Destiny is the third and final novel in the series. It is by far the strongest novel of the three. Characters from the previous two books come togetheDestiny is the third and final novel in the series. It is by far the strongest novel of the three. Characters from the previous two books come together, the clockwork society is winding down and entropy is creeping in. Can the heroes save the day, save the Watchmaker, save old love? The tension is ratcheted much higher than the previous two novels and the outcome isn't clear (which is also unlike the first two novels). And excellent read and the ending fits magically with the real life authors' lives. This is well worth your time to read and enjoy....more
Simple premise which leads to a life-long adventure for the protagonist. This novel is a clever story structure to lead the reader down a path of charSimple premise which leads to a life-long adventure for the protagonist. This novel is a clever story structure to lead the reader down a path of character vignettes, each enthralling and entertaining. Steampunk tech and attitude is strong in this novel (as it was in the first novel of the series), with more details for the world building, makes this an excellent steampunk novel!...more
An enjoyable steampunk novel with a naïve protagonist coming of age, with law vs chaos angles and devils sitting on his shoulders, manipulating his acAn enjoyable steampunk novel with a naïve protagonist coming of age, with law vs chaos angles and devils sitting on his shoulders, manipulating his actions and trying to win him over to their extreme philosophies. The writing is strong, the characters are fun. The only grist in the gears, as it where, is the story is low on tension, a modern necessity in novels. I found the story refreshing not to be predictable and to not have tension in every scene. This story is more like a travel story of fiction from a by-gone era, not dissimilar to 'Gulliver's Travels.' Well worth your time to read!...more
A sprinkling of historical fiction, characters real enough to draw breath, two spoonful's of macabre and you end up with a man cheated of love driven A sprinkling of historical fiction, characters real enough to draw breath, two spoonful's of macabre and you end up with a man cheated of love driven to rectify the situation, damning all long-distance charges for the communique. ...more
I pre-ordered and got the book early. Finished it in one day, which is rare for me and my hectic life. This book is poetic with a hint of melancholy. II pre-ordered and got the book early. Finished it in one day, which is rare for me and my hectic life. This book is poetic with a hint of melancholy. I've read all of Mr. Kaufman's books and this is my favorite of his. So far. This novel borders on historical fiction, given all the real-life facts anchoring the fiction. A must read for everyone for so many reasons I'm not going to bother leaving a grocery list. You do yourself a disservice if this isn't the next novel you read....more
This is an enjoyable YA novel, and while steampunk in nature, it is mild and pleasant. The tech is pragmatic and believable, but, as with all of Mr. WThis is an enjoyable YA novel, and while steampunk in nature, it is mild and pleasant. The tech is pragmatic and believable, but, as with all of Mr. Watt-Evans' work, there is magic or at least the surprising and unreal as well with hints of potential adventures in the future for young Mr. Darringer with two r's....more
The story starts off very similar to so many other steampunk novels with an odd professor, his unique invention, a plucky sidekick, and a manservant, The story starts off very similar to so many other steampunk novels with an odd professor, his unique invention, a plucky sidekick, and a manservant, off to explore the moon in their newly created ether ship. But the story's main characters are horrifically racist, as is the author's narration. Sure, the book was written in 1950, and the setting for the novel is 1884, but the racism is overpowering, distracting, disgusting. I rarely quit a book once started, so I gave myself 50 pages to see if it is tolerable or not. It's obvious it was written to be humorous but has not held up to the test of time. By 50 pages though, the story takes bizarre turns and twists and I had to keep reading despite the unpalatable racism. Most of the story takes place in some type of inner-dimensional-space INSIDE a giant, gas-filled, naked Moon Queen. That's what kept me hooked. The odd and bizarre nature of it all.
***Spoiler of the ending***
The ending is one of the worst endings I've ever read, with the author talking to the reader, promising more of the story if you're good and behave. What?!?! Zero resolution. The most singularly worst ending I've ever read, now that I think about it....more
I've been reading this comic on-line since its inception. This novel is basically the opening story from that. Mr. Foglio's art is so characteristic aI've been reading this comic on-line since its inception. This novel is basically the opening story from that. Mr. Foglio's art is so characteristic and intrinsic with his story telling, this whole novel was a flashback for me to the comics. Oodles of fun! Highly recommended. Some of the best steampunk out there....more
The first red flag shows up when you open the book and are confronted with 14 pages of characters listed in no apparent order. The immense size of theThe first red flag shows up when you open the book and are confronted with 14 pages of characters listed in no apparent order. The immense size of the cast was handled well throughout the novel but it's as if the author or publisher didn't think readers would be able to keep track of them all.
I was also disappointed with the overall plot of the Iron Assassin having free will, being a pawn, having free will, being a pawn in repetition. Must kill, run away, must kill, run away. That's about 75% of the novel right there.
The characters are the best part of the story for me, and normally I'm more plot oriented. Overall I liked it but I wasn't gripped by it....more
High-action (in both tension and altitude) rains down you the reader from start to finish. This is steampunk in the Wild West done the way it should bHigh-action (in both tension and altitude) rains down you the reader from start to finish. This is steampunk in the Wild West done the way it should be. Mr. Allen keeps the story's pace fast and furious, dancing a staccato to shame a Flamenco dancer. His characters are all fleshed out, vital, living, breathing people with backgrounds you the reader only get glimpses of, just like real life. Jake, our main protagonist, may be a gunslinger card player, but he's got a moral compass that doesn't sway from true heroic, and can laugh at himself just as be serious. This last bit is my favorite part. The humor. So many stories get heavy handed with action and tension, they lose humor, which life is full of. "Blood Ties" stops to smell the jokes, often sprinkled in with the high-action/drama of a scene, making it all the better.
Let me finish up by saying my praise isn't easily won, especially for the steampunk genre. I'm usually a strict purist, wanting my steampunk all science and I rarely enjoy having magic mixed in with it. I expected to like this story since I've read other work by Mr. Allen, but I didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I do, knowing there was magic involved. He has it in the world, but it to, like the humor, is sprinkled in and rare. He's balanced it just right, and I'm a converted steampunk fan, now that I know it can be done right.
So, let the sigils glow and the shells explode for this crew of characters zepping around the Wild West. I truly look forward to the next two books of the series, and I can't wait to purchase hard copies of this story, after reading the electronic version....more
Early steampunk, written as steampunk, a defining novel for the sub-genre. I enjoy Mr. Jeter's writing style. He takes the Victorian voice a little tooEarly steampunk, written as steampunk, a defining novel for the sub-genre. I enjoy Mr. Jeter's writing style. He takes the Victorian voice a little too far and achieves a humorous result. As for this story, the protagonist is incompetent, being rescued constantly and never achieving anything in the entire novel. Not the sort of hero one can relate to. Despite this, it is well written and the plot moves along fairly quickly....more
This reads more like a fable, with fantastical elements in a steampunk setting. The plot is linear, and it's a story of a young woman forced outside oThis reads more like a fable, with fantastical elements in a steampunk setting. The plot is linear, and it's a story of a young woman forced outside of her social bubble to enter a "man's world." She embraces the challenge, sort of.
Most of the story, the young protagonist is passive in her activity. She relies on everyone to do everything for her, even at the end.
The story is competently written, but never gripped me, and I almost stopped reading once I learned Spring Heeled Jack's secret to his abilities. Very 'Barron Munchausen' in aspect and didn't fit the otherwise nuts n bolts world created.
Sedia's other novels are highly acclaimed, so I'll have to give one of them a read....more
Zeuglodon is told in classic Blaylock style. You won't be disappointed. The characters are fulled fleshed out from their very first words spoken, and Zeuglodon is told in classic Blaylock style. You won't be disappointed. The characters are fulled fleshed out from their very first words spoken, and told in the first person narrative gives the story a fun, whimsical song.
Brilliant from cover to cover with no commercial breaks.
I highly recommend anything this author has written. ...more
Excellent imagination/world construction, and imagery. I got stopped by all the Christian imagery and focus and quit reading. The fault is my own, butExcellent imagination/world construction, and imagery. I got stopped by all the Christian imagery and focus and quit reading. The fault is my own, but I'm sure the author and publisher knew they'd turn away a % of their secular readers. ...more
To love language is to love Blaylock. Vocabulary of the narration and the characters is lyrical, old-worldly, roller-coaster for the tongue enjoyment.To love language is to love Blaylock. Vocabulary of the narration and the characters is lyrical, old-worldly, roller-coaster for the tongue enjoyment.
