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Narbondo #7
The Aylesford Skull
It is the summer of 1883 and Professor Langdon St. Ives - brilliant but eccentric scientist and explorer - is at home in Aylesford with his family. However, a few miles to the north a steam launch has been taken by pirates above Egypt Bay; the crew murdered and pitched overboard. In Aylesford itself a grave is opened and possibly robbed of the skull. The suspected grave robber, the infamous Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, is an old nemesis of Langdon St. Ives.
When Dr. Narbondo returns to kidnap his four-year-old son Eddie and then vanishes into the night, St. Ives and his factotum Hasbro race to London in pursuit...
The first new steampunk novel in over twenty years from one of the genre's founding fathers!
When Dr. Narbondo returns to kidnap his four-year-old son Eddie and then vanishes into the night, St. Ives and his factotum Hasbro race to London in pursuit...
The first new steampunk novel in over twenty years from one of the genre's founding fathers!
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 15, 2013
21 people are currently reading
864 people want to read
About the author
James P. Blaylock
112 books283 followersJames Paul Blaylock is an American fantasy author. He is noted for his distinctive style. He writes in a humorous way: His characters never walk, they clump along, or when someone complains (in a flying machine) that flight is impossible, the other characters agree and show him why he's right.
He was born in Long Beach, California; studied English at California State University, Fullerton, receiving an M.A. in 1974; and lives in Orange, California, teaching creative writing at Chapman University. Many of his books are set in Orange County, California, and can more specifically be termed "fabulism" — that is, fantastic things happen in our present-day world, rather than in traditional fantasy, where the setting is often some other world. His works have also been categorized as magic realism.
He and his friends Tim Powers and K.W. Jeter were mentored by Philip K. Dick. Along with Powers he invented the poet William Ashbless. Blaylock and Powers have often collaborated with each other on writing stories, including The Better Boy, On Pirates, and The William Ashbless Memorial Cookbook.
Blaylock is also currently director of the Creative Writing Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts, where Powers is Writer in Residence.
He was born in Long Beach, California; studied English at California State University, Fullerton, receiving an M.A. in 1974; and lives in Orange, California, teaching creative writing at Chapman University. Many of his books are set in Orange County, California, and can more specifically be termed "fabulism" — that is, fantastic things happen in our present-day world, rather than in traditional fantasy, where the setting is often some other world. His works have also been categorized as magic realism.
He and his friends Tim Powers and K.W. Jeter were mentored by Philip K. Dick. Along with Powers he invented the poet William Ashbless. Blaylock and Powers have often collaborated with each other on writing stories, including The Better Boy, On Pirates, and The William Ashbless Memorial Cookbook.
Blaylock is also currently director of the Creative Writing Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts, where Powers is Writer in Residence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 20, 2015
James P. Blaylock is most famous for being a protégé of Philip K. Dick and, along with his friends K.W. Jeter and Tim Powers, developing the steampunk genre of fantasy fiction in the 1980s. Blaylock’s most popular steampunk stories take place in Victorian England and feature gentleman inventor Langdon St. Ives and his archnemesis Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, a hunch-backed necromancer. The Aylesford Skull is considered to be the seventh installment of THE NARBONDO SERIES, though each of the LANGDON ST. IVES novels can stand alone.
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March 30, 2013
It's odd that I haven't encountered James Blaylock before, despite my being a SF and Fantasy fan for nearly 40 years. Maybe it's because his output has been quite small in comparison to other authors, but it seems strange that his work has never come up on my radar despite labels describing him as one of the fathers of steampunk.
Having read this book, I'm not sure that I've actually missed very much. While I didn't dislike it, it never seemed to catch fire with me. The whole thing just plodded along until it finally dragged itself to it's inevitable climatic confrontation between hero and villain. The antagonists motives never seemed very clear, and the plot was so complicated and unwieldy that it seemed bound to failure. The protagonists never seemed to be in any great hurry, even when his own child was in mortal danger. There always seemed to be time to stop for a bite to eat and a nap.
As this was only the latest part of a series, maybe I would have benefited from reading earlier works. Other reviewers have said that this wasn't necessary, but at times the back story seemed to overwhelm the plot to the point where it became frustrating to read. At this point though, I don't feel particularly motivated to search out those earlier stories.
Having read this book, I'm not sure that I've actually missed very much. While I didn't dislike it, it never seemed to catch fire with me. The whole thing just plodded along until it finally dragged itself to it's inevitable climatic confrontation between hero and villain. The antagonists motives never seemed very clear, and the plot was so complicated and unwieldy that it seemed bound to failure. The protagonists never seemed to be in any great hurry, even when his own child was in mortal danger. There always seemed to be time to stop for a bite to eat and a nap.
As this was only the latest part of a series, maybe I would have benefited from reading earlier works. Other reviewers have said that this wasn't necessary, but at times the back story seemed to overwhelm the plot to the point where it became frustrating to read. At this point though, I don't feel particularly motivated to search out those earlier stories.
April 20, 2017
The Aylesford Skull is Blaylock writing in vintage form. It's fast paced, witty steampunk from start to finish. The Aylesford Skull does have its dark plot turns, but the writing never gets too heavy, opting for thoughtful introspection with the characters rather than heavy-handed themes or allegory. All in all, a fantastic, fun read.
