The Plaid Pladd

Larklight by Philip Reeve

I know it’s shocking for me to review a non-banned-or-challenged book (at least that I know of), but I finished Larklight today and am super pumped to read the sequel. I first picked it up to read for our sci-fi/fantasy week in Children’s Literature class, mostly because the library had helpfully placed a science-fiction sticker on the spine. I made a conscious effort to pick a science-fiction book, since I know my instincts usually lie on the fantasy side. I’m so glad I did! I realize Larklight, in all of its space-faring, steampunk awesomeness, is probably not what Steven would think of as a science-fiction book, mostly because they don’t spend long chunks of prose describing the inner workings of space ships in minute detail. I think that’s what I love most about children’s fiction in general; it has just the right amount of description, and lets me use my imagination for the rest!

The story follows the adventures of Arthur and Myrtle Mumby after they escape a giant space spider attack on their orbiting Victorian space mansion, Larklight. Not knowing where the spiders came from, what they want, or what they might have done with their father, the two set out to try to inform the British Governor of the Moon, but end up getting rescued/kidnapped by a roving band of orphaned space pirates, most of whom are exciting aliens from Britain’s many space colonies. Set in an alternative British Empire where Sir Isaac Newton basically invented space travel, Reeve imagines what the Imperial age would have been like had it incorporated not only other countries, but whole other planets.

Larklight is also noteworthy because Philip Reeve’s extremely well-written story is accompanied by David Wyatt’s beautiful black-and-white illustrations such as:

The space pirates infiltrating the spiders' lair

You should read this book if you like:
1) steampunk space adventures
2) giant spiders
3) slightly snarky olde timey narration
4) awesomeness