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Narbondo #9
Beneath London
The collapse of the Victoria Embankment uncovers a passage to an unknown realm beneath the city. Langdon St. Ives sets out to explore it, not knowing that a brilliant and wealthy psychopathic murderer is working to keep the underworld’s secrets hidden for reasons of his own.
St. Ives and his stalwart friends investigate a string of ghastly the gruesome death of a witch, the kidnapping of a blind, psychic girl, and the grim horrors of a secret hospital where experiments in medical electricity and the development of human, vampiric fungi, serve the strange, murderous ends of perhaps St. Ives’s most dangerous nemesis yet.
St. Ives and his stalwart friends investigate a string of ghastly the gruesome death of a witch, the kidnapping of a blind, psychic girl, and the grim horrors of a secret hospital where experiments in medical electricity and the development of human, vampiric fungi, serve the strange, murderous ends of perhaps St. Ives’s most dangerous nemesis yet.
432 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2015
21 people are currently reading
351 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 31 reviews
June 9, 2015
Originally published at Risingshadow.
James P. Blaylock's Beneath London is a charmingly old-fashioned adventure story about Langdon St. Ives and his adventures. It's part of the Langdon St. Ives series of novels and stories about a scientist and explorer called Langdon St. Ives and his friends and nemeses.
Before I write more about this novel and its contents, I'll mention that I'm a bit ashamed to admit that Beneath London is the first novel that I've ever read by James P. Blaylock. I've been aware of him and I know what kind of fiction he has written, but I've never read anything by him before this novel. I intend to rectify this soon, because I loved this novel and found it compelling.
Beneath London is a fantastic novel for readers who love good old-fashioned adventure stories with mystery elements. The author seems to be an excellent storyteller, because he has created a believable and charmingly steampunkish vision of Victorian era England without resorting to clichéd storytelling.
This novel has all kinds of elements from fantasy, science fiction and horror to mystery and steampunk. It's an excellent blend of many elements that together form a highly entertaining story for adult readers (the author combines speculative fiction, historical fiction and mystery fiction in a perfect way). It has everything one could possibly hope for in an entertaining speculative fiction novel: good story, intriguing mysteries, paranormal elements and fascinating characters.
Here's information about the story:
- Beaumont travels beneath London and finds a man who's been caught by the giant mushrooms. Soon he makes his way out of the caves and is employed by the mysterious and dangerous Mr. Klingheimer, who has diabolical plans...
- Langdon St. Ives is being asked by Mother Laswell to visit Sarah Wright, because she thinks that something bad may have happened to Sarah. When he goes to Sarah's cottage, he finds a headless corpse inside the cottage and begins to investigate what has happened. Soon afterwards Sarah's psychic daughter, Clara, is kidnapped...
- Langdon St. Ives travels to London to meet his old friend, Gilbert Frobisher. Together, they intend to explore the sink-hole that has been uncovered by the collapse of the Victoria Enbankment...
This is the beginning of a thrilling story that takes readers on a rewarding journey into slightly alternate Victorian era England.
I have to confess that I was honestly astounded by this novel and its entertainment values. When I began to read it, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but I soon found myself glued to the story and was unable to stop reading it until I reached the final page. It's been a while since I've read as entertaining and gripping a novel as this one.
Beneath London has plenty of freshness and originality, which makes it stand out among other steampunk novels (in my opinion, too many steampunk novels lack freshness). James P. Blaylock has used well-known elements to his advantage and has managed to write a story that is genuinely intriguing and entertaining.
James P. Blaylock fluently weaves different strands together and delivers a highly entertaining story to his readers. The paths of Langdon St. Ives and Mr. Klingheimer converge in an interesting way as the story progresses. I won't reveal what happens at the end of the story, but I'm sure that it'll please and satisfy readers.
The characters in this novel are well-portrayed and each of them is interesting. The author writes so well and convicingly about the characters that you can easily believe that you're reading about actual persons and not characters. This is something that only a handful of steampunk authors have been able to achieve in their novels. One of the reasons why I seldom read steampunk novels is the lack of good characterisation. Fortunately, in this novel, the characterisation works perfectly, as does the character interaction.
I was positively surprised by the amount of colourful characters, because the author had created many interesting characters. All of them had their own characteristics and traits that made them memorable.
Here's a bit of information about some of the characters:
- Langdon St. Ives is a scientist and an explorer who is slightly reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes.
- Alice is Langdon St. Ives's wife. She's interested in fishing. She has quite a formidable temper when necessary.
- Gilbert Frobisher is a good friend of Langdon St. Ives. He's a retired steel magnate and captain of industry.
- Harriet Laswell (Mother Laswell) is a neighbour of Langdon St. Ives. She has a deep understanding of the paranormal.
- Clara Wright is a blind psychic girl who can sense things. Although she is blind, she's able to see, but not in a normal way.
- Finn is a fifteen-year-old boy who is attracted to Clara.
- Mr. Klingheimer is an interesting and intelligent villain. He's a classic evil villain who is both intelligent and wicked. (He's one of the best villains ever to appear on the pages of speculative fiction novels.)
- Beaumont the Dwarf has suffered a lot because of his appearance. His father taught him many things about the caves beneath the city.
Langdon St. Ives's adventures in the underground caves beneath London are very entertaining. His exploration of these caves is one of the best things about this novel, because the author writes fascinatingly about his travels and findings beneath the city.
The author's descriptions of the underworld are beautiful and vivid. There was a certain sense of strangeness to his descriptions that intrigued me very much. I was slightly reminded of certain scenes in H. P. Lovecraft's "The Rats in the Walls" when I read about how the protagonist descended into the underworld and explored new areas.
I enjoyed reading about how Finn tried to save the kidnapped Clara. It was interesting to read about what happened to Finn, because the author wrote fluently about how much Finn cared for Clara and wanted to save her. What happened between Beaumont, Finn and Clara was handled well.
There are many elements in this novel that will intrigue fans of dark fantasy and horror fiction. I enjoyed reading about how diabolical Mr. Klingheimer was and what kind of interests he had. He was a ruthless man who used experiments in medical electricity, brain surgery and vampiric mushrooms to further his own ends.
