This entry was posted at
14:21 GMT on 26 May 2003
Will Duquette has been posting chapters from his novel Through Darkest Zymurgia! the past two weekends, and I do hope he shall continue.
It is most definitely written by Will, his fingerprints are all over it, and it's quite delightful thus far, three chapters in. He has created a concoction that is one part Jules Verne, two parts P. G. Wodehouse, one part H. Rider Haggard, a dash of Douglas Adams, and just a pinch of Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog).
I was also reminded a bit of Poul Anderson's Operation Chaos and Heinlein's Magic, Inc., but I'll comment on that as those elements reveal themselves more fully.
The wit Will displays here is considerable, and his comic timing impeccable. For example, two professors in the first chapter discuss with a third whence they should proceed on their next scientific expedition:
"I'd have thought that Lyricum would have little to offer a mythogeographer by this time."
"You'd be surprised," I said. "There must be hundreds of streets and avenues--"
"--and taverns and inns--," interrupted Carbuncle.
"Yes, and taverns and inns we have not yet explored. As a scientist, it is my duty to leave no corner unturned!"
The only thing striking a false note with me is the use of pasta names for places and operas, an opera title for the name of a wine, and a few other details like that. I've a feeling that sooner or later, though, this will pay off in an unexpected way.
Apart from that minor quibble, Will gets everything right. Each chapter has a very Victorian summation of the major events outlined within. The breezy detachment of the narration is just right. And, hey, he had fun writing it, which means I'm having fun reading it. You should, too.
I'm still waiting to see precisely what "ethnomonotony" is, though. I rather suspect its a joke on its practitioner, or at least a comment by the author on him.