Crooked Little Vein

[Mark Bertolini]

Has anybody read this yet? I'm literally crapping myself in anticipation, but it's got like a 30 dollar price tag here in Canuckland, so I have to wait a bit before I get it. (maybe I should whore myself out to make extra cash)

But seriously, can someone tell me that this is the greatest book known to mankind? Warren Ellis is the best writer on Earth. This book has to be good.

Doesn't it?

[Comix Obsession]

I wouldn't be so sure. I read the first part of the first chapter and it wasn't good.

His adolescent cynicism, his constant need to appear 'edgy' to his fans (who are equally as bad as he is - see his 'myspace' page for the evidence and ass-kissing) and his pretence at living in a tough World (I live in the same town, his tales of gun-shots in his back garden and squalor are HIGHLY exaggerated, if not downright lies - see his interview in some book) do not make up for a well written novel. In fact, it's pretty damn bad, to be brutally honest.

Now I loved Transmetropolitan, and would call myself a fan. But with this, Warren Ellis has shown that he can not only be a boring cynic, but he can also be a downright bad writer. Ok, so I'm being harsh and I realise the irony of my cynicism in this post, but what I read truly wasn't good. I could have done better - as I'm sure a great many people on this board could have. Unfortunately, Ellis seems to be increasingly sucked into his own fan's World and is seeing himself through their eyes. Many of these people revere him like some Deity. He's just a man with a good series of Graphic Novels under his belt, but his 'attitude' is starting to ruin him in my eyes.

Greatest book known to mankind? Please... :yawn: :rolleyes:

[Troy Wall]

Many of these people revere him like some Deity.

The internet Jesus. :laugh:

[Wayne Drake]

It's a hilarious book so far.

I went through a phase where I worshipped him. An own all of Transmet. I tend to buy whatever bears his name, most of the time. But now I'm just a "steady follower"...
an yeah, the amount of ass kissers holding up a red bull to their cam is annoying...also the suicide girl rejects.

[KenKRK]

I wouldn't call myself a fan, but having enjoyed Nextwave, I borrowed Crooked Little Vein from a co-worker and loved it.

[Buckyrig]

His adolescent cynicism, his constant need to appear 'edgy' to his fans (who are equally as bad as he is - see his 'myspace' page for the evidence and ass-kissing) and his pretence at living in a tough World (I live in the same town, his tales of gun-shots in his back garden and squalor are HIGHLY exaggerated, if not downright lies - see his interview in some book) do not make up for a well written novel. In fact, it's pretty damn bad, to be brutally honest.

So he can't write about violence and crime if he's not immersed in it? :huh:

[marctheokay]

I read this in about four or five hours.
It was a fun read, and it made me laugh out loud several times.
I dig Ellis' work, but I don't go out and buy everything he writes.
I was checking out his website and he looks into some pretty gross stuff.
I'm figuring most of the material in the book was influenced by his web surfing.

[Comix Obsession]

So he can't write about violence and crime if he's not immersed in it? :huh:

Of course he can, haven't you read Transmetropolitan? AMAZING books. The guy has a great talent. But personally, what I read of this just seemed like he was listening to the hype surrounding him and had lost his edge. When you start taking your own World too seriously, you start sounding like everybody else.

Besides, I think Ellis is about more than just violence and crime, he seems more into the effects it has on people rather than the act itself.

Anyway, I dunno, but the bullshit surrounding his fan base online just put me off him somewhat.

[Ian Ascher]

FINALY got around to reading this.

I liked it. I liked it a lot. My girlfriend just looked oddly at me as I sat on the couch next to her, laughing through the whole book. (It helps Im not normal to begin with)

My only complaint is that I quickly realized this story could have been a mini-series from any number of comic publishers Ellis writes for. As good as it was, it didn't have that extra "spark" to warrent a novel treatment.

Ah well. I still loved it and I hope he eturns to the character at some point.

[J.D. Lombardi]

I never got around to getting it. But from what the friend of mine are telling me...and all of them are more rabid Ellis fans than I am (and I'm a big fan myself)...

None of them have liked it. Now, no one told me to not buy it, but they all just said it wasn't anything that they'd ever want to read from Warren.

Someday I'll get to it just to see what the hell he created that even his most devoted of lady-fans didn't like.

[Jason Arthur]

Anyway, I dunno, but the bullshit surrounding his fan base online just put me off him somewhat.

Not sure how that's his fault, but whatever.

I'm still waiting for this to become reasonably priced before I buy.

-- J

[Scott James]

I was in hysterics for the most part when I read it. What struck me most was how the narrator was an ordinary guy albeit one who attracts all kinds of mayhem - which I thought was unusual for a writer such as Ellis.

The narrative was fairly conventional stuff in terms of structure, but it had some wonderful scenery and engaging rhetoric. The conversation with the serial killer on the red-eye flight was inspired.