Jonathan's Reviews > Emphyrio

A commercially unstable dystopia lasts a rather unlikely two millennia, guided by flighty and cold hearted descendants of Mr Punch. It succumbs to a languid threat to reveal the true state of affairs, an even less likely event, though followed by a proper riot and revolution.

As dystopia's go, this is a decidedly utopian one, static and unyielding, yet full of individual endeavour, glamorous maidens, enchanting pavilions filled with fine costumes, dancing and a certain pride in fine craftsmanship.

The cover of my edition features a rather sturdy couple, the male clutching at a gun, whilst spacecraft wizz past across a starry backdrop. This is rather at odds with the gentle political tale of ineffectual rebellion, kidnapping and mercantile swindling inside the covers.