Edwardian England was a time of change, a transition from a more elegant time to one which would herald in the modern world of belching smoke and humanity crushed beneath the wheels of progress. Whilst some may feel that there is no option but to give in, Dr Tripps is not one of them. Having seen a demonstration of a diesel machine as the advent of an age of belching black smoke and death of empire, he determines to resist. Leaving London for twelve years, having destroyed his own home and all the surrounding area, he retires to his lair to perfect a serum which will create monsters, monsters which will push Europe towards war. Only two people stand in his way. Iron is a young man or low birth thrust into the front lines after his lord refuses a call from a secret society and an agent from NANI, Honey, are sent to stop the coming apocalypse...

Doctor Tripps: Kaiju Cocktail (148 pages) is a new novel by Kit Cox.

The book is set in a fictitious reimagining of a pre First World War world. More than this Cox has injected the world with a Dr Phibes vibe, with humour provided with the grotesques which Cox has created. Tripps is not only a man driven, but an intellectual snob, so assured of his own superiority that he has replaced his skull with a glass dome, so that other can admire his brain. His genius with chemistry has enabled him to provide a living environment for a mermaid, create flying ape helpers, reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and giant monsters to help his insane plan in starting a war, thereby crushing the age of diesel before its birth.

At first the impression is that Tripps will go head to head with the inventor Diesel, but as it turns out he hardly appears, being relegated to a minor character. Tripps is opposed by Iron, who works for the real Lord Branding, who having been given the call to action finds it more expedient to send one of his employees instead: Honey, an agent of NANI. Our two heroes are likable and engaging, both young and full of idealism.

The book is pretty short, its length and lack of subplots really make this a novella. That said it is a highly enjoyable romp. Set against real event, the story could be considered an alternative history, one with a great deal of fantastical elements set against a steampunk background and giant monsters, the Kaiju of the title. Although most of the elements have been seen elsewhere Cox is able to bring the disparate elements effortlessly together.

Overall, the book is a short, but enjoyable, read.

6

Charles Packer