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In Hero Years... I'm Dead
In Hero Years... I'm Dead is New York Times bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole's first Digital-Original novel.Twenty years ago someone stole him away from Capital City. Having been released from captivity he returns to find everything changed. The great heroes of his day, men who could move planets or tear apart criminal syndicates, have all retired. A new breed of hero has sprung up to deal with a perplexingly new brand of villain. It's a world that makes no sense, and a world which, if he persists in playing the hero, will surely see him dead.In Hero Years... I'm Dead mixes action, dark humor, satire and strong characters into a thrilling page-turner. It's superheroes facing challenges both in costume and out, battling a cunning enemy bent on destroying all they have worked so hard to preserve.The Deluxe Edition of In Hero Years... I'm Dead includes a long essay about the story's genesis and the author's process in writing it. It's full of insights about the labors of producing a novel and is a rare chance to look behind the scenes at how a book comes together.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
November 12, 2013
So, what if superheroes were real and had been for a long time? What if one superhero went away for twenty years, what would he come back to? How would things have changed? How could our hero deal with trying to get back to "normal life"?
I liked this OK but I had a lot of problems with it. The setting is quite good and the characterizations are as well. But what I did not care for, and this happens all the time in this book, is how, for lack of a better term, "wishy-washy" everyone is. The main character begins by wanting to get back in the game, then decides to retire, then decides to get back in, then retire, then semi-retire, then get back in. Just on and on. Which might work except this happens a lot with a lot of characters. The ex-girlfriend dislikes him but takes him in for old times' sake, then likes him but only if he is retired from super heroing, then ends up going on jobs with him. The daughter hates, merely dislikes, likes, hates (but not so much she won't save his life!), likes again.
Just so much of this in such a compressed time. I get this is meant to be a twisty-turny mystery/comment on society, but by having every character conveniently change their outlook on the world to fit whatever commentary the author is trying to make kind of ruins the effect.
I am not well-versed in comic books, so maybe this is a thing from there? Did I read this as being a "straight" sci-fi-ish story and not as a pastiche on comic books? I don't know, it was odd. The writing is good, the characters are believable when taking them moment-by-moment, it is just when you start connecting the dots that it falls apart. So, for me, it falls under "fun but ultimately kind of disappointing".
I liked this OK but I had a lot of problems with it. The setting is quite good and the characterizations are as well. But what I did not care for, and this happens all the time in this book, is how, for lack of a better term, "wishy-washy" everyone is. The main character begins by wanting to get back in the game, then decides to retire, then decides to get back in, then retire, then semi-retire, then get back in. Just on and on. Which might work except this happens a lot with a lot of characters. The ex-girlfriend dislikes him but takes him in for old times' sake, then likes him but only if he is retired from super heroing, then ends up going on jobs with him. The daughter hates, merely dislikes, likes, hates (but not so much she won't save his life!), likes again.
Just so much of this in such a compressed time. I get this is meant to be a twisty-turny mystery/comment on society, but by having every character conveniently change their outlook on the world to fit whatever commentary the author is trying to make kind of ruins the effect.
I am not well-versed in comic books, so maybe this is a thing from there? Did I read this as being a "straight" sci-fi-ish story and not as a pastiche on comic books? I don't know, it was odd. The writing is good, the characters are believable when taking them moment-by-moment, it is just when you start connecting the dots that it falls apart. So, for me, it falls under "fun but ultimately kind of disappointing".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2013
There is a lot to like about this book. Interesting characters. Nods to the comic book heroes. An overall strong plot with twist. A unique take on a superhero world, even if a little unbelievable, it fits the comic book style. Good, clear writing. Minimal typos (I noticed only two).
So why 3 stars? Mainly because the first third to half the book reads like someone who isn't sure where the story is going, and is burning time with lots of internal dialog, often over things you think, "Do I really care about this?" I was getting bored with it after the newness wore off, and nearly put it down.
Thankfully I didn't, because it finally zeroed in on a conflict and started building. The story gets complicated, but it all comes together in an ending with some satisfying twists. If the whole novel had been like that, I'd rate this higher.
If you like deep world building and lots of set up time, you'll like this novel. If you can put up with a slow build through the first half of the novel, you'll probably find the second half worth the wait. What happens in the first half does tie into the plot, it just doesn't look like it will. If you go into it knowing that, you'll be fine. If you're expecting heavy hero/villain conflict from the get go, you'll likely put it down before you get that far.
So why 3 stars? Mainly because the first third to half the book reads like someone who isn't sure where the story is going, and is burning time with lots of internal dialog, often over things you think, "Do I really care about this?" I was getting bored with it after the newness wore off, and nearly put it down.
Thankfully I didn't, because it finally zeroed in on a conflict and started building. The story gets complicated, but it all comes together in an ending with some satisfying twists. If the whole novel had been like that, I'd rate this higher.
If you like deep world building and lots of set up time, you'll like this novel. If you can put up with a slow build through the first half of the novel, you'll probably find the second half worth the wait. What happens in the first half does tie into the plot, it just doesn't look like it will. If you go into it knowing that, you'll be fine. If you're expecting heavy hero/villain conflict from the get go, you'll likely put it down before you get that far.
