藍熊船長的13條半命

Title: The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear
Author: Moers, Walter (1957- )
Translated by John Brownjohn from German
Woodstock : Overlook Press, 2005 
Translation originally published: London : Secker & Warburg, 2000
702 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm
Read by: 07/24/2012, DD’s collection
Genre: Fantasy

A fantasy novel, extensively creative, this book offers great stories. The author’s imagination is as unlimited as the sky, some readers may have trouble in following him. Thanks to the illustrations by the author, they helped to form the images. Every life form and their behaviors are matter of fact infinite exaggeration (in the case of spider-witch and bollogg) or infinite anti-exaggeration (in the case of mini-pirates) of reality in our world. To match the non-existence, the author made up words. Their encyclopedia definitions can make your head spin. My favorite Bluebear’s life is his 10th life in the Tornado City. The second favorite is his 4th life on Gourmet Island, next in the list is his 9th life across the Demara Desert with the Muggs. While I am so amazed by the author's imaginative knowledge, I was also bored to tears from time to time by the detailed description and the repeated pattern in every ending of the Bluebear's life when in danger. Without exception, Bluebear moved on to his next adventurous life, thanks to numerous “Reptilian Rescuers” in various forms. A notion not new in this book but quite profound in the 13 ½ stories: All life forms have intelligence. Non human can be significantly smarter, it is only matter of extent and means of communication.

I put the book on hold for three weeks after I was half done, and finally got over with it in two days. Thanks to DD’s recommendation, it is a book full of surprises and excitement. It would have never come my way without being put forward in front of me.