Pure eclectic litpunk fun

Empires rise and fall playing the greatest game, the quest for power and control. Yet the lizard run British empire is losing ground, Frances rebellious Quiet Council of automatons nipping at its heels, a multitude of Chinese infiltrating every where and upstart Vespuccia daring to dream. But there is a new player, the mysterious murderous figure who collects them all, precursor to the long feared alien invasion. An invasion that will rule them all.

Conclusion(?) to the Bookman trilogy, satisfyingly tying together the earlier disparate novels. Although this time its gently riffing of the spy novel its pretty much more of the same: a kaleidoscope, fizzing with ideas, full of action and adventure, a huge host of characters, a slightly meandering plot that is lots of fun whether you enjoy spotting those references or not.

Explosions, chases and mad escapes, fights in the dark and a glut of fabulously mad scientists (my favourite being Pavlov), ancient artefacts and odd futuristic machines.
It's intelligent exuberant mad-cap fun and I heartedly recommend it. The 2nd book may be the best but this is a satisfying conclusion none the less. ( )