- Paperback: 96 pages
- Publisher: Titan Books Ltd (25 Mar 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1840239247
- ISBN-13: 978-1840239249
- Product Dimensions: 25.4 x 16.4 x 0.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
136,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #36 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Authors > Ellis, Warren
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Product Description
Review
Comics International Issue 173: " The art's lovely and the script's gripping until the end...Ellis' conclusions may leave a bitter taste in your mouth, but Weston's lovingly crafted conclusions make you realise this was worth the wait." www thefourthrail.com February 2005: "...a series that has finally lived up to its potential 8/10."
Ottakars' Outland
This is a thought-provoking and beautifully-drawn story that has a dark secret in its storytelling core.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A disturbing and brilliant look into an alternate history where Britannia may not rule the waves any longer, but certainly has a damn good go at ruling the skies.
Told mostly in flashback, this is the story of how the monomaniacal Air Commodore Dashwood jump-starts the British space programme at the end of the second world war; realising that Britain is finished as a land power he kidnaps the Peenemunde team and ensures - by any means necessary - that the Americans can't get their hands on any of the remains of the base.
Within a few years Britain has launched its first satellite and Dashwood becomes the first man into space - losing his legs when his rocketplane crashes on re-entry. Undeterred, he continues to push Britain ever further - space stations, Moon and Mars landings all soon follow. The Empire on which the Sun never set spans several planets...
...but the Americans eventually start up their own space programme; and they've discovered how Dashwood found the money to start the British Ministry of Space...
This is strong stuff. A complex political morality tale, a character study of a true monster, and yet also a loving homage to the world of Dan Dare. It's a curiously Bakelite sort of alternate history; no rock'n'roll in Britain, no Beatles, Nationasl Service, short back'n'sides... how much liberty is it worth sacrificing for the dream of the space programme? And can the means ever be justified by the ends?
Everything about this graphic novel is near-perfect - taut scripting, stunningly plausible art, and a real sense of back-story. Further dispatches from the Ministry will be awaited with interest.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a gorgeously rendered, alternative history where Britain achieves dominance in space after WWII.
The hardware designs are superb blend of classic Dan Dare and real designs from the 1930's - 40's. But in the end, what makes this a great read is the story and it's "ends justifies the means" morality. Sci fi author Stephen Baxter's alternative space histories are on a par with this, as a comparison. For older readers, the homage to Dan Dare and Eagle comics is charming. I have to commend the team very highly for this production.
The only nit I have is that the assumption that Britain wouldn't change socially seems unlikely, and the implied segregation of non-whites was never a part of British society where I grew up, and unlikely to have emerged. But this a small nit and doesn't detract from this excellent story.
I strongly recommend it.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This slim paperback seems to divide people by virtue of its last panel twist (I hardly believed it myself) and I can see why. The last panel introduces new questions that you might feel Ellis should have explored during the narrative so I can understand the frustration some appear to have experienced, but personally I felt it was pretty easy to fill in the blanks.
I'm a huge Warren Ellis fan and own more of his repetoire than is probably healthy but this is the first of his works I have felt spurred to review such was its thought-provoking nature, well-writteness and crucially Chris Weston's gorgeous artwork, which is a revelation and alone makes the book worth purchasing.
I'm a huge Warren Ellis fan and own more of his repetoire than is probably healthy but this is the first of his works I have felt spurred to review such was its thought-provoking nature, well-writteness and crucially Chris Weston's gorgeous artwork, which is a revelation and alone makes the book worth purchasing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An excellent counterfactual
This story imagines the world of Dan Dare and, working backwards, asks how could the UK have started the conquest of space? Read more
Published 12 months ago by T. P. V. Hartman
Good, but could have been better
Ministry of Space was a very interesting 'What If' British forces had got to Peenemunde first.
A few issues I have with it:
1 Good premise and some excellent... Read more
A few issues I have with it:
1 Good premise and some excellent... Read more
Published 13 months ago by gururob
Nice alternate history, but too short in lenght
This comic is very good. Depicts an excellent alternate history settings, as the british get Von Braum and all the rocket scientists from the Germans, and their "toys", and then... Read more
Published 15 months ago by José Javier Domènech Rozas
Good fun.
Ministry of Space is indeed a slim little book - I understand that the original comic was a run of 3 issues? Read more
Published on 22 May 2010 by R. Palmer
Eye-poppingly attractive, sharp and concise.
The schtick behind this short graphic novel is an alternate history in which it was Britain that scooped up all Germany's Peenemunde rocket scientists at the end of WWII. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2009 by Jason Mills
graphics cannot make up for poor story
The plot line is a simple premise, that one RAF pilot can convince the British governmant to snatch Nazi rocket boffins, and use Nazi gold to build a new empire in space, and the... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2008 by C. D. Turner
A Curate's Egg, but worthwhile
I tried to add a 4th star to this re-review, but no go. A pity, as passing time has added to my appreciation of this title, and particularly the time put into the detailed artwork. Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2008 by DM Jefferis
Beautifully drawn - but still a one-trick pony
I had great hopes for this book. I had been disappointed by 'Orbiter', but had hoped this book, with its evocation of Dan Dare, would be more successful. Read more
Published on 1 July 2008 by M. Dench
Great concept, poor story
Fantastic artwork, lovely concept. Lame plot, and yes, a last page plot twist so galling and ignorant you will never want to read or even think about this book ever again. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2006 by Bloke
Very, very good but
Why the three stars? The last panel of the last page spoils it. This would never happen and lets face it if there was racial segregation there would never be these opportunities. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2006 by Sir Sidney Ruff Diamond
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