Took forever to get through this book. Really didn't enjoy it at all! ( )

We "review" donated audiobooks at work to see if they're in good condition. I selected this book because I loved the GraphicAudio recordings to the Lightbringer Saga and it's also Green Lantern. Win win, right? Nope. Even my supervisor who listened along with me (as I decided long ago my earbuds suck in quality) was surprised on how boring it was. Even the interesting parts fell flat. Maybe it's a better read than a listen, who knows? But this is one book that I won't be recommending any time soon. Even if it's in our collection. ( )

Lot's of fun and really difficult to stop reading. The story is non-stop. ( )

With the new Green Lantern movie hitting theaters I figured it would be topical to review one of the few prose novels available for the character.
'Hero's Quest' was actually my introduction to the Green Lantern. Throughout my superhero loving childhood he just happened to be one of those few characters that I never crossed paths with.
Before I get into the review I should inform you that there have been several Green Lanterns and this novel focuses on Kyle Rayner who is not the same guy portrayed in the current movie by Ryan Reynolds. The first Green Lantern was named Alan Scott and he was followed by Hal Jordan (the Ryan Reynolds character), Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner and Jade.
Kyle Rayner's chance encounter with an extraterrestrial leaves him in possession of a ring that can be used as a powerful weapon. This weapon takes the form of green energy and can form anything his imagination can conjure with the only drawback being that it needs to be charged by insertion into a special lantern. That's a lantern as in an object and not as in another Lantern. That would make for a very weird charging system would it not? So, the novel begins and it's not long before Kyle is experiencing his first action by willing the energy into a giant boxing glove to punch a would be thief. The whole episode is played for comedy but it is a tad bit silly and that kind of sums up this novel in relation to the ring. Not that this was actually bad just a tad bit left of the middle as the problem with the ring being the focal point is that all situations are solved through a manifestation of energy. As that energy has to take a form we're disposed to an array of objects up to and including a giant umbrella which at times just becomes a tad too absurd and childish. Yeah, I know it's odd to mention it's childish when I read superhero novels but even I have my limits to what I can take and what crosses the line.
As the story progresses, and it's written in the first person all the way through as if we're being told the story over a cup of tea by Kyle himself, the Justice League of America disappear and Kyle has to investigate why which leads him to a bigger problem in that the universe itself faces annihilation.
The story itself is actually a good one and I did enjoy it. I also liked the voice of Kyle as his character is very quick witted and a bit of a smart ass. He also has a more human element that a lot of superheroes. For instance, there's a part in the book where he's relating an incident with Wonder Woman,

"The Amazon Princess...smiled in a fashion that combined maternity with a hint of flirtatiousness.
I guess I should apologize for that last line, but I won't because when I'm around Wonder Woman I half want to ask for home-baked pie and half want to ask what she's doing Friday night (and Saturday, and Sunday...)."

I like Kyle. I can relate to him.
Near the beginning of this post I mentioned that this was my first encounter with the Green Lantern and I think that's important because I had no preconceived notion of who he was and how he should act in certain situations. As such, being introduced to him from scratch and learning who he is through this novel was entertaining. However, if you are already a Green Lantern fan then this novel probably won't cut it for you as it has been changed from the original comic book scenario of how Kyle Rayner came to be the Green Lantern.
Overall I enjoyed this book. It's not amazing by any stretch of the imagination but I found it to be one of those reads that passed the time nicely and left me in a good mood. ( )

The story of Kyle Rayner becoming Green Lantern. He does start out being a bit of a student waster and ends up a bigger man and fitting his role of Green Lantern. ( )