The Somnambulist

by Jonathan Barnes

The Somnambulist

published	January 2007 by Gollancz
binding	Paperback
isbn	0575079428 (isbn13: 9780575079427)
pages	288
date added	06-26-07 edit book

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 431)

Jason Pettus

Jason rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

05/06/08

Read in May, 2008

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)

Regular readers know that I am a big fan of the unique subgenre known as "steampunk," but might not know what exactly steampunk is; and similarly, regular readers also know that one of the issues often tackled here at CCLaP is the difference between so-called "genre" projects a...more

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Kit

Kit rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

03/17/08

Read in March, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

this actually came at recommendation from one of the blogs i frequent for book reviews, and so also motivated by the library due date, i had to finish this one before all others. the writing was actually decent throughout, and i found i wasn't very confused, for the most part, about the narrator and point of view. something that does confuse me is the character thomas cribb--i could never understand exactly why he does what he does, especially in the beginning of the story, after what happens at...more this actually came at recommendation from one of the blogs i frequent for book reviews, and so also motivated by the library due date, i had to finish this one before all others. the writing was actually decent throughout, and i found i wasn't very confused, for the most part, about the narrator and point of view. something that does confuse me is the character thomas cribb--i could never understand exactly why he does what he does, especially in the beginning of the story, after what happens at the end. that's more confusing than i care to analyze completely, and if the book was a bit more enjoyable, maybe i would flip back and reread, but as it is, this book isn't worth rereading for me. there were scenes near the end that repulsed me, but that i can credit to realistic writing. the title also struck me as potent with meaning, both in the literal and figurative sense, so some applause to that. but i have to admit what really drew me was the cover. i am a shallow girl at heart and i just can NOT refuse a pretty cover. so bravo to the marketing team too.

i only wish that the conflict was more completely resolved. what's that with the boys in school uniforms? any clue to their identities? maybe they're the collective evil of the city? the villain's talk of his evil plans make no cohesive sense. you have the sense to plot out something that big based on a concept that weak? and edward moon, this supposed smartass of his generation, doesn't understand anything, even when the clues were in his face. most of what he gets credited for are done for him by other people. another case in point--i still have no idea what "powers" edward moon has--he supposedly read someone's mind from the audience. why is he such a blumbering idiot throughout the course of the events here then? it seems that the author is so preoccupied in building up the mystery of the villain's sinister plans that when the villain and the protagonist actually clash on the subject, the best thing the villain does is show him a corpse and a lot of liquid. and that this is what supposedly converted a lot of followers for him. no explanation as to how, no clues as to the significance of this.. it just is. and when the entire plot is pivotal on this single event, i'm left wondering how in the world any of these characters find any of these things plausible. and if maybe they live in a world with a completely different set of the laws of physics.

i think for a good book, this is a pass. for decent entertainment when you're THAT bored and at risk of becoming bald from your own ministrations, and this just happens to be lying around with an overdue library deadline, worth checking out.

P.S. - there's certainly a reference to that video released by the iraqis a couple of years ago, the one of them sawing off the soldier's head as a form of execution? makes me wonder if this is any significance as to what the author's political allegience is, if he feels compelled to include that little tidbit in his book. or maybe that specific event just stuck in his head, who knows. i had to wonder....less

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John

John rated it:

04/16/08

bookshelves: books-read-in-2008

Read in April, 2008

The book has its roots in steam punk or gothic horror with a dark brooding picture of late Victorian London full of grotesques, human monsters, corruption, dystopian nightmares and sharp contrasts of poverty and wealth. It draws on Dickens and Wilkie Collins with character names drawn. Another clear homage is Arthur Conan Doyle as the set up of Private Investigator (Edward Moon with loyal assistant (The Somnambulist) and long suffering housekeeper (Mrs Grossmith clearly draws on Sherlock Homes....more The book has its roots in steam punk or gothic horror with a dark brooding picture of late Victorian London full of grotesques, human monsters, corruption, dystopian nightmares and sharp contrasts of poverty and wealth. It draws on Dickens and Wilkie Collins with character names drawn. Another clear homage is Arthur Conan Doyle as the set up of Private Investigator (Edward Moon with loyal assistant (The Somnambulist) and long suffering housekeeper (Mrs Grossmith clearly draws on Sherlock Homes. A clear nod to 19th century literature is a narrator who judges and questions the actions of the characters and your motives as the reader.

