Summary
A collection of steampunk adventure stories featuring dilettante scientist Langdon St. Ives.
Review

I’ve generally enjoyed James Blaylock’s stories over the years, though never quite without reservation. From intriguingly odd stories of elves, giants, and homunculi to more contemporary fare, I’ve found his books pleasant. The string of contemporary fantasy stories (The Paper Grail, The Rainy Season, All the Bells on Earth) reminded me of Sean Stewart’s similar stories (or vice versa). I also enjoyed one of the Langdon St. Ives stories, Lord Kelvin’s Machine, but truthfully have not been driven to go back and reread it. I’m afraid that moderate enthusiasm is also my response to this latest collection.

Here, again committing to the steampunkish world of St. Ives, Blaylock has fun inventing odd or absurd, but vaguely plausible adventures. It feels a bit like homage to Arthur Conan Doyle – a mix of both Professor Challenger and Dr. Watson – with many of the tales narrated by faithful sidekick Jack Owlesby. There are times when it’s all a bit too easy – the emphasis here is more on fun than credibility, and it seemed to me there was at least one temporal inconsistency among the stories – two characters who shouldn’t be around at the same time.

Overall, it’s pleasant, but I can’t say that any of the stories particularly stood out, nor that I was so enticed by the world that I feel the need to dive back in through a number of other available books and stories, nor try too hard to fit together the pieces I’ve already read. Fans of the St. Ives world, though, will no doubt enjoy these.