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Japanese Devil Fish Girl #3
The Educated Ape and Other Wonders of the Worlds
An epic in four movements, this is the third book in Robert Rankin's highly acclaimed meta-Victorian series. Comparable to Pratchett or Douglas Adams, the Father of Far Fetched Fiction has pulled out all of the stops with this riotous tale of wicked women, a dangerous detective and Darwin the educated ape. Lord Brentford has a to create a Grand Exposition that will showcase the wonders of the worlds and encourage peace between the inhabited planets of Venus, Jupiter, and Earth. Ernest Rutherford has a to construct a time ship, powered by the large hadron collider he has built beneath the streets of London. Cameron Bell is England's greatest detective and he, too, has a to solve the crime of the century before it takes place, without blowing up any more of London's landmarks. Darwin is a monkey butler and he also has a to end Man's inhumanity to Monkey and bring a little joy into the world. Lavinia Dharkstorrm has a dream of her own, although hers is more of a to erase Man and Monkey alike from the face of the Earth and to hasten in the end of days. Then there is the crime-fighting superlady, all those chickens from the past, and the unwelcome arrival of The Antichrist. Things are looking rather grim on planet Earth.
488 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Robert Rankin
60 books860 followers"When Robert Rankin embarked upon his writing career in the late 1970s, his ambition was to create an entirely new literary genre, which he named Far-Fetched Fiction. He reasoned that by doing this he could avoid competing with any other living author in any known genre and would be given his own special section in WH Smith."
(from Web Site Story)
Robert Rankin describes himself as a teller of tall tales, a fitting description, assuming that he isn't lying about it. From his early beginnings as a baby in 1949, Robert Rankin has grown into a tall man of some stature. Somewhere along the way he experimented in the writing of books, and found that he could do it rather well. Not being one to light his hide under a bushel, Mister Rankin continues to write fine novels of a humorous science-fictional nature.
(from Web Site Story)
Robert Rankin describes himself as a teller of tall tales, a fitting description, assuming that he isn't lying about it. From his early beginnings as a baby in 1949, Robert Rankin has grown into a tall man of some stature. Somewhere along the way he experimented in the writing of books, and found that he could do it rather well. Not being one to light his hide under a bushel, Mister Rankin continues to write fine novels of a humorous science-fictional nature.
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November 2, 2022
“Probably one of those sinister organisations that lurked behind the mask of amusing acronym, such as BUM, for example - the Bermondsey Union of Minstrels. Or WILLY, the Whitechapel Institution for Long-Legged Yodellers. It could be any one of a hundred such evil cabals. With the notable exception of the Meritorious Union For Friendship, Decency, Individualism, Virtue and Educational Resources, who were above reproach.”
[ to review at a later date - possibly even re-read at a later date as well, though not urgent ]
[ to review at a later date - possibly even re-read at a later date as well, though not urgent ]
June 12, 2013
Didn't enjoy this one at all, it felt like it was trying to hard to be funny and clever and for me it never quite hit the mark.
However I give it some leeway, as its the third book in series I believe, and I haven't read first two....some clever ideas, but didn't engage me at all.
However I give it some leeway, as its the third book in series I believe, and I haven't read first two....some clever ideas, but didn't engage me at all.
January 25, 2020
The Educated Ape is a snickeringly amusing random entry point into the far-fetched fictive fun-fair that of Robert Rankin's books.
I bought this book, completely without premeditation, at one of those warehouse book sales where you fill a cardboard box with books, and if you can close the box, you get all the books for a mean $50. As such, I went into it completely unaware of what would be in store or that it was actually the third in a series of loosely connected books in the same universe.
Fortunately, Educated Ape, despite the many peculiarities of worldbuilding that were foisted on me with barely any exposition, was well enough within the realm of comprehensibility that easing into the story was not particularly onerous. Sure, there's the fact that this is set in an alternate 19th century in which Great Britain is a spacefaring power possessing Martian colonies, every other person of repute has a trained monkey companion, peers of the realm rub shoulders with Venusian ecclesiastics and jovial Jovians, and magic exists. But you get over all that culture shock quickly and take every weird facet of this brave new world in your stride.
Rankin creates out of this mishmash of literary and science-fictional references a surprisingly cohesive world; one that is strangely advanced in many ways but still assuredly Victorian in its manners; a civilisation at the pinnacle of its power and haughtiness, whose use of the English language is rather more florid than is strictly necessary (case in point: Rankin does this thing where he describes actions as 'X did Y-ing of his Z', as opposed to the usual 'X Y'ed his Z'. Like, Bell did steeplings on his fingers rather than Bell steepled his fingers (not a real example)).
There are hijinks galore, all written with heaping doses of (sometimes ribald) humor but with an abiding humanity. All manner of interesting figures abound - the Pipwick-like master detective Cameron Bell, upon whose exploits Sherlock Holmes is (in the story) alleged to be based, his on-and-off monkey partner, Queen Victoria's secret, evil cannibal twin, a gas-mask toting female vigilante known only as Lady Raygun, and a maid both spare and kempt. Historical figures, such as Ernest Rutherford and Nikola Tesla, feature as the scientific pioneers of the new age, as do time travel shenanigans, liberal use of dynamite as plot device, and the coming of the Antichrist, all layered together in one single twisting narrative but somehow still making sense.
Having read it nearly in its entirety during my annual in-camp training, I can say with confidence that The Educated Ape is precisely the sort of weird, humorous, but surprisingly easygoing tome that you'd want to while away the long boring hours of the day with nothing else to do.
I give this: 4 out of 5 bananas
I bought this book, completely without premeditation, at one of those warehouse book sales where you fill a cardboard box with books, and if you can close the box, you get all the books for a mean $50. As such, I went into it completely unaware of what would be in store or that it was actually the third in a series of loosely connected books in the same universe.
Fortunately, Educated Ape, despite the many peculiarities of worldbuilding that were foisted on me with barely any exposition, was well enough within the realm of comprehensibility that easing into the story was not particularly onerous. Sure, there's the fact that this is set in an alternate 19th century in which Great Britain is a spacefaring power possessing Martian colonies, every other person of repute has a trained monkey companion, peers of the realm rub shoulders with Venusian ecclesiastics and jovial Jovians, and magic exists. But you get over all that culture shock quickly and take every weird facet of this brave new world in your stride.
Rankin creates out of this mishmash of literary and science-fictional references a surprisingly cohesive world; one that is strangely advanced in many ways but still assuredly Victorian in its manners; a civilisation at the pinnacle of its power and haughtiness, whose use of the English language is rather more florid than is strictly necessary (case in point: Rankin does this thing where he describes actions as 'X did Y-ing of his Z', as opposed to the usual 'X Y'ed his Z'. Like, Bell did steeplings on his fingers rather than Bell steepled his fingers (not a real example)).
There are hijinks galore, all written with heaping doses of (sometimes ribald) humor but with an abiding humanity. All manner of interesting figures abound - the Pipwick-like master detective Cameron Bell, upon whose exploits Sherlock Holmes is (in the story) alleged to be based, his on-and-off monkey partner, Queen Victoria's secret, evil cannibal twin, a gas-mask toting female vigilante known only as Lady Raygun, and a maid both spare and kempt. Historical figures, such as Ernest Rutherford and Nikola Tesla, feature as the scientific pioneers of the new age, as do time travel shenanigans, liberal use of dynamite as plot device, and the coming of the Antichrist, all layered together in one single twisting narrative but somehow still making sense.
Having read it nearly in its entirety during my annual in-camp training, I can say with confidence that The Educated Ape is precisely the sort of weird, humorous, but surprisingly easygoing tome that you'd want to while away the long boring hours of the day with nothing else to do.
