Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #968930 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Paul Gravett, Plan B
'I was swept away by Nick Abadzi's wonderful work of historical documentary.'

Observer
'Nick Abadziss' research has resulted in on of the most atmospheric historical graphic novels yet produced'

Customer Reviews

Involving and emotional
This graphic novel is satisfying on so many levels. The book itself (the collectors edition, anyway) is physically small; the paper is good and the colours are strong. Holding it in the hands to read is wonderful - like peeping into a small, hand-held historical window. The illustrations are remarkable - graphically very simple, and simply-coloured, but clear and engaging, and amazingly effective at conveying the emotion behind the story. Laika was, as everyone remotely interested in the space-race knows, the first life-form put into orbit by man; a dog, sent into space to prove Russia's supremacy in the space-race of the 1950s, but with no plans made for her retrieval from orbit. This book is the story of this little dog, birth to death. Amazingly researched, brilliantly told, I just loved this. The simplicity of the telling - told mostly by the images, with minimal text - belies the emotional punch carried by this book. This is a fabulous graphic novel and one I'll treasure.

An instant classic, I recommend this one to anyone, even non comic book fans
This book was recommended to me by someone that was already a fan of Nick Abadzis' work. Taking their good words and advice I decided to give it a try and I have to say I was hooked right from the opening page.

Following the story of the most famous dog in the world - Laika - from his humble beginnings on the streets of Moscow to his pivotal role in the Soviet/USA space race this story will give you all and more - drama, tension, characters you really care about and most importantly a story that really leaves you questioning humanity itself and our blind ambition above all other costs.

This is a book for any age, whether you have an interest in space travel or not there will be something in there for you.

A joy - different, sad and fulfilling
Laika was the first dog to go into space, lauched in Sputnik II by the Russians, and this is her story. Abadzis' writing and illustrations are beautiful, it is excellently researched and the framing within the story of the man running the Soviet space programme brings into sharp relief the oppressive context within which the launch took place. Highly recommended, my favourite kind of graphic novel, in the vein of Maus and One Bad Rat.