'A very interesting experience, and it was fascinating to see what someone in the Victorian era would think a future society would look like. The technology and society the author imagines are quite vivid and strange, however, the story itself is somewhat meandering and dry, ranging from a future history, to a ripoff-slash-homage of Frankenstein, to a psuedo romance, to something of a Victorian novel of manners (especially from the supporting wait staff characters, who partake in flowery but witty banter). Overall, kind of a slog to read, and honestly not one I'd recommend to readers who aren't already genre historians.

Inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this story is set tale, 2126. An ancient mummy serves as a friend and counselor to mankind. While it was difficult for me to get into this title, I would recommend it to science fiction fans.

At points, it was laugh-out-loud funny. Of course, the best part of any old sci-fi is the attempt at predicting scientific advances. Her world has some doozies. Perpetual motion machines run glass dust fountains to wear on your head. International balloon travel is available for the English. There is a tunnel under the ocean. Of course, it was beyond her power to see some of our advancements such as indoor plumbing, modern weapons, and our lack of mob caps.
You could really call this book political fiction. Much of the book is devoted to the future of various political systems. Some of that is hilarious too. It was rather interesting to read what she feared would be the faults of democracy. Not that she was that far off…
Oh, parts of it were annoying. Especially the way she chose to illustrate her fear of universal education. Let me illustrate…
“...the haste I have made has impeded my respiration; and the blood, finding the pulmonary artery free, rushes with such force along the arterial canal to the aorta, that – that – I am in imminent danger of being suffocated...Besides a saline secretion distils from every pore of my skin, in a serous transudation, from the excessive exertions I have made use of.”
Everyone, below a certain social class, speaks this way, all the time. No matter the emotional stress of the moment, they kept the same speech pattern. Thankfully, they aren't part of the story very often after the beginning so forge ahead.
Have you noticed I haven’t said anything about the Mummy? He barely shows up. When he does he acts more like a ghost than a corporeal freak. I won’t spoil the ending by speaking of the ‘aid’ he renders everyone, but it was unusual, to say the least.
Unfortunately, the characters are completely unbelievable. There was more fainting, and running from the scene in fits of passion than I seen in any other book. There isn’t a character who doesn’t behave in the most inexplicably obstinate or impulsive fashion on most occasions. After a while, even that starts adding to the humor of the book.
The plot is interesting but is seriously hurt by the poor characters and lack of a realistic timetable.
I would still recommend you read it. It was very enjoyable. The different perspective was interesting, amusing, and at times aggravating. Oh yes, you’ll never guess what new fabrics they have ‘discovered’ to make into clothes. That was really funny.
I received an ARC of this book for free from NetGalley and Dover Publications. No review was required, but it was my pleasure to write it.