Robert Silverberg's Belzagor

by Robert Silverberg

Robert Silverberg (Creator), Laura Zuccheri (Illustrator), and Adrien Villesange (Illustrator)

This re-release of fan-favourite adaptation of Robert Silverberg's Downward to the Earth is accompanied by the highly-anticipated Children of Belzagor, the original and never before released sequel.

From the mind of legendary American science-fiction writer Robert Silverberg. What began in his acclaimed Downward to the Earth continues in this collection! First, Return to Belzagor, the fan-favorite adaptation of Downward to the Earth as adapted by writer Philippe Thirault and Eisner-nominated artist Laura Zuccheri. Then, the story continues in the all-new Children of Belzagor, a Silverberg-approved tale of legacy and the lasting effects of colonialism.

Return to Belzagor - Ex-lieutenant Eddie Gundersen returns to Belzagor, where he left behind his youthful illusions, the love of his life, and a shameful history as a brutal colonialist. Today, the planet has been returned to its two native, intelligent species: the Nildorors and the Sulidorors. Acting as a guide for a scientific expedition deep within native territory, Gundersen confronts his inner demons and settles old scores with a planet that hasn’t yet revealed all its secrets to him.

Children of Belzagor - Belzagor is a beautiful and mysterious planet, a former Earth colony returned to its two native species. Eddie Gundersen, a former colonist who has been initiated into some of the planet's secrets, thinks he can live a quiet life there. But threatened with expulsion, he is forced to accept a dangerous quest that will lead him to the Ice Lands, to the farthest reaches of Belzagor's unexplored territories... This journey confronts him not only with the secrets that the planet still holds, but also with old enmities.

• ISBN10: 1643376926
• ISBN13: 9781643376929
• Publish Date: 7 May 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Humanoids, Inc
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 208
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Robert Silverberg's Belzagor is a graphic novel adaptation and reformatting of Silverberg's original Down to the Earth (from 1970) reinterpreted by Philippe Thirault. Released 7th May 2024, it's 208 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is an adaptation (with a previously unpublished sequel) of a 54 year old Heart of Darkness pastiche. It's about 30% colonist diatribe, 40% unironic misogyny, and 30% sexscapade/soap opera. The original source material is quite dated and modern readers should probably be prepared to read it as a product of the time period. (Just the sexism alone wouldn't fly in a modern tale). The ending of the first part also differs from the original in some ways.

The art, by Laura Zuccheri, is finely detailed and full of movement. Despite the artist's expertise, the adaptation to graphic format isn't entirely successful and there are some gaps with long passages of character dialogue which doesn't suit the medium. 

Three stars. Worth a look (especially for the previously unpublished sequel). Potentially a good choice for public library acquisition (but be aware, there is *adult* content), or for gifting to a particularly keen Silverberg fan. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.