The Moon Moth TPPublisher: First Second
Release Date: May 2012
Price: $17.99
Creator(s): Original story by Jack Vance; Humayoun Ibrahim (adapted by)
Format: 128 pgs.; Color; Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-5964-3367-0
Age Rating: n/a
ICv2 Rating: 2.5 Stars out of 5
Edwer Thissell is a man out of place. He's been sent to work on the planet Sirene, but his bureaucratic training did not prepare him for the intricacies of Sirenese life. The people of Sirene do not use money, trading instead on their social status; they always cover their faces with often-changing masks which reflect that status; and they communicate by singing, accompanied by a variety of musical instruments, each of which can give grave offense if used in the wrong situation. When a criminal touches down on the planet, Thissell is charged with apprehending him, but criminal is skilled at blending in with Sirene society. Thissell is left with the quandary, "How do you catch a killer when you cannot see a person’s face?"
Vance's classic science fiction/murder mystery short story, originally published in 1961, gets an update here with Ibrahim's adaptation. The bones of the story-- the mystery, the frustration and loneliness of a man who does not fit in with the world around him, the alien qualities of Sirene society--are still strong and show why Vance is considered an underrated master by many fans. (Carlo Rotella's introductory essay delves into Vance's semi-obscurity in more detail.) Whether or not Ibrahim's adaptation does justice to the source material is something fans may debate at length. Parts of his adaptation, especially the visual representation of the musical Sirenese speech, are so seamless that it is hard to fathom how Vance may have portrayed them via text only. But Ibrahim's characters have an odd flat quality to them, as if they were cardboard dolls, rather than living creatures. That stiffness, combined with Vance's weighty and erudite vocabulary, limit the appeal of this work slightly. Science fiction fans who also enjoy graphic novels are the most likely audience. H igh school libraries that want to add more literary graphic novels may also consider this, as there is no nudity and only a little violence (some beheadings).
--Snow Wildsmith: Writer and former teen librarian and ALA/YALSA committee member.
