The Familiar

The Familiar is a large body of work. With 26 more volumes coming up, I guess it makes sense that the story feels sparse for the most part. That doesn't stop me from nearly ripping my hair out with this first volume, though. I couldn't wrap myself around it the same way House of Leaves did (yeah, I'm one of those who couldn't get over that book).

Sure, the typography that comes up once in a while's fancy, maybe enough to warrant some shelf space if only as a trophy book. The cover art in each chapter was (for me) shrug-worthy. I wouldn't say MZD's got poor taste in design. It's hard to tell if the grungy-pop-eccentric-and-reminds-you-of-your-grandma kind of art was intentional or not. I can't even find a word for it. Bottomline is, it's awkward.


There were still some literary gems scattered throughout that book that kept my faith in MZD as a writer, but I couldn't help it that the only chapters I cared about were those of Xanther's and I just breezed through the rest. That means I owe it a second reading, but I can't promise that. All I know is that I won't be looking forward to the next volume. I might even be exchanging this book for a boxed set of Game of Thrones that my girlfriend has been asking for.

House of Leaves was good enough in itself to keep me as your fan, MZD. The Familiar just didn't win me over. Or hasn't yet. Who knows. At least it's not as painfully unreadable as Only Revolutions. Hence, the 3 stars.