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The Book Lovers
The kidnap of a rebellious heiress leads Inspector Nightjar into a steampunk underworld of brain love, greed and revolution. Can the Raven Method uncover the big Truth? What powers Thousand Tower City? Why are books telling unfamiliar stories? How cosy is anarchy?
Steve Aylett, author of LINT (chosen by Stewart Lee on R4's A Good Read) and Slaughtermatic, returns in this fizzing caper about “the good sin of thinking for yourself”.
"In the whole of language there is nothing like Steve Aylett, and The Book Lovers is his most relentless assault yet on our prissy synapses. Every sentence is a nifty seizure that will slug his reader through the printed page into a better and less reasonable world, a fugue-state heaven of excruciating beauty that spends dazzling insight as though it were chocolate money. Utterly astonishing, and possibly some manner of police procedural. Read this now before it happens." — Alan Moore, author of Watchmen
"Every sentence is a wonderland, every phrase a treat. No one writes like Steve Aylett. I am so glad that he is back. With each book it is as if he changes the possibilities of our imagination and populates your mind with new shapes and forms." — Robin Ince, comedian, author, broadcaster and co-host of the award-winning Radio 4 series The Infinite Monkey Cage with Professor Brian Cox.
“Aylett is the greatest absurdist of our age and worthy of comparison with William Burroughs – elegant, witty and absolutely his own writer. Lay back and immerse yourself in this wonderful book. Wise – wonderful – hilarious! Entertainment for everyone who believes there is nothing worth reading any more!” — Michael Moorcock
One of ARB’s 2024 Notable Books
Steve Aylett, author of LINT (chosen by Stewart Lee on R4's A Good Read) and Slaughtermatic, returns in this fizzing caper about “the good sin of thinking for yourself”.
"In the whole of language there is nothing like Steve Aylett, and The Book Lovers is his most relentless assault yet on our prissy synapses. Every sentence is a nifty seizure that will slug his reader through the printed page into a better and less reasonable world, a fugue-state heaven of excruciating beauty that spends dazzling insight as though it were chocolate money. Utterly astonishing, and possibly some manner of police procedural. Read this now before it happens." — Alan Moore, author of Watchmen
"Every sentence is a wonderland, every phrase a treat. No one writes like Steve Aylett. I am so glad that he is back. With each book it is as if he changes the possibilities of our imagination and populates your mind with new shapes and forms." — Robin Ince, comedian, author, broadcaster and co-host of the award-winning Radio 4 series The Infinite Monkey Cage with Professor Brian Cox.
“Aylett is the greatest absurdist of our age and worthy of comparison with William Burroughs – elegant, witty and absolutely his own writer. Lay back and immerse yourself in this wonderful book. Wise – wonderful – hilarious! Entertainment for everyone who believes there is nothing worth reading any more!” — Michael Moorcock
One of ARB’s 2024 Notable Books
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2024
4 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Steve Aylett
47 books158 followersSteve Aylett is a satirical science fiction and weird slipstream author of books such as LINT, The Book Lovers and Slaughtermatic, and comics including Hyperthick. He is known for his colourful satire attacking the manipulations of authority. Aylett is synaesthetic. He lives in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 16, 2024
I am not a completist or remotely loyal reader, so expect every individual book to appeal rather than seeking out a particular author. Steve Aylett is one of maybe five writers whose books I will read regardless of what they're about. He earned this honour by writing several of the funniest pieces of fiction I've ever read, Lint and The Complete Accomplice. When I spotted a new steampunk novel by him in my favourite bookshop, I immediately bought it despite having significant reservations about steampunk as a genre. Luckily, Aylett appears to share these reservations. The Book Lovers features his characteristically absurdist writing style, deploying steampunk trappings to both ridiculous and satirical effect. Although it didn't rise to the heights of, say, Only an Alligator, The Book Lovers was delightful to read. As usual, the dialogue was especially amusing:
The plot, such as it is, follows a rich heiress who may have been kidnapped, some kind of revolutionary conspiracy, and a long-suffering police inspector attempting to make sense of it all. Books with mirrored pages and unstable contents are employed as mockery of social media and generative AI, and there are many shards of political commentary. Is Aylett's writing becoming more comprehensible or am I getting better at understanding it? Judge for yourself:
While the ending was not particularly inspired, I had good fun reading The Book Lovers and appreciated Aylett's sharp wit. Now I yearn to reread the Accomplice series.
