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Larklight #1
Larklight
Arthur (Art) Mumby and his irritating sister Myrtle live with their father in the huge and rambling house, Larklight, travelling through space on a remote orbit far beyond the Moon. One ordinary sort of morning they receive a correspondence informing them that a gentleman is on his way to visit, a Mr Webster. Visitors to Larklight are rare if not unique, and a frenzy of preparation ensues. But it is entirely the wrong sort of preparation, as they discover when their guest arrives, and a Dreadful and Terrifying (and Marvellous) adventure begins. It takes them to the furthest reaches of Known Space, where they must battle the evil First Ones in a desperate attempt to save each other - and the Universe. Recounted through the eyes of Art himself, Larklight is sumptuously designed and illustrated throughout.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2006
About the author
Philip Reeve
130 books2,579 followersPhilip Reeve was born and raised in Brighton, where he worked in a bookshop for a number of years while also co-writing, producing and directing a number of no-budget theatre projects.
Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.
Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015
Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.
Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.
Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015
Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 568 reviews
July 17, 2012
Art and Myrtle Mumby live in Larklight, a house that orbits Earth beyond the moon, with their father, their mother having disappeared years earlier and thought dead in an aethership wreck, until one day, monstrous white spiders attack Larklight and send them scurrying. Can Art and Myrtle save their father, Larklight, and the entire British Empire?
First off, if I was thirteen, this would be my favorite book of all time. Larklight takes place in the 1850s, only it's an 1850's with Jules Verne-esque space travel and space is as it was thought in the Victorian era. The moon is covered with desert and giant mushrooms, Venus is a lush plant-world, and monstrous white spiders from Saturn's rings threaten to topple the British Empire of space. Interested yet?
Philip Reeve crafted one hell of an adventure tale here, fit for kids of all ages. The dry British wit kept the story going, even in the slower parts. I LOVE the world Reeve created for this book, from the pseudo-science of the aether ships to the hover hogs, pigs that thrive in zero gravity and get around by farting.
The characters are very much in the mold of those in Victorian literature: modest, prudish, and very dry. Except for Jack Havock and the space pirates, I mean. Also, Richard Burton, Warlord of Mars, is hardly prudish with his hot Martian wife.
Reeve draws from a lot of sources dear to my heart in Larklight, like Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, H.G. Wells, and many others. I'm anxious to see what he draws from the well in the next two books. It also reminded me of other books, like Celestial Matters or Beyond the Moons. Steampunk fans also won't want to pass this up.
So what didn't I like? Not a lot, really. I found some of the twists to be predictable but that's owing to the fact I'm about double (or possibly triple) the target age for this. Like I said, if I was thirteen, I'd think it was the greatest book ever written. I'm giving it a four mostly out of sheer inventiveness and enjoyment level.
First off, if I was thirteen, this would be my favorite book of all time. Larklight takes place in the 1850s, only it's an 1850's with Jules Verne-esque space travel and space is as it was thought in the Victorian era. The moon is covered with desert and giant mushrooms, Venus is a lush plant-world, and monstrous white spiders from Saturn's rings threaten to topple the British Empire of space. Interested yet?
Philip Reeve crafted one hell of an adventure tale here, fit for kids of all ages. The dry British wit kept the story going, even in the slower parts. I LOVE the world Reeve created for this book, from the pseudo-science of the aether ships to the hover hogs, pigs that thrive in zero gravity and get around by farting.
The characters are very much in the mold of those in Victorian literature: modest, prudish, and very dry. Except for Jack Havock and the space pirates, I mean. Also, Richard Burton, Warlord of Mars, is hardly prudish with his hot Martian wife.
Reeve draws from a lot of sources dear to my heart in Larklight, like Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, H.G. Wells, and many others. I'm anxious to see what he draws from the well in the next two books. It also reminded me of other books, like Celestial Matters or Beyond the Moons. Steampunk fans also won't want to pass this up.
So what didn't I like? Not a lot, really. I found some of the twists to be predictable but that's owing to the fact I'm about double (or possibly triple) the target age for this. Like I said, if I was thirteen, I'd think it was the greatest book ever written. I'm giving it a four mostly out of sheer inventiveness and enjoyment level.
March 2, 2008
2 March 2008
Huzzah! What a glorious tale. I loved it! Certainly one of my new-favorite books; besides being oodles of fun to read, it was thoughtful, imaginative, charming, adventurous, surprisingly well written with delightful illustrations. I would never have believed that a Victorian outer-space adventure with aether-ship pirates, giant talking spiders, plots against the Empire (oh no! God Save the Queen!) and hoverhogs could fit together so perfectly, conveyed by the pen of a brave British boy, worthy of every adventure that befell him (and some surprising thoughtfulness, too!) with journal excerpts from his sister, who is brave enough to help defeat the villains on her own, but still wishes her dress could have been a little tidier for the occasion. All manner of praise for this book, and I look forward to more!
Huzzah! What a glorious tale. I loved it! Certainly one of my new-favorite books; besides being oodles of fun to read, it was thoughtful, imaginative, charming, adventurous, surprisingly well written with delightful illustrations. I would never have believed that a Victorian outer-space adventure with aether-ship pirates, giant talking spiders, plots against the Empire (oh no! God Save the Queen!) and hoverhogs could fit together so perfectly, conveyed by the pen of a brave British boy, worthy of every adventure that befell him (and some surprising thoughtfulness, too!) with journal excerpts from his sister, who is brave enough to help defeat the villains on her own, but still wishes her dress could have been a little tidier for the occasion. All manner of praise for this book, and I look forward to more!
March 2, 2008
I honestly think this is one of my new favorite books! Absolutely wonderful! Funny, creative, cute, charming, endearing, fast-paced, and sweet!
Delightful characters fill the book from cover to cover. The plot is both intriguing and pretty complex without being too confusing or obvious. The illustrations add to story and seem very fitting to the style of writing.
The book is filled with wit and heart. I adored it!
***
So, I already love it! Just about 100 pages into it, and it's delightful! The characters are well drawn - not over "complex" but very real. I am very much enjoying it, and the blend of "genres" is amusing and fun:>
***
I believe this was one of the first (if not THE first) books on my GoodReads "to-read" shelf and I am finally reading it!! So far, chapter one is quite captivating and charming. :)
Delightful characters fill the book from cover to cover. The plot is both intriguing and pretty complex without being too confusing or obvious. The illustrations add to story and seem very fitting to the style of writing.
The book is filled with wit and heart. I adored it!
***
So, I already love it! Just about 100 pages into it, and it's delightful! The characters are well drawn - not over "complex" but very real. I am very much enjoying it, and the blend of "genres" is amusing and fun:>
***
I believe this was one of the first (if not THE first) books on my GoodReads "to-read" shelf and I am finally reading it!! So far, chapter one is quite captivating and charming. :)
October 3, 2021
2008 April 30
Fun for the whole family. No, really.
***
2009 June 8
I love the steampunk, I love the silliness of the hover hogs, and the swashbuckling and all the rest, dearly.
A rousing tale it was. I'd forgotten how much pluck Myrtle gets to show, hurling herself at the Queen. Well done!
Fun for the whole family. No, really.
***
2009 June 8
I love the steampunk, I love the silliness of the hover hogs, and the swashbuckling and all the rest, dearly.
A rousing tale it was. I'd forgotten how much pluck Myrtle gets to show, hurling herself at the Queen. Well done!
July 2, 2016
Ugh. That turned into quite the chore to read. The only thing that piqued my interest was the hoverhogs, which are floating pig-like creatures that clean up rubbish. That was it.
