Monster Blood Tattoo
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Monster Blood Tattoo is a children's/young adult's fantasy trilogy written by Australian author D. M. Cornish. It tells the story of Rossamünd, a boy unfortunately christened with a girl's name, who has lived his entire life in a foundlingery (kind of an orphanage) before he is chosen to become a lamplighter in a far away city. The book's action takes place entirely on the Half-Continent, a Dickensian world run by arcane science and alchemy, and plagued with deadly (and not-so-deadly) monsters.
Contents |
[edit] Book One: Foundling
[edit] Book Two: Lamplighter
Lamplighter, the second book in the series, is due for release in May 2007.[1] It is expected that this book will answer some (if not all) of the questions raised and unanswered in book one:
- What is the dire information that Master Fransitart is travelling to Winstermill to give to Rossamünd?
- What is the significance of Rossamünd's name, hinted at by Freckle?
- Will Freckle show up again?
- Will Rossamünd go into service for Miss Europe when she returns?
- What will life as a lamplighter be like?
[edit] Book Three (untitled)
The third book in the series is as-yet untitled, and has no definite release date or year.
[edit] Setting
The Half-Continent is the book's setting, a huge expanse of land bordered by ocean on its south and east sides. The continent, despite being thousands of miles across, is just one part of a larger world that has not yet been named in the series. The map of the half continent labels other lands across the ocean. The events of the book take place in only a (relatively) tiny section of the Half-Continent, and it is a testament to Cornish's world-building that many other places are named or alluded to within the story.
The world of the Half-Continent is based around 18-19th century European culture, bearing some Dickensian traits as well as German influences. The key difference is the presence of a fantastic element. While there is no overt mention of magic, many characters exhibit magic-like powers that are attributed to science and alchemy. Also, there is the obvious existence of monsters - some natural, which differ from animals only through having sentience, and some man-made which are much more twisted and otherworldly than the natural kind.
Technology as we know it has been replaced in Cornish's world with a sort of blend of mechanical and biological machinery. For example, many boats and ships are driven not by oars or engines, but by living, mindless organs and organisms grown into the ship itself, which produce the kinetic energy required for the ship's propulsion, and must be "fed" nutrients and kept alive.
[edit] Major characters
- Rossamünd Bookchild, a foundling boy, probably around twelve years old.
- Master Fransitart, a kindly dormitory master of Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society For Foundling Boys And Girls.
- Master Craumpalin, a dormitory master of Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society For Foundling Boys And Girls.
- Verline, a maid of Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society For Foundling Boys And Girls.
- Sebastipole, a leer.
- Poundinch, a vinegaroon (sailor) and a criminal.
- Miss Europe (AKA the Branden Rose), a famous fulgar.
- Licurius, a leer, Miss Europe's factotum (servant).
- Sallow, a young female skold, encountered at the wayhouse of Harefoot Dig.
- Fouracres, a friendly postman who lends his services as carriage driver for Miss Europe.
- Freckle, a bogle, captive of Poundinch before being freed by Rossamünd.
[edit] Series terminology
- Bogle - nickname for a type of monster, usually encompasses all smaller kinds.
- Fulgar - a type of lahzar, who can summon deadly electricity from within their bodies.
- Habilistics - sciences of all kinds.
- Lahzar - monster hunter and slayer, a person surgically altered to assist with their trade.
- Leer - a spy with chemically-enhanced senses.
- Matter - history, and the study of it.
- Nicker - nickname for a type of monster, usually encompasses all larger kinds.
- Potive - potion, chemical.
- Skold - similar to a lahzar, but wards monsters with potives rather than actively fighting them.
- Threwd - an abstract concept, sort of like fear, but something that an inanimate object (especially a place) can possess. An area that is threwdish, for example a dark forest, can inspire dread and fear in whosoever wanders through it.
