The Brontosaurus Pluto Society on Amazon
This is a well-written, well-presented book with an original voice and a heap of charm. I was hooked from the opening scene in a theatre where we are backstage in the POV of young Edward, the apprentice to the great prestidigitator Nevil Dever. Dever, we learn, is no mere trickster and has somehow acquired a true magical spell, which draws the attention of some rather sinister aliens.
The POV is so tight in these opening scenes that the reader cannot help but identify with the ambitious Edward. His POV is both intelligent and charming. He's well-mannered, boyish, but also possessed of razor sharp focus. He's also a very quick learner.
The opening chapter is once of the best I've read recently: it had me smiling from ear to ear and even laughing out loud. I think it succeeds not only due to the compelling setup, but also due to adherence to the "Unities" of time, place, and person. Extremely focused and effective writing.
It's a difficult task to maintain such sparkling form throughout a novel, and the tale did take a slight dip for me once the action moves on past the frightening scenes in space, and the introduction of devils from Venus. Having a time shift of 40 years probably didn't help the immediacy, but the author quickly gets us back to the task in hand and sweeps us along on what is a hugely imaginative and refreshing tale.
In the middle portions, POV is not as tight as at the beginning, but we still have a strong identification with Edward, who is an ideal character to view this surprising world through - a true Chestertonian protagonist, an ordinary lad in an extraordinary world.
The flow of the prose is effortless - nice short sentences, and always great clarity. This is a writer flexing his muscles and coming into his own. Lots of humour, suspense, wit and wisdom from a writer who is surely carving out his own little niche.
Well worth the investment of time and money. Very nearly a five star rating (I'd give 6 to the opening!)
Rating: 4/5
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