I think the general idea of this book had a lot of potential, but only if everything was different. Haha! But seriously -- I would've preferred reading about older kids and leaving the parents out of the picture completely. I basically wanted the entire book to be more mature.
My biggest beef with this book? Censorship. I understand that this was geared towards a younger reading group, but it still talks about killing people, and many huge spiders are killed... yet the author couldn't dare to write the word 'damn'? It was written "d___". Give.me.a.break.
Furthermore: they mention God all through the book. Whatever. But right near the end, after I had already read the word 'God' MANY times, all of the sudden someone says "By God" ---- but it was written "By G_d". What the hell?
The rest of the trilogy better be good because the hope of them being good is the only thing that got me through this book.
I think the general idea of this book had a lot of potential, but only if everything was different. Haha! But seriously -- I would've preferred reading about older kids and leaving the parents out of the picture completely. I basically wanted the entire book to be more mature.
My biggest beef with this book? Censorship. I understand that this was geared towards a younger reading group, but it still talks about killing people, and many huge spiders are killed... yet the author couldn't dare to write the word 'damn'? It was written "d___". Give.me.a.break.
Furthermore: they mention God all through the book. Whatever. But right near the end, after I had already read the word 'God' MANY times, all of the sudden someone says "By God" ---- but it was written "By G_d". What the hell?
The rest of the trilogy better be good because the hope of them being good is the only thing that got me through this book.
October 4, 2008
It's the steampunkiest!
This book was so much fun. Literally my only complaint is a few things at the end seemed wrapped up a little improbably. But wait... this is a Victorian Space Drama! Who am I to question what's probable? Hah. Anyway, the narrator is a delightful little opinionated boy, and the plot moves along at a quite a clip, propelled by the chemical wedding in the aether engines, no doubt. I would totally recommend this to anybody, it's quick and fun. Definitely giggled outloud a bunch.
ETA: As the series continues I'm really appreciating the strong characters of both genders. Reeve doesn't hesistate to play with stereotypical gender roles, but both the guys and the girls here get to be heroes.
This book was so much fun. Literally my only complaint is a few things at the end seemed wrapped up a little improbably. But wait... this is a Victorian Space Drama! Who am I to question what's probable? Hah. Anyway, the narrator is a delightful little opinionated boy, and the plot moves along at a quite a clip, propelled by the chemical wedding in the aether engines, no doubt. I would totally recommend this to anybody, it's quick and fun. Definitely giggled outloud a bunch.
ETA: As the series continues I'm really appreciating the strong characters of both genders. Reeve doesn't hesistate to play with stereotypical gender roles, but both the guys and the girls here get to be heroes.
September 22, 2007
So much fun! There isn't any other word for the book: just, fun. I'd pretty much recommend this without any qualifications.
More light-hearted than the Hungry Cities Chronicles. I'm not sure if it's better. I think I like it better, though I don't love any of the characters as much as I loved Hester, because I was really quite annoyed by the way the books ended -- I couldn't have told you what should have happened, but what did happen felt like a cop-out. I suppose I might get as annoyed over Larklight's sequel (or sequels), but I shouldn't think so; I only got that irritated over the Hungry Cities books because they were so intense and so -- I mean, they pulled no punches and that was what was good about them, so it was disappointing when they ended with more of a whimper than a bang.
I was getting quite wary about Philip Reeve's mothers, but that worked out fine. I'm still a little unsure about his women. Quite a lot of them seem to have love as a main motivator, as opposed to, you know, saving the universe or whatever, which is why Art's mother came as such a relief. But that was the main reason why I got mad at the Hungry Cities books. I suppose it made sense that Hester's main motivating force was her love for Tom, but it still pissed me off that everything she was and did revolved around him. She was such a cool character and she could have been so much more.
But back to Larklight: I'll probably get Starcross even if it's still in hardback, that's how much I liked it. Well done Philip Reeve.
More light-hearted than the Hungry Cities Chronicles. I'm not sure if it's better. I think I like it better, though I don't love any of the characters as much as I loved Hester, because I was really quite annoyed by the way the books ended -- I couldn't have told you what should have happened, but what did happen felt like a cop-out. I suppose I might get as annoyed over Larklight's sequel (or sequels), but I shouldn't think so; I only got that irritated over the Hungry Cities books because they were so intense and so -- I mean, they pulled no punches and that was what was good about them, so it was disappointing when they ended with more of a whimper than a bang.
I was getting quite wary about Philip Reeve's mothers, but that worked out fine. I'm still a little unsure about his women. Quite a lot of them seem to have love as a main motivator, as opposed to, you know, saving the universe or whatever, which is why Art's mother came as such a relief. But that was the main reason why I got mad at the Hungry Cities books. I suppose it made sense that Hester's main motivating force was her love for Tom, but it still pissed me off that everything she was and did revolved around him. She was such a cool character and she could have been so much more.
But back to Larklight: I'll probably get Starcross even if it's still in hardback, that's how much I liked it. Well done Philip Reeve.
October 21, 2016
A lot of fun - and I really liked the cheeky references to classic sci-fi, especially H.G Wells!
April 13, 2021
http://www.hyperebaaktiivne.ee/2021/0...
Mulle väga meeldib Philip Reeve'i sari "Surelikud masinad", mistõttu tema lasteraamat "Larklight" on mul ka ammu huviorbiidis. Raamatuvahetus.ee lehe kaudu õnnestus riiulisse täitsa oma eksemplar saada.
1851, paralleelmaailm, Londonist Saturni rõngasteni. Art ja Myrtle elavad koos oma isaga Larklightis, majas, mis tiirleb orbiidil kuu taga. Laste arvates elavad nad kõige igavamas kosmosenurgas, kus kunagi midagi ei juhtu. Ühel päeval saabuvad aga suured valged ämblikud ning vallutavad nende kodu. Õel ja vennal õnnestub põgeneda. Nad satuvad piraadilaeva pardale ning algab seiklus, mis viib läbi terve päikesesüsteemi. Lisaks isale ja Larklightile tuleb neil päästa kogu Briti Impeerium.
"Larklight" oli täpselt selline lastekas, nagu mulle meeldib - fantaasiarohke ning seiklustest pungil. Vaevalt jõuab üks seiklus lõppeda, kui juba uus algab. Teekond viib Larklightist Kuule, siis Veenusele ja Marsile, Jupiteri külje alla, Saturni rõngastele ja viimaks parajalt suure maailmanäituse ajaks Londonisse. Boonusena on veel kogu raamat ägedalt illustreeritud. Aurupungilik alternatiivajalugu kubiseb võrratutest detailidest, nagu lendkärsad, kes nullgravitatsioonis peeretades ringi hõljuvad, või brittide kiivalt saladuses hoitav alkeemia, mis kosmoselaevadel lennata lubab. Kõik planeedid, mida külastatakse, on väga erinäolised ja imekummalised. Minu lemmik neist oli Jupiteri külastus. Teatavasti on tegu gaasihiiglasega, aga seda on omamoodi võimalik külastada ikka.
Ainuke asi, mis mu lugemisindu veidi vähendas, oli see, et loo jutustaja Art on täitsa laps, mis muudab paljud kirjeldused lapsikuks. Eriti pani silmi pööritama tema arvamus oma õest. Kui oleksin peategelasega samavanune, oleks kindlasti lihtsam olnud temaga samastuda, aga ma ei ole kunagi väike poiss olnud.
Raamat on esimene osa triloogiast, aga kahjuks järgi tõlgitud ei ole. Samas kõlbab ta suurepäraselt ka üksikuna lugemiseks, sest midagi pooleli ei jää.
"Larklight" on fantaasiarohke lasteraamat, kus õde-vend reisivad läbi kosmose, et päästa oma kodu. See on põnev lugu kaunite illustratsioonidega. Kohati oli küll peategelane mu jaoks liiga lapsik, aga autori lennukas kujutlusvõime ja kõik need ägedad detailid, millega planeete rikastati, tegid selle kuhjaga tasa. Soovitan, kui otsid lõbusat ja hoogsat kosmoseseiklust!
Mulle väga meeldib Philip Reeve'i sari "Surelikud masinad", mistõttu tema lasteraamat "Larklight" on mul ka ammu huviorbiidis. Raamatuvahetus.ee lehe kaudu õnnestus riiulisse täitsa oma eksemplar saada.
1851, paralleelmaailm, Londonist Saturni rõngasteni. Art ja Myrtle elavad koos oma isaga Larklightis, majas, mis tiirleb orbiidil kuu taga. Laste arvates elavad nad kõige igavamas kosmosenurgas, kus kunagi midagi ei juhtu. Ühel päeval saabuvad aga suured valged ämblikud ning vallutavad nende kodu. Õel ja vennal õnnestub põgeneda. Nad satuvad piraadilaeva pardale ning algab seiklus, mis viib läbi terve päikesesüsteemi. Lisaks isale ja Larklightile tuleb neil päästa kogu Briti Impeerium.
"Larklight" oli täpselt selline lastekas, nagu mulle meeldib - fantaasiarohke ning seiklustest pungil. Vaevalt jõuab üks seiklus lõppeda, kui juba uus algab. Teekond viib Larklightist Kuule, siis Veenusele ja Marsile, Jupiteri külje alla, Saturni rõngastele ja viimaks parajalt suure maailmanäituse ajaks Londonisse. Boonusena on veel kogu raamat ägedalt illustreeritud. Aurupungilik alternatiivajalugu kubiseb võrratutest detailidest, nagu lendkärsad, kes nullgravitatsioonis peeretades ringi hõljuvad, või brittide kiivalt saladuses hoitav alkeemia, mis kosmoselaevadel lennata lubab. Kõik planeedid, mida külastatakse, on väga erinäolised ja imekummalised. Minu lemmik neist oli Jupiteri külastus. Teatavasti on tegu gaasihiiglasega, aga seda on omamoodi võimalik külastada ikka.
Ainuke asi, mis mu lugemisindu veidi vähendas, oli see, et loo jutustaja Art on täitsa laps, mis muudab paljud kirjeldused lapsikuks. Eriti pani silmi pööritama tema arvamus oma õest. Kui oleksin peategelasega samavanune, oleks kindlasti lihtsam olnud temaga samastuda, aga ma ei ole kunagi väike poiss olnud.
Raamat on esimene osa triloogiast, aga kahjuks järgi tõlgitud ei ole. Samas kõlbab ta suurepäraselt ka üksikuna lugemiseks, sest midagi pooleli ei jää.
"Larklight" on fantaasiarohke lasteraamat, kus õde-vend reisivad läbi kosmose, et päästa oma kodu. See on põnev lugu kaunite illustratsioonidega. Kohati oli küll peategelane mu jaoks liiga lapsik, aga autori lennukas kujutlusvõime ja kõik need ägedad detailid, millega planeete rikastati, tegid selle kuhjaga tasa. Soovitan, kui otsid lõbusat ja hoogsat kosmoseseiklust!
December 21, 2016
2016 02 23:
Still as adorable as I remember!!!!
2007 01 01:
I wish I knew how to get people to read this book. This book is fabulous. It's very much speculative fiction, told in a Victorian style, a what-if romp through what might have happened if space had been like people of the 19th century had imagined and the British took their colonization ideals out into the far reaches of the solar system. It is amazing and creative and so full of imagination I am not quite sure how all the fantastic elements Reeve devised actually fit in one tiny book. That is how full of awesome Larklight is.
Larklight is the story of young Art Mumby and his sister Myrtle, who live in a huge, rambling house called Larklight just near to the Moon with their father, who is constantly caught up with his research of space-life. They don't get many visitors, until one day, a Mr. Webster sends notice of an impending visit, and everything in Art and Myrtle's life changes.
Mr. Reeve is one of those authors I love, who doesn't just write. He puts words in sentences and makes them dance, makes them work for their supper. There are cliche ways to say this: painting a picture with words, lyrical prose, blah blah blah, I could go all day, but there's really nothing like proof of his genius and wit and how well he makes language his bitch besides sampling the text:
"Among my mother's books I had once discovered a volume of stories by a gentleman named Mr Poe, who lives in Her Majesty's American colonies. There was one, The Premature Burial, which gave me nightmares for weeks after I read it, and I remember thinking that there could be no fate more horrible than to be buried alive, and wondering what type of deranged and sickly mind could have invented such a tale. But as I lay there immobilised in a jar on the wrong side of the Moon with only a ravening caterpillar for company I realised that Mr Poe was actually quite a cheery, light-hearted sort of chap, and that his story had been touchingly optimistic."
I fall hard for lots of books, but that hard fall usually mellows out into a warm, cozy love. I've done this through my reading career. A Wind in the Door fits this bill, The Book Thief is another, When the Emperor was Divine also fits the bill. But with Larklight, I have fallen hard and I haven't reached the bottom yet. I think there are some reasons for this, as Larklight contains:
- Pirates.
- PIRATES. IN SPACE.
- Hijinks and escapades!
- Spiders in bowler hats.
- Hilarious and reflective social commentary over the imperial ideals of the 19th century. Complete with accompanying shenanigans and mechanical doodads!
- The gracefully handled romance!
- JACK HAVOCK.
However, Mr. Reeve did have quite an ideal of Mr. Richard Burton, I'm sorry to report.
Fangirl Happy Hour discussion: http://www.fangirlhappyhour.com/2016/...
Still as adorable as I remember!!!!
2007 01 01:
I wish I knew how to get people to read this book. This book is fabulous. It's very much speculative fiction, told in a Victorian style, a what-if romp through what might have happened if space had been like people of the 19th century had imagined and the British took their colonization ideals out into the far reaches of the solar system. It is amazing and creative and so full of imagination I am not quite sure how all the fantastic elements Reeve devised actually fit in one tiny book. That is how full of awesome Larklight is.
Larklight is the story of young Art Mumby and his sister Myrtle, who live in a huge, rambling house called Larklight just near to the Moon with their father, who is constantly caught up with his research of space-life. They don't get many visitors, until one day, a Mr. Webster sends notice of an impending visit, and everything in Art and Myrtle's life changes.
Mr. Reeve is one of those authors I love, who doesn't just write. He puts words in sentences and makes them dance, makes them work for their supper. There are cliche ways to say this: painting a picture with words, lyrical prose, blah blah blah, I could go all day, but there's really nothing like proof of his genius and wit and how well he makes language his bitch besides sampling the text:
"Among my mother's books I had once discovered a volume of stories by a gentleman named Mr Poe, who lives in Her Majesty's American colonies. There was one, The Premature Burial, which gave me nightmares for weeks after I read it, and I remember thinking that there could be no fate more horrible than to be buried alive, and wondering what type of deranged and sickly mind could have invented such a tale. But as I lay there immobilised in a jar on the wrong side of the Moon with only a ravening caterpillar for company I realised that Mr Poe was actually quite a cheery, light-hearted sort of chap, and that his story had been touchingly optimistic."
I fall hard for lots of books, but that hard fall usually mellows out into a warm, cozy love. I've done this through my reading career. A Wind in the Door fits this bill, The Book Thief is another, When the Emperor was Divine also fits the bill. But with Larklight, I have fallen hard and I haven't reached the bottom yet. I think there are some reasons for this, as Larklight contains:
- Pirates.
- PIRATES. IN SPACE.
- Hijinks and escapades!
- Spiders in bowler hats.
- Hilarious and reflective social commentary over the imperial ideals of the 19th century. Complete with accompanying shenanigans and mechanical doodads!
- The gracefully handled romance!
- JACK HAVOCK.
However, Mr. Reeve did have quite an ideal of Mr. Richard Burton, I'm sorry to report.
Fangirl Happy Hour discussion: http://www.fangirlhappyhour.com/2016/...
November 2, 2016
I'm normally a huge lover of books directed at kids but this one just didn't blow me away and I can't pinpoint why.
It's steampunk and directed towards kids in the 10 year age group (I'm guessing). The science is so completely wrong that it's obviously written that way. I assume because the story is set a century or so ago and knowledge of space would have been very wrong at best, even though space travel is commonplace in this story. For example, space is not a vacuum as we know it - it's aether and quite difficult to breath so they melt ice in their spaceships to provide the extra air needed. Alchemy is used to propel space ships. And did I mention that space ships were just like sea ships but with aether wings?
Art and his big sister Myrtle live in Larklight - a house that sits in space just past the moon. They end up on the run when space spiders take over their home (contrary to Ziggy Stardust, these spiders were NOT from Mars...they were from Saturn). They soon join in with a group of pirates and the adventure to save their house and ultimately the solar system ensues.
It was enjoyable but I think I would have liked it a whole lot more if I were actually in the target age range.
It's steampunk and directed towards kids in the 10 year age group (I'm guessing). The science is so completely wrong that it's obviously written that way. I assume because the story is set a century or so ago and knowledge of space would have been very wrong at best, even though space travel is commonplace in this story. For example, space is not a vacuum as we know it - it's aether and quite difficult to breath so they melt ice in their spaceships to provide the extra air needed. Alchemy is used to propel space ships. And did I mention that space ships were just like sea ships but with aether wings?
Art and his big sister Myrtle live in Larklight - a house that sits in space just past the moon. They end up on the run when space spiders take over their home (contrary to Ziggy Stardust, these spiders were NOT from Mars...they were from Saturn). They soon join in with a group of pirates and the adventure to save their house and ultimately the solar system ensues.
It was enjoyable but I think I would have liked it a whole lot more if I were actually in the target age range.
September 19, 2022
To be totally honest, most of the book I was rooting for the poisonous, highly intelligent spiders bent upon the destruction of the British Empire (for obvious reasons). On that note?? Colonialism??? Racism??? Sure, it's the mid-1800s but also?? Myrtle made me want to commit a terrible crime.
Bill Bryson needs to read this book and revise At Home, because he totally missed the part about Paxton's Crystal Palace turning into a giant spider automaton and destroying Buckingham Palace. Happens to the best of us, I guess.
Overall, 1.5 hoots (a hoot and a half), because that was genuinely very entertaining and just plain FUN!!!
Bill Bryson needs to read this book and revise At Home, because he totally missed the part about Paxton's Crystal Palace turning into a giant spider automaton and destroying Buckingham Palace. Happens to the best of us, I guess.
Overall, 1.5 hoots (a hoot and a half), because that was genuinely very entertaining and just plain FUN!!!
July 8, 2020
Arthur and his sister Myrtle live in a space home in an outer orbit of the Moon, and they find it very boring. Nothing ever happens in such a remote area of space, and they long to travel to Earth, or see the colonies on Mars, or visit the exciting moons of Jupiter. One day their home is visited by a mysterious stranger named Mr. Webster, and they are thrown into an adventure that takes them across the solar system with pirates, ancient civilizations, and alien spies.
I loved everything about this book! The plot, the characters, the hilarious writing, the world-building, the mystery, the adventure, and every single dramatic chapter all kept me reading for hours on end. This is one of those books where there isn't a good place to stop reading. You just have to keep going through the next chapter and the next.
I am amazed at how imaginative this fantasy world is. The aliens and their strange cultures are all so intricate and well-formed, right down to the diseases, commerce, and vegetation of each planet. I love that it is set in a steam-punk 1850s British Empire full of space travel that has expanded to Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. It's such an interesting solar system, and each planet has it's own history and people who live there.
The writing style is very humorous with that sort of dry humor that I love. I was delighted at how some of the characters are doing their best to have good manners and polite modesty in the middle of their outlandish adventures. We may be about to be blown to smithereens by space pirates, but let us not forget proper courtesy and decorum. The whole book is hilarious!
The characters are really varied and interesting. They come from all sorts of backgrounds, and I loved the character development for so many of them. They change and grow and learn from one another.
Myrtle has some excellent development as she learns that she is stronger and more resourceful than she thought. She does NOT faint every time something dangerous happens, as a properly-educated young lady should do. Instead she begins to take little steps towards saving herself, instead of waiting for a hero to rescue her as a demure young lady should do. And through those little steps she moves on to bigger steps, until finally she gains enough confidence in her own abilities to have the courage to jump into the fray and save everyone.
I can't wait to read more books in this series!
I loved everything about this book! The plot, the characters, the hilarious writing, the world-building, the mystery, the adventure, and every single dramatic chapter all kept me reading for hours on end. This is one of those books where there isn't a good place to stop reading. You just have to keep going through the next chapter and the next.
I am amazed at how imaginative this fantasy world is. The aliens and their strange cultures are all so intricate and well-formed, right down to the diseases, commerce, and vegetation of each planet. I love that it is set in a steam-punk 1850s British Empire full of space travel that has expanded to Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. It's such an interesting solar system, and each planet has it's own history and people who live there.
The writing style is very humorous with that sort of dry humor that I love. I was delighted at how some of the characters are doing their best to have good manners and polite modesty in the middle of their outlandish adventures. We may be about to be blown to smithereens by space pirates, but let us not forget proper courtesy and decorum. The whole book is hilarious!
The characters are really varied and interesting. They come from all sorts of backgrounds, and I loved the character development for so many of them. They change and grow and learn from one another.
Myrtle has some excellent development as she learns that she is stronger and more resourceful than she thought. She does NOT faint every time something dangerous happens, as a properly-educated young lady should do. Instead she begins to take little steps towards saving herself, instead of waiting for a hero to rescue her as a demure young lady should do. And through those little steps she moves on to bigger steps, until finally she gains enough confidence in her own abilities to have the courage to jump into the fray and save everyone.
I can't wait to read more books in this series!
Read
September 2, 2015Larklight takes many historical notions about space and runs with them. Instead of vacuum we have aether - a breathable if thin atmosphere between planets. The moon is populated by mushrooms, Mars by rust-coloured elves, and the great storm of Jupiter is a thinking being. Colonies are firmly established on Mars, the Moon and (once) Venus, and interplanetary travel a matter of alchemic engines.
There is endless amount of adventure in this middle-grade story, told by Art, and with excerpts from his sister Myrtle's diary. Art and Myrtle have grown up with their father in Larklight, a historical property of their (lost) mother's, suspended like a house-shaped satellite somewhere out beyond the orbit of the moon. It's an isolated existence...until the spiders come.
As an adventure, I enjoyed this a lot, although the story is clearly and definitively aimed at young boys and I suspect a few young girls would have felt alienated by the depiction of quite reasonable Art, and snobbish, bossy, racist, speciesish, fainting and downright ungrateful Myrtle. [Myrtle does improve, but she's starting from a serious negative and has a long long way to go.]
The book is also incredibly soaked in Colonialism, and though we a few times see the negative bits of the great glorious British Empire and interplanetary colonies, on the whole we are reading a story very much written from the viewpoint of someone who thinks conquering planets and their inhabitants is a good thing.
Clearly the author is making the characters a product of their time, but I kept wincing when Art cheerfully cries "huzzah!" while relating instances of the valiant British invaders conquering this, that and the other. Even though part of the story is an 'aliens (and people of colour) are people too' tale, it's still framed within "and we support this glorious Empire that has subjugated them". It's an attitude I wouldn't be surprised to find in books written at the beginning of last century, but when it's this century I would expect a trifle more deconstruction, with the characters coming to question the Empire they're serving.
There is endless amount of adventure in this middle-grade story, told by Art, and with excerpts from his sister Myrtle's diary. Art and Myrtle have grown up with their father in Larklight, a historical property of their (lost) mother's, suspended like a house-shaped satellite somewhere out beyond the orbit of the moon. It's an isolated existence...until the spiders come.
As an adventure, I enjoyed this a lot, although the story is clearly and definitively aimed at young boys and I suspect a few young girls would have felt alienated by the depiction of quite reasonable Art, and snobbish, bossy, racist, speciesish, fainting and downright ungrateful Myrtle. [Myrtle does improve, but she's starting from a serious negative and has a long long way to go.]
The book is also incredibly soaked in Colonialism, and though we a few times see the negative bits of the great glorious British Empire and interplanetary colonies, on the whole we are reading a story very much written from the viewpoint of someone who thinks conquering planets and their inhabitants is a good thing.
Clearly the author is making the characters a product of their time, but I kept wincing when Art cheerfully cries "huzzah!" while relating instances of the valiant British invaders conquering this, that and the other. Even though part of the story is an 'aliens (and people of colour) are people too' tale, it's still framed within "and we support this glorious Empire that has subjugated them". It's an attitude I wouldn't be surprised to find in books written at the beginning of last century, but when it's this century I would expect a trifle more deconstruction, with the characters coming to question the Empire they're serving.
February 23, 2010
Aptly subtitled "A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space," this is an enjoyable read for ages nine (or thereabouts) and up.
It is an adventure set in a Victorian space age, written as Jules Verne or H.G. Wells might have imagined it. The plot is exciting, the writing deft and witty, so that adults are likely to enjoy the reading experience just as much as kids. There's some fun and interesting playing with gender conventions, too, as the narrator's older sister yearns and strives to become a perfect young lady and finds her efforts in that direction consistently thwarted, to the ultimate benefit of all.
Larklight is handsomely designed and illustrated, too, with endpapers that feature a range of pseudo-Victorian advertisements for such products, events, and firms as Coalbrookdale's Phlogiston Ranges, Rossetti's Goblin Fair, and Jaggers Law Firm("THE Specialists in AETHER-CRIME, also Wills and Dowries Administered with the Utmost Discretion"). Throughout the book the attention to detail is thorough and delightful, including even the copyright page, which asserts, "The pages of this volume are impregnated with Snagsby's Patent Folio-dubbin to preserve them against the depradations of space moth and paper bats."
Here's a brief excerpt, which will convey some of Larklight's flavor without giving away much plot:
"Among my mother's books I had once discovered a volume of stories by a gentleman named Mr Poe, who lives in Her Majesty's American colonies. There was one, The Premature Burial, which gave me nightmares for weeks after I read it, and I remember thinking that there could be no fate more horrible than to be buried alive, and wondering what type of deranged and sickly mind could have invented such a tale. But as I lay there immobilised in a jar on the wrong side of the Moon with only a ravening caterpillar for company I realised that Mr Poe was actually quite a cheery, light-hearted sort of chap, and that his story had been touchingly optimistic."
It is an adventure set in a Victorian space age, written as Jules Verne or H.G. Wells might have imagined it. The plot is exciting, the writing deft and witty, so that adults are likely to enjoy the reading experience just as much as kids. There's some fun and interesting playing with gender conventions, too, as the narrator's older sister yearns and strives to become a perfect young lady and finds her efforts in that direction consistently thwarted, to the ultimate benefit of all.
Larklight is handsomely designed and illustrated, too, with endpapers that feature a range of pseudo-Victorian advertisements for such products, events, and firms as Coalbrookdale's Phlogiston Ranges, Rossetti's Goblin Fair, and Jaggers Law Firm("THE Specialists in AETHER-CRIME, also Wills and Dowries Administered with the Utmost Discretion"). Throughout the book the attention to detail is thorough and delightful, including even the copyright page, which asserts, "The pages of this volume are impregnated with Snagsby's Patent Folio-dubbin to preserve them against the depradations of space moth and paper bats."
Here's a brief excerpt, which will convey some of Larklight's flavor without giving away much plot:
"Among my mother's books I had once discovered a volume of stories by a gentleman named Mr Poe, who lives in Her Majesty's American colonies. There was one, The Premature Burial, which gave me nightmares for weeks after I read it, and I remember thinking that there could be no fate more horrible than to be buried alive, and wondering what type of deranged and sickly mind could have invented such a tale. But as I lay there immobilised in a jar on the wrong side of the Moon with only a ravening caterpillar for company I realised that Mr Poe was actually quite a cheery, light-hearted sort of chap, and that his story had been touchingly optimistic."
March 8, 2012
Absolutely fantastic book. I laughed, I cried, I wet my pants. Well, the pants wetting part isn't true. And neither is the crying. But I did laugh quite a bit while reading this book.
Before I was even halfway through the book, I found myself trying to convince friends to read it by telling them, "It's kind of like Scott Westerfield's Leviathan series meets L.A. Meyer's Bloody Jack series mixed in with the television show Firefly."
No. I am completely serious. And IT. WAS. AWESOME. And funny. Did I mention the funny?
I found these books in the Middle Grade/Juvenile section of the library, but feel it could easily be placed in the teen section. There are also a lot of jokes throughout that only adults will understand (references to Star Trek and other tidbits from popular culture).
The book has great illustrations and the audiobook is good, too. I won't bother with a summary since you can just click on the book title and see for yourself.
Before I was even halfway through the book, I found myself trying to convince friends to read it by telling them, "It's kind of like Scott Westerfield's Leviathan series meets L.A. Meyer's Bloody Jack series mixed in with the television show Firefly."
No. I am completely serious. And IT. WAS. AWESOME. And funny. Did I mention the funny?
I found these books in the Middle Grade/Juvenile section of the library, but feel it could easily be placed in the teen section. There are also a lot of jokes throughout that only adults will understand (references to Star Trek and other tidbits from popular culture).
The book has great illustrations and the audiobook is good, too. I won't bother with a summary since you can just click on the book title and see for yourself.
September 10, 2016
In all honesty, I struggled with this book.
It's beautifully presented, well written and filled with fantastic illustrations that support the story perfectly. There's steampunk in outer-space. And pirates. All of these things should make it an incredible read. But for some reason I was bored.
I struggled to read more than a couple of chapters at a time. Maybe it's because I didn't particularly like any of the characters (Myrtle in particular needed a good slap, although to be fair she did get better). Or maybe it's because the plot wasn't that surprising. Whatever it was, it didn't do it for me, which is weird because, as I've said, all the ingredients were there. I just didn't like the cake. (Yep, I've started using metaphors, that's how much it's confused me).
It's beautifully presented, well written and filled with fantastic illustrations that support the story perfectly. There's steampunk in outer-space. And pirates. All of these things should make it an incredible read. But for some reason I was bored.
I struggled to read more than a couple of chapters at a time. Maybe it's because I didn't particularly like any of the characters (Myrtle in particular needed a good slap, although to be fair she did get better). Or maybe it's because the plot wasn't that surprising. Whatever it was, it didn't do it for me, which is weird because, as I've said, all the ingredients were there. I just didn't like the cake. (Yep, I've started using metaphors, that's how much it's confused me).
October 5, 2007
This book was a really neat one, a sort of Victorian-era sci-fi. That is, it was set in the 1800s, but in this version of the 1800s, Earth had space travel capabilities, Mars is populated by Martians, and it is far from uncommon to meet alien races.
There were lots of neat characters, space pirates, exciting adventures, and exotic, otherworldly locales, and I loved the semi-Victorian writing style! All in all, I thought it was a very imaginative, clever book. The inside back cover says the author is writing more in the same world, and I am looking forward to reading them too.
There were lots of neat characters, space pirates, exciting adventures, and exotic, otherworldly locales, and I loved the semi-Victorian writing style! All in all, I thought it was a very imaginative, clever book. The inside back cover says the author is writing more in the same world, and I am looking forward to reading them too.
February 19, 2014
Nice story, wonderful illustrations and I loved the various hints to pop culture: Dune, Star Trek, Spiderman, Dracula...
Don't you want to try and find them yourself now? ;-)
Don't you want to try and find them yourself now? ;-)
February 16, 2015
Summary
Another good book for young readers that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys 19th century English culture and imaginative space adventures, for this book blends the two quite admirably. Set in an alternate past in which Newton's discoveries led not only to the advancement of physics and math, but allowed a steam-powered generation of enterprising Englishmen to launch themselves into the depths of space, Larklight follows the adventures of a young (11 year old) Arthur Mumby and his slightly older sister Myrtle as they encounter a band of space pirates, life-threatening moon fauna, and the machinations of several greedy men, among them I include a gigantic spider wearing a bowler hat.
Characterization 3/5
The book is meant specifically to appeal to young boys, as the novel's narrator is Arthur Mumby himself, who does not hesitate to insert his own very boy-ish opinions into the text. As a librarian, I've been concerned lately with our forced socialization of boys and girls into different camps. One could assume that the stereotyped gender binaries presented here are the result of the historical context of the story (Victorian England), yet the story does not do much to attempt to reverse these binaries, except in a minor way towards the end where Arthur's sister gets to participate in some typically masculine acts of bravado. While appealing to young boys ideas of gender stereotypes through a narrator that shares those stereotypes might be a good way to attract reluctant readers (?), I would think that any young boy capable of reading a novel that relies on Victorian era imagery and language for many of its jokes would also be capable of surmounting the role that has been set for him by a frustratingly gendered society. It is a minor point, however, it does concern me enough to find it troubling here so many decades after J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, which also reveled in these seemingly harmless boy-girl stereotypes.
Other characters in the book also have their appeal, though the length of the tale and all the different adventures happening within it preclude any real depth, except for perhaps the boy-pirate Jack Havoc, who has a compelling story of his own, which may actually be the most emotionally moving part of the book.
Style 4/5
The writing in this story attempts to imitate what an educated young boy of the Victorian period might have written (except for the parts ostensibly written by Myrtle), following a slightly archaic style, with plenty of humorous asides. The writing is everywhere clear and enjoyable to read, easy enough for an advanced fourth grader to read, but with enough difficulty to entertain most readers up to the high school level. The illustrations in this work are also very well done and add some charm to the writing itself. The only complaint I have is that there were moments that seemed as if they would lend themselves to a bit more emotional emphasis, but the tone was kept so light and humorous throughout that one found it difficult to really care about anything (except, as I've mentioned, the part about Jack the boy pirate's past history). The lack of emotional depth or range of feeling is what brings my rating down to a four.
Plot and World-Building 4/5
The first half of this book could very well have a good example to aspiring writers on how to get a reader interested in your novel: the world-building, cast of characters, and inciting events all make for a wonderfully immersive experience. By the end of the book, however, one feels as if there have been a bit too many plot twists, to the point where the reader knows what the resolution will be (the hero survives) and is no longer concerned about it. I read to the end only to say that I finished, but not because I was worried at all about the heroes saving the day. Once again, the gap between myself and a younger reader might be the reason for this lack of interest, but I cannot imagine even 5th graders will be surprised about the way things turn out. I think cutting out perhaps one or two bits of intrigue near the end of the book would have streamlined the plot and made this one a page-turner from beginning to end. As it stands, it is an imperfect testament to the continuing success of cliff-hanger chapter endings, even without the 19th century's serial magazine format.
Overall 3/5
Though I might recommend this book to young readers and any fan of steampunk-fantasy, the interest that the book has as a genre piece outweighs the universal interest it might have had if it were written with stronger main characters and a more dynamic style. Books rated at 5 stars I would recommend to anyone who likes books of any kind. 4 star books I would share with people who are fans of a larger umbrella genre such as fantasy, literary fiction, historical fiction, sci-fi, etc. 3 star books are still worth reading for folks who can't get enough of a sub-genre like steampunk or urban paranormal, and I feel that is where I would place this book (3 stars for a solid effort and recommended to those who LOVE steampunk)
That's all for now - cheerio and happy reading!
Another good book for young readers that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys 19th century English culture and imaginative space adventures, for this book blends the two quite admirably. Set in an alternate past in which Newton's discoveries led not only to the advancement of physics and math, but allowed a steam-powered generation of enterprising Englishmen to launch themselves into the depths of space, Larklight follows the adventures of a young (11 year old) Arthur Mumby and his slightly older sister Myrtle as they encounter a band of space pirates, life-threatening moon fauna, and the machinations of several greedy men, among them I include a gigantic spider wearing a bowler hat.
Characterization 3/5
The book is meant specifically to appeal to young boys, as the novel's narrator is Arthur Mumby himself, who does not hesitate to insert his own very boy-ish opinions into the text. As a librarian, I've been concerned lately with our forced socialization of boys and girls into different camps. One could assume that the stereotyped gender binaries presented here are the result of the historical context of the story (Victorian England), yet the story does not do much to attempt to reverse these binaries, except in a minor way towards the end where Arthur's sister gets to participate in some typically masculine acts of bravado. While appealing to young boys ideas of gender stereotypes through a narrator that shares those stereotypes might be a good way to attract reluctant readers (?), I would think that any young boy capable of reading a novel that relies on Victorian era imagery and language for many of its jokes would also be capable of surmounting the role that has been set for him by a frustratingly gendered society. It is a minor point, however, it does concern me enough to find it troubling here so many decades after J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, which also reveled in these seemingly harmless boy-girl stereotypes.
Other characters in the book also have their appeal, though the length of the tale and all the different adventures happening within it preclude any real depth, except for perhaps the boy-pirate Jack Havoc, who has a compelling story of his own, which may actually be the most emotionally moving part of the book.
Style 4/5
The writing in this story attempts to imitate what an educated young boy of the Victorian period might have written (except for the parts ostensibly written by Myrtle), following a slightly archaic style, with plenty of humorous asides. The writing is everywhere clear and enjoyable to read, easy enough for an advanced fourth grader to read, but with enough difficulty to entertain most readers up to the high school level. The illustrations in this work are also very well done and add some charm to the writing itself. The only complaint I have is that there were moments that seemed as if they would lend themselves to a bit more emotional emphasis, but the tone was kept so light and humorous throughout that one found it difficult to really care about anything (except, as I've mentioned, the part about Jack the boy pirate's past history). The lack of emotional depth or range of feeling is what brings my rating down to a four.
Plot and World-Building 4/5
The first half of this book could very well have a good example to aspiring writers on how to get a reader interested in your novel: the world-building, cast of characters, and inciting events all make for a wonderfully immersive experience. By the end of the book, however, one feels as if there have been a bit too many plot twists, to the point where the reader knows what the resolution will be (the hero survives) and is no longer concerned about it. I read to the end only to say that I finished, but not because I was worried at all about the heroes saving the day. Once again, the gap between myself and a younger reader might be the reason for this lack of interest, but I cannot imagine even 5th graders will be surprised about the way things turn out. I think cutting out perhaps one or two bits of intrigue near the end of the book would have streamlined the plot and made this one a page-turner from beginning to end. As it stands, it is an imperfect testament to the continuing success of cliff-hanger chapter endings, even without the 19th century's serial magazine format.
Overall 3/5
Though I might recommend this book to young readers and any fan of steampunk-fantasy, the interest that the book has as a genre piece outweighs the universal interest it might have had if it were written with stronger main characters and a more dynamic style. Books rated at 5 stars I would recommend to anyone who likes books of any kind. 4 star books I would share with people who are fans of a larger umbrella genre such as fantasy, literary fiction, historical fiction, sci-fi, etc. 3 star books are still worth reading for folks who can't get enough of a sub-genre like steampunk or urban paranormal, and I feel that is where I would place this book (3 stars for a solid effort and recommended to those who LOVE steampunk)
That's all for now - cheerio and happy reading!
March 13, 2017
Middle-grade crowd should enjoy this space adventure about Art and his sister Myrtle. It has it all, aliens, pirates, adventure, the strange and wondrous.
May 18, 2013
As part of my "go back in time and read happy nostalgic books" project, I picked up this wonderful Juvenile fiction novel. As with
(you can read my review here,) I found myself captured by the simplicity, craziness,and childish charm of this book. Simply put, if I'd read it a few years ago, I would have loved it.
As far as it goes now... I liked it quite a bit, but I was missing depth and more intricate characters. Even though it wasn't amazing, this book was very good. Some reasons why:
1Airships! As you can tell from my name, I have a thing for airships and steampunk. A big thing. So the fact that this was set in space and aboard airships? Super cool.
2The fact that it's in space.
3ALIENS! Wonderful, crazy, fantastical aliens. Ssilssa, Nipper, Munks, and the lot. Loved them. And the whales. And the crazy flying fish things that I can't remember the official name of.
4Art. What a chump. What a nine year old boy. His narration was hilarious. I adored the way he wrote about his adventures. His voice was so frank, so clear, and so him.
5The illustrations. Illustrations add so much to a book.
Like I said, I had a hard time getting into it and wished for more depth. The main complaint that I have is that the characters could have been a great deal rounder. The other annoying things were the infodumps. There were quite a few pages that I skipped over or skimmed because I wanted to get back to the action and away from some boring explanation of the planet or moon. The other main issue was this question: "How the heck do they breathe?" Air was just never a problem. Gravity was, but breathing and oxygen wasn't. They could breathe normally on the moon, Mars, or in space, and that just doesn't make sense. I would have liked it if Philip Reeve had at least tried to come up with an explanation.
Even with my being miffed about the aforementioned problems, I found this book charming. I rather look forward to the day that my nieces/nephews are nearing the nine year old mark and we can read this together.
(you can read my review here,) I found myself captured by the simplicity, craziness,and childish charm of this book. Simply put, if I'd read it a few years ago, I would have loved it. As far as it goes now... I liked it quite a bit, but I was missing depth and more intricate characters. Even though it wasn't amazing, this book was very good. Some reasons why:
1Airships! As you can tell from my name, I have a thing for airships and steampunk. A big thing. So the fact that this was set in space and aboard airships? Super cool.
2The fact that it's in space.
3ALIENS! Wonderful, crazy, fantastical aliens. Ssilssa, Nipper, Munks, and the lot. Loved them. And the whales. And the crazy flying fish things that I can't remember the official name of.
4Art. What a chump. What a nine year old boy. His narration was hilarious. I adored the way he wrote about his adventures. His voice was so frank, so clear, and so him.
5The illustrations. Illustrations add so much to a book.
Like I said, I had a hard time getting into it and wished for more depth. The main complaint that I have is that the characters could have been a great deal rounder. The other annoying things were the infodumps. There were quite a few pages that I skipped over or skimmed because I wanted to get back to the action and away from some boring explanation of the planet or moon. The other main issue was this question: "How the heck do they breathe?" Air was just never a problem. Gravity was, but breathing and oxygen wasn't. They could breathe normally on the moon, Mars, or in space, and that just doesn't make sense. I would have liked it if Philip Reeve had at least tried to come up with an explanation.
Even with my being miffed about the aforementioned problems, I found this book charming. I rather look forward to the day that my nieces/nephews are nearing the nine year old mark and we can read this together.
May 6, 2008
Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com
When eleven-year-old Art Mumby finds out that a visitor is arriving at his run-down home, Larklight, which floats in space beyond the moon, he hardly expects to be thrust into a frightening adventure of pirates, plates, and a millenium-long conflict upon which the fate of the solar system rests. He tells the story of this adventure in LARKLIGHT (occasionally giving his older sister, Myrtle, a chance to narrate via her diary), and the story is nothing if not fantastic.
Philip Reeve (author of the HUNGRY CITY CHRONICLES) has created another fascinating world in LARKLIGHT. Art lives in the Victorian society of the 1800's--or rather, what Victorian society would have looked like if they'd developed space travel, and astronomy worked according to early speculations about aether (an air-like substance in space that people can move and breathe in), and interplanetary beings (Venus, Mars, and the moons of Jupiter are all home to a variety of life forms). Reeve cuts no corners, painting the cities and citizens of the solar system in dazzling detail. The setting is a gorgeous mix of fantasy and science fiction, and fans of both genres will find much to enjoy.
If the world wasn't exciting enough on its own, the adventure is of the edge-of-your-seat variety. Art and Myrtle tumble from one tense situation to another with alarming frequency. Most chapters end on cliffhangers, so be prepared to have trouble finding a place to pause. Reeve throws in enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing right until the end, and both Art and Myrtle get the chance to play hero.
Art, as the main character, is not yet a teen himself, so teens may find his narration a little immature for their liking. If they're willing to give him a chance, though, they will discover that LARKLIGHT is a fast-paced, imaginative journey well worth taking.
When eleven-year-old Art Mumby finds out that a visitor is arriving at his run-down home, Larklight, which floats in space beyond the moon, he hardly expects to be thrust into a frightening adventure of pirates, plates, and a millenium-long conflict upon which the fate of the solar system rests. He tells the story of this adventure in LARKLIGHT (occasionally giving his older sister, Myrtle, a chance to narrate via her diary), and the story is nothing if not fantastic.
Philip Reeve (author of the HUNGRY CITY CHRONICLES) has created another fascinating world in LARKLIGHT. Art lives in the Victorian society of the 1800's--or rather, what Victorian society would have looked like if they'd developed space travel, and astronomy worked according to early speculations about aether (an air-like substance in space that people can move and breathe in), and interplanetary beings (Venus, Mars, and the moons of Jupiter are all home to a variety of life forms). Reeve cuts no corners, painting the cities and citizens of the solar system in dazzling detail. The setting is a gorgeous mix of fantasy and science fiction, and fans of both genres will find much to enjoy.
If the world wasn't exciting enough on its own, the adventure is of the edge-of-your-seat variety. Art and Myrtle tumble from one tense situation to another with alarming frequency. Most chapters end on cliffhangers, so be prepared to have trouble finding a place to pause. Reeve throws in enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing right until the end, and both Art and Myrtle get the chance to play hero.
