The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities: Exhibits, Oddities, Images, and Stories from Top Authors and Artists

The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities: Exhibits, Oddities, Images, and Stories from Top Authors and Artists
Edited by Ann and Jeff Vandermeer
Harper Voyager, Jul 12 2011, $22.99
ISBN: 9780062109927

Thackery T. Lambshead explained to his friends he was not a collector or pack rat of any sort. In fact, he felt he was the opposite trying to properly dispose of things though somehow items had a tendency over his century plus of life to find him. Still with his death in 2003, he left behind an incredible cabinet of curiosities in Brook, England. The Broadmore Exhibits include Tesla’s “The Electric Nuerheographiton (by Minister Faust) and Dacey’s Patent Automatic nanny (by Ted Chiang). The Cabinet has also has noted authors wiring about aspects like China Mieville's “Pulvadmonitor: The Dust’s Warning” and Naomi Novik’s thesis on Lord Dunsany’s Teapot”. Then of course there are Dr. Lambshead’s astounding journals in which he holds the west culpable for many transgressions.

The second Dr. Lambshead’s anthology (see The Thackery T. Lambshead Pocket Guide to Eccentric and Discredited Diseases) is incredible with stories and pictures that make Thackery T. Lambshead’s Cabinet of Curiosities seem real rather than a steampunk fantasy collection. Loaded with plenty of fun, well written entries, and fabulous designs and photos, readers, especially young adults, will spend several weeks appreciating this engaging compilation. Each relic reminds this reviewer of the ending to the TV show the Naked City: “There are eight million stories” in Dr. Lambshead’s Cabinet and each one is worth reading and seeing.

Harriet Klausner