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Reviews (1)
Feb 09, 2016
Deluxe reissue of a Blaylock classic
If you enjoy steampunk and don't know James P. Blaylock, do yourself a giant good deed and get this book. It embodies the best characteristics of the genre without the silly, shallow 21st century drek that treats it more as a fashion statement than a field of literature. The title in question, Homunculus, is a thoroughly exhilarating read that also touches on deeper themes worthy of some thought.
Titan Books is doing it right with this volume and the rest of their series of high-quality trade paperback editions of new and older books in Blaylock's "Narbondo" series, each of which which they label as "A tale of Langdon St. Ives." The volumes are very attractive, with atmospheric cover illustrations and Victorian-looking sepia type.
Referring to Blaylock as a steampunk legend on the cover is not just smart marketing aimed at new fans of the genre, it's also the truth. K.W. Jeter first used the term in the late '80s to differentiate the stories he and his friends Tim Powers and Blaylock were writing from the then-current cyberpunk explosion. Ironically, Jeter is best known for his cyber work, and most of Powers' output since then is in other genres, especially secret histories. Blaylock does admirable work outside steampunk as a modern fabulist, but a higher proportion of his production is unabashedly steam.
Langdon St. Ives, the main character in the series, is immensely likeable in an old-school, British, morally decent yet secretly rebellious way. He longs to be a member of the Royal Society like his neighbor Lord Kelvin, but often works behind the scenes to beat the scientific establishment to the punch. He and his cadre of friends try constantly to thwart the machinations of the abominably evil vivisectionist Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, whose pursuit of immortality plumbs unknown depths of depravity.
The eccentricities of both major and minor characters endear them to the reader, while also lending moments of humor to the story. Blaylock's research into the era reveals tantalizing unknown details of Victorian life, from the country estates of the landed gentry to the grimmest slums of London. All the elements of the story -- tangled plot lines, rich character development, evocative description, danger, suspense -- combine so that readers should agree they constitute "the stuff that steams are made of."