Mr. Klingheimer's fascination with medical experiments and brain surgery allowed the author to explore the medical and scientific horrors of the Victorian era. I was impressed by the author's way of writing about these issues, because he didn't shy away from difficult and terrifying material.
Elysium Asylum, the madhouse and surgical hospital, is a foreboding place in this novel. The author's descriptions of this asylum are excellent. He perfectly describes what kind of a place it is and how patients are treated there, because he writes about the macabre procedures and scientific experiments that are carried out on the patients. It was interesting to read about how the operating theater was occasionally visited upon invitation by men and women who were willing to pay a considerable sum to be enlightened or entertained. Dr. Peavy, the owner of the asylum, was interested in experimenting with brains and electricity.
The author writes fascinatingly about the underground fungi that differ from normal fungi. The luminescent mushrooms that paralysed their prey were interesting mushrooms. Their fluids were capable of sustaining life and if a person was caught by them, it was impossible to escape, because they paralysed the person. Animals and persons caught by them suffered a living death.
I haven't read any of the previous Langdon St. Ives novels yet, but from what I've heard of their contents, I gather that Dr. Ignacio Narbondo has been a nemesis of Langdon St. Ives. If there are any readers out there who wonder about the fate of Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, I can mention that his fate is revealed in this novel. He is featured in the story, but not in the way that you'd expect.
One of the best things about this novel is that James P. Blaylock has added humour to it. He has a good sense of humour and knows how to entertain readers with clever and intelligent humour. This adds a nice touch of style to the story and lightens the atmosphere in a nice way.
The story flows effortlessly and engagingly from the beginning all the way to the end, and the prose is good. The author manages to keep the story from slipping into mediocre and predictable steampunk story by writing captivatingly about the happenings and the characters, and by adding paranormal elements to the story. He delivers a few surprises along the way and makes sure that his readers are fascinated by what's going on.
I sincerely hope that James P. Blaylock will continue to write more about Langdon St. Ives and his adventures, because this kind of entertainment is perfect escapism for all who enjoy reading old-fashioned adventure and mystery stories. I intend to read the author's previous Langdon St. Ives novels as soon as possible, because I want to know what has happened in them.
I was so impressed by this novel that I give it strong five stars for its excellent story and entertainment values. I seldom give five stars to steampunk novels, but in this case I'll do so, because the story is very entertaining and gripping.
If you're a fan of steampunk stories, you should put Beneath London immediately to your reading list. It's the best kind of entertainment available for readers who enjoy reading steampunk stories, because it has plenty of old-fashioned charm and many colourful characters. I also highly recommend it to readers who love well written stories, because it's one of the best novels of the year. It's first-rate entertainment and enjoyment from start to finish, and it provides readers a good dose of escapism.
Excellent entertainment!
James P. Blaylock's Beneath London is a charmingly old-fashioned adventure story about Langdon St. Ives and his adventures. It's part of the Langdon St. Ives series of novels and stories about a scientist and explorer called Langdon St. Ives and his friends and nemeses.
Before I write more about this novel and its contents, I'll mention that I'm a bit ashamed to admit that Beneath London is the first novel that I've ever read by James P. Blaylock. I've been aware of him and I know what kind of fiction he has written, but I've never read anything by him before this novel. I intend to rectify this soon, because I loved this novel and found it compelling.
Beneath London is a fantastic novel for readers who love good old-fashioned adventure stories with mystery elements. The author seems to be an excellent storyteller, because he has created a believable and charmingly steampunkish vision of Victorian era England without resorting to clichéd storytelling.
This novel has all kinds of elements from fantasy, science fiction and horror to mystery and steampunk. It's an excellent blend of many elements that together form a highly entertaining story for adult readers (the author combines speculative fiction, historical fiction and mystery fiction in a perfect way). It has everything one could possibly hope for in an entertaining speculative fiction novel: good story, intriguing mysteries, paranormal elements and fascinating characters.
Here's information about the story:
- Beaumont travels beneath London and finds a man who's been caught by the giant mushrooms. Soon he makes his way out of the caves and is employed by the mysterious and dangerous Mr. Klingheimer, who has diabolical plans...
- Langdon St. Ives is being asked by Mother Laswell to visit Sarah Wright, because she thinks that something bad may have happened to Sarah. When he goes to Sarah's cottage, he finds a headless corpse inside the cottage and begins to investigate what has happened. Soon afterwards Sarah's psychic daughter, Clara, is kidnapped...
- Langdon St. Ives travels to London to meet his old friend, Gilbert Frobisher. Together, they intend to explore the sink-hole that has been uncovered by the collapse of the Victoria Enbankment...
This is the beginning of a thrilling story that takes readers on a rewarding journey into slightly alternate Victorian era England.
I have to confess that I was honestly astounded by this novel and its entertainment values. When I began to read it, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but I soon found myself glued to the story and was unable to stop reading it until I reached the final page. It's been a while since I've read as entertaining and gripping a novel as this one.
Beneath London has plenty of freshness and originality, which makes it stand out among other steampunk novels (in my opinion, too many steampunk novels lack freshness). James P. Blaylock has used well-known elements to his advantage and has managed to write a story that is genuinely intriguing and entertaining.
James P. Blaylock fluently weaves different strands together and delivers a highly entertaining story to his readers. The paths of Langdon St. Ives and Mr. Klingheimer converge in an interesting way as the story progresses. I won't reveal what happens at the end of the story, but I'm sure that it'll please and satisfy readers.
The characters in this novel are well-portrayed and each of them is interesting. The author writes so well and convicingly about the characters that you can easily believe that you're reading about actual persons and not characters. This is something that only a handful of steampunk authors have been able to achieve in their novels. One of the reasons why I seldom read steampunk novels is the lack of good characterisation. Fortunately, in this novel, the characterisation works perfectly, as does the character interaction.
I was positively surprised by the amount of colourful characters, because the author had created many interesting characters. All of them had their own characteristics and traits that made them memorable.
Here's a bit of information about some of the characters:
- Langdon St. Ives is a scientist and an explorer who is slightly reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes.
- Alice is Langdon St. Ives's wife. She's interested in fishing. She has quite a formidable temper when necessary.
- Gilbert Frobisher is a good friend of Langdon St. Ives. He's a retired steel magnate and captain of industry.
