Sandkings by Doug Moench

Sandkings Reviews

• 
  Sud666

  Sankings is a science fiction story by G.R.R. Martin and adapted into Graphic Novel format by Doug Moench, of Batman fame. The story centers around an arrogant, cruel and megalomaniac collector Simon Kress. Kress collects exotic animals. Kress keeps a reptilian/canine hybrid known as a Shambler to which he feeds kittens. As you can see he is a class act.
  
  One day Kress goes into an exotic pet shop run by Jala Wo. She shows him the tiny creatures known as Sandkings. They are an insect like hive mind. Sandkings are highly intelligent and can develop complex societies. The different colored species often go to war against each other and build miniature, yet complex, cities. Kress watches these actions from outside the tank and the Sandkings worship him as a god, since he provides them with food and shelter. The Sandkings, though small, also have a highly developed warrior culture. Wo warns Kress to treat them well and to never let them out of the glass cage.
  
  Kress then hosts parties in which he begins to deprive the Sankings of food and invites guests to bring their own exotic pets and releases them against the Sandkings. Eventually this cruelty warps the Sandkings. They become mad versions of themselves. I shall not spoil it further, but suffice to say they DO escape their cage and then the fun begins.
  
  Simon Kress is a loathsome character and most of the people he hangs out with are similarly repulsive. The art style is not bad, though not great either, and it seems to work for the story. This story is an interesting one, since many tend to associate Martin with Game of Thrones style fantasy-he shows a great skill for telling a good sci-fi tale. Of the DC SCI-FI graphic novels, this is by far the best story I've read so far. If you are looking for a good sci-fi read or are a GRR Martin fan then I recommend this for you.
  
• 
  Tracey

  Picked up Sandkings by George RR Martin a few weeks ago at a used bookstore. I remembered the title story from reading it in Omni about 20 (!!!!) years ago. The story *is* that memorable, trust me. The other stories in this collection are equally well-written, covering the realms of science-fiction, fantasy and horror.
  
  I think starting with an author's short stories is a good way to find out if you like his/her style -- I'm looking forward to reading more of Mr. Martin's work.
  
• 
  Artur Coelho

  Uma adaptação bem ritmada de uma história escrita por um autor que se viria a tornar um dos grandes nomes da fantasia, mas também deixa a sua marca na FC. Os gostos de um homem por animais violentos parecem ser saciados com uma nova e estranha espécie de insetos que constrói castelos e executa elaboradas batalhas rituais. Mas este quer algo mais empolgante, e leva a sociedade insectóide que mantém num viveiro aos limites da fome, alimentando-as com criaturas poderosas que as obrigam a combates para gáudio dos seus amigos. Claro que eventualmente este amante de criaturas exóticas também se irá tornar vítima dos insetos, após estes escaparem dos viveiros. A adaptação mantém um bom ritmo e a ilustração, sem grandes voos estéticos, acompanha o humor macabro da narrativa.
• 
  Kitty Red-Eye

  Definitely one of the very best of GRRM's sci-fi short stories and novellas I've read. Probably could put it down if I really wanted, but why would I want that? Felt very sorry for those small interesting creatures, then they got big and effing scary, and our awful main character blames everyone but himself, and playing God is real fun until he finds out he's been the sorcerer's apprentice instead, but too late, oh so late. If I missed anything, it would have been hearing a bit more about this planet, one of few to have been mentioned in several of the 1000 worlds stories. But that would have been a different story, and I'm very pleased with this one.
• 
  Alina

  This made my hair stand on end!