REVIEW: Pastworld by Ian Beck

Review by Evie.

Pastworld is like a city within a city. It is a theme park with a very big difference, travellers can travel back in time to where the modern techonology is horse-drawn carriages and gas lamps. Eve lives in Pastworld and has never seen the modern world (2048) and has no idea that it exists. Caleb is a tourist from the present day and his visit goes very wrong when his father goes missing and he finds himself at the scene of a murder, holding the knife.

The book is set in 2048 when a financial collapse brought England down very badly. Now, London has been restored to its Victorian past and turned into a theme park. The inhabitants of Pastworld live exactly how the Victorians did, they wear the same clothes, have the same rules and laws and they never leave the place. The visitors have to pay a very large amount of money to get into the Victorian world by dirigible which is the only official way in and out. To be allowed to visit Pastworld, the visitor has to agree to dress up and act as a Victorian and follow the same rules. If a visitor commits a crime there then there will be a trial and they could be executed.

Eve is a young girl who lives with her guardian Jack. Eve runs away and joins the Circus where she discovers the truth about Pastworld and learns about some talents. Caleb is a visitor to Pastworld with his father Lucius Brown, who is one of its creators. He visits in response to a message from Jack sent after Eve disappears. The message says 'Prometheus'.

But things go very wrong when Lucius is kidnapped, Jack is murdered by the Fantom's men and Caleb is accused of the crime. This means that Caleb has to go on the run. Whilst on the run, he is helped by Bible J who has connections with one of the Fantom's enemies and with Eve. A manhunt starts for Caleb, his father and Eve.

I thought this book was interesting and exciting at some points, and I understood the characters more as the book went along.

I would recommend this book for people who like suspense and thrillers.

Review by Evie

Comments

[Sophie]

This sounds really fantastic. Though I'd hate to live in Victorian London. Yuck!

[Ria]

I *loved* this book! One of my all time favourite books I've read!
It's so unusual, and thought provoking. You really need to concentrate to understand it, but it's fantastic when you do.
Great review!

[Mel]

Sounds like a fascinating story. Thanks for the review!