The Kingdom Beyond the Waves
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Review
Praise for The Court of the Air:
‘An inventive, ambitious work, full of wonders and marvels’ Lisa Tuttle, The Times
‘The characters are convincing and colourful, but the real achievement is the setting, a hellish take on Victorian London … the depth and complexity of Hunt’s vision makes it compulsive reading for all ages’ Guardian
‘Wonderfully assured … Hunt knows what his audience like and gives it to them with a sardonic wit and carefully developed tension’ Time Out
‘Studded with invention’ Independent
‘Rich and colourful … keeps you engrossed … a confident, audacious novel’ SFX
‘Like a magpie, Stephen Hunt has plucked colourful events from history and politics and used them for inspiration … Hunts tells his full-blooded tale with lip-smacking relish, revealing a vivid, often gruesome imagination … ‘The Court of the Air’ brims with originality and, from the first, its chase-filled plot never lets up’ Starburst
‘The best book of 2007 … Think Joan Aiken for grown-ups, with echoes of Susanna Clarke … hugely enjoyable’ Historical Novels Review
Review
Praise for The Court of the Air:
‘An inventive, ambitious work, full of wonders and marvels’ Lisa Tuttle, The Times
‘The characters are convincing and colourful, but the real achievement is the setting, a hellish take on Victorian London … the depth and complexity of Hunt’s vision makes it compulsive reading for all ages’ Guardian
‘Wonderfully assured … Hunt knows what his audience like and gives it to them with a sardonic wit and carefully developed tension’ Time Out
‘Studded with invention’ Independent
‘Rich and colourful … keeps you engrossed … a confident, audacious novel’ SFX
‘Like a magpie, Stephen Hunt has plucked colourful events from history and politics and used them for inspiration … Hunts tells his full-blooded tale with lip-smacking relish, revealing a vivid, often gruesome imagination … ‘The Court of the Air’ brims with originality and, from the first, its chase-filled plot never lets up’ Starburst
‘The best book of 2007 … Think Joan Aiken for grown-ups, with echoes of Susanna Clarke … hugely enjoyable’ Historical Novels Review
--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hunt's first book 'Court of the Air' seem to fall into that 'love it or loath it' category, and so had very mixed reviews on here. I presume people contemplating this book have already read COTA and enjoyed it.
If so you are unlikely to be disappointed with 'kingdom beyond the waves'. It offers the same breathtaking mix of wonder and nightmare and holds up a fair ground mirror to our own world and history reflecting back a place that is both alien, weird and yet strangely familiar.
Hunt does non stop action as well as anyone, it's breathless stuff but beautifully told, going up and down the action gears so smoothly you hardly notice you have crept to the edge of your seat.
The story largely drops the heroes Molly and Oliver from COTA and gives centre stage to Amelia Harsh and Commodore Black who both featured, but to a much lesser degree last time. It also introduces us to 'Furnace Breath Nick' and his able side kick Septimoth a couple of brilliant anti-heroes. They are all swept along in a story of lost civilizations, giant airships, Amazonian warrior women, rogue robots and so much more!
Then the book gives us a giant 'James Bond' climax. Time running out to save the world, heroes battling their arch enemies amid a larger battle and an arch villian seemingly unable to say 'kill them' instead opting for 'take them away'. Very 007 but with that distinctive Jackalian twist.
I love these books though appreciate they are not to everyones taste. This offering is not as grim and black as COTA, and perhaps does not manage the same ongoing level of tension, but on a big plus side now being familiar with Hunt's world I was able to race into the story full tilt without having to stumble through the first 200 pages wondering what an earth was going on.
If so you are unlikely to be disappointed with 'kingdom beyond the waves'. It offers the same breathtaking mix of wonder and nightmare and holds up a fair ground mirror to our own world and history reflecting back a place that is both alien, weird and yet strangely familiar.
Hunt does non stop action as well as anyone, it's breathless stuff but beautifully told, going up and down the action gears so smoothly you hardly notice you have crept to the edge of your seat.
The story largely drops the heroes Molly and Oliver from COTA and gives centre stage to Amelia Harsh and Commodore Black who both featured, but to a much lesser degree last time. It also introduces us to 'Furnace Breath Nick' and his able side kick Septimoth a couple of brilliant anti-heroes. They are all swept along in a story of lost civilizations, giant airships, Amazonian warrior women, rogue robots and so much more!
Then the book gives us a giant 'James Bond' climax. Time running out to save the world, heroes battling their arch enemies amid a larger battle and an arch villian seemingly unable to say 'kill them' instead opting for 'take them away'. Very 007 but with that distinctive Jackalian twist.
I love these books though appreciate they are not to everyones taste. This offering is not as grim and black as COTA, and perhaps does not manage the same ongoing level of tension, but on a big plus side now being familiar with Hunt's world I was able to race into the story full tilt without having to stumble through the first 200 pages wondering what an earth was going on.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a sequel to Hunt's "The Court of the Air", taking place a few months after the earlier story ends and involving some of the same characters. It stands alone, but if you haven't read "Court" I would do so first (for a start, it is an excellent read).
