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Momenticon #1
Моментикон
Светът се е превърнал в опасно място с токсична атмосфера, която е унищожила почти напълно живота на Земята, в това число и хората. Оцелелите обитават защитени от хитинови щитове куполи, собственост на последните две корпорации. Дългият период на несигурно сътрудничество между Темпестас и Генрих е напът да приключи, а техните представи за бъдещето на човечеството напълно се разминават.
Далеч от териториите им е разположен куполът на Музея, дом на най-ценните картини и артефакти от стария свят. Кураторът – млад мъж на име Фог, никога не е имал посетители.
Всичко се променя, когато мистериозно хапче – моментикон, се появява в Музея и предизвиква серия от загадъчни събития. Фог и неочакваните му нови другари се впускат в отчаяна борба срещу тъмните сили, които застрашават и малкото, оцеляло след Падението.
А времето изтича.
Далеч от териториите им е разположен куполът на Музея, дом на най-ценните картини и артефакти от стария свят. Кураторът – млад мъж на име Фог, никога не е имал посетители.
Всичко се променя, когато мистериозно хапче – моментикон, се появява в Музея и предизвиква серия от загадъчни събития. Фог и неочакваните му нови другари се впускат в отчаяна борба срещу тъмните сили, които застрашават и малкото, оцеляло след Падението.
А времето изтича.
420 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2023
59 people are currently reading
862 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Caldecott
18 books206 followersAndrew Caldecott is a QC specialising in media, defamation and libel law, as well as a novelist and occasional playwright. He represented the BBC in the Hutton Inquiry (into the death of biological warfare expert and UN weapons inspector David Kelly), the Guardian in the Leveson Inquiry (into the British press following the phone hacking scandal), and supermodel Naomi Campbell in her landmark privacy case, amongst many others.
His first produced play, Higher than Babel, was described as 'Assured and ambitious . . . deeply impressive debut' by Nick Curtis in the Evening Standard and 'Vivid and absorbing and grapples with big ideas without being dry, difficult or patronising' by Sarah Hemming, in the Financial Times, but informed by his love of history, which he studied at New College, Oxford, he was seized by the notion of a city-state hiding a cataclysmic secret: the result, Rotherweird. 'A history-tragic-comedy all rolled into one', says Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall, and 'baroque, Byzantine and beautiful,' according to M.R, Carey, author of The Girl with all the Gifts.
A sequel, Wyntertide, is currently taking shape.
His first produced play, Higher than Babel, was described as 'Assured and ambitious . . . deeply impressive debut' by Nick Curtis in the Evening Standard and 'Vivid and absorbing and grapples with big ideas without being dry, difficult or patronising' by Sarah Hemming, in the Financial Times, but informed by his love of history, which he studied at New College, Oxford, he was seized by the notion of a city-state hiding a cataclysmic secret: the result, Rotherweird. 'A history-tragic-comedy all rolled into one', says Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall, and 'baroque, Byzantine and beautiful,' according to M.R, Carey, author of The Girl with all the Gifts.
A sequel, Wyntertide, is currently taking shape.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
April 18, 2022
After his superb Rotherweird trilogy, Andrew Caldecott offers us another offbeat fantasy, a dystopian world in which after The Fall, a climate disaster with the destruction of the natural world, the earth's atmosphere is so toxic that survival depends on people living in domes protected by a chitin shield, serving either Lord Vane's Tempestas or Lord Sine's Genrich. Each man has different perspectives on the way forward in the future, and both have been operating together under an uneasy recent truce. Fogg has been the diligent curator of the finest artworks and paintings in the Museum Dome for the past 3 years. He has been completely alone in all that time, with only the AIPT, an automated physical trainer to keep him fit, and there has not been a single visitor at the museum. Life is about to change drastically for him.
First of all he finds a pill, a momenticon, that takes him into a painting, and then Morag Spire puts in an appearance, it turns out she has been residing in the museum for the last 3 years too without his knowledge. The arrival of Dee and Dum, twins with an addiction to momenticons, lead to Fogg and Morag leaving the museum through necessity, using the twins Aeolus vessel, a craft that Fogg seems to have some experience of. So begins an exciting and dangerous adventure for Fogg and for Morag, desperate to locate her her long lost explorer father, Gilbert Spire. They are aided by a number of colourful and vibrantly drawn cast of characters, such as the edgy Niobe, a black geologist, Benedict, who physically resembles the Vanes, Miss Baldwin, Cassie's nanny, Oblivious Potts, and the remarkable Hilda Crike. The enemies assembled against them are led by the villainous Cosmo Vane, and include Marcus, a weather-watcher, as chitin and tantalus, on which life depends, become ever scarcer.
Caldecott is marvellously imaginative in his intricate dystopian world building, with his rich description of the mines, using famous artists, such as Monet and Bosch, and their well known paintings as the background in which so much of the action takes place. Then there is 147's, aka Hernia, Long Eye and the fabulous golden beetles that make Fogg initially so nervous and apprehensive when he first encounters them. This is a wonderfully entertaining, compelling and immersive fantasy read, with plenty of suspense and tension, in which Caldecott successfully creates an equally engaging and original a world as Rotherweird. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
First of all he finds a pill, a momenticon, that takes him into a painting, and then Morag Spire puts in an appearance, it turns out she has been residing in the museum for the last 3 years too without his knowledge. The arrival of Dee and Dum, twins with an addiction to momenticons, lead to Fogg and Morag leaving the museum through necessity, using the twins Aeolus vessel, a craft that Fogg seems to have some experience of. So begins an exciting and dangerous adventure for Fogg and for Morag, desperate to locate her her long lost explorer father, Gilbert Spire. They are aided by a number of colourful and vibrantly drawn cast of characters, such as the edgy Niobe, a black geologist, Benedict, who physically resembles the Vanes, Miss Baldwin, Cassie's nanny, Oblivious Potts, and the remarkable Hilda Crike. The enemies assembled against them are led by the villainous Cosmo Vane, and include Marcus, a weather-watcher, as chitin and tantalus, on which life depends, become ever scarcer.
Caldecott is marvellously imaginative in his intricate dystopian world building, with his rich description of the mines, using famous artists, such as Monet and Bosch, and their well known paintings as the background in which so much of the action takes place. Then there is 147's, aka Hernia, Long Eye and the fabulous golden beetles that make Fogg initially so nervous and apprehensive when he first encounters them. This is a wonderfully entertaining, compelling and immersive fantasy read, with plenty of suspense and tension, in which Caldecott successfully creates an equally engaging and original a world as Rotherweird. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
November 3, 2024
4,5 stars
I'd never would have thought that I would ever rate a dystopian book to almost 5 stars, but author Andrew Caldecott proved me wrong.
