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Cordcatcher Joins the Show
Alerted by his knowledge of careless inventors leaving time-doors open, Edward Fallion goes to work for Dr. Kay of Harley Street expecting trouble and finds it. Fires, lies, murder, and visitors from a parallel time-stream cause mayhem and confusion as Fallion, tries to uncover who is responsible and stop them.
A steampunk era where anything can and does sometimes happen.
A steampunk era where anything can and does sometimes happen.
214 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 5, 2015
Fallion joins Dr. Kay’s household disguised as a butler when he is a spy on the time travel inventions of the honored Doctor and his friends. Much of what goes on in the house is a mystery which he has to reveal through investigations that take him on a hilarious journey of shocking discovery, outright wickedness, murder and deception. His ingenuity in investigating, discovery and problem solving forms an interesting read.
The author sets the book in historic London and captures the spirit of the era in terms of environment, language and customs. He sets a tone of mystery and surprise and maintains it throughout the book.
However, introduction of new characters is not done in a manner that leaves an impression on the reader. Thus I discovered way in some characters were not people and vice-versa. The book’s plot is a bit diverse at the beginning but converges well at the end when Fallion follows clues to discover the goings on at the institute and solve the mystery of Dr. Kay’s strange visitors – human, alien and otherwise- and it becomes easier to follow the story. The Cordcatcher remains an implied presence in the book, only featuring now and then, but turns out to be the main issue at hand in the end. The characterization and participation of the Cordcatcher in the book is not commensurate with the title.
I enjoyed the book for its historic setting and both the spontaneity and consistency of Fallion’s character.
The author gave me a free copy for an honest review.
The author sets the book in historic London and captures the spirit of the era in terms of environment, language and customs. He sets a tone of mystery and surprise and maintains it throughout the book.
However, introduction of new characters is not done in a manner that leaves an impression on the reader. Thus I discovered way in some characters were not people and vice-versa. The book’s plot is a bit diverse at the beginning but converges well at the end when Fallion follows clues to discover the goings on at the institute and solve the mystery of Dr. Kay’s strange visitors – human, alien and otherwise- and it becomes easier to follow the story. The Cordcatcher remains an implied presence in the book, only featuring now and then, but turns out to be the main issue at hand in the end. The characterization and participation of the Cordcatcher in the book is not commensurate with the title.
I enjoyed the book for its historic setting and both the spontaneity and consistency of Fallion’s character.
The author gave me a free copy for an honest review.
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November 19, 2015COSTLY MEDDLING WITH THE TIME RULES. A GOOD TIME TRAVEL READ!
Time traveling in the old Victorian London.
This is a sci-fi cum fantasy read or perhaps an allegory describing the life and risks of night crawlers, (called by organs playing or piano sounds) parting and carousing in the slum and life around the River Thames and fog streets of the old London.
A good story I enjoy very well, intelligently built.
Literarily, the mystery of the unearthly hub and rubbing sound (possibly a breech in time, and accidental opening of a time door/gate by experimenting scientist ) took Edward Fallion to Dr Kay's as a buttler to investigate and forestall possible threats to humans.
He was further puzzled by the objects that were mysteriously appearing in the guest room of the Harley Street physician, Dr Kay. Also,the thuds and the mission of the familiar Kitty, Cordcatcher and how the parallel time gate was opened to the feline or cat-human like beings, cordcatchers and lion lords.
The Cordcatcher had contracted war veteran Will Sikes who stole the time - opening worm-box, the invention of Professor Harman. He dismantled it and sold them for gold bars to the lady Chordcatcher. They (the catfolks ) needed it intact (put together) but does not know how until Sykes decided to trick Dr Kay and Harmon to putting it together at the Dr. Kay's house. It was a time gate, using an atomiser and an Ark box like structure built with brass and cord strings. The catfolks was able to open the time gate at the secret research institute at the isle of dogs founded by Professor Meyers (and at Kay's house )
Edward Fallion discovered for himself how a simple mistake in human experiments, and greed (of Prof. Michlewhite, Prof. Harmon, and former soldier Will Sykes) changed the course of history, opening the door to the parallel time-streams/world inhabited by earth-like species that evolution favoured instead of humankind, Chordcatchers too. Sure, Britain and London would have been "a different place had someone not decided to meddle with the time streams being ignorant of the time rules. "
A day or two before Fallion arrive at Kay's , Myers had sent Sykes to Dr Kay to find out what was going on. There he agreed with the catfolk to put together the box or time wormhole to take trapped miss Chordcatcher home. Using the invisible cloak given to him, he steals into Kay's office to drop the pipes and objects and also decieve him to repair it through Harmon.
