Fallout (Lois Lane)

Confession: My main interest in Superman, other than getting caught up in the late 70s Christopher Reeve movies, has focused on television: first, "Lois and Clark," and then "Smallville." I haven't bothered with the more recent movie iterations. And, well... I never completely *got* Lois Lane. I mostly liked her because Clark Kent liked her. But she was always portrayed as being so... MUCH, you know? So pushy. So snarky. So stupid-risk-taking. And, mostly, so secondary to Superman.This book, therefore, intrigued me. I wanted to see who Lois Lane was, as herself, and not just as someone Superman needs to continually rescue. Turns out, this version of YA Lois is indeed pushy, snarky, and risk-taking -- and suddenly it ALL MAKES SENSE. I loved it, and immediately bought the second book in the series.Lois never backs down, because that is the only way to stand her ground against her father, the General. Often, she is faking it 'til she makes it, but on the outside, she would come across just as pushy as she has seemed in earlier iterations. Lois takes risks in part because she will always stand up for the underdog--a point beautifully played out in this book--which makes her risk-taking seem more heroic than TSTL (especially in a teenager). In fact, much of what I used to not like about her are just what can make her an excellent reporter... even if the story glossed over where her writing skills came from.Okay, yes -- I subtracted one star because there are some few far-fetched moments where the reader has to be truly willing to suspend disbelief. They are no more far-fetched than most of the plots in "Lois & Clark" or "Smallville," though, so to me, they come with the territory of Metropolis. Everything else was delightful, though, from Lois' relationship with her kid sister Lucy to her text-centered relationship with the mysterious Smallville Guy.Even when she made decisions that made me cringe, it was just ... Lois Lane being Lois Lane. And for the first time, I saw what Clark Kent apparently sees in her. I really appreciate that! It's time she shone on her own.

As a woman in my 30s, I am probably not the target age group for this book, but that did not stop me from enjoying it immensely. There were parts where I definitely felt my age (I doubt most people my age know what a Nerdfighter is) but those times were few and far between. I blew through it a day, and was really sad when it was over.I really enjoyed Bond's take on Lois. She is tough, but vulnerable. Snarky, but with a huge heart. A horrible speller, but a great journalist. And she is always willing to sacrifice her own reputation when its for something she truly believes is right. Basically, the Lois I have always loved.My only complaint is that there isn't more, and because of this certain aspects of Lois' relationship with her 'online friend' seemed a tad rushed (I am used to VERY slow burns when it comes to the Lois/Clark dynamic in all other forms of media) but I will take what I can get. It's way past time Lois Lane gets the credit and attention she deserves as a fictional character. Give me all the Lois Lane stories. If there are more in the future, I guarantee I will be there to read them. And if you have a pre teen daughter or niece, definitely encourage them to read this book!

The first and most important thing is that Lois Lane herself is characterized perfectly throughout the book. That alone is reason enough to buy it. She is everything a fan could ask for. She's headstrong, outspoken, principled, intelligent, brave and just all kinds of amazing. She shines here as she rarely gets to, free from the shadow of Superman (mostly). She sticks up for what she thinks is right and takes action (but not crap). It's hard to think of a better feminist role model.That said, the high school setting and the fact that the book is steeped in teen culture might dissuade older readers (like myself) in a way that The Hunger Games never had to worry about, but there's still a solid (and serious) story here that will pull in anybody with a mind to give it a chance.My only real complaint is Superman's inclusion at all, but this is still fundamentally Lois's story, and he's never anything more than a sidekick in it. This is still a great reminder that Lois is more than just "Superman's girlfriend".She's a super hero all on her own.

Louis Lane ist neu in der Stadt und an der Schule und fällt sofort wieder in alte Muster zurück, die ihr Army-Dad ihr am liebsten austreiben würde: Mysterien auf den Grund gehen und gegen Ungerechtigkeiten kämpfen - Das bringt Louis nämlich immer wieder in Schwierigkeiten. Das Buch hat mir echt gut gefallen. Louis war eine taffe, ehrliche, witzige Protagonistin, mit einem tollen Gespür für News und einer gelungenen Weltansicht. Die ganze Story dreht sich viel um ein Online-Spiel und auch die angesiedelte "Romanze" läuft über Chats, statt Real Life ab. Ich mochte beides, weil die Autorin sich wirklich bemüht hat, um Klischees herumzuschiffen und die Handlung auch ordentlich Pepp und Wenden hatte. Die Randfiguren hatten eine tolle Dynamik und mit der kunterbunten Truppe der Schülerzeitung hatte ich viel Spaß. Trotz der Kürze des Romans hatte das Buch aber einige Längen und mir hätte es deutlich besser gefallen, wenn man etwas weniger auf dem Gaming-Trip und mehr im echten Leben unterwegs gewesen wäre. So kamen nämlich Gefühle und Überleitungen oft etwas zu kurz.

