City

My biggest complaint about Smallville, the TV series, has been the ridiculously low amount of on-screen time for supposed best friends, Clark Kent and Lex Luthor.Fortunately, the TV tie-in novel, CITY, rectifies that lack - showing us, finally, the friendship between the boys, instead of just telling us about it. I normally avoid tie-in books, but I can't recommend CITY highly enough - if you like Smallville and if you got hooked on the show because you wanted to see what Clark and Lex were like as friends *before* they grew up and became enemies, buy this book. You won't regret it.

Smallville has been on my Tivo season pass list since a friend in the entertainment journalism field gave me an advance "screener" copy of the pilot episode. Watching the show has gotten me more interested in the wider world of comics, and among the better comics writers I've come across is Devin Grayson. So you can imagine how excited I was when I found out Ms. Grayson was writing a Smallville tie-in novel!I was not disappointed. "City" captures the interactions between the two main characters (Clark and Lex) beautifully, and gives us interesting, well-rounded views of all the people in their lives. (Even better, it reads as though Grayson has actually spent some time around small farming towns, while the show sometimes makes me doubt that its writers have ever left LA!) The deep bond between these two characters, in all of its complexity, is portrayed compellingly, even as we see some of the forces that will eventually start to pull them apart already at play.The story of Clark and Lex's adventures in Metropolis ties in nicely to where the characters are at this point in the Smallville story (early S2, approximately), and also gives Grayson a chance to really delve into a question Smallville the show has only begun to touch on -- how can someone who can do as much good as Clark can live with the knowledge that he can't possibly save everyone his powers could help? The moment in the novel at which Clark, completely overwhelmed by Metropolis, breaks down in a telephone booth, is about as perfect a distillation of Smallville as a story of the superhero's coming of age as anyone could hope for, on the show or in a book.I hope Devin Grayson keeps writing comics (and that DC will someday release a collection of her great work on Gotham Knights!). But I also hope this won't be her last venture into the Smallville universe; I'd love to keep reading books like this one!

The best of the Smallville novels so far, City proves to be a true gem for any fan! Ms. Grayson understands the complexities of the characters - both Clark and Lex fairly come to life on the pages, in some ways even more fully than the TV series. The original characters are a true treat as well. The storyline follows the two friends on a trip to Metropolis, where they get involved with the Japanese mafia, a psychotic field agent who believes he's discovered the identity of an alien who crashed in Kansas in 1989 and the machinations of Lionel Luthor. And along the way, the unlikely friendship between these two characters is examined in the way only a true fan of the show could do it. This novel has suspense, intrigue, action, laughter and even some moments of sorrow. If you are a fan of Smallville, then you must not let this one get by you! I can only hope that we are fortunate enough to get another novel written by Ms. Grayson.

I just finished the Smallville novel "City" and I can't tell you how refreshing it is to read one of these tie-in's written by someone who has actually *watched* and appreciates the show as a fan might. (Far beyond "The Pilot" and some random press releases anyway.)There are so many insightful references to many wonderful episodes (just *loved* the take on "Leech" -- my favorite Clark N'Lex scene from Season One) and the author has the characters, in all their rich layers, down perfectly. Ms. Grayson also has a wonderful grasp of the "rhythm" of the show itself; this book was more like a dream episode, wrapped up in a well-written, action-packed novel. And the Clark and Lex interaction being the focus for once .... YAY! Loved it!It's a highly enjoyable read during the current show hiatus. The show's writers now have much to live up to. Congratulations to the author on such great work.I CAN'T WAIT for the next SV novel by Ms. Grayson!

I admit that I've kind of fallen dopily in love with the Smallville tv series, which has become my number one guilty pleasure. When I saw this book in the store the other day I figured what the heck, it'll hold me 'til next Wednesday. Well, boy did it! If all the Smallville books are this good, my home library is about to get a lot bigger! Just like the show, this story managed to be thrilling and creepy and action-packed while at the same time being funny and touching and honest and warm. Unlike the show, it's also an insightful and loving study of the characters and places upon which the series hinges, rich with detail and astute psychological complexities. Some of the writing is startling beautiful, and all of it is engaging and clear. I spent four days unable to put this book down, and am now going back to reread it for the sheer pleasure of the experience. Smallville is still a guilty pleasure, but I'd recommend this book to anyone without hesitation.