Book Review: After the Golden Age, by Carrie Vaughn

It sucks to be a "normal" when your parents are the world's mightiest heroes.

Tor, 2011, 304 pages

Can an accountant defeat a supervillain? Celia West, only daughter of the heroic leaders of the superpowered Olympiad, has spent the past few years estranged from her parents and their high-powered lifestyle. She’s had enough of masks and heroics, and wants only to live her own quiet life out from under the shadow of West Plaza and her rich and famous parents.

Then she is called into her boss’ office and told that as the city’s top forensic accountant, Celia is the best chance the prosecution has to catch notorious supervillain the Destructor for tax fraud. In the course of the trial, Celia’s troubled past comes to light and family secrets are revealed as the rift between Celia and her parents grows deeper. Cut off from friends and family, Celia must come to terms with the fact that she might just be Commerce City’s only hope.

This all-new and moving story of love, family, and sacrifice is an homage to Golden Age comics that no fan will want to miss.

( You'd have daddy issues too if your father was a superhero AND an asshole. )

Verdict: This is a fine, fun, somewhat cliched superhero story with a very non-superheroic protagonist. After the Golden Age is enough like the comic books Vaughn is paying homage to that comic book fans should enjoy it, but ordinary Celia West and her romantic and family dramas, which really drive the story, make it perfectly accessible to genre fans who don't have a closet full of long cardboard boxes stuffed full of mylar bags (>..>). I can't give it a rousing recommendation as it's a book that I liked but did not love, but if you really like superheroes or Carrie Vaughn, you should find it worth reading.

Also by Carrie Vaughn: My review of Kitty and the Midnight Hour.

Book Review: After the Golden Age, by Carrie Vaughn

It sucks to be a "normal" when your parents are the world's mightiest heroes.

Tor, 2011, 304 pages

Can an accountant defeat a supervillain? Celia West, only daughter of the heroic leaders of the superpowered Olympiad, has spent the past few years estranged from her parents and their high-powered lifestyle. She’s had enough of masks and heroics, and wants only to live her own quiet life out from under the shadow of West Plaza and her rich and famous parents.

Then she is called into her boss’ office and told that as the city’s top forensic accountant, Celia is the best chance the prosecution has to catch notorious supervillain the Destructor for tax fraud. In the course of the trial, Celia’s troubled past comes to light and family secrets are revealed as the rift between Celia and her parents grows deeper. Cut off from friends and family, Celia must come to terms with the fact that she might just be Commerce City’s only hope.

This all-new and moving story of love, family, and sacrifice is an homage to Golden Age comics that no fan will want to miss.

( You'd have daddy issues too if your father was a superhero AND an asshole. )

Verdict: This is a fine, fun, somewhat cliched superhero story with a very non-superheroic protagonist. After the Golden Age is enough like the comic books Vaughn is paying homage to that comic book fans should enjoy it, but ordinary Celia West and her romantic and family dramas, which really drive the story, make it perfectly accessible to genre fans who don't have a closet full of long cardboard boxes stuffed full of mylar bags (>..>). I can't give it a rousing recommendation as it's a book that I liked but did not love, but if you really like superheroes or Carrie Vaughn, you should find it worth reading.

Also by Carrie Vaughn: My review of Kitty and the Midnight Hour.