This book captured me from the first page to the last one.It was perfect. The way the author writes Lois Lane here is remarkable, fresh and new. I'm Italian and reading in English is a real good improvement of my language skills and this story is really something new and interesting. I'm a long time Lois Lane and Clark Kent fan (from Reeve/Kidder movies of Superman to the Clois in the long Tv Series 'Smallville') and it's nice to find in this story a young and modern Lois Lane who finally has her own main spot under the light without being in the shadow of Superman or the also here young SmallvilleGuy. It's a book for all the fans of Lois Lane and for the new generations of young women that get to discover her through this amazing first story. I hope there will be more of them in the near fututre because I'll be the first in line to buy them.

'A teenage Lois Lane moves to Metropolis High to live quietly, but ends up with a job as a teen investigative reporter.'First off, how can you not be convinced by that alone?The conceit behind Fallout is relatively simple: what would a young Lois Lane be like before she became the Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and confidante/love interest of Superman? In Gwenda Bond's view, the answer is simple: she'd be Lois Lane, high school student working as an investigative reporter for the Daily Scoop, the Daily Planet's online youth section. That answer works, and works well.When writers are given free reign over pre-established characters, there is some hesitation as to what direction will that writer take that character. Will it be truthful to their core concepts, or will it deviate for the sake of something new and alien? Lois has had many strong writers depict her as unwavering in her pursuit of truth; unfortunately, others see this as impossible without sacrificing the nuances that make her empathetic or even likable as a character. Thankfully, Bond deftly captures the parts about Lois that make her inspiring, someone more than worthy enough to warrant her own story outside of Superman. Like the inevitable comparisons with television characters Veronica Mars and Liv Moore, Lois's role as a journalist is practically thrust upon her: and, like Veronica and Liv, she quickly proves to adapt and thrive in her new place in life. And yet almost thankfully, we see Lois not yet entirely formed: there are still moments of vulnerability to this teen Lois that take you by surprise, reminding you that she may have the bug for being a journalist, but she's still fallible, and has many ways (and hopefully many books) to go before she earns that Pulitzer.The world surrounding Lois is at once familiar and different: Metropolis is always depicted in a state of present-future, and that hasn't changed here. Technology has advanced enough to create headsets that plug you into almost fully immersive game worlds, and high schools are still breeding grounds for bullying and ineffectual administration, a world perfect for an investigative reporter. There is always the hint of something more to Metropolis's technology, but Bond chooses to focus solely on Lois, a wiser choice perhaps when fleshing out a character for the first time. Indeed, it is Lois' relationships that matter most in her narrative. Her fellow Scoop journalists, her family, and her personal online confidante, @SmallvilleGuy: all of Lois' supporting cast enables us to delve deeper into Lois' character, and it is through these interactions that Bond perhaps excels at best. The only relationship I wish were able to be examined more thoroughly is in the case of Lois' mother: in the comics, she's barely mentioned, if at all. Often, she is considered to have either passed away or simply unavailable by the time Clark formally enters Lois' life. The opportunity in Fallout to really dive into what sort of impact Mrs. Lane had on Lois growing up is not lost on me, and I only wish that that relationship is given a better chance to develop further should there be a sequel to Fallout.In spite of this, this does not detract from the overall book. If anything, it allows Fallout's new characters a chance to breathe, to expand beyond being two-dimensional cutouts. Fallout also benefits from having its main antagonist(s) tap into genuine fears of today. Bullying, abuse of the information age, loss of private/personal identity: the implications behind the Warheads and their actions are nothing short of unsettling. Bond amplifies the sense of danger lurking in Metropolis through the Warheads and their origins, justifying not only a need for a Superman in the future, but a Lois Lane right in the present.Lois Lane: Fallout comes at a time when Lois is in need of her own spotlight: with DC Comics relegating her as (SPOILER ALERT) "The Woman Who Outed Superman's Identity", and replacing her as a love interest for Clark with Wonder Woman, Lois's prominence in comics is waning at a time when it should be more visible than ever. It is fortunate, then, that Gwenda Bond 'gets' not just Lois, but the appeal behind Lois.The only question that remains is: What's next?

I relate to Lois's character a lot, being a military kid going from one place to another and the fight-for-what's-right mindset, the characters were pretty good too, but I personally find the narration pretty boring because it's mostly just "She did this and he did that and oh that happened" probably could have visualised it more. Other than that it's pretty cool

Fallout was a very fun read. Whether you're a fan of Lois Lane from the comic books or Lois & Clark or Smallville or the movies or animated series, you'll find something to love in this book.In Fallout, we're reading the adventures of a teenage Lois Lane, who is very reminiscent of Veronica Mars (which is great news in my book). The story is told from Lois' perspective. We get to see her in action, we learn what makes her tick, and we also see why she is Superman's greatest companion. Her resourcefulness and perseverance and sense of justice come through strongly in Fallout. There's no Superman per se, but, well, you'll have to read to find out the clever way Superman is incorporated into the story.I'm the type of reader who enjoys down-to-earth characters like Lois playing against the backdrop of a superhero world, so this book worked wonderfully for me. If you're like me and feel like the comics and other media don't go into enough depth with Lois, check out Fallout. And while this book isn't like most YA that sets up a sequel or trilogy, you'll be left wanting even more adventures of teenage Lois Lane. Let's hope we get more soon!