Both books focus on the kingdom of Jackals, a state that bears some similarity to late 18th/ early 19th century Britain, guarded by a trusty fleet of airships from the fiendish plots of neighbouring revolutionary Quatreshift. Jackals sees itself as the beacon of liberty, but that is relative: for example, the titular King has his arms removed so that he can't lift his hands against the people.
"Court of the Air" featured an invasion of Jackals by Quatreshift, foiled by agents of the Court itself (which literally watches over Jackals) assisted by a race of steam powered robots, the oddly sympathetic steammen. Much of the action of "Kingdom", in contrast, takes place outside Jackals, on an expedition (by submarine!) to seek the ruins of a lost, peaceful civilization which it is hoped can elevate the state of the world. This trip upriver into the deep jungle has overtones of "Heart of Darkness" combined with a dollop of "The Lost World" as our heroes (and heroines) battle with a sentient vegetable empire, steammen turned savage and giant lizards. The tension increases throughout. There is a saboteur on the boat - but who is it, and what do they want?
In the second part we learn more about the true motives for the trip, and in a conclusion worthy of a James Bond film, the survival of the human race is at stake.
The world of Jackals (perhaps Earth, far in the future?) is well realised. It contains many echoes of our own (apart from the Jackals/ Quatreshift relationship) and it's fun spotting the references, but Jackals also has its own deep weirdness and twisted logic.
This is a real page turner, and I recommend it strongly.
Clearly there's scope here for many more stories (please Mr Hunt!)
Both books focus on the kingdom of Jackals, a state that bears some similarity to late 18th/ early 19th century Britain, guarded by a trusty fleet of airships from the fiendish plots of neighbouring revolutionary Quatreshift. Jackals sees itself as the beacon of liberty, but that is relative: for example, the titular King has his arms removed so that he can't lift his hands against the people.
"Court of the Air" featured an invasion of Jackals by Quatreshift, foiled by agents of the Court itself (which literally watches over Jackals) assisted by a race of steam powered robots, the oddly sympathetic steammen. Much of the action of "Kingdom", in contrast, takes place outside Jackals, on an expedition (by submarine!) to seek the ruins of a lost, peaceful civilization which it is hoped can elevate the state of the world. This trip upriver into the deep jungle has overtones of "Heart of Darkness" combined with a dollop of "The Lost World" as our heroes (and heroines) battle with a sentient vegetable empire, steammen turned savage and giant lizards. The tension increases throughout. There is a saboteur on the boat - but who is it, and what do they want?
In the second part we learn more about the true motives for the trip, and in a conclusion worthy of a James Bond film, the survival of the human race is at stake.
The world of Jackals (perhaps Earth, far in the future?) is well realised. It contains many echoes of our own (apart from the Jackals/ Quatreshift relationship) and it's fun spotting the references, but Jackals also has its own deep weirdness and twisted logic.
This is a real page turner, and I recommend it strongly.
Clearly there's scope here for many more stories (please Mr Hunt!)
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I did not entirely enjoy his first novel, however I found myself strongly wanting to read his second. I was rewarded with a fantasic tale of archaeology akin to Mr Jones and his adventures with extra excitement added. This book was fantastic, I found myself highly addicted, and entirely unable to ignore the plight of any of the characters in this book. If you have not been 100% convinced by Stephen Hunt in the past I encourage you to persevere... this book has been well worth it.. I have high expectations for his third book, I belive he gets better as he progresses through the series
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
So much better than court of the air!!
What a great book. Having read 'Court of the Air (COTA)' (the first 'Jackals') book I was dubious about trying the next one - COTA has (for me) too many killed off characters and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Em
Thoroughly rewarding
With The Kingdom Beyond the Waves, author Stephen Hunt brings us a melange of fantasy and science fiction more than a little reminiscent of `Tales Of The Dying Earth' by Jack... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Roger Hutchings
There is genius here...
If you have read any of Stephen Hunt's other books then you already know he is a genius - possibly a mad one, but still a genius. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Andrew Hope
Profoundly entertaining
More witty and clever read-it-in-a-single-weekend-sitting fiction from Stephen Hunt. This time, the adventure is one for the adults, with an Indiana Jones-like professor of history... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Naomi Gaffney
Another majestic fantasy read
The Kingdom Beyond the Waves is an incredibly accomplished fantasy adventure. The pace throughout gallops along, its characters are finely developed and the storyline has enough... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Ella McGraw
Wells impressed
I'm a huge fan of Stephen Hunt.For me they hark back to good old fashioned sci fi in the mould of H.G.Wells and Jules Verne who's books I adore. Read more
Published 21 months ago by S. Corbett
A brilliantly imaginative novel
The Kingdom Beyond the Waves is the second Stephen Hunt novel I have read in the Jackelian sequence The Court of the Air, and this is easily one of the top seven fantasy and... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Queen of Fantasy
The Kingdom beyond the Waves
Once again an excellent book from the author Stephen Hunt. The story moved quickly and the characters were well formed. Looking forward to his next book.
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by Mr. Andrew J. Mclellan
Like No Other Book
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and if you are a bit of a steampunk fan then this would probably apeal to you as well. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2009 by M. G. Chisholm
Erm... this is a tough one to rate
On the plus side the book is filled with great story-line ideas, fabulous sci-fi/fantasy-tech and has an immensely vivid background history that makes you want to know more about... Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2009 by Flemming Nielsen
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