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A review by singsthewren
Homunculus by James P. Blaylock
3.0
I picked this book up ages ago, when I signed up to teach a class on steampunk, and when the class fell apart I never did get around to reading the book. So as part of my project for the year (reading every second book from my endless to-read pile), I picked this one up.
Overall I enjoyed the story, though the writing was occasionally confusing. The number of characters and their unique plotlines was a bit overwhelming, and sometimes I felt like I was reading a sequel to a novel he had never published. (Goodreads lists this as a sequel to a previous book, but the two are only connected in that they share a similar universe; they take place in different centuries and on different continents). The villains were all a little bit madcap, without really clear motives, and the heroes were each head-down in their own plot and sort of accidentally intersecting with each other.
I did love the french-door-farce style of plot where things just happened, full of insane coincidences and hilarious run-ins. I think the novel was supposed to be funnier than it was, and wasn't sure if I was missing some of the voice that would have made it more so.
Overall I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't seek out any more of Blaylock's writing.
Overall I enjoyed the story, though the writing was occasionally confusing. The number of characters and their unique plotlines was a bit overwhelming, and sometimes I felt like I was reading a sequel to a novel he had never published. (Goodreads lists this as a sequel to a previous book, but the two are only connected in that they share a similar universe; they take place in different centuries and on different continents). The villains were all a little bit madcap, without really clear motives, and the heroes were each head-down in their own plot and sort of accidentally intersecting with each other.
I did love the french-door-farce style of plot where things just happened, full of insane coincidences and hilarious run-ins. I think the novel was supposed to be funnier than it was, and wasn't sure if I was missing some of the voice that would have made it more so.
Overall I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't seek out any more of Blaylock's writing.