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Downward to the Earth #1-2
Robert Silverberg. W dół, do Ziemi - Integral
Były porucznik Eddie Gundersen wraca na planetę Belzagor, gdzie zostawił młodzieńcze złudzenia, miłość swojego życia i wstydliwą kolonialną przeszłość. Dowiaduje się, że ten bujny, zielony raj został oddany dwóm inteligentnym gatunkom: nildorom i sulidorom. Zmierzając z ekspedycją ku granicom znanych krain, Gundersen musi stawić czoła swoim demonom i wyrównać rachunki z planetą, która nadal kryje wiele tajemnic. Oparta na motywach bestsellerowej opowieści Roberta Silverberga o skutkach kolonializmu i poszukiwaniu transcendencji adaptacja Philippe’a Thibaulta („Miss", „Balkans Arena") i nagradzanej graficzki Laury Zuccheri („The Swords of Glass") rzuca nowe światło na klasyczną, ale w pełni aktualną powieść science fiction.
108 pages, Hardcover
Published May 25, 2020
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 3, 2024
I know humans they are foolish and greedy.
You are not a friend of the Nildoror.
First of all thanks so much for Philippe, Laura, Robert Silverberg, Humanoids! for this amazing Graphic novel ARC!
This will come out 7th of May an amazing Sci-Fi journey, This is an adaptation of the novel downward to the Earth by Silverberg, so many classical fans will probably be familiar with it, and it's all brought to life with amazing art in this graphic novel.
We're Lucky to see them mate like this.
Fucking hell, i know this was sudden after the opening, but come on each 10 pages someone was fucking someone, or someone was getting naked, even the alien elephants were fucking in really interesting positions, no wonder George R R Martin loves Silverberg so much, they make full use of dramatizing sex scenes in their novels lol
I actually spent only 3 or 4 days reading this, the rest of the time i was sick, my family is convinced we all had the new Corona morphing into a new cold virus, so don't think this is boring or anything!
And this is the tough part, this was awesome, and i can't say why it was awesome, but the story was actually super deep, and it was super interesting, with many mysteries and many twists, and so much drama, and eye opening science fiction on the possibilities humans might come face to face with one day in the vast universe, Just don't be fucking racist and colonize other alien nations you assholes!
January 28, 2023
Haven't read Silverberg's novel that this was based (or rather inspired by, as it seems), but I can say I enjoyed this graphic novel more that both "Avatar" movies together. One might say that Cameron took some of the concepts from here and used them in his movies. Beautiful art, plot is somewhat lacking and characters are not developed. Considering this is a little above 100 pages, those can be forgiven as story is intriguing.
I wonder what content is edited from the original that was released in 2017. Maybe that would explain occasional sloppy storytelling. I wish James Cameron used this novel for adaptation instead borrowing from many authors and making "Avatar".
I wonder what content is edited from the original that was released in 2017. Maybe that would explain occasional sloppy storytelling. I wish James Cameron used this novel for adaptation instead borrowing from many authors and making "Avatar".
February 8, 2020
There were really interesting concepts with great potential. What ruined this for me were the characters.
October 24, 2021
A graphic re-telling of Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg, which is itself partly based on Heart of Darkness. I've not read the original, but based on this, I think it was probably a masterpiece of new-age SF. I might well have won the Hugo if Silverberg hadn't withdrawn it from competition.
The art is stunning and detailed, with interesting almost-Lovecraftian creatures, plants, and architecture. I'm sure much was left out in order to get it down to this size (about 100 pages), but it tells the story effectively. Reading reviews of the original, I now know that the skin-tight costume of one of the women was actually a sort of giant amoeba. Not sure why they didn't mention that factoid.
The art is stunning and detailed, with interesting almost-Lovecraftian creatures, plants, and architecture. I'm sure much was left out in order to get it down to this size (about 100 pages), but it tells the story effectively. Reading reviews of the original, I now know that the skin-tight costume of one of the women was actually a sort of giant amoeba. Not sure why they didn't mention that factoid.
June 26, 2024
Taka wspaniała książka a taki beznadziejny komiks...
May 19, 2018
I certainly enjoyed this adaptation of the classic Silverberg novel. The decision to include extra characters on Gunderson’s journey fundamentally changes the nature of the story though, and the dialogue between them can be a little melodramatic. Worth reading, and the Illustrations are nice, but it’s mkssing the gentle yet visionary intensity of the original - as well as the literary sensibility.
September 10, 2018
An excellent adaptation of Silverberg’s classic novel. Think I’ll reread the novel now.
