- Hardcover: 221 pages
- Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (Sep 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312860560
- ISBN-13: 978-0312860561
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.7 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,845,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The idea for this book is so sensational it could have come from The Sunday Sport: hideous demonic monsters invade England, laying it to waste and devouring most of the inhabitants. Embargoed by the rest of the world, the English barricade themselves underground until, after five years on the defensive, a counter attack is planned. The Cockatrice Belle, an armoured and heavily-armed train, is built to attack and, if possible, find the source of the plague. The train sets out for Manchester with her crack Cockatrice Corps crew, and by chance picks up Sauna, a young girl who embodies both cause and cure. Readers will be gripped by Joan Aiken's group of evocatively Dickensian and strange characters--Dakin, Clipspeak, Bellswinger and Tom Flint--as they follow their desperate bid to save England in this quirky, inventive fantasy.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Readers will be reminded of "Alice in Wonderland". . .and the movie trilogy Star Wars."--"School Library Journal"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vintage Aiken,
By
This review is from: The Cockatrice Boys (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a fantastic book- if you are a Joan Aiken fan, buy it immediately. Rather than using the mythical, historical backgrounds of the Wolves... series, this is set in modern England- an England which has been overrun by monsters- and the adventures and struggles of two cousins to escape the monsters and the more sinister threats which follow them, and their attempts to unravel the mystery of where it all went wrong.Like all Aiken's best work, there is a deeply scary, nightmare thread running through this book, which probably makes it unsuitable for impressionable younger readers, but makes it ultimately more thrilling and involving for older readers and adults. The monsters are especially entertaining- drawn from Lewis Carroll, ancient mythology, and even Monty Python, they are scary and funny at the same time. Although the book reaches a satisfying conclusion, not all the more peculiar loose ends are tied up, leaving room for re-reading and re-interpreting. A brilliant book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review,
By Ben O'Neill (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Cockatrice Boys (Hardcover)
It has been 3-4 years since I last read this book, but I still remember it as an extremely good read. The ending, whilst a definitive ending, left room for interpretation and throughout the entire book you were kept thinking 'What's going to happen next?' and each time the book took an unexpected turn.
Whilst being a relatively short book compared to others I have read (David Gemmell, The lord of the rings etc) it is still worth a read and if you have any spare money or want a new book I suggest you buy this.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unusually sinister for J.A.'s kids' books,
By
This review is from: The Cockatrice Boys (Paperback)
See the other reviews for story details, I can't be bothered to repeat them; suffice it to say that this one is a real page-turner - as usual for Aiken - and sometimes really quite sinister, with a lot of gallows humour. It's suitable for all adults and most children, but not the more easily upset ones. The creepy bits remind me of "Bridle the Wind", which is just as creepy as anything by M.R. James.
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