I give this: 4 out of 5 bananas
March 2, 2021
This book was, for me, an example of overreach, of trying to do to much in one story. On one hand it is an intriguing description of an alternate Victorian universe, in which Victoria is still queen, but also features people from Venus and Mars, time travel, space ships and a talking ape. On the other hand, it is a mystery story, in which Cameron Bell, celebrated detective, has to defeat the forces of evil led by Lavinia Dharkstormm and the queen's evil twin sister before they bring about the end of times. It ends of course with an epic battle between good and evil.
The descriptions of the alternate universe are elaborate, extensive and often humorous - so much so that they bog down the action dramatically. And the detective story gets quite convoluted and confusing, and the time travel parts are particularly bizarre.
The descriptions of the alternate universe are elaborate, extensive and often humorous - so much so that they bog down the action dramatically. And the detective story gets quite convoluted and confusing, and the time travel parts are particularly bizarre.
April 24, 2022
Containing aliens from Jupiter and Venus (but not Mars), biblical plagues, time travel, ray guns, lookalikes of Dickens characters, a talking monkey and Queen Victoria’s evil twin sister, this is probably one of the most realism-entrenched of Rankin’s novels.
Drawing on a lot of historical familiarity, Rankin puts together a great, fun adventure in the vein of Sherlock Holmes (if Holmes had a copy of Hitchhikers Guide… and Dr Watson was Dennis Wheatley). Expect the usual high dose of misread religious dogma and some superb set pieces. There is even a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo by Jim Pooley.
No, it isn’t quite in the league of the Brentford trilogy and some of the plot-lines are familiar (often knowingly-so). It is great fun that Rankin fans will truly enjoy but which will equally appeal to any fans of comedy fiction whether they have previously encountered Rankin or not.
Drawing on a lot of historical familiarity, Rankin puts together a great, fun adventure in the vein of Sherlock Holmes (if Holmes had a copy of Hitchhikers Guide… and Dr Watson was Dennis Wheatley). Expect the usual high dose of misread religious dogma and some superb set pieces. There is even a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo by Jim Pooley.
No, it isn’t quite in the league of the Brentford trilogy and some of the plot-lines are familiar (often knowingly-so). It is great fun that Rankin fans will truly enjoy but which will equally appeal to any fans of comedy fiction whether they have previously encountered Rankin or not.
August 21, 2017
Whoops.
Somehow, once more, I've started well into a series, and I have a feeling that that might be why I'm finding this frustrating. I love the writing, and the plot as much as it is, but perhaps I'll put this away until I can read the others.
Somehow, once more, I've started well into a series, and I have a feeling that that might be why I'm finding this frustrating. I love the writing, and the plot as much as it is, but perhaps I'll put this away until I can read the others.
December 20, 2021
This was a fun, very entertaining book with some interesting characters and a lot of charm. No complaints; if you like a bit of alternative history sci-fi combined with some dry British wit, you'll love this book.
July 15, 2019
cameron bell, darwin, lady raygun/violet wond eta all prevent calamity...
August 6, 2021
Glad it wasn't my first Rankin book or it might have been my last. I can see where it would be very confusing to someone who hadn't read him before.
October 17, 2022
Better than the last book, so more of a 3.5 than a three-star read.
January 10, 2014
The follow-up to The Mechanical Messiah gives us more adventures of Darwin the talking monkey and consulting detective Cameron Bell in a steampunk version of Victorian London. Well, Victorian London and Mars, actually. As is common in Rankin's books, there's an apocalyptic plot involved, with an antichrist who happens to be the Queen's twin sister who lives in a pink palace on Mars. I have to say I didn't find this one to be as inventive or engaging as its predecessor. It was nice to see the characters again, but in many ways it felt like a rehash. Even the idea of the year 1900 heralding a massive upheaval in civilization already appeared in The Witches of Chiswick. I've noted before that this series doesn't appear to be directly linked to any of Rankin's other books, despite using some of the same themes. In this book, however, the young Winston Churchill's assistant is named Pooley, so there might be some connection there. I still haven't read the first book in the series, but I've heard there are some more recurring characters in that one. A lot of Educated Ape is clearly paving the way for a sequel, as Darwin's travels in the time ship and the recurring gag about humans being descended from chickens are never really addressed. Since the next book is called The Chickens of Atlantis and is written from Darwin's perspective, I have to suspect these elements come into play there.
