Kroma s/c back

Very, very highly recommended, this is possibly my favourite rustic fantasy of all, with art every bit as exquisite as Jeff Smith's BONE. Some terrific invention involving visual pheromones, and exchanges which evolve gradually and naturally or - brilliantly - not at all. I pray that Lorenzo now knows what a very fine writer he his, because - selfish beast - I want more solo stuff.

It's a fable of fear and folkore, ridden with lies, used as social control.

In a pale, arid city walled up against the outside world and bleached of all will to wander, colour is preached to be the enemy of all. There, a cruel ceremony of spectacle is enacted which brings a bloodlust to the boil, bonding the population and cementing their blind obedience. All in the name of so-called survival.

But: "There is a crack, a crack in everything;
That’s how the light gets in."*

And the colour. And, oh, the colour!

Fabulous narrative control, and a cast whom I came to care for.


* Leonard Cohen, 'Anthem'