- Harriet Laswell (Mother Laswell) is a neighbour of Langdon St. Ives. She has a deep understanding of the paranormal.
- Clara Wright is a blind psychic girl who can sense things. Although she is blind, she's able to see, but not in a normal way.
- Finn is a fifteen-year-old boy who is attracted to Clara.
- Mr. Klingheimer is an interesting and intelligent villain. He's a classic evil villain who is both intelligent and wicked. (He's one of the best villains ever to appear on the pages of speculative fiction novels.)
- Beaumont the Dwarf has suffered a lot because of his appearance. His father taught him many things about the caves beneath the city.
Langdon St. Ives's adventures in the underground caves beneath London are very entertaining. His exploration of these caves is one of the best things about this novel, because the author writes fascinatingly about his travels and findings beneath the city.
The author's descriptions of the underworld are beautiful and vivid. There was a certain sense of strangeness to his descriptions that intrigued me very much. I was slightly reminded of certain scenes in H. P. Lovecraft's "The Rats in the Walls" when I read about how the protagonist descended into the underworld and explored new areas.
I enjoyed reading about how Finn tried to save the kidnapped Clara. It was interesting to read about what happened to Finn, because the author wrote fluently about how much Finn cared for Clara and wanted to save her. What happened between Beaumont, Finn and Clara was handled well.
There are many elements in this novel that will intrigue fans of dark fantasy and horror fiction. I enjoyed reading about how diabolical Mr. Klingheimer was and what kind of interests he had. He was a ruthless man who used experiments in medical electricity, brain surgery and vampiric mushrooms to further his own ends.
Mr. Klingheimer's fascination with medical experiments and brain surgery allowed the author to explore the medical and scientific horrors of the Victorian era. I was impressed by the author's way of writing about these issues, because he didn't shy away from difficult and terrifying material.
Elysium Asylum, the madhouse and surgical hospital, is a foreboding place in this novel. The author's descriptions of this asylum are excellent. He perfectly describes what kind of a place it is and how patients are treated there, because he writes about the macabre procedures and scientific experiments that are carried out on the patients. It was interesting to read about how the operating theater was occasionally visited upon invitation by men and women who were willing to pay a considerable sum to be enlightened or entertained. Dr. Peavy, the owner of the asylum, was interested in experimenting with brains and electricity.
The author writes fascinatingly about the underground fungi that differ from normal fungi. The luminescent mushrooms that paralysed their prey were interesting mushrooms. Their fluids were capable of sustaining life and if a person was caught by them, it was impossible to escape, because they paralysed the person. Animals and persons caught by them suffered a living death.
I haven't read any of the previous Langdon St. Ives novels yet, but from what I've heard of their contents, I gather that Dr. Ignacio Narbondo has been a nemesis of Langdon St. Ives. If there are any readers out there who wonder about the fate of Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, I can mention that his fate is revealed in this novel. He is featured in the story, but not in the way that you'd expect.
One of the best things about this novel is that James P. Blaylock has added humour to it. He has a good sense of humour and knows how to entertain readers with clever and intelligent humour. This adds a nice touch of style to the story and lightens the atmosphere in a nice way.
The story flows effortlessly and engagingly from the beginning all the way to the end, and the prose is good. The author manages to keep the story from slipping into mediocre and predictable steampunk story by writing captivatingly about the happenings and the characters, and by adding paranormal elements to the story. He delivers a few surprises along the way and makes sure that his readers are fascinated by what's going on.
I sincerely hope that James P. Blaylock will continue to write more about Langdon St. Ives and his adventures, because this kind of entertainment is perfect escapism for all who enjoy reading old-fashioned adventure and mystery stories. I intend to read the author's previous Langdon St. Ives novels as soon as possible, because I want to know what has happened in them.
I was so impressed by this novel that I give it strong five stars for its excellent story and entertainment values. I seldom give five stars to steampunk novels, but in this case I'll do so, because the story is very entertaining and gripping.
If you're a fan of steampunk stories, you should put Beneath London immediately to your reading list. It's the best kind of entertainment available for readers who enjoy reading steampunk stories, because it has plenty of old-fashioned charm and many colourful characters. I also highly recommend it to readers who love well written stories, because it's one of the best novels of the year. It's first-rate entertainment and enjoyment from start to finish, and it provides readers a good dose of escapism.
Excellent entertainment!
July 16, 2015
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2015...
What better way to kick off the story with focusing on a dark and mysterious setting? In the prologue a mysterious person is revealed in a dark and damp place with terrifying green eyes. When I think back to the old horror movies this is often how they started, this introduction directly set my moods right. After this introduction you learn that there has been an unexplainable collapse on the Victoria Embankment which has "paved" the way to the dark pathways under the city of London. And who is better than to send out to investigate this event? None other than the legendary explorer Langdon St. Ives. But well before that can happen, Langdon has a small agenda of his own and he is asked to first investigate something in the near of his own home n the request of Mother Laswell, well this short stop had set in motion something much bigger as Langdon stumbles upon a corpse. Now all his radars are set to alert. After this Langdon's investigation sends him to London where together with a good friend of his, he investigates said sinkhole, which in turn again reveal much more that even Langdon had dared to hope. Langdon has seen a lot in his years as a scientist and explorer but the discoveries that he makes visiting the sink hole, it scares even him. Added to the fact comes that he has had a lot of face offs with his earlier nemesis Ignacious Narbondo, it seems that he now is to meet a new adversary, one that can even trump Narbondo. Beneath London is another wild race through a beautifully crafted Victorian London.
As I said above James P. Blaylock's stories aren't for the full 100% in line with the a lot of the current steampunk that is published. James P. Blaylock does something different in telling his stories. The whole setting that is inspired in his stories makes the difference. A given standard to Steampunk is that on one hand there has to be fun and with hidden in the story and on the other hand there is often a dark sense. For me what James P. Blaylock shows is that he eases on the humor side, granted there are still enough moments that will give a smile, witty remarks and such. But he pulls his story more to the dark side. In showing just what nasty things have happened or are happening, you as a reader aren't spared. Sometimes it can be confronting I have to admit and will not make the story suited for everyone. The turn to the darker sides of the story do really bolster in what the story is about, and that is producing one great dark mysterious feeling.
