Um, hate to break it to you.....

[evilhomer]

Is there a rating system on the books such as the ones for movies?

[Canarr]

I used to read the Anita Blake books, but starting with Bloody Bones it just seemed to turn into supernatural porn.

Unfortunately, yes. The novels used to be pretty good supernatural horror, mystery and thriller wrapped in one, but nowadays there doesn't seem to be much room for plot anymore.

[crazylegs]

Is there a rating system on the books such as the ones for movies?

Not that I've ever seen (I'm no expert but spend an obscene amount of time in bookshops...) I think cesorship of the written word might be a rather unpopular.

[Kaylyn]

Yeah, Anita Blake got a little boring with all the freakin' sex. I mean, I read Micah in about 1 hour because I just skipped all the sex.

I will say Harlequin was pretty good. Still a bit of sex (well, duh, with the whole ardeur thing) but it felt mostly like her first few books again. Blood Noir was reminiscent of Micah but not quite as trashy; just another short book where she's gotta jet off somewhere away from her entourage.

I have both the trade comics, as well as The First Death. Well, actually Momzilla (the mother-in-law) has them. I bought them for her and steal them back from her when she's done. I love the artwork in the Guilty Pleasures comics...the First Death, not so much (reminds me of Superman artwork or something).

[LadyAndreca]

Is there a rating system on the books such as the ones for movies?

There's not a system, per se, but most manga publishers label their books anyways. Each publisher uses their own rating system, too. Our collection has T/13+ (Vampire Game/Chrono Crusade), T+ (Alice 19th, Ranma 1/2), OT/16+ (Psychic Academy/Chobits), and M/18+ shrink-wrapped books (Bastard!/Berserk) in it.

[PepperElf]

side topic... for selling books, I've never actually seen an official age-limit on most books, save for the ones that are rated as "xxx". is it usually employee judgement for sales to younger readers?


and, on a similar note, i use to frequent a store with a small book section... venders kept putting the Charlene Harris books - the ones about Sookie Stackhouse - in the children's section cos of the book cover. the employees usually took action when i pointed out the sex scenes in them however

[Mordecai]

Ah, Battle Royale. The one Manga who's plot I always enjoy explaining.

[MTNLaurelPoacher]

Battle Royale the manga. Definately required reading. The manga makes the movie look like children's telivision.

Sell it to the kid. And suggest he write his congressman/congresswoman and suggest they start Battle Royale in the public school system. That would be must see TV.

I have a battle royale airsoft scenerio writen up, and am getting it scheduled for later this year. I can't wait to see it acted out in real life.

[RetailWorkhorse]

I got carded for a manga once. For the life of me I can't remember which one, but I know I was back in TN when it happened.

That was....odd.

[tamezin]

So one of them fetches their mom, and I explain to her the general storyline of Anita Blake. Just when I get to something involving the "Vampire Sex" aspect of the comics

The graphic novel (I think there is only one so far, I haven't found anymore) isn't nearly as explicity as the books. The first few books (which the graphic novel is based on) weren't nearly as explicit as the later books.

There was quite a bit of fan service in the Graphic Novel version and a lot of violence, but other than that nothing too terrible. I think it is a good idea they shrink wrap them anyway, if they publish anymore grahpic novels based on the series, they won't have a choice.