Art, as the main character, is not yet a teen himself, so teens may find his narration a little immature for their liking. If they're willing to give him a chance, though, they will discover that LARKLIGHT is a fast-paced, imaginative journey well worth taking.
August 25, 2010
3.5
A steampunkish space adventure based on the old Victorian adventure stories, complete with huzzahs! to the glorious Empire - but also those against the Empire and characters pointing out how not so glorious it is to come about and muck with people quite happy on their own, thanks much.
It's hard to really say whether this is sci-fi or fantasy. One would expect sci-fi since there are aliens and space adventures; however, there's nothing remotely realistic about the science, what with people running around and breathing quite happily on the moon, in space, on Mars, etc. It's also not entirely steampunk, even though it's set in Victoriana, since, while some tech, like automatons, are steam power, the ships themselves are alchemically engineered.
But, whatever - pish tosh and all that.
The story was pretty predictable, but the narration, mostly via the perspective of young Art, but sometimes through the endearingly annoying Myrtle, who does get better as the story progresses.
But, really, space pirates and aliens and alchemy and giant spiders and rip-roaring adventures - what's not to like? Very much a plot driven book, it falters a bit with characterization, though there are funny quirks, like Myrtle worrying about propriety and her dress while trying to stop a rampant machine or after being resuced from a giant Moth.
Overall, very enjoyable, if not perfect.
A steampunkish space adventure based on the old Victorian adventure stories, complete with huzzahs! to the glorious Empire - but also those against the Empire and characters pointing out how not so glorious it is to come about and muck with people quite happy on their own, thanks much.
It's hard to really say whether this is sci-fi or fantasy. One would expect sci-fi since there are aliens and space adventures; however, there's nothing remotely realistic about the science, what with people running around and breathing quite happily on the moon, in space, on Mars, etc. It's also not entirely steampunk, even though it's set in Victoriana, since, while some tech, like automatons, are steam power, the ships themselves are alchemically engineered.
But, whatever - pish tosh and all that.
The story was pretty predictable, but the narration, mostly via the perspective of young Art, but sometimes through the endearingly annoying Myrtle, who does get better as the story progresses.
But, really, space pirates and aliens and alchemy and giant spiders and rip-roaring adventures - what's not to like? Very much a plot driven book, it falters a bit with characterization, though there are funny quirks, like Myrtle worrying about propriety and her dress while trying to stop a rampant machine or after being resuced from a giant Moth.
Overall, very enjoyable, if not perfect.
May 7, 2015
There is a lot to like about Larklight. It has the form of Victorian scientific romance and the stylistic flair of postmodern irony. The touch of absurdity is, dare I say, Lovecraftian, and yet beneath all the nonsensical madness, there is the honest desire for a better past, a better present, and a better future. To be fair, I don't think Reeve intended it to be a story about how things could be better, but you have to admit, writing about a different past reveals more than listlessness but a sense of dissatisfaction. But what exactly is it that Reeve is dissatisfied with? Well, first of all, the paradigm of separating the natural world into domains of science. The fact that we try to be interdisciplinary simply proves that we are not that at all. Science = hard science. Literature = literary. Nature = whatever is out there. I suppose this is where our interests align. Everything becomes distorted and hybridised, as theology bleeds into science, and science devolves into natural philosophy, that is, a mode of thinking about nature that does not merely rely on observation and mathematics but also a framework of ideas to make sense of what has been observed, which is, well, 'unscientific' by modern day standards, but as Larklight shows, natural philosophy may produce the weird and the absurd, but sometimes that is not such a bad thing.
February 2, 2010
I must have read this series a dozen or more times. Utterly captivating and imaginative. Admittedly, Reeve's casual use of the imperial adventure tropes made popular by H. Rider Haggard and Rudyard Kipling is troubling. For an adult reader, it is easy to attribute a layer of irony to Art's blind patriotism but I suspect that those lines are more easily blurred for the target audience. However, it is true that foregrounding such tropes does make them easy to discuss and easier to debunk, unlike the covert imperialism that underpins much 20th and 21st century children's literature as a strong subtextual theme. To be fair to Reeve, there is a significant amount of subversion of the imperial genre, especially in the representation of the female characters. Reeve is remarkably clever here as he subverts through apparent conformation.
I highly recommend "Larklight" and it may well become one of my favourite books. The characters are hugely sympathetic and charming and the world is well thoughtout and coherent.
I highly recommend "Larklight" and it may well become one of my favourite books. The characters are hugely sympathetic and charming and the world is well thoughtout and coherent.
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 23, 2014Other than that piece of shit known as The Maestro this book holds the honor of being amongst the first few books I've given up on since I was 9.
Firstly the plot was highly far fetched and rather stupid and infuriating to be quite honest. Ditto the characters. From the first page I found it extremely difficult to connect with ANYTHING in this sad piece of work some refer to as a story. I give this nil stars because (well first of all I didn't enjoy it one bit) the author marketed this as a middle grade book when it should've been marketed as an infants picture story, it was that ridiculous. I genuinely fail to comprehend how many users have given this 4 or 5 stars.
One more thing, I cannot begin to say how pleased I am of is that this shit DOESN'T have an award! Or at least not that I know of!
Firstly the plot was highly far fetched and rather stupid and infuriating to be quite honest. Ditto the characters. From the first page I found it extremely difficult to connect with ANYTHING in this sad piece of work some refer to as a story. I give this nil stars because (well first of all I didn't enjoy it one bit) the author marketed this as a middle grade book when it should've been marketed as an infants picture story, it was that ridiculous. I genuinely fail to comprehend how many users have given this 4 or 5 stars.
One more thing, I cannot begin to say how pleased I am of is that this shit DOESN'T have an award! Or at least not that I know of!
March 11, 2012
Ok not sure what happened there - lost my original review - right where to start.
How best to describe this book and indeed the series (there are two more to follow) - i think beginners steampunk is a good place to start - i think what appeals to me is that Philip Reeve - is able to take a conventional story and weave a fantastical setting around it (look at the Hungry city series and you will know what i mean) and by doing so he has created something amazing and the totally bizarre and impossible situations you see you accept and understand that to me is the sign of a great story teller what ever the genre and what ever the target age - just i think in this case he has out done himself. This shows in that even though the book is over 400 pages long i finished it in a day and a half.
How best to describe this book and indeed the series (there are two more to follow) - i think beginners steampunk is a good place to start - i think what appeals to me is that Philip Reeve - is able to take a conventional story and weave a fantastical setting around it (look at the Hungry city series and you will know what i mean) and by doing so he has created something amazing and the totally bizarre and impossible situations you see you accept and understand that to me is the sign of a great story teller what ever the genre and what ever the target age - just i think in this case he has out done himself. This shows in that even though the book is over 400 pages long i finished it in a day and a half.
January 2, 2009
Normally I reserve 5 stars for books that make me think or speak to me on a deep level, but this one was simply pure whizz-bang fun from beginning to end. And unlike some other children's books I've read recently (I'm looking at you, _House of Power_!), the prose, the plotting, and the character development lived up to the gosh-wow premise. And also, who wouldn't love a book with a subtitle like "a tale of dauntless pluck in the farthest reaches of space"?
I've already started the sequel, _Starcross_.
I've already started the sequel, _Starcross_.
March 27, 2011
I loved the steampunk aspects of this book. As it is the only steampunk novel I've read (so far), I really have nothing to compare it to, but Victorian space travel is very appealing. Some parts seemed a bit detached, though that may have been because the first person narrative only gave one viewpoint. Other than that, it was a delightful, fun and exciting book, and certainly a good introduction to steampunk!
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