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Narbondo #5
The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs
An outbreak of violent madness at the Explorers Club, the coincidental murders of a recluse scientist in North Kent and a lighthouse keeper on the chalk cliffs below Brighton, and the mysterious disappearance of Alice St. Ives, lead Langdon St. Ives, Jack Owlesby, and their resolute friend Tubby Frobisher into the very heart of danger, where they discover the great secret of the chalk cliffs at Beachy Head and a looming threat to the collective sanity of mankind.
173 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2011
About the author
James P. Blaylock
114 books286 followersJames Paul Blaylock is an American fantasy author. He is noted for his distinctive style. He writes in a humorous way: His characters never walk, they clump along, or when someone complains (in a flying machine) that flight is impossible, the other characters agree and show him why he's right.
He was born in Long Beach, California; studied English at California State University, Fullerton, receiving an M.A. in 1974; and lives in Orange, California, teaching creative writing at Chapman University. Many of his books are set in Orange County, California, and can more specifically be termed "fabulism" — that is, fantastic things happen in our present-day world, rather than in traditional fantasy, where the setting is often some other world. His works have also been categorized as magic realism.
He and his friends Tim Powers and K.W. Jeter were mentored by Philip K. Dick. Along with Powers he invented the poet William Ashbless. Blaylock and Powers have often collaborated with each other on writing stories, including The Better Boy, On Pirates, and The William Ashbless Memorial Cookbook.
Blaylock is also currently director of the Creative Writing Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts, where Powers is Writer in Residence.
He was born in Long Beach, California; studied English at California State University, Fullerton, receiving an M.A. in 1974; and lives in Orange, California, teaching creative writing at Chapman University. Many of his books are set in Orange County, California, and can more specifically be termed "fabulism" — that is, fantastic things happen in our present-day world, rather than in traditional fantasy, where the setting is often some other world. His works have also been categorized as magic realism.
He and his friends Tim Powers and K.W. Jeter were mentored by Philip K. Dick. Along with Powers he invented the poet William Ashbless. Blaylock and Powers have often collaborated with each other on writing stories, including The Better Boy, On Pirates, and The William Ashbless Memorial Cookbook.
Blaylock is also currently director of the Creative Writing Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts, where Powers is Writer in Residence.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 14, 2013
Langdon St. Ives returns in The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs, James P. Blaylock’s latest LANGDON ST. IVES ADVENTURE.
St. Ives is described as “the greatest, if largely unheralded, explorer and scientist in the Western World … piecing together a magnetic engine for a voyage to the moon.” Unfortunately, the premise of The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs is less ambitious than its protagonist. Although our heroes are explorers and scientists, they do little exploring here. In fact, they don’t even leave England. Worse, there is little mention of magnetic engines or steam engines, though an emerald’s power has a slight impact on the plot.
The adventure begins with an outbreak of madness at the Explorer’s Club, but don’t expect to see mad explorers. ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
St. Ives is described as “the greatest, if largely unheralded, explorer and scientist in the Western World … piecing together a magnetic engine for a voyage to the moon.” Unfortunately, the premise of The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs is less ambitious than its protagonist. Although our heroes are explorers and scientists, they do little exploring here. In fact, they don’t even leave England. Worse, there is little mention of magnetic engines or steam engines, though an emerald’s power has a slight impact on the plot.
The adventure begins with an outbreak of madness at the Explorer’s Club, but don’t expect to see mad explorers. ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
June 28, 2011
I became a fan of the newly-named Steampunk genre in 1985 or 1986, after reading James Blaylock's Homunculus. Now, 25 or so years later, it's interesting to read new stories about those characters, knowing that Steampunk (as a genre) has grown and changed into something else.
The adventures of Professor Langdon St. Ives and his friends still read like madcap, pulpy adventures. This one is fast-paced and funny, with the friends striving to stop the evil hunchback, Doctor Ignacio Narabando, from gaining control of a madness-inducing ray. It's got action, mystery, secret lairs and Victorian-era technology developed beyond what actually existed. It's everything I remember from the original, and everything I want from a new James Blaylock story about these characters.
It's also got some great, weird illustrations by JK Potter, that perfectly capture the feel of the story. All in all, fans of what Steampunk has been developed into may be disappointed by this story's lack of clockwork technology and characters wearing goggles. Fans of old-fashioned pulp adventure, however, will love it.
The adventures of Professor Langdon St. Ives and his friends still read like madcap, pulpy adventures. This one is fast-paced and funny, with the friends striving to stop the evil hunchback, Doctor Ignacio Narabando, from gaining control of a madness-inducing ray. It's got action, mystery, secret lairs and Victorian-era technology developed beyond what actually existed. It's everything I remember from the original, and everything I want from a new James Blaylock story about these characters.
It's also got some great, weird illustrations by JK Potter, that perfectly capture the feel of the story. All in all, fans of what Steampunk has been developed into may be disappointed by this story's lack of clockwork technology and characters wearing goggles. Fans of old-fashioned pulp adventure, however, will love it.
January 23, 2016
Blaylock's "Langdon St. Ives" series, is classic Victorian English adventure. St. Ives is a brilliant scientist, and adventurer. It's been a few years, since the last St. Ives book, but Blaylock slips into the style of the era, like putting on a favorite pair of slippers. The characters, the plot, the pace, all read like something of the time of Verne, Conan-Doyle, et al. The only problem I had with it, was that it was too short.
June 19, 2011
A solidly written book in the the St. Ives series. The villain uses a "ray" type device to inflict madness on people at a distance. What is disappointing is the protection device used against the "ray." An entertaining short read. Wonderful illustrations.
March 10, 2012
Another fine Langdon St Ives adventure. It's fun reuniting with Jack and the gang. There's not quite as much involvement with St Ives, as he's out of commission part of the time, but we get to know Alice St Ives a little better, which is nice. I hope there will be more adventures to come.
June 30, 2011
Homunculus is by far the best of Blaylock's St.Ives books. This is the latest book in the series. Short and enjoyable. You won't regret having bought/read it.
September 3, 2011
A quick easy Steampunk adventure set in Victorian times. Enjoy reading about Langdon St. Ives as he hunts for the elusive Dr. Narbondo.
May 7, 2013
Another Langdon St. Ives adventure. An extremely enjoyable read.
May 8, 2015
A charming little kitbag of quirks; more complete than his last couple of this series.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews