BOOK OF SECRETS
Publisher: Angry Robot
Release Date: UK 2009/2010 US
Reporter Spencer Finch is embroiled in the hunt for a
missing book, encountering along the way cat burglars and mobsters,
hackers and monks. At the same time, he’s trying to make sense of the
legacy left him by his late grandfather, a chest of what appear to be
magazines from the golden age of pulp fiction, and even earlier.
Following his nose, Finch gradually uncovers a
mystery involving a lost Greek play, secret societies, generations of
masked vigilantes… and an entire secret history of mankind.
Sample Chapters available in
PDF,
Mobi, and
ePub formats.
Praise
Book of Secrets
incorporates many of the author’s favourite tropes. The love for
golden age pulp is here as is the idea that books hold power, that
ideas have weight and shape and form. It’s a fascinating book, paced
at breakneck speed with a hard nosed first person narrative and some
great offhand jokes. The real star here is Roberson’s easy going
prose, that carries some big ideas along with elegance and grace and
places the story in a unique hinterland somewhere between steampunk
and action thriller, weaving Spencer’s life into ancient Greek
literature and the pulp stories written by his grandfather. A smart,
literate thriller written by an author whose love for the form is
clear.
Alasdair
Stuart
This mash-up of 1930s pulp
fiction with dreams of a secret heritage accessible only to the
chosen is far more self-aware and entertaining than The Da Vinci
Code. Born of Roberson’s deep affection for radio serials,
comic strips and writers like Michael Moorcock and Gray Morrow, this
affectionate look at finding oneself and finally coming to terms
with one’s roots is accessible, entertaining and made two hours whip
past almost unnoticed. In line with the conventions of the genre,
girls are accessories here, but it would be churlish to take offence
when the story is so entertaining.
Death
Ray
“effective and engaging”
Total SciFi
“incredibly well done and is a
book that has to be applauded for its bravery in this new style of
creation. Definitely a book that can spawn a series and one that I
hope will continue to expand with each future release. Great stuff.”
Falcata Times
Book of Secrets
is a book of genres. In other words, it is a celebration of the age
of pulp with a meta-fictional slant. It moves in two directions–a
very readable first person narrative in the form of a crime novel
that progresses to the conclusion of the mystery and a fantasy novel
that moves in reverse to disclose the nature of the universe.
Roberson is just a damn fine writer. He writes a good sentence; the
novel is structured like a Swiss watch and paced like a Tennessee
walker… In the time of the post-Tolkienians and the novel as brick,
Book of Secrets is unique, refreshing, breezy, and fun.
Red Rook
Review