November 21, 2010
In Hero Years... I'm Dead is one of the better, if not the best superhero novels that I have read. The book like many recent superhero stories deals more with secret identity side of the superhero life and does so quite well, telling the story of a hero trying to reintegrate into the life he unwilling left behind twenty years before. Stackpole's take on this scenario is both interesting and believable and meshes well with the central superhero plot, which is itself interesting and has its share of twists and turns. All in all a very fun, enjoyable read.
May 11, 2016
While it definitely lives up to its tag "A Superhero Noir," and I mostly like the world Stackpole creates in which to insert his pastiche characters, there is a sense that sometimes he doesn't work hard enough to differentiate his heroes from the comic book icons he's parodying/homaging. For example, if you want to put an obvious Catwoman take-off in your book, stretch a little farther than calling her Selene Kole. We'll still get it, I promise.
Stackpole writes well, and his main characters is likable, interesting, conflicted, tough and beaten down in almost all the right measures. There are unusual, and sometimes just plain odd, details regarding what makes his contemporary American society a slightly fractured take on our own. There are nods to it being a somewhat Orwellian socialist state, with statues of Mao and other symbols that suggest there's a strong Soviet influence going on, but this is never really explored. And these details rub up against some others in ways that don't entirely fit, and don't always make for a satisfying notion of satire. For instance, while TV is mandatory, apparently state-run and can't be legally turned off by the viewer, the boxes themselves are now named Murdochs, after one of the preeminent conservative capitalists of our time.
And the whole notion of superheroing (and supervillaining) has been reduced to a kind of entertainment theater where villains post their bank heists and public displays of power via social media and heroes bid on different parts of the job. Meanwhile, the citizenry picks their favorites as if they were sports teams, complete with stats, brackets, etc., and bet on the outcomes. It's a book brimming with terrific premises that don't all pay off in the most satisfying ways.
Also, for a book by a paid professional, there's an almost unforgivable amount of typos in this work. It could definitely have used another editorial pass-through. And at times, the meandering plot and character beats make it seem as if this were written in a web-serialized form, with the writer not necessarily knowing where everything was going to end up from the outset. Not everything gets wrapped up as neatly as it could, and several potentially fascinating characters end up getting short shrift.
I'm curious if Stackpole planned this as the start of a series and just never got around to the next installment, because so much is teased about the main character's backstory, when he's missing for twenty years doing some kind of deep-cover super-espionage, that it seems a shame to leave it unexplored.
I know I haven't gone into much detail about the things I enjoyed about the book, but suffice to say if you're a fan of superfiction, it's a quick read that's far from perfect, but also far from a waste of time.
Stackpole writes well, and his main characters is likable, interesting, conflicted, tough and beaten down in almost all the right measures. There are unusual, and sometimes just plain odd, details regarding what makes his contemporary American society a slightly fractured take on our own. There are nods to it being a somewhat Orwellian socialist state, with statues of Mao and other symbols that suggest there's a strong Soviet influence going on, but this is never really explored. And these details rub up against some others in ways that don't entirely fit, and don't always make for a satisfying notion of satire. For instance, while TV is mandatory, apparently state-run and can't be legally turned off by the viewer, the boxes themselves are now named Murdochs, after one of the preeminent conservative capitalists of our time.
And the whole notion of superheroing (and supervillaining) has been reduced to a kind of entertainment theater where villains post their bank heists and public displays of power via social media and heroes bid on different parts of the job. Meanwhile, the citizenry picks their favorites as if they were sports teams, complete with stats, brackets, etc., and bet on the outcomes. It's a book brimming with terrific premises that don't all pay off in the most satisfying ways.
Also, for a book by a paid professional, there's an almost unforgivable amount of typos in this work. It could definitely have used another editorial pass-through. And at times, the meandering plot and character beats make it seem as if this were written in a web-serialized form, with the writer not necessarily knowing where everything was going to end up from the outset. Not everything gets wrapped up as neatly as it could, and several potentially fascinating characters end up getting short shrift.
I'm curious if Stackpole planned this as the start of a series and just never got around to the next installment, because so much is teased about the main character's backstory, when he's missing for twenty years doing some kind of deep-cover super-espionage, that it seems a shame to leave it unexplored.
I know I haven't gone into much detail about the things I enjoyed about the book, but suffice to say if you're a fan of superfiction, it's a quick read that's far from perfect, but also far from a waste of time.
September 23, 2013
An interesting mix of homage and originality. As seems to be standard for a work focusing on costumed superheroes, we get our normal cast of characters with the serial numbers filled off (big blue boy scout, dark knight, armored genius inventor) but we also get a few that are usually passed over (I'm looking at you, joke of a fish guy). We get a world that's already used to the idea of heroes and villains with extraordinary abilities, but the reaction to that fact has to be the most unique piece of world building I've seen in a while. And in a world of comics come to life, our central character tries his best to live as normal a life as possible.
There are a few problems with it. My biggest issue was that there was so much of a world built here that it can be a little bit confusing. There are times where it felt like the author was trying to cram in every character that has ever been listed on the roster of the Avengers into one issue of the comic. We've a couple of generations of heroes and villains to deal with here, and because of this, there are times when someone new gets introduced and its up to the reader to guess as to the connections between this new character and the ones that have already been established by that point. This is not helped by most characters having two (at minimum) identities, several characters using the same heroic persona at different times in the book, and several different heroic personas being the exact same ability set with a slightly different paint job. I actually think there's a part in book where even the author got a little confused and labeled one hero's trade mark weapon as one used by a different hero. Some may also claim that the book is a slow read. For me, it works. Yes, it takes its time getting to the major plot of the story, but it spends that time well as an origin story for our main character (a person so paranoid that I don't think he gets locked down into a civilian identity until chapter nine at the earliest).
