The Adventure of the Ring of Stones

Narbondo #8

by James P. Blaylock, J.K. Potter (Illustrations)

The secret log of a murdered lighthouse keeper falls into the hands of the immensely wealthy Gilbert Frobisher, who discovers encoded within it a stunning and dangerous mystery.

Against all odds Langdon St. Ives and his companions set sail in the dark of night for the West Indies aboard Gilbert Frobisher’s steam yacht, pursued by murderous pirates and bound for an uncharted volcanic island on the verge of eruption. There they undertake the perilous search for a hidden treasure protected by an unspeakable pagan god, and in the process unleash a power that will ultimately threaten the devastation of London.

Genres: Steampunk, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Horror

172 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 2014

About the author

James 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.

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

To love language is to love Blaylock. Vocabulary of the narration and the characters is lyrical, old-worldly, roller-coaster for the tongue enjoyment.

"Ring of Stones" is a simple, linear narration virtually parallel to "King Kong" with only a few substitutions. It's the characters, both stodgy and lighthearted, intrepid to the core, which makes this an excellent read I strongly recommend.

[Deedee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was an action-packed adventure story. Action elements included: (major pirates, exploding volcanoes, semi-sentient Gigantic Cephalopods) as well as the standard steampunk elements. All in a short novel!

Women are mentioned in the story but none are present in the story. Story did not pass the Bechtel Test.

[Erick Mertz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really solid book. Great voice. Had an authentic feeling throughout. My only quibble in the book is with the pacing of the action sequences which felt video game to me. The end was a little stiff, but I, going back to read the other adventures with these characters.

www.erickmertzauthor.com

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully looney.

Cheers.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Blaylock's books are always fun, but this one - enjoyable as it is - relies a bit too much on ideas and concepts from the original King Kong. Yet it's still a good read.

[Todd Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blaylock is a great writer with sublime prose. A joy to read.

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Adventure of the Ring of Stones is one of several novellas written by James P. Blaylock that Subterranean Press has published. Each of these is a stand-alone steampunk adventure featuring Langdon St. Ives, the gentleman scientist/adventurer who stars in Blaylock’s LANDGDON ST. IVES novels. It would be helpful, but not at all necessary, to have read the novels Homunculus, Lord Kelvin’s Machine, and The Aylesford Skull before reading this novella. Not so much for the history of the character, but really more so you’ll be in tune with Blaylock’s very particular sense of humor. It may not seem like it at first, but these books are comedies and I’m not sure how well that comes across in Blaylock’s shorter works if you’re not already familiar with his style. Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant little lark of a book, often categorized as steam-punk, but seems relatively independent of many of the customs of that genre. The book is one in a series of Langdon St. Ives stories, but he does not play a very central character in the story. Anyway, fun in a Victorian era sort of way searching for treasure in the south seas and finding something more than expected. Worth reading if you enjoy action adventures with good language styling and setting from that era with a pseudozoological fantastic element included.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a swash-buckling lark of a book. Read it for fun.

[Avis Black]

Tells instead of shows. I've enjoyed other works by Blaylock, but this book isn't that interesting.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light entry in the Langdon St Ives series of steampunk novels. Short novel which challenged my willing suspension of disbelief frequently. Quick read though.