"Which book did you discuss?"
"Darkle, yes. Even the fools in it are floridly articulate. Open her up, see what she can do."
"A snot barge. A hundred eyes. Laughing by a hatstand. Who's likely to find these details plausible?"
"Anyone conversant with the outlandish discrepancies of life. Here we are, made of convoluted meat and on some sort of spree. It's a full-time job dignifying this craven mess with an explanation, Inspector. What do you think my books are in aid of? And what are you doing about the street clowns?"
The plot, such as it is, follows a rich heiress who may have been kidnapped, some kind of revolutionary conspiracy, and a long-suffering police inspector attempting to make sense of it all. Books with mirrored pages and unstable contents are employed as mockery of social media and generative AI, and there are many shards of political commentary. Is Aylett's writing becoming more comprehensible or am I getting better at understanding it? Judge for yourself:
"What'll you pay me?"
"One molecule from my face. I've done my research to your tastes, Rodge. It's either this or a diplomatic post on a penguin island. Though judging by your tastes, you might like that. Put my proposition and the dividends it yields are dead in a dead hand. Well suited to you, Chancellor. Keep in mind the upcoming election or 'switcheroo' as we call it back home, where the aim is to degrade the electorate until they're thinking by smell alone. You'll ride an inferno of approval and survive in stagnant majesty for another few years."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
While the ending was not particularly inspired, I had good fun reading The Book Lovers and appreciated Aylett's sharp wit. Now I yearn to reread the Accomplice series.
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January 19, 2025I bounced off Aylett on my first, long-ago attempt, but ever since encountering the hilarious mock biography Lint, I've loved his stuff, so I was surprised this didn't do more for me. It's certainly not down to any deterioration in his gift for assembling words in configurations nobody else would attempt:
'"A snot barge. A hundred eyes. Laughing by a hatstand. Who's likely to find these details plausible?"
"Anyone conversant with the outlandish discrepancies of life. Here we are, made of convoluted meat and on some sort of spree. It's a full-time job dignifying this craven mess with an explanation, Inspector."'
At first, it was simply that I wasn't laughing, which might not sound so bad, except that with Lint, and his recent comics, I more than once had to take a break because I was genuinely struggling to breathe. Here, the same breed of Heath-Robinson English was still impressing me, but barely raising a chuckle. Initially I inclined to trust – Aylett has shown himself a mad scientist in the language lab, perhaps he had simply calibrated his engine for a slightly different effect?
Gradually, though, I began to suspect something worse. Most obviously, 300+ pages might just be too much Aylett prose in one chunk, like spending a week in a funhouse. But beyond that...I was thinking, while looking forward to this book, that the only person operating now with a comparable gift for beautifully tortured English is Chris Morris, but his is always about something, where Aylett is often content with playing for play's sake. The Book Lovers, though, is firmly about something, and coming from someone who literally wrote the book on originality, what it's about seems far too familiar. Even the early motif, where books are falling out of fashion in favour of books with mirrored pages in which the 'reader' sees only themself... when 'relatability' has become such a yardstick, and Aylett has always been at the opposite end of the scale, at least on the surface, one sympathises, but it still feels beneath him. From there, though: steampunk London, a cabal of war profiteers, faked kidnap of an heiress, ragtag insurrection used as an excuse for a crackdown...there are whole shelves of books like that. Or the rather flat title itself – within the story, the term 'book eaters' is used, but that's already the name of what sounds like a so-so slab of dark academia. Even the notion that the contents of books are changing has been done before, and unusually this is one area where a little restraint might have served Aylett well; part of the beauty of Lint was seeing one fully Aylett character move through a less so world, but here, just as every character is at 11, so books change from one outlandish version to another, so it's never clear whether anything has been gained or lost: "Here's The Book of Counterclaims. I happen to know this is about a recovering deacon whose forehead is made of glass. I now find it's all about a butcher who is visited by an angel with the head of a honeybee."
