Thank you, NetGalley, Paul-Jean Herault, and publishers for gifting me a copy of Gurvan: A Dream of Earth in return for my honest opinion.

3.5/5 stars

Gurvan is a clone soldier about to start his seven years of fighting for the coalition. While he isn't a bad fighter, he isn't a good one. He is completely average in everything. When he is sent into his first battle he is hopeful that he can survive and make it to the long-forgotten planet of Earth. While fighting he learns some truths that change everything for him. Will he survive this war and figure out who he is fighting against?

What I Loved
-This is a very fast-paced comic that kept my attention for the whole time!
-I enjoyed the plot line and the illustrations were wonderful to look at!
-Gurvan wasn't your typical top-of-the-class leader, he grew into his role.

What I liked
-The relationships were interesting to read about and I enjoyed the discussions between them.

What I wish was better
- It was a very predictable plot line, (the original comic is from the 1990's I believe) It reminded me a lot of Enders game and Star Wars.

Final thought
It was a fun comic to read, it kept my attention and I was able to read it in just about an hour.

A very intriguing sci-fi story. I really enjoyed both the writing and the art. And will be seeking out other works by these creators

Gurvan: A Dream of Earth

I want to start this review by saying that I normally don´t read graphic novels, so my opinion may not match the opinion of those who are in the scene.
I will start by saying what I like, followed by my critique.
I really liked the Dystopian/Scy-Fi setting and also the overall storyline. The graphics were very good and always clear and understandable.
What I didn´t really enjoy was the simplicity of the story. I think if it would have been more complex, I would have been fascinated and captured even more. Through that the story would also have been longer which I also whould have preferred.
I would also have liked it, If there was some kind of representation of f.e. queerness.
Overall I really liked the book and had a good time reading it.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Humanoids Inc for an advanced copy of this science fiction graphic novel that tells of humans fighting in a war for reasons that they don't know, and that sometimes the enemy within is much deadlier than those who have been deemed foes.

The future always seems bright, always better. Today might be bad, but tomorrow the possibilities are endless. Or the possibilities might just end. Gurvan: A Dream of Earth, a graphic novel adaptation of a French science fiction novel by Paul-Jean Hérault scripted by Mathieu Mariolle and illustrated by Livia Pastore, the future is not so bright for our hero, unless he can survive 7 years of non-stop fighting against an enemy that no one really knows why they hate. Trained since birth to fight this war Gurvan must use these skills, and his brain to determine who the real enemy is, and why both sides seem determined to destroy each other.

Gurvan is a clone in a long line of clones, created from the perfect gene mix to fight and die in the constant war that seems to have no end. Raised in The Materedu Gurvan has never breathed real air, or felt a real sun his day spent training, constantly under a fake sun, with no control over his own time or his own feelings for his fellow pilots. Gurvan is not the best of students, but he is determined to do his seven years of duty and hopefully retire to the planet Earth, where he can spend the rest of his life lost among the animals of the planet that is rebuilding itself after years of neglect. Gurvan is sent to battle, and immediately sees that life outside of the The Materedu is very different. The battles seem constant, leaders seem indifferent to the cost, or the rules, and one day on patrol he makes a discovery that changes not only Gurvan, but the fate of the whole war.

A very good graphic novel that has a lot familiar bits to it. Ender's Game, Old Man's War, The Forever War, even Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. This is not to take away from the story, which has a strong moral and a stronger European comic feel to it. The story well written, and ends in a way that suggests there should be more to the story, and leaving the reader wanting to know more. The action is quite thrilling, and there doesn't seem to be any weird translation mistakes, as one sometimes sees. Gurvan is a decent character who grows from well a loyal little soldier to a man who has seen a lot, and wants it to end, though he probably is about 18 at the most. The art is really good, with a again a nice flow to the action, great design work, and consistent character design, and interesting background work. The fighter design I thought was particularly good, a really nice design that seems different than usual space fighters.

Recommended for science fiction fans, European comic readers and people who like their science fiction with a moral ambiguity. Also for fans of books with cool space ship designs.

"Gurvan: A Dream of Earth" is an exciting and engaging science fiction graphic novel. Set in the far future with a protagonist who, along with a vast army of other clones, was created to fight in an endless interstellar conflict. This graphic novel is one of the better offerings of military science fiction currently available and should be placed on the same shelf as Erich Maria Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front" and Joe Haldeman's "Forever War".

The titular protagonist of this novel is an unlikely hero. Gurvan has a lower aptitude for combat than his peers. He has little commitment to the fight at hand and is focused on surviving the mandatory seven year term of service so he can leave the war behind and escape the constraints of the artificial environments he has known his entire life and retire to a world with a real atmosphere.

As the story progresses, Gurvan's intelligence and commitment to his fellow combatants slowly emerges and it becomes clear that the war itself is not the black and white struggle for survival that the high command has portrayed. What also becomes abundantly clear is that Gurvan's quick thinking, emerging bravery and loyalty are very much not valued or appreciated by his leadership, which deems its clone army as entirely expendable.

It slowly emerges that the high command, with its studied and callous indifference, is actually more dangerous then any enemy. Gurvan and his fellow combatants have no value to their leadership other than their ability to die for the cause. Afterall, they were born and bread for combat and will not be needed if actual victory is ever achieved. Gurvan's eventual realization of this fact is the major catalyst in this novel that leads to a bittersweet resolution.

It would be easy to label this novel as and anti-war tract, but that would be too trite and to simplistic. Although this novel does not celebrate militarism or war it is less anti-war than anti-complacency. The real test for Gurvan, and his compatriots, in the end is their refusal to be indifferent when the high command is ready to sign of on the wholesale slaughter of innocents in exchange for a possible victory.

As a concluding note, Paul-Jean Hérault, the nom de plume of French journalist and Algerian War veteran Michel Rigaud, does not seem to have had a significant impact on the English speaking science Fiction scene. This is unfortunate, since he has a voice and a vision that should not be limited to one language community alone. Hopefully, the publication of this graphic novel adaptation of his first Gurvan novel will not be an isolated event.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Humanoids, Inc., for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.