August 10, 2013
Finished this book sometime ago but I've been busy finishing off our new board game 'Promised Land 1250-587 BC' and so have shirked my reviewing duties. I enjoyed this book immensely! Reading a new Blaylock book is like visiting a much loved friend you haven't seen for a long time. It's full of nostalgia for me as Homunculus was the first Blaylock I read many years ago and that set me tracking down all his books. This one reads easily and sets Langdon St Ives against his old nemesis Narbondo. Blaylock describes late 19th century England very well and the exploits of his cast of characters more than keep you amused and interested as the story unfolds. Anyone who loves Blaylock's writings will devour this one and those new to him should perhaps seek out the previous two Langdon St. Ives books first to maintain the continuity of the storyline.I loved it and am now ready for Blaylock's conspirator's new one - Tim Powers' Hide me among the Graves.
February 10, 2014
A new entry in James Blaylock's steampunk sequence is a promise of great pleasure. I've given it a provisional four stars, because I get at least four stars worth of pleasure from the prospect of reading it. (Sometimes I think I get as much pleasure from the anticipation of reading a book as from actually reading it...)
Steampunk has become rather devalued as a brand in recent years - a ragbag of stale tropes and gimmicks for lazy fantasists (Lord save us from another bloody airship!) - but Blaylock was there from the start, and understands the genre better than most.
The particular charm of Blaylock's steampunk books, for me, is an aspect which ruins the genre in lesser hands. Contemporary steampunk, despite invariably being set in a fog-bound 19th century London, seems to be an essentially American phenomenon. In many cases, this makes it unconvincing, if not embarrassing - the literary equivalent of Dick van Dyke's cockney accent. But with Blaylock there is a curious and delicious sense of displacement between the Britishness of the books (filtered through a reading of Robert Louis Stevenson and others) and Blaylock's relaxed Californian temperament. It shouldn't work, but does.
Of course, Blaylock is a very good writer by any standards, one of the true heirs of Ray Bradbury and Steinbeck, and one of the best and truest writers about childhood: his fantasies and children’s books can be read not just in their own right, but as examples of the kind of books that the people in a James Blaylock novel would choose to read...
Steampunk has become rather devalued as a brand in recent years - a ragbag of stale tropes and gimmicks for lazy fantasists (Lord save us from another bloody airship!) - but Blaylock was there from the start, and understands the genre better than most.
The particular charm of Blaylock's steampunk books, for me, is an aspect which ruins the genre in lesser hands. Contemporary steampunk, despite invariably being set in a fog-bound 19th century London, seems to be an essentially American phenomenon. In many cases, this makes it unconvincing, if not embarrassing - the literary equivalent of Dick van Dyke's cockney accent. But with Blaylock there is a curious and delicious sense of displacement between the Britishness of the books (filtered through a reading of Robert Louis Stevenson and others) and Blaylock's relaxed Californian temperament. It shouldn't work, but does.
Of course, Blaylock is a very good writer by any standards, one of the true heirs of Ray Bradbury and Steinbeck, and one of the best and truest writers about childhood: his fantasies and children’s books can be read not just in their own right, but as examples of the kind of books that the people in a James Blaylock novel would choose to read...
December 2, 2015
A mad man wants to blow stuff up and open a door to Hell. A renown investigator intervenes, so the mad man kidnaps his son. Fisticuffs ensue.
This is billed as "Steampunk". The cover touts the author as a "Steampunk Legend" and the fellow on the cover sports the requisite extra lenses and other sepia-hued doo-hickies. I've never read Steampunk, so I didn't know what to expect. But it was more than this book could offer. Beyond some mentions of magic (including aforementioned "door to Hell", which never really plays a part in the story) and a requisite airship, there was nothing to distinguish this book from a fairly typical 19th century period piece.
This book commits many sins, being boring one of worst of them, but I won't batter it further. However, one thing I found particularly amusing. Many of the characters exhibited a surprising disconnect between their emotional states and the crisis of the moment. For example, upon receiving news that her son has been captured by a homicidal maniac with designs of scooping his brains out of his skull, a mother absorbs this and then immediately returns to her plans for a picnic. Whaaaa?
I know the British have a reputation for maintaining their composure, but damn, that's cold. Maybe that's just how Steampunks roll.
This is billed as "Steampunk". The cover touts the author as a "Steampunk Legend" and the fellow on the cover sports the requisite extra lenses and other sepia-hued doo-hickies. I've never read Steampunk, so I didn't know what to expect. But it was more than this book could offer. Beyond some mentions of magic (including aforementioned "door to Hell", which never really plays a part in the story) and a requisite airship, there was nothing to distinguish this book from a fairly typical 19th century period piece.
This book commits many sins, being boring one of worst of them, but I won't batter it further. However, one thing I found particularly amusing. Many of the characters exhibited a surprising disconnect between their emotional states and the crisis of the moment. For example, upon receiving news that her son has been captured by a homicidal maniac with designs of scooping his brains out of his skull, a mother absorbs this and then immediately returns to her plans for a picnic. Whaaaa?
I know the British have a reputation for maintaining their composure, but damn, that's cold. Maybe that's just how Steampunks roll.