Having read and loved his Rotherweird, I was both curious and apprehensive of this new novel of his, but I lapped it up in record time.
It is a post-apocalyptic world, Caldecott is serving up on his literary plate. Due to humankind's worst efforts, Earth's atmosphere turned poisonous destroying almost all lives, except a select few (and the word "select" certainly has literary meaning here) who are under the dominion of two powerful potentates. One of them is Lord Sine, leading the company Genrich, a believer in the exclusive use of science and technology including genetic manipulation to perfect mankind. The other is Lord Vane II, a fan of arts and artistic impressions who has employees controlling the weather (his company is called Tempestas) and just as many hidden agendas as Lord Sine. For their open and secret projects as well as for their own survival, they need a metal called tantalum as humankind seems to be running out on it.
In this impossible setting we meet Fogg (and I am guessing it is an intentional reference to the protagonist of Around the World in 80 Days: Around the World in 80 Days, Phileas Fogg, though I may be wrong), curator of a museum with the finest artefacts of the world, who has never had a single visitor in the days since he moved there. But suddenly it all changes, when he meets a mysterious girl, named Morag, who has the ability to create Momenticons: tablets that can transport you into paintings during the moments of their creation.
Fogg and Morag have to flee for their lives, aided or hunted by the strangest or weirdest characters (among them Tweedledum and Tweedledee). Their quest is down-the-rabbit-hole harebrained and, like the reader, they have no idea where they'll end up next and at first they have no idea what they are searching for .
The world and the plot are weirdly fascinating and fascinatingly weird. Despite the heavy references to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass the novel is not a rehashed Alice-dystopia at all. It's closer to the truth to say that the reading of both books evoked similar bewilderment and allure while trying to find sense in a crazy and unpredictable world and enjoying the ride.
Momenticon is a perplexing and brilliant story full of literary and artistic rabbit holes and quirky characters.
It ends on a cliffhanger and I want to continue this journey for sure.
ARC provided by the Publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
I'd never would have thought that I would ever rate a dystopian book to almost 5 stars, but author Andrew Caldecott proved me wrong.
Having read and loved his Rotherweird, I was both curious and apprehensive of this new novel of his, but I lapped it up in record time.
It is a post-apocalyptic world, Caldecott is serving up on his literary plate. Due to humankind's worst efforts, Earth's atmosphere turned poisonous destroying almost all lives, except a select few (and the word "select" certainly has literary meaning here) who are under the dominion of two powerful potentates. One of them is Lord Sine, leading the company Genrich, a believer in the exclusive use of science and technology including genetic manipulation to perfect mankind. The other is Lord Vane II, a fan of arts and artistic impressions who has employees controlling the weather (his company is called Tempestas) and just as many hidden agendas as Lord Sine. For their open and secret projects as well as for their own survival, they need a metal called tantalum as humankind seems to be running out on it.
In this impossible setting we meet Fogg (and I am guessing it is an intentional reference to the protagonist of Around the World in 80 Days: Around the World in 80 Days, Phileas Fogg, though I may be wrong), curator of a museum with the finest artefacts of the world, who has never had a single visitor in the days since he moved there. But suddenly it all changes, when he meets a mysterious girl, named Morag, who has the ability to create Momenticons: tablets that can transport you into paintings during the moments of their creation.
Fogg and Morag have to flee for their lives, aided or hunted by the strangest or weirdest characters (among them Tweedledum and Tweedledee). Their quest is down-the-rabbit-hole harebrained and, like the reader, they have no idea where they'll end up next and at first they have no idea what they are searching for .
The world and the plot are weirdly fascinating and fascinatingly weird. Despite the heavy references to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass the novel is not a rehashed Alice-dystopia at all. It's closer to the truth to say that the reading of both books evoked similar bewilderment and allure while trying to find sense in a crazy and unpredictable world and enjoying the ride.
Momenticon is a perplexing and brilliant story full of literary and artistic rabbit holes and quirky characters.
It ends on a cliffhanger and I want to continue this journey for sure.
ARC provided by the Publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
August 12, 2025
Сюжетът е нещо като искрящо шарени говорещи зайци, надрусани с ЛСД и изскачащи в хаотичен ред от цилиндъра на Лудия Шапкар.
Калдекот е решил, че именно причудливостта трябва да е запазената марка на “Моментикон”. Самият моментикон е хапче, което подарява преживяване … в центъра на картина. Поелият моментикона вижда и чувства всичко през очите на художника в момента на рисуването. А картини в книгата има доста. Първо в странния херметичен Музей насред един свят на жълти токсични бури и с почти изтребено човечество, в който машините работят, но с изключение на странния куратор, няма нито един друг човек. После в част от поселищата на малцината оцелели, като тези поселища са … живи картини до последната подробност, а всеки един жител населява платното точно както старите художници са го композирали. Изобщо, книгата е благодат за любителите на живописта. Междувременно кипят борби за малкото останали ресурси между двете могъщи корпорации Генрих и Темпеста.
Началото е крайно увлекателно, но от един момент нататък оригиналността и причудливостта напълно губят чар и конвулсивно се загърчват в умишлено неясна, самоцелна и доста надменна ексцентричност и даже в авторов снобизъм. Калдекот става умишлено дразнещ и държащ да подчертае пълното пресъздаване на духа на “Алиса в страната на чудесата”. И то до такава степен, че сюжет и герои се разпадат до неразбираеми хаотични точки, моменти и случки. Всичко е възможно най-усложнено, най-нелепо и възможно най-случайно, логиката изцяло се изгубва в златистата гъста и токсична мъгла след Падението. Героите на практика спират да съществуват, освен за да подхвърлят някоя нелепа, псевдоостроумна и крайно несвързана реплика в стил “Алиса”.
Би могло да е чудесна книга, само авторът да не беше решил на всяка цена да се превзема и оригиналничи с всяка своя точка и запетая, а просто да разкаже историята.
2,5⭐️
May 6, 2022
Momenticon by Andrew Caldecott
4 STARS
I'm not sure there are enough words that can accurately describe this weird, brilliant, funny and adventurous read.
There's a dystopian setting (called The Fall) - a not-unrealstic picture of what could befall mankind should we not take climate change seriously. There's our two protagonists - Fogg (whom, I'm ashamed to admit, I failed to recognise might well have drawn inspiration from Phyllias Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days...) and Morag who have both separate and parallel stories. We've got a delightful and quirky supporting cast in Mander (the butler),Potts (the librarian) and Crike (the 'mad' old spinster, who's anything but). We've got the antagonists, the sinister Lord Sine and Lord Vane, both of whom own competing and differing organisations and are both pursuing the survival of the human race. It's art versus. science on an apocalyptic level.
