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A review by ozshark
Larklight by Philip Reeve
4.0
Larklight is a steampunk novel written by Philip Reeve and first published in 2006. Philip Reeve is a famous children's/ young adult author, most known for his Mortal Engines series. Steampunk is a genre that blends science fiction/fantasy elements with technology inspired by steam-powered inventions of the 19th Century. Consequently, what we end up with is a novel that feels old-fashioned and yet futuristic at the same time. Larklight is the first book in a trilogy, set during the 19th Century, yet imagining a world where space travel and exploration are possible and indeed common place.
Larklight mainly concerns the adventures of Art and Myrtle Mumby, two very British children who live with their father in orbit of the moon. Art is a normal young boy, hungry for adventure, annoyed by his sister, yet protective of her as well. Myrtle is a young girl taken straight out of the pages of Pride and Prejudice, very concerned with how to be a proper lady and wishing she could be part of high society.
When they receive news of an impending visitor, little do the Mumby's realise that this will set into motion a chain of events that will take them across the far reaches of the solar system. Along the way, they encounter giant white spiders from Saturn, space pirates and a plot to overthrow the entire British Empire. As well as this Art encounters "sights too stomach-turning for even the bravest British boy to contemplate"!
This is an excellent novel, full of adventure, humour and blending the old fashioned with the futuristic wonderfully. As Larklight is mainly just a good old-fashioned adventure, there aren't many themes to explore, although it does address the meaning of family, the importance of being yourself and to not judge others just based on the outside.
Highly recommended. Huzzah!
Note: this review is much longer than usual as it is an example for my class to follow
Larklight mainly concerns the adventures of Art and Myrtle Mumby, two very British children who live with their father in orbit of the moon. Art is a normal young boy, hungry for adventure, annoyed by his sister, yet protective of her as well. Myrtle is a young girl taken straight out of the pages of Pride and Prejudice, very concerned with how to be a proper lady and wishing she could be part of high society.
When they receive news of an impending visitor, little do the Mumby's realise that this will set into motion a chain of events that will take them across the far reaches of the solar system. Along the way, they encounter giant white spiders from Saturn, space pirates and a plot to overthrow the entire British Empire. As well as this Art encounters "sights too stomach-turning for even the bravest British boy to contemplate"!
This is an excellent novel, full of adventure, humour and blending the old fashioned with the futuristic wonderfully. As Larklight is mainly just a good old-fashioned adventure, there aren't many themes to explore, although it does address the meaning of family, the importance of being yourself and to not judge others just based on the outside.
Highly recommended. Huzzah!
Note: this review is much longer than usual as it is an example for my class to follow