November 22, 2024
Una adaptación de la novela de Robert Silverberg. Nada que ver con la historia de la novela. Un pastiche infecto que no sé si Robert vería con buenos ojos. El dibujo está bien y por ello le pongo dos estrellas
May 15, 2021
While the concept in itself is good, I feel that the lack of everything else raging from character development to proper world building makes the reader feel completely uninvested.
Maybe the comic would appeal more to those who have read the book before, but for the rest it is a rushed story with mediocre, archetypal characters.
Maybe the comic would appeal more to those who have read the book before, but for the rest it is a rushed story with mediocre, archetypal characters.
July 2, 2024
30 June 2024
Unlike many reviewers I had not read the original novel which seems to have served me well because it does seem much was lost in the translation and some of what survived (e.g. the role of women) would have served modern readers better had it been reimagined which is the way now. That aside I'm of an age where the casual sexism of the past doesn't annoy me nearly as much as it probably should.
I've only read three books by Silverberg before and loved them all for different reasons so I did go into this with higher hopes than any ol' graphic novel. And generally speaking I didn't feel disappointed with the results. The mystery was worth waiting for but, obviously, I can't reveal what that was here. The thing I thought the art added to immensely was the world building. The main obstcacle books like this face is where to draw the line between over-describing and allowing readers to use their own imaginations, in fact I gave up on a Bester a couple of weeks back for that very reason; too much hard work needed.
The second part of the book is a sequel to the original novel and, again, there's a mystery kept at arm's length until close to the end. It is, in fairness, very similar in structure to the first book but different enough too. A hard act to follow but a decent attempt and I was pleased that not every loose end was tied up.
Took me three days to read compared to three weeks to finish the masterful (IMHO) Dying Inside. A nice break. This was my first non-superhero graphic novel and I may very well dip my toe in again sooner rather than later.
Unlike many reviewers I had not read the original novel which seems to have served me well because it does seem much was lost in the translation and some of what survived (e.g. the role of women) would have served modern readers better had it been reimagined which is the way now. That aside I'm of an age where the casual sexism of the past doesn't annoy me nearly as much as it probably should.
I've only read three books by Silverberg before and loved them all for different reasons so I did go into this with higher hopes than any ol' graphic novel. And generally speaking I didn't feel disappointed with the results. The mystery was worth waiting for but, obviously, I can't reveal what that was here. The thing I thought the art added to immensely was the world building. The main obstcacle books like this face is where to draw the line between over-describing and allowing readers to use their own imaginations, in fact I gave up on a Bester a couple of weeks back for that very reason; too much hard work needed.
The second part of the book is a sequel to the original novel and, again, there's a mystery kept at arm's length until close to the end. It is, in fairness, very similar in structure to the first book but different enough too. A hard act to follow but a decent attempt and I was pleased that not every loose end was tied up.
Took me three days to read compared to three weeks to finish the masterful (IMHO) Dying Inside. A nice break. This was my first non-superhero graphic novel and I may very well dip my toe in again sooner rather than later.
July 12, 2024
3/5
He d'aclarir que, abans d'agafar el còmic a la biblioteca, no havia llegit la novel·la homònima de Robert Silverberg. De fet, vaig llançar-me a llegir el còmic precisament per tenir una primera aproximació a la història i saber si en un futur m'agradaria llegir-la. La resposta a la pregunta és un SÍ rotund.
El còmic en si m'ha entretingut, però no m'ha entusiasmat. No soc molt fan del seu dibuix, tot i que haig de dir que determinades vinyetes del paisatge i la fauna de Belzagor sí que m'han agradat molt. El còmic s'entossudeix a mostrar les dones com a mers objectes —no he llegit aquest títol, no puc opinar, però conec l'obra de Silverberg i sé que els personatges femenins no són el seu punt fort— i un bon grapat de pàgines deriven en una trama eròtic-festiva que no m'ha interessat gens.
La part més interessant de la trama és tot el que afecta l'ecosistema de Belzagor, la relació entre les diferents espècies del planeta i els seus ritus i tradicions. Els personatges humans són simples espectadors i no resulten tan interessants, tret potser d'en Kurtz, que és clarament una referència a l'icònic personatge d'El cor de les tenebres de Joseph Conrad. Aquesta part de l'ecologia de Belzagor és la que m'anima a llegir la novel·la en un futur, tot i la sensació una mica freda que m'ha deixat l'adaptació gràfica.
He d'aclarir que, abans d'agafar el còmic a la biblioteca, no havia llegit la novel·la homònima de Robert Silverberg. De fet, vaig llançar-me a llegir el còmic precisament per tenir una primera aproximació a la història i saber si en un futur m'agradaria llegir-la. La resposta a la pregunta és un SÍ rotund.
El còmic en si m'ha entretingut, però no m'ha entusiasmat. No soc molt fan del seu dibuix, tot i que haig de dir que determinades vinyetes del paisatge i la fauna de Belzagor sí que m'han agradat molt. El còmic s'entossudeix a mostrar les dones com a mers objectes —no he llegit aquest títol, no puc opinar, però conec l'obra de Silverberg i sé que els personatges femenins no són el seu punt fort— i un bon grapat de pàgines deriven en una trama eròtic-festiva que no m'ha interessat gens.
La part més interessant de la trama és tot el que afecta l'ecosistema de Belzagor, la relació entre les diferents espècies del planeta i els seus ritus i tradicions. Els personatges humans són simples espectadors i no resulten tan interessants, tret potser d'en Kurtz, que és clarament una referència a l'icònic personatge d'El cor de les tenebres de Joseph Conrad. Aquesta part de l'ecologia de Belzagor és la que m'anima a llegir la novel·la en un futur, tot i la sensació una mica freda que m'ha deixat l'adaptació gràfica.
April 11, 2020
Love it when I stumble upon a book that's not widely read. And even so, when it turns out be be a great read. I wish all forms of the word 'read' had different spelling...aah!!
So this is a graphic novel inspired by Robert silverberg's novel "downward to the earth". It revolves around the protagonist lieutenant Gundersen who is a desh recruit sent to an exoplanet that has been colonized by humans. This planet, that is inhabited by variety of species including two sentient ones, serves as a singular source of a fluid that can speed up healing process in humans. With humans mining something that promises to be like an elixir of life, there's only so much that can go wrong.
This story revolves around beautiful unseen world and the wonders it offers. As the name indicates, this is a story about colonization but also something that heavily revolves around addiction, communication, and even rebirth.
There's a slight sleaze factor evident here, but it never seems to sway the story too much. The art is beautiful and some characters and their interactions written with great finesse. But with the story being wrapped up in a odd 100 or s pages, it leaves so many questions unanswered.
Hope someone turns this into a bigger universe some day!!
So this is a graphic novel inspired by Robert silverberg's novel "downward to the earth". It revolves around the protagonist lieutenant Gundersen who is a desh recruit sent to an exoplanet that has been colonized by humans. This planet, that is inhabited by variety of species including two sentient ones, serves as a singular source of a fluid that can speed up healing process in humans. With humans mining something that promises to be like an elixir of life, there's only so much that can go wrong.
This story revolves around beautiful unseen world and the wonders it offers. As the name indicates, this is a story about colonization but also something that heavily revolves around addiction, communication, and even rebirth.
There's a slight sleaze factor evident here, but it never seems to sway the story too much. The art is beautiful and some characters and their interactions written with great finesse. But with the story being wrapped up in a odd 100 or s pages, it leaves so many questions unanswered.
Hope someone turns this into a bigger universe some day!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2020
Laura Zuccheri's art is phenomenal. Very thoughtful, fantastical, detailed, expressive, discernible, and beautifully colored. She is one of the best. 5 stars for her work.
The story is interesting; a fun sci-fi take on Heart of Darkness; good pacing; themes of rebirth, transcendence, addiction, prejudice, oppression and colonialism.
No outstanding timeless Kurtz quotes but he and other characters reflect an endless cycle of human depravity, lack of self-control, and darkness... of... heart.
The story is interesting; a fun sci-fi take on Heart of Darkness; good pacing; themes of rebirth, transcendence, addiction, prejudice, oppression and colonialism.
No outstanding timeless Kurtz quotes but he and other characters reflect an endless cycle of human depravity, lack of self-control, and darkness... of... heart.
May 26, 2023
The art didn`t impress me much. Yes, there are some nice things depicted, but overall it didn`t landed so well for me.
Then there is the story. That isn`t anything big or mind blowing, mediocre at best, the characters also weren`t something out of a fairy tale. All felt plain and without any of the sparks that could improve this effort..
Then there is the story. That isn`t anything big or mind blowing, mediocre at best, the characters also weren`t something out of a fairy tale. All felt plain and without any of the sparks that could improve this effort..
December 24, 2024
W dół, do ziemi (edición polaca) es un cómic que combina ciencia ficción y filosofía en un viaje introspectivo y visualmente impactante. Inspirado en la novela homónima de Robert Silverberg, explora temas como la identidad, la redención y la conexión entre humanos y otras formas de vida.
