Foundling by D. M. Cornish
Nov. 30th, 2009 10:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
Growing up at Madam Opera’s Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls, Rossamünd Bookchild – a boy with an unfortunate name – has led sheltered from the dangers of the world. But this all changes the day the man with the strange red-and-pale-blue eyes recruits him into the service of the Emperor. Rossamünd has been drafted into the ranks of the Half-Continent’s “lamplighters” – soldiers who protect the empire’s roads from all evil.
Now Rossamünd must begin the journey of his life, travelling the Half-Continent, a world full of people who can be as predatory as any monster he can imagine. And when he falls in with the mysterious and talented Europe, who can soot electricity out of her body and call lightning down from the sky, he learns that some people can truly be lethal ...
Rossamünd is a foundling (orphan) found abandoned as a baby at the front door of an orphanage run by Madam Opera. Bullied by the other children for his unfortunate name (notably Gosling who’s been abandoned by his rich family in preference for their dogs), Rossamünd is protected by Verline, a serving maid, and Fransitart, his Dormitory Master who appears to know more of Rossamünd’s past than he’s letting on, and he dreams of joining the Half-Continent’s navy for a life of adventure. All this changes though when the enigmatic Sebastipole arrives to offer Rossamünd an apprenticeship to the Lamplighters, the organisation that keeps the lights burning along the Half-Continent’s roads. However, in order to start his new life, Rossamünd first has to get there ...
Cornish has created an incredible world that combines pre-industrial, 18th century history with biological steam-punk and Dickensian storytelling. The attention to detail extends to a huge glossary explaining the terms used in the text and there are illustrations of all the characters who Rossamünd meets in his adventure. There are also appendices showing the further diagrams and setting out basic information that’s integral to the Half-Continent world.
The story itself is a journey, filled with mishaps and hints at the truth behind Rossamünd’s past. Rossamünd is a naïf who judges people by how they react to his name and enjoys reading pamphlets describing heroic endeavours. Although his critical mistake induces an eye-roll, it brings him into contact with characters such as the villainous Poundinch, Miss Europe (a famous monster killer who has had her body surgically altered to enable her to shoot out electricity) and Fouracres (a postman and the only person who stands up to Europe). The attitude of people towards the monsters is important to the story and there’s a scene featuring Europe and the Misbegotten Schrewd that packs a physical and emotional punch.
All-in-all this is a fascinating and engrossing read that’s thoroughly enjoyable and has all the makings of a future children’s classic. Cornish is a writer to watch and this is a series with a hell of a lot of potential.
The Verdict:
This has been one of my favourite reads of the year because the scope of the world building and attention to detail is incredible. The characters are memorable and the ideas that Cornish has are astounding in their originality. This has all the makings of being a classic series that will be loved for years to come.
Growing up at Madam Opera’s Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls, Rossamünd Bookchild – a boy with an unfortunate name – has led sheltered from the dangers of the world. But this all changes the day the man with the strange red-and-pale-blue eyes recruits him into the service of the Emperor. Rossamünd has been drafted into the ranks of the Half-Continent’s “lamplighters” – soldiers who protect the empire’s roads from all evil.
Now Rossamünd must begin the journey of his life, travelling the Half-Continent, a world full of people who can be as predatory as any monster he can imagine. And when he falls in with the mysterious and talented Europe, who can soot electricity out of her body and call lightning down from the sky, he learns that some people can truly be lethal ...
Rossamünd is a foundling (orphan) found abandoned as a baby at the front door of an orphanage run by Madam Opera. Bullied by the other children for his unfortunate name (notably Gosling who’s been abandoned by his rich family in preference for their dogs), Rossamünd is protected by Verline, a serving maid, and Fransitart, his Dormitory Master who appears to know more of Rossamünd’s past than he’s letting on, and he dreams of joining the Half-Continent’s navy for a life of adventure. All this changes though when the enigmatic Sebastipole arrives to offer Rossamünd an apprenticeship to the Lamplighters, the organisation that keeps the lights burning along the Half-Continent’s roads. However, in order to start his new life, Rossamünd first has to get there ...
Cornish has created an incredible world that combines pre-industrial, 18th century history with biological steam-punk and Dickensian storytelling. The attention to detail extends to a huge glossary explaining the terms used in the text and there are illustrations of all the characters who Rossamünd meets in his adventure. There are also appendices showing the further diagrams and setting out basic information that’s integral to the Half-Continent world.
The story itself is a journey, filled with mishaps and hints at the truth behind Rossamünd’s past. Rossamünd is a naïf who judges people by how they react to his name and enjoys reading pamphlets describing heroic endeavours. Although his critical mistake induces an eye-roll, it brings him into contact with characters such as the villainous Poundinch, Miss Europe (a famous monster killer who has had her body surgically altered to enable her to shoot out electricity) and Fouracres (a postman and the only person who stands up to Europe). The attitude of people towards the monsters is important to the story and there’s a scene featuring Europe and the Misbegotten Schrewd that packs a physical and emotional punch.
All-in-all this is a fascinating and engrossing read that’s thoroughly enjoyable and has all the makings of a future children’s classic. Cornish is a writer to watch and this is a series with a hell of a lot of potential.
The Verdict:
This has been one of my favourite reads of the year because the scope of the world building and attention to detail is incredible. The characters are memorable and the ideas that Cornish has are astounding in their originality. This has all the makings of being a classic series that will be loved for years to come.