Over all, I really enjoyed it.
There are a few problems with it. My biggest issue was that there was so much of a world built here that it can be a little bit confusing. There are times where it felt like the author was trying to cram in every character that has ever been listed on the roster of the Avengers into one issue of the comic. We've a couple of generations of heroes and villains to deal with here, and because of this, there are times when someone new gets introduced and its up to the reader to guess as to the connections between this new character and the ones that have already been established by that point. This is not helped by most characters having two (at minimum) identities, several characters using the same heroic persona at different times in the book, and several different heroic personas being the exact same ability set with a slightly different paint job. I actually think there's a part in book where even the author got a little confused and labeled one hero's trade mark weapon as one used by a different hero. Some may also claim that the book is a slow read. For me, it works. Yes, it takes its time getting to the major plot of the story, but it spends that time well as an origin story for our main character (a person so paranoid that I don't think he gets locked down into a civilian identity until chapter nine at the earliest).
Over all, I really enjoyed it.
August 23, 2011
Michael Stackpole has been my favorite fiction author for years, but as far as I know this is his first professional foray into superhero fiction, a rather obscure genre. The hero of the story is back in the city after being away for 20 years (it takes about half the book to get to an explanation of why he was away), and he slowly gets enmeshed in a series of events leading the city to a breaking point. Will he side with the villains or the heros? Will the city be saved?
I think what I enjoyed the most about the book was the interplay among the hero characters. Many of them are analogs of famous DC comic book characters (there is a Superman analog, an Batman analog, a Robin analog, a Green Arrow analog, a Green Lantern analog, etc.), though some of the characters appear to be completely original. While there are these analogs, however, they all have a different take on the standard characters, which was enjoyable. I also found the writing to be easy to read and the book flew by pretty quickly (admittedly while stuck on airplanes or in airports).
The other noteable part of the book is a bit of social commentary on the whole concept of fantasy sports leagues, as part of the plot revolves around fantasy superhero leagues that encourage regular citizens to pick specific heros (or even villains) to be on their fantasy teams and then they score points whenever their characters get involved in battles. Thus crime, and crime-fighting, become essentially a big game. While I found the concept unrealistic, it was a nice twist on the concept and provided something to think about.
I think what I enjoyed the most about the book was the interplay among the hero characters. Many of them are analogs of famous DC comic book characters (there is a Superman analog, an Batman analog, a Robin analog, a Green Arrow analog, a Green Lantern analog, etc.), though some of the characters appear to be completely original. While there are these analogs, however, they all have a different take on the standard characters, which was enjoyable. I also found the writing to be easy to read and the book flew by pretty quickly (admittedly while stuck on airplanes or in airports).
The other noteable part of the book is a bit of social commentary on the whole concept of fantasy sports leagues, as part of the plot revolves around fantasy superhero leagues that encourage regular citizens to pick specific heros (or even villains) to be on their fantasy teams and then they score points whenever their characters get involved in battles. Thus crime, and crime-fighting, become essentially a big game. While I found the concept unrealistic, it was a nice twist on the concept and provided something to think about.
October 8, 2014
Sometimes fun, but way too derivative and fan-ficcy. I should have known better after reading I, Jedi years ago (and perhaps, in fairness, I'm still irritated enough by that novel that this one really needed to be extra good to compensate). Much like the main character of that particularly wretched work, the main character of this book is a flimsy wish-fulfillment piece.
He basically takes Batman's--sorry, Nighthaunt's--place when he loses his mind. And he's with Catwoman... I mean, Scarlet Fox. (Selene Kole, NOT Selina Kyle. Nope.) Of course. And she takes him back pretty quickly even though he refuses for most of the book to say where he went for the twenty years he had seemingly abandoned her and their daughter. Oh, and he was supposedly kidnapped and tortured for that twenty years but there is absolutely zero evidence that it made much impression on him beyond some inconvenience and daughter wangst. Whatever.
The best part of this book was the mystery of what was going on with "Mr. Big" and Nighthaunt's mastermind theory, but it was tacked on too late and overshadowed by the Corran Horn-ness of the main character. If the characters hadn't been SO obviously recognizable it might not have been AS bad, but seriously. There is no need to diminish the characters we already know and love to prop up a Gary Stu.
He basically takes Batman's--sorry, Nighthaunt's--place when he loses his mind. And he's with Catwoman... I mean, Scarlet Fox. (Selene Kole, NOT Selina Kyle. Nope.) Of course. And she takes him back pretty quickly even though he refuses for most of the book to say where he went for the twenty years he had seemingly abandoned her and their daughter. Oh, and he was supposedly kidnapped and tortured for that twenty years but there is absolutely zero evidence that it made much impression on him beyond some inconvenience and daughter wangst. Whatever.
The best part of this book was the mystery of what was going on with "Mr. Big" and Nighthaunt's mastermind theory, but it was tacked on too late and overshadowed by the Corran Horn-ness of the main character. If the characters hadn't been SO obviously recognizable it might not have been AS bad, but seriously. There is no need to diminish the characters we already know and love to prop up a Gary Stu.
January 21, 2011
It is incredibly hard to tell an inventive superhero story, but In Hero Years…I’m Dead genuinely spins an original tale. Stackpole mixes the traditional comic book feel with quirky humor and a noir-detective backdrop that makes for truly compelling reading. Capital City is full of surprises around every turn as caricatures of all the classic heroes propel you further down its alleys.
The characters feel very real and leap off the screen. The protagonist keeps you engaged as he explores the new world Capitol City has become in his absence. Everyone can connect to the range of emotions he experiences throughout the story.
Most hero stories focus on the heroes themselves and their personal struggles. While Stackpole certainly captures this, he also explores the pressure of society as it works against the traditional hero versus villain mechanic. He creates a truly modern city that brilliantly figures out how to cope with its super inhabitants that is so believable, it is almost scary . The social commentary he weaves into the main storyline adds that bit of depth that some hero stories skim over to appease the masses.
You won’t find the same old ‘have to beat the bad guy’ plot here. Stackpole dishes up a fresh take on caped crusaders and their reason for protecting their city.
The characters feel very real and leap off the screen. The protagonist keeps you engaged as he explores the new world Capitol City has become in his absence. Everyone can connect to the range of emotions he experiences throughout the story.
Most hero stories focus on the heroes themselves and their personal struggles. While Stackpole certainly captures this, he also explores the pressure of society as it works against the traditional hero versus villain mechanic. He creates a truly modern city that brilliantly figures out how to cope with its super inhabitants that is so believable, it is almost scary . The social commentary he weaves into the main storyline adds that bit of depth that some hero stories skim over to appease the masses.
You won’t find the same old ‘have to beat the bad guy’ plot here. Stackpole dishes up a fresh take on caped crusaders and their reason for protecting their city.
January 17, 2016
This one's very up and down. Plot aside, this is really one giant worldbuilding exercise, and in that sense it's enjoyable; I liked the slow reveal through the first third of the book, where the protagonist must re-orient himself in a city that has changed drastically in his absence. But after this stage-setting segment is over, the fun fades a little - the political commentary gets (much) more blatant, while at the same time showing it hasn't aged well (three years' lag time is apprarently longer than you'd think for this material to go stale).
At this point the worldbuilding also hits a wall, too: I was looking forward to a story where the eccentric Castigan would find a way to quietly bring down the system from within, maybe by finding corruption and bringing it to the media. Instead, it dissolves into action scenes as he allies with younger heroes and... lets them do the fighting for him. Not very heroic, and in the end, not particularly satisfying, either. Equally squandered was the all-too-brief plotline with his father, who could have been a great character; and I never understood the plotline either. So much promise, so many wasted opportunities to make this book truly great...
At this point the worldbuilding also hits a wall, too: I was looking forward to a story where the eccentric Castigan would find a way to quietly bring down the system from within, maybe by finding corruption and bringing it to the media. Instead, it dissolves into action scenes as he allies with younger heroes and... lets them do the fighting for him. Not very heroic, and in the end, not particularly satisfying, either. Equally squandered was the all-too-brief plotline with his father, who could have been a great character; and I never understood the plotline either. So much promise, so many wasted opportunities to make this book truly great...
September 29, 2013
I have been a fan of Michael Stackpole since I read the first Rogue Squadron book many years ago. He writes action quite well, and seems more comfortable with writing in the first person perspective than many authors.
In Hero Years is a "super hero noir" novel. Told from the perspective of an normal person who played the super hero game, the novel takes place in a world where super heroes are the norm, as are villians. After a 20 year absence, the reasons for which we discover later, our hero finds himself back home to a world where heroes and villains are bet on and treated like fantasy football. There is a hero stock market and heroes and villains bid on the rights to either commit crimes or stop them.
The public treats this like every day entertainment. That is, until serious, deadly actions begin.
An interesting story, in a compelling and almost believable world, In Hero Years is an enjoyable novel for those who love super hero fiction. It also is an interesting story for those who might find super heroes just a tad ridiculous. Quite enjoyable.
In Hero Years is a "super hero noir" novel. Told from the perspective of an normal person who played the super hero game, the novel takes place in a world where super heroes are the norm, as are villians. After a 20 year absence, the reasons for which we discover later, our hero finds himself back home to a world where heroes and villains are bet on and treated like fantasy football. There is a hero stock market and heroes and villains bid on the rights to either commit crimes or stop them.
The public treats this like every day entertainment. That is, until serious, deadly actions begin.
An interesting story, in a compelling and almost believable world, In Hero Years is an enjoyable novel for those who love super hero fiction. It also is an interesting story for those who might find super heroes just a tad ridiculous. Quite enjoyable.
July 26, 2013
This book reads like an Elseworlds novel where all the heroes have been given different names, but you can still recognize most of them. Superheroing, and supervillainy, have fallen into a neatly organized ranking system, all wrapped up in non-lethal property damage. People follow the rankings of their favorites and everybody is happy. An old hero returns to the city after a long absence and tries to patch up his relationships while he tries to retire.
It's difficult to take the premise seriously, because the villains are all far too polite about not killing anyone and announcing their schemes in advance. The characters, thanks to their archetypes, are naturally predictable as well. It's entertaining as a somewhat deconstructionist take on the superhero genre, but it's difficult to sustain the necessary suspension of disbelief.
It's difficult to take the premise seriously, because the villains are all far too polite about not killing anyone and announcing their schemes in advance. The characters, thanks to their archetypes, are naturally predictable as well. It's entertaining as a somewhat deconstructionist take on the superhero genre, but it's difficult to sustain the necessary suspension of disbelief.
July 10, 2013
My Blurb: The rules used to be simple: bad guys broke the law and super heros kicked their asses. But that's all changed, now. When a used-to-be up-and-coming super hero returns after a mysterious twenty-year absence, he finds a world where master criminals post their fiendish plots online, heros bid for the right to oppose them, and the public follows it all in a complex Franken-merger betting scheme that is one part stock market, one part reality TV empire, and all kinds of crazy. But when Mr. Big destabilizes the entire system and threatens to bring Capital City to its knees, only our washed up used-to-be hero can save the day. If he can just convince everyone that he himself is not Mr. Big.
My Review: Make yourself a score-card, you're going to need it. Everyone you are going to meet has at least two names, possibly three: hero names, alter egos, and some even lead a complex life with multiples of each. A knowledge of comic book hero lore is not required, but frankly, if you're not into DC, Marvel and the rest, you probably won't like this, either.
Told in a first-person, noir style, this satirical take on pop culture moves at a frenetic pace from start to finish, with precious little down time along the way. In the end, it was a bit too frenetic for my tastes. It's trying to be too many things at once: a whimsical "what if comic books were real" tale, an exploration of the roots of heroism and civic responsibility, a commentary on our media-drenched culture, a broken family drama. Too many characters, too many agendas, and too many plot twists have all been crammed into a non-stop plot line, where none of the themes get enough page-time to resonate fully, which left me breathless and disoriented. It teased and tempted me a dozen different ways, but never gave enough of any one thing to satisfy me.
My Review: Make yourself a score-card, you're going to need it. Everyone you are going to meet has at least two names, possibly three: hero names, alter egos, and some even lead a complex life with multiples of each. A knowledge of comic book hero lore is not required, but frankly, if you're not into DC, Marvel and the rest, you probably won't like this, either.
Told in a first-person, noir style, this satirical take on pop culture moves at a frenetic pace from start to finish, with precious little down time along the way. In the end, it was a bit too frenetic for my tastes. It's trying to be too many things at once: a whimsical "what if comic books were real" tale, an exploration of the roots of heroism and civic responsibility, a commentary on our media-drenched culture, a broken family drama. Too many characters, too many agendas, and too many plot twists have all been crammed into a non-stop plot line, where none of the themes get enough page-time to resonate fully, which left me breathless and disoriented. It teased and tempted me a dozen different ways, but never gave enough of any one thing to satisfy me.
June 15, 2017
This was a very interesting take on the whole super hero genre. Stackpole was very creative and not super far off the mark in his imagining a world where people join teams that support this or that hero and villain. Everyone is involved. "Crimes," are planned and made public. Heroes bid vs one another to try and foil the villains. They can even subcontract parts of the upcoming fight to other Heroes. Heroes and villains are awarded points for successfully pulling off a heist, beating up another hero/villain, rescuing people, etc. All of the damage is covered by insurance companies. People know ahead of time where these fights will take place so they can show up in person or tune in to the TV to watch their favorite hero/villain square off. People benefit financially when their particular hero or villain does well. This entire system is all regulated. Everyone wins. No lethal force is ever used so no one dies. It reminded me very much of the TV show, "Black Mirror." Dark, futuristic, technology and the media drives everything.
I also like what Stackpole does concerning this question: What happens to old super heroes/villains when they retire or just can't hack it any more? Even super heroes have to deal with that question.
My only complain about this book is the extremely poor editing. There are A LOT of spelling, grammar, etc. errors throughout the book.
I also like what Stackpole does concerning this question: What happens to old super heroes/villains when they retire or just can't hack it any more? Even super heroes have to deal with that question.
My only complain about this book is the extremely poor editing. There are A LOT of spelling, grammar, etc. errors throughout the book.
March 18, 2014
Good but flawed.
There is a lot to like about this book. The characters are relatable and often iconic, the action is furious and fast, and the mystery is both mysterious and solvable (if you can stop reading long enough to try and puzzle it out; I could not). The themes are solid and fairly easy to spot, and the author presents a (sadly) believable world.
It has flaws as well. The most obvious is a need for two or three more editing passes. Next to that is the level of confusion for the reader - our hero knows things are wrong, but at least he has enough information to not feel like a toddler watching Jeopardy. The reader lacks even that level of background until chapter seven or eight. My final complaint ties back into the editing, specifically name confusion. It is bad enough that multiple characters have similar names, but those names get misused in the text, exacerbating the confusion.
Despite all of that, this was one of the better super stories I took a chance on. The purely human protagonist is less plausible than the super people around him, but it holds together quite well.
Recommended for fans of superheroes and mysteries, with patience for editing errors.
There is a lot to like about this book. The characters are relatable and often iconic, the action is furious and fast, and the mystery is both mysterious and solvable (if you can stop reading long enough to try and puzzle it out; I could not). The themes are solid and fairly easy to spot, and the author presents a (sadly) believable world.
It has flaws as well. The most obvious is a need for two or three more editing passes. Next to that is the level of confusion for the reader - our hero knows things are wrong, but at least he has enough information to not feel like a toddler watching Jeopardy. The reader lacks even that level of background until chapter seven or eight. My final complaint ties back into the editing, specifically name confusion. It is bad enough that multiple characters have similar names, but those names get misused in the text, exacerbating the confusion.
Despite all of that, this was one of the better super stories I took a chance on. The purely human protagonist is less plausible than the super people around him, but it holds together quite well.
Recommended for fans of superheroes and mysteries, with patience for editing errors.
March 26, 2017
A fascinating take on superheroes, giving us a society where their goings-on are a norm. The characters are magnified by their abilities, with backgrounds of angst and valor, pettiness and nobility seen through their eyes. The characters and their interactions make the book a delight to read.
July 17, 2017
While being a delight to read, the book has two major flaws. One, it takes at least 200 pages to decide which way the story would go and then settles on a MC choosing to be reactive, not active. Two, it borrows too much from popular comics, teetering dangerously on the verge of fanfiction.
April 28, 2011
Great Take on the super hero journey. The characters are parody of heroes you will recognize. I thought it was extremely well laid out and had a great plot.
December 19, 2016
Your futuristic superhero universe is not as interesting as you think it is
April 8, 2024
Could Be Worse, Could Be Better
The tone works, the prose is very solid, the concept works. The satire didn't work - I'll want to expand on why I think that later, this is a phone review - and I think the twist ending didn't work. It's set up as a noir but it doesn't have a noir ending, and while Our Hero is likable everything is just too on the nose; everything is just a bit too much a thing of Stackpole's generation, without the ancients being really ancients or the moderns really being moderns - it was published in 2010, but it's a 1980s story at heart.
Overall it was worth reading, but I don't plan to pick up the prequels.
The tone works, the prose is very solid, the concept works. The satire didn't work - I'll want to expand on why I think that later, this is a phone review - and I think the twist ending didn't work. It's set up as a noir but it doesn't have a noir ending, and while Our Hero is likable everything is just too on the nose; everything is just a bit too much a thing of Stackpole's generation, without the ancients being really ancients or the moderns really being moderns - it was published in 2010, but it's a 1980s story at heart.
Overall it was worth reading, but I don't plan to pick up the prequels.
April 24, 2018
Interesting take on how the world might work if there were really super (and not so super) heroes running around. Some parts of the plot seemed a bit convoluted but most of the twists worked very well.
May 16, 2022
Das Buch ist ok, aber die Story ist mir zu verwinkelt, es ist dem ganzen zu schwer zu folgen. Es gibt zuviele Potagonsiten mit zuvielen Identiäten und zuvielen Vergangenheiten in denen sie zuviele Rollen spielen.
October 13, 2018
Great story
For fans of modern superhero stories, this one definitely fits the bill. Recommended for folks who like comeback stories, too.
For fans of modern superhero stories, this one definitely fits the bill. Recommended for folks who like comeback stories, too.
February 18, 2021
3.5 stars
A fun read, but I would have rather totally new characters instead of parodies of the big name superheroes of DC and Marvel. Plus, it was a little too DCish not less Marvelish.
A fun read, but I would have rather totally new characters instead of parodies of the big name superheroes of DC and Marvel. Plus, it was a little too DCish not less Marvelish.
February 20, 2023
Dnf 33%
This book has no real plot, having the viewpoint character hide his past and motivation from readers makes reading frustrating.
This book has no real plot, having the viewpoint character hide his past and motivation from readers makes reading frustrating.
July 2, 2024
What is legacy and what is heroism? This book is a very solid examination of that, though it does drag in the middle and the ending is a bit disappointing.
March 22, 2013
It turns out, I was right about Michael Stackpole. His reputation does precedes him; being a game designer and author of Star Wars and Battle Tech novels and a future World of Warcraft novel; he does understand fantasy and sci-fi. The world Stackpole created here is just so meticulously detailed and technical that it comes out very realistic. There wasn't a single doubt in my mind that such a world could exist.
Capital City is this big modern futuristic city where "heroing" (crime fighting) is viewed as a means of livelihood. Heroes are reality tv stars or maybe even sports teams that citizens can bet on. Earnings are based on ratings. Technology helps the masses keep tabs on their bets/pets, through devices like utiliPods (hand held device) or Murdochs (tv screens). The whole operating system was so well put that if heroes were to really exist, this is exactly how I imagined the society would turn out to be. But just like any operating system, there is bound to be some mud and dirt, deceit and treachery. It's entertainment and politics bundled up in one.
The plot is unpredictable and layered. It's like one of those really good detective/crime shows, you get shown puzzle pieces, clues, but you can never really put two and two together until the very end where everything comes together as one big revelation. The story starts with the return from exile of an old beat up superhero; to his home, Capital City; in the hopes of finding out who or what was behind his said exile. But he returns to a Capital City changed. It has a different look and operates on a different system that what he was used to. He also encounters old friends and family that makes him lean more towards retiring, of giving up his initial quest for answers because it will just eventually lead him into the whole political hero-villain mess. Everything seems to be going well up until a series of seemingly planned but disorganized crime capers begin to happen in Capital City. Plus the appearance of an old colleague (hero) and an old familiar villain. Thus the beginning of the struggle between retiring and sticking his business in heroing yet again.
The characters are real and sympathetic. Superheroes have the tendency to seem unreal, unreachable, artificial, just like the skin tight latex they wear. But oddly enough, the characters here you can identify with, which I think, thanks largely in part to how Stackpole creates a very detailed and clever introspection, done by the main protagonist (which I shall not name because it just seems spoilery to me). He tackles issues like growing old, the fear of being set aside, of finding yet again another identity because heroing is all that you know and are.
While some of the characters closely resemble old time comic book classics like Batman, Superman, and Cat Woman, it wasn't done in bad taste. In fact, if anything else it's an excellently done parody. You see the resemblance but the author added new layers to them that make them appear separate from the characters in which they were based upon. So ultimately, they are just like whole new characters in themselves.
I also love the dialogue which feels a bit like a social commentary in certain parts about crime and technology and politics and the society. The dialogue may also appear a bit philosophical. I love that it provided a much in depth discussion about nature vs nurture; about man being inherently good vs inherently evil, There were also added wit and humor here and there which I greatly appreciated.
This superhero fiction is less of the glam and glitz of cape crusading but speaks more about the darker and grittier side of it. I loved this book so much that I would probably read (and hope for) any prequel, sequel, or spin-off coming out if this. If you're looking for an excellent superhero fiction, I highly recommend this one. It's witty, it's smart and detailed and just absolutely awesome. I think I may just look for other works by Michael Stackpole as well. I think his Star Wars series is worth looking into.
Capital City is this big modern futuristic city where "heroing" (crime fighting) is viewed as a means of livelihood. Heroes are reality tv stars or maybe even sports teams that citizens can bet on. Earnings are based on ratings. Technology helps the masses keep tabs on their bets/pets, through devices like utiliPods (hand held device) or Murdochs (tv screens). The whole operating system was so well put that if heroes were to really exist, this is exactly how I imagined the society would turn out to be. But just like any operating system, there is bound to be some mud and dirt, deceit and treachery. It's entertainment and politics bundled up in one.
The plot is unpredictable and layered. It's like one of those really good detective/crime shows, you get shown puzzle pieces, clues, but you can never really put two and two together until the very end where everything comes together as one big revelation. The story starts with the return from exile of an old beat up superhero; to his home, Capital City; in the hopes of finding out who or what was behind his said exile. But he returns to a Capital City changed. It has a different look and operates on a different system that what he was used to. He also encounters old friends and family that makes him lean more towards retiring, of giving up his initial quest for answers because it will just eventually lead him into the whole political hero-villain mess. Everything seems to be going well up until a series of seemingly planned but disorganized crime capers begin to happen in Capital City. Plus the appearance of an old colleague (hero) and an old familiar villain. Thus the beginning of the struggle between retiring and sticking his business in heroing yet again.
The characters are real and sympathetic. Superheroes have the tendency to seem unreal, unreachable, artificial, just like the skin tight latex they wear. But oddly enough, the characters here you can identify with, which I think, thanks largely in part to how Stackpole creates a very detailed and clever introspection, done by the main protagonist (which I shall not name because it just seems spoilery to me). He tackles issues like growing old, the fear of being set aside, of finding yet again another identity because heroing is all that you know and are.
While some of the characters closely resemble old time comic book classics like Batman, Superman, and Cat Woman, it wasn't done in bad taste. In fact, if anything else it's an excellently done parody. You see the resemblance but the author added new layers to them that make them appear separate from the characters in which they were based upon. So ultimately, they are just like whole new characters in themselves.
I also love the dialogue which feels a bit like a social commentary in certain parts about crime and technology and politics and the society. The dialogue may also appear a bit philosophical. I love that it provided a much in depth discussion about nature vs nurture; about man being inherently good vs inherently evil, There were also added wit and humor here and there which I greatly appreciated.
This superhero fiction is less of the glam and glitz of cape crusading but speaks more about the darker and grittier side of it. I loved this book so much that I would probably read (and hope for) any prequel, sequel, or spin-off coming out if this. If you're looking for an excellent superhero fiction, I highly recommend this one. It's witty, it's smart and detailed and just absolutely awesome. I think I may just look for other works by Michael Stackpole as well. I think his Star Wars series is worth looking into.
August 17, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. I really wish he'd do another in this world. The only supers book I like better is They Tell Me I'm The Bad Guy, with Confessions of a D-List Supervillain being a close runner-up.
September 27, 2013
This was an odd little superhero story where an aging hero comes back for one last shot at glory. The hero-narrator (a man with a dozen secret identities, going by the old hero title of Coyote) tells his tale of returning to his Capital City after twenty years of captivity in foreign lands, his will focused on taking revenge on those who betrayed him long ago. Alas, too much has changed. A whole new breed of heroes and villains have emerged, and not only is our aging hero a little off his game, but the nature of the game has changed. No longer are heroes fighting for justice against villains bent on wanton destruction. Instead, everyone is fighting for shares of the biggest game in town, betting on hero vs. villain matchups, the ultimate in sports/reality/crime events.