El arte es envolvente, con ilustraciones detalladas que capturan la atmósfera exótica y misteriosa del planeta alienígena donde se desarrolla la historia. La narrativa mantiene un buen equilibrio entre la acción y las reflexiones más profundas, aunque en algunos momentos puede sentirse un poco densa.
Le doy 4 estrellas porque es una obra ambiciosa y visualmente impresionante que invita a la reflexión, aunque su ritmo puede resultar desafiante para algunos lectores. Una lectura recomendable para quienes disfrutan de la ciencia ficción con un trasfondo filosófico.
El arte es envolvente, con ilustraciones detalladas que capturan la atmósfera exótica y misteriosa del planeta alienígena donde se desarrolla la historia. La narrativa mantiene un buen equilibrio entre la acción y las reflexiones más profundas, aunque en algunos momentos puede sentirse un poco densa.
Le doy 4 estrellas porque es una obra ambiciosa y visualmente impresionante que invita a la reflexión, aunque su ritmo puede resultar desafiante para algunos lectores. Una lectura recomendable para quienes disfrutan de la ciencia ficción con un trasfondo filosófico.
August 13, 2025
Trochę kiepsko ukazana przemiana bohatera (no, mało na to stron było), który zauważa, że nie zawsze z technologii postępem idzie postęp duchowy. Za to obraz pozwala na spojrzenie jak to wygląda - a wygląda zjawiskowo. No i jest nagość i tej nagości nikt się nie boi pokazać (ile to komiksów nie ma problemów z cyckami, natomiast kiedy przychodzi do pokazania obwisłych jagód... no.)
June 25, 2022
Kunde inte sluta läsa. Vackert tecknat, spännande planet en får besöka, intressant tanke kring reinkarnation och väldigt fint berättat.
December 9, 2021
Enjoyable sci-fi illustrated by one of the great painter-cartoonists of the medium. The more outre plot points make me curious about how Silverburg pulled it off in the original novel; I'll likely end up reading it one day (abysmally shallow writing of the female characters aside).
I'm also very interested in just what the "edited for content" re-release, re-titled Return To Belzagor, had removed. Irrespective of how problematic, backward, or outright wrong given idea(s) may be, expurgation of material from a work of art is censorship, full stop.
I'm also very interested in just what the "edited for content" re-release, re-titled Return To Belzagor, had removed. Irrespective of how problematic, backward, or outright wrong given idea(s) may be, expurgation of material from a work of art is censorship, full stop.
January 15, 2020
Nel 2017 (ripubblicato nella nuova attuale edizione il successivo anno) in "Robert Silverberg's Colonies" (sottotitolo "Return to Belzagor") Philippe Thirault (ai testi) e Laura Zuccheri (ai disegni) danno forma grafica al romanzo "Downward to the Earth" di Robert Silverberg (1970).
In questo caso siamo già oltre gli anni d'oro della sf, in piena new wave: Silverberg (che ha praticamente attraversato l'intera storia della fantascienza) ci propone un planetary romance che omaggia apertamente Joseph Conrad (che uno dei protagonisti sia tal Crazy Kurtz e si comporti da Kurtz lo rende evidente anche ai lettori meno attenti come me: "Ah, ma guarda un po' se questo non è preso pari pari da Cuore di tenebra!").
Le istanze coloniali, nel corso della vicenda, sono state superate: Belzagor è un pianeta reso libero, restituito agli autoctoni, i quali, però, custodiscono un segreto relativo a un fluido che ha proprietà curative e forse anche di più. Si tratta del "prodotto" per il quale era stata sfruttata la colonia e che ora è al centro di un rito segreto, la cerimonia della Rinascita, gelosamente custodito dalle due razze che dominano il pianeta.
Una spedizione scientifica, il ritorno alla ex-colonia di un ex-militare, la misteriosa ricerca di Crazy Kurts si fondono a costruire un planetary romance in cui i vari protagonisti vanno ad interagire con i misteriosi abitanti del pianeta.
La storia è molto ricca di idee, come spesso capita per la fantascienza della new wave: troviamo scienza e filosofia, ecologia e passioni umane a contorno dei percorsi di conoscenza e "crescita" (anche questa si può considerare una storia di formazione) dei protagonisti.
La misura stilistica è decisamente legata al tratto europeo e ben si adatta al racconto.
In questo caso siamo già oltre gli anni d'oro della sf, in piena new wave: Silverberg (che ha praticamente attraversato l'intera storia della fantascienza) ci propone un planetary romance che omaggia apertamente Joseph Conrad (che uno dei protagonisti sia tal Crazy Kurtz e si comporti da Kurtz lo rende evidente anche ai lettori meno attenti come me: "Ah, ma guarda un po' se questo non è preso pari pari da Cuore di tenebra!").
