“Fiddle-de-dee’s not English.”

Larklight: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space by Philip Reeve — I believe it’s the first book in a series, but the next book isn’t out yet and I can’t recall what it’s called.

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read (yeah, yeah, I need to get away from YA lit some day). I have to point out that I generally have problems with works of fiction (or even non-fictional works and sometimes autobiographical ones — yeah, that’s crazy) being in the first person. I have yet to find the reason of this dislike — I initially thought it was because I never got to see the other characters’ points of view, but that doesn’t really cut it, since I get along with third person limited just fine.

Anyway. Space adventures in Victorian times, this is what it is. I was delighted by the whole idea. It was so easy to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy everything. The story revolves around Art Mumby and his sister, Myrtle, who live in a rambling house called Larklight in space. One day they are attacked by spiders, leaving them no choice but to traipse across the known universe, trying to save it from the forces of evil.

The tongue-in-cheek narration of Art was pretty much perfect to me, and I adored the characters. Myrtle and Jack! Who wouldn’t love Myrtle and Jack? And the illustrations were a blast.

Did I mention that there are space pirates in this one? There are space pirates in this book. Good enough reason to be picking it up, I say.