Another things that once again should be note is the ease with which the story flows, the story telling really comes over in a most natural way. This directly plays into that a lot of the discussion and interaction that the characters have with each other and with world feel natural and none forced. As you follow the footsteps of several character, who all relate and tell events makes none of the information you receive heavy, more on the contrary it makes it easy to absorb and emerge yourself in the story.
The characters are what truly finish the story. I like Langdon a lot. The story has been compared to Sherlock Holmes, of course he is best known for featuring in a Victorian setting and he is sometimes associated with steampunk, well I wouldn't compare these two together and Langdon has something completely different working for himself. He is by far not so self assured and cocky of himself as Sherlock is. Langdon feels much more human, prone to making and admitting he made an error. He is not a perfect character, he can be wrong with his guesses. This further helps to inspire a mysterious feeling to Beneath London as you know things can change quickly. Next to Langdon there are a lot of secondary characters some of whom I already had the pleasure of getting to know in Teh Aylesford Skull like Langdon's wife Alice, Mother Laswell, Finn, Bill Kraken and lets not forget the manservant Hasbro. All of these are a pleasure to read about.
I often mention that in such crime stories it's nice to see just what the bad guys are planning and Beneath London is no exception. You see on screen just what the bad guys are up to and how every party involved reacts on each other actions. Even though you read what happens it still gives a very dynamic feeling to the story.
It might have taken a few years but the latest addition to the Tales of Langdon St. Ives is a noteworthy addition to the series. James P. Blaylock has a unique gift in telling his stories. What I like most about his book are the atmosphere he is able to raise, it has the required humor but the premise to the whole of the story is much more darker and more towards a macabre setting. Added to this comes the fact that the characterization is spot on. Even though Langdon is a smart guy he doesn't know it all and doesn't mind giving in when he is wrong and finding a better solution. Something that caught me by surprise was the last sentence of the book, really elegant. Lets hope it will be re-lit for another adventure!
What better way to kick off the story with focusing on a dark and mysterious setting? In the prologue a mysterious person is revealed in a dark and damp place with terrifying green eyes. When I think back to the old horror movies this is often how they started, this introduction directly set my moods right. After this introduction you learn that there has been an unexplainable collapse on the Victoria Embankment which has "paved" the way to the dark pathways under the city of London. And who is better than to send out to investigate this event? None other than the legendary explorer Langdon St. Ives. But well before that can happen, Langdon has a small agenda of his own and he is asked to first investigate something in the near of his own home n the request of Mother Laswell, well this short stop had set in motion something much bigger as Langdon stumbles upon a corpse. Now all his radars are set to alert. After this Langdon's investigation sends him to London where together with a good friend of his, he investigates said sinkhole, which in turn again reveal much more that even Langdon had dared to hope. Langdon has seen a lot in his years as a scientist and explorer but the discoveries that he makes visiting the sink hole, it scares even him. Added to the fact comes that he has had a lot of face offs with his earlier nemesis Ignacious Narbondo, it seems that he now is to meet a new adversary, one that can even trump Narbondo. Beneath London is another wild race through a beautifully crafted Victorian London.
As I said above James P. Blaylock's stories aren't for the full 100% in line with the a lot of the current steampunk that is published. James P. Blaylock does something different in telling his stories. The whole setting that is inspired in his stories makes the difference. A given standard to Steampunk is that on one hand there has to be fun and with hidden in the story and on the other hand there is often a dark sense. For me what James P. Blaylock shows is that he eases on the humor side, granted there are still enough moments that will give a smile, witty remarks and such. But he pulls his story more to the dark side. In showing just what nasty things have happened or are happening, you as a reader aren't spared. Sometimes it can be confronting I have to admit and will not make the story suited for everyone. The turn to the darker sides of the story do really bolster in what the story is about, and that is producing one great dark mysterious feeling.
Another things that once again should be note is the ease with which the story flows, the story telling really comes over in a most natural way. This directly plays into that a lot of the discussion and interaction that the characters have with each other and with world feel natural and none forced. As you follow the footsteps of several character, who all relate and tell events makes none of the information you receive heavy, more on the contrary it makes it easy to absorb and emerge yourself in the story.
The characters are what truly finish the story. I like Langdon a lot. The story has been compared to Sherlock Holmes, of course he is best known for featuring in a Victorian setting and he is sometimes associated with steampunk, well I wouldn't compare these two together and Langdon has something completely different working for himself. He is by far not so self assured and cocky of himself as Sherlock is. Langdon feels much more human, prone to making and admitting he made an error. He is not a perfect character, he can be wrong with his guesses. This further helps to inspire a mysterious feeling to Beneath London as you know things can change quickly. Next to Langdon there are a lot of secondary characters some of whom I already had the pleasure of getting to know in Teh Aylesford Skull like Langdon's wife Alice, Mother Laswell, Finn, Bill Kraken and lets not forget the manservant Hasbro. All of these are a pleasure to read about.
I often mention that in such crime stories it's nice to see just what the bad guys are planning and Beneath London is no exception. You see on screen just what the bad guys are up to and how every party involved reacts on each other actions. Even though you read what happens it still gives a very dynamic feeling to the story.
It might have taken a few years but the latest addition to the Tales of Langdon St. Ives is a noteworthy addition to the series. James P. Blaylock has a unique gift in telling his stories. What I like most about his book are the atmosphere he is able to raise, it has the required humor but the premise to the whole of the story is much more darker and more towards a macabre setting. Added to this comes the fact that the characterization is spot on. Even though Langdon is a smart guy he doesn't know it all and doesn't mind giving in when he is wrong and finding a better solution. Something that caught me by surprise was the last sentence of the book, really elegant. Lets hope it will be re-lit for another adventure!
July 23, 2015
This was a little less hokey than his past novels, though I enjoyed those immensely too. Lots of adventure and suspense. Violent, but not directly violent, though I don't want to explain what this means so that I don't give away spoilers. I guess I would say violence occurred quite a bit but you either only saw the aftermath or it wasn't described in detail. I felt like this book went forwards quite a bit in really developing the characters.
May 2, 2016
A thoroughly lovely book, subtle yet captivating. One of the things I enjoyed most was how closely Blaylock recreates the tone, syntax and general flavour of a Victorian novel. You'd be ready to bet it was written at least 100 years ago.