Le istanze coloniali, nel corso della vicenda, sono state superate: Belzagor è un pianeta reso libero, restituito agli autoctoni, i quali, però, custodiscono un segreto relativo a un fluido che ha proprietà curative e forse anche di più. Si tratta del "prodotto" per il quale era stata sfruttata la colonia e che ora è al centro di un rito segreto, la cerimonia della Rinascita, gelosamente custodito dalle due razze che dominano il pianeta.
Una spedizione scientifica, il ritorno alla ex-colonia di un ex-militare, la misteriosa ricerca di Crazy Kurts si fondono a costruire un planetary romance in cui i vari protagonisti vanno ad interagire con i misteriosi abitanti del pianeta.
La storia è molto ricca di idee, come spesso capita per la fantascienza della new wave: troviamo scienza e filosofia, ecologia e passioni umane a contorno dei percorsi di conoscenza e "crescita" (anche questa si può considerare una storia di formazione) dei protagonisti.
La misura stilistica è decisamente legata al tratto europeo e ben si adatta al racconto.
October 24, 2020
Danas vam predstavljam fenomenalno izdanje "Povratak na Belzagor". U pitanju je zajedničko izdanje @lokomotivastripovi i @makondo .
U pitanju je novitet naučne fantastike francusko-belgijske škole stripa. Prvi put nabavljam strip, a ovo izdanje je definitivno bilo pun pogodak. Izrada je odlična, kao i ilustracije. Strip je većeg formata, ali je lagana, uprkos veličini i tvrdom povezu. Papir vrlo kvalitetan, za svaku pohvalu. Povratak na Belzagor je zapravo adaptacija remek-dela naučne fantastike, romana Dole ka Zemlji višestruko nagradjivanog kultnog pisca Roberta Silverberga. Ovo izdanje sadrži i pogovor Džošue Skaja, kao i interesantnu galeriju skica.
Od mene sve preporuke! Iskoristite sajamske popuste i nabavite svoj primerak. 😉📚
U pitanju je novitet naučne fantastike francusko-belgijske škole stripa. Prvi put nabavljam strip, a ovo izdanje je definitivno bilo pun pogodak. Izrada je odlična, kao i ilustracije. Strip je većeg formata, ali je lagana, uprkos veličini i tvrdom povezu. Papir vrlo kvalitetan, za svaku pohvalu. Povratak na Belzagor je zapravo adaptacija remek-dela naučne fantastike, romana Dole ka Zemlji višestruko nagradjivanog kultnog pisca Roberta Silverberga. Ovo izdanje sadrži i pogovor Džošue Skaja, kao i interesantnu galeriju skica.
Od mene sve preporuke! Iskoristite sajamske popuste i nabavite svoj primerak. 😉📚
May 7, 2024
What fun to dip into a graphic novel between other reads, bringing back a youth of comic books that got me into science fiction originally. Colonies, Return to Belzagor by Robert Silverberg is two parts, firstly an arrival on a new planet and then a return to the planet years later. I enjoyed the illustrations for both, with imaginative drawings of aliens and 1960-1970’s style drawings of humans. The first story of the arrival is an adventure with a definite villain and sets up an even better exploration of the planet with the second installment. If the first part was on its own, I would not have been excited about it at all. It seemed to be giving a lot of information that really went nowhere. However I pushed forward and really enjoyed the big ending. Although the stories skipped a lot between panes and the reader has to assume or imagine what happened in some time jumps, the ending was exciting and fulfilling. I appreciate Netgalley giving me the chance to delve into the cover that I found so intriguing! Note: this is definitely an ADULT graphic novel, in language and depiction.
October 26, 2019
Robert Silverberg's science fiction world building is well deserving of this adaptation. Visually pleasing, this oversized deluxe version is well worth the price tag.
BUYER BEWARE Humanoids released the same comic as a standard HC under a different title "Return to Belazar"
Downward to Earth takes the common story plot/theme of a man looking for redemption and repurpose by means of a journey along a long road. Although a common plot scheme, the science fiction world of Belzagor is a beautiful and unique one, giving the reader one interesting cell after another.
BUYER BEWARE Humanoids released the same comic as a standard HC under a different title "Return to Belazar"
Downward to Earth takes the common story plot/theme of a man looking for redemption and repurpose by means of a journey along a long road. Although a common plot scheme, the science fiction world of Belzagor is a beautiful and unique one, giving the reader one interesting cell after another.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews