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mackle13 's review for:
The Somnambulist
by Jonathan Barnes
2 1/2
Overall my impression of this book was 'meh'. It wasn't great... it wasn't horrible. It was just sort of there...
I had high hopes for this story, being a fan of stories set in Victoriana, of Poe's and Doyle's mysteries, and of the strange and outre - but I just couldn't find myself caring all that much about this story.
For one thing I don't recall ever wondering, when I read those other mystery stories, how the detective of the story got the reputation for being so great. Edward Moon seemed rather useless, unable to deduct anything. He was constantly being given clues and lead by the nose in one direction of the other by various other characters - such as Cribb and The Fiend. He was constantly, and rather petulantly, demanding answers since he found none himself, and seemed rather unable to do anything about anything. I imagine, on some level, this was the point - since he was past his prime and all that. But, mostly, I just found it annoying.
I rather enjoyed the voice of the narrator until we found out who it was. It wasn't because of who it was, but rather because he become so smug and annoying once it was announced...
All of this was kind of mild, actually. It was annoying in a sort of passive way, but not enough to make me hate the book. The only thing that really stood out as annoying was the way the supernatural elements felt sort of forced and tacked on. As a point of reference, I quite like supernatural elements in stories and read, almost exclusively, fantasy and other speculative fictions... but it just didn't come naturally in this story, and that's why it stuck out so badly for me.
Oddly enough I can't think of anything really good to say about the book, but I didn't hate it. I suppose part of the reason is because it's easier for me to critique than to praise... but also because nothing of note really stood out.
Oh - I did like the Prefects. They were fun. :> Sad about their price, but also rather predictable, silly man. But ah well...
One final note, which has less to do with the story itself and more to do with genre. I, personally, feel this book is more 'Gaslight Romance' which "focuses nostalgically on icons from the late years of that century and the early years of the 20th century—on Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes and even Tarzan—and can normally be understood as combining supernatural fiction and recursive fantasy, though some gaslight romances can be read as fantasies of history" and less Steampunk. It doesn't really have any focus on the machines or science which, to me, is the essential requirement of Steampunk. It's a minor quibble and, as I said, not really relevant to the story itself - but may be important if you go in expecting something quite more Steampunkish than this is, and ending up disappointed...
Overall my impression of this book was 'meh'. It wasn't great... it wasn't horrible. It was just sort of there...
I had high hopes for this story, being a fan of stories set in Victoriana, of Poe's and Doyle's mysteries, and of the strange and outre - but I just couldn't find myself caring all that much about this story.
For one thing I don't recall ever wondering, when I read those other mystery stories, how the detective of the story got the reputation for being so great. Edward Moon seemed rather useless, unable to deduct anything. He was constantly being given clues and lead by the nose in one direction of the other by various other characters - such as Cribb and The Fiend. He was constantly, and rather petulantly, demanding answers since he found none himself, and seemed rather unable to do anything about anything. I imagine, on some level, this was the point - since he was past his prime and all that. But, mostly, I just found it annoying.
I rather enjoyed the voice of the narrator until we found out who it was. It wasn't because of who it was, but rather because he become so smug and annoying once it was announced...
All of this was kind of mild, actually. It was annoying in a sort of passive way, but not enough to make me hate the book. The only thing that really stood out as annoying was the way the supernatural elements felt sort of forced and tacked on. As a point of reference, I quite like supernatural elements in stories and read, almost exclusively, fantasy and other speculative fictions... but it just didn't come naturally in this story, and that's why it stuck out so badly for me.
Oddly enough I can't think of anything really good to say about the book, but I didn't hate it. I suppose part of the reason is because it's easier for me to critique than to praise... but also because nothing of note really stood out.
Oh - I did like the Prefects. They were fun. :> Sad about their price, but also rather predictable, silly man. But ah well...
One final note, which has less to do with the story itself and more to do with genre. I, personally, feel this book is more 'Gaslight Romance' which "focuses nostalgically on icons from the late years of that century and the early years of the 20th century—on Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes and even Tarzan—and can normally be understood as combining supernatural fiction and recursive fantasy, though some gaslight romances can be read as fantasies of history" and less Steampunk. It doesn't really have any focus on the machines or science which, to me, is the essential requirement of Steampunk. It's a minor quibble and, as I said, not really relevant to the story itself - but may be important if you go in expecting something quite more Steampunkish than this is, and ending up disappointed...