The book is a fun steampunk adventure set in a bizarre, distorted version of 19th-century London, featuring real historical figures transformed into fantastical characters. The plot involves time travel, advanced technology, and a mix of historical inaccuracies and imaginative storytelling.
Mark Hodder's novel is a delightful romp through a steampunk version of 19th-century London, blending real historical figures with fantastical elements. The story follows Captain Sir Richard Burton as he encounters the legendary Spring Heeled Jack, a time traveler from the future who inadvertently alters history. The book is filled with imaginative inventions and bizarre creatures, creating a unique and entertaining world. However, the plot does have some continuity flaws and slow moments, which might bother some readers. Despite these issues, the novel is a fun and engaging read, perfect for fans of steampunk and adventure.
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The result is an amazing romp that could never have happened (time travel notwithstanding) but is nevertheless, is a lot of fun.
The first is to ignore all of the continuity flaws (though Hodder obviously had well mapped Oxford’s various leaps back and forth in time) and just enjoy this fanciful adventure, taking it on its own terms.
However, even if, like me, you are bothered about issues of continuity and causality, it’s still a fun story, though a bit of a slog at times.