From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Monster Blood Tattoo Series
Monster Blood Tattoo Series
Monster Blood Tattoo is a children’s/young adult’s fanta- hibit magic-like powers that are attributed to science and
sy trilogy written by Australian author D. M. Cornish. It alchemy. Also, there is the obvious existence of monsters
tells the story of Rossamünd, a boy unfortunately chris- - some natural, which differ from animals only through
tened with a girl’s name, who has lived his entire life in having sentience, and some man-made which are much
a foundlingery (kind of an orphanage) before he is cho- more twisted and otherworldly than the natural kind.
sen to become a lamplighter in a far away city. The book’s Technology as we know it has been replaced in Cor-
action takes place entirely on the Half-Continent, a Dick- nish’s world with a sort of blend of mechanical and bi-
ensian world run by arcane science and alchemy, and ological machinery. For example, many boats and ships
plagued with deadly (and not-so-deadly) monsters. are driven not by oars or engines, but by living, mindless
organs and organisms grown into the ship itself, which
Book One: Foundling produce the kinetic energy required for the ship’s
propulsion, and must be "fed" nutrients and kept alive.
Main article: Monster Blood Tattoo: Foundling
Major characters
Book Two: Lamplighter • , a foundling boy, probably around 12 to 13 years old.
Main article: Monster Blood Tattoo: Lamplighter The hero of the series, he is socially disadvantaged.
Lamplighter, the second book in the series, was due for re- • , a kindly dormitory master of Madam Opera’s
lease in May 2007 but was delayed to late April 2008[1]. On Estimable Marine Society For Foundling Boys And
16 October 2007, D.M. Cornish announced on his blogsite Girls. Once served on board various rams-of-war
that the Australian and New Zealand version of Lamp- (military boats), typically as a gunman.
lighter had just gone to the printers. It was later shortlist- • , a dormitory master of Madam Opera’s Estimable
ed for the 2008 Aurealis Award Best Young Adult Novel[2]. Marine Society For Foundling Boys And Girls. Is
The book covers Rosamund’s final weeks as a adept at the creation of various potives. Was once a
prentice-lighter, the internal politics of the Lamp- dispensurist for the Imperial Navy.
lighters, his first posting, court-martial and leaving the • , a maid of Madam Opera’s Estimable Marine Society
service. For Foundling Boys And Girls. She has a soft spot for
Rossamünd.
Book Three: Factotum • , a falseman leer (capable of detecting when someone
is lying) and a friend of Rossamünd. Works with the
The third book is titled Factotum, it was published in Oc- Lamplighter Service.
tober 2010. ISBN 9781862916920 (Hard Cover) Available • , a vinegaroon (sailor) and a criminal. Thought to be
now in Australia, and America. a trafficker of various items used in "The Dark
Trades."
Setting • (AKA the Branden Rose), a fulgar very famous for her
skill in the fighting and killing of various bogles and
The Half-Continent is the book’s setting, a huge expanse nickers, as well as her attitude towards men.
of land bordered by ocean on its south and east sides. • , an evil-tempered leer, Miss Europe’s factotum
The continent, despite being thousands of miles across, (servant). He has a speech impairment and as a
is just one part of a larger world named Harthe Alle. The result constantly hisses. He thinks Rossamund smells
map of the Half-Continent labels other lands across the funny.
ocean. The events of the book take place in only a (rela- • , a young female skold, encountered at the wayhouse
tively) tiny section of the Half-Continent, and it is a testa- (tavern) of Harefoot Dig. She speaks with a stutter
ment to Cornish’s worldbuilding that many other places and is rather shy.
are named or alluded to within the story. • , a friendly postman who lends his services as
The world of the Half-Continent is based around carriage driver for Miss Europe.
18-19th century European culture, bearing some Gor- • , a bogle, captive of Poundinch before being freed by
menghastian[3] traits as well as German influences. The Rossamünd on the gastrine-powered boat "The
key difference is the presence of a fantastic element. Hogshead".
While there is no mention of magic, many characters ex-
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Monster Blood Tattoo Series
• , a young female calendar wit who becomes a emotional state of a person, thus determining
lamplighter apprentice with Rossamund. whether a person is lying.
• , the gruff yet almost paternal sergeant who teaches • - history, and the study of it.
Rossamund and the other prentices on being a • - nickname for a type of monster, usually
lamplighter. encompasses those the size of a man or larger.
• , former seltzerman (caretaker of lamps) 1st class. • - potion, chemical.
Friends with Rossamünd. Numps was horribly • - man made monster. Could be considered undead.
maimed by rever-men, but saved by a kindly bogle some have been known to be made so well they
named Cinnamon, with a sparrow’s head and a disappear into a puddle when killed, and as such
person’s body. He is very kindly but his near death make great assassins. The creation of rever-men is
experience rattled his mind. He has lost an arm and highly frowned upon, and is only practiced in the
half his face. greatest secrecy.
• , is seen to be evil and is believed to be a creator of • - used in various lighting devices, when a certain
rever-men. He was brought to Winstermill (a large marine plant (referred to as "bloom") is submerged
fortress, which Rossamünd is stationed at while he in seltzer, it gives off a phosphorescent glow.
learns the art of being a lamp lighter) as surgeon for • - similar to a lahzar, but fights monsters with potives
the Master-of-Clerks. with no implanted organs.
• - An abstract concept. Sort of like the feeling of being
Series terminology "watched," but something that an inanimate object
(especially a place) can possess. An area that is
• - nickname for a type of monster, usually threwdish, for example a dark forest, can inspire
encompasses all kinds smaller than a man. dread and fear in whosoever wanders through it. It is
• - a combatative woman who belongs to a clave with implied that powerful concentrations of threwd can
many other calendars. Calendars often wear bright often create breeding grounds for various monsters,
or odd clothing to advertise themselves. and are often actively sought out and destroyed
• - the harvesting, trading or selling of human corpses, when found in close proximity to human
body parts or postmortem fluids used in certain settlements.
potives or the creation of man-made monsters. • - a type of lahzar, they fight monsters with their
• - an alchemist that brews potives that are not for mind instead of in close combat, being able to create
monster fighting such as healing potives, repellents, confusion, headaches and even death with enough
and brews. willpower.
• - 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
References
control, whatever they are touching. It is also [1] MonsterBlood Tattoo blog
possible for them to summon lightning, though this [2] Aurealis Awards
is considered highly dangerous. [3] "Interview with D. M. Cornish".
• - an artificially grown muscle-like device, used to http://canetoadwarrior.blogspot.com/2011/02/
power various boats and ships. Being a muscle interview-with-d-m-cornish.html.
intended for strenuous work, they are usually
warmed up by smaller muscles called limbers, to
prevent tearing and damage.
External links
• - sciences of all kinds. • Official website
• - monster hunter and slayer surgically altered to • Author’s official blog
assist with their trade. • Author’s illustration website
• - A spy with chemically-enhanced eyes. There are
two types: Laggards and Falsemen. Laggards can see
clearer and from farther distances than the average
person. Falsemen are able to easily determine the
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monster_Blood_Tattoo_Series&oldid=469275505"
Categories:
• Series of children's books
• Young adult novel series
• Fantasy novel trilogies
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Monster Blood Tattoo Series
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