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Terrestrial Passions: A Regency Romance, with Aliens
The widowed Mrs. Dorrit lives a marginal existence with her brother, a vicar, and twin daughters in a cottage on the estate of her wealthy cousin, Lord Chuzzlewit, in the West London village of Little Chiswick. As the season dawns and a rakish Earl takes up residence in the once-abandoned Flanders House nearby, their lives, and the marital prospects of Emma's daughters, become immeasurably complicated when a starship lands in her apple orchard.
A rollicking satire that blends the world of Jane Austen with the sci-fi universes of E.T. and The Day the Earth Stood Still by World Fantasy Award-winning author S.P. Somtow, this story has been a top faved ongoing serial in Amazon Vella.
A rollicking satire that blends the world of Jane Austen with the sci-fi universes of E.T. and The Day the Earth Stood Still by World Fantasy Award-winning author S.P. Somtow, this story has been a top faved ongoing serial in Amazon Vella.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2024
22 people want to read
About the author
S.P. Somtow
189 books159 followersCalled by the Bangkok Post "the Thai person known by name to most people in the world," S.P. Somtow is an author, composer, filmmaker, and international media personality whose dazzling talents and acerbic wit have entertained and enlightened fans the world over.
He was Somtow Papinian Sucharitkul in Bangkok. His grandfather's sister was a Queen of Siam, his father is a well known international lawyer and vice-president of the International Academy of Human Rights. Somtow was educated at Eton and Cambridge, and his first career was in music. In the 1970s (while he was still in college) his works were being performed on four continents and he was named representative of Thailand to the Asian Composer's League and to the International Music Commission of UNESCO. His avant-garde compositions caused controversy and scandal in his native country, and a severe case of musical burnout in the late 1970s precipitated his entry into a second career - that of author.
He began writing science fiction, but soon started to invade other fields of writing, with some 40 books out now, including the clasic horror novel Vampire Junction, which defined the "rock and roll vampire" concept for the 80s, the Riverrun Trilogy ("the finest new series of the 90's" - Locus) and the semi-autobiographical memoir Jasmine Nights. He has won or been nominated for dozens of major awards including the Bram Stoker Award, the John W. Campbell Award, the Hugo Award, and the World Fantasy Award.
Somtow has also made some incursions into filmmaking, directing the cult classic The Laughing Dead and the award winning art film Ill Met by Moonlight.
He was Somtow Papinian Sucharitkul in Bangkok. His grandfather's sister was a Queen of Siam, his father is a well known international lawyer and vice-president of the International Academy of Human Rights. Somtow was educated at Eton and Cambridge, and his first career was in music. In the 1970s (while he was still in college) his works were being performed on four continents and he was named representative of Thailand to the Asian Composer's League and to the International Music Commission of UNESCO. His avant-garde compositions caused controversy and scandal in his native country, and a severe case of musical burnout in the late 1970s precipitated his entry into a second career - that of author.
He began writing science fiction, but soon started to invade other fields of writing, with some 40 books out now, including the clasic horror novel Vampire Junction, which defined the "rock and roll vampire" concept for the 80s, the Riverrun Trilogy ("the finest new series of the 90's" - Locus) and the semi-autobiographical memoir Jasmine Nights. He has won or been nominated for dozens of major awards including the Bram Stoker Award, the John W. Campbell Award, the Hugo Award, and the World Fantasy Award.
Somtow has also made some incursions into filmmaking, directing the cult classic The Laughing Dead and the award winning art film Ill Met by Moonlight.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 29, 2024
DNF @ 50% on the dot. This is so tricky to review!!
For some context, this is my first spec fiction, but not my first alien and regency (both separate) book. I went into this expecting a spicy alien regency read and somehow I got that... just not in the way I usually do with the previous spice, regency, and alien books I've consumed. I know the problem lies in the way the book is written, filled with dry humour and satire, which leads me to conclude Spec Fiction is not for me.
But then again, it is nicely written, with a humorous alien as the MMC of the book to entertain me, but not for long. I cannot justify giving this one a low rating when nothing is wrong with the book, but personally it's my preferences that haven't been met.
I WILL say as an avid reader of regency novels my whole pre-teen and adult life, that the author seems to be lost on how to write it. They're brilliant in Spec Fic but floundering with the tone of a regency/victorian era novel. Thus, if half of the genre is poorly executed the overall idea is awkward and a bit cringe.
