Monster Blood Tattoo
Encyclopedia
Monster Blood Tattoo is a children's/young adult's fantasy
trilogy
written by Australian author D. M. Cornish
. It tells the story of Rossamünd, a boy unfortunately christened with a girl's name, who has lived his entire life in a foundlingery (kind of an orphanage) before he is chosen to become a lamplighter
in a far away city. The book's action takes place entirely on the Half-Continent, a Dickensian world run by arcane science and alchemy
, and plagued with deadly (and not-so-deadly) monsters.
The book covers Rosamund's final weeks as a prentice-lighter, the internal politics of the Lamplighters, his first posting, court-martial and leaving the service.
that many other places are named or alluded to within the story.
The world of the Half-Continent is based around 18-19th century European culture, bearing some Gormenghastian
traits as well as German influences. The key difference is the presence of a fantastic element. While there is no overt mention of magic, many characters exhibit magic-like powers that are attributed to science and alchemy. Also, there is the obvious existence of monsters - some natural, which differ from animals only through having sentience, and some man-made which are much more twisted and otherworldly than the natural kind.
Technology as we know it has been replaced in Cornish's world with a sort of blend of mechanical and biological machinery. For example, many boats and ships are driven not by oars or engines, but by living, mindless organs and organisms grown into the ship itself, which produce the kinetic energy required for the ship's propulsion, and must be "fed" nutrients and kept alive.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
written by Australian author D. M. Cornish
D. M. Cornish
David M. Cornish is a fantasy author and illustrator from Adelaide, South Australia. His first book is Foundling, the first part of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy. The second book named Lamplighter was released in May 2008...
. It tells the story of Rossamünd, a boy unfortunately christened with a girl's name, who has lived his entire life in a foundlingery (kind of an orphanage) before he is chosen to become a lamplighter
Lamplighter
A lamplighter, historically, was an employee of a town who lit street lights, generally by means of a wick on a long pole. At dawn, they would return and extinguish them using a small hook on the same pole. Early street lights were generally candles, oil, and similar consumable liquid or solid...
in a far away city. The book's action takes place entirely on the Half-Continent, a Dickensian world run by arcane science and alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
, and plagued with deadly (and not-so-deadly) monsters.
Book Two: Lamplighter
Lamplighter, the second book in the series, was due for release in May 2007 but was delayed to late April 2008. On 16 October 2007, D.M. Cornish announced on his blogsite that the Australian and New Zealand version of Lamplighter had just gone to the printers. It was later shortlisted for the 2008 Aurealis Award Best Young Adult Novel.The book covers Rosamund's final weeks as a prentice-lighter, the internal politics of the Lamplighters, his first posting, court-martial and leaving the service.
Book Three: Factotum
The third book is titled Factotum, it was published in October 2010. ISBN 9781862916920 (Hard Cover) Available now in Australia, and America.Setting
The Half-Continent is the book's setting, a huge expanse of land bordered by ocean on its south and east sides. The continent, despite being thousands of miles across, is just one part of a larger world that has not yet been named in the series. The map of the half continent labels other lands across the ocean. The events of the book take place in only a (relatively) tiny section of the Half-Continent, and it is a testament to Cornish's worldbuildingWorldbuilding
Worldbuilding is the process of constructing an imaginary world, sometimes associated with a fictional universe. The result may sometimes be called a constructed world, conworld or sub-creation. The term world-building was popularized at science fiction writer's workshops during the 1970s...
that many other places are named or alluded to within the story.
The world of the Half-Continent is based around 18-19th century European culture, bearing some Gormenghastian
Gormenghast (series)
The Gormenghast series comprises three novels by Mervyn Peake, featuring Castle Gormenghast, and Titus Groan, the title character of the first book.-Works in the series:...
traits as well as German influences. The key difference is the presence of a fantastic element. While there is no overt mention of magic, many characters exhibit magic-like powers that are attributed to science and alchemy. Also, there is the obvious existence of monsters - some natural, which differ from animals only through having sentience, and some man-made which are much more twisted and otherworldly than the natural kind.
Technology as we know it has been replaced in Cornish's world with a sort of blend of mechanical and biological machinery. For example, many boats and ships are driven not by oars or engines, but by living, mindless organs and organisms grown into the ship itself, which produce the kinetic energy required for the ship's propulsion, and must be "fed" nutrients and kept alive.