July 30, 2015
James Blaylock has read his Sherlock Holmes and his P.G. Wodehouse, among others, and I like his writing style. This is another horror cozy in the Langdon St. Ives series.
July 5, 2018
"Beneath London" is rather a bland title, but then, by James P. Blaylock's standards, the novel is a dull effort. Not bad, mind you — just ordinary.
I'm a big fan of Blaylock, who was coming off a very fine novel in "The Aylesford Skull," an unexpected third Langdon St. Ives novel after a long gap. Blaylock, considered one of the founding fathers of steampunk, had sprinkled in a number of St. Ives novellas in very pricey collections, in recent years. Somebody must have wanted to strike while the steampunk iron was hot and produce "Beneath London" as a full-length follow-up to "The Aylesford Skull," pronto.
I was looking forward to it. Two characters have the following exchange late in the book: "My heart got in the way of my sense, I'm afraid." "Aye, that's the way with hearts." Well, my heart tried to love this for a long time.
Truth be told, this one would have worked better as a novella. In this book, again set in late nineteenth century England with the weird quotient cranked up, the collapse of the Victoria Embankment reveals an underground world of vampiric fungi which serve as hosts to decapitated but "living" heads provided by the chief baddie, who, utilizing a blind young woman with extra-sensory powers, has designs on expanding his consciousness. Or something like that, anyway.
Professor St. Ives' usual coterie of friends and colleagues is present: his beautiful wife, Alice; Hasbro; the teen Finn; Bill Kraken; among others. A dwarf seems to have switched allegiances since St. Ives last opposed him, and the evil Ignacio Narbondo, last seen disappearing beneath the earth in the collapse of a cathedral in "The Aylesford Skull," is back, too, having survived — sort of. Also here is the wonderfully named Willis Pule.
"Beneath London" gets off to a too-leisurely start in which there's some fun interaction among the principle characters but little advancement of the story. Things pick up, but the truth is there's not enough plot here, and Blaylock seems to be coasting. The climax, its location indicated by the title, is a bit muddled and frankly limp.
"Beneath London" has the enjoyable attributes just about all of Blaylock's books have — they're just plain fun and well-written — but not enough of them. I could as easily give it three stars — it's still worth reading — but two it is to give an indication where it stands in Blaylock's canon; I've read all of his 16 proper novels, and it's near the bottom in quality. The ending seems to invite another St. Ives tale, which I'd certainly welcome, hoping the fun and story would get cranked up a bit.
I'm a big fan of Blaylock, who was coming off a very fine novel in "The Aylesford Skull," an unexpected third Langdon St. Ives novel after a long gap. Blaylock, considered one of the founding fathers of steampunk, had sprinkled in a number of St. Ives novellas in very pricey collections, in recent years. Somebody must have wanted to strike while the steampunk iron was hot and produce "Beneath London" as a full-length follow-up to "The Aylesford Skull," pronto.
I was looking forward to it. Two characters have the following exchange late in the book: "My heart got in the way of my sense, I'm afraid." "Aye, that's the way with hearts." Well, my heart tried to love this for a long time.
Truth be told, this one would have worked better as a novella. In this book, again set in late nineteenth century England with the weird quotient cranked up, the collapse of the Victoria Embankment reveals an underground world of vampiric fungi which serve as hosts to decapitated but "living" heads provided by the chief baddie, who, utilizing a blind young woman with extra-sensory powers, has designs on expanding his consciousness. Or something like that, anyway.
Professor St. Ives' usual coterie of friends and colleagues is present: his beautiful wife, Alice; Hasbro; the teen Finn; Bill Kraken; among others. A dwarf seems to have switched allegiances since St. Ives last opposed him, and the evil Ignacio Narbondo, last seen disappearing beneath the earth in the collapse of a cathedral in "The Aylesford Skull," is back, too, having survived — sort of. Also here is the wonderfully named Willis Pule.
"Beneath London" gets off to a too-leisurely start in which there's some fun interaction among the principle characters but little advancement of the story. Things pick up, but the truth is there's not enough plot here, and Blaylock seems to be coasting. The climax, its location indicated by the title, is a bit muddled and frankly limp.
"Beneath London" has the enjoyable attributes just about all of Blaylock's books have — they're just plain fun and well-written — but not enough of them. I could as easily give it three stars — it's still worth reading — but two it is to give an indication where it stands in Blaylock's canon; I've read all of his 16 proper novels, and it's near the bottom in quality. The ending seems to invite another St. Ives tale, which I'd certainly welcome, hoping the fun and story would get cranked up a bit.
February 6, 2024
Blaylock is such a delightful writer. He does best when he is describing the everyday interactions and mundane thoughts of his characters - the realizations, moments of doubt, domestic scenes. My favorite parts of the book are usually the scenes where Langdon St. Ives and his wife Alice are interacting with one another, or just thinking of the other. Probably I am just an old softy.
The plot is very exciting too of course. Narbondo makes a few appearances in this one, but there is a new and equally sinister villain to challenge St. Ives and his compatriots.
The plot is very exciting too of course. Narbondo makes a few appearances in this one, but there is a new and equally sinister villain to challenge St. Ives and his compatriots.
August 27, 2015
I did assume it would take place more beneath London, I mean that is the name of the book. But it mostly took place above ground. Which sort of was a shame, cos the underworld seems really strange with toadstools that eat people.
Steampunk wise, yes it was an alternative Victorian England, but it was more gadgetwise it was steampunk. A few here and there, and witches too, oh and those weird toadstools.
It is a series, but I thought it worked well in its own. Sure there was talk about other characters. And I am sure I could have experienced things even more if I had read the other books, but that is the downfall when you jump into a series. So it works like this.
The story. We have a professor St Ives who gets a new case about what is beneath London. But then more things happen. A psychic girl is kidnapped. Strange things are going on in London. Are they all connected somehow? To his help he has his wife, and well more people. But I can give you the details cos as things happen, we meet more people...as things happen. Spoilers darling.
It's kind of a thriller mystery set in a steampunk world. There is a strange sort of dry humour there too. The tone is actually really hard to describe.
But sure, sometimes I felt like, maybe everyone was too nice. More boom, and toadstools please! It was cool, but not always for me.