July 20, 2019
Maybe this makes more sense if you've read the rest of the story? I found the plot rambling and directionless, there didn't seem to be any real theme or meaning to anything, and the conclusion didn't resolve any of the issues.
The big thing that struck me is that steampunk is really built on nostalgia for the victorian age, which really whitewashes all the colonialism, brutality and rampant inequality, and I would really have hoped we've got beyond uncritical adventure novels about that by now.
The big thing that struck me is that steampunk is really built on nostalgia for the victorian age, which really whitewashes all the colonialism, brutality and rampant inequality, and I would really have hoped we've got beyond uncritical adventure novels about that by now.
April 13, 2018
Couldn't really get engaged in this Steampunk novel. I like Steampunk as a genre and have read many books within it. It seems to be a fine balancing act when written and some authors get the balance and other don't.
Blaylock has written some good books in this genre but this isn't one of them
Blaylock has written some good books in this genre but this isn't one of them
September 18, 2013
Good story with faults.
First, the dialogue and setting are well done. The slightly clunky writing style is just right, too.
Some of the characters are good solid ones, and some are caricatures, but that's appropriate for the style.
But St. Ives isn't much of a character. He's almost a disembodied observer, and near the end when he (a) sheds a tear, and (b) flies the airship at last, I felt as if it was being done to round out his part.
The bad guy is so repulsive he made me think of Mike Myers or some of the more ludicrous Bond villains. One step short of "Nyah-hah-hah!" and in fact there may even have been one of those. But that's OK.
The bad guys' guns actually aren't of the Star Wars always-miss variety, but I never really worried for any of the good guys (especially the over-capable Finn). Again, that maybe suits the era.
The ending, which some called active and exciting, didn't work for me at all. The airship does THAT, and the bad guy is taken out THIS way? Oh, puh-leeze. Such a buildup for such a squib.
And the e-edition I read needs a copy editor. Plenty of typos, homophone errors, and "phosphorus" as a noun spelled correctly only once at the end.
Steampunk? Well, it talks about an airship a lot and actually flies it twice, but it's a stretch to call this a steampunk book.
First, the dialogue and setting are well done. The slightly clunky writing style is just right, too.
Some of the characters are good solid ones, and some are caricatures, but that's appropriate for the style.
But St. Ives isn't much of a character. He's almost a disembodied observer, and near the end when he (a) sheds a tear, and (b) flies the airship at last, I felt as if it was being done to round out his part.
The bad guy is so repulsive he made me think of Mike Myers or some of the more ludicrous Bond villains. One step short of "Nyah-hah-hah!" and in fact there may even have been one of those. But that's OK.
The bad guys' guns actually aren't of the Star Wars always-miss variety, but I never really worried for any of the good guys (especially the over-capable Finn). Again, that maybe suits the era.
The ending, which some called active and exciting, didn't work for me at all. The airship does THAT, and the bad guy is taken out THIS way? Oh, puh-leeze. Such a buildup for such a squib.
And the e-edition I read needs a copy editor. Plenty of typos, homophone errors, and "phosphorus" as a noun spelled correctly only once at the end.
Steampunk? Well, it talks about an airship a lot and actually flies it twice, but it's a stretch to call this a steampunk book.
February 4, 2013
As an introduction to James P. Blaylock‘s body of work, it will have you hooked and looking for more. I truly enjoyed how the suspense built a little at a time in the beginning, and before long we were rolling at a high level of action, concerned for main characters, and itching to thwart Narbondo at every opportunity. Here Blaylock does a masterful job of revealing Narbondo’s past bit by bit, along with his current scheme so that the reader is left guessing the details to the end. We get the nitty gritty of foggy London, along with a paranormal aspect, as Narbondo is carrying around his half-brother’s skull, which he has turned into a spirit prison. Throw in an airship, some mechanical toys, and a few high-tech (for the time) weapons, and you also have that steampunk feel without it being overused.
Honestly, this book works fine as a stand alone even though one can tell that both the main protagonist (St. Ives) and antagonist (Narbondo) have pasts, both with each other and as separate entities.
Honestly, this book works fine as a stand alone even though one can tell that both the main protagonist (St. Ives) and antagonist (Narbondo) have pasts, both with each other and as separate entities.
February 14, 2013
Unlike ALL the other reviewers who has never read a Blaylock Novel until now, I have actually read all of his books. Even his cookbook!
(Why do they all say, that they haven't read his books until now? It's not something to be proud of? Maybe it's a joke. Of course they have read masterpieces like "All the Bells" and "The last Coin" and "Diggin Leviathan" and...)
Anyway. This is a book about characters in London 1883. London and the life in London is described in exciting and believable detail. We follow the exploits of a multitude of characters. Some straight, some crooked, some rich, some poor, some excentric, some with no personality whatsoever.
There is also some kind of evil plot by the arch-villain Ignacio Narbondo.
So far so good.
The reason I don't rate this a five-star novel is, that it is almost mainstream. The characters are almost people you could meet on the street. Yes, they still have quirks. But not in the amount, that an old fan like me are used to.
(Why do they all say, that they haven't read his books until now? It's not something to be proud of? Maybe it's a joke. Of course they have read masterpieces like "All the Bells" and "The last Coin" and "Diggin Leviathan" and...)
