Surprisingly funny and inventive, you can see why it's a classic. The sexism is also classic, unfortunately. I can see that Jansson was subverting the Snork Maiden's feminine weaknesses by having them save the day once, sure---I'm positive that when it was written, that was actually subversive. But at the end of the day she and Moominmamma are still the only female characters, Maiden and Mother to a fault. Feels Bad, Man. The characters (other than the parents) are generally so ungendered that it feels like it'd be so easy to just change some pronouns....

3.5/5 rounded up, perhaps. ( )

This was a re-read of a childhood favourite so I have made allowances to the changes in myself rather than in the book in the years in-between reads. The story is pretty straightforward: Moomintroll and his friend Sniff keep seeing drawings of a star with a tail and they eventually set off on a raft to consult the astronomers in the high mountain peaks after finding out that a comet may be coming towards Earth. Along the way, they meet various interesting characters who join them and most of whom travel with them and eventually return home with their findings.

I love the illustrations in this book (also by the author) and the quirkiness of the various characters, especially Snufkin. I did though find it aimed at rather a younger audience than the age I remember being at the time of first reading (around 10), and a few things did jar with my ability to suspend my disbelief. One was the point that, although the moomins live near the sea and they travel upriver to mountains, the river is actually flowing from the sea to the mountains, since their raft drifts with the river current and the river eventually plummets down a deep hole. Another was who was leaving the various images of the comet everywhere - how did they know it was coming before it started becoming obvious? But there are some lovely imaginative sequences in the book, such as the sequence on the sea bed. So on the whole I rate it at 4 stars. ( )

best of the moomin books, imo amazing illustration and perfect story ( )

A most charming apocalypse story. ( )

This is such a wholesome story! It is full of imagination and warmth. I love the moomins and have never read the series before, but I am so glad that I have started them. The adventure in this book is certainly one to remember. ( )