An interesting mix.
Steampunk wise, yes it was an alternative Victorian England, but it was more gadgetwise it was steampunk. A few here and there, and witches too, oh and those weird toadstools.
It is a series, but I thought it worked well in its own. Sure there was talk about other characters. And I am sure I could have experienced things even more if I had read the other books, but that is the downfall when you jump into a series. So it works like this.
The story. We have a professor St Ives who gets a new case about what is beneath London. But then more things happen. A psychic girl is kidnapped. Strange things are going on in London. Are they all connected somehow? To his help he has his wife, and well more people. But I can give you the details cos as things happen, we meet more people...as things happen. Spoilers darling.
It's kind of a thriller mystery set in a steampunk world. There is a strange sort of dry humour there too. The tone is actually really hard to describe.
But sure, sometimes I felt like, maybe everyone was too nice. More boom, and toadstools please! It was cool, but not always for me.
An interesting mix.
July 15, 2016
I consumed this as an audiobook.
I'll start by applauding the author for getting the dialect/dialog of the characters so obviously orrect for the period, but have to say at time is felt as though the author's research was a little 'in our face'.
Secondly, very nearly deleted the book twice, absolutely infuriated by the abject stupidity of the characters. Never, even in Scooby Doo, or the worst b-movie horror, have I seen so many supposedly highly intelligent people make such absurdly bad decisions about their personal safety.
I also felt a couple of times that passages of expositional dialog, or minutely detailed description, robbed the work of pace just when it needed it most.
Having said that, I did allow it to finish.
Not sure I shall be going back to find more of this author's work.
I'll start by applauding the author for getting the dialect/dialog of the characters so obviously orrect for the period, but have to say at time is felt as though the author's research was a little 'in our face'.
Secondly, very nearly deleted the book twice, absolutely infuriated by the abject stupidity of the characters. Never, even in Scooby Doo, or the worst b-movie horror, have I seen so many supposedly highly intelligent people make such absurdly bad decisions about their personal safety.
I also felt a couple of times that passages of expositional dialog, or minutely detailed description, robbed the work of pace just when it needed it most.
Having said that, I did allow it to finish.
Not sure I shall be going back to find more of this author's work.
June 28, 2016
This is the first book I've read in this series, so I'm quite sure I'm not getting all the subtleties of it, but it was an easy, enjoyable read. Rather too stuffed full with characters, perhaps, in that they were all rather thinly drawn. It says on the cover "A Tale of Langdon St. Ives" and I must say he was the most cipher-like of the lot, nearly entirely devoid of personality.
That being said, there were some lovely creepy images in here, the severed heads being kept alive by fungi the chief of them.
That being said, there were some lovely creepy images in here, the severed heads being kept alive by fungi the chief of them.
August 2, 2015
review coming soon at www.fantasyliterature.com
October 5, 2017
Good adventure, but there are so many characters and they divide into so many parties that it's very confusing to keep track of who and where everyone is.
February 26, 2025
This tale takes a while to get going. What I liked in this novel is that the steampunk aspects are understated; the world is not filled with airships, clockwork automata and steam-powered inventions. This world is more akin to historical Victorian London, with only a few embellishments. There are aura goggles, giant subterranean fungi and a few insane inventions.
The main character, Langdon St Ives, is strangely passive/reactive. Most of the action is carried by Finn and Beaumont. Indeed, I would much rather read another novel featuring Beaumont than St Ives.
The antagonists plot is flimsy and doesn't create the sense of peril that I suspect the author was aiming for. However, it is consistent with the novels of the period.
I don't regret reading this book, but I won't be hunting out the others in the series.
The main character, Langdon St Ives, is strangely passive/reactive. Most of the action is carried by Finn and Beaumont. Indeed, I would much rather read another novel featuring Beaumont than St Ives.
The antagonists plot is flimsy and doesn't create the sense of peril that I suspect the author was aiming for. However, it is consistent with the novels of the period.
I don't regret reading this book, but I won't be hunting out the others in the series.
September 27, 2019
A decent story, not sure what was steampunk about it though. Where it didn’t work was with the characters. I can only imagine that they are introduced and fleshed out in earlier works, because here they are just names. Aside from the hero and his cohort, there seemed to be dozens of villainous characters who were just indistinguishable ‘baddies’.
March 11, 2017
An enjoyable romp through and beneath London with the usual colorful cast of characters and some steampunky props.
Read
December 26, 2019I just could not get into this.
May 20, 2022
Easily the best book I've read this year. Wonderful detail and atmosphere and description, excellent polished research, three-dimensional characters, and careful plotting.
May 1, 2025
It would have been an excellent film but in my opinion isn't suited for reading
June 26, 2025
Entertaining Victorian nonsense.
June 26, 2015
Last week I found myself stuck betwixt the horns of the trickiest dilemma.
I really, REALLY, don’t like jumping into a series on the third or fourth book. I’m always worried that I will miss out on the subtle nuances of the characters, and in doing so, I will fail the author. I’m constantly concerned that any review I write will ultimately be a dis-service to the contents of said novel. I have politely declined requests whenever I spotted that the book in question was part of an on-going series if I hadn’t read the earlier novels. This rule of thumb has served me well for the last five years and there has never really been a problem up until now. All was well up until the point that I saw the cover for Beneath London. I’ll admit that I am a sucker for a good slice of steampunk, so I didn’t stand a chance. There is a gentleman wearing a top-hat, bedecked with goggles, and this fine fellow is also sporting a resplendent moustache and beard. There is even the suggestion of some sort of airship in the background. I was utterly powerless to resist. Concerned, but curious, I decided I needed to take a chance. I’m so very glad that I did though, the author has written other books set in this same universe but they can be read as standalone tales.
Professor Langdon St. Ives and his wife Alice seem to have the uncanny knack of finding themselves in the midst of evil schemes. Langdon is an amiable, inquisitive sort who just can’t let a good mystery pass him by. Alice is equally as curious so it’s hardly a surprise that within a few short chapters we’re already knee-deep in murder, mayhem and more subterranean shenanigans than you can shake a stick it.