Anyhow, I'll give this one 3 ⭐s. It didn't leave me with good feelings but I didn't have a visceral reaction to it either. It's simply, as many have said about Spec Fic, not for me. I hope this finds it's audience!
For some context, this is my first spec fiction, but not my first alien and regency (both separate) book. I went into this expecting a spicy alien regency read and somehow I got that... just not in the way I usually do with the previous spice, regency, and alien books I've consumed. I know the problem lies in the way the book is written, filled with dry humour and satire, which leads me to conclude Spec Fiction is not for me.
But then again, it is nicely written, with a humorous alien as the MMC of the book to entertain me, but not for long. I cannot justify giving this one a low rating when nothing is wrong with the book, but personally it's my preferences that haven't been met.
I WILL say as an avid reader of regency novels my whole pre-teen and adult life, that the author seems to be lost on how to write it. They're brilliant in Spec Fic but floundering with the tone of a regency/victorian era novel. Thus, if half of the genre is poorly executed the overall idea is awkward and a bit cringe.
Anyhow, I'll give this one 3 ⭐s. It didn't leave me with good feelings but I didn't have a visceral reaction to it either. It's simply, as many have said about Spec Fic, not for me. I hope this finds it's audience!
March 1, 2024
Something different, but I recommend reading!
They were surprised by a random starship while doing normal everyday things. Here comes the man without clothes and he is blue! The Regency of Little Chiswick are in a for a surprise! This is just the start to the witty and unique experiences you will get from Terrestrial Passions.
They were surprised by a random starship while doing normal everyday things. Here comes the man without clothes and he is blue! The Regency of Little Chiswick are in a for a surprise! This is just the start to the witty and unique experiences you will get from Terrestrial Passions.
March 24, 2024
I had never previously heard of this author, although he's a well-known polymath who has written a number of books, some of which are speculative fiction. I picked the book up because I enjoy both spec-fic and Regency romance, and this offered a combination of the two.
Unfortunately, while it has some elements of a Regency romance, it manages to be almost completely unlike one, like the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation vending machine in Hitchhiker's Guide that always produced a beverage almost, but not entirely, unlike tea. The overall tone is much closer to an 18th-century bawdy comedy (like The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling ) than to Jane Austen, and while I wouldn't say that it has more anachronisms, Americanisms or malapropisms than the average 21st-century-written Regency romance, it does have different ones. Note that I read a pre-publication ARC (which had some significant formatting issues, and was therefore hard to read, because of the file format I received it in), and some of the errors I outline below may be fixed before publication.
The author was born in Thailand, educated at Eton and Cambridge, and spent some time living in the US; sometimes the words he uses are used in the US rather than the British sense ("betimes" and "celebrants," for example), and sometimes they are just wrong, like "mealy-mouthed" to describe a character who is extremely frank and uncensored, the opposite of what "mealy-mouthed" means. He's fond of the word "melisma," and sometimes uses it, incorrectly, for instrumental as well as vocal performances. The word "lugging" is used to indicate "throwing".
There are a couple of instances where some cultural detail is a little off, too, such as styling noblemen "the Right Honourable" when they are not ministers of state, or referring to "the ton" in a way that does not reference a single united body. I didn't believe that someone would be "the Earl of Little Chiswick"; it would be "Earl of Chiswick," with Little Chiswick being one of the associated places. Nor did I really believe "Lord Chuzzlewit"; it's too Dickensian a name.
There are a couple of minor continuity errors; an unimportant character who starts out as Lady Sanditon becomes Mrs. Sanditon, and a conversation which starts at the end of one chapter as people arrive home from a party continues at the beginning of the next chapter, but takes place before they leave the party.
The characters, who live a couple of miles from London, are so non-cosmopolitan that most of them are entirely prepared to believe that a blue alien is a Frenchman, and they react with surprising aplomb when he performs apparent magic using his advanced technology, or speaks about his alien culture in ways that a Regency English person, in an era of French cultural dominance, should know are not true of France. In fact, that was one of my biggest issues with the book: the way people acted didn't ring true, either to human nature in general or the time and place in particular. One of the key things about Regency romance is how much people care about certain things (the opinion of the ton, getting an advantageous marriage, proper behaviour - all of which are, of course, deeply entangled); the things these people care about, or rather the things they don't care about, don't feel authentic to the period. Ironically for a book with the word "passions" in its title, I never felt that anyone was particularly passionate about anything.
Of course, a lot of Regency romances written today impose the sensibilities and cultural values of, often, the contemporary US on the England of 200 years ago. This book mostly doesn't do that, but still manages to be jarring with it. Arabella, one of the several main characters, is a (largely self-taught) intellectual, and holds advanced views on the position of women and on slavery which are not anachronistic for her time, though they line up with our modern sensibilities. But when she discovers that her love interest, a slave owner in America, had children with multiple slaves, who he didn't consider human enough to even consider them bastards, by means of sex that was coercive, even if it wasn't violent, because of the power differential (a point she herself has made earlier in a slightly different context) - she doesn't appear to care. It's not a dealbreaker, or even much of a concern. Her mother, another of the main characters, discovers that , and is completely unperturbed. Arabella's sister Anna Anna is also foul-mouthed in a way that would bring instant shock and condemnation from any actual member of the Regency middle class; nobody is at all bothered by this. That's what I mean when I say that it feels a lot more like an 18th-century story than an early-19th-century one, though with extra anti-Christian sentiment that feels more like the author's intrusion.
There's a Cinderella vibe running throughout, with the alien in the role of fairy godmother, providing the wherewithal for the sisters to go to the ball and thereby attract their mates. There's even a clever classical reference to a book with a Latin title that means "turning into a pumpkin" - there's the Eton and Cambridge coming out - and the magic/advanced technology indistinguishable from magic ends at midnight . To me, though, the happily-ever-after ending felt both unearned and unconvincing.
The spec-fic aspects came across to me as contrived, the aliens being so advanced that they might as well be powerful Fae or demigods; it was a thin shell of technological language over whatever the plot required in order to be more strange and wonderful, or just to have a sense of movement (the alien requires certain resources in order to remain alive and contact his people, but this doesn't quite manage to provide urgency to the plot). The alien is also aware of Earth technological and cultural references that are in the future from the point of view of the setting, though time travel is never mentioned.
Overall, I felt it was a bit of a mess, which missed any authentic feel of the genre or the time and place and also didn't work for me in terms of an emotional arc for any of the characters or a plot that made much structural sense. The multiple characters diffused the plot in too many directions, and they seemed not to care about the things they ought to have cared about. It's a miss as far as I'm concerned.
Unfortunately, while it has some elements of a Regency romance, it manages to be almost completely unlike one, like the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation vending machine in Hitchhiker's Guide that always produced a beverage almost, but not entirely, unlike tea. The overall tone is much closer to an 18th-century bawdy comedy (like The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling ) than to Jane Austen, and while I wouldn't say that it has more anachronisms, Americanisms or malapropisms than the average 21st-century-written Regency romance, it does have different ones. Note that I read a pre-publication ARC (which had some significant formatting issues, and was therefore hard to read, because of the file format I received it in), and some of the errors I outline below may be fixed before publication.
The author was born in Thailand, educated at Eton and Cambridge, and spent some time living in the US; sometimes the words he uses are used in the US rather than the British sense ("betimes" and "celebrants," for example), and sometimes they are just wrong, like "mealy-mouthed" to describe a character who is extremely frank and uncensored, the opposite of what "mealy-mouthed" means. He's fond of the word "melisma," and sometimes uses it, incorrectly, for instrumental as well as vocal performances. The word "lugging" is used to indicate "throwing".
There are a couple of instances where some cultural detail is a little off, too, such as styling noblemen "the Right Honourable" when they are not ministers of state, or referring to "the ton" in a way that does not reference a single united body. I didn't believe that someone would be "the Earl of Little Chiswick"; it would be "Earl of Chiswick," with Little Chiswick being one of the associated places. Nor did I really believe "Lord Chuzzlewit"; it's too Dickensian a name.
There are a couple of minor continuity errors; an unimportant character who starts out as Lady Sanditon becomes Mrs. Sanditon, and a conversation which starts at the end of one chapter as people arrive home from a party continues at the beginning of the next chapter, but takes place before they leave the party.
The characters, who live a couple of miles from London, are so non-cosmopolitan that most of them are entirely prepared to believe that a blue alien is a Frenchman, and they react with surprising aplomb when he performs apparent magic using his advanced technology, or speaks about his alien culture in ways that a Regency English person, in an era of French cultural dominance, should know are not true of France. In fact, that was one of my biggest issues with the book: the way people acted didn't ring true, either to human nature in general or the time and place in particular. One of the key things about Regency romance is how much people care about certain things (the opinion of the ton, getting an advantageous marriage, proper behaviour - all of which are, of course, deeply entangled); the things these people care about, or rather the things they don't care about, don't feel authentic to the period. Ironically for a book with the word "passions" in its title, I never felt that anyone was particularly passionate about anything.
Of course, a lot of Regency romances written today impose the sensibilities and cultural values of, often, the contemporary US on the England of 200 years ago. This book mostly doesn't do that, but still manages to be jarring with it. Arabella, one of the several main characters, is a (largely self-taught) intellectual, and holds advanced views on the position of women and on slavery which are not anachronistic for her time, though they line up with our modern sensibilities. But when she discovers that her love interest, a slave owner in America, had children with multiple slaves, who he didn't consider human enough to even consider them bastards, by means of sex that was coercive, even if it wasn't violent, because of the power differential (a point she herself has made earlier in a slightly different context) - she doesn't appear to care. It's not a dealbreaker, or even much of a concern. Her mother, another of the main characters, discovers that , and is completely unperturbed. Arabella's sister Anna Anna is also foul-mouthed in a way that would bring instant shock and condemnation from any actual member of the Regency middle class; nobody is at all bothered by this. That's what I mean when I say that it feels a lot more like an 18th-century story than an early-19th-century one, though with extra anti-Christian sentiment that feels more like the author's intrusion.
There's a Cinderella vibe running throughout, with the alien in the role of fairy godmother, providing the wherewithal for the sisters to go to the ball and thereby attract their mates. There's even a clever classical reference to a book with a Latin title that means "turning into a pumpkin" - there's the Eton and Cambridge coming out - and the magic/advanced technology indistinguishable from magic ends at midnight . To me, though, the happily-ever-after ending felt both unearned and unconvincing.
The spec-fic aspects came across to me as contrived, the aliens being so advanced that they might as well be powerful Fae or demigods; it was a thin shell of technological language over whatever the plot required in order to be more strange and wonderful, or just to have a sense of movement (the alien requires certain resources in order to remain alive and contact his people, but this doesn't quite manage to provide urgency to the plot). The alien is also aware of Earth technological and cultural references that are in the future from the point of view of the setting, though time travel is never mentioned.
Overall, I felt it was a bit of a mess, which missed any authentic feel of the genre or the time and place and also didn't work for me in terms of an emotional arc for any of the characters or a plot that made much structural sense. The multiple characters diffused the plot in too many directions, and they seemed not to care about the things they ought to have cared about. It's a miss as far as I'm concerned.
February 29, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
If you're looking for something COMPLETELY different, here you are!
The storyline is intentionally ridiculous, poking fun at Regency romance tropes, science fiction tropes, organized religion (Anglicans looking down on papists…unless they can cook or are higher in society), absurd misconceptions about foreigners (specifically the French), and a host of other topics.
An alien spacecraft crash lands in an English orchard in the early 1800s. A vicar inhabits the adjoining cottage. More importantly, his impoverished widowed sister, Mrs. Dorrit, and her twin daughters, Arabella and Anna, live with him. Rather than being fearful of the naked blue-skinned figure that emerges from his aircraft, Mrs. Dorrit is delighted once she discovers he can produce an unlimited supply of gold. His name is unpronounceable. Between that and his blue coloring, she assumes (as does mostly everyone else) that he must be French, and she arbitrarily decides the name Monsieur Clatoux is close enough. He and Mrs. Dorrit strike a deal: in exchange for clothes and lodging, he will help her dowerless daughters attract husbands. His mission is studying Earth culture, and he has a different perspective about the planet’s customs for finding a mate. (There are seven different genders on his planet.)
The twins have opposite personalities. Anna is determined to become an accomplished pianist, but she’s far from it and is painful to listen to. She’s also dumber than dirt and curses like a sailor. On the other hand, Arabella is extremely intelligent and well-read, and she isn’t that interested in finding a husband despite her mother’s wishes. It’s Arabella who immediately recognizes that Monsieur Clatoux is actually from a different world rather than a different country, and she assists him in finding what he needs to send a signal to space for help.
The book is a bit of Jane Austen, a bit of E.T. the Extraterrestrial, and a bit of Alice in Wonderland. This well-traveled alien has visited other parts of the planet before, having made human friends as far away as Russia. And since Monsieur’s planet is freewheeling when it comes to coupling, he approaches Earth women the same way. It’s hard to categorize those scenes as objectionably graphic because the descriptions are literally of something other worldly.
Perhaps it was intentional, but Monsieur states that he must find a way to return to his home planet within a certain amount of time or die, yet he continues to expend a great deal of his cosmic energy doing miraculous stunts right up to that point. Considering the general tone of the story, this may well be part of the parody, but it seems worth noting.
The plot meanders in various odd directions. Again, maybe that’s on purpose. The search for different elements to build Monsieur’s device to “phone home” primarily drives the story, but he also brings the two Dorrit girls into society both near and far.
The quality of the writing is excellent, and it’s certainly a unique, unpredictable story. It’s just too bizarre for my taste.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you're looking for something COMPLETELY different, here you are!
The storyline is intentionally ridiculous, poking fun at Regency romance tropes, science fiction tropes, organized religion (Anglicans looking down on papists…unless they can cook or are higher in society), absurd misconceptions about foreigners (specifically the French), and a host of other topics.
An alien spacecraft crash lands in an English orchard in the early 1800s. A vicar inhabits the adjoining cottage. More importantly, his impoverished widowed sister, Mrs. Dorrit, and her twin daughters, Arabella and Anna, live with him. Rather than being fearful of the naked blue-skinned figure that emerges from his aircraft, Mrs. Dorrit is delighted once she discovers he can produce an unlimited supply of gold. His name is unpronounceable. Between that and his blue coloring, she assumes (as does mostly everyone else) that he must be French, and she arbitrarily decides the name Monsieur Clatoux is close enough. He and Mrs. Dorrit strike a deal: in exchange for clothes and lodging, he will help her dowerless daughters attract husbands. His mission is studying Earth culture, and he has a different perspective about the planet’s customs for finding a mate. (There are seven different genders on his planet.)
The twins have opposite personalities. Anna is determined to become an accomplished pianist, but she’s far from it and is painful to listen to. She’s also dumber than dirt and curses like a sailor. On the other hand, Arabella is extremely intelligent and well-read, and she isn’t that interested in finding a husband despite her mother’s wishes. It’s Arabella who immediately recognizes that Monsieur Clatoux is actually from a different world rather than a different country, and she assists him in finding what he needs to send a signal to space for help.
The book is a bit of Jane Austen, a bit of E.T. the Extraterrestrial, and a bit of Alice in Wonderland. This well-traveled alien has visited other parts of the planet before, having made human friends as far away as Russia. And since Monsieur’s planet is freewheeling when it comes to coupling, he approaches Earth women the same way. It’s hard to categorize those scenes as objectionably graphic because the descriptions are literally of something other worldly.
Perhaps it was intentional, but Monsieur states that he must find a way to return to his home planet within a certain amount of time or die, yet he continues to expend a great deal of his cosmic energy doing miraculous stunts right up to that point. Considering the general tone of the story, this may well be part of the parody, but it seems worth noting.
The plot meanders in various odd directions. Again, maybe that’s on purpose. The search for different elements to build Monsieur’s device to “phone home” primarily drives the story, but he also brings the two Dorrit girls into society both near and far.
The quality of the writing is excellent, and it’s certainly a unique, unpredictable story. It’s just too bizarre for my taste.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 30, 2024
Terrestrial Passions, by S.P. Somtow, presents a unique fusion of Regency romance and science fiction, transporting readers to the quaint English village of Little Chiswick. In this unusual narrative, the life of Mrs. Emma Dorrit, a widow residing with her brother and twin daughters at the lower echelons of society, undergoes a startling transformation when an extraterrestrial visitor's starship unexpectedly lands in her orchard.
The novel excels in its detailed characterizations, particularly in depicting the societal nuances and aspirations within 19th-century English society. The Dorrit family, along with the enigmatic alien, Monsieur Clatoux, navigate the intricacies of social conventions and class divisions. The story explores themes of ambition, intellectual exploration, and the intricacies of both terrestrial and interstellar relationships. The juxtaposition of Arabella's intellectual pursuits against Anna's more emotionally driven nature provides further depth to the narrative. The novel's rich historical details and vivid portrayal of the era are a highlight, offering a textured backdrop to the story. Its melding of historical context with science-fiction elements showcases the author's creative ambition, presenting a refreshing twist for those eager to explore beyond conventional boundaries.
The transition from the familiar setting of an English village to scenes involving extraterrestrial elements adds an element of surprise and innovation, appealing to readers who appreciate a blend of genres. The pacing of the novel, with its mix of reflective social scenes and dynamic sci-fi segments, provides a varied reading experience that keeps the narrative engaging and multifaceted.
Terrestrial Passions stands out for its imaginative approach, skillfully intertwining different genres to create an engaging and distinctive story. It's a thought-provoking read for those who appreciate an inventive combination of historical fiction and science fiction, marked by well-crafted characters and an original plotline. The book is a testament to the author's boldness in challenging genre conventions, making it a noteworthy addition to the realms of both historical and science fiction literature.
The novel excels in its detailed characterizations, particularly in depicting the societal nuances and aspirations within 19th-century English society. The Dorrit family, along with the enigmatic alien, Monsieur Clatoux, navigate the intricacies of social conventions and class divisions. The story explores themes of ambition, intellectual exploration, and the intricacies of both terrestrial and interstellar relationships. The juxtaposition of Arabella's intellectual pursuits against Anna's more emotionally driven nature provides further depth to the narrative. The novel's rich historical details and vivid portrayal of the era are a highlight, offering a textured backdrop to the story. Its melding of historical context with science-fiction elements showcases the author's creative ambition, presenting a refreshing twist for those eager to explore beyond conventional boundaries.
The transition from the familiar setting of an English village to scenes involving extraterrestrial elements adds an element of surprise and innovation, appealing to readers who appreciate a blend of genres. The pacing of the novel, with its mix of reflective social scenes and dynamic sci-fi segments, provides a varied reading experience that keeps the narrative engaging and multifaceted.
Terrestrial Passions stands out for its imaginative approach, skillfully intertwining different genres to create an engaging and distinctive story. It's a thought-provoking read for those who appreciate an inventive combination of historical fiction and science fiction, marked by well-crafted characters and an original plotline. The book is a testament to the author's boldness in challenging genre conventions, making it a noteworthy addition to the realms of both historical and science fiction literature.
March 3, 2024
A story set in the 19th century, and populated by characters from several of Charles Dickens's novels (and influenced by others from Bronte and Austen). The twist, making this book a satirical farce, is that these characters' existence and English sensibility are upended when they encounter an alien who becomes stranded in Little Chiswick. The story follows the characters (mainly women) as they discover joy, sex, love, and self worth. The alien turns out to be a fun loving, extroverted, kind-hearted, sex obsessed being, who enjoys shattering middle class mores, and helping his friends discover that these mores were never more than a thin veil of moralising not adhered to by the English (or, for that matter, Russian) aristocracy.
The book is funny, taking no prisoners with regard to showing a very different version of literary 19th century England. It is hilariously matter of fact, and, with its tongue in cheek approach, helps upend views of the role of women (and gay people) at that time. Choosing to do this on the basis of Dickens's characters is doubly courageous, as he shows what might have been were these characters more real. The critique of religion and the role it plays in society are also noteworthy - these are not spared ridicule, making the whole farce even funnier.
I recommend this book to anyone who read English 19th century literature, looking for a bit of levity and fun. It was an easy read, and very entertaining. Having read the author's vampire novel, this is a huge departure, but equally well written and composed.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The book is funny, taking no prisoners with regard to showing a very different version of literary 19th century England. It is hilariously matter of fact, and, with its tongue in cheek approach, helps upend views of the role of women (and gay people) at that time. Choosing to do this on the basis of Dickens's characters is doubly courageous, as he shows what might have been were these characters more real. The critique of religion and the role it plays in society are also noteworthy - these are not spared ridicule, making the whole farce even funnier.
I recommend this book to anyone who read English 19th century literature, looking for a bit of levity and fun. It was an easy read, and very entertaining. Having read the author's vampire novel, this is a huge departure, but equally well written and composed.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 6, 2024
wild take on regency romance - with aliens
In a world were the French are blue, a spaceship is a barouche, and vicars have slave lovers er laborers… Comes Jane Austen’s Emma. With a twist.
Emma’s co-conspirator is an alien being with a robust engine and the ability to create gold and medicine and erect…buildings. Please lovers. And he has little holding back his, um, choice endeavors.
The writing is well done although towards the 2/3rds mark you can tell why this probably played out a bit better in serialized form. The overall tone plays just right for the tongue-in-cheek nature of a satirical work.
I shall assume that the over-abundance of bad moral conduct just being accepted is part of the gag. The Earl having slept with a number of his slaves in America, but now he’s suddenly ready to turn over a new leaf to be with his wife? But you know, he’s the super wealthiest dude around and the nephew of the Queen, so, all is just fine and dandy.
A number of jabs at typical British behaviors and society that are amusing and all in jest.
Overall, if you’re looking for a romance with any sort of steamy payoff, not quite. But if you like dry British humor, scifi, and Austen (like me), you’ll get a kick out it. Just should have had a bit more active “engine” action not behind closed doors and it would be comedy-romance gold.
(Also, the TOC is messed up so if you see this dear Author, pls check on that)
In a world were the French are blue, a spaceship is a barouche, and vicars have slave lovers er laborers… Comes Jane Austen’s Emma. With a twist.
Emma’s co-conspirator is an alien being with a robust engine and the ability to create gold and medicine and erect…buildings. Please lovers. And he has little holding back his, um, choice endeavors.
The writing is well done although towards the 2/3rds mark you can tell why this probably played out a bit better in serialized form. The overall tone plays just right for the tongue-in-cheek nature of a satirical work.
I shall assume that the over-abundance of bad moral conduct just being accepted is part of the gag. The Earl having slept with a number of his slaves in America, but now he’s suddenly ready to turn over a new leaf to be with his wife? But you know, he’s the super wealthiest dude around and the nephew of the Queen, so, all is just fine and dandy.
A number of jabs at typical British behaviors and society that are amusing and all in jest.
Overall, if you’re looking for a romance with any sort of steamy payoff, not quite. But if you like dry British humor, scifi, and Austen (like me), you’ll get a kick out it. Just should have had a bit more active “engine” action not behind closed doors and it would be comedy-romance gold.
(Also, the TOC is messed up so if you see this dear Author, pls check on that)
March 16, 2024
I am not sure how to review this book. I really cannot start to explain with any confidence why I like this story. You must set aside any judgements, preconceptions, suspend reality and just enjoy the read. I chuckled, laughed, and found myself liking the characters. Who can not like a naked, blue man or rather the outward manifestation of a complex 7 species blue protoplasm. Let us call him Monsieur, a Frenchman (who could believe he really is an alien ?) that arrives, and the transformations begin. Excellent transformations in the end, all really needed but it is not a smooth ride. It seems this Vicar’s household, its occupants have been found worthy and in need of this help. Many unusual, fun, and unexpected situations are in store for the reader. If you are uncomfortable at all with some steam and sex, probably not going to be the best read for you. I found it captivating in some strange way. It kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. No dull moments in this one. It was out of my comfort zone, and I enjoyed it. I really do not have words to tell you exactly why. I have nothing to compare it with so I will just say, take a chance and read it. I hope you will chuckle, find a few insights and be glad you have read it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 30, 2024
This story was all over the place. An alien lands in the middle of England and helps a family with twin girls enter into society while trying to fix his spaceship and go back to his planet.
The mother thinks he is French so for the entirety of the book he is called "Monsieur". He's able to make coins out of "thin air" so the family takes advantage of what he can do for them.
Meanwhile one of the girls, Arabella, meets a Duke and falls in love, and Anna learns to play the piano and meet one of the most famous Russian composers.
Arabella spends time trying to help Monsieur get what he needs to get back to his planet. Along the way he has sex with the widowed mother, and in trying to rescue Anna he has some sort of strange coupling like thing with Arabella, who may or may not be pregnant with baby octopi.
I was interested in the convergence of my favorite romance genres: Regency and Alien, but unfortunately this story was too all over the place to keep me engaged.
I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.
The mother thinks he is French so for the entirety of the book he is called "Monsieur". He's able to make coins out of "thin air" so the family takes advantage of what he can do for them.
Meanwhile one of the girls, Arabella, meets a Duke and falls in love, and Anna learns to play the piano and meet one of the most famous Russian composers.
Arabella spends time trying to help Monsieur get what he needs to get back to his planet. Along the way he has sex with the widowed mother, and in trying to rescue Anna he has some sort of strange coupling like thing with Arabella, who may or may not be pregnant with baby octopi.
