Lewis Trondheim

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Throughout the 12 volumes, Trondheim takes the reader in unexpected directions. You never know when the story will turn, nor where it will turn too. It is a wild ride, yet all feels smooth and logical. This is no mean feat, and there seems to be some similarity to how the character Ralph Azham approaches things, and the way Trondheim plots. I’m not sure how thought out the full story was beforehand, but to me Trondheim seems to improvise his storytelling – and masterfully so – just like Azham seems to follow his gut.

And just like it often seems all a joke to Azham, the story is not too serious – even though it deals with serious stuff. Paradoxically, Azham mostly manages to do the ethical thing, without being sanctimonious. Similarly, Trondheim’s story touches upon themes of power and moral calculus, all while avoiding pontificating or ideological smug. Ralph nor Lewis put forward grand theories or ethical arrogance or thou-shalt-pomp, there’s just praxis. When Ralph exclaims “I feel like I don’t control anything” in the final volume, even though he has risen to power, Trondheim shows him to be a version of some textbook postmodern anti-hero – even though Azham feels very much its own thing throughout.

In the final pages the character succumbs to disappointment and cynicism, yet choses to break free nonetheless.

This is high quality writing, playful and thoughtful at the same time.

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Full series review on Weighing A Pig Doesn't Fatten It… (more)

This is the little story about a round little thing called Mister O. It doesn't have a gender, but due to the Mister I am going to call it a he/him/his. Anyway, Mister O. needs to jump a crevasse of indeterminate depth. The reader never learns why Mister O. needs to do this, but one can tell he is obsessed with succeeding in this task. On his first attempt he first imagines himself covering the distance in a single leap, but when fear sets in he can't follow through. What follows is a series of varying attempts to span the gap: filling it in with rocks, using rockets and birds to fly, rabbits to jump, farts to propel...it's very silly. Even though Mister O. falls in this crevasse many, many times he always climbs back out. It reminded me of the very persistent Wile E. Coyote who would not and could not give up chasing the road runner. Wile E. died over and over again and yet, he came back every time. Just like Mister O.… (more)

Hard to pass a definite judgement - this is just the first 4th of the full story.

It is very promising: a creative story that keeps on doing unexpected things without feeling contrived. My hunch atm is that I'll give 5 stars when I complete the full series.

Let's hope the final 2 volumes of the English translation will be published sooner than later.

Longer reviews of speculative fiction on Weighing A Pig Doesn't Fatten It.… (more)