It's 4 STARS for me as there were moments where I found the story itself hard to follow. However, the pacing more than makes up for this as we're straight into the action until the inevitable cliffhanger.
If you liked Rotherwierd, you'll like this!
4 STARS
I'm not sure there are enough words that can accurately describe this weird, brilliant, funny and adventurous read.
There's a dystopian setting (called The Fall) - a not-unrealstic picture of what could befall mankind should we not take climate change seriously. There's our two protagonists - Fogg (whom, I'm ashamed to admit, I failed to recognise might well have drawn inspiration from Phyllias Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days...) and Morag who have both separate and parallel stories. We've got a delightful and quirky supporting cast in Mander (the butler),Potts (the librarian) and Crike (the 'mad' old spinster, who's anything but). We've got the antagonists, the sinister Lord Sine and Lord Vane, both of whom own competing and differing organisations and are both pursuing the survival of the human race. It's art versus. science on an apocalyptic level.
It's 4 STARS for me as there were moments where I found the story itself hard to follow. However, the pacing more than makes up for this as we're straight into the action until the inevitable cliffhanger.
If you liked Rotherwierd, you'll like this!
August 6, 2025
Земята е обвита в токсична мъгла, резултат от екологичните катастрофи и катаклизмите, довели до Падението, а малцината оцелели са попаднали под властта на две могъщи корпорации - Генрих и Темпестас, чиито лордове са от една страна страховити тирани, безскрупулни генетични експериментатори и убийци, а от друга - страстни почитатели и покровители на изкуството. В тая мрачна реалност се преплитат съдбите на двамата главни герои: Фог, притежаващ таланта да прерисува с точност до най-дребния детайл всяко прочуто художествено платно на света и Мораг, способна да вникне в същността на картината, чак до степен да прозре през очите на нейния автор, след което да вгради получените впечатления и усещания в специално хапче - моментикон
Прозата на Калдекот трудно може да се преразкаже, просто трябва да се усети, като в процеса на повествованието е хубаво да се запознаете с картините и артефактите, посочени от автора в началните му бележки, защото се превръщат в декори на отделните сцени или дават облика на част от героите му.
Шантав постапокалиптичен, в доста моменти направо сюрреалестичен роман, който със сигурност няма да се понрави на всеки читател, но за мен беше любопитен експеримент, досущ като приема на моментикон 😁 А оформлението на родното книжно тяло е жес-то-ко!
Прозата на Калдекот трудно може да се преразкаже, просто трябва да се усети, като в процеса на повествованието е хубаво да се запознаете с картините и артефактите, посочени от автора в началните му бележки, защото се превръщат в декори на отделните сцени или дават облика на част от героите му.
Шантав постапокалиптичен, в доста моменти направо сюрреалестичен роман, който със сигурност няма да се понрави на всеки читател, но за мен беше любопитен експеримент, досущ като приема на моментикон 😁 А оформлението на родното книжно тяло е жес-то-ко!
February 3, 2023
Поредица от природни бедствия, породени от небрежността и егоизма на човечеството стартира приключението в “Моментикон”, което съчетава науката и изкуството по оригинален и запомнящ се начин.
Този жанр не е сред любимите ми, но след като разбрах, че между страхотните корици се крият многобройни произведения на изкуството и препратки към любими творби и художници реших да ѝ дам шанс и да изляза за малко извън зоната ми на комфорт.
Останах удовлетворена. Също като художниците, които включва в романа си, така и самия автор, по свой впечатляващ начин, рисува с думи изобилие от шантави приключения, без да му избяга и най-малкия детайл. Главите са вихрушка от екшън, цвят и природа, описани по достъпен за начинаещи в жанра начин. На моменти малко се губех в това, което се случва поради динамичния сюжет и пищната магия, но след като свикнах със стила и героите, бързо привиквах отново към ритъма на действието.
След като го прочетох, се почувствах така сякаш напускам кино зала, в която съм гледала вълнуващ фантастичен филм.
Признавам, че към края събитията започнаха малко да ми идват в повече и ми се иска да имаше малко място за по-хубаво изясняване на някои подробности. Автора сякаш в бързината да предаде колкото се може повече на читателя, се отклони от основната цел на сюжета. Заради това, а и заради чаровните и интересни герои се надявам на продължение. Препускането с тях, от едно непознато място на друго, в търсене на нещо, което е много по-голямо от тях, ми хареса и ще се радвам на още.
“Моментикон” може да се опише като едно необикновено любовно писмо до изкуството. До природата, приказките и до всички, които мечтаят да се изгубят вътре в тях, на безопасно и спокойно място. На места е леко мрачно, но както Колдекот пише, мракът понякога може да бъде и цветен.
Този жанр не е сред любимите ми, но след като разбрах, че между страхотните корици се крият многобройни произведения на изкуството и препратки към любими творби и художници реших да ѝ дам шанс и да изляза за малко извън зоната ми на комфорт.
Останах удовлетворена. Също като художниците, които включва в романа си, така и самия автор, по свой впечатляващ начин, рисува с думи изобилие от шантави приключения, без да му избяга и най-малкия детайл. Главите са вихрушка от екшън, цвят и природа, описани по достъпен за начинаещи в жанра начин. На моменти малко се губех в това, което се случва поради динамичния сюжет и пищната магия, но след като свикнах със стила и героите, бързо привиквах отново към ритъма на действието.
След като го прочетох, се почувствах така сякаш напускам кино зала, в която съм гледала вълнуващ фантастичен филм.
Признавам, че към края събитията започнаха малко да ми идват в повече и ми се иска да имаше малко място за по-хубаво изясняване на някои подробности. Автора сякаш в бързината да предаде колкото се може повече на читателя, се отклони от основната цел на сюжета. Заради това, а и заради чаровните и интересни герои се надявам на продължение. Препускането с тях, от едно непознато място на друго, в търсене на нещо, което е много по-голямо от тях, ми хареса и ще се радвам на още.
“Моментикон” може да се опише като едно необикновено любовно писмо до изкуството. До природата, приказките и до всички, които мечтаят да се изгубят вътре в тях, на безопасно и спокойно място. На места е леко мрачно, но както Колдекот пише, мракът понякога може да бъде и цветен.
January 28, 2022
What a weird, brilliant, bonkers book. Full review to follow.
