Disappointing when considered against the Anubis Gates, which is one of the very best stories in the genre.

“If Charles Dickens had written Killer Klowns,” by Tim Powers doesn’t come close to the weirdness of this dark – dare I say Dickensian – novella. It’s definitely one of the edgier, darker Powers works I’ve read, and the novella length sharpens the focus further. A must-read for Powers fans and lovers of the darkly twisted, although not for the faint of heart and probably not the best gateway drug. If you’re new to Powers, try The Anubis Gates, On Stranger Tides, or Declare before diving into this one.

Wasn't expecting this to be a novella. It should have been a bit longer in order to be a proper sequel. However, I still thought it was well written and enjoyed reading it.

Have to say I wasn't a great fan of Horrabin from The Anubis Gates so this was unfortunately more of the same. So many of Powers other books sound great in theory, but I was no fan of this two book series about body swapping and time travel.

The story focuses on a beggar guild run by Horrabin the Clown in 19th century London. Horrabin is evil with a reputation of maiming his beggars to increase their ability to bring in more money. Beggar Isaac Fairchild is so simple minded that he fails at even the most menial tasks given to him and is unable to bring any money back to the guild. Isaac is barely able to even write his own name. Fearing that the Clown is going to maim him, he is surprised, and pleased, when Isaac learns he can increase his intelligence by joining his mind with magically created two-inch-tall men. He is eager to learn to read and understand the world around him. And as his intelligence increases, he becomes more aware of his moral compass.

This is a short novella, and I read it twice because it has so much packed into a small package. The descriptions of the rookery where they live, the streets where the men practice their deceptions, the Nursery where the Spoonsize men live, and the description of the evil Clown are wonderful in their details. I can only imagine how fantastic it will be when the illustrations are revealed. The book reminded me of “Flowers for Algernon” and challenges of becoming more intelligent and more aware of life and all it encompasses.

Thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press ( @SubPress) for providing an electronic uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

Witness a nostalgic return to the setting of the 1983 PKDick Award Winning novel, "The Anubis Gates" ... which probably was one of the earliest and most enjoyable steampunk novels I've read. Feel the claustrophobic feeling of the narrow and twisty alleys of the slums of St Giles rookery in 19th century London. Center stage is the foreboding building of the Rat's Castle with the Welkin Rood platform shutting upward from the roof ... like a giant middle finger. This is the frequent "best thinking" spot for the evil clown Horrabin who is the master of the thieves and beggars gathered under this roof. A new recruit has joined Horrabin's guild ... 34 year old Isaac Fairchild, who is simple and somewhat dimwitted ... unable to read or write and has failed miserably at the first two menial positions of "Mintie Dropper" and "Famished Beggar". He is aware that Horrabin has been known to blind or cripple his beggars and thieves to achieve a greater degree of pity. Fairchild is summoned into the subterranean bowels of Rat's Castle ... known as "The Nursery". This is the home of the two inch Spoonsize Boys ... an alchemically grown (and not conceived) lot of sexless homunculi that do Horrabins' bidding of thievery and assassination. Fairchild learns that is not be maimed but given the chance to expand his intelligence by being grafted into the hive mind of the Spoonsize Boys. He is aware of his innate limitations but at what price will this "gift" cost him? Is he willing to give up his autonomy and free will? Or will he go down swinging!
Tim Powers' novella showcases his boundless inventiveness in this dark and foreboding gem ... meant for the aficionados of his oeuvre. Thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press ( @SubPress) for providing an electronic uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. (at readersremains.com )

I missed the "novella" part when I first read the description and was expecting a full-length sequel to ANUBIS GATES. When I saw the length of the review copy, I thought it was just the first chapter and I had been sent a sample rather than the whole book. Turns out that wasn't the case.

It's a fine story and I quickly remembered the context for it once I started reading (it's been a long time since ANUBIS for me). This would be a great first chapter of a longer work but it's only a decent short story if that's all it's going to be. I read it in under 30 minutes so I have a hard time calling it a novella. Perhaps "novelette" would be better. The publisher's web site says it will come in at 80 pages in hardcover, but at a page a minute reading time I would expect 30 pages at most. Given the outrageous pricing (basic copies at $40, signed copies at $500[!]}, this seems like a way to create a high-priced limited edition out of a story that isn't really up to it. I guess authors and publishers have to do what they do, but I'm not feeling it.

The story itself is like a take on "Flowers for Algernon" set in the ANUBIS world, but less poignant. It needs to be longer to get everything out of it that it suggests. That doesn't seem to be the plan.

"3" for the story as a standalone effort, "1" for the marketing approach.