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A review by threerings
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder
5.0
A great steampunk novel. It's difficult to really get into what this book is about without spoiling it some. I went in blind, and it was really fun to read and figure out what's going on as you read, so if you prefer, just go read this book and don't read the rest of my review.
Ok, they're gone. So the book is about Sir Richard Francis Burton, who is asked by the Prime Minister to look into some strange happenings in London. It becomes apparent that we're dealing with an alternate Victorian period. And also that time travel is involved. As a result of one single action, history has changed course and both mechanical technology and genetic experimentation has leaped forward. So there are steam-powered penny-farthings, personal flying rotor-chairs, and broom-cats that attract dirt to their electro-static fur and then digest it. Also talking parakeet messenger birds that insult everyone as they deliver messages.
Regardless of the whimsical natures of some of what I described, this is a dark book. The figures behind the technological advances are revealed to be truly grotesque and frightening. Although the language is fairly modern, this book truly feels Victorian and uses mostly historical figures and some historical events, though usually changed in some way. One of my only complaints is that this book feels heavily male, featuring the important actions of wealthy white men. However in the second half there are more active characters of color and a couple of strong female characters that get (off-camera) moments. I'd like to see a good female character introduced to this world. Or perhaps more of one of the female characters that appear so briefly in this.
As a final note, any fans of time travel have to read this book. It's one of the best to deal with the subject that I've read. Also recommended if you like The Anubis Gates as it's hard not to make comparisons.
Ok, they're gone. So the book is about Sir Richard Francis Burton, who is asked by the Prime Minister to look into some strange happenings in London. It becomes apparent that we're dealing with an alternate Victorian period. And also that time travel is involved. As a result of one single action, history has changed course and both mechanical technology and genetic experimentation has leaped forward. So there are steam-powered penny-farthings, personal flying rotor-chairs, and broom-cats that attract dirt to their electro-static fur and then digest it. Also talking parakeet messenger birds that insult everyone as they deliver messages.
Regardless of the whimsical natures of some of what I described, this is a dark book. The figures behind the technological advances are revealed to be truly grotesque and frightening. Although the language is fairly modern, this book truly feels Victorian and uses mostly historical figures and some historical events, though usually changed in some way. One of my only complaints is that this book feels heavily male, featuring the important actions of wealthy white men. However in the second half there are more active characters of color and a couple of strong female characters that get (off-camera) moments. I'd like to see a good female character introduced to this world. Or perhaps more of one of the female characters that appear so briefly in this.
As a final note, any fans of time travel have to read this book. It's one of the best to deal with the subject that I've read. Also recommended if you like The Anubis Gates as it's hard not to make comparisons.