It has three major plot lines: first is a murder-mystery in which Moon tries to discover how a rich wastrel died at the foot of a strange tower which leads him deeper into a vast cultish plot to remake London; the second is a political thriller in which the English secret service( The Directory) is locked in a deadly struggle with the Russian Secret Service and for its own survival and the third is an historical fancy with London itself as a character as well as a key character who is living back into time from the future. Each of the stories interacts and shapes the other until the climatic struggle for the soul and future of London of the final chapters.

The characters in The Somnambulist are just as much fun as the story. Obviously, Edward Moon the magician detective, the Somnambulist a milk drinking giant, the creepy Human Fly, the cold but cunning Albino, the curdling supernatural Prefects, the 100 year old Chairman of love, Mr Cribb, the embodiment of London, Barrabas, the bearded-lady whore... the list goes on and on. Each has a part to play in the story from beginning to end, and each person's story is, for the most part, tidied up by the end of the story.

But many of these characters are broad-brush stroke and as the plot lurches in all direction without given time to settle they often fail to engage. The novel could have been done best as a three book series or one 800 page book. The relative shortness of the story leads to lots of issues not being explained or to sudden resolutions. One of the approaches of suggesting a back story of some 20 years of work and fame now fading especially since the failures of the Clapham case (hint Jack the Ripper) is one of the few area of depth in the story. As you can see, it’s not a conventional story by any means and you do have to read carefully in parts. But to the relief of many I must make it clear that this is not in any way literature but rather pure escapism or “eye candy for the brain”. So want to switch off and dive into over the top escapist fun then this is the book for you!
...less

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Rick

Rick rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

01/31/08

Read in January, 2008

Jonathan Barnes' brilliant debut novel, The Somnambulist, chronicles the late Victorian-era adventures of a legendary magician-cum-detective Edward Moon and his mute, hulking, hairless sidekick, known only as the Somnambulist. The two investigate a series of bizarre murders, meet a cadre of eccentrics, and involve themselves in several strange incidents that culminate in a plot to destroy and remake London.

The unreliable, unnamed narrator, who frequently raves like a madman, issues a ...more Jonathan Barnes' brilliant debut novel, The Somnambulist, chronicles the late Victorian-era adventures of a legendary magician-cum-detective Edward Moon and his mute, hulking, hairless sidekick, known only as the Somnambulist. The two investigate a series of bizarre murders, meet a cadre of eccentrics, and involve themselves in several strange incidents that culminate in a plot to destroy and remake London.

The unreliable, unnamed narrator, who frequently raves like a madman, issues a warning in the very first chapter: "This book has no literary merit whatsoever. It is a lurid piece of nonsense, convoluted, implausible, peopled by unconvincing characters, written in drearily pedestrian prose, frequently ridiculous and wilfully bizarre. Needless to say, I doubt you'll believe a word of it." The preamble is true but for the "pedestrian prose." Barnes crafts one of the finest first novels of the young century, creating an exciting, memorable book peopled with cultists, prostitutes, circus freaks, the undead, albinos, poets, time travelers, assassins, Lovecraftian creatures, and almost every Victorian-type nefarious nasty conceived. The title figure offers an enigmatic yet sympathetic figure who communicates through (poorly spelled) words scribbled on a small chalkboard, does not bleed or feel pain, and displays an intense, inexplicable loyalty to Moon. Truly surprising plot twists and red herrings abound. Through character actions, scene descriptions, and the mention of a scant few historical facts, Barnes successfully conjures the period without divulging dates. Until the final act when the narrator cleverly reveals himself, the author presents one of the finest occult thrillers ever. After veering dangerously close to the absurd, the story ultimately concludes with a lyrically obtuse ending that creates confusion rather than clarity.

Even with that flaw, the engaging ride of The Somnambulist offers enough thrills to distract from the ending. Or perhaps, just as Jonathan Barnes' narrator deceives in the narrative, this reviewer misdirects as well? Read The Somnambulist and decide for yourself.

This review originally appeared in The Austin Chronicle, February 1, 2008....less

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Nancy

Nancy rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

02/12/08

bookshelves: pulp-fiction, sci-fi-fantasy

Read in February, 2008

recommended to Nancy by: librarything early reviewers
recommends it for: people who enjoy quirky pulp fiction

The last book I read even close along these lines was Gordon Dahlquist's "The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters," and as I began The Somnambulist, I immediately thought of Dahlquist's book and then my mind sort of wandered to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics. Let me state right now that I am a MAJOR fan of pulp and The Somnambulist fed my craving well. I will also state that this book is not for everyone. At the outset the reader is warned that the narrator (whose identity re...more The last book I read even close along these lines was Gordon Dahlquist's "The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters," and as I began The Somnambulist, I immediately thought of Dahlquist's book and then my mind sort of wandered to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics. Let me state right now that I am a MAJOR fan of pulp and The Somnambulist fed my craving well. I will also state that this book is not for everyone. At the outset the reader is warned that the narrator (whose identity remains unknown until nearly the end of the story) is unreliable, and that the "book has no literary value whatsoever. It is a lurid piece of nonsense, convoluted, implausible, peopled by unconvincing characters, written in drearily pedestrian prose, frequently ridiculous and willfully bizarre." If those two facts do not scare you off, then you're in for an incredibly wild ride.
Edward Moon is a stage magician and when he's not busy performing magic with trained apes he often moonlights as a detective who has helped Scotland Yard in more than one instance. His partner is known as "the Somnambulist," and stands about eight feet tall, can be pierced through with swords and shed no blood, and does not speak but makes himself heard through the medium of a chalkboard. He cannot spell, his grammar is quite bad, and the significance of why this book is named for him doesn't reveal itself until the end (which I will not divulge here). Anyway, Scotland Yard's Inspector Merryweather now turns to the pair because of a series of bizarre and inexplicable deaths. This sets the pair onto a path that seems to have been somewhat predestined, involving a rather strange plot that has its origins under the city of London. Moon is warned away several times by some rather odd characters, none the least of which is a man who claims to be able to travel through time, a psychic, and a human fly. Adding to Moon's problems, a rather strange albino who works for some government bureau called "The Directorate" enlists him as well when these mysterious deaths lead to the uncovering of the plot. Need I continue?
The writing is fantastic (if you enjoy this sort of thing), and the characters are quite well drawn. I would definitely recommend it to fans of pulp fiction (this is among the pulpiest!) and to those who enjoy a wee bit of steampunk in their reading. As noted earlier, this isn't for everyone, but if you're inclined toward this sort of craziness, you're going to love it. ...less

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Brooke

Brooke rated it:

02/17/08

bookshelves: 2008

Read in February, 2008

When I read the "If you liked these , you will love The Somnambulist" list that Borders put together, I decided that Jonathan Barnes' debut would have to land on my "favorites" list. It was compared to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Neverwhere, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and The Prestige, some of my most favorite things ever. It was probably a mistake going into it with such high expectations, because although it was an excellent book, I felt disappointed aft...more When I read the "If you liked these , you will love The Somnambulist" list that Borders put together, I decided that Jonathan Barnes' debut would have to land on my "favorites" list. It was compared to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Neverwhere, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and The Prestige, some of my most favorite things ever. It was probably a mistake going into it with such high expectations, because although it was an excellent book, I felt disappointed after I turned the last page.

This Victorian-era book is about a stage magician who also solves crimes for the police. He is a sort of Sherlock Holmes type, using his powers of ratiocination to untangle the threads that the police stumble over. The title refers to his assistant (both on stage and in his crime solving), a giant who doesn't speak. They start off investigating the deaths of two men, and uncover an entire plot against the city of London. It's slightly satirical of other books in the genre, in a very subtle way. And it's bizarre. It just gets weirder and weirder and it ends on an ambiguous note that left me wondering if I was satisfied or not. It was certainly an awesomely fun ride, but was it a great book? I can't decide.

Its ambiguity was a plus for it, in some ways. Barnes did a very good job of not spelling everything out, and instead left some things to the imagination. The main character had some tragic incident in the last case he took on, and although it's referred to many times, it's never explained what happened. He never explains where the Somnambulist came from (he just showed up at the main character's door one night), or why he doesn't speak. There's a shadowy government group involved that never gets a full explanation. It lends an extra air of mystery to the already-mysterious plot.

One thing I didn't understand was the title - both the reason for naming the character and for naming the book after him. There's only one throw-away line that mentions that he sleepwalks, and his sleepwalking never plays any part in the plot. It's a cool name, sure, but it doesn't serve any purpose.

I'd probably feel better about it if I hadn't expected it to be my newest favorite book. I certainly recommend it to people looking for something fun to read....less

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Michael

Michael rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

06/15/08

Read in June, 2008

Well-written and highly engaging, this book would easily have rated five stars for me had it not petered out so feebly. Barnes certainly has a sense of the entertaining, and his creation of this story reminded me in many ways of Ray Bradbury in its casual incorporation of the supernatural into the storyline. I wonder, though, if Barnes bit off more than he could chew on this one. He adds more and more interesting characters and conundrums as the story advances, and as I got towards the home s...more Well-written and highly engaging, this book would easily have rated five stars for me had it not petered out so feebly. Barnes certainly has a sense of the entertaining, and his creation of this story reminded me in many ways of Ray Bradbury in its casual incorporation of the supernatural into the storyline. I wonder, though, if Barnes bit off more than he could chew on this one. He adds more and more interesting characters and conundrums as the story advances, and as I got towards the home stretchh--the last 60 pages or so--I started to wonder how on earth he was going to pull it all together. Alas, he did not. The uninspired solution to the great mystery threatening London, and the quick and easy wrap-up to the plot, are an unsatisfying way to end what had been such a good yarn.

The main character, Edward Moon, is presented as a Sherlock Holmes figure towards the end of his career and with some recent and grave stain on his record (we keep hearing of the Clapham incident, though Barnes fails entirely to hint at what might have occurred). And the great logic and detection of a Holmes story never develop; Moon ultimately ends up where he needs to be but he never really solves the big puzzle and there is no explanation for his various investigatory steps along the way. Moon's sidekick--the Somnambulist--might have been expected to gain some limelight in the story, given that it's named after him and also that he is a figure of great mystery: a hairless giant who can apparently be stuck with swords with no ill effect. But he ends up almost uniformly being left out of the action, and when the story closes, we are still missing any sort of enlightenment about who the Somnambulist is or what his role in this whole thing was supposed to be (the narrator repeatedly hints at the Somnambulist's view of the bigger picture, but we never see that develop either).

Ultimately, I give Barnes great credit for his imagination and his story-telling. The book had me rapt from the get-go and racing through to the finish. But the ending only disappoints, leaving loose ends, unanswered questions, and a general feeling of anticlimax. I hope that Barnes improves on his ability to wrap up a story in future efforts....less

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Jessica

Jessica rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

04/08/08

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: anyone who thinks they can bear it

If a bunch of steam punk kids got trashed on alphabet soup and shooters one ill-advised night, this is the book their subsequent vomit would spell out in noodles the next morning. That being said, I didn't particularly hate it and I don't regret reading it, but I'm having a hard time recommending it.

The dust jacket is encrusted with compelling recommendations and comparisons to other favorite writers, but it was much more like being beaten about the head with books by Neil Gaiman, Susanna C...more

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Peggy

Peggy rated it:

11/14/07

Read in November, 2007

I’ve been a reader all my life. I majored in English in college and grad school, and I’ve worked in bookstores since 1992, most of that as a buyer. I’m surrounded by books at home and work and I see new ones every day. It’s sometimes difficult to quantify why certain books speak to us; why we pick up this book, but not that one.

Other times, it’s not difficult at all:

Be warned. This book has no literary merit whatsoever. It is a lurid piece of nonsense, convoluted, implausible, peopled by unconvincing characters, written in drearily pedestrian prose, frequently ridiculous and willfully bizarre. Needless to say, I doubt you’ll believe a word of it...more I’ve been a reader all my life. I majored in English in college and grad school, and I’ve worked in bookstores since 1992, most of that as a buyer. I’m surrounded by books at home and work and I see new ones every day. It’s sometimes difficult to quantify why certain books speak to us; why we pick up this book, but not that one.

Other times, it’s not difficult at all:

Be warned. This book has no literary merit whatsoever. It is a lurid piece of nonsense, convoluted, implausible, peopled by unconvincing characters, written in drearily pedestrian prose, frequently ridiculous and willfully bizarre. Needless to say, I doubt you’ll believe a word of it.

I don’t know about you, but I’m in love.

With an opening like that, how can I not climb on board for the ride? Sure, I understand that this kind of narrator turns some people off (well, I know that; I don’t really understand it). But for me, it’s the sign of an author who wants to play--who wants me as the reader to take a more active role in the story, and I love that. It’s both clever and witty (and neatly kneecaps disgruntled reviewers: I told you it was implausible people, so no complaints!) and nicely sets the tone for the tale to come.

The story itself is everything the narrator promises (with the exception of pedestrian prose—I really liked the writing). You’ve got Edward Moon, stage magician and detective, and his silent partner in both endeavors, the Somnambulist, a giant of a man who never speaks and holds many secrets. You’ve got warm-hearted housekeepers, sybaritic layabouts, spiritualists, gung-ho police inspectors, and freakshow prostitutes. You’ve got grizzly murders, mysterious disappearances, secret societies, shadowy government organizations, the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and the shadow of past mistakes.

It’s a generous, sprawling, maddeningly convoluted story. I just finished it, and I’m still not sure exactly what happened. I can’t wait to read it again and find out, though....less

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JG rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

05/04/08

bookshelves: fantasy, fiction, mystery

Read in May, 2008

Really, probably 3.5 stars, but it was good enough for me to round it up instead of down.

The Somnambulist features Edward Moon, a conjurer most easily compared to Sherlock Holmes, but with a freakish twist. His Watson is an 8-foot-tall mute man named--can you guess?--The Somnambulist. The pair are asked to investigate a bizarre murder in the seamier part of London at the beginning of the novel. Within pages, they have solved the murder. Or have they?

This was a quick, enjoyable...more

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CheriePie

CheriePie rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

04/11/08

Read in February, 2008

The Somnambulist is a dark fantasy sort of mystery that takes place in turn-of-the-century Victorian England. It follow the adventures of Edward Moon, stage magician and part-time detective, and his loyal sidekick the Somnambulist. When a series of bizarre murders and strange disappearances starts taking place throughout London, the Directorate turns to Moon to help them figure out what's going on. But as the investigation proceeds, and the cryptic messages from medium Madame Innocenti...more

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Mark

Mark rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

05/12/08

Read in April, 2008

Edward Moon, this book’s main protagonist, is a has-been stage magician and, until a bad bit of luck several years earlier that sullied his reputation, a renowned amateur detective whose skills and methods have an uncanny resemblance to Sherlock Holmes. The story is even set in Victorian England. The Somnambulist, for whom this book is named, actually has little to do with its overall plot. He is Moon’s assistant and friend, and an unusual fellow to say the least. Hairless, huge, strong,...more

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Tara

Tara rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

05/01/08

bookshelves: adult-fiction, fromthelibrary, wishlist

Read in April, 2008

recommends it for: mystery and fantasy lovers

I dare you to read the first two pages and not want to finish the rest of the book.

