To Visit the Queen
Encyclopedia
To Visit the Queen (titled On Her Majesty's Wizardly Service in the UK edition) is a fantasy steampunk novel by Diane Duane
. Its plot deals with the invention of nuclear weapons in Victorian Britain, thanks to the evil intervention of 'the lone one' and the efforts of Duane's wizard feline adventurers to save the day.
It was a sequel to The Book of Night with Moon (1997). In their review, Publishers Weekly
said that "Duane presents her usual felicitous mix of magical high adventure and humor, avoiding much of the preciousness that can infect anthropomorphic fantasy. Even those who don't fancy felines should enjoy this purr of a tale." while Kirkus Reviews
was somewhat less kind, criticising what it termed 'a slow start' and 'mind numbing details' in a book aimed squarely at the young adult market.
poem known as "Pussycat, Pussycat" that uses that line in in the second line of the poem.
One element of the plot bears a similarity to Project A119
.
Diane Duane
Diane Duane is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her works include the Young Wizards young adult fantasy series and the Rihannsu Star Trek novels.-Biography :...
. Its plot deals with the invention of nuclear weapons in Victorian Britain, thanks to the evil intervention of 'the lone one' and the efforts of Duane's wizard feline adventurers to save the day.
It was a sequel to The Book of Night with Moon (1997). In their review, Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
said that "Duane presents her usual felicitous mix of magical high adventure and humor, avoiding much of the preciousness that can infect anthropomorphic fantasy. Even those who don't fancy felines should enjoy this purr of a tale." while Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus . Kirkus serves the book and literary trade sector, including libraries, publishers, literary and film agents, film and TV producers and booksellers. Kirkus Reviews is published on the first and 15th of each month...
was somewhat less kind, criticising what it termed 'a slow start' and 'mind numbing details' in a book aimed squarely at the young adult market.
Cultural reference
The title To Visit the Queen is a cultural reference to the English rhymingRhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
poem known as "Pussycat, Pussycat" that uses that line in in the second line of the poem.
One element of the plot bears a similarity to Project A119
Project A119
Project A119, also known as "A Study of Lunar Research Flights", was a top-secret plan developed in the late 1950s by the United States Air Force. The aim of the project was to detonate a nuclear bomb on the Moon to boost public morale in the United States after the Soviet Union took an early lead...
.