Reviews

Larklight by Philip Reeve

eupomene's review

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4.0

This Victorian science fiction story was a stitch. I enjoyed every minute of it. What a treat to read something with such familiar ingredients yet that is whipped into a completely new kind of tale.

kbooknook's review

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3.0

3.5 stars . Read this years ago, so all I recall is that evil spiders were featured, and I was extremely uncool with the situation. I remember really enjoying this little sci-fi novel though!! :)

kikael's review

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4.0

http://www.hyperebaaktiivne.ee/2021/04/xvii-ehk-seiklus-labi-paikesesusteemi.html

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!

shalalalala's review

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4.0

This tale is beautiful. The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, the adventures are exciting. This book is not quite YA, it's for a younger audience, but it really plays out beautifully. Our protagonists are characters you can get invested in, and root for. A Victorian-era alternate universe, what could be more interesting? There is now talk of a movie in the works, which I'm certainly excited for.

racheldkidder's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

reubend1ca9's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

crowyhead's review

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5.0

This marvelously steampunk-ish YA novel is set during an alternate Victorian era in which many of the Victorian conceptions of outer space are correct: Venus is a jungle planet, Mars is populated with an ancient and fallen civilization, etc. People travel by means of aether-ships, which run on alchemical engines, and steam-powered automata act as household servants.

The endpapers of the book on their own are well worth checking out -- they're filled with advertisements for "Pure Icthyomorph Liver Oil: Most Invigorating," "Aether-Vestas: Bringing Light to the Darkest Reaches of the Galaxy," and "Rossetti's Goblin Fair 'Come Buy, Comr Buy!' 42 Stalls: Fruit, Berries, Treen, Owl Wheedling, Country Crafts, Exotic Conserves, Bog Pettling, Scalding and Rummaging."

The story itself is a ripcracking adventure yarn with its tongue firmly in cheek. I think kids will like this book, but adults will probably find it even more amusing, because of all the sly references to other works of literature and to history and Victorian culture.

deannah's review

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3.0

This was a fun book to listen too--an alternate fantastical history. (Does it qualify as steam punk? I am not sure).

reubend1ca9's review

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

jldickison's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0