Fantasy writing is often accused of being a form of mere escapism. But should that in any way be considered a bad thing? Arguably, reading and enjoying original worldbuilding and magical systems can be a legitimate intellectual and emotional escape and a worthwhile philosophical reflection. If you (secretly) like to indulge in this form of entertainment, “Molto vapore per nulla” by Stefano Ottaviani could be a unique book to add to your TBRs.
Set in an ucronic Victorian London inhabited by humans and non-humans alike, the story follows Miss Catherine Webster and private detective Harvey Langston in a complex investigation to find Lord Webster, an eminent politician who has been kidnapped by a group of Strix. With the help of loyal butlers, elusive shape-shifters, and unscrupulous entrepreneurs, the poorly equipped team will survive traps and violent combats and ultimately manage to unveil shocking social conflicts and political conspiracies.
Ogni quartiere di Londra ha perlomeno una casa stregata, il che, al contrario di quanto si potrebbe pensare, non è così sgradito alla popolazione, visto che altrimenti non saprebbe più di cosa parlare tutto il giorno a parte della pioggia e del miglior pudding della città.
But the plot alone is not enough to describe the essence of “Molto vapore per nulla”. In fact, the most interesting characteristic of the volume is the author’s voice. The story’s absurd and humorous digressions never bore the reader; on the contrary, they capture the British spirit with a fine taste and considerable knowledge of the subject matter. Carroll’s Wonderland is invaded by trolls, vampires, and dancing hippos; Sherlock Holmes becomes an expert of magic and non-human creatures; theater arts return to the spotlight with a fresh and creative twist that feels completely authentic.
È opinione comune dei biologi che l’animale con il verso più fastidioso al mondo sia l’urlaccina chiassosa dal becco verde, uccello molto diffuso in estremo oriente prima che la popolazione locale, stufa di essere svegliata in piena notte dal suo gracchiare stonato, ne riducesse il numero ai minimi termini.
If we are to find a moral to the story, “Molto vapore per nulla” is a very timely reflection on what it means to be human in a period of technological innovation and sociopolitical conflicts. In staging a fictional science called technomagic and salty racist views about different factions of humans and non-humans, the volume allows for the reader to bathe in all that is magical and surreal or go deeper and think about the real world through a metaphor. Thus, the ultimate message of the book remains positive: as Catherine says, “the most important thing in life is having a mission, trying to do the right thing, against all odds; striving to be a hero means being one already”.
Catherine si avvicinò alla macchina, sfiorandone la superficie con una carezza. “Non capisco” mormorò. “È umano?”
“Questa, signorina Webster, è una domanda molto intelligente. Mi dica, sono umano io?”
La ragazza voltò lo sguardo sull’uomo e, per un attimo, non seppe cosa rispondere, ma non per via dei tubi e degli ingranaggi che fuoriuscivano cigolando dal corpo dell’imprenditore, quanto per il gelo che immaginava albergasse nella sua mente.
The book cover, by artist Claudia Caranfa, perfectly conveys the atmosphere of the story with its foggy landscape and steampunk symbolism. Shakespearean quotes and theatrical elements are scattered throughout in the foreword and chapter titles, adding a pleasant extra layer to the already multifaceted and fascinating worldbuilding.
In conclusion, “Molto vapore per nulla” is an engaging read, heavily inspired by stereotypes of British culture which have been redesigned in a humoristic fantasy setting to reflect upon power dynamics and what makes us human.
Title: Molto vapore per nulla
Author: Stefano Ottaviani
ISBN code: 9788899437466
Publisher: Gainsworth
What you will find in this book:
A tangled investigation
Socio-political conflicts
A very british humour