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  Laika (graphic novel by Nick Abadzis)

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Author Topic:   Laika (graphic novel by Nick Abadzis)
Paul23
Member

Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 05-23-2009 05:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul23   Click Here to Email Paul23     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was at a signing event in London today (not a space event, more focused around films, graphic novels, etc.), there was a guy there called Nick Abadzis who has produced a graphic novel based on the experiences of Laika.

The book seems to have had some good reviews so I picked up a copy which the author signed for me and even did a little sketch of Laika inside as well which looks pretty cool.

Anyway I thought I'd mention the book for those that haven't come across it before.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6275
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 05-23-2009 11:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From the French publisher:*
The real and poignant story of the first living creature sent into space: the dog Laika. A scientific and historical saga that reveals several stories: the chief engineer of the Soviet program, the space race between the USA and the USSR, and that of Laika, of course, stray dog who escapes euthanasia that to be a guinea pig sacrificed on the altar of human success and, ultimately, a symbol of progress. A story told with great subtlety and greater historical accuracy.
You can flip through the first 17 pages (of the French version - 208 pages) here.

* I don't know if the book was originally published in French or English, then translated.

FFrench
Member

Posts: 3222
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 12-25-2009 10:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Received a copy of this for Christmas and read it in one sitting. Very good, in the way it captures Soviet-era culture, is graphically very well done, and very moving to read. I'd recommend it.

Gilbert
Member

Posts: 1420
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 01-01-2010 06:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gilbert   Click Here to Email Gilbert     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I purchased this book a couple of years ago. I enjoyed reading it and the graphic novel approach is especially fitting for the topic.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 47255
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-26-2021 03:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This graphic novel has now been adapted into a VR animation short, Variety reports.
British filmmaker Asif Kapadia, Oscar winner for "Amy," was due to adapt Nick Abadzis' 2007 graphic novel "Laika" as an animated film before it finally saw fruition as a VR experience.

Kapadia came across the novel, based on the true story of a Moscow stray mongrel who was sent into orbit by Russia on Sputnik 2 in 1957, more than five years ago. He read it to his children as a bedtime story and decided to adapt it as an animated film that they could watch. He optioned the novel but as he grew busy with other projects, the option lapsed.

In 2019, Kapadia was approached with the idea for a VR short to be shown at the BFI London Film Festival by event organizers along with the StoryFutures Academy, the U.K.'s National Centre for Immersive Storytelling, run by the National Film and Television School, and Royal Holloway, University of London. Kapadia trawled his bookshelves for ideas and came across "Laika" again. Abadzis agreed and the project was on.

randy
Member

Posts: 2496
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 10-26-2021 04:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for randy   Click Here to Email randy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Based on the reviews of this by cS members, I just purchased a copy.

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