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raehink's review against another edition
4.0
Art and his sister Myrtle, who live in an extremely fun steampunk world, battle to save Larklight, their mansion in space. Great fun. Wonderful illustrations.
caroline_reads's review against another edition
DNR beyond 84 pages. Enjoyable and fun, but for children in KS2 rather than YA fans.
dashie's review against another edition
5.0
Why haven't any of my Goodread friends read anything written by the amazing wordsmith?!?!
RE-EVALUATE YOUR CHILDHOOD YOU LEMON FLAVOURED CHICKEN DRUMLETS!!!!!!
RE-EVALUATE YOUR CHILDHOOD YOU LEMON FLAVOURED CHICKEN DRUMLETS!!!!!!
gardant's review against another edition
4.0
The first installation of the Larklight series introduces readers to a science-fiction world with clear inspiration from Jules Verne and HG Wells, yet with an approach toward science that veers closer to the Ptolemaic. While the plot chugs along and the characters are interesting, perhaps the most winning aspect of this book to me is its intriguing post-colonial slant. For a children's book it is unusual to find something that does not shy away from some of the ugliness of imperialism when dealing with the historical (or in this case, pseudo-historical) British Empire - and better yet, it addresses these without resorting to tiresome and essentialist moralizing.
lordofthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fairly slight young adult steampunk novel, set sometime in the mid 19th century, about two youngsters who live in a ramshackle old house called Larklight, and what happens when a Mr Webster comes to visit. The thing is, Larklight is in orbit somewhere beyond the moon and this is a world where Isaac Newton's theories led to engines that could sail the solar system.
This is a living solar system where every planet and most moons are inhabited by aliens and are inhabitable by humans with no need for clunky spacesuits and there is an ecology in space. It's a very readable throwback to the 19th/early 20th century vision of what the solar system was like, with the origin of the solar system, space pirates and giant spiders thrown in for good measure.
Written in a pseudo-Victorian style, as told by young Art Mumby, with extracts from his sister's diary, to whom these adventures happen, it's a very enjoyable, if fairly short, read, with some lovely illustrations by David Wyatt.
This is a living solar system where every planet and most moons are inhabited by aliens and are inhabitable by humans with no need for clunky spacesuits and there is an ecology in space. It's a very readable throwback to the 19th/early 20th century vision of what the solar system was like, with the origin of the solar system, space pirates and giant spiders thrown in for good measure.
Written in a pseudo-Victorian style, as told by young Art Mumby, with extracts from his sister's diary, to whom these adventures happen, it's a very enjoyable, if fairly short, read, with some lovely illustrations by David Wyatt.
groovyleviathan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
purlewe's review against another edition
5.0
I will agree that this was a very good introduction for me to "steampunk". I enjoy YA novels and find that their stories can make or break how I feel about a genre. I think that this might be one I recommend to many kids I know. I look forward to the next book.
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