Graphic Novels, Young Readers

A Robotic Horse Takes On Evil Aliens In Nathan Hale’s New Graphic Novel One Trick Pony

In his newest graphic novel, One Trick Pony, Nathan Hale departs from his immensely popular Hazardous Tales series of history comics. One Trick Pony is just as high in hazards as Hale’s other books, but instead of a historical tale, it’s science fiction. Off in the future, Earth has been invaded by aliens known as “Pipers” who are hunting out and destroying all of Earth’s technology. Strata and her family are part of a group who has created a repository of technology and knowledge, housed in a caravan of giant vehicles that must always be on the move to prevent detection by the Pipers.

One Trick Pony

One Trick Pony

Hardcover $14.95

One Trick Pony

By Nathan Hale

Hardcover $14.95

When Strata and two of her friends go off exploring on their own, they stumble across a lost trove of technology, including a cavern of sleeping robots and a life-sized robot horse with the word “Kleide” on it. All three are impressed, but Strata in particular feels an attachment to the horse, as she was the first to discover it.

When Strata and two of her friends go off exploring on their own, they stumble across a lost trove of technology, including a cavern of sleeping robots and a life-sized robot horse with the word “Kleide” on it. All three are impressed, but Strata in particular feels an attachment to the horse, as she was the first to discover it.

When the Pipers sniff out the freshly-exposed technology and come hunting for it, Kleide’s tireless legs and great agility help them escape. But the threesome become lost, unable to find their caravan again. They meet a young woman, Pick, from a local community, and though her technology is of the stone-age variety, she uses it to good effect against the Pipers.  She agrees to lead the teens back to where they last saw their traveling home, though traveling with Kleide (who is essentially bait for the Pipers) does not make her happy, at all.

Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood: A World War I Tale (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Series #4)

Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood: A World War I Tale (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Series #4)

Hardcover $15.99

Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood: A World War I Tale (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Series #4)

By Nathan Hale

In Stock Online

Hardcover $15.99

And in fact, more Pipers swarm down. Strata decides to lure them away on Kleide’s back, but more and more descend, in larger and more terrifying forms. At last all seems loss, but Kleide has one last trick…

And in fact, more Pipers swarm down. Strata decides to lure them away on Kleide’s back, but more and more descend, in larger and more terrifying forms. At last all seems loss, but Kleide has one last trick…

It’s a tremendously exciting adventure story, blending aliens, technology, and the future of humanity at risk with a nod to the story of the Pied Piper of Hamlin (in this case, as the characters themselves realize, technology, not children, is the future that is being stolen away). Though the aliens are satisfyingly (or perhaps repulsively) scary, the world-building fascinating, and the kids brave, it is Kleide, who is much more than just a “one trick” pony, who steals the show, as well as saving the day.

The most perfect reader of all would be a horse-loving, science-fiction devotee of 11 or 12 who appreciates intricate detail in art. That being said, all young fans of science fiction will find it thrilling, and young readers who aren’t yet fans might well be by the end of the book!

One Trick Pony is on B&N bookshelves now!