The back story of how the world changed during his absence is interesting and is delivered to us in appropriately sized chunks over the course of the novel, and we get to see what has become of all the great heroes and villains of old. Many are simply gone. A few hang on, lurking in the shadows. And then there’s the bad blood of the old sidekicks, forever deprived of their time in the spotlight.
Does our hero get his revenge? Will he bring the new system down? Will he restore us back to a world of proper heroes? Well, that’s actually my main complaint about the book. While the journey he took was an interesting one, our protagonist kept vacillating back and forth on what he wanted to do. After three cycles of “I must get revenge” to “no, I’m retired” and then back to “Revenge!” I stopped counting. At about that time, I lost sympathy for the protagonist. I was still interested in what happened to the world – because other characters had caught my interest – but I no longer really cared whether or not our protagonist got what he wanted or not.
The back story of how the world changed during his absence is interesting and is delivered to us in appropriately sized chunks over the course of the novel, and we get to see what has become of all the great heroes and villains of old. Many are simply gone. A few hang on, lurking in the shadows. And then there’s the bad blood of the old sidekicks, forever deprived of their time in the spotlight.
Does our hero get his revenge? Will he bring the new system down? Will he restore us back to a world of proper heroes? Well, that’s actually my main complaint about the book. While the journey he took was an interesting one, our protagonist kept vacillating back and forth on what he wanted to do. After three cycles of “I must get revenge” to “no, I’m retired” and then back to “Revenge!” I stopped counting. At about that time, I lost sympathy for the protagonist. I was still interested in what happened to the world – because other characters had caught my interest – but I no longer really cared whether or not our protagonist got what he wanted or not.
September 29, 2014
Já conhecia a obra do autor no universo do Star Wars e do Battletech e por isso tinha alguma curiosidade em ler o que ele faria com os super-heróis.
Não fiquei desapontado, embora não considere este livro um obra claramente de super-heróis mas sim um policial com os mesmos pelo meio. No entanto, todas as "teclas" certas do género são batidas pelo autor - temos as homenagens aos "grandes" da DC (sendo o Batman e o Super-Homem os mais claros) e à Marvel (Capitão América, entre outros); temos os sidekicks que tentam ultrapassar os seus mentores e um supervilão que manobra tudo e todos para derrotar os nossos heróis.
Mas aquilo em que o livro se destaca é na sua personagem principal, que é alguém cheio de problemas, a tentar recuperar uma vida perdida. E à medida que o leitor vai conhecendo a sua história, as surpresas vão-se sucedendo.
É claro que nada bate a revelação e o combate final contra o vilão. Confesso que para mim foi essa a parte que realmente mais me agarrou - especialmente pelo facto de poder ser algo que também poderia acontecer no universo da DC...e mais não digo por causa dos spoilers.
Numa altura em que os livros desta temática são cada vez mais, é sempre bom ver um autor consagrado a fazer um excelente trabalho num campo que para ele também é novo.
Não fiquei desapontado, embora não considere este livro um obra claramente de super-heróis mas sim um policial com os mesmos pelo meio. No entanto, todas as "teclas" certas do género são batidas pelo autor - temos as homenagens aos "grandes" da DC (sendo o Batman e o Super-Homem os mais claros) e à Marvel (Capitão América, entre outros); temos os sidekicks que tentam ultrapassar os seus mentores e um supervilão que manobra tudo e todos para derrotar os nossos heróis.
Mas aquilo em que o livro se destaca é na sua personagem principal, que é alguém cheio de problemas, a tentar recuperar uma vida perdida. E à medida que o leitor vai conhecendo a sua história, as surpresas vão-se sucedendo.
É claro que nada bate a revelação e o combate final contra o vilão. Confesso que para mim foi essa a parte que realmente mais me agarrou - especialmente pelo facto de poder ser algo que também poderia acontecer no universo da DC...e mais não digo por causa dos spoilers.
Numa altura em que os livros desta temática são cada vez mais, é sempre bom ver um autor consagrado a fazer um excelente trabalho num campo que para ele também é novo.
April 9, 2012
I've liked Stackpole for quite a long time, and this story reminds me why. He writes good characters and lets them drive the story. The characters in this book are interesting, and we get introduced to them slowly over the course of the story. The story seems like a character study of some characters who see a lot of action rather than the adventure that I was expecting.
Stackpole sort of dumps you into the life of a semi-retired crime-fighter who has been absent from his home city (think Gotham or Metropolis) for 20 years. He's dealing with the repercussions of his sudden and mysterious departure, the people he left behind, and the massive changes in the culture of the city. It's a story which combines almost-recognizable characters and an interesting social system which provides one view of what might happen in a system which embraces both heroes and villains.
It was an interesting story, but I don't think it was Stackpole's best work. For his best, I would look to Talion: Revenant or I, Jedi.
Stackpole sort of dumps you into the life of a semi-retired crime-fighter who has been absent from his home city (think Gotham or Metropolis) for 20 years. He's dealing with the repercussions of his sudden and mysterious departure, the people he left behind, and the massive changes in the culture of the city. It's a story which combines almost-recognizable characters and an interesting social system which provides one view of what might happen in a system which embraces both heroes and villains.
It was an interesting story, but I don't think it was Stackpole's best work. For his best, I would look to Talion: Revenant or I, Jedi.
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