I was interested in the convergence of my favorite romance genres: Regency and Alien, but unfortunately this story was too all over the place to keep me engaged.
I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.
May 30, 2024
As a lover of both Jane Austen and alien romances, I was excited to read Terrestrial Passions and wasn't disappointed. It was delightful and humorous. I especially liked how the sudden appearance of an alien didn't phase the Georgian-era characters because they preferred to believe he was "from France" rather than cope with reality. I also liked that the main characters learned to embrace who they truly are and their love interests did also.
There were some things that drew me out of the story. There was the occasional grammatical error, but not too many as to become a real distraction. I also thought the plot was a bit choppy, and there was some repetition. For example, an explanation of the naming of the planet Uranus was included twice.
Another thing I didn't like was the depiction of slavery. I know it was in line with the beliefs of the time, but I thought it was a distraction from what was mostly a lighthearted tale.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
There were some things that drew me out of the story. There was the occasional grammatical error, but not too many as to become a real distraction. I also thought the plot was a bit choppy, and there was some repetition. For example, an explanation of the naming of the planet Uranus was included twice.
Another thing I didn't like was the depiction of slavery. I know it was in line with the beliefs of the time, but I thought it was a distraction from what was mostly a lighthearted tale.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
March 9, 2024
A delightful mashup of science fiction and Regency romance with a strong edge of sarcasm.
Somtow has written a marvelously funny and engaging book. It begins and ends in ridiculousness, poking fun at everything English and Regency. I can’t praise it enough.
I did find it confusing that the male husband prospects for the two impoverished daughters were the Earl of Little Chiswick and Lord Chuzzelwit. At first I thought they were the same person, until I focused more closely and realized that Chiswick and Chuzzelwit, while both silly, were in fact two different words.
But what a book! Read it, you won’t regret it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Somtow has written a marvelously funny and engaging book. It begins and ends in ridiculousness, poking fun at everything English and Regency. I can’t praise it enough.
I did find it confusing that the male husband prospects for the two impoverished daughters were the Earl of Little Chiswick and Lord Chuzzelwit. At first I thought they were the same person, until I focused more closely and realized that Chiswick and Chuzzelwit, while both silly, were in fact two different words.
But what a book! Read it, you won’t regret it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 19, 2024
This book is a comedic scifi that unites satirical commentary on regency class politics with some ET phone home action. An alien crash lands into the garden of a house-poor, social-climbing British family and the family welcomes their new blue friend into their home. Hilarity ensues.
This book includes:
- Bridgerton style strict society sensibilities
- laugh-out-loud comedy
- hot blue alien
- balls galore
- satirical protestant vs catholic tension
If you love Bridgerton and have a taste for scifi, I recommend this comedy for a bit of fun and levity.
I received this ebook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, S.P. Somtow, and Diplodocus Press for the opportunity to review this book.
This book includes:
- Bridgerton style strict society sensibilities
- laugh-out-loud comedy
- hot blue alien
- balls galore
- satirical protestant vs catholic tension
If you love Bridgerton and have a taste for scifi, I recommend this comedy for a bit of fun and levity.
I received this ebook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, S.P. Somtow, and Diplodocus Press for the opportunity to review this book.
March 1, 2024
This quick, light work is a pastiche of Regency romances, the period works of Jane Austen, and the romance sub-genre of human/alien romance. Somtow effectively adopts the tone of the period novel and antically and comically propels his characters from one absurd incident to the next. Apparently it began as a serial and has that end-of-chapter cliffhanger quality that comes with the territory. So, well written, droll, and occasionally highlighting a more serious theme, including the universality of love and the virtue of both legal and real emancipation. I don’t think I am the target audience and it was a bit precious for my taste but I think it will find a happy audience.
May 3, 2024
This was an extremely silly and bawdy tale. It wasn't exactly a romance but there were definitely love stories. It's set during the reign of George III and his queen Charlotte in an obscure little village somehow full of the ton. There is an almost magical alien (he transubstantiates which of course looks like magic) who thoroughly turns the Dorrit family's life upside down. Hard to describe but a truly enjoyable story
March 16, 2024
interesting
Interesting mix of history, science fiction, and romance. I truly enjoyed the characters and the play on societal norms and acceptance of differences.
Interesting mix of history, science fiction, and romance. I truly enjoyed the characters and the play on societal norms and acceptance of differences.
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