August 3, 2015
The Educated Ape and Other Wonders of the Worlds might be the first intergalactic sci-fi novel that I have soberly read. I honestly thought that intergalactic sci-fi was not a genre I was going to enjoy but I thought "Ah well, lets give it a try". And I have to say that I am glad that I did.
Even though the book is part of a series and I haven't read the other books before, it was not a big deal, the plot was easy to follow. This is a type of book that you should read when you need something to get by your boring day, something that won't make you think too much and gives you a chance to enjoy the modern-magicky-steampunk-world of a man called Robert Rankin. The book was funny, well not HAHAHA funny, but funny enough to make your stomach giggle silently. One thing I have noticed is that the flow of the book was not consistent. At the beginning the story was slow however towards the end the story, it felt almost like Robert Rankin was being "in a hurry" to finish the book.
For first timer of sci-fi, I recommend you to buy this book because it looks nice and also because you would actually enjoy it. You dont have to necessarily buy it, you can always borrow it permanently from your friend, because it does make a nice addition to your bookshelf (scolding at your own risk).
And for sci-fi experts, I would really appreciate it if you can recommend me other sci-fi books to read :)
Even though the book is part of a series and I haven't read the other books before, it was not a big deal, the plot was easy to follow. This is a type of book that you should read when you need something to get by your boring day, something that won't make you think too much and gives you a chance to enjoy the modern-magicky-steampunk-world of a man called Robert Rankin. The book was funny, well not HAHAHA funny, but funny enough to make your stomach giggle silently. One thing I have noticed is that the flow of the book was not consistent. At the beginning the story was slow however towards the end the story, it felt almost like Robert Rankin was being "in a hurry" to finish the book.
For first timer of sci-fi, I recommend you to buy this book because it looks nice and also because you would actually enjoy it. You dont have to necessarily buy it, you can always borrow it permanently from your friend, because it does make a nice addition to your bookshelf (scolding at your own risk).
And for sci-fi experts, I would really appreciate it if you can recommend me other sci-fi books to read :)
December 10, 2012
Brilliant. I enjoyed this book so much I told everyone who passed me by that I enjoyed it, then forgot I'd done that and told them again. It was somewhat an ordeal for my family. But. That is neither here nor there.
This was it. The sort of book I've been searching for a while. The kind that you can read purely for the enjoyment of the thing, with a completely plausible alternate universe and madness and chaos and evil and battles to the death. (and, as a bonus, enough obvious sexual puns to leave you giggling like a sixth grader in that particular biology class.) It was like the auther had opened up his brain, stuffed it with the most ridiculous ideas, and came up with this gem of a plot. And did I mention? It's a mystery novel, to boot!
Besides which. I really, really liked Cameron Bell. And I like it when I like the main character. Darwin was a cute thing, too.
As it is, I had picked this up at random, so I just found out this is part of a series. There are MORE books like this. Terribly exciting. I'm off to buy the lot.
This was it. The sort of book I've been searching for a while. The kind that you can read purely for the enjoyment of the thing, with a completely plausible alternate universe and madness and chaos and evil and battles to the death. (and, as a bonus, enough obvious sexual puns to leave you giggling like a sixth grader in that particular biology class.) It was like the auther had opened up his brain, stuffed it with the most ridiculous ideas, and came up with this gem of a plot. And did I mention? It's a mystery novel, to boot!
