Sunday Treasury

The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities

Imagine my surprise when I, or rather the Wunderkammer was presented with the opportunity to receive a book for review. It will become clear that I have never reviewed a book in just a few sentences, but I could not pass up the chance to try especially as the book is itself a Wunderkammer.

Edited by Ann & Jeff Vandermeer, The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities is a fantastical collection of stories, art and brief snippets organized around Dr. Lambshead's cabinet. Being unfamiliar with the first book regarding Lambshead I stumbled a bit to find footing in the opening narrative, but once I did I was rewarded with an entertaining if occasionally uneven experience.

Rather than give you a play by play of the books contents, authors and artists, which are better explained by reviewers by trade I shall endeavor to give you just my unfettered opinions.

First the minor complaints. I was disappointed by the lack of color in any of the illustrations or photos particularly because quite a few of the related stories made use of their color in the narrative. In those cases I think a sprinkle of color would have gone a long way to immersing the reader in the material, instead we're left with what occasionally feels like a bad photocopy of what is surely an amazing piece of art in person. This is not the prevailing case as much of the art is fantastic even in black and white.

The other slight disappointment was in the final section, A Brief Catalog Of Other Items, where small descriptions of items devolved at times to absurd puns. To be fair they were entertaining, well written  puns, but they did not fit the overall tone of the piece and thus were a distraction from the other more tangible descriptions. There ends my complaint with the book, so let's go with some questions.

Is the book strictly Steampunk? Though that is how it was presented to me, the short answer is no. It will absolutely appeal to that audience however.  The longer answer depends on your definition of steampunk itself, which is a really involved discussion that serves no real purpose at this juncture. It certainly contains steampunk creations, authors and artists, but like my little Wunderkammer here, it expands to hold much more that is slightly odd, disturbing and darkly beautiful.

Is it an easy read? Bloody hell, no. The language and structure of many of the stories requires rapt attention. Occasionally whole sections require flipping to a footnote section to fully understand what is recounted. The various stories are presented as complete narratives, technical descriptions, historical accounts and collections of correspondence. This is a book that requires you to be an active reader.

But is it good? Yes, yes it is. If you enjoy weird tales, Lovecraft, dark fantasy or alternate histories, this is a fabulous read. Trying to pick some things to highlight is difficult as I enjoyed most of them and that's just too long a list, but he stories by Cherie Priest, China Miéville, Garth Nix and Jeffrey Ford are still vividly with me as wonderful stand alone tales. There is certainly nothing that should be skipped.

 The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities is available in hardcover now.

So, thank you to whoever got my humble blog on the list to be able to read and share this book with you. Please do let me know how my first review was...kindly. Hopefully this won't be the last Wunderkammer book review.

Silver Rings

That Sing

1. Rough Diamond and Tiny Cut Diamond Ring - valkasinskas
2. Sterling Silver Corset style Color Changing Mood Ring - MerCurios
3. Double Finger Quartz Knuckle Duster - AngelaMonaco 

4. Cyberpunk Jewelry - RING - Hematite wire and Black Onyx - CatherinetteRings

Yes, I'm window shopping for myself again. I just adore rings with character.

Machines

In Another Age

1. Dangerous Machine Steampunk Art Print - TigerHouseArt 

2. Shrine - USS Liberty - OtherDimensions 

3. H.G. Well's Inspired "Time Machine" - ClockworkReverie 

4. Steampunk Silhouette Perambulator Inventor walking - BarkingMadArts

Oh, the imagination.

Chain

Me Up

1. Stunning One of a kind Chain Dress - roxertronica 

2. Ostrich Bone and Crystal Chain Dress - jlinsnider 

3. Modern Deco Chain Dress - RunawayCouture 

4. BITE ME harness human tooth chain - nafrayou

Stunning chain creations with unexpected accents. Apparently cloth is overrated.

Secret

Identity

1. steampunk crow mask - VincentCantillon 

2. Octopus Mask - OakMyth

 3. Great Horned Owl Mask - SundriesAndPlunder

4. Clockwork Steampunk (OOAK) Painted Mask - mistypinktiger 

If you didn't know, I love making masks. I'm guessing these artists do as well.

Kick Start It

Sunday Treasury

Flickr Day

Shoot First

Ask Questions Later

1. Ray Gun, Cast Aluminum and Bronze, with Spring Trigger for Cosmic Rays - Nelles 

2. Ray Gun Armory Print - OrpheusAlchemy 

3. Retro Raygun Art Print 11x14 - Opafaf
4. Espectro Pistola Marca Uno - tinplatestudios
I swear, I only love guns when they are full of sci-fi glory and you know, can't kill me.

