The Witches of Chiswick by Robert Rankin
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In the far-off dystopian future that is 23rd-century London, our reluctant hero Will Starling finds himself in a bit of a muddle. Amidst a landscape of all-consuming technology and lost history, Will soon discovers that reality isn't quite as he remembers it. Rumour has it that time-travelling witches have messed about with the past, taking subtle but effective stabs at reshaping the world's history. In true SFcrowsnest fashion, the book takes us through Will's quest to correct the timeline while pitting him against eccentric adversaries and enigmatic witchy women who'd make even Shakespeare rethink his character line-up. Amidst the blend of absurdities and wild conspiracies, one can't help but wonder if this tale is actually a distorted, but deliciously enjoyable, reflection of our own world.
Will's escapades in the temporal tapestry bring us face to face with notorious personalities from history, revised to fit the witches' preferred narrative. With the help of friends and fantastical gadgets that are more steampunk than cyberpunk, Will aims to restore the timeline, battling forces that make even the 23rd-century seem antiquated. If the premise of time-travelling, history-tweaking witches doesn't tickle your fancy, then perhaps the charm lies in Rankin's ability to turn even the most bizarre scenarios into plausible absurdities.