The Court of the Air
A hugely engaging adventure set in a Victorian-style world — a fantastical version of Dickens — that will appeal to fans of Susanna Clarke and Philip Pullman. Two orphans are more than they seem. And one megalomaniac will stop at nothing to find them!
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Review by GM Jones for The Court of the Air
(5 / 5)
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Stephen Hunt’s “The Court of The Air” has been out for some time now, but until recently I’ve been put off reading it by negative comments and often mixed reviews. Well, I finally took the plunge and, while I can see how it might not be for everyone, what’s certain is that it’s definitely for me.
I read this 600-page beast in 3 days flat (Admittedly I don’t have much of a life). It’s a dizzying joy of a novel, a colourful mish-mash of ideas and influences of such startling vividness that at times it was like a splash of cold water in the face.
Needless to say, I loved this novel.
The background concerns the two rival countries of Jackals and Quatershift, which are ruled by twisted parodies of real political systems – One a cruel kind of constitutional monarchy, the kind that nobody would want to be monarch of, the other an extreme form of Communism which takes the concept of “equality for all” to insane and gruesome lengths. Add to this a touch of the French Revolution and the English civil war, a free state of intelligent steam-powered robots (often the most sympathetic characters), some secret police, a mutating/superpower bestowing fog known as “feymist” (Which may also be the entrance to another reality), Long-dead, subterranean Aztec-style civilizations with ancient insect gods (Who want to come back), bizarre land disturbances known as “floatquakes” which send sections of land bouncing upwards into space(!), Dickensian squalor, a touch of social commentary, and quite a lot else – in fact, so much idea and invention it’s impossible to mention it all in one review – all funnelled through a comparatively straightforward plot about two fugitive orphans with a destiny, a grand political conspiracy, and a Crown Prince who doesn’t want to have his arms chopped off come Coronation day.
In short, it’s bonkers. And utterly, utterly brilliant.
Admittedly the book can be a bit of a challenge, at least initially. No, not much is explained, and the author does require you to do some of the work yourself, but that’s fine and a perfectly acceptable way to write. Perhaps readers who expect to be spoonfed, expect novels to be like a form of text television where no thought is required on the part of the audience, will be disappointed, but I didn’t mind at all. I had no trouble understanding any of the concepts, the plot or what the overarching themes were. I was never confused and never bored, not for a moment. And I make no claims to genius.
Having said that, a little more physical description could have come in handy on occasion, as I sometimes had trouble visualising objects, people and settings from Hunt’s terse one-line sketches.
Also, something I only noticed after reading it is that it’s an oddly asexual novel. Not only is there no romance, (Which I was a little disappointed about as I was expecting fireworks when Molly and Oliver finally met) but as far as I can remember very few, if any, of the characters in the book had a wife or a husband or a significant other of any kind. Not a criticism as such, but something I found a little odd in retrospect.
But overall I’m happy to say, after Having finally gotten around to reading this, I’ll be buying the other three (so far) in this series and devouring them all in one enormous book-based gulp. I’ve just discovered my new favourite author.
Don’t let the nay-sayers put you off – if you like fantasy fiction and don’t mind a read that challenges you, crack this open as soon as you can get your hands on it!
Review by Mr. A. I. Harrison for The Court of the Air
(4 / 5)
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Wow! There is so much to love about this book. It’s fast paced, action packed, crammed full with great ideas and big personalities and has a real emotional roller coaster of a story.
All of that is waiting to be discovered and enjoyed the only problem is you are thrown headlong into the alien world (a kind of steam driven sc-fi Victorian world) without guide, map, briefing or translator. The first 200 pages were like hacking through a near impenitrable forest with a pen knife!. As nothing is explained to the reader you have to figure everything out yourself which is initially exhausting.
However once you have got your bearings and sussed out the terminology you emerge from the forest onto a truly awe inspiring landscape, magician’s, robots, spies, an airborne navy, revolutionaries, superheroes, full pitched battles, underground cities, floating cities… I could go on, safe to say there is plenty happening! and all at a breathless, break neck hurtling pace. A real page turner.
Do not be fooled by the jolly Phileas Fogg cover either, this is a grim and dark adult/teen story, not a children story. I won’t even try to give you a plot synopsis but the action revolves around two teenage orphans who are sucked into a battle for the very earth itself. However there is a huge cast list of support charactors and it was here I found the most endearing personalities.
I really feel a glossory would have helped and I am amazed it hasn’t got one and this omission along with for me a slightly disappointing final show down with the chief baddy is all that stopped it getting a full 5 stars and I will be buying the next in the series fairly shortly! which is supposed to be even better.
Review by Hugh Sutherland for The Court of the Air
(3 / 5)
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I’ve had this book for a long time, initially drawn to the synopsis on the back cover it has lingered on my shelf due to the not so positive feedback from friends and the reviews on Amazon. I finally decided to read the book and am glad that I did, however I am more pleased that I’ve finished it.