February 18, 2023
Well… firstly this is an awful lot better than that rotherwhatsit book. I’d suggest going to look at the review for that but it disappeared. What’s that? No, of course there’s no conspiracy!
This has elements of the above mentioned, the rather erratic ebb and flow of storytelling causing it to rather dip in the middle, but… I did rather enjoy it. A sound story with some great characters but… such an annoying end. When I’m king I’m going to pass a law that all writers must state on the cover of their work any plan for another money-maker in the pipeline with (e.g. Momenticon) #2 stuck on the title.
This has elements of the above mentioned, the rather erratic ebb and flow of storytelling causing it to rather dip in the middle, but… I did rather enjoy it. A sound story with some great characters but… such an annoying end. When I’m king I’m going to pass a law that all writers must state on the cover of their work any plan for another money-maker in the pipeline with (e.g. Momenticon) #2 stuck on the title.
February 11, 2025
I may try this again one day in physical format rather than audiobook format, but god, I thought I would love it based on the opening setting, but it became incredibly convoluted and impossible to follow in audio format. I didn't care enough to persevere, but if I return to it, it certainly won't be with the audiobook.
April 18, 2022
Those readers who have experienced the delights of Andrew Caldecott’s Rotherweird series (Rotherweird, Lost Acre and Wyntertide) may have some inkling of what to expect from the first of his latest duology Momenticon. That earlier series dealt with an English town cut off from the rest of the world, alternate realities, bizarre inventions and a roll call of eccentric characters. But even they may have to recalibrate in the face of the sheer post-apocalyptic weirdness that makes up his latest novel.
Momenticon opens in a museum full of famous art works, a lonely dome in a dying landscape. The Museum has been looked after for the last three years by a young man called Fogg but has received no visitors. As the third year ticks over strange things start to happen including finding a pill that gives him Monet’s perspective of painting his water lillies, discovering that a young woman called Morag Spire has been living above him in the ceiling of the Museum for three years and being visited by two malicious young men dressed as Tweedledum and Tweedledee out of Alice in Wonderland. Morag and Fogg catch each other up on the previous three years before the story catches up to the present and then hurtles forward.
There is so much going on in Momenticon that it is hard to encapsulate. But the overarching narrative is a battle for control between the two powers (Genrich who specialise in cloning and Tempestas who can control the weather) that remain over the damaged world with Fogg, Morag and their allies caught in the middle. The battle takes place in landscapes that have been created to resemble famous art works and involve not only people but robots and genetically altered creatures resembling characters out of Alice in Wonderland. And that is before we get to the momenticons themselves – pills that can transport the taker to another world – which only a few, including Morag and the evil Cosmo Vane, have the power to create.
Readers of Caldecott’s previous work will recognise many familiar elements but deployed in a new guise. The fundamental battle between good and evil, a range of characters with Dickensian names (such as Oblivious Potts, Peregrine Mander and Hilda Crike), a steampunk aesthetic (the main characters get around in windbag operated airships and there are plenty of automata), puzzles and quests, and a very English sensibility. But here, being post-apocalyptic, he also has an environmental point to make.
Momenticon is wild but fun and works within its own crazy frame of reference. The trick is to let accept the fantastical premise, don’t wait around for too much exposition and go with it. While Rotherweird took a while to get going, this book is more stripped back, only providing a little backstory before dropping straight into the action. After which it feels non-stop, splitting the protagonists up and bringing them together again, delivering a series of growing climaxes and then leaving readers hanging for an anticipated concluding second volume.
Momenticon opens in a museum full of famous art works, a lonely dome in a dying landscape. The Museum has been looked after for the last three years by a young man called Fogg but has received no visitors. As the third year ticks over strange things start to happen including finding a pill that gives him Monet’s perspective of painting his water lillies, discovering that a young woman called Morag Spire has been living above him in the ceiling of the Museum for three years and being visited by two malicious young men dressed as Tweedledum and Tweedledee out of Alice in Wonderland. Morag and Fogg catch each other up on the previous three years before the story catches up to the present and then hurtles forward.
There is so much going on in Momenticon that it is hard to encapsulate. But the overarching narrative is a battle for control between the two powers (Genrich who specialise in cloning and Tempestas who can control the weather) that remain over the damaged world with Fogg, Morag and their allies caught in the middle. The battle takes place in landscapes that have been created to resemble famous art works and involve not only people but robots and genetically altered creatures resembling characters out of Alice in Wonderland. And that is before we get to the momenticons themselves – pills that can transport the taker to another world – which only a few, including Morag and the evil Cosmo Vane, have the power to create.
Readers of Caldecott’s previous work will recognise many familiar elements but deployed in a new guise. The fundamental battle between good and evil, a range of characters with Dickensian names (such as Oblivious Potts, Peregrine Mander and Hilda Crike), a steampunk aesthetic (the main characters get around in windbag operated airships and there are plenty of automata), puzzles and quests, and a very English sensibility. But here, being post-apocalyptic, he also has an environmental point to make.
Momenticon is wild but fun and works within its own crazy frame of reference. The trick is to let accept the fantastical premise, don’t wait around for too much exposition and go with it. While Rotherweird took a while to get going, this book is more stripped back, only providing a little backstory before dropping straight into the action. After which it feels non-stop, splitting the protagonists up and bringing them together again, delivering a series of growing climaxes and then leaving readers hanging for an anticipated concluding second volume.
May 13, 2022
his book is an all round wonderful and completely bonkers fairy tale. I want to see a animated movie from Pixar based off of it. I mean some of the vibes reminded me of UP sooo its meant to be.
At the start you think its a dystopian sci-fi sort of thing, but then the whole thing unravels even further and you fall down the rabbit hole. Following lovely heartfelt characters (Fogg deserves the world) you tumble through a tumultuous future earth. Where most of humanity has been wiped out and those that remain only survive through the use of Chitinous shields that protect them from the toxic dust that blankets earth. This is really a book thats told through stories, fairy tales, paintings and sculptures. I would definitely recommend looking up the pieces that are mentioned.
Overall I did feel like the book went on too long. There were too many twists and turns that it got to a point where I didn’t really have any sense of wonder at finding a new sanctuary or some other weird situation. A few sort of magical realism devices just seemed to be used too many times. I really enjoyed the first half of this book but after that I just went on too long and started to drag.
At the start you think its a dystopian sci-fi sort of thing, but then the whole thing unravels even further and you fall down the rabbit hole. Following lovely heartfelt characters (Fogg deserves the world) you tumble through a tumultuous future earth. Where most of humanity has been wiped out and those that remain only survive through the use of Chitinous shields that protect them from the toxic dust that blankets earth. This is really a book thats told through stories, fairy tales, paintings and sculptures. I would definitely recommend looking up the pieces that are mentioned.