Symmetry

Is For Suckers

1. One Shoulder Sleeve Dress - marcellamoda
2. Lace Biker Dress - PurebyCatrionaG
3. Black Off shoulder dress - larimeloom 

4. Funky Basket Wave One Shoulder Dress - ZephyrGraham

Who needs more black dresses for summer? Yep, the answer is me.

Tentacle

So Many Arms

1. Take Out Tentacle - creeplings
2. Womens OCTOPUS Tentacles t shirt - zenthreads 

3. Unisex Tentacles of Horror Hoodie - raygunrobyn (official store)
4. Polymer clay tentacle pendant with ammonite fossil - dogzillalives

I could literally spend an entire month on tentacle finds. Seriously, all but one of these were found on the first page of searching.

We're A Couple

Of Swells

1. Steampunk Civil War Portraits: Adelaide and Silas - WinonaCookie 

2. Romantic Old-Timey Tattooed Lovers framed original paintings - stasiab 

3. Uncle Buck and Aunt Doe - Framed Fine Art Prints - BeatUpCreations 

4. Lord and Lady Zombie Acrylic Painting - BouncingBettyDesigns

Image the stories you create about these imaginary relatives immortalized as couples on your wall. No one will believe you, but still.

Kick Start It

Sunday Treasury

Flickr Day

Murder

Of Crows

1. Huge charcoal colored crow's wings - GeahkBurchill
2. The Crow - solocosmo
3. RAVEN SONG - BarbaraCarter
4. Black Feather Necklace - Black Leather and Gunmetal Chain - LoveAtFirstBlush
Just a little taste of our dark feathered friend.

Wood

That I Could

1. BUGGY CART - Cup Of Tea And A DVD Table - reclaim2fame 

2. Red Night Lamp - Johanvonred 

3. Custom Cedar Cigar Box Powered Speakers - GoodDeedAudio 

4. Piston wall shelf - mattjohnsondesigns
As much as I love a useless bauble, it's always nice when an object has a purpose beyond an aesthetic.

Calliopie

Strikingly Gorgeous

1. Mistress 

2. Pidge and Lawrentius 

3. Down Street Poster Print 

4. Gramophine Girl 

All pieces by Calliopie

I loved every piece in this shop, so gorgeous!

Hey, Lady

Pretty Lady

1. ILLUMINATIONIST 8x10 print - SusanSchroderArts 

2. Mermaid Seahorse Print - 7x7 Fine Art PRINT - thefiligree 

3. Steampunk red head Butterfly Print digital Art - muertosdesigns 

4. Steampunk Fashion Victorian Gothic Lady of Darkness Art Print - whimsicalFantasy

Technology and elegance combined.

Kick Start It

Sunday Treasury

Flickr Day

Skull Spider

Two Great Tastes

1. The Skull Spider - billyblue22
2. Spider Made of Skulls - T-Shirt - bloomdustclothing 

3. Cyborg Spider Sculpture made of Vintage Metal - steamplanet 

4. Silk skull scarf - Kteis

That taste great together...no? Well, they look disturbingly beautiful together right?

Left My Soul There

Down By The Sea

1. Mechanical Koi Fish - KiriMothDesigns 

2. Dark Aquatic Mechanical Jellyfish - monsterkookies 

3. The Bionic Crawfish - ReactionDesigns 

4. Steamboat Whale - SugarBeetPress

Where beautiful, soulless, mechanical beasts lie under the waves.

Curiosity

Is Key

1. Lunar light - Vocisconnesse 

2. SKELETON KEY 11x14 Photographic Print - DragonflyandSeahorse 

3. Unlocking History - 8x10 Fine Art Photography Print - MommyMakes 

4. The Birdcage Man 5x7 Inch Fine Art Print - deepwithinthearmoire

I have always had a love of old keys...always. I suppose its the mysteries they might hold, their stories that remain untold.

Leather

And Steampunk

1. Typewriter Key Arm Guard - BruteForceStudios 

2. Steampunk Vial Pouch - SkinzNhydez 

3. Steampunk Heavy Distressed Ornate Gear Brown Leather Handbag - studio724 

4. Brown Leather Skeleton Watch Cuff - TheLeatherDragon

Just some great gadgets of leather and rivets.