Anyway. This is a book about characters in London 1883. London and the life in London is described in exciting and believable detail. We follow the exploits of a multitude of characters. Some straight, some crooked, some rich, some poor, some excentric, some with no personality whatsoever.
There is also some kind of evil plot by the arch-villain Ignacio Narbondo.
So far so good.
The reason I don't rate this a five-star novel is, that it is almost mainstream. The characters are almost people you could meet on the street. Yes, they still have quirks. But not in the amount, that an old fan like me are used to.
March 15, 2013
I didn't realize this was a book in a series until after I'd already bought it. But it stands alone just fine. My complaint with the book was just the general plot plot plot nature of it. Each chapter was a character doing something without thinking or planning that either serendipitously worked out, or wound up not working and then they dejectedly moved on to the next random idea they had 3 chapters later. The arch nemesis was evil, because he was evil, and being evil is what he does, so he had no nuance or interest.
If you're looking for a Victorian-era novel that has a little bit of mystery, some airships, and a fight of good versus evil, this might be the book for you. I would recommend getting it for e-version however, because despite having a decent vocabulary, I do not have a strong command of old Victorian words, and the dictionary was pretty critical for me to get through this.
If you're looking for a Victorian-era novel that has a little bit of mystery, some airships, and a fight of good versus evil, this might be the book for you. I would recommend getting it for e-version however, because despite having a decent vocabulary, I do not have a strong command of old Victorian words, and the dictionary was pretty critical for me to get through this.
May 28, 2014
Without having read any of Blaylock's previous work, I jumped right into this and was thoroughly entertained. Great example of the Steampunk genre. My only gripe is the lack of female characters. The one's that did exist were either wives or mothers to the principal characters and didn't really contribute much to the story. It's kind of forgivable considering the time period the story is supposed to take place in, but still irksome.
January 11, 2017
My first Blaylock book. Enjoyed it very much. Keeps you on the edge of your seat ready to read more. Looking forward to other St Ives tales
November 11, 2018
This book follows Langdon St Ives and his friends try to rescue his son and London from the nefarious deeds of Dr. Ignacio Narbondo. I felt that the way that the writers did a fantastic job of bringing the old school adventure feel to the fore front of the story. I also have to put in that the action was really exciting. I originally thought that it would be one of those PG type of adventures where nothing really happens. But thankfully I was wrong on that point. Another Misconception I had that I was thankfully proven wrong on was that at first it seemed like it was going to be another Sherlock holmes ripoff. This was instead a truly unique and stand aloneish type of thriller. The one thing that did kind of throw it off for me was the Mother Laswell\ Bill Kraken characters. I call it a thing because it was more like a mother son kind of relationship then an actual loving relationship. But there was a little bit of a nice touch to them individually that made them enjoyable by themselves. As for the portions of the story that features St Ives family, well they were kind of middle of the roadish. Those of you who have read some of my previous reviews know what I mean by that. For the ones who haven’t, you should probably ask the ones who have. My final Judgement on this adventure throwback is that it rightly deserves it’s four star review.
April 14, 2019
This was an easy book to read, with the story pushing the reader forward, and a lot happening to keep one entertained. The world-building is quite good, though probably it would have felt richer if I had read the first six books in the series. The zeppelins and 'infernal devices' set it strongly within the steampunk tradition, and, as I understand from some quick background reading, James Blaylock is one of the most important figures when it comes to steampunk being established as a genre.
However, I have a number of personal gripes with the story. First, the constant see-sawing of the action between the good guys winning and losing and winning and losing gets tedious after the first half of the book. The characters themselves are not particularly likable, either. They are not unlikable but there is nothing to set them apart from each other, not much character-building at all, far too many predictable points in the plot and general lack of good conversation.
All that said, the book is not bad for fans of the genre or someone looking for a light steampunk read.
However, I have a number of personal gripes with the story. First, the constant see-sawing of the action between the good guys winning and losing and winning and losing gets tedious after the first half of the book. The characters themselves are not particularly likable, either. They are not unlikable but there is nothing to set them apart from each other, not much character-building at all, far too many predictable points in the plot and general lack of good conversation.
All that said, the book is not bad for fans of the genre or someone looking for a light steampunk read.
February 8, 2025
I managed to read until page 89 before putting this book back on the shelf. Despite hints of an interesting story, nothing really happens by that point, and the dialogue often feels forced. At one point, I encountered nearly three pages of exposition for exposition’s sake, which slowed down the narrative considerably. It felt as though I was constantly being forced to catch up on details that could have been left out.
I understand this isn’t the first book in the series, and many reviews claim it's a good entry point. However, I ended up feeling like the new guest at a dinner party where everyone else has known each other for years—a guest who is present but not quite welcomed.
I’m giving it 2 stars for now. While I haven’t finished it (which might warrant a lower score), I did enjoy the writing style enough to hold on to a modicum of hope that it might improve as the series progresses. Perhaps I’ll revisit it once I’ve read books 1 through 6 for better context.
I understand this isn’t the first book in the series, and many reviews claim it's a good entry point. However, I ended up feeling like the new guest at a dinner party where everyone else has known each other for years—a guest who is present but not quite welcomed.
I’m giving it 2 stars for now. While I haven’t finished it (which might warrant a lower score), I did enjoy the writing style enough to hold on to a modicum of hope that it might improve as the series progresses. Perhaps I’ll revisit it once I’ve read books 1 through 6 for better context.
January 28, 2013
Let’s get this out of the way first – I’ve never read any of James’ work, so I’ve never read a Langdon St. Ives story, and believe me when I say that you don’t have to have read anything by James prior to reading this book; in fact, you don’t even need an introduction to St Ives! This was very important for me, because I didn’t want to to feel as if I had missed great and important events while reading ‘The Aylesford Skull’, which I did, in essence, but it didn’t FEEL that way.
So, let’s get to the style of this novel, which is the first thing that grabbed me. All of the fiction I’ve read, speculative or otherwise, that’s been set a century or two in the past, has often struggled with how people spoke in those times – I mean, since we’re not able to time-travel there’s just no way that we could get it perfectly right anyway, is there? There’s no way for me to know, for a fact, if how the characters converse -what words they use, how they structure sentences, what level of grammar they have learned- is accurate or not. All we have to go on is books, right? Study the way that writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle wrote and you could perhaps mimic that style of dialogue and description, right? Well, to me nothing in this novel, from the descriptions to the dialogue, felt mimicked, or copied. My reading experience of this novel was, to put it lightly, sublime – sentences, paragraphs and pages flowed past with practically no resistance, even though there’s plenty of words in this novel that we don’t hear much, if at all, today. Reading from day to day wasn’t jarring in the least – I never once felt as if I had to mentally prepare myself for a day’s reading.
Next up, St. Ives. Langdon isn’t the hero / protagonist you would expect; he’s not muscled or a genius, and he doesn’t have plenty of ladies fawning and falling all over him. So don’t expect a James Bond- or Indiana Jones-knock-off. He’s capable, sure, and what he does know he knows well, but like the normal man out on the street, he’s the type of guy who wants to live a quiet, relatively uneventful life, pursuing what his interests and making sure that his family is safe and that they have a relatively comfortable life. What sets him apart is his willingness to do everything he can when trouble strikes, as it invariably will and does. Then he becomes single-minded and, as often happens when someone is put in a difficult situation and has to focus intently to not lose their way, he makes mistakes. He’s not the perfect hero, or the perfect man, which leant a certain edge of surprise to this book – sometimes you just *know* what the hero is going to do and how he’s going to do it, but not in this novel.
Now to the antagonist – Ignacio Narbondo. Definitely one of the most enjoyable villains I’ve read in a long time! The man is highly intelligent, especially with people and how to read and manipulate them. He’s even more single-minded than St. Ives, more methodical and calculating, which is expected of a villain, but he brought a mixture of deviousness, flair, absolute casual brutality, and even humour (black as it was) to the story. I’m pretty sure I’d like him even more if I’d read the previous St Ives adventures.
The rest of the cast is satisfyingly large but not overwhelmingly so – there’s Alice (St. Ives’ wife), his son, Eddie, the St. Ives’ factotum (manservant) Hasbro, the young Finn Conrad, St. Ives’ long-time friend Tubby, Jack and Arthur Doyle (perked up at that, did you?), Mother Laswell, Bill Kraken, and even George (one of the men working for Narbondo); they each bring a different and believable mix of personalities to the novel, with different levels of education (and so different ways of speaking) and different action-levels (if I can put it that way). All of them were highly enjoyable and didn’t seem wasted in any of the chapters they appeared in, nor did their presence overwhelm any of the scenes :-)
The novel’s plot ticked along like perfectly-tuned clockwork – except when the move towards the climax began, because then it kicked into high speed, so much so that the last hundred-or-so pages raced by. There was a bit of everything in this novel – explosions, hand-to-hand combat, knife fights, gun battles, chases, and tension a-plenty so that even when I knew that the hero, St. Ives, would win through (I mean, he’s the hero, of course he has to, doesn’t he?) there were a whole fistful of chapters in which I thought, “Sir, you are going to die painfully!”. James managed to play with my expectations beautifully, and there wasn’t a single time that I was right in forecasting what was going to happen. Oh, and you’ll have to read the novel to get any idea of the supernatural element, because the only thing I’ll say is that it was cool and unique and I really liked how it was done.
I really and truly enjoyed this novel – not only was it a great break from the Horror, SF and Fantasy I’ve been reading (which includes both novels and comics), but it reminded me once again that I don’t need mind-bending SF concepts, creeping, grisly, shocking or twisted Horror, or even the awesome magic-systems or world-building of Fantasy to really enjoy a novel. ‘The Aylesford Skull’ was incredible old-school fun, a gripping adventure that dealt with subjects such as family, friendship, the dark side of human nature, the lengths we’ll go to protect our own, and the uniqueness of those we see as evil or bad – sometimes someone doesn’t have to be insane to be the bad guy; sometimes curiosity is enough.
Huge thanks to Sophie Calder for sending me ‘The Aylesford Skull’ – really enjoyed this novel and I’ll definitely get what I can of James Blaylock’s other works – highly recommended!
So, let’s get to the style of this novel, which is the first thing that grabbed me. All of the fiction I’ve read, speculative or otherwise, that’s been set a century or two in the past, has often struggled with how people spoke in those times – I mean, since we’re not able to time-travel there’s just no way that we could get it perfectly right anyway, is there? There’s no way for me to know, for a fact, if how the characters converse -what words they use, how they structure sentences, what level of grammar they have learned- is accurate or not. All we have to go on is books, right? Study the way that writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle wrote and you could perhaps mimic that style of dialogue and description, right? Well, to me nothing in this novel, from the descriptions to the dialogue, felt mimicked, or copied. My reading experience of this novel was, to put it lightly, sublime – sentences, paragraphs and pages flowed past with practically no resistance, even though there’s plenty of words in this novel that we don’t hear much, if at all, today. Reading from day to day wasn’t jarring in the least – I never once felt as if I had to mentally prepare myself for a day’s reading.
Next up, St. Ives. Langdon isn’t the hero / protagonist you would expect; he’s not muscled or a genius, and he doesn’t have plenty of ladies fawning and falling all over him. So don’t expect a James Bond- or Indiana Jones-knock-off. He’s capable, sure, and what he does know he knows well, but like the normal man out on the street, he’s the type of guy who wants to live a quiet, relatively uneventful life, pursuing what his interests and making sure that his family is safe and that they have a relatively comfortable life. What sets him apart is his willingness to do everything he can when trouble strikes, as it invariably will and does. Then he becomes single-minded and, as often happens when someone is put in a difficult situation and has to focus intently to not lose their way, he makes mistakes. He’s not the perfect hero, or the perfect man, which leant a certain edge of surprise to this book – sometimes you just *know* what the hero is going to do and how he’s going to do it, but not in this novel.
Now to the antagonist – Ignacio Narbondo. Definitely one of the most enjoyable villains I’ve read in a long time! The man is highly intelligent, especially with people and how to read and manipulate them. He’s even more single-minded than St. Ives, more methodical and calculating, which is expected of a villain, but he brought a mixture of deviousness, flair, absolute casual brutality, and even humour (black as it was) to the story. I’m pretty sure I’d like him even more if I’d read the previous St Ives adventures.
The rest of the cast is satisfyingly large but not overwhelmingly so – there’s Alice (St. Ives’ wife), his son, Eddie, the St. Ives’ factotum (manservant) Hasbro, the young Finn Conrad, St. Ives’ long-time friend Tubby, Jack and Arthur Doyle (perked up at that, did you?), Mother Laswell, Bill Kraken, and even George (one of the men working for Narbondo); they each bring a different and believable mix of personalities to the novel, with different levels of education (and so different ways of speaking) and different action-levels (if I can put it that way). All of them were highly enjoyable and didn’t seem wasted in any of the chapters they appeared in, nor did their presence overwhelm any of the scenes :-)
The novel’s plot ticked along like perfectly-tuned clockwork – except when the move towards the climax began, because then it kicked into high speed, so much so that the last hundred-or-so pages raced by. There was a bit of everything in this novel – explosions, hand-to-hand combat, knife fights, gun battles, chases, and tension a-plenty so that even when I knew that the hero, St. Ives, would win through (I mean, he’s the hero, of course he has to, doesn’t he?) there were a whole fistful of chapters in which I thought, “Sir, you are going to die painfully!”. James managed to play with my expectations beautifully, and there wasn’t a single time that I was right in forecasting what was going to happen. Oh, and you’ll have to read the novel to get any idea of the supernatural element, because the only thing I’ll say is that it was cool and unique and I really liked how it was done.
I really and truly enjoyed this novel – not only was it a great break from the Horror, SF and Fantasy I’ve been reading (which includes both novels and comics), but it reminded me once again that I don’t need mind-bending SF concepts, creeping, grisly, shocking or twisted Horror, or even the awesome magic-systems or world-building of Fantasy to really enjoy a novel. ‘The Aylesford Skull’ was incredible old-school fun, a gripping adventure that dealt with subjects such as family, friendship, the dark side of human nature, the lengths we’ll go to protect our own, and the uniqueness of those we see as evil or bad – sometimes someone doesn’t have to be insane to be the bad guy; sometimes curiosity is enough.
Huge thanks to Sophie Calder for sending me ‘The Aylesford Skull’ – really enjoyed this novel and I’ll definitely get what I can of James Blaylock’s other works – highly recommended!
November 9, 2023
Although these books are fun, they are light. They are written in the style of a penny dreadful serial, bounding from one crisis to another. Langdon St. Ives, having won his latest battle with the infamous Dr. Narabando, has retired to Aylesford and the safe and quiet life of the wealthy inventor and philosopher, when the reappearance of some old friends and aides precedes the unexpected reappearance of Narabando, who kidnaps St. Ives young son, Eddie. The nefarious Narabando has plans to open the gates of hell.
Fun, Steampunk inventions galore, evil plotters, Dickensian poverty, and mad inventors.
Fun, Steampunk inventions galore, evil plotters, Dickensian poverty, and mad inventors.
May 11, 2021
I love the steampunk genre, but have never actually read it before. I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't. I found it very difficult to get through. I felt like there was no depth to any of the characters, and they seemed to have no emotion despite highly traumatic events. Even the villain felt flat. Maybe if I had read the previous books in the series I would have had more background to them and felt for them more.
This book IS readable without having read the others. I could follow along well enough. I just didn't care.
This book IS readable without having read the others. I could follow along well enough. I just didn't care.
November 26, 2024
I enjoyed the descriptive writing style, which painted a clear picture of the steampunk Victorian setting. Between that and the constant action, as the many opposing groups played cat and mouse, it was a pretty easy read. However, there were so many unnecessary missteps that set the plot right back to the beginning, this could have been 200 pages instead of 400+. I also found the repeated re-alliances between the enemy characters to be a little improbable. Nobody seemed to have a strong conviction about what they were doing or who they were doing it with.
February 11, 2017
I liked this read, and paused my day today to read it, but couldn't bring myself to give it more stars. Some of the characters (Narbondo) seem a little caracturist and wasn't particularly drawn to read anymore in these series.
Also troubled by historical fiction that includes some patently ahistorical events and leans more to steampunk without steampunk's fun.
Also troubled by historical fiction that includes some patently ahistorical events and leans more to steampunk without steampunk's fun.
July 11, 2017
Published 2016. Somewhat entertaining with the British stiff upper lip firmly in place. Curious to me was that the character Finn seemed more interesting than St.Ives as a protagonist. The steampunk science involved was good enough. The plot somewhat standard was well paced.
April 30, 2023
I didn’t like this one as much as I did The Homunculus. But I read this over such a long span of time that I was pretty confused about who was who and why they were doing what they did. And the was a little more fantastical than the rest of the book merited.
June 11, 2018
A decent steampunk romp
July 26, 2018
Why don't any of these people have emotions? I know they're British and all, but damn...
October 20, 2020
I wild ride of a steampunk adventure. Blaylock rose to the heights on this adventure of St Ives and company.
February 27, 2021
Narbondo continues to be nit of a headache.
February 2, 2013
I received a free copy of 'The Aylesford Skull' from the publisher through a giveaway on Goodreads.com.
Although this is actually the seventh novel in the 'Langdon St Ives' series, it is the first of James P Blaylock's novels that I've come across. It is also the first full length Steampunk novel I've read.
Under usual circumstances, I would never consider reading a novel that far into a series when I haven't read all of the previous instalments. However, I was just so intrigued by the premise of this book that I couldn't resist. The blurb proclaimed
It is the summer of 1883 and Professor Langdon St. Ives - brilliant but eccentric scientist and explorer - is at home in Aylesford with his family. However, a few miles to the north a steam launch has been taken by pirates above Egypt Bay; the crew murdered and pitched overboard. In Aylesford itself a grave is opened and possibly robbed of the skull. The suspected grave robber, the infamous Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, is an old nemesis of Langdon St. Ives.
When Dr. Narbondo returns to kidnap his four-year-old son Eddie and then vanishes into the night, St. Ives and his factotum Hasbro race to London in pursuit...
Who could resist that kind of plot? Not me. So I got stuck in, determined not to let the fact that I had no prior knowledge of the characters taint my reading. And I'm glad I did. I can honestly say that you don't need to know anything at all about St Ives or his nemesis Narbondo before you open the book. Everything you need to know you can pick up in the pages of 'The Aylesford Skull'. Important plot points from previous novels are referenced well, without going into overly-done flashback mode and I really didn't feel as though I'd missed out on too much background information.
The action began immediately and it sucked me straight into the world of Langdon St Ives, the hero of the novel. St Ives is an interesting hero. He's a typical Victorian gentleman with a not so typical talent for solving mysteries and averting crimes. He's attempting to live a comfortable and relaxing life in Aylesford with his wife and two young children. But as you might expect, things don't go according to plan when St Ives old nemesis Dr Ignacio Narbondo arrives on the scene.
I hate to admit it, but Narbondo, the perfect villain might just be my favourite character in the novel. He is so perfectly evil and dedicated to his dark ways that he fascinated me. Blaylock certainly knows how to write a villain and the hunchbacked doctor keeps coming into my mind even days after closing the book. For me, that's always a sign of good storytelling.
The novel itself was beautifully written, stylistically flawless and full of intricate details that really make the reading experience special. The novel moved at a steady pace, the plot moving forward without any slumps. And then when the climax began to come into sight, I began to turn the pages faster, the chapters coming and going before my eyes at a much faster pace. The momentum increased to match the level of action and I flew through probably the last third of the book in a day. An ending like that, one that fires up and keeps you guessing with its plot twists and suspense-inspiring characterisation is such a rare treat that I was sad to turn the final page.
The rest of Blaylock's Langdon St Ives novels are now on my Wish List. I need another dose of Blaylock's Steampunk London. A definite recommendation to anybody who loves Sci-fi or historical fiction.
Although this is actually the seventh novel in the 'Langdon St Ives' series, it is the first of James P Blaylock's novels that I've come across. It is also the first full length Steampunk novel I've read.
Under usual circumstances, I would never consider reading a novel that far into a series when I haven't read all of the previous instalments. However, I was just so intrigued by the premise of this book that I couldn't resist. The blurb proclaimed
It is the summer of 1883 and Professor Langdon St. Ives - brilliant but eccentric scientist and explorer - is at home in Aylesford with his family. However, a few miles to the north a steam launch has been taken by pirates above Egypt Bay; the crew murdered and pitched overboard. In Aylesford itself a grave is opened and possibly robbed of the skull. The suspected grave robber, the infamous Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, is an old nemesis of Langdon St. Ives.
When Dr. Narbondo returns to kidnap his four-year-old son Eddie and then vanishes into the night, St. Ives and his factotum Hasbro race to London in pursuit...
Who could resist that kind of plot? Not me. So I got stuck in, determined not to let the fact that I had no prior knowledge of the characters taint my reading. And I'm glad I did. I can honestly say that you don't need to know anything at all about St Ives or his nemesis Narbondo before you open the book. Everything you need to know you can pick up in the pages of 'The Aylesford Skull'. Important plot points from previous novels are referenced well, without going into overly-done flashback mode and I really didn't feel as though I'd missed out on too much background information.
The action began immediately and it sucked me straight into the world of Langdon St Ives, the hero of the novel. St Ives is an interesting hero. He's a typical Victorian gentleman with a not so typical talent for solving mysteries and averting crimes. He's attempting to live a comfortable and relaxing life in Aylesford with his wife and two young children. But as you might expect, things don't go according to plan when St Ives old nemesis Dr Ignacio Narbondo arrives on the scene.
I hate to admit it, but Narbondo, the perfect villain might just be my favourite character in the novel. He is so perfectly evil and dedicated to his dark ways that he fascinated me. Blaylock certainly knows how to write a villain and the hunchbacked doctor keeps coming into my mind even days after closing the book. For me, that's always a sign of good storytelling.
The novel itself was beautifully written, stylistically flawless and full of intricate details that really make the reading experience special. The novel moved at a steady pace, the plot moving forward without any slumps. And then when the climax began to come into sight, I began to turn the pages faster, the chapters coming and going before my eyes at a much faster pace. The momentum increased to match the level of action and I flew through probably the last third of the book in a day. An ending like that, one that fires up and keeps you guessing with its plot twists and suspense-inspiring characterisation is such a rare treat that I was sad to turn the final page.
The rest of Blaylock's Langdon St Ives novels are now on my Wish List. I need another dose of Blaylock's Steampunk London. A definite recommendation to anybody who loves Sci-fi or historical fiction.
January 16, 2013
James P. Blaylock in his new book, “The Aylesford Skull” a new book in Tale of Langdon St. Ives series published by Titan Books gives us the first new steampunk novel in over twenty years from one of the genre’s founding fathers!
From the back cover: It is the summer of 1883 and Professor Langdon St. Ives – brilliant but eccentric scientist and explorer – is at home in Aylesford with his family. However, a few miles to the north a steam launch has been taken by pirates above Egypt Bay; the crew murdered and pitched overboard.
In Aylesford itself a grave is opened and possibly robbed of the skull. The suspected grave robber, the infamous Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, is an old nemesis of Langdon St. Ives.
When Dr. Narbondo returns to kidnap his four-year-old son Eddie and then vanishes into the night, St. Ives and his factotum Hasbro race to London in pursuit…
If you like science fiction then this book is for you. I have to admit I do not know much about this genre “Steampunk” however I do know and enjoy Jules Verne stories and Mr. Blaylock has captured quite a bit of what Mr. Verne used to put in his stories. What I am reminded of is “Master of the World” by Mr. Verne with his airship because Langdon St. Ives has an airship that he uses as we use a car. “The Aylesford Skull” is my first Langdon St. Ives thriller but I guarantee you this will not be my last. I like this character a lot and he kinda has a Sherlock Holmes atmosphere about him. Mr. Blaylock has given us a rip-rousing adventure yarn that will grab your attention and keep you flipping pages as fast as you can read them. A partial list of ingredients within “The Aylesford Skull” are a pirate attack, grave robbing, murder, a bombing, a chase in the sewers and an airship over London. This is an exciting book and I am sure you will enjoy this book as well.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Titan Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: It is the summer of 1883 and Professor Langdon St. Ives – brilliant but eccentric scientist and explorer – is at home in Aylesford with his family. However, a few miles to the north a steam launch has been taken by pirates above Egypt Bay; the crew murdered and pitched overboard.
In Aylesford itself a grave is opened and possibly robbed of the skull. The suspected grave robber, the infamous Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, is an old nemesis of Langdon St. Ives.
When Dr. Narbondo returns to kidnap his four-year-old son Eddie and then vanishes into the night, St. Ives and his factotum Hasbro race to London in pursuit…
If you like science fiction then this book is for you. I have to admit I do not know much about this genre “Steampunk” however I do know and enjoy Jules Verne stories and Mr. Blaylock has captured quite a bit of what Mr. Verne used to put in his stories. What I am reminded of is “Master of the World” by Mr. Verne with his airship because Langdon St. Ives has an airship that he uses as we use a car. “The Aylesford Skull” is my first Langdon St. Ives thriller but I guarantee you this will not be my last. I like this character a lot and he kinda has a Sherlock Holmes atmosphere about him. Mr. Blaylock has given us a rip-rousing adventure yarn that will grab your attention and keep you flipping pages as fast as you can read them. A partial list of ingredients within “The Aylesford Skull” are a pirate attack, grave robbing, murder, a bombing, a chase in the sewers and an airship over London. This is an exciting book and I am sure you will enjoy this book as well.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Titan Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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