The premise behind THE THACKERY T. LAMBSHEAD CABINET OF
CURIOSITIES is amazing. Dr. Lambshead is a scientist who
collects unusual artifacts and the mythical, fantastical,
supernatural stories associated with them. The book uses
text and images to give us a glimpse of his collection. Some
of the top names in speculative fiction and comics
contributed works to the anthology.
Some of the stories read like stories. My favorite piece,
"Lot 558: Shadow of My Nephew by Wells, Charlotte" (written
by Holly Black and illustrated by Eric Orchard) comes across
like a European folk tale with a dab of steampunk thrown in.
In other cases, the text reads like an auction catalog. In
that respect, the writing is rather uneven and sometimes
even hard to follow.
The art styles also vary widely, from pen-and-ink drawings
to computer-generated images. The trade paperback edition
includes only black-and-white reproductions, and it could
benefit from some color. In addition, I found it strange to
have the text describe photographs when all we see are
drawings. Some coordination between writers and artists
might have reduced that seeming discrepancy.
The introduction is a fictional one, and the notes at the
end are biographical and career highlights of the
contributors. For me, the book would have benefited from a
real-world forward or afterward, at least, explaining the
evolution of the project and describing how artists and
authors worked together to develop and describe their
artifact(s).
Fans of the artists and writers featured in the CABINET OF
CURIOSITIES will enjoy this book, as will those who like an
encyclopedic approach to unusual ideas. If you're looking
for a collection of short stories in the traditional sense,
this is not for you.
All-new stories and art from the doctor's wondrous collection.
After the death of Dr. Thackery T. Lambshead at his house in
Wimpering-on-the-Brook, England, a remarkable discovery was
unearthed: the remains of an astonishing cabinet of
curiosities. Many of these artifacts, curios, and wonders
related to anecdotes and stories in the doctor's personal
journals. Others, when shown to the doctor's friends,
elicited further tales from a life like no other.
Thus, in keeping with the bold spirit exemplified by Dr.
Lambs head and his exploits, we now proudly present
highlights from the doctor's cabinet, reconstructed not only
through visual representations but also through exciting
stories of intrigue and adventure.
A carefully selected group of popular artists and acclaimed,
bestselling authors has been assembled to bring this cabinet
of curiosities to life.
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