Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
ISFiC Press
Description
"How dare you? I never asked for you to hunt me down " No, Velma Martinez hadn't. But when you had once been Velveteen, child super-heroine and one of The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division, you were never going to be free, even if your only power was to bring toys to life. The Marketing Department would be sure of that. So it all came down to this. One young woman and an army of misfit toys vs. the assembled might of the nine members of The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division who had come to take her down. They never had a chance. Velveteen lives in a world of superheroes and magic, where men can fly and where young girls can be abducted to the Autumn Land to save Halloween. Velma lives from paycheck to paycheck and copes with her broken-down car as she tries to escape from her old life. It's all the same world. It's all real. And figuring out how to be both Velveteen and Velma is the biggest challenge of her life, because being super-human means you're still human in the end. Join us as award-winning author Seanan McGuire takes us through the first volume of Velveteen's--and Velma's--adventure.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
I had read all these stories, over time, from Seanan's website. Still, having them as one book (and I _think_ a little cleaned up - slightly less repetition, though there was never an overwhelming amount) is great. I forgot my Seanan rule and started the book late - but finished it quickly (and
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then had to go on to the second book!), it's not very long. Great stories about a superhero who walked away from her team, for good and sufficient reasons which we learn in this book in frequent flashbacks. It's a strange world, with corporatized super heroes and a lot of laws dictating interactions with them. And we begin to get the hints that things are not what they seem... There are a lot of funny scenes, and a lot of deep ones - and sometimes they're the same scenes. Love it. And I hear there will be a third book! Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
This was a wonderful read that was humorous and highly entertaining while at the same time being thoughtful and heartfelt. I am a huge fan of Seanan McGuire and I enjoyed this just as much as her Incryptid and October Daye series. This is a series of stories following Velma as she travels from
I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was incredibly well done. I would definitely recommend listening to on audiobook; McLemore sounds exactly like I imagine Velma would and does a great job with character voices and emotion.
The whole story is set in an alternate reality where superheroes exist and are heavily marketed with the majority being controlled by a large corporation. There are a lot of interesting issues addressed from very real issues (like corporate monopolies) to more fantasy issues (how does a superhero who can animate toys find a guy who understands her). Additionally there are questions about identity; who is Velma? Is she Velveteen or is she Velma? Is she something in between?
I loved all the characters in this book, even the side characters have a lot of depth and are completely real. I loved the world and thought this was an amazing read.
Overall I really enjoyed this story collection and look forward to reading the other Velveteen vs. collections. I would recommend to those who enjoy superhero stories with a human touch to them. The book is also pretty funny at times so I would recommend to those who enjoy humor in their stories as well.
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Southern California to Oregon; there is a loose plotline but this is very much a set of stories...not really a book.I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was incredibly well done. I would definitely recommend listening to on audiobook; McLemore sounds exactly like I imagine Velma would and does a great job with character voices and emotion.
The whole story is set in an alternate reality where superheroes exist and are heavily marketed with the majority being controlled by a large corporation. There are a lot of interesting issues addressed from very real issues (like corporate monopolies) to more fantasy issues (how does a superhero who can animate toys find a guy who understands her). Additionally there are questions about identity; who is Velma? Is she Velveteen or is she Velma? Is she something in between?
I loved all the characters in this book, even the side characters have a lot of depth and are completely real. I loved the world and thought this was an amazing read.
Overall I really enjoyed this story collection and look forward to reading the other Velveteen vs. collections. I would recommend to those who enjoy superhero stories with a human touch to them. The book is also pretty funny at times so I would recommend to those who enjoy humor in their stories as well.
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LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
Velveteen vs is a set of funny, charming, and occasionally poignant stories of Velma Martinez (codename Velveteen), a superhero with the power to animate toys, who walked away from Super Patriots, Inc. and is just trying to live her own life. Unfortunately for her, Marketing doesn't let go that
Recommended if you like - I don't even know, just recommended. The stories are also available online here. They're terrific.
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easy.Recommended if you like - I don't even know, just recommended. The stories are also available online here. They're terrific.
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LibraryThing member devilwrites
The premise: ganked from BN.com: Velveteen: “How dare you? I never asked for you to hunt me down!”
No, Velma Martinez hadn’t. But when you had once been Velveteen, child super-heroine and one of The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division, you were never going to be free, even if your only
So it all came down to this. One young woman and an army of misfit toys vs. the assembled might of the nine members of The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division who had come to take her down.
They never had a chance.
Velveteen lives in a world of superheroes and magic, where men can fly and where young girls can be abducted to the Autumn Land to save Halloween. Velma lives from paycheck to paycheck and copes with her broken-down car as she tries to escape from her old life.
It’s all the same world. It’s all real. And figuring out how to be both Velveteen and Velma is the biggest challenge of her life, because being super-human means you’re still human in the end.
Join us as award-winning author Seanan McGuire takes us through the first volume of Velveteen’s – and Velma’s – adventure.
My Rating: 6 - Worth Reading, with Reservations
The only real reservation I have here is that this isn't something I'd give to those readers who are uninitiated with McGuire's work. As I said in my review, it's a very tongue-in-cheek, light and fluffy read that is enjoyable but not necessarily McGuire's best work. It's definitely worth reading if you're already a fan, but not the first thing I'd give to someone if I was trying to turn them into one. So there's that, but fans of superhero stories might get a kick out of this, especially if they enjoyed the tone and humor found in Carrie Vaughn's After the Golden Age. Extra perk: Vaughn herself writes an enjoyable afterword to this book, and Jim Hines writes quite the enjoyable introduction!
It's a good read, and I'm glad I gave into the impulse. I'll definitely keep my eyes out for Volume 2. :)
Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay. The format of this book is more of a serial thing, so it's not worth spoiling what little there is of the overall arc of the book. So feel free to check out the full review, which is located at my blog, and you can access said full review directly by clicking the link below. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.
REVIEW: Seanan McGuire's VELVETEEN VS. THE JUNIOR SUPER PATRIOTS
Happy Reading!
No, Velma Martinez hadn’t. But when you had once been Velveteen, child super-heroine and one of The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division, you were never going to be free, even if your only
Show More
power was to bring toys to life. The Marketing Department would be sure of that.So it all came down to this. One young woman and an army of misfit toys vs. the assembled might of the nine members of The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division who had come to take her down.
They never had a chance.
Velveteen lives in a world of superheroes and magic, where men can fly and where young girls can be abducted to the Autumn Land to save Halloween. Velma lives from paycheck to paycheck and copes with her broken-down car as she tries to escape from her old life.
It’s all the same world. It’s all real. And figuring out how to be both Velveteen and Velma is the biggest challenge of her life, because being super-human means you’re still human in the end.
Join us as award-winning author Seanan McGuire takes us through the first volume of Velveteen’s – and Velma’s – adventure.
My Rating: 6 - Worth Reading, with Reservations
The only real reservation I have here is that this isn't something I'd give to those readers who are uninitiated with McGuire's work. As I said in my review, it's a very tongue-in-cheek, light and fluffy read that is enjoyable but not necessarily McGuire's best work. It's definitely worth reading if you're already a fan, but not the first thing I'd give to someone if I was trying to turn them into one. So there's that, but fans of superhero stories might get a kick out of this, especially if they enjoyed the tone and humor found in Carrie Vaughn's After the Golden Age. Extra perk: Vaughn herself writes an enjoyable afterword to this book, and Jim Hines writes quite the enjoyable introduction!
It's a good read, and I'm glad I gave into the impulse. I'll definitely keep my eyes out for Volume 2. :)
Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay. The format of this book is more of a serial thing, so it's not worth spoiling what little there is of the overall arc of the book. So feel free to check out the full review, which is located at my blog, and you can access said full review directly by clicking the link below. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.
REVIEW: Seanan McGuire's VELVETEEN VS. THE JUNIOR SUPER PATRIOTS
Happy Reading!
Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
A series of short stories as we follow a superheroine who had given up her role, can't avoid helping people occasionally. She's trying to get away from the corporation she was sold to as a child and the marketing people who want to control many of the superheroes in the US and control a lot of the
The stories are fun but have a deep root.
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narrative about them. Velma had been Velveteen and she left when she turned of age but now she has to deal with being hounded subtly. She wants to have a life of her choice but how can she when they're not letting her. They're more afraid of her as precedent rather than her for her own sake.The stories are fun but have a deep root.
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LibraryThing member kevn57
Seanan McGuire is my 'new' to me favorite author, just record the second book by her in the last few days and loved them both.
This was a great read and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes super heroes and hates corporate marketing. My favorite scenes are the seasonal themed superhero sequences,
This was a great read and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes super heroes and hates corporate marketing. My favorite scenes are the seasonal themed superhero sequences,
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and the "Princess" and Hailey Ween my favorite characters along with Vel being a thoughtful protagonist. Oh and a character introduced late in the book quotes "Buffy" so I'm already to read book 2! Show Less
LibraryThing member jazzbird61
Edit: If any of my GR friends are reading this, note the number of high reviews. Also, I personally promise you that it doesn't matter what genre you read. You'll love Velveteen
One of my favorites so far this year. It may get boring for as many times as I've said it, but remains true nonetheless.
Velveteen is the new "Best MC ever"
One of my favorites so far this year. It may get boring for as many times as I've said it, but remains true nonetheless.
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THis woman can write anything!Velveteen is the new "Best MC ever"
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ISBN
9780985798956
Local notes
Velveteen Vs, 1
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF McGuire |