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

Asterix and the Soothsayer by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo

It was a dark and stormy night in the Gaulish village. The townsfolk are worried the sky will finally fall on their heads (though they've always thought that would happen tomorrow, not today). A soothsayer arrives during the storm and predicts that the weather will improve after the storm. Low and behold, it does. He starts living off the village, making positive prophecies for those who bring the best stuff. Everyone believes in him except for Asterix. The Romans get wind of what's going on and capture the soothsayer, since soothsaying is forbidden by law. The soothsayer admits he's a shyster, which the Romans sort of believe. They use him to frighten off the villagers, thereby finally claiming total conquest of Gaul. Can Asterix convince the people to go back? Will the Romans sort out whether the soothsayer is for real or not?

This volume is another fun adventure of Asterix and his friends filled with puns, sight gags, and the occasional good-natured fight. Recommended.