Overall I did feel like the book went on too long. There were too many twists and turns that it got to a point where I didn’t really have any sense of wonder at finding a new sanctuary or some other weird situation. A few sort of magical realism devices just seemed to be used too many times. I really enjoyed the first half of this book but after that I just went on too long and started to drag.
December 13, 2022
dnf- tried to diversify my reading genres by reading a fantasy written by a MAN and hated it. as they say in HSM, stick to the status quo
June 30, 2022
This book was a wild ride and as a note I must say that I read this as a hardback/audio hybrid so if I missed anything then I apologise.
Momenticon is a book set in a very sci-fi/steampunk inspired world, the world as we know it has collapsed to a major eco event, causing the world to be uninhabitable outside of areas that are purposely kept safe by advanced technology. With this there is a very small population of people still alive and most of the world died at the beginning of the ecological event. There are two organisations that are still around that help keep people safe as well as work on scientific research to further their own agenda and keep the people happy and well fed. We are told the story from characters PoV, Fogg a very artistic librarian and Morag, the daughter and a former employee that worked on a project for the two organisations.
Now, what that synopsis does not tell you is that this book is a tad insane. It borrows heavily from Alice In Wonderland, from just basic symbology, references and in same cases, uses abstract version of the characters to necessitate the story. While I enjoyed it overall, there is a sense that the use of Alice In Wonderland was a bit of a crutch and I feel that he abused it to use it whenever the writing started to really slow down or when he needed characters to rush to a new location.
The characters that we see the world from have a strong sense of British humour and use of sarcasm, they are very well written, with different desires, fears, goals but I fear at the cost that many of the other characters can feel a bit underwritten and end up acting like caricatures. The switching of PoV's I also found a little confusing and in early stages was very confused about when the other character was meant to appear again. Within the book there are mini sections of chapters all devoted to one character, with no mention of the other so over long periods of time listening in the car, it took me awhile to understand how far they were getting into the story before the switch would happen.
With all that said I felt that the pacing was quite slow and quite difficult to get through at times. With many chapters leaving me thinking "I really don't care about this, hurry up". Even at times when the world building was ramping up, which is done very well I was finding it very difficult to carry on with. And frankly, the most annoying thing for me was that there is not really any pay off. It is written kind of like a set of twin movies or a tv show, leaves you on a cliff hanger with a very unsatisfying ending with the promise of the next instalment to really finish it off. This is a massive gripe for me as I always find it difficult to continue series so not even having an ample of an ending to keep me satiated was a major bummer.
The book contains a lot of promise and although it is a very mixed read for me, leaving me very conflicted, I will eagerly pick up the next book whenever it is released.
3, maybe 3.5
Momenticon is a book set in a very sci-fi/steampunk inspired world, the world as we know it has collapsed to a major eco event, causing the world to be uninhabitable outside of areas that are purposely kept safe by advanced technology. With this there is a very small population of people still alive and most of the world died at the beginning of the ecological event. There are two organisations that are still around that help keep people safe as well as work on scientific research to further their own agenda and keep the people happy and well fed. We are told the story from characters PoV, Fogg a very artistic librarian and Morag, the daughter and a former employee that worked on a project for the two organisations.
Now, what that synopsis does not tell you is that this book is a tad insane. It borrows heavily from Alice In Wonderland, from just basic symbology, references and in same cases, uses abstract version of the characters to necessitate the story. While I enjoyed it overall, there is a sense that the use of Alice In Wonderland was a bit of a crutch and I feel that he abused it to use it whenever the writing started to really slow down or when he needed characters to rush to a new location.
The characters that we see the world from have a strong sense of British humour and use of sarcasm, they are very well written, with different desires, fears, goals but I fear at the cost that many of the other characters can feel a bit underwritten and end up acting like caricatures. The switching of PoV's I also found a little confusing and in early stages was very confused about when the other character was meant to appear again. Within the book there are mini sections of chapters all devoted to one character, with no mention of the other so over long periods of time listening in the car, it took me awhile to understand how far they were getting into the story before the switch would happen.
With all that said I felt that the pacing was quite slow and quite difficult to get through at times. With many chapters leaving me thinking "I really don't care about this, hurry up". Even at times when the world building was ramping up, which is done very well I was finding it very difficult to carry on with. And frankly, the most annoying thing for me was that there is not really any pay off. It is written kind of like a set of twin movies or a tv show, leaves you on a cliff hanger with a very unsatisfying ending with the promise of the next instalment to really finish it off. This is a massive gripe for me as I always find it difficult to continue series so not even having an ample of an ending to keep me satiated was a major bummer.
The book contains a lot of promise and although it is a very mixed read for me, leaving me very conflicted, I will eagerly pick up the next book whenever it is released.
3, maybe 3.5
June 3, 2023
I was torn before 4 and 3 stars here. The concepts here are great. I love the world. The idea of the Momenticons is great. I like the characters. What is slightly missing is the why of everything. I'm still not totally sure why anyone is fighting. Perhaps more will be revealed in the next one.
May 5, 2022
A post-apocalyptic/climate breakdown dystopian landscape with sci-fi levels of tech, but with fantastical nonsense literature sensibilities.
If you've read Andrew Caldecott's previous series Rotherweird, then you'll have some idea what to expect from Momenticon.
I feel like this takes the best parts of that series, the weirdness and brilliantly chaotic energy whilst also slimming down the amount of characters (and aliases) that you are required to remember.
We follow two main protagonists, Fogg (who can accurately copy any art) and Morag (who can create momenticons) as they escape the confines of their visitorless museum dome (the domes provide protection from the toxic, corrosive atmosphere) following an attack by the genetically engineered Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
If that sounds complicated, well, it is. But I promise it does all gradually make sense as more of the world is revealed and we learn about the two companies that offer the only protection from the elements.
I loved the concept of paintings coming to life - both through the population being forced to act as living versions of paintings and through Morag's ability.
At heart it is an adventure mystery. With Fogg and Morag zipping between locations, trying to workout what danger they're in and what happened to Morag's explorer father.
A rip-roaring adventure through a brilliantly weird and wonderful dystopian landscape. I can't imagine what'll happen in the next book but I can't wait to find out!
Thanks to jofletcherbooks for providing a Netgalley review copy
If you've read Andrew Caldecott's previous series Rotherweird, then you'll have some idea what to expect from Momenticon.
I feel like this takes the best parts of that series, the weirdness and brilliantly chaotic energy whilst also slimming down the amount of characters (and aliases) that you are required to remember.
We follow two main protagonists, Fogg (who can accurately copy any art) and Morag (who can create momenticons) as they escape the confines of their visitorless museum dome (the domes provide protection from the toxic, corrosive atmosphere) following an attack by the genetically engineered Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
If that sounds complicated, well, it is. But I promise it does all gradually make sense as more of the world is revealed and we learn about the two companies that offer the only protection from the elements.
I loved the concept of paintings coming to life - both through the population being forced to act as living versions of paintings and through Morag's ability.
At heart it is an adventure mystery. With Fogg and Morag zipping between locations, trying to workout what danger they're in and what happened to Morag's explorer father.
A rip-roaring adventure through a brilliantly weird and wonderful dystopian landscape. I can't imagine what'll happen in the next book but I can't wait to find out!
Thanks to jofletcherbooks for providing a Netgalley review copy
May 11, 2022
Hmm. Where to even start in a review? Well, I didn't dislike it, but I'm not sure I liked it too much, either. It's got ambition, it's well written, and omg the ideas are spilling out - and rather all over the place. I confess, I struggled a fair bit keeping the circling plot straight, and even more keeping all the characters separated.
There is a lot of imagery here - appropriate for the museum setting we start off with - but mostly it seemed too bizarre and unexplained to really belong.
So, yeah, taking my original 3* rating down to 2* because while it was an okay read, I'm just not sure I got anything out of it, and am a little aggrieved at the “The story will conclude in ‘Simul'” ending.
You can read more of my 'what even is this' waffles on my blog, LittleFrogScribbles.
There is a lot of imagery here - appropriate for the museum setting we start off with - but mostly it seemed too bizarre and unexplained to really belong.
So, yeah, taking my original 3* rating down to 2* because while it was an okay read, I'm just not sure I got anything out of it, and am a little aggrieved at the “The story will conclude in ‘Simul'” ending.
You can read more of my 'what even is this' waffles on my blog, LittleFrogScribbles.
May 11, 2022
This one was a little too far into the realm of science fiction for me. I haven’t read Andrew Caldecott before, but from reviews I’ve perused, this novel is fairly reminiscent of his style and genre bending talents. It is undeniably clever, the weaving of literature and art with science fiction set within a post apocalyptic universe. My imagination has always struggled with heavy science fiction and the blend with steam punk fantasy positioned this novel too far out of reach for my tastes. If you are partial to science fiction though, or even futuristic steam punk fantasy, you may enjoy this more than I did.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy and inclusion in the media tour.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy and inclusion in the media tour.
July 17, 2022
DNF. Page 241. This book was a convoluted mess.
July 21, 2024
DND на 120стр, абсолютно нищо не разбирам от това, което се случва
September 12, 2024
The perfect mix of clever, weird, and the illustrations of Sir John Tenniel.
I love the themes the book plays with, the link between art and what makes us human, how the powerful and greedy can exploit art in a dehumanising way, both the risk to our natural world and the desire to control it.
But it's also a great adventure riddled with peril, surreality, charming characters, sinister schemes, twists and turns. Great fun. Also captures the true horror of the Tweedles Dee and Dum.
I love the themes the book plays with, the link between art and what makes us human, how the powerful and greedy can exploit art in a dehumanising way, both the risk to our natural world and the desire to control it.
But it's also a great adventure riddled with peril, surreality, charming characters, sinister schemes, twists and turns. Great fun. Also captures the true horror of the Tweedles Dee and Dum.
Read
June 24, 2022DNF. I don’t like Alice in Wonderland, so that put me off. Plus it felt as if it was just for people who knew about paintings, with the rest of us not in on some pre-expected knowledge. Not my cup of tea.
May 26, 2025
Wow, this book takes you for a wild ride. I loved the dystopian setting and thought the plot was super original and imaginative. You can’t deny Andrew Caldecott’s ability to come up with a storyline and setting that hasn’t been done before.
I flew through this book and I was really eager to keep picking it up. I’m usually much more interested in characters than plot but I enjoyed being in this world so much that I kept wanting to come back to it.
As much as I loved the storyline, I thought, towards the end, it was becoming a bit convoluted and difficult to follow. And at times throughout the book it felt like there were lots of ideas on the page (maybe too many) and some of them weren’t always explored enough. We were introduced to lots of new characters and the protagonists were sent to lots of different places and, although it did feel like you were on this crazy ride with them, sometimes the story moved along a bit too quickly for my liking.
I do think I’ll pick up the sequel though as I’m intrigued as to where the story will go next. Not my fave read but a fun and entertaining time!
I flew through this book and I was really eager to keep picking it up. I’m usually much more interested in characters than plot but I enjoyed being in this world so much that I kept wanting to come back to it.
As much as I loved the storyline, I thought, towards the end, it was becoming a bit convoluted and difficult to follow. And at times throughout the book it felt like there were lots of ideas on the page (maybe too many) and some of them weren’t always explored enough. We were introduced to lots of new characters and the protagonists were sent to lots of different places and, although it did feel like you were on this crazy ride with them, sometimes the story moved along a bit too quickly for my liking.
I do think I’ll pick up the sequel though as I’m intrigued as to where the story will go next. Not my fave read but a fun and entertaining time!
dnf
April 27, 2023From the description, I had no idea this was an Alice-in-Wonderland riff. Had I known, I'd've never picked it up. I know lots of people love the Lewis Carroll classic, but I am not one of them.
January 29, 2025
An okay book that had potential, but in my opinion the story never quite gained any real momentum with the pacing being up and down” throughout. You could see where the author was going, although it just did not get to its destination, couple this with a disappointing ending, the rating given seemed reasonable.
February 23, 2024
It’s so complicated. But what do you expect from a novel written by a top lawyer! I think I just about understood what was going on by the end but there were times I was totally baffled.
November 28, 2025
Andrew Caldecott has such a wild imagination. This was a really interesting read.
February 23, 2023
"Momenticon" is the latest addition to the Artline publishing house's (Bulgaria) catalog, to whom I thank for the opportunity to read the book! The story takes us to a world that has undergone a massive cataclysm, after which the survivors live in domes covered with chitinous shields. Genrich and Tempestas are two corporations in a temporary truce. The problem is that their ideas about the world differ, and their truce is running out. Not far away, in another dome called the Museum, lives Fogg. He never had visitors until a strange pill appeared and he met Morag. It is their story that we follow.
