Review: Island of the Super People

Island of the Super People by Kevin Shamel
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I've come to the conclusion that I only like the bizarro genre in theory. Generally speaking, the author has a neat "what if" idea that s/he wants to explore and attempts to have fun in that world.

In practice, however, the genre seems to have a template/formula that just doesn't work for me. The first third to half of the book involves a lot of description and exposition as it sets up the world. Once the plot is established, it runs in a relatively straightforward direction and ends either predictably or abruptly. I'm usually left shrugging and saying, "Well, that happened."

Island of the Super People is no exception, opting for the more predictable route. At the book's halfway point, I thought I knew exactly how the plot was going to unravel, and I was right.

Despite the negative points so far, I do have to give author Kevin Shamel credit on some well-written fight scenes. The action was clear and well-directed, with a good sense of timing and spatial awareness.

In summary, if you're expecting a deconstruction of the super-hero genre, such as the vastly superior Watchmen or Brat Pack, you're going to be disappointed. If you're familiar with and typically enjoy the bizarro genre and its tropes, then you might like this.

View all my reviews