Major characters
- Rossamünd Bookchild, a foundling boy, probably around 12 to 13 years old. The hero of the series, he is socially disadvantaged.
- Master Fransitart, a kindly dormitory master of Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society For Foundling Boys And Girls. Once served on board various rams-of-war (military boats), typically as a gunman.
- Master Craumpalin, a dormitory master of Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society For Foundling Boys And Girls. Is adept at the creation of various potives. Was once a dispensurist for the Imperial Navy.
- Verline, a maid of Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society For Foundling Boys And Girls. She has a soft spot for Rossamünd.
- Sebastipole, a falseman leer (capable of detecting when someone is lying) and a friend of Rossamünd. Works with the Lamplighter Service.
- Poundinch, a vinegaroon (sailor) and a criminal. Thought to be a trafficker of various items used in "The Dark Trades" (creation of rever-men etc.)
- Miss Europe (AKA the Branden Rose), a fulgar very famous for her skill in the fighting and killing of various bogles and nickers, as well as her attitude towards men.
- Licurius, an evil-tempered leer, Miss Europe's factotum (servant). He has a speech impairment and as a result constantly hisses. He thinks Rossamund smells funny.
- Sallow, a young female skold, encountered at the wayhouse of Harefoot Dig. She speaks with a stutter and is rather shy.
- Fouracres, a friendly postman who lends his services as carriage driver for Miss Europe.
- Freckle, a bogle, captive of Poundinch before being freed by Rossamünd on the gastrine-powered boat "The Hogshead".
- Threnody, a young female calendar wit who becomes a lamplighter apprentice with Rossamund.
- Lamplighter-Sergeant Grindrod, the gruff yet almost paternal sergeant who teaches Rossamund and the other prentices on being a lamplighter.
- Numps, former seltzerman 1st class. Friends with Rossamünd. Numps was horribly maimed by revermen, but saved by a kindly bogle named Cinnamon, with a sparrows head and a persons body. He is very kindly but his near death rattled his mind. He has lost an arm and half his face.
- Surgeon Honorius Ludius Grotius Swill, is seen to be evil and is believed to be a creator of rever-men. He was brought to Winstermill (a large fortress, which Rossamünd is stationed at while he learns the art of being a lamp lighter) as surgeon for the Master-of-Clerks.
Series terminology
- Bogle - nickname for a type of monsterMonsterA monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
, usually encompasses all kinds smaller than a man. - Calendar(s) - a combatative woman who belongs to a clave with many other calendars. Calendars often wear bright or odd clothing to advertise themselves.
- Dispensurist - an alchemist that brews potives that are not for monster fighting such as healing potives, repellents, and brews.
- Fulgar - a type of lahzar, who can summon deadly electricity from within their bodies. A well trained fulgar can use small jolts of electricity to paralyze, or even control, whatever they are touching. It is also possible for them to summon lightning, though this is considered highly dangerous.
- Gastrine - an artificially made muscle like device, used to power various boats and ships. Being a muscle intended for strenuous work, they are usually warmed up by smaller muscles called limbers, to prevent tearing and damage.
- Habilistics - sciences of all kinds.
- Lahzar - monster hunter and slayer, a person surgically altered to assist with their trade.
- Leer - A spy with chemically-enhanced senses. There are two types: Laggards and Falsemen. Laggards can see clearer and from farther distances than the average person. Falsemen are able to determine whether a person is lying.
- Matter - history, and the study of it.
- Nicker - nickname for a type of monster, usually encompasses those the size of a man or larger.
- Potive - potion, chemical.
- Rever-man- man made monster. Could be considered undead. some have been known to be made so well they disappear into a puddle when killed, and as such make great assassins. The creation of rever-men is highly frowned upon, and is only practiced in the greatest secrecy.
- Seltzer- used in various lighting devices, when a certain marine plant (referred to as "bloom") is submerged in seltzer, it gives off a phosphorescent glow.
- Skold - similar to a lahzar, but wards monsters with potives rather than actively fighting them.
- Threwd - An abstract concept. Sort of like fear (or the feeling of being "watched"), but something that an inanimate object (especially a place) can possess. An area that is threwdish, for example a dark forest, can inspire dread and fear in whosoever wanders through it. It is implied that powerful concentrations of threwd can often create breeding grounds for various monsters, and are often actively sought out and destroyed when found in close proximity to human settlements.
- Wit- a type of lahzar, they fight monsters with their mind instead of in close combat, being able to create confusion, headaches and even death with enough willpower.