|
The Space Shuttle Venture
disappeared from Earth's orbit 10 years ago taking a crew
of seven with it. This final NASA disaster committed the Earth
to programmes of robotic discovery flight only - no human
has been in space for a decade. However the Venture
has come back to Earth 10 years late. It's remaining crewman
- an insane pilot - and instrumentation that wasn't on the
shuttle when it lifted off. So, what happened to the Venture's
crew, where did the shuttle go, and what does all this now
mean for an Earth that's given up hope of walking amongst
the stars?...
Oribiter
has a Star Trek: the Motion Picture feel about it.
Man sends out a shuttle, which is then taken control of by
something alien (in this case the space vessel is covered
in some form of alien living skin).
The
artwork is beautiful and the story is engaging, but it did
seem a little rushed towards the end - I actually turned the
last page expecting the story to continue, but it didn't.
Warren
Ellis's foreword hints that Orbiter may have been rushed
to get it on to the shelves after the space shuttle Colombia
disintegrated on re-entering Earth's orbit - effectively stopping
NASA's manned flight space programme.
The
conclusion screams for a follow up story. I guess this was
the intention, but I am left wondering whether this was really
clever writing on Ellis's part or the need to finish this
story as soon as possible - although he claims he completed
the story a couple of months before the Colombia disaster,
there is a huge question mark hanging over this revelation.
Many
critics have championed this graphic novel's almost prophetic
qualities. I'm not so impressed - for goodness sake it's by
far the most hazardous form of transport and every generation
has witnessed at least a couple of terrible accidents. Ellis
was just fortunate (or not, as the case may be) that his story
may sell on the back of being spookily prophetic.
Yes,
it is a damn good read and yes it is beautifully presented,
but it is not one of Ellis's better works.
Pete
Boomer
Buy
this item online
We
compare prices online so you get the cheapest
deal! Click on the logo of the desired store
below to purchase this item.
|
|
|
£8.39
(Amazon.co.uk) |
| |
|
|
|
£10.79
(WHSmith.co.uk) |
All prices correct at time of going to press.
|
|
