Ajax Penumbra 1969

Unusual, quick read. ( )

Interesting introduction to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, you meet Corvina before he turns evil, he even smiles, and you learn about the previous owner of the bookstore. It really is a treasure hunters bibliophile story. ( )

This was the second book that grabbed my attention during a recent visit to the library. The cover grabbed my attention and then the blurb on the back had me completely hooked, there was no way I could put this back without reading it. This is the prequel (but written after) to Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, a book which I have heard of but haven't yet read. It is a really short book, coming in at less than 100 pages which meant that I read it in pretty much one sitting.

Ajax Penumbra is given his first job as a Junior Acquisitions Officer, to locate and collect the only copy of the Techne Tycheon. During the search he ends up in San Francisco in the 1960's at the tail end of the 'Summer of Love'. He manages to find a 24-hour bookstore, a bookstore unlike anything he has ever come across before and one which seems to do a very strange form of business. With the help of the bookstore custodian and an old university friend he embarks on an adventure to unearth the Techne Tycheon.

This is a fantastic book which completely sucked me in as I'm sure it would other book lovers. There are loads of nods to the city of San Francisco, most of which were probably lost on me but would delight people who know the city. The characters are all great and the story moves along at a really rapid pace. This was one of the best reading experiences I have had for a while and it makes me very keen to read Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore when I get a chance. The only downside to the book is that it was so short, I was left craving more and I just hope that this was a teaser for what is to come in the future. ( )

Mostly it makes me want to read the book again - I've forgotten a good deal of that story, though I know the bookstore and a ship play a part. It's interesting seeing a young Penumbra, figuring out how things are going to go. Plus the state of the art in computers at the time... Other than that, pretty standard Sloan - San Francisco magic realism. Fun. ( )

A bit cutesy, and all the tension of the usual prequel novella, but not a bit of pain to it, and the re-use of the abandoned ships in SF is delightful. ( )