The strange pill has a name - momenticon. Morag has a talent and one of its applications is precisely in the creation of momenticons. The pill was made to take a person out of the gray everyday life and transport him or her to some other moment. Morag and Fogg embark on a risky journey that seems premeditated but also unpredictable. Will they find what they didn't even know they were looking for and survive? These were some of the questions I asked myself. This is one of the most intriguing dystopian worlds I've read about. In the beginning, what happened is hinted at, but as the story progresses, we get a better understanding of things.
I also liked Fogg and Morag and their friendship dynamic. I liked Benedict too, but mostly Potts. I am very interested in what will happen to them in the next part. I sincerely hope there is one, because Goodreads doesn't have a tentative date set for one. I dare say the action is dynamic, but you still manage to tighten things up. I will admit that there were moments where I had no idea what was going on, there were moments of twists and turns, but the last 150 pages were just great. I read them in one sitting.
The strange pill has a name - momenticon. Morag has a talent and one of its applications is precisely in the creation of momenticons. The pill was made to take a person out of the gray everyday life and transport him or her to some other moment. Morag and Fogg embark on a risky journey that seems premeditated but also unpredictable. Will they find what they didn't even know they were looking for and survive? These were some of the questions I asked myself. This is one of the most intriguing dystopian worlds I've read about. In the beginning, what happened is hinted at, but as the story progresses, we get a better understanding of things.
I also liked Fogg and Morag and their friendship dynamic. I liked Benedict too, but mostly Potts. I am very interested in what will happen to them in the next part. I sincerely hope there is one, because Goodreads doesn't have a tentative date set for one. I dare say the action is dynamic, but you still manage to tighten things up. I will admit that there were moments where I had no idea what was going on, there were moments of twists and turns, but the last 150 pages were just great. I read them in one sitting.
May 14, 2022
If, like me, you are a fan of Caldecott's Rotherweird series and eager to get another the fix of that slightly out-of-kilter world, then your wait is over - while Momenticon is set in a different (and in many ways darker) world, there is more than enough kinship between this book and the eccentric characters, contrivances and convolutions of the earlier series to satisfy. Momenticon is, thoug,h rather more direct about what's going, making it generally tauter with a greater sense of peril from the start.
We are in a post-apocalyptic world, some years after the "Fall" (but not so many that it has passed out of memory). Fogg, to whom we're introduced first, is the curator of a museum which contains many of Earth's greatest artworks. Shielded by a chitin dome to keep out the caustic gases that have destroyed most life, the museum is isolated, and has no visitors. (There's a digital counter, just to make sure). Three years into this role, Fogg has settled into a routine, taking his meals as paste from the "rearranged", doing exercise under the stern eye of his AI personal trainer, and inspecting the exhibits. Nobody comes, and nobody leaves, and Fogg doesn't enlighten us about his history.
Until Morag appears.
Fogg's and Morag's meeting provides an excuse for them both to tell their stories (or bits of them), explaining more about the world they're in which is dominated by two organisations, Tempestas and Genrich, broadly working in the arts and the sciences respectively; about its dependance on dwindling stocks of chitin and tantalum; about the array of strange characters they've met and who have directed them where they are now. It's a complex, desperate story full of loss and abandonment, co-option into others' plans, ambition, and revenge. The upshot is that the scattered communities which have survived the Fall are in danger, but also that a faction or factions are placing Fogg and Moral in danger. They must leave the Museum Dome and find a way to live outside.
That's the cue for a series of breakneck adventures, including journeys by airborne ships (not airships, proper ships but flying), encounters with the enigmatic Lord Vane, head of Tempestas, and his disturbing son, Cosmo; flights from danger into danger and a deeper and better understanding of art. I really mean that - just one of the threads here is the "momenticons", little pills which allow the taker to be present at the creation of a work of art, briefly ("moment icon", yes?) Building further on this idea, there are villages and town set up to recreate paintings from Fogg's museum and roving characters taken from books (especially, the Alice books). Fogg's perfect memory for every last detail of those artworks will prove important - as well as a ragged and committed band of holdouts who are opposed to Vane's, and Lord Sine's (of Genrich) plans... whatever these are.
What else? lost parents. Families where all is not what it seems. Arcane machinery. Postcards. And, at every turn, those spillovers from Alice - not only characters, but themes such as the Looking Glass chess-world that Alice moves through and, most of all perhaps, an air of puzzle-ality, if I may invent a word, to everything - a layering of mysteries and challenges where, just as one is about to solve a riddle, another pushes it aside, leaving a nested series of conundrums which it is vitally important to understand. (Not so easy when you're being pursued by mechanical huntsmen, minions with crossbows, or actual slithy toves).
Quite simply, Momenticon packs an enormous lot in, keeping its protagonists (and the reader) on their toes througout, if rather dizzy, and taking both into a deeply strange but also deeply compelling world.
I'd strongly recommend.
We are in a post-apocalyptic world, some years after the "Fall" (but not so many that it has passed out of memory). Fogg, to whom we're introduced first, is the curator of a museum which contains many of Earth's greatest artworks. Shielded by a chitin dome to keep out the caustic gases that have destroyed most life, the museum is isolated, and has no visitors. (There's a digital counter, just to make sure). Three years into this role, Fogg has settled into a routine, taking his meals as paste from the "rearranged", doing exercise under the stern eye of his AI personal trainer, and inspecting the exhibits. Nobody comes, and nobody leaves, and Fogg doesn't enlighten us about his history.
Until Morag appears.
Fogg's and Morag's meeting provides an excuse for them both to tell their stories (or bits of them), explaining more about the world they're in which is dominated by two organisations, Tempestas and Genrich, broadly working in the arts and the sciences respectively; about its dependance on dwindling stocks of chitin and tantalum; about the array of strange characters they've met and who have directed them where they are now. It's a complex, desperate story full of loss and abandonment, co-option into others' plans, ambition, and revenge. The upshot is that the scattered communities which have survived the Fall are in danger, but also that a faction or factions are placing Fogg and Moral in danger. They must leave the Museum Dome and find a way to live outside.
That's the cue for a series of breakneck adventures, including journeys by airborne ships (not airships, proper ships but flying), encounters with the enigmatic Lord Vane, head of Tempestas, and his disturbing son, Cosmo; flights from danger into danger and a deeper and better understanding of art. I really mean that - just one of the threads here is the "momenticons", little pills which allow the taker to be present at the creation of a work of art, briefly ("moment icon", yes?) Building further on this idea, there are villages and town set up to recreate paintings from Fogg's museum and roving characters taken from books (especially, the Alice books). Fogg's perfect memory for every last detail of those artworks will prove important - as well as a ragged and committed band of holdouts who are opposed to Vane's, and Lord Sine's (of Genrich) plans... whatever these are.
