issue 09 / volume 41 Shelf Indulgence: Outrageous last words » 'The Final Testimony of Raphael Ignatius Phoenix’ book review Joshua Grant Senior Columnist ignatius Phoenix is both the first and last book by author Paul Sussman. That is to say it’s Sussman’s first, unpublished novel that was published after the writer’s sudden death in 2012. The frame of the story takes us to 1999, a few days before the new millennium, at which : point the title character, Raphael : : Ignatius Phoenix, has decided : toend his life. The millennium : is also (naturally) Phoenix’s 00000 Tr Final Testimony of Raphael k : isolated mountain home. 100th birthday. To occupy the last few days of his life, Phoenix decides to write the story of his life in marker on the walls of his As his biography unfolds : in reverse-chronological order, : we find that his life cleaves : neatly into a handful of eras: : he becomes a minor star in : golden-age Hollywood, fights : in World War II, and plays in : a psychedelic rock band. Each : era ends with Phoenix getting away with a (usually slapstick) murder. Rinse and repeat. The : episodes cling together only : slightly, but Sussman manages : to keep Phoenix relatively relatable despite his apparently : cavalier opinion of human life. Though Sussman is : better known as a writer of : archaeologically-themed : crime thrillers, this book : feels like it owes a lot more to : capital-F fiction writers, namely : magical-realists like Gabriel : Garcia Marquez or Sussman’s : contemporary and countryman : Louis de Berniéres. Indeed, I : picked up the book because the title and cover art were so reminiscent of de Berniéres’ Marquez -inspired Latin American Trilogy. Inside, some similarities persist: the writing is airy and exciting, the plot is propulsive, and the conceit is delightful. The set-up is compelling enough to yield a lot of interesting, if hurried, scenes. Unfortunately, The Final Testimony of Raphael Ignatius Phoenix culminates in a pile of confusing symbolism, plot twists, and cheap reveals. I won't go into details because this is still a fine read up until the last arts // 9 pages. Perhaps the jarring plot twist and hackneyed symbolism are indicative of a young writer that would later find his calling in mystery thrillers rather than literary fiction. I like to think that the novel’s deep flaws arise from its posthumous status. If alive, a more mature Sussman would have probably identified the problems and rewritten the ending—or vetoed the publication, period. Sadly, that’s not the case. Instead, we're left with a book that’s undeniably enjoyable but ultimately disappointing. Chairman of the Board: Seen it » ‘Scene it?’ game review Ed Appleby ifustrator Miillustrator @theotherpress.ca cene it? is a movie-themed, DVD-based trivia game for two or more players published by Mattel in 2002. Individuals or teams of players move their piece around a board and either : have a few inherent problems. : First, they can quickly become : outdated. Scene it? thrives : on highlighting more recent : films, giving its players more : of an equal footing. But this : means editions of the game can : become outdated within just a : few years. The second problem : with any game based on trivial answer trivia questions or play DVD-based games to keep moving. First one to the goal wins. There are a few fun aspects to the gameplay. It has a light tone and is a very easy game for beginners. However, there are some major issues that I have : with its two biggest features: : the DVD and the trivia. The DVD aspect can take : people out of the game. It’s : one thing to havea social game : : where people can chat, but : : having to stop the conversation : : every time you need to watch a : scene leads to an inconsistent Games based on trivia : knowledge is that some players : areata distinct advantage. If : you know something you know : it, and if you don’t you don't. Scene it? isa huge cash cow : for Mattel. With constantly updated versions, aimed at : specific audiences from Star : Trek to Glee, they have flooded : and non-immersive experience. ; every market niche they can. : : They have also expended into : video games for most major : platforms and mobile devices, : which may solve the one issue : of keeping the trivia current. So the next time Grandma comes over, feel free to play : a game of Scene it?—maybe : aversion with cat videos. For : regular gamers, there are better : games out there. Comic Corner: Anelven adventurers quest for hero status » ‘Looking For Group: Volume I’ review Brittney MacDonald Life & Style Editor Dox For Group is a fun, easy read that attempts to make fun of all the clichés that go along with stories about knightly valour. Unfortunately the lacklustre humour and predictable narrative make this book a lot more cliché than the Arthurian tales it’s attempting to parody. Looking For Group is that seem to be ripped right out of World of Warcraft. At the group’s centre is Cale, an elven adventurer who just wants to be the hero, despite the fact his race is the beginning is Richard, an undead warlock witha penchant for murder and mayhem. As they move through the narrative on Cale’s quest they are joined by a cast of characters who can only : be described as a group of : convenience, since they don’t : really seem to like each other 00000 : rooted in the world of online : gaming, making fun of : tropes in lore and character : development. For someone : who doesn’t play online : games, Sohmer’s writing : would probably appear fresh. : But in truth, anyone who has : experienced these games is : probably familiar with all of or agree on anything. Much of the humour is : these jokes. Lar deSouza’s art : progresses as you read written by Ryan Sohmer and : through the first volume, features a group of characters making it very obvious that : this was an online comic : before it was a collected : work. The art is decent, : though at times the colour : palette seems a little too : bright. It is very cartoony entirely evil. At his side from amd somne of dhe canter : pages appear a bit messy, but : overall I thought the art fit : well with the fun nature of the plot. I’m very limited in who I | : could recommend this to. It’s to become the ultimate hero, : definitely for gamers, but I : wouldn't go out of my way to try and find it.