The premise of the story is simple enough. Who is the enigmatic Mr Klingheimer, and what does he want with the St Ives’ friend, Clara? How does this malevolent mastermind’s scheme tie in with the world that lies beneath the city streets? It’s up to the good professor, his wife and their assorted friends to figure it all out.
Of the other characters, I have to admit a soft spot for a fellow called Beaumont. There are also the Frobishers. Gilbert and his nephew, Tubby, are great fun. Always on hand to assist the St Ives, Tubby is particularly keen on the occasional second breakfast and the opportunity to crack a few heads. I’m keen to go back and explore the other books in this series so I can find out how the fit into Langdon’s world.
The thing I most enjoyed about the writing? All the characters have a magnificently erudite turn of phrase. The interactions between characters are very well realised. The back and forth flow of conversation is all terribly proper. For someone, such as I, who takes great delight in language, this was a joy to discover. I could happily listen to these characters converse endlessly.
When it comes to steampunk I’m always curious to see how an author will tweak and twist our nation’s capital to fit within the confines of their tale. In this instance, the interpretation of London suggests a shadowy and evocative place. Lots of dark alleys and evil deeds to happen upon; works for me.
In hindsight it is hardly a surprise I enjoyed this novel so much. For goodness sake, even the author has a suitably steampunk-esque name. Well James P Blaylock, sounds pretty damn steampunky to me. My first experience of this author has been an entirely positive one. This is a thoroughly entertaining work, with plenty of action and a plot that races along nicely. The good news, from my perspective at least, is that there are other novels already available featuring more of these characters and their exploits. Based on my enjoyment of this book I fully intend to read them. Of one thing you can be completely certain, I will most assuredly be back from more.
Beneath London is published by Titan Books and is available now. How very splendid.
I really, REALLY, don’t like jumping into a series on the third or fourth book. I’m always worried that I will miss out on the subtle nuances of the characters, and in doing so, I will fail the author. I’m constantly concerned that any review I write will ultimately be a dis-service to the contents of said novel. I have politely declined requests whenever I spotted that the book in question was part of an on-going series if I hadn’t read the earlier novels. This rule of thumb has served me well for the last five years and there has never really been a problem up until now. All was well up until the point that I saw the cover for Beneath London. I’ll admit that I am a sucker for a good slice of steampunk, so I didn’t stand a chance. There is a gentleman wearing a top-hat, bedecked with goggles, and this fine fellow is also sporting a resplendent moustache and beard. There is even the suggestion of some sort of airship in the background. I was utterly powerless to resist. Concerned, but curious, I decided I needed to take a chance. I’m so very glad that I did though, the author has written other books set in this same universe but they can be read as standalone tales.
Professor Langdon St. Ives and his wife Alice seem to have the uncanny knack of finding themselves in the midst of evil schemes. Langdon is an amiable, inquisitive sort who just can’t let a good mystery pass him by. Alice is equally as curious so it’s hardly a surprise that within a few short chapters we’re already knee-deep in murder, mayhem and more subterranean shenanigans than you can shake a stick it.
The premise of the story is simple enough. Who is the enigmatic Mr Klingheimer, and what does he want with the St Ives’ friend, Clara? How does this malevolent mastermind’s scheme tie in with the world that lies beneath the city streets? It’s up to the good professor, his wife and their assorted friends to figure it all out.
Of the other characters, I have to admit a soft spot for a fellow called Beaumont. There are also the Frobishers. Gilbert and his nephew, Tubby, are great fun. Always on hand to assist the St Ives, Tubby is particularly keen on the occasional second breakfast and the opportunity to crack a few heads. I’m keen to go back and explore the other books in this series so I can find out how the fit into Langdon’s world.
The thing I most enjoyed about the writing? All the characters have a magnificently erudite turn of phrase. The interactions between characters are very well realised. The back and forth flow of conversation is all terribly proper. For someone, such as I, who takes great delight in language, this was a joy to discover. I could happily listen to these characters converse endlessly.
When it comes to steampunk I’m always curious to see how an author will tweak and twist our nation’s capital to fit within the confines of their tale. In this instance, the interpretation of London suggests a shadowy and evocative place. Lots of dark alleys and evil deeds to happen upon; works for me.
In hindsight it is hardly a surprise I enjoyed this novel so much. For goodness sake, even the author has a suitably steampunk-esque name. Well James P Blaylock, sounds pretty damn steampunky to me. My first experience of this author has been an entirely positive one. This is a thoroughly entertaining work, with plenty of action and a plot that races along nicely. The good news, from my perspective at least, is that there are other novels already available featuring more of these characters and their exploits. Based on my enjoyment of this book I fully intend to read them. Of one thing you can be completely certain, I will most assuredly be back from more.
Beneath London is published by Titan Books and is available now. How very splendid.
April 4, 2016
If you wanted to concoct the perfect recipe for a fun Steampunk fantasy Adventure, then James P. Blaylock is definitely the chef you need. The list of ingredients is astounding and probably the most eclectic I have seen in a while. This book is a brilliant collection of everything that could possibly appeal to a steampunk fiction enthusiast, hollow earth themes, supernatural elements, gothic horror influences, murder, mystery, science, mad professors, nefarious schemes, swash buckling heroes, dwarfs, hunchbacks, crazy mushrooms and an elephant. What more could you possibly want?
Blaylock's myriad influences are clear to see throughout, being reminiscent of the likes of Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, H. Rider Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan Doyle. All authors who are, of course, influences for the Steampunk genre.
Beneath London's eclectic nature combines well with its breakneck pace to create a very enjoyable and gripping adventure. Every chapter ends with a cliff-hanger. You don’t even have time to be distracted by the things that didn't quite work. You instantly forgive the authors occasional and inaccurate use of Americanisms in the dialogue. You forget the characters being unbelievably stupid at times and putting themselves in obvious peril. With the excitement levels turned right up, Blaylock manages to pull it off with great success.
I didn't expect this volume to be the same quality as the other entries in the series, especially after the demise of Langdon St. Ives arch nemesis Ignacio Narbondo in the previous book. I was pleased to find I was completely wrong. This is one of, if not the best entry in the series so far and with things left quite open at the end it is also possible there could be many more adventures to come.
Blaylock's myriad influences are clear to see throughout, being reminiscent of the likes of Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, H. Rider Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan Doyle. All authors who are, of course, influences for the Steampunk genre.