What else? lost parents. Families where all is not what it seems. Arcane machinery. Postcards. And, at every turn, those spillovers from Alice - not only characters, but themes such as the Looking Glass chess-world that Alice moves through and, most of all perhaps, an air of puzzle-ality, if I may invent a word, to everything - a layering of mysteries and challenges where, just as one is about to solve a riddle, another pushes it aside, leaving a nested series of conundrums which it is vitally important to understand. (Not so easy when you're being pursued by mechanical huntsmen, minions with crossbows, or actual slithy toves).
Quite simply, Momenticon packs an enormous lot in, keeping its protagonists (and the reader) on their toes througout, if rather dizzy, and taking both into a deeply strange but also deeply compelling world.
I'd strongly recommend.
May 15, 2022
My thanks to Quercus Books Jo Fletcher Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Momenticon’ by Andrew Caldecott in exchange for an honest review. I was also invited to take part in their social media blast. I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook edition for an immersive experience.
While this is the first novel I have read by Andrew Caldecott , he is an author who I have heard good things about. From the outset the cover of this novel with its hints of Alice in Wonderland drew my attention.
‘Momenticon’ is the first in a genre-spanning duology set in an unspecified future in which the Earth has been rendered inhabitable through pollution and climate change. It might sound rather grim but trust me it’s a lot more fun and weirder than the usual post-catastrophic dystopian fiction.
We are first introduced to Fogg, who for the last three years has served as curator of the Museum Dome where mankind’s finest artworks and artefacts have been assembled by persons unknown. In that time there has been no visitors and he has started to think that he may be the last human alive.
Then doing his rounds he see something unexpected: “dead centre on the Biedermeier table below Monet’s lilies (a 1919 version, painting no. 184) lay a largish white pill stamped with a pink sickle moon and an amber star.” He picks it up and wonders who had put it there and what did it do? Oh Fogg are you going to take it? I certainly had a flash of Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit and Morpheus in The Matrix.
It’s not long after this discovery that Morag, the creator of the pill, reveals herself to Fogg by dramatically descending on a steel cable from a panel in the dome’s ceiling. Cue the start of their delightfully bonkers adventures.
In Caldecott’s dystopia humanity’s few survivors live in domes protected from the toxic atmosphere. Two companies, Tempestas and Genrich, control these domes and their populations. They both have very different plans for mankind's future and an uneasy collaboration between them is about to end. Fogg and Morag find themselves right in the middle of the machinations of these rival forces.
‘Momenticon’ is a strange dreamlike tale that was just wonderful. The title refers to Morag’s pill that allows the person who takes it to briefly be transported to the moment of creation of a specific painting.
When Fogg swallows the pill he found in front of Monet’s waterlilies he finds himself “facing a white-painted footbridge which curved over an expanse of real, unpolluted water.” He then realises that he is standing “beside the artist, unnoticed, and by some miracle shared the old man’s thoughts.”
The book contains a scattering of line illustrations by Nicola Howell Hawley. Caldecott includes a list of these as part of the Table of Contents as well as an opening Author’s Note listing the names of the paintings and artefacts that feature in the novel, some of which are referenced in Hawley’s illustrations.
There was so much for me to love in this novel that blended surreal fantasy, dystopian post climate apocalypse science fiction, art history, touches of steampunk and more. The world building was outstanding with memorable characters. I found it a completely engaging experience. My only wish would be for a list of dramatis personae.
The hardback edition is gorgeous with that striking cover by Leo Nickolls and decorative endpapers depicting a map designed by Nicola Howell Hawley.
The tale will conclude at a future date in ‘Simul’ and meanwhile I plan on reading Andrew Caldecott’s highly acclaimed Rotherweird trilogy.
Very highly recommended.
While this is the first novel I have read by Andrew Caldecott , he is an author who I have heard good things about. From the outset the cover of this novel with its hints of Alice in Wonderland drew my attention.
‘Momenticon’ is the first in a genre-spanning duology set in an unspecified future in which the Earth has been rendered inhabitable through pollution and climate change. It might sound rather grim but trust me it’s a lot more fun and weirder than the usual post-catastrophic dystopian fiction.
We are first introduced to Fogg, who for the last three years has served as curator of the Museum Dome where mankind’s finest artworks and artefacts have been assembled by persons unknown. In that time there has been no visitors and he has started to think that he may be the last human alive.
Then doing his rounds he see something unexpected: “dead centre on the Biedermeier table below Monet’s lilies (a 1919 version, painting no. 184) lay a largish white pill stamped with a pink sickle moon and an amber star.” He picks it up and wonders who had put it there and what did it do? Oh Fogg are you going to take it? I certainly had a flash of Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit and Morpheus in The Matrix.
It’s not long after this discovery that Morag, the creator of the pill, reveals herself to Fogg by dramatically descending on a steel cable from a panel in the dome’s ceiling. Cue the start of their delightfully bonkers adventures.
In Caldecott’s dystopia humanity’s few survivors live in domes protected from the toxic atmosphere. Two companies, Tempestas and Genrich, control these domes and their populations. They both have very different plans for mankind's future and an uneasy collaboration between them is about to end. Fogg and Morag find themselves right in the middle of the machinations of these rival forces.
‘Momenticon’ is a strange dreamlike tale that was just wonderful. The title refers to Morag’s pill that allows the person who takes it to briefly be transported to the moment of creation of a specific painting.
When Fogg swallows the pill he found in front of Monet’s waterlilies he finds himself “facing a white-painted footbridge which curved over an expanse of real, unpolluted water.” He then realises that he is standing “beside the artist, unnoticed, and by some miracle shared the old man’s thoughts.”
The book contains a scattering of line illustrations by Nicola Howell Hawley. Caldecott includes a list of these as part of the Table of Contents as well as an opening Author’s Note listing the names of the paintings and artefacts that feature in the novel, some of which are referenced in Hawley’s illustrations.
There was so much for me to love in this novel that blended surreal fantasy, dystopian post climate apocalypse science fiction, art history, touches of steampunk and more. The world building was outstanding with memorable characters. I found it a completely engaging experience. My only wish would be for a list of dramatis personae.
The hardback edition is gorgeous with that striking cover by Leo Nickolls and decorative endpapers depicting a map designed by Nicola Howell Hawley.
The tale will conclude at a future date in ‘Simul’ and meanwhile I plan on reading Andrew Caldecott’s highly acclaimed Rotherweird trilogy.
Very highly recommended.
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