Part Victorian murder mystery, part fantastical alternate history with a liberal dash of lexigraphical acrobatics The Somnambulist combines a labyrinthine plot with haunting characters and an unreliable narrator which coalesces into an unexpected crescendo no one could anticipate.

The Somnambulist is a bald, mute giant of man who when pierced with swords does not bleed. His almost constant com...more

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Twenty-Third Avenue Books

Twenty-Third Avenue Books rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

01/31/08

Read in January, 2008

This is Jonathan Barnes’ first novel. Set in Victorian London, the story centers around a man named Edward Moon, a has-been conjurer. He has a mute side-kick named The Somnambulist. The mystery of the story is why two unrelated men have each fallen to their deaths.

In the course of the story we are introduced to a wide array of vivid characters, each with their own quirkiness. I will never forget some, such as the Prefects! :-)

I don’t understand why the book is titled “The Somnambulist...more

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Greg

Greg rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

01/26/08

bookshelves: horror, mystery, sf-fantasy-and-other-dorky-shit

Read in January, 2008

I think this book may be really worth five stars, and there was a moment about thirty pages to the end where I thought, this is a five star book. Something about the end though brought it back to a four.
This is what escapist fiction should be. It's fun, it's interesting, the plot twists and keeps you guessing, and it's all done with a relative ease that doesn't make the even the most remarkable seem contrived. Sadly though most escapist (I mean non-serious literature, or fun books, or sha...more

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Susan

Susan rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

05/30/08

bookshelves: fiction-adult

Having just finished Jonathan's Stroud's second book in his Bartimaeus Trilogy, I couldn't have picked a more fitting follow-up read if I tried. The magical/fantastical element is here in spades in this Victorian era detective story that brings to mind the darker parts of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, with the atmosphere of T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" with that ominous yellow fog licking at every corner. Edward Moon, a fading magician/illusionist and sometime de...more

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Amy

Amy rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

04/06/08

bookshelves: 08f, 2008, magical, mystery-and-suspense

Read in April, 2008

recommends it for: mary

Today I finally finished The Somnabulist by Jonathan Barnes. If you liked The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon or Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold (which I think is the slightly better of the two novels reminiscent of one another), you would like this. It takes place in Victorian London and has many fantasy/ mystery elements (including time travel and assassins with names like "The Mongoose"). The book is exciting, sometimes a little tedious and best r...more

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Michael

Michael rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

04/09/08

Read in February, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jenne

Jenne rated it:

12/17/07

bookshelves: library-journal-reviews

Read in December, 2007

So, imagine that a magician/private detective, a time-traveler, a medium, a medium-debunker, a Scotland Yard inspector, a housekeeper, a bearded-lady of the evening, a shadowy government organization, a company called Love, a sinister "Oriental", a sideshow freak, a corpulent prisoner, a corrupt gaoler, two schoolboy hit-men, two vengeful mothers, the animated corpse of a famous poet, and a mysterious mute giant with a milk-drinking habit all run into each other in post-Victorian Londo...more

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Christi

Christi rated it:

(review of isbn 0061375381)

06/17/08

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Christi by: Jenna

This book tries to please too many people. It starts out as a terrific page-turner -- intriguing characters in Victorian London, a mystery to be solved. But then it gets weirder with supernatural and cultish forces lurking in the darkness. And then it gets science fiction-y with characters who appear out of the mist and the Frankenstein-like resurrection of a great poet. And meanwhile it plays narrative games which add yet another distraction to this already confused amalgam. The edning is ...more

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