Review:
Feb 27 2007
Larklight by Philip Reeve. Illustrated by David Wyatt
London : Bloomsbury, 2006 Available from
Allen
& Unwin
Age 10+ Larklight is a rip-roaring adventure science fiction book with
a wonderful whimsical story and terrific characters. It is set in
familiar Victorian times with the added dimension of the British Empire
ruling some of the planets.
Larklight is a large dilapidated house that flies around in space in an
orbit near the Moon. Art Mumby and his sister Myrtle live there with
their scholarly father. One day Mr Webster, supposedly from the Royal
Xenological Institute, visits and they discover to their consternation
that he is an enormous white spider like creature, one of the First
Ones, who captures their father and takes over Larklight. Art and
Myrtle manage to escape in a lifeboat and are rescued by the pirate
Jack Havock, who takes them aboard his ship the Sophronia. Many
hair-raising adventures follow in their efforts to foil the First Ones
and save the British Empire.
Wyatt's wonderful, funny and detailed drawings are a joy to look at and
add to the enjoyment of the incredible creatures and objects that
pervade the story. The book is one that booklovers will want to keep
for its beautiful hardcover production with end papers featuring
Victorian ads, long involved chapter headings and footnotes.
Apart from the breath taking adventures, readers will love the zany
humour and references to Victorian customs and the weird beings that
live in this world. Hoverhogs whiz around and clean up, winged ships,
powered by an device called an Alchemical Wedding, flap their way
through the aether and the Crystal Palace attacks London.
Readers can look forward to further adventures and lots of fun as it
appears that there will a sequel.
Pat Pledger
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Consulting, 2007