Beneath London's eclectic nature combines well with its breakneck pace to create a very enjoyable and gripping adventure. Every chapter ends with a cliff-hanger. You don’t even have time to be distracted by the things that didn't quite work. You instantly forgive the authors occasional and inaccurate use of Americanisms in the dialogue. You forget the characters being unbelievably stupid at times and putting themselves in obvious peril. With the excitement levels turned right up, Blaylock manages to pull it off with great success.
I didn't expect this volume to be the same quality as the other entries in the series, especially after the demise of Langdon St. Ives arch nemesis Ignacio Narbondo in the previous book. I was pleased to find I was completely wrong. This is one of, if not the best entry in the series so far and with things left quite open at the end it is also possible there could be many more adventures to come.
May 27, 2024
I seem to have skipped a few of the Langdon St. Ives books, but I did read The Aylesford Skull, and for better or for worse, I found this one to be strikingly similar.
The cast of characters is as eccentric as always: St. Ives and Alice are much the same as they were in the earlier book; Clara serves as a damsel in distress, while Finn, Tubby Frobisher, Bill Kraken, and Beaumont the dwarf all have their heroic parts to play. For me, however, the eccentricity aspect is wearing a bit thin.
The plot, I’m afraid, is also a bit thin. There’s a fair amount of gritty action, including a cartoonishly evil villain obsessed with severed heads, along with his thuggish henchmen engaging in various acts of violence, kidnapping, brawling, and the like. It doesn’t amount to much that we haven’t seen before.
Blaylock’s use of language is a high point, and his atmospherically archaic descriptions and quirkily worded dialog are on full display here, so the book is worth the read for that aspect, but it’s safe to say that I’ve found other work of his to be more enjoyable.
The cast of characters is as eccentric as always: St. Ives and Alice are much the same as they were in the earlier book; Clara serves as a damsel in distress, while Finn, Tubby Frobisher, Bill Kraken, and Beaumont the dwarf all have their heroic parts to play. For me, however, the eccentricity aspect is wearing a bit thin.
The plot, I’m afraid, is also a bit thin. There’s a fair amount of gritty action, including a cartoonishly evil villain obsessed with severed heads, along with his thuggish henchmen engaging in various acts of violence, kidnapping, brawling, and the like. It doesn’t amount to much that we haven’t seen before.
Blaylock’s use of language is a high point, and his atmospherically archaic descriptions and quirkily worded dialog are on full display here, so the book is worth the read for that aspect, but it’s safe to say that I’ve found other work of his to be more enjoyable.
August 1, 2015
I was sent a copy of this book to review for a website. I'm a big fan of the Steampunk genre and have been desperately looking for a good book in that genre. I was very happy to see that this was written by one of the writers credited with creating the genre.
The first third of the novel sets up the characters, their relationships, and the conflicts. This was very tedious to read. There's more description in this portion than there is action. I'm not keen on this type of writing, but this is typical of Victorian novel, say by Dickens or Trollope. So, though I wasn't pleased with the book's beginnings, I continued on, hoping that something would happen.
Around Page 200 things started to occur and it became a very enjoyable read. However, with the exception to some science, primarily used by the villains, and the underground setting under London, there's not much Steampunk in this novel.
This is a decent fantasy-adventure novel set in an alternate Victorian era. The antagonists are of the moustache twirling types, who fancy themselves to above normal men, which I enjoy, and the heroes come from several corners, with my favorites being the youngest and the smallest.
The first third of the novel sets up the characters, their relationships, and the conflicts. This was very tedious to read. There's more description in this portion than there is action. I'm not keen on this type of writing, but this is typical of Victorian novel, say by Dickens or Trollope. So, though I wasn't pleased with the book's beginnings, I continued on, hoping that something would happen.
Around Page 200 things started to occur and it became a very enjoyable read. However, with the exception to some science, primarily used by the villains, and the underground setting under London, there's not much Steampunk in this novel.
This is a decent fantasy-adventure novel set in an alternate Victorian era. The antagonists are of the moustache twirling types, who fancy themselves to above normal men, which I enjoy, and the heroes come from several corners, with my favorites being the youngest and the smallest.
March 25, 2016
Part of this book feel familiar, cave in of a London church which drag people into subterranean worlds. Stroud, or Gaiman perhaps? Regardless, the characters are delightful and I cared about their fates, as is typical of Blaylock's work. He's often somewhat sentimental, because his characters have strong bonds between them, which seem rational. I was a little surprised to find that Clara had never spoken to Finn before her abduction, midbook. It made me wonder why he loved her and then I remembered that both of them had a mutual bond to animals. I look forward to reading the other earlier books in this St. Ives series. I didn't really see so much steampunk in this novel-for instance there were no octopi, which has become a standard symbol for the genre. No was there a dirigible, except the one that got blown up in the previous book, where there might be octopi. Instead we have fungi and immortality, talking heads.
August 9, 2015
Langdon St Ives and his wife Alice and friends pursue the evil Klingheimer underground beneath Victorian London. Klingheimer and Dr Peavy have been conducting experiments on the unfortunates of an asylum and threaten Langdon. A good tale of the Steam Punk genre. My big gripe is that the edition I read was published and printed in England but they had failed to correct the American spelling Gray, color, honor etc.
September 28, 2015
Continuing from where The Aylesford Skull left off, Langdon St. Ives and gang thwart an evil man that is using a London hospital as a front for experiments with life-extending vampiric fungi discovered deep beneath London. Blaylock is at the top of his form here, with excellent prose, memorable characters, and a thrilling plot. Lots of fun, in a gruesome way.
September 5, 2015
Blaylock is such an oddball writer, I like reading his stuff but for most of this series he's so far off the rails that it feels like a broken roller coaster. This one's a bit more centered but does include the horror trope, let's split up, what can go wrong? Nice mixture of chthonic organic horror and offbeat 1800's tech. It can be read as a standalone.
July 7, 2015
Latest in the adventures of Langdon St. Ives, Victorian adventurer and explorer of the paranormal, a grisly and grotesque tale leavened with intriguing plot and likable characters.
Read
February 2, 20163 stars from Kat: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
December 11, 2015
Weird. But that's why I like Blaylock's version of London.
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