I wanted to like this steampunky-themed book of short-stories, but it tried too hard at cleverness and told essentially uninteresting stories. The text does not deliver on what the fascinating illustrations promise. I gave it 78 pages, 18 beyond my minimum 50, and gave it up. ( )

How do you describe a book so strange and unique it defies genre? The Cabinet of Curiosities is like no other book. Probably closest to steampunk, that doesn't even begin to describe it. The illegitimate child of Monty Python and Umberto Eco.

Full of contributions from dozens of artists and authors, it's "entries" vary from stories inspired by, to descriptions of the items contained (or formerly residing, or related to) in the Cabinet, a sort of organic museum itself that defies description, literally. Illustrated throughout by some of the items, or reconstructions, or artist renderings of some of the missing curiosities.

The writing is mainly on the strange story side of things and doesn't really fall into horror, science fiction, or fantasy. There is a wry humor to most of it. Most of the unfortunate people, besides Dr. Lambshead himself, come to some sort of untimely end as a result of contact with the museum's curiosities. Many of the details are lost or unexplained just adding to the weirdness of the whole thing. Ultimately Dr. Lambshead dies (of natural causes, he seems immune to the Cabinet's more deleterious effects)in 2003 and the museum is partially consumed in a fire thereafter. Don't worry though, there is a 1/1000 scale model of the ENTIRE Cabinet still in existence but unfortunately the tiny key to it has been lost (eaten by a pet squid). But you can still peer through the needle sized keyhole and get a glimpse...

It's also a beautifully produce book.

I'm sure a lot of people will think three stars is too few for this, and they probably have a point, but I thought there was a fair amount of filler material here and certain sections of the book dragged a bit and failed to hold my attention.

I would still highly recommend this to anyone interested in the weird tale. Most will probably find the entire book entertaining. ( )

Þetta er ein af fáum bókum sem ég hef verslað mér vegna titilsins. Ástæðan er sú að furðuskápar eða Cabinet of Curiosities voru upphaf safna eins og við þekkjum þau í dag. Á síðmiðöldum kepptust ríkir hefðarmenn við að safna furðugripum og hlutum frá fjarlægum stöðum. Sjá mátti t.d. höfuðkúpu einhyrnings, síamstvíbura, einstök listaverk og gripi frá fjarlægum löndum sem varla þekktust í heimsmynd vestræns samfélags.
Thackery T. Lambshead, eða Lambshaus eins og við getum kallað hann, er persónusköpun Ann og Jeffs VanderMeers og er þetta önnur bókin er varðar þessa furðulegu persónu. Cabinet of Curiosities fjallar um mikið safn furðuhluta sem hann hefur sankað að sér og er hér líst af miklum fjölda höfunda sem sjá hlutina og sögu safnsins hver með sínu auga. Útkoman er stórfurðulegt safn sem er bæði heillandi en um leið ruglandi. Mörgum hlutum er líst en einnig persónu Lambshauss, heimsóknum gesta til hans og umræðum um hann. Hjónin Ann og Jeff virðast hafa gefið höfundum sínum nokkuð lausan tauminn við sagnaflæði sitt og á það kannski þátt í því hve mörg fræg nöfn þau hafa fengið til liðs við sig. Margar sögurnar eru heillandi og lýsa mörgum skemmtilegum furðuhlutum og gera furðusafn Lambshauss að ákaflega heillandi safni en um leið eru þær svo sundurlausar að liggja þarf yfir þeim og gefa sér tíma til að melta heildina. ( )

This book was a pleasure to read, and it is one to browse through. Pick the passages that appeal to you first, then come back and read others. The book combines a feel of nonfiction, kind of like like reading an exotic guide or even something like the 10th edition Brittanica combined with a good fiction collection. There is also a subtle sense of humor along with a sense of wonder in the collection. Since I borrowed the copy I read, I did feel a bit rushed, but this is a book I would not mind buying so I can go back to it now and then. If you like Steampunk, Victoriana, or similar genres, you will enjoy this book. The photos and art in it are pretty good too. ( )

This is a monster that shames but does not shamble, that bites but does not shit, that writhes but does not grasp.

This anthology succeeded as a perfect diversion. Premise is simple: fictional scholar/collector travels the world assembling the merely odd and the paranormally affected. Nothing too ghastly. Just weird. I bought it for the heavy-hitters, Moore, Chiang, Negarestani and especially Miéville, and they did not disappoint. Most of these collections are typically hit-and-miss, this one was uncanny, unheimlich, and ultimately entertaining: no duds. It is no easy task, providing a portrait or provenance in static form with just a hint of unease. ( )