Adam and the Arkonauts
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Review
`Dominic Barker is another seriously funny author, and his Adam and the Arkonauts is a joy'
--Independent on Sunday
--Independent on Sunday
Review
'Dominic Barker is another seriously funny author, and his Adam and the Arkonauts is a joy' Independent on Sunday 'The complete conviction with which the story is told, its zany logic, the swift-moving series of events and convoluted comic dialogue should appeal to any reader with a sense of the ridiculous - this reader was laughing' Peter Andrews, School Librarian
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If this sounds at all unusual and quirky - a father and son communicating with creatures - that is by intent. If it sounds a little old-fashioned, then good - this book is to, in a way. But don't worry that it harks totally back to Hugh Lofting. What it does do is provide a great romp of high drama, great comedy and bizarre fantasy, to create one of the most enjoyable titles of the year.
It's the comedy I found the best element. It doesn't exactly have the oddball silliness that, say, Philip Ardagh or Andy Stanton use for a younger audience. This is still perfectly oddball, and slightly surreal, but measured in such a fine way. If anything I would say it harkens back to Spike Milligan. There are brilliant characters, ranging from the monkey, forever scoffing at how poor the hand us tailless humans have been dealt by evolution, to the army ant who turns pacifist, to the forever bruised fans of low bridges. Brilliant lines come at a one-per-page rate at times.
If anything they do slack off when the adventure kicks in, especially later on, but the sense of the unusual is here too. The city is one holding ground for the mysterious, from the signposts that point in all directions, to the police force (basically, one huge family, cropping up with varying degrees of savvy when they're least welcome). Every siesta the city is held ransom itself by the loudest, most annoying tannoy alarm, irritating everyone into changing their leaders at a forthcoming election.
The fantasy comes across slightly, and in fact I wouldn't really classify this as an out-and-out genre piece. Of course there is a huge pinch of salt to be swallowed before accepting the communicating with all creatures side of things, but take that on board and this is a fabulous ride. Yes it clearly is the opening book in a new series, probably a trilogy by the nature of these things, but the end is perfectly satisfactory, and these broad and engaging characters, their unusual extended family and the brilliant humour with which everything is given us, will definitely make me eager to return to this Ark.
Recomend this book for everyone!
It's the comedy I found the best element. It doesn't exactly have the oddball silliness that, say, Philip Ardagh or Andy Stanton use for a younger audience. This is still perfectly oddball, and slightly surreal, but measured in such a fine way. If anything I would say it harkens back to Spike Milligan. There are brilliant characters, ranging from the monkey, forever scoffing at how poor the hand us tailless humans have been dealt by evolution, to the army ant who turns pacifist, to the forever bruised fans of low bridges. Brilliant lines come at a one-per-page rate at times.
If anything they do slack off when the adventure kicks in, especially later on, but the sense of the unusual is here too. The city is one holding ground for the mysterious, from the signposts that point in all directions, to the police force (basically, one huge family, cropping up with varying degrees of savvy when they're least welcome). Every siesta the city is held ransom itself by the loudest, most annoying tannoy alarm, irritating everyone into changing their leaders at a forthcoming election.
The fantasy comes across slightly, and in fact I wouldn't really classify this as an out-and-out genre piece. Of course there is a huge pinch of salt to be swallowed before accepting the communicating with all creatures side of things, but take that on board and this is a fabulous ride. Yes it clearly is the opening book in a new series, probably a trilogy by the nature of these things, but the end is perfectly satisfactory, and these broad and engaging characters, their unusual extended family and the brilliant humour with which everything is given us, will definitely make me eager to return to this Ark.
Recomend this book for everyone!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is the most surreal book i have ever read.It was so out of this world that it was almost unreadalble!
At one point in the book a man pops out of a flour with a flute!And it was at that point that i STOPPED READING!
I also like fantacey and sci-fi books but this one was so unreal that i got a bit bored of the same surreal thing!
At one point in the book a man pops out of a flour with a flute!And it was at that point that i STOPPED READING!
I also like fantacey and sci-fi books but this one was so unreal that i got a bit bored of the same surreal thing!
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