A Toaster on Mars

A Toaster on Mars by Darrell Pitt (Text Publishing) PB RRP $19.99

ISBN 9781922182869

Reviewed by Wendy Fitzgerald

I have previously reviewed two of Darrell Pitt’s books from his Victorian era steam- punk series, The Firebird Mystery and The Monster Within. In both of these books I was swept along by the fast paced mysteries set in a magical world of airships, space steamers, a 200 mile high metro tower, lots of crazy machines and intriguing gadgets.

Now Pitt’s new book, A Toaster on Mars, is a stand-alone story set in the future- 2509. Once again, Pitt uses his excellent writing skills and vivid imagination to cleverly paint a futuristic back drop for this action-packed inter-galactic adventure.

Neo City is a multi-layered metropolis built on what used to be the east coast of the USA. The buildings are up to1000 storeys high- linked by walkways and roads. It’s a world of flying cars, buses, taxi-gondolas and helium cyclists where cars drive themselves, people eat food-flavoured pills and travel between planets. 

A Toaster on Mars will spark many interesting discussions in homes and classrooms about the future. What will the world will be like in 2509?

Bartholomew Badde is the villain of the story- a criminal mastermind. He steals the super computer- EMP and holds the world to ransom. So, Agent Blake Carter from the Planetary Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and his new partner, Nicki Steel are assigned to the case.

Nicki Steel is my favourite character. She’s a cyborg- 90% robot and 10% human. She’s strong, brave, funny and is able to process information super quickly. When Badde kidnaps 12 year old Lisa, Blake’s ex-wife, Astrid joins the team. Together they go on a wild romp through the galaxy to rescue Lisa.

I like the way Pitt injects the story with humour and clever intertextual references. I also like the way Pitt has included comments from the editor (Zeeb Blatsnart.) These comments start with Zeeb says: and are printed in italics. This is a unique way of explaining certain terms and concepts. I think this tool works well.

There is one thing that concerns me. The main characters are all adults. Lisa is 12, but she is not a focus character. As a rule, kids like to identify with characters their own age.

That said, I believe A Toaster on Mars will appeal to many kids aged 10+ years who would love to project themselves into Pitt’s entertaining vision of our world in 2509. 

The Monster Within

The Monster Within by Darrell Pitt (Text Publishing)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 9781922182876

Reviewed by Wendy Fitzgerald

The Monster Within is the fourth book in Melbourne author Darrell Pitt’s popular Jack Mason detective series.

Once again, we are immersed in a magical world of heroes, villains, steam driven transport, mysteries, rescues and adventures. The sharp-eyed detective Ignatius Doyle is on another mission to solve crimes with the help of his two daring young apprentices, Jack Mason and Scarlet Bell.

Readers of the series will remember that the main character, 14 year old Jack Mason grew up in a circus family. After a tragic accident Jack is orphaned and sent to live in Sunnyside Orphanage in London. The orphanage is anything but ‘sunny’ and Jack is relieved when he is offered an apprenticeship with the very eccentric detective called Ignatius Doyle.

Enter feisty, red headed, strong-willed 15 year old Scarlett Bell- who originally comes to ask Ignatius Doyle to find her missing father. She ends up becoming a second apprentice detective. Together Jack and Scarlett make a formidable team. 

In The Monster Within a lawless organisation is carrying out terrorist attacks on the streets of London. Their chief suspect is The Valkyrie Circle- a world wide suffragette society who is apparently headed by someone called Lady Death.

At the same time there are sightings of a dangerous monster living in the sewers, terrifying people and eating cats.

Are these sinister events connected?

Pitt is very good at creating intriguing plots with excellent endings. I enjoy the way he pulls everything together in clever and surprising ways.

I recommend this series kids 9 years and over who like to read stories packed with action, mystery and adventure.

I think fans of Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Foul, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series and Lemony Snickett’s Series of Unfortunate Events will also enjoy Pitt’s breathtaking stories. 

The Firebird Mystery, The Secret Abyss and the Broken Sun are Pitt’s first three books in this series. Stay tuned for book five, The Lost Sword, which will be published later in 2015.

  

The Firebird Mystery

The Firebird Mystery by Darrell Pitt (Text Publishing)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN  978-192214775-2

Reviewed by Wendy Fitzgerald

Text Publishers have put a red sticker on this book-

LOVE IT or your money back

Melbourne author, Darrell Pitt first published this story in a digital version. He called it The Steampunk Detective and as an eBook it attracted 48,000 downloads. Editors at Text noticed this and offered Pitt an 8 book deal with them. So, The Steampunk Detective was renamed as The Firebird Mystery and has been published as number one in a series.

In conjunction with this series Text Publishing are currently running a ‘How I Saved the World’ writing competition where you can win $1000 worth of books for your school and $100 worth of books for yourself (entries open 1^st July 2014 and close 1^st August 2014).

Melbourne author, Pitt has set The Firebird Mystery in a magical world of steam punk Victorian London amidst airships, space steamers, a 200 mile high metro tower, lots of crazy machines and intriguing gadgets. 

The main character, 14 year old Jack Mason grew up in a circus family. After a tragic accident Jack is orphaned and is sent to live in Sunnyside Orphanage in London. This orphanage is anything but ‘sunny’ and Jack is relieved but wary when he is offered an apprenticeship with a very eccentric famous detective called Ignatius Doyle.  Enter 15 year old fiery red headed clever young ‘suffragette’ Scarlet Bell. She comes to ask Ignatius Doyle’s help to find her father.

Add to the plot a criminal mastermind called ‘Professor M’ who is intent on destroying the world, an atomic bomb, the secret Phoenix Society, a missing painting, a cast of feisty characters and you have an exciting story. Can Jack, Scarlet and Ignatius Doyle work together to defeat Professor M and save the world from the atomic bomb? You will need to read this book to find out.

I was swept along by the fast-paced plot, captivated by the characters and surprised at a major twist at the end. I do recommend this book for readers 9 years and over who like action, mystery and adventure. At the end of Book 1 there is the first chapter of book 2 to whet your appetite for more Jack Mason adventures.

The second book in the series, The Secret Abyss will be launched on 25^th June 2014 and the third book, The Broken Sun will be launched in November 2014.