Asterix : The Mansions Of The Gods

A highpoint in the Asterix series, a book that takes a look at the rural-urban divide, environmental destruction (in the name of progress and urbanisation) and the corruption of "civilisation" on traditional cultures with typically sharp satire. A book like this truly shows the magic of Asterix and other European comics of the same quality, its a multi-layed story with slapstick and humour, irony and social comment that can be enjoyed on many levels and by all ages.

Caesar decides the way to defeat the indomitable Gauls is not by military might but to force them to accept Roman civilisation by cutting down the forest around their village and building a Roman town in its place.

At first the Roman attempts to do so are opposed by Gaulish strength and Getafix's magic but then the Gauls decide to let the Romans build a little in order to get the slave workforce released. Thats when the trouble starts, the Gauls begin to be seduced by the trappings of Roman civilisation and the capitalist opportunies that arise, old friendships begin to be soured by the taint of wealth. Can the fabric of the village be restored before it all falls apart and the forest is gone?

The book is very cleverly written and beautifully drawn. The "evils" of urbanisation, capitalism and progress are slightly overblown (and it is one of the most politicial Asterix books, maybe matched only by the capitalist satire Obelix & Co.) but i am sure will strike a chord with many of us.