There is no doubt that the imagination behind its construct is admirable. The creation of the Fey and the Worldsingers are particularly interesting, however the trouble is that it is all very confusing. I found that the majority of the time I was only getting the gist of the story but not understanding the full picture. Whilst the Kingdom of the Jackals may be clear to the author it is not so for the reader. There is no easy access to this world and you are presented with different races, places and a complex history of it’s time and people all of which are poorly explained. It seems the author assumes that you will fully understand and accept what is presented, however this is not the case.
I really tried to understand but found that I failed to keep up with it’s relentless pace. I was unsure as to who was fighting whom and for what reason. The book would have served better had it been the climax of a series, with the reader already having a full understanding of the world the author created but as a first book it is a world unto itself.
Whilst I wouldn’t tell anyone not to read this book I would suggest approaching it with caution and to read all the reviews on Amazon to get a good indication of what the book may hold.
Review by David A. Harris for The Court of the Air
(4 / 5)
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This is an excellent book, a real page turner, depicting an intricate war between (fairly absolute) evil and (more than slightly grubby) good. The fictional world is vividly constructed and utterly convincing. The Kingdom of Jackals and its enemy, revolutionary Quatreshift, rather resemble late 18th century Britain and France in politics and general situation – Jackals defended by its navy of trusty airships, Quatreshift bleeding as enemies of the people are liquidated by the Gideon’s Collar. But both states have much more to them than that, and older things sleep (or not) deep beneath Jackals, waiting to be summoned.
Through this bizarre world we follow the adventures of Molly and Oliver, orphans, whose special talents make them targets for the underground evil. We also meet a race of noble steam powered robots, and a covert organisation – the eponymous Court – dedicated to preserving Jackals. It all culminates in an epic battle involving gods, revolutionaries, human and fey armies, the Steammen and more (with some echoes of Philip Pullman – but although this is emphatically not a His Dark Materials clone).
There is much, much more. My only reservation – and why I give it four stars rather than five – is that perhaps there is too much for all the elements to be knitted together properly. The Court, for example, really only plays a peripheral role, and other themes and characters (such as the Observer and her bullish colleague) don’t really serve much purpose. I think the material could have been better served if it had been used for two or even three books. Perhaps there will be a sequel? (Refreshingly, there is no and-they-all-lived-happily-ever-after – once their temporary alliance to save the world end, the central characters pursue wildly different courses and are bound to come into conflict).
But please don’t be put off by that minor quibble. Do buy this book, it’s vastly entertaining and a rivetting good read.
Review by Susu7of9 for The Court of the Air
(4 / 5)
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Two orphans find themselves on the run from the authorities. Molly might be called a feisty and defensive redhead. She has her reasons. As a baby she was unceremoniously dumped on the step of the Poorhouse. She’s been in trouble almost ever since. The Beadle despairs of getting his graft from her as he sends her out on yet another job.
Oliver is also a strange boy. Found after five years inside the Fey mist he has been monitored ever since by the Worldsingers. Somehow he has always avoided being taken away to the Asylum or to become one of the Special Guard with a restraining torc. Oliver has his secrets not least his dreams being invaded by the Whisperer, a tortured fey-altered man secured inside the Hawklam Asylum. But it is only when the disreputable Harry Stave arrives that Oliver finds his old life is over and he is on the run whilst hardly knowing why.
The world presented through this novel is at once familiar and yet comprehensively different to our own. The opening pages did not give any clues to the environment we have entered. Teasingly, Molly is presented as little Orphan Annie complete with the defiant personality that marks her out as trouble with a capital T.
A great deal of thought has gone into creating a fantastical yet believable background to the adventures. The backdrop is at least as important as a character and it has to be a smooth transition from our world to theirs. This one packs in pneumatic towers, mechanical men and everyone’s favourite aerostats. Our world is safe and boring in comparison for this is a desperate place where even the word constitutional monarchy is a vicious understatement of the ghastly truth. Hunt has included another favourite of fantasy writers the availability of crystal grids and the treatment of the land as a living entity and this conception of the background is a intricate and involving process so that we can drop painlessly into this world and feel almost comfortable.
So to the cast of characters who are linked by necessity and drawn to each other as the plot progresses. There are quite a few of them and teasing out the links takes thought. Supporting cast is neatly drawn and although time is short with them there is enough there to get a feel for who they might be. The main characters are harder with the necessary internalisation developing more towards the end of the novel. I feel they have a lot of growing to do and they may need some further time to do that.
I liked the world that this novel is set in. Its danger and despair tempered by the exhilaration of the battle. Hunt is not afraid to decimate his characters either and there is no mincing about with this. It is a gutsy and full-blooded story with some pretty nasty detail unflinchingly presented. There are some superb larger than life characters and also the quiet and unassuming steam-men on whom so much hangs.
Whilst this is a tale of derring-do it does not concentrate on swords and sorcery. There is some sparkling witty dialogue and coy politicking too. There is noble sacrifice and the bloody nose of defeat. I enjoyed it so much I read it twice. Both a tale of great adventure and a dark comment on the danger of fundamental politics; take from it what you want or what you need.