Gunnerkrigg Court, Vol. 2: Research: 07/05/13

As part of the 2009-2010 CYBILS, I was introduced to Thomas Siddell's web comic, Gunnerkrigg Court, via volume one, Orientation. Although I was eager to read volume 2, Research, it fell out of print about as quickly as it was in print. So quick in fact, that none of my local libraries had managed to purchase a copy (although they did have volume 3, Reason).

Yes — I could have read online. It is a web comic, after all. My husband has read it since the beginning and continue to stay current with the series online. Web comics and ebooks, are two things that I find incredibly frustrating to read on a regular basis. I prefer stepping away from my screen to read print.

Thankfully last year, Archaia Entertainment started producing a new edition of Research. Gleefully I purchased a copy (along with Reason, review coming).

Research in print is 296 pages. It covers Chapter 15 through the end of Chapter 22. I've included the links if you'd prefer to read it online.

Annie and Kat are back for their second year. The first year / volume was an introduction both to the school and to the characters. This year, it's all about exploration both of the castle and of its history. I'm a sucker for stories that treat the architecture almost like another character — subterranean tunnels, secret passage ways, boarded up rooms — all make me turn the pages faster. Research is full of all these goodies.

Sometimes the plot in second book in a multi-part series languishes. These even number books become the pause for breath between the intense, action-packed odd number volumes. Not so, here. There's a good balance between new revelations and answers to questions posed in Orientation.

Five stars

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