It was not clear to me why Kay transplanted Micklewhite brain into kid Brooks' body but it was indeed clear that was a big error for the Professor ended up trapped in it because his body given to the kid encountered abuse in the riotous disposition of the kid and eventual death in the hand of the catfolks, lieons.
However, the last chapter was clumsily put together, including the explanation for the mystery. The ending did not build a proper desire or anticipation for a following adventure of Fallion , the sequel it seems to hint on.
Time traveling in the old Victorian London.
This is a sci-fi cum fantasy read or perhaps an allegory describing the life and risks of night crawlers, (called by organs playing or piano sounds) parting and carousing in the slum and life around the River Thames and fog streets of the old London.
A good story I enjoy very well, intelligently built.
Literarily, the mystery of the unearthly hub and rubbing sound (possibly a breech in time, and accidental opening of a time door/gate by experimenting scientist ) took Edward Fallion to Dr Kay's as a buttler to investigate and forestall possible threats to humans.
He was further puzzled by the objects that were mysteriously appearing in the guest room of the Harley Street physician, Dr Kay. Also,the thuds and the mission of the familiar Kitty, Cordcatcher and how the parallel time gate was opened to the feline or cat-human like beings, cordcatchers and lion lords.
The Cordcatcher had contracted war veteran Will Sikes who stole the time - opening worm-box, the invention of Professor Harman. He dismantled it and sold them for gold bars to the lady Chordcatcher. They (the catfolks ) needed it intact (put together) but does not know how until Sykes decided to trick Dr Kay and Harmon to putting it together at the Dr. Kay's house. It was a time gate, using an atomiser and an Ark box like structure built with brass and cord strings. The catfolks was able to open the time gate at the secret research institute at the isle of dogs founded by Professor Meyers (and at Kay's house )
Edward Fallion discovered for himself how a simple mistake in human experiments, and greed (of Prof. Michlewhite, Prof. Harmon, and former soldier Will Sykes) changed the course of history, opening the door to the parallel time-streams/world inhabited by earth-like species that evolution favoured instead of humankind, Chordcatchers too. Sure, Britain and London would have been "a different place had someone not decided to meddle with the time streams being ignorant of the time rules. "
A day or two before Fallion arrive at Kay's , Myers had sent Sykes to Dr Kay to find out what was going on. There he agreed with the catfolk to put together the box or time wormhole to take trapped miss Chordcatcher home. Using the invisible cloak given to him, he steals into Kay's office to drop the pipes and objects and also decieve him to repair it through Harmon.
It was not clear to me why Kay transplanted Micklewhite brain into kid Brooks' body but it was indeed clear that was a big error for the Professor ended up trapped in it because his body given to the kid encountered abuse in the riotous disposition of the kid and eventual death in the hand of the catfolks, lieons.
However, the last chapter was clumsily put together, including the explanation for the mystery. The ending did not build a proper desire or anticipation for a following adventure of Fallion , the sequel it seems to hint on.
January 15, 2016
Admittedly I know very little about "steampunk", but I am a massive historical fiction buff, and was really impressed with the author's attention to historical detail in "Cordcatcher Joins The Show." The dialogue was witty and varied, and the different British dialects he employed really brought the characters to life.
Edward Fallion, the story's protagonist, is a well-rounded, likable one. He's whip smart, but fallible as well. The plot takes interesting twists and turns, incorporating a fantastical time-travel story into the gritty reality of Victorian London.
As a reader who appreciates a well-proofed story, I was impressed with Mr. Longford's efforts at making sure it was edited properly. He has obviously spent a lot of time and love in crafting this book, and very much worth a read.
Edward Fallion, the story's protagonist, is a well-rounded, likable one. He's whip smart, but fallible as well. The plot takes interesting twists and turns, incorporating a fantastical time-travel story into the gritty reality of Victorian London.
As a reader who appreciates a well-proofed story, I was impressed with Mr. Longford's efforts at making sure it was edited properly. He has obviously spent a lot of time and love in crafting this book, and very much worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews