'Momenticon' was one of the books I was most looking forward to reading this year, and it has not disappointed even those high expectations. Following on from his gloriously bizarre 'Rotherweird' trilogy, Andrew Caldecott's new story is set in the future. Pollution has left most of Earth uninhabitable, the air full of toxic smog. People live in sealed domes, owned by one or other of two powerful rival companies. At the start of the book we meet Fogg, a young man who is the curator of the last collection of humankinds great works of art, in a museum that has had no visitors for three years. His quiet existence is interrupted by the arrival of Morag, who has the ability to create momenticons - pills that induce a very specific hallucination designed by the maker. The pair soon find they are pawns in someone's complicated game - or maybe survival strategy - and embark on an adventure spanning the globe and meeting all sorts of eccentric characters along the way. Some of whom want to kill them, some to help them, and some whose motives remain unclear...

Caldecott's writing style is recognisable from 'Rotherweird', as is the general 'feel' of the novel despite the very different setting and situation. Like 'Rotherweird' the great strength of the book lies in the characters, who are gloriously odd and very likeable (with the exception of the big baddies of course). The camaraderie between them draws the reader in, making you feel like a member of their strange little group. There's the same sense of underlying complexity and mystery, of people manipulating the protagonists behind the scenes. Occasionally it's frustrating, but you just have to sit back and trust Caldecott to deliver - and experience says he will.

Unlike a lot of post-apocalyptic books there's not too much hand wringing - it's a forward looking, energetic novel and full of incident and excitement. I loved the 'Rotherweird' trilogy, but if anything this is even better - the scope is bigger and grander, and it's brimful of imaginative brilliance. Caldecott has a genius for revelling in the joy of the strange - there's an unpredictable edge to his scenarios that keeps the reader and the characters on their toes. It's truly escapist literature, without needing to introduce any elves, dragons or the like. You don't know where the story is going to go, but you know it's going to be a heck of a ride to get wherever it is.

Anyone who enjoys fantasy adventure books will love these - and they're good enough that I'd recommend them to readers who only dip into the genre occasionally. There's a puzzle/mystery element that might also appeal to crime fans, if they don't mind a bit of the surreal. The end leaves things up in the air, ready for a sequel - I'm already desperate to get my hands on it!

Momenticon is the first in a wonderful new series by Andrew Caldecott. What a mind this man must have! I experienced this book as a warning about what will happen when climate change finally goes up a few gears.
The super-rich, the Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk types aren't worried about the apocalypse as they will be able to survive it and make money in the process.
There's secret passages, dark tunnels, grisly deaths, mysterious flying ships, so much Heath Robinson steampunk ingenuity. It's just so much fun!

This book was strange and I adored it. When I saw Alice in Wonderland meets Station Eleven I knew I had to read it and I was not disappointed. This was a wild ride of a read and I wont spoil it for anyone by giving details but oh my gosh its good. When I finished I just sat staring and thinking it is definitely one of those books.
Well written with a great atmosphere and compelling storyline and well developed characters. I couldn't put it down and I love the front cover it completely drew me in especially as it has the tweedles on it - my fav wonderlandians. A great read.