The Moon Moth (review)

In this graphic-novel adaptation of the classic sci-fi short story first published in 1961, Edwer Thissell, the new human consular representative to the planet of Sirene, finds himself thrust unprepared into the intricacies of Sirene culture even as he is tasked with tracking down a human criminal (Haxo Angmark) believed to be hiding among the planet's denizens. The twist? In Sirene's highly ritualized and status-oriented culture, everyone wears masks at all times (and it's a mortal offense to divest anyone of their mask), so Angmark could be hiding in plain sight. There are many challenges inherent in adapting this work, from visually conveying characters' emotions in a masked society to relaying the urgency of Thissell's situation to bringing the alien world to life, and it's only at this last element that Humayoun truly excels. Using coded (with colors and patterns linked to instruments described in a prefatory glossary) speech-bubble borders to denote the instrumental accompaniments to Sirene's sung language, each of which has particular social connotations, is an inspired and visually striking conceit. The world itself is vibrant and strange, conveyed in rich jewel tones with a wealth of detail. Unfortunately, the story too often lags, becoming mired in exposition that stalls the visuals in drawn-out conversations in enclosed spaces. While the world-building benefits enormously from the visual medium, the intricacy and intellectualism of Thissell's social maneuverings and the accompanying fugitive mystery may be better suited to text alone. Still, graphic-novel fans will find much of visual interest here, and sci-fi aficionados will appreciate the new take on a classic tale of identity and intrigue in an alien world. A biographical tribute to Vance's life and work opens the book.