Or of course part of it might be the old Lehrer complaint that the world's absurdity has simply outpaced Aylett's. Early on there's the anti-imperialist suggestion "If we ceased our own invasions we might be hated less and have less to covet", met with the retort "You propose we reduce ourselves to a kind of Greenland?" And who could have known at the time that by the point the book came out, the original kind of Greenland would have a tyrant's beady, greedy eyes on it?
'"A snot barge. A hundred eyes. Laughing by a hatstand. Who's likely to find these details plausible?"
"Anyone conversant with the outlandish discrepancies of life. Here we are, made of convoluted meat and on some sort of spree. It's a full-time job dignifying this craven mess with an explanation, Inspector."'
At first, it was simply that I wasn't laughing, which might not sound so bad, except that with Lint, and his recent comics, I more than once had to take a break because I was genuinely struggling to breathe. Here, the same breed of Heath-Robinson English was still impressing me, but barely raising a chuckle. Initially I inclined to trust – Aylett has shown himself a mad scientist in the language lab, perhaps he had simply calibrated his engine for a slightly different effect?
Gradually, though, I began to suspect something worse. Most obviously, 300+ pages might just be too much Aylett prose in one chunk, like spending a week in a funhouse. But beyond that...I was thinking, while looking forward to this book, that the only person operating now with a comparable gift for beautifully tortured English is Chris Morris, but his is always about something, where Aylett is often content with playing for play's sake. The Book Lovers, though, is firmly about something, and coming from someone who literally wrote the book on originality, what it's about seems far too familiar. Even the early motif, where books are falling out of fashion in favour of books with mirrored pages in which the 'reader' sees only themself... when 'relatability' has become such a yardstick, and Aylett has always been at the opposite end of the scale, at least on the surface, one sympathises, but it still feels beneath him. From there, though: steampunk London, a cabal of war profiteers, faked kidnap of an heiress, ragtag insurrection used as an excuse for a crackdown...there are whole shelves of books like that. Or the rather flat title itself – within the story, the term 'book eaters' is used, but that's already the name of what sounds like a so-so slab of dark academia. Even the notion that the contents of books are changing has been done before, and unusually this is one area where a little restraint might have served Aylett well; part of the beauty of Lint was seeing one fully Aylett character move through a less so world, but here, just as every character is at 11, so books change from one outlandish version to another, so it's never clear whether anything has been gained or lost: "Here's The Book of Counterclaims. I happen to know this is about a recovering deacon whose forehead is made of glass. I now find it's all about a butcher who is visited by an angel with the head of a honeybee."
Or of course part of it might be the old Lehrer complaint that the world's absurdity has simply outpaced Aylett's. Early on there's the anti-imperialist suggestion "If we ceased our own invasions we might be hated less and have less to covet", met with the retort "You propose we reduce ourselves to a kind of Greenland?" And who could have known at the time that by the point the book came out, the original kind of Greenland would have a tyrant's beady, greedy eyes on it?
February 23, 2025
Thank you to Steve Aylett for sending me a copy of his novel. Here are my thoughts!
A fiery heiress is kidnapped, and Inspector Nightjar is on the case. Her investigation brings her into a world filled with strangeness, and the people are even more out-there! Will she be able to sift through all the craziness and help the heiress?
Steve Aylett clearly has a knack for language and writing. This book is one of the more unique and original works I’ve read in a while. There are a ton of laugh out loud instances and characters that were so charismatic they leapt off the page. Some of the sentences that were put together were just so witty and punny, it made for a very engaging read. Albeit sometimes I did have to kind of stop myself and take a moment to remember the bigger picture as I was getting very absorbed in the smaller details.
I wanted Inspector Nightjar to solve the case, but every person she meets seems to be more unhinged than the last. It doesn’t help that the environment, and even the books in the world are constantly changing and full or surprises. The book isn’t super long either, so I managed to read it quickly. There were a few times I almost missed my bus stop as I was immersed in the reading.
I haven’t read a lot of steampunk that isn’t graphic novels, so this was new for me and I’m very happy to have read it! If you want to try out a fun steampunk novel with extra wit, you should totally check out book lovers!
A fiery heiress is kidnapped, and Inspector Nightjar is on the case. Her investigation brings her into a world filled with strangeness, and the people are even more out-there! Will she be able to sift through all the craziness and help the heiress?
