Book review: Piratica, by Tanith Lee
Monday, March 22nd, 2004 08:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tamaranthMany of you will know that I haven't been reading many books over the last couple of years: at first I found it uncomfortable, and later I realised that I had fallen out of the habit and that there were compensations.
On Friday, while in Waterstones to buy Tricia Sullivan's Maul, I noticed a new Tanith Lee book -- Piratica -- and could not resist.
On Saturday, ill in bed, I read it: and it is delicious, though I suspect many of the jokes will be wasted on its target 12+ audience. I'll try to keep my review pun-free, as well as spoiler-free, but cannot resist as lead-in the old chestnut -- immortalised in a Led Zep song title -- about the bloke whose wife's on holiday in the Caribbean.
'Jamaica?'
'No, she went of her own accord.'
Tanith Lee generally seems more playful in her books for children and this is one of the most playful yet. The heroine, Art Blastside, is incarcerated at the Angels Academy for Young Ladies when a fall brings back memories of her mother Molly's piratical past. Exploding cannons! Ports sacked with never a shot fired! Naturally Art is out of there with alacrity. Pausing only to steal a pistol from ineffectual highwayman Jack Cuckoo*, Art heads for Lundon and recruits her mother's old crew, who tell her some astonishing plot twists. (By astonishing I mean I could hardly bear to read on, in case ... but I digress.)
Art and her motley crew (including a pretty-boy struggling artist, the Cleanest Dog in England and genuine gay pirates) head for the Isle of Own Accord and other points south, east and west of Port's Mouth. Adventures are had, secrets uncovered, duels fought: and utterly fabulous clothes are de rigeur. I will not detail the swashbuckling here: off you go and read it.
Tanith Lee's introduction tells the reader that the world in which the book is set is 'very like ours ... names may be familiar -- or weird. Some may be authentic old names you might find in a history book -- others may be games played with existing names. ... This isn't exactly a historical novel -- but it's not exactly a fantasy either. And it takes place in a time we never had..."
I fell in love with the book for its alternate England: the River Thamis, the Republican Flag of Free England, the Isle of Hogs (where the black towers of Budgerigar Wharf loom), Grinwich, Black Death Heath, Till We Bury (shortened to Till'Bury) ... But the characterisation is subtle and masterful, the language joyfully inventive, the scenery spectacular (especially the storm at sea) and the clothes, well, fabulous. There's a parrot called Plunqwette (sic) and young bloods accusing one another of taking the Mouse. And Truth, Honour, Love and Justice.
No self-respecting parent should be able to read this to their offspring without spluttering over every page. Very highly recommended. Should, however, come with a map.
*look, I am trying really hard not to compare the book to Pirates of the Caribbean, but Ms. Lee is not helping at all. And it is just as much fun.
On Friday, while in Waterstones to buy Tricia Sullivan's Maul, I noticed a new Tanith Lee book -- Piratica -- and could not resist.
On Saturday, ill in bed, I read it: and it is delicious, though I suspect many of the jokes will be wasted on its target 12+ audience. I'll try to keep my review pun-free, as well as spoiler-free, but cannot resist as lead-in the old chestnut -- immortalised in a Led Zep song title -- about the bloke whose wife's on holiday in the Caribbean.
'Jamaica?'
'No, she went of her own accord.'
Tanith Lee generally seems more playful in her books for children and this is one of the most playful yet. The heroine, Art Blastside, is incarcerated at the Angels Academy for Young Ladies when a fall brings back memories of her mother Molly's piratical past. Exploding cannons! Ports sacked with never a shot fired! Naturally Art is out of there with alacrity. Pausing only to steal a pistol from ineffectual highwayman Jack Cuckoo*, Art heads for Lundon and recruits her mother's old crew, who tell her some astonishing plot twists. (By astonishing I mean I could hardly bear to read on, in case ... but I digress.)
Art and her motley crew (including a pretty-boy struggling artist, the Cleanest Dog in England and genuine gay pirates) head for the Isle of Own Accord and other points south, east and west of Port's Mouth. Adventures are had, secrets uncovered, duels fought: and utterly fabulous clothes are de rigeur. I will not detail the swashbuckling here: off you go and read it.
Tanith Lee's introduction tells the reader that the world in which the book is set is 'very like ours ... names may be familiar -- or weird. Some may be authentic old names you might find in a history book -- others may be games played with existing names. ... This isn't exactly a historical novel -- but it's not exactly a fantasy either. And it takes place in a time we never had..."
I fell in love with the book for its alternate England: the River Thamis, the Republican Flag of Free England, the Isle of Hogs (where the black towers of Budgerigar Wharf loom), Grinwich, Black Death Heath, Till We Bury (shortened to Till'Bury) ... But the characterisation is subtle and masterful, the language joyfully inventive, the scenery spectacular (especially the storm at sea) and the clothes, well, fabulous. There's a parrot called Plunqwette (sic) and young bloods accusing one another of taking the Mouse. And Truth, Honour, Love and Justice.
No self-respecting parent should be able to read this to their offspring without spluttering over every page. Very highly recommended. Should, however, come with a map.
*look, I am trying really hard not to compare the book to Pirates of the Caribbean, but Ms. Lee is not helping at all. And it is just as much fun.
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no subject
Date: Monday, March 22nd, 2004 01:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Monday, March 22nd, 2004 01:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Monday, March 22nd, 2004 02:39 am (UTC)Sounds fun.
I've not actually counted, but from the state of my bookshelves Tanith Lee is one of the top three authors (by number of books) on my shelves!
a.k.a ?
Date: Monday, March 22nd, 2004 04:21 am (UTC)Was Drinking Sapphire Wine and Don't Bite the Sun published as one volume to begin with or why the a.k.a ?
Re: a.k.a ?
Date: Monday, March 22nd, 2004 04:27 am (UTC)