Besides which. I really, really liked Cameron Bell. And I like it when I like the main character. Darwin was a cute thing, too.
As it is, I had picked this up at random, so I just found out this is part of a series. There are MORE books like this. Terribly exciting. I'm off to buy the lot.
July 5, 2014
That was entertaining though what I really like is a bit more depth to my reading. It's the sort of book I would read if I had a long commute and wanted to relax with nothing much on my mind.
Rankin serves up genre candy - a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and detective novel in an exotic but nevertheless familiar historical setting. He gives us a long and complicated plot which has quite a bit of a 'plot for the sake of plot' feel to it. Most of the amusement lies in the cleverness of his style and the level of detail in the worldbuilding - especially the integration of Victorian London with the fantasy elements.
I haven't read the first two books in the series. I liked this well enough that I might pick them up if I saw them, especially as most people in the know seem to feel they were better.
Rankin serves up genre candy - a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and detective novel in an exotic but nevertheless familiar historical setting. He gives us a long and complicated plot which has quite a bit of a 'plot for the sake of plot' feel to it. Most of the amusement lies in the cleverness of his style and the level of detail in the worldbuilding - especially the integration of Victorian London with the fantasy elements.
I haven't read the first two books in the series. I liked this well enough that I might pick them up if I saw them, especially as most people in the know seem to feel they were better.
October 25, 2014
Third book in the Devil Fish Trilogy (there is another),
Again we visit the world where the Empire is still in its ascendancy and coming to the turn of the millennium, it is time to celebrate with a great exposition of the wonders of all the worlds. A small fly in the ointment of interference of those nefarious types who want to bring about the end of days and the rise of the devil.
Our heroes Cameron Bell, the Mr Pickwick lookalike, and Darwin the Monkey Butler, return in order defeat their evil plans.
The plot is a little more convoluted than the previous books, and more episodic.I think it has lost its freshness a little bit (which is probably my own fault for binge-reading the trilogy), but I enjoyed it enough.
Again we visit the world where the Empire is still in its ascendancy and coming to the turn of the millennium, it is time to celebrate with a great exposition of the wonders of all the worlds. A small fly in the ointment of interference of those nefarious types who want to bring about the end of days and the rise of the devil.
Our heroes Cameron Bell, the Mr Pickwick lookalike, and Darwin the Monkey Butler, return in order defeat their evil plans.
The plot is a little more convoluted than the previous books, and more episodic.I think it has lost its freshness a little bit (which is probably my own fault for binge-reading the trilogy), but I enjoyed it enough.
November 6, 2015
At times it seemed to be trying to be too hard to be clever with its plotting, but the running jokes and music hall style bawdy humour were well worth it.
September 3, 2013
NOOOOOO! What am I going to do with no Cameron Bell and Darwin to look forward to now.
This book was certainly a return to the glory days of the Brentford Trilogy.
Time to get back there Robert.
This book was certainly a return to the glory days of the Brentford Trilogy.
Time to get back there Robert.
May 30, 2013
I enjoyed the previous book in this series and quite enjoyed this one too. It is preposterous but you just go with the flow! I must seek out the first book in this series which I missed.
July 9, 2013
God, it faffs. It blunders and dawdles and faffs about. The characters and setting are great, but reading it is like wading through treacle.
October 21, 2013
Robert Rankin at his best.
November 29, 2013
Back to form for this Rankin. A follow on from the previous adventure, involving Martians, Venusians and Jovians as well as the titular talking ape. Can Cameron Bell save the day again?
October 4, 2014
Gode, gamle Rankin. Traff akkurat der den skulle, vanskelig å legge fra seg. Men har man lest til siste side, så man man nesten finne noe nytt å lese på.
February 8, 2015
good steampunk elements but doesnt have the same comic writting style from the start in the second half of the book.
December 10, 2012
To far fetched for me .Maybe another time.
Read
February 4, 2015Usual Rankin Brilliance.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews