Book Review: Asterix and the Great Crossing by R. Goscinny et al.

Asterix and the Great Crossing by Rene Goscinnny and others 

Today is the day we fly back to America for good. We'll miss England and all our adventures. Don't worry, dear reader, I am so far behind on posting our European exploits that they will last easily through the rest of the summer, and probably close to Christmas. Anyway, this seems like an appropriate book to review today...

Asterix's village has run short of fish and their one fisherman has vanished, boat and all. The chief sends Asterix and Obelix in another boat to catch some fish. They are not natural fishermen (Asterix tells Obelix to throw out the net, which he does without hanging on to it!). A storm comes up and blows them across the Atlantic. They think they've landed in a different part of Gaul, but the locals speak a different language and eat birds that gobble. Things go okay until an accidental betrothal happens. Meanwhile, Danish explorer Hereendethelessen is trying to discover this new world. Or maybe just recite some Hamlet before it's written.

The story is fun but the depiction of the Native Americans includes lots of cliches. That's to be expected in an Asterix story, but I wish they'd given the natives something more than just stereotypes. A fun but not great read.