larklight

Monday, March 18, 2013 |
Philip Reeve is a major influence in steampunk, though his books are not as well known in the US as in his native Britain.  I read and reviewed the first of his young adult steampunk trilogy, Fever Crumb, and enjoyed its unusual heroine and impressively detailed world.  I always meant to go back and read more of Reeve’s work – I’d read glimmerings here and there on the interwebs of middle grade sci-fi and steampunk books.  When Larklight turned up as an ebook deal a few months ago, I clicked ‘buy’ without a second thought.  Then Middle Grade March came along and gave me a good reason to finish what I’d started.

larklight by philip reeve book cover
Arthur (Art) Mumby and his irritating sister Myrtle live with their father in a huge and rambling house called Larklight…that just happens to be traveling through outer space. When a visitor called Mr. Webster arrives for a visit, it is far from an innocent social call. Before long Art and Myrtle are off on an adventure to the furthest reaches of space, where they will do battle with evil forces in order to save each other--and the universe.  A fantastically original Victorian tale set in an outer space world that might have come from the imaginations of Jules Verne or L. Frank Baum, but has a unique gravitational pull all its own…

Larklight is a space adventure starring the many narrow escapes of the two Mumby children, Art and Myrtle.  Myrtle is the eldest, and is a bit obsessed with Earth fashion.  Art, the typical younger brother, is fascinated by pirates and feats of courage. They live with their father in a unique home, Larklight, which orbits the moon.  Early in the narrative the Mumbys are forced to flee their house, and the resulting journey follows them to the moon, Mars, and even to the rings of Saturn.  Whether they come home safely or not will be up to themselves and to the merry band of companions that they collect along the way.

Reeve’s Larklight is written in the style of a Victorian-era first-hand account, and it is a triumphant tale of a boy’s travels to the far reaches of space.  Art is the main narrator, though his exploits are interspersed with snatches from his sister’s private diary.  The narrative is also punctuated regularly with lovely illustrations by David Byatt, which often provide a much-needed visual for some flight of imagination or curious bit of alien science.  There’s not much contemplation – this is an all-action yarn filled with dramatic venture after voyage after quest.  That said, the story doesn’t really hit its stride until a few chapters in, when the Mumby children encounter Jack Havock, known pirate and scallywag. 

This sort of rollicking sci-fi journey is long on plot and short on character development, but the adventure is too much fun for that to seriously detract from the tale.  The best bits are the descriptions of space, the hinting at a mysterious chemical alchemy that allows advanced space travel, and the ever-present danger and humor with which the characters face that danger.  Art is a boy’s boy, and he does have a way with description, as this excerpt from Chapter 12 will prove:

“I wonder if you have ever been fired out of a giant howitzer in a hollowed-out rock? The feeling is somewhat akin to being sat upon by an elephant, while traveling downhill at speed in a tin dustbin.”

Recommended for: intrepid boys (and girls!) who are on the younger side of the middle grade spectrum, along with their parents – it would make a splendid read-aloud.  Will also appeal to those who long for space adventure with a touch of nostalgia, though the tech is mostly modern marvel.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

*shudders* The Rats of NIMH gave me a nightmare as a kid that still scares me as an adult.

A Drowned Maiden's Hair and Savvy have been on my TBR list for years. And Cabinet of Wonders recently moved up on my list since a friend got me a copy as a gift. I'm embarrassed by how many books I have at home that are still unread--not enough time in the day!

Heidi said...

I'm so glad you read this one! I too read Fever Crumb, and though I didn't love it enough to continue on with the series, I was interested in Larklight largely because my library has it and I keep seeing it there on the shelf. This sounds like the fun kind of adventure I usually only read in Fantasy. I don't always mind a lack of character development if the plot is paced well enough, I may just have to pick this one up sometime.

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