Adam, the biblical first man, “created before death” and therefore immortal, is the hero of Birds of Paradise by Oliver K Langmead (Titan, £8.99). By the 21st century, he has little affection for his many descendants, preferring to spend his time with other immortals: the original creatures he had the privilege of naming. Crow, Magpie, Raven, Owl, Butterfly and Pig generally hang out with him in human form, but occasionally find it useful to revert to type. He thinks about Eve, but not until the end of the book does he remember why she is no longer beside him. There is a plot about the search for immortal plants, and competing attempts to recreate the original Garden in present-day Britain, and it is all very vividly written – but I couldn’t help feeling it would make more sense as a graphic novel...
