THE BOOK LOVERS
**
Written by Steve Aylett. 322 pp
Science-Fiction. Published by Snowbooks Ltd. Available now.
With the diverse likes of Alan Moore, Michael Moorcock and Frankie Boyle singing his praises you may wonder why you have never heard of Steve Aylett. Proudly working far from the mainstream, his string of novels, small press comic books and a self designed set of tarot cards among other things, have marked him out as a singular talent who marches to the beat of his own off-rhythm drum. Perhaps best known for LINT, the fictional biography of infamously irritating author Jeff Lint, it could be said that Aylett specialises in a certain kind of nonsense. Although it could then be easily argued that said nonsense is of the beautifully written and constructed variety, making Aylett that rare beast; a writer's writer.
Perhaps his most commercial work yet, THE BOOK LOVERS is an avant-garde slice of steampunk Victoriana. The plot, running thinly through three hundred plus pages, involves the headstrong Sophie Shafto, a beautiful rebel from high society who arranges her own kidnapping. The reasons for such an action are kept in the dark while we are submerged in an avalanche of prose that introduces the reader to characters such as Jonah Robeck a struggling bookseller struggling with the societal taste of literature being seen as transgressive and the public turning their back on the written word in favour of mirrored books where the reader can dwell on themselves. Whilst Sophie and Jonah bond over their shared love of books, the irascible Inspector Nightjar investigates the “kidnapping” whilst trying to uncover the identity of the mysterious criminal mastermind known as The Rook. Oh, and books have started rewriting themselves too.
Why all of this is happening is of secondary concern to Aylett. He seems far more interested in amusing the reader with witty dialogue from his cast of characters and amusing turns of phrase that pop up on nearly every single page. When it comes to this style of prose it cannot be denied that the author is a dab hand but for those coming to the novel, and perhaps being introduced to Aylett’s stylistic musings for the first time, looking for a well constructed plot they may soon find themselves disappointed and even a little overpowered by the sheer amount of dialogue and sidetracking on offer.
One chapter in particular throws a litany of surreal dialogue that may have some readers closing the book's covers in irritation. The slim rush of plot revelations dropped right before the unsatisfying conclusion also fails to satisfy. There are signs of slight action and world building however, that are reminiscent of Bryan Talbot’s Luther Arkwright and Badgerville graphic novels, that suggest Aylett could deliver a fully realised fantastical comedy but then perhaps such a thing would not really be a Steve Aylett book.
Such a singular author should be celebrated and there is no denying that when the book hits the right notes it is very funny indeed. Some may read it and consider their time wasted whilst others will no doubt delight in finding themselves submerged in such Steampunk surrealism with all of its knowingly daft trappings.
Iain MacLeod