Steve Aylett clearly has a knack for language and writing. This book is one of the more unique and original works I’ve read in a while. There are a ton of laugh out loud instances and characters that were so charismatic they leapt off the page. Some of the sentences that were put together were just so witty and punny, it made for a very engaging read. Albeit sometimes I did have to kind of stop myself and take a moment to remember the bigger picture as I was getting very absorbed in the smaller details.
I wanted Inspector Nightjar to solve the case, but every person she meets seems to be more unhinged than the last. It doesn’t help that the environment, and even the books in the world are constantly changing and full or surprises. The book isn’t super long either, so I managed to read it quickly. There were a few times I almost missed my bus stop as I was immersed in the reading.
I haven’t read a lot of steampunk that isn’t graphic novels, so this was new for me and I’m very happy to have read it! If you want to try out a fun steampunk novel with extra wit, you should totally check out book lovers!
July 6, 2025
I was scared this was gonna be a dirigibleless steampunk novel but that final chapter sure delivered.
November 8, 2024
It’s been awhile since I read some Steve Aylett and all you Book Lovers need to get your steampunk goggles on and get with the program.
If you’re looking for a satire where prose in books begin to change which may be linked to a kidnapping then head over to Thousand Tower City and grab this book by its coat tails.
If you’re looking for a satire where prose in books begin to change which may be linked to a kidnapping then head over to Thousand Tower City and grab this book by its coat tails.
March 27, 2025
Steve Aylett's "The Book Lovers" is a dazzling exploration of literature, individuality, and the human spirit, set against the backdrop of Thousand Tower City—a place of strict societal norms and surrealistic quirks. The novel follows Sophie Shafto, a spirited protagonist who embarks on a journey to uncover the mystery behind a peculiar book she once read as a child. Aylett’s prose is rich with wit, philosophical musings, and inventive imagery, creating a world that is both fantastical and eerily reflective of our own. The narrative weaves themes of identity, rebellion, and the transformative power of books into its intricate plot, making it a feast for lovers of speculative fiction.
Aylett’s World-Building and Style
The author’s world-building is nothing short of extraordinary. Thousand Tower City is a meticulously crafted setting where societal conformity reigns supreme—citizens are forbidden from expressing individuality through actions like accelerating their pace or bounding vertically in public. Aylett juxtaposes this mechanical rigidity with Sophie’s vibrant personality and her fascination with books that defy convention. The hidden book cellar Sophie discovers is described in vivid detail, showcasing an eclectic collection of forbidden and fantastical texts bound in materials like sharkskin and sari silk. Aylett’s prose is poetic yet sharp, filled with metaphors that challenge readers to see beyond the surface. His ability to blend humor with profound insights adds depth to the story, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Themes of Individuality and Literature as Resistance
This book is a celebration of literature as a form of resistance against societal conformity. Sophie’s interactions with Lieutenant Lukas highlight the tension between individuality and societal expectations; Lukas represents the uniformity imposed by the city, while Sophie seeks freedom through books that challenge her worldview. The novel delves into the transformative nature of reading—how texts can shift meaning depending on the reader’s perspective or how they evolve over time. This idea is exemplified by "Darkle the Wise," a book that appears to change its story based on who reads it. Through these elements, Aylett underscores how literature can serve as both a mirror and a catalyst for personal growth.
Characterization and Philosophical Undertones
Sophie Shafto emerges as a compelling protagonist whose curiosity and defiance drive the narrative forward. Her philosophical exchanges with characters like Jonah Robeck—the enigmatic bookherd—add layers to her character while exploring existential questions about identity and reality. Jonah’s hypothesis about “forked books” introduces fascinating ideas about how texts can hold multiple interpretations simultaneously, reflecting the complexity of human thought. The supporting characters, though often eccentric, serve as foils to Sophie’s quest for meaning, enriching the narrative with their unique perspectives.
In conclusion, "The Book Lovers" is an intricate work of imagination, philosophy, and satire that challenges readers to rethink their relationship with literature and society. Steve Aylett’s masterful storytelling creates an immersive experience that lingers long after the final page. For those who relish speculative fiction infused with intellectual depth and humor, this novel is an unmissable gem.
