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Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
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Synopsis
THE YEAR IS 1899 AND THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END! An epic in four movements, this is the third book in Robert Rankin's highly acclaimed meta-Victorian series. Comparable to Pratchett or Douglas Adams, the Father of Far Fetched Fiction has pulled out all of the stops with this riotous tale of wicked women, a dangerous detective and Darwin the educated ape. Lord Brentford has a dream. To create a Grand Exposition that will showcase The Wonders of the Worlds and encourage peace between the inhabited planets of Venus, Jupiter and Earth. Ernest Rutherford has a dream. To construct a time ship, powered by the large hadron collider he has built beneath the streets of London. Cameron Bell is England's greatest detective and he, too, has a dream. To solve the crime of the century before it takes place, without blowing up any more of London's landmarks. Darwin is a monkey butler and he also has a dream. To end Man's inhumanity to Monkey and bring a little joy into the world. Lavinia Dharkstorrm has a dream of her own. Although hers is more of a nightmare. To erase Man and Monkey alike from the face of the Earth and to hasten in the End of Days. Then there is the crime-fighting superlady, all those chickens from the past and the unwelcome arrival of The Antichrist. Things are looking rather grim on planet Earth...
Is The Educated Ape and Other Wonders of the Worlds appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
This satirical steampunk comedy features apocalyptic stakes, Victorian-era adventures across multiple planets, and darkly humorous scenarios involving the end of the world. Violence is present but treated comedically in the Pratchett/Adams tradition.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include mass death, death, and violence.
Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.
Who'll love this
Teens who love absurdist British humor and steampunk adventures will enjoy this wild ride featuring an educated ape butler and a detective trying to stop the Antichrist.