The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack

Burton & Swinburne, Book 1

By: Mark Hodder

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Length: 14 hrs

Publisher's summary

Sir Richard Francis Burton: explorer, linguist, scholar, and swordsman; his reputation tarnished; his career in tatters; his former partner missing and probably dead. Algernon Charles Swinburne: unsuccessful poet and follower of de Sade; for whom pain is pleasure, and brandy is ruin! They stand at a crossroads in their lives and are caught in the epicenter of an empire torn by conflicting forces: engineers transform the landscape with bigger, faster, noisier, and dirtier technological wonders; eugenicists develop specialist animals to provide unpaid labor; libertines oppose repressive laws and demand a society based on beauty and creativity; while the Rakes push the boundaries of human behavior to the limits with magic, drugs, and anarchy.

The two men are sucked into the perilous depths of this moral and ethical vacuum when Lord Palmerston commissions Burton to investigate assaults on young women committed by a weird apparition known as Spring Heeled Jack, and to find out why werewolves are terrorizing London's East End. Their investigations lead them to one of the defining events of the age - and the terrifying possibility that the world they inhabit shouldn't exist at all!

©2010 Mark Hodder (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The usual superlatives for really clever fantasy (imaginative, mind-bending, phantasmagorical) aren’t nearly big enough for this debut novel. With this one book, Hodder has put himself on the genre map.... Hodder’s only problem now is to find a way to follow up this exhilarating debut, which will appeal not only to sf/fantasy readers but also to mystery and historical-fiction fans." (Booklist)

"A historical figure already larger than life, Capt. Sir Richard Francis Burton, pursues a legendary and violent Victorian creature, Spring Heeled Jack, at the behest of the prime minister in this convincingly researched debut. Fans of steampunk will be intrigued by the alternate history setting, in which the queen dies mid-century; they will also enjoy following Burton and his sidekick, poet Algernon Swinburne, as they investigate the dark secrets of 19th-century England and recall Burton's legendary expedition to find the source of the Nile." (Publishers Weekly)

Wow!...interesting

Where does The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is unique among others I've listened to or read. I've never listened or read anything "steampunk", but it was interesting. This book was written so that you had a good mental picture of the machines, characters and environments.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters, the descriptions of events, machines, etc. was great. It was complicated to get into, but it was easy to follow after about the first 15 minutes.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were moments in this book that caused me to gasp with surprise. I listen driving home from work or in to town for errands. I have surprised myself with my reaction to some of the twists and turns in this book.

Any additional comments?

give it a listen - you'll be surprised.

Excellent Story and Narrator

Nineteenth century Great Britain is in the throes of a steampunk industrial revolution, and the past (as we know it) isn't shaping up the way it should have. Into this, comes a mysterious creature, Spring Heeled Jack, who is accosting women and wreaking havoc. Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton (whose real life reads like fiction--look him up!) becomes an agent for the Crown, assigned to solve the case.

This incredibly detailed and richly imagined alternate universe is amazing. Hodder has created realistic literature, political movements, and technology. He has taken one of the great Victorian heroes, Burton, and given him a role that is believable based on his real-life personality. The plot is dense, and requires thought to follow, and is not fully predictable.

This first-of-a-series is a strong piece of steampunk fantasy that is enjoyable, entertaining, and thought-provoking. I highly recommend it!

As for Gerard Doyle--his performance is stellar. He's one of my favorite narrators!

A Mystery Most Excellent

If you could sum up The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack in three words, what would they be?

Strange. Exciting. Historical. The history in this book is mostly excellent excepting for the obvious straying of course. It was a wonderful blend with strange and unusual steampunk elements that also includes some biological advancements that aren't just window dressing for an adventure story but are an integral part of the plot.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Spring-Heeled Jack figure becomes the most interesting character in the story by the end of it

Have you listened to any of Gerard Doyle’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but he was one of my favorite parts of listening to this book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Who the heck let us make this?

Any additional comments?

My primary concern with the book is the story attempts to explain it's universe in a way that's supposed to be sensible but it really just doesn't make sense and so the whole attempt to tie it all together just fails miserably. It's a situation where I've already suspended my belief but the magician just keeps insisting that his sawing this woman in half is only a trick and ruins the performance. But, I will continue with the series anyways since this little debacle is now presumably out of the way and was able to enjoy the rest of the book just fine. It is still one of my favorites and perhaps my favorite example of good steampunk fiction.

Simple and Fun Story

I really enjoyed this story. The narrator did an excellent job. The story is fun & imaginative with a touch of simple here and there. It's like the "easy read" books you take to the cabin.

OK Steampunk but only OK

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Hmmm... not really inspired. The book is basically just an explanation of how a typical steam-punk universe could exist.

Would you recommend The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack to your friends? Why or why not?

no - all the really interesting concepts had been "borrowed" from popular graphic design motifs of the genre. If this book had come out 7 years ago I would have been impressed.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

It was OK

Do you think The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

maybe... if the author has some of his own ideas it could be good.

Time travel fun

Fun steampunk adventure using historic props and characters. Solid starting place for the a series.

Brilliant!

Holder is not just king of Steampunk! He's an amazing novelist in every sense. Wit, mystery, timing, style : all quite superior!

A Delight!

Excellent Steampunk. Very enjoyable. I can't wait to start the next book in the series.

First rate!

I have been looking for a new series, having devoured most of Orson Scott Card's works and have finally found it. Great premise, great characters and a thoroughly satisfying audio presentation.

Rambling

What would have made The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack better?

Didn't make it far enough into the story to be able to say.

Would you ever listen to anything by Mark Hodder again?

unknown

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Spoke too fast. Had to go back several times to hear what had been said.
Difficult to keep up with.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disapoinment. Not what I had been expecting.

Any additional comments?

Did not know anymore of what the story was about after one hour of listening than I did after the 1st 5 minutes into the story.
Narrator not clear with different characters.