Aylett’s World-Building and Style
The author’s world-building is nothing short of extraordinary. Thousand Tower City is a meticulously crafted setting where societal conformity reigns supreme—citizens are forbidden from expressing individuality through actions like accelerating their pace or bounding vertically in public. Aylett juxtaposes this mechanical rigidity with Sophie’s vibrant personality and her fascination with books that defy convention. The hidden book cellar Sophie discovers is described in vivid detail, showcasing an eclectic collection of forbidden and fantastical texts bound in materials like sharkskin and sari silk. Aylett’s prose is poetic yet sharp, filled with metaphors that challenge readers to see beyond the surface. His ability to blend humor with profound insights adds depth to the story, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Themes of Individuality and Literature as Resistance
This book is a celebration of literature as a form of resistance against societal conformity. Sophie’s interactions with Lieutenant Lukas highlight the tension between individuality and societal expectations; Lukas represents the uniformity imposed by the city, while Sophie seeks freedom through books that challenge her worldview. The novel delves into the transformative nature of reading—how texts can shift meaning depending on the reader’s perspective or how they evolve over time. This idea is exemplified by "Darkle the Wise," a book that appears to change its story based on who reads it. Through these elements, Aylett underscores how literature can serve as both a mirror and a catalyst for personal growth.
Characterization and Philosophical Undertones
Sophie Shafto emerges as a compelling protagonist whose curiosity and defiance drive the narrative forward. Her philosophical exchanges with characters like Jonah Robeck—the enigmatic bookherd—add layers to her character while exploring existential questions about identity and reality. Jonah’s hypothesis about “forked books” introduces fascinating ideas about how texts can hold multiple interpretations simultaneously, reflecting the complexity of human thought. The supporting characters, though often eccentric, serve as foils to Sophie’s quest for meaning, enriching the narrative with their unique perspectives.
In conclusion, "The Book Lovers" is an intricate work of imagination, philosophy, and satire that challenges readers to rethink their relationship with literature and society. Steve Aylett’s masterful storytelling creates an immersive experience that lingers long after the final page. For those who relish speculative fiction infused with intellectual depth and humor, this novel is an unmissable gem.
February 26, 2025
Novelist Steve Aylett is not quite a household name but he is admired by many people who are. I first heard of him in the book ‘We Can’t All Be Astronauts’, in which author Tim Clare cites him as an author he aspire towards.
His latest novel ‘The Book Lovers’ follows Inspector Nightjar as he investigates the kidnapping of rebellious heiress Sophie. It is littered with quotable dialogue, pieces of wisdom and lyrical flourishes.
Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:
- “Odd that women are encouraged to wear cosmetics, when it is men who resemble gargoyles.”
- Inspector Nightjar: “Motivation’s just a grudge with a chocolate surround, really.”
- Sophie: “Giving your life to a church is like taking a bullet for a cauliflower.”
- “A book lays apparently dead for centuries and then in a single day it sends fresh green shoots all over the place.”
- “As a butterfly can’t see its own wings we can’t see our own evil. Only others’ wings.”
- ‘Marriage is both a refuge and a combat zone for two. Ours is built on a thrilling acrimony.”
- “(Fascism) is short-lived but by god, a powerhouse for those with the smarts to harness it.”
- “Anyone with a vestful of meat and a hatful of head can join the army. Take an oath, and pretty soon you’re boiling your belt, right? And collecting wounds like rare wines
Consistent with Aylett’s apparent worldview, the smartest and most creative people are shunned to the fringes of society, and stupidity rises to the top. One character, Brewster, is described as so vacuous he gives outer space a run for its money. Another, Roger Swive, is described as a man for whom ‘stupidity had been perfected and made, by his authority, inescapable for everyone else’.
Like his own characters, Aylett is so brilliant he might remain under-appreciated, but this novel is both profound and unputdownable. His status in the literary world is a reflection of what he is, an author's author.
His latest novel ‘The Book Lovers’ follows Inspector Nightjar as he investigates the kidnapping of rebellious heiress Sophie. It is littered with quotable dialogue, pieces of wisdom and lyrical flourishes.
Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:
- “Odd that women are encouraged to wear cosmetics, when it is men who resemble gargoyles.”
- Inspector Nightjar: “Motivation’s just a grudge with a chocolate surround, really.”
- Sophie: “Giving your life to a church is like taking a bullet for a cauliflower.”
- “A book lays apparently dead for centuries and then in a single day it sends fresh green shoots all over the place.”
- “As a butterfly can’t see its own wings we can’t see our own evil. Only others’ wings.”
- ‘Marriage is both a refuge and a combat zone for two. Ours is built on a thrilling acrimony.”
- “(Fascism) is short-lived but by god, a powerhouse for those with the smarts to harness it.”
- “Anyone with a vestful of meat and a hatful of head can join the army. Take an oath, and pretty soon you’re boiling your belt, right? And collecting wounds like rare wines
Consistent with Aylett’s apparent worldview, the smartest and most creative people are shunned to the fringes of society, and stupidity rises to the top. One character, Brewster, is described as so vacuous he gives outer space a run for its money. Another, Roger Swive, is described as a man for whom ‘stupidity had been perfected and made, by his authority, inescapable for everyone else’.
Like his own characters, Aylett is so brilliant he might remain under-appreciated, but this novel is both profound and unputdownable. His status in the literary world is a reflection of what he is, an author's author.
January 6, 2025
Steve Aylett is not for everybody, it's true, but for those of you out there able to process his unique style of rapid-fire satiric psychedelia, this one is a real treat. Just to get you in the right ballpark, imagine something like a blend of Fahrenheit 451 and The Big Sleep written by the Mad Hatter of Wonderland.
Possessed of a propulsive cognition, Aylett is able to move with ease between a dozen different scales, drawing equivalents between things not immediately alike. And as always, absurdist aphorisms abound. A few of my favorites:
"People who claimed to have original ideas were surely making it up as they went along."
"What if I told you this world of ours was in fact made left-handed, but the right-handed are using it?"
"Every civilization is the temporary standing of a dog, before lying down."
"Do you realize how restricting it would be if people took me seriously?"
"Books stumble upon the truth over and over, stating it openly, to no effect."
Well, get on with reading this book then, if you mean to. This review could have ended after the first paragraph. Frankly I'm flabbergasted you've listened to me this long.
Possessed of a propulsive cognition, Aylett is able to move with ease between a dozen different scales, drawing equivalents between things not immediately alike. And as always, absurdist aphorisms abound. A few of my favorites:
"People who claimed to have original ideas were surely making it up as they went along."
"What if I told you this world of ours was in fact made left-handed, but the right-handed are using it?"
"Every civilization is the temporary standing of a dog, before lying down."
"Do you realize how restricting it would be if people took me seriously?"
"Books stumble upon the truth over and over, stating it openly, to no effect."
Well, get on with reading this book then, if you mean to. This review could have ended after the first paragraph. Frankly I'm flabbergasted you've listened to me this long.
March 5, 2025
I really liked the idea of this book but I found the writing style really hard to follow. I did like that some of the conversations between the characters were quite witty and it definitely has some funny quotes. Overall I felt this book had a lot of potential but unfortunately missed the mark for me.
Read
May 19, 2025I enjoyed the quirky and intricate phrasing - but having finished the book I cannot actually summarise the plot. I think it’s probably my lack of appreciation for the genre rather than a failing on the author’s part - but if anyone can give me a summary of what actually happened I would appreciate it!
February 26, 2025
This is a tricky book to get into. it's very heavy on the dialogue, and lacks a little in the description and context around for a visual thinker like myself. I think it nay be more effective as an audiobook when one is recorded.
that being said, I did enjoy the concept of the shadowy cults of bookreading, and some of the lines and quotes are great. it certainly improves as the book goes on
that being said, I did enjoy the concept of the shadowy cults of bookreading, and some of the lines and quotes are great. it certainly improves as the book goes on
Read
July 2, 2025This is a Small Spec Book Awards nominee!
July 7, 2025
I don't know how he does it, but he writes like a magician. Words transform themselves and the reader.
Once again, I take my hat off. It is music to my ears and a feast for my soul.
Once again, I take my hat off. It is music to my ears and a feast for my soul.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews