and the whole book was beautifully put together. A perfect gift. The story? It started out fantastically and though it didn't exactly disappoint, my enthusiasm did peter out. I agree with others that it seemed like a mashed together collection of short stories and retellings of myths. That's exactly what it was and consequently it felt a little disjointed, but for the most part it worked as a whole. I'm torn between rating it 3 or 4 stars, but purely for the enjoyment and aesthetics, it gets the higher rating from me.
Side note, if you do buy this as a gift for someone, it's worth bearing in mind their age. I think it works great for adults and children, but there are some depictions and details that wouldn't suit a younger child. Obviously you'd have to decide for yourself on age appropriateness.
Side note, if you do buy this as a gift for someone, it's worth bearing in mind their age. I think it works great for adults and children, but there are some depictions and details that wouldn't suit a younger child. Obviously you'd have to decide for yourself on age appropriateness.
December 29, 2021
This was one of the many books I received for Christmas and after loving Greenberg’s other instalment in the Early Earth series (The One Hundred Nights of Hero), I had to read this.
The Encyclopedia of Early Earth is another great book by Greenberg which regales classic myths and legends in a very unique art style and using simple straightforward language for all to delight in and enjoy. I must admit however, that this collection wasn’t as strong or as emotionally impactful in my opinion. I felt some of the stories could have been explored further; however this is still a richly imagined and richly told collection of folktales which I will read again and again.
I just prefer Hero more. And thinking of Hero…I really need to re-visit the wonderful tales collected there <3
The Encyclopedia of Early Earth is another great book by Greenberg which regales classic myths and legends in a very unique art style and using simple straightforward language for all to delight in and enjoy. I must admit however, that this collection wasn’t as strong or as emotionally impactful in my opinion. I felt some of the stories could have been explored further; however this is still a richly imagined and richly told collection of folktales which I will read again and again.
I just prefer Hero more. And thinking of Hero…I really need to re-visit the wonderful tales collected there <3
April 29, 2019
A unique anthology of possible early earth
I like the drawings and limited colour palette used in the art. The font (rosemary maybe) was a little too difficult to read. I get that old tales look better in strange type but some eyes have problems reading the font. Otherwise the coke tales were fantastic and The Bird Man and his children were great.
I like the drawings and limited colour palette used in the art. The font (rosemary maybe) was a little too difficult to read. I get that old tales look better in strange type but some eyes have problems reading the font. Otherwise the coke tales were fantastic and The Bird Man and his children were great.
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