The Nightside series
Simon R Green
Books
Something from the Nightside
Agents of Light and Darkness
Nightingale's Lament
Hex and the City
Paths not Taken
Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth
Hell to Pay
The Unnatural Inquirer
Just Another Judgement Day
The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny
A Hard Day's Knight
The Bride Wore Black Leather
(Plus some short stories)
Blurb for Something from the Nightside
John Taylor is not a private detective per se, but he has a knack for finding lost things. That's why he's been hired to descend into the Nightside, an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines.
Publishers
ACE (US)
Solaris Books (UK)
Rosy's scrawlings on The Nightside series
This is one of my favourite kick back on a Friday night series. Plus any other night, of course, but you get what I mean instantly when I say Friday night. This is B-rated monster heaven for many a reader or even avid movie watcher written with style and kept short and snappy. My saying B-rated might make you think the writing isn't up to par or the subject matter lacks a certain something in morals or life lessons but you'd be wrong, although you could ignore all that if you like and just focus on the monster mayhem. The B-rating is entirely due to the monster movie parallel that pairs it with greats like Evil Dead: one of the ultimate Friday night movies.
In this series you'll find all the best and some new creatures, beings, monsters and gods and their relationships within the under-London/alternate-London/alternate-world or dimension called The Nightside are anything but friendly. Schemes are spun for power on a day-to-day basis, deals are done for survival and everyone is on the run from some other monster, which includes the most powerful of The Nightside. The one who inspires such fear in most, as well as a hefty dose of hatred and disdain amongst other things, is John Taylor. He's an odd pick for a monster of monsters considering he's mostly human, mostly reasonable and on the run himself. Still, he manages to play the role of the monster's monster rather well. His ability is truly fearsome, when he chooses to use it.
Within The Nightside series almost everyone has an ability that sets the apart and few are human anymore, if they ever were. But the general inhabitants of The Nightside aren't those that John Taylor tends to play with. Instead he deals with the god of the razor blade, post-apocalyptic monsters from the far future, the adventuring hero of heroes, the god of skin and other such worrying creatures. Not to mention a rather warped version of Merlin, a son of the devil. John Taylor is mostly unwanted and unwelcome so in order to deal with any at all threats are slung and some followed through on. Blood and gore flows, darkness is held back (just), and the worst mother of all time is sent packing (John hopes).
The Nightside series, as you can probably now tell, is a Friday night B-rated horror comedy movie writ large. And, like Terry Pratchett's light fantasy comedy works, there's much wisdom and insight to be found if you choose to pay attention. Best of all though, this series is fun, quick to read, engaging and well-rounded. The Nightside may be a contained domain but its presence and impact bleed out not just into the world beyond but into your mind as you're reading. It is a dark fairyland for the morbid and playful to enjoy.
I'd recommend this series to: those interested in quick paced dark fantasy, dark comedy and monster stories. Also, anyone who typically watches movies and TV shows rather than reading books will find this a great way to crack into the world of books.
Area D
Nanatsuki Kyoichi
Blurb
The "prison survival action" story is set after the sudden emergence of special powers in certain pockets of humanity. To deal with these so-called "Altered," a mysterious remote island prison named "Area D" was built.
Alternate names
Area D
Area D - Inouryouiki
Area D - Inoyouiki
AreaD
Status
Ongoing
Manga reader sites (free)
Manga Reader
Rosy's scrawlings on Area D
Ever wonder what would happen after the mass fear, curiosity, bible thumping and 'medical' experimentation that would occur after the appearance of those with superpowers? This manga starts at that point and the picture isn't a pretty one, although I'd have to admit it is one of those I'd consider highly like. Especially considering how humans often treat those with characteristics deemed, for one reason or another, special or unwanted. Some basic psychology is at play in the writing of Area D and for those at all familiar with human history none of what happens will comes as a shock. It will, however, leave you with a bitter taste as you realise we might just treat all super humans in such a manner and disregard any good deeds, mild and acceptable behaviour or helpfulness.
To accentuate this bitter taste we see their experiences, be they good, bad, ugly or intent on world domination, through the eyes of a young boy by the name of Satoru Ida who's mostly innocent, grieving and hating of himself, and possessed with the power to dismantle anything he touches. In coming to grips with his power he is the instigator of a personal tragedy and he can't forgive himself for that. Despite this and all the horrible things that occur to him from there on in he tries his best to have faith in others, extend a hand and survive. Few are willing to be so nice back but he keeps trying even as he's being beaten to a pulp. And it is because of this that he's a touch of a hero and someone you want to know more of.
Despite this, much of what is focused on concerns the character pictured above: S-class Jin Kazaragi. He's both incredibly strong and weak, depending on the power he's absorbed, and he's a man on a mission. To complete it he intentionally gets himself captured and sent to Area D or Island D. He himself has many an issue to deal with, mainly a heavy dose of guilt which has yet to be properly explained. No matter, because what focusing on Jin does is bring an endless flow of action to the mix. And that's what you want to read about where super humans are concerned.
Area D is, for all this, both fun and interesting to read while it is a little mortifying to realise that the worst monsters are often just average humans. It is quick paced and working on a global scale even though the majority of scenes concern the inhabitants of Area D.
The art of Area D, created by Yang Kyung-Il, is enticing. It is dark and gritty with lots of detail but the most appealing thing about it is that there's a certain flow and smoothness to it that just pleases the eye. There's plenty of action scenes to look at and enjoy as they bring this flow out in the forms of fire, weaving thorny vines, void creation and other super human abilities. Also, the faces, while appealing or ugly, reveal expressions that can only be described as reflections of insanity and for some strange reason they are like salt on hot chips.
I'd recommend this manga to: those interested in action based fantasy as well as superpowers and all that comes with them. This is highly likely to appeal to boys/teens more than girls/teens but there is something in it for all these groups, and some besides.
Notes on manga reader sites
The quality of manga readers can vary. The uploads are often done cheaply or as a serious hobby by a collective. Be aware that sometimes licence hasn't been given but the sites noted above, Manga Fox in particular, are extremely careful about adding and pulling mangas according to license agreements. So you shouldn't have to worry too much about the material being pirated. There are also translated works and non-translated. Amongst the translated works you will find that the quality of translation may vary according to the skills of the translators. Usually the works are perfectly readable anyway, with only a few added or dropped words or a word in the incorrect tense or with/out plurals. But sometimes the text becomes gobbledygook. In which case, either seek another version or give up and buy an official copy once a printed translation comes out. The other issue of note is you may need to expand the screen to read the text easily as sometimes the scans are minimised a little.
I find that if a page doesn't download properly or some other issue occurs (too slow or someone ordered the pages incorrectly etc.) with one reader then skipping across to another reader and picking up where I was is quite easy and rarely annoying.
Otherwise, enjoy and watch out you don't get too addicted you forget about the necessary things in life.
