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Kraken, by China Mieville. Gripping read, I'm halfway through the 500+ page hardcover after a day. If you've read other Mieville, I'd just say that it's set in London, not on Bas-Lag, sort of like the London of Neverwhere.
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, aka Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Magical Girl Madoka... Magic? "of the Mage", according to Wikipedia. Ungrammatical titles aside, after 7 of 12 episodes it looks like an excellent subversive magical girl anime. It's probably the "really good show you wouldn't expect to be that good" of the year. I was somewhat spoiled, and I'd rather not say anything about the subversion. Just give it, say, six episodes. I can say it's got some impressively different animation for the high magic scenes, sort of like a blend with Mononoke. And good characters, though the main one is Miss Wobbly Indecisive. She has both parents and a decent family life and actually talks to her parents, though not about the magic. Always nice to see an intact and not useless family, though Karin is still #1 on that front.
I've also re-read Mike Carey's run on Hellblazer; still good.
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, aka Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Magical Girl Madoka... Magic? "of the Mage", according to Wikipedia. Ungrammatical titles aside, after 7 of 12 episodes it looks like an excellent subversive magical girl anime. It's probably the "really good show you wouldn't expect to be that good" of the year. I was somewhat spoiled, and I'd rather not say anything about the subversion. Just give it, say, six episodes. I can say it's got some impressively different animation for the high magic scenes, sort of like a blend with Mononoke. And good characters, though the main one is Miss Wobbly Indecisive. She has both parents and a decent family life and actually talks to her parents, though not about the magic. Always nice to see an intact and not useless family, though Karin is still #1 on that front.
I've also re-read Mike Carey's run on Hellblazer; still good.