"Ring of Stones" is a simple, linear narration virtually parallel to "King Kong" with only a few substitutions. It's the characters, both stodgy and lighthearted, intrepid to the core, which makes this an excellent read I strongly recommend. ...more
One aspect of short story anthologies I really enjoy is the buffet sampling of styles I probably wouldn't get from solo novels. This anthology serves One aspect of short story anthologies I really enjoy is the buffet sampling of styles I probably wouldn't get from solo novels. This anthology serves up dishes from all over the world - heavy on the Wild West of the USA, but that's not a bad thing.
I enjoy reading the various short stories, differing characters and plots, and if there's an author who really stands out, I can track down their other work and read more.
Volume IV is a tasty meal of cogs and steam....more
"The Bookman" is well written. Mr. Tidmar has a strong imagination, but he tells, not shows, the entire story. Not once was I there with the character"The Bookman" is well written. Mr. Tidmar has a strong imagination, but he tells, not shows, the entire story. Not once was I there with the character, feeling his plights and struggles. I was told he was sad, or frustrated. I never felt his emotions.
A double edged sword for this story is Orphan, the main protagonist. He is a nobody blundering about being used by others. That's refreshing from the majority of stories where the hero is competent beyond credulity. However, Orphan never does anything. Ever. He is pushed around from point A to point B and he never accomplishes anything at any time. Eventually, this becomes boring, exceedingly boring. Why is he even in this story as the main point of view character when others are doing all the action? Major flaw in the plot.
I enjoyed the characters and races and the back story/history of this world. That was the best part of this novel. Mr. Tidmar uses both historical figures and fictional characters all thrown in and mixed well. This is another double edged sword because at first it is enchanting, but after awhile it feels more like a game of just name dropping to show the reader he knows some history. Maybe that's just my perspective. I found it odd radio waves are called Tesla waves when Tesla wasn't a major mover and shaker in developing radio technology (yes he had radio controlled submarine....), but I was especially glad Marconi's name wasn't mentioned. I hate that guy.
If Orphan would have ended up doing something, anything, of import at the end of the story, and if a few less historical figures were used to bludgeon us with, and more showing and less telling, this would be a four or five star novel, but as it stands, I'm giving it a 2. I enjoyed reading it, overall, but by the end, when Orphan was only admitting to himself he was being used over and over again, and he *still* didn't take an active role in his own narration, I lost interest.
One parting thought: the end has an obvious, Hollywoodland ending that isn't used, and I thought that was fantastic. So well played on that one, Mr. Tidmar....more
There's a reason I've been hearing good things about this book. It's a rich fantasy world with new races of mankind to learn about, a strict caste sysThere's a reason I've been hearing good things about this book. It's a rich fantasy world with new races of mankind to learn about, a strict caste system (very steampunk), great tech (steampunk), goggles galore (steampunk), mysterious element that defies gravity (reminiscent of the late, great Wells' "cavorite", which is steampunk), and a logic to it all that makes it fit like a glove, er, cog.
The characters are all realized and each has a well defined motivation etc. etc. The protagonist is a likable person, and that's important, and apparently hard to pull off in modern lit.
I'm not sure this novel would pass the Bechdel Test though, since, when two female characters get together in this story, they almost exclusively talk about clothes and love interests and almost nothing else. Every in the midst of espionage.
Besides that distraction, I did find one scene with horrid physics that pulled me right out of the story. Characters are falling to their immediate demise and one character starts dropping the lighter-than-air-metal attached to their body in order to catch up to other falling characters below. Here's the sentence: "Her speed increased as her weight increased." WHAT? Argh. Science people! Science!
But that's a minor nitpick. The story is almost void of any punk. Where's the punk? Not in this novel, so in that regard, it is a modern steampunk story where the characters are upholding the system in place, not railing against it. BUT, at least one character breaks taboo all the time, and that's punk enough for me. Loved the story and will continue to read this author....more
This is the final full-length book to C. Priest's Clcokwork Century series, and she finished super strong. This is the high-water mark for steampunk nThis is the final full-length book to C. Priest's Clcokwork Century series, and she finished super strong. This is the high-water mark for steampunk novels right now in the USA.
Fast page turning, tension driven story with not one, but two Civil War presidents involved, and cameos of characters from some of the other novels.
This fifth book in the series wraps up a series loosely tied together, bringing aspects from most of the other stories in a pleasantly surprising and unexpected way.
My only gripe, and it's minor, is the item that gives the story such an intriguing title is a very minor aspect of the story, and thus I find it a bit misleading. But, like I said, that's a minor complaint and if I was limited to fewer letters in this review, I'd not mention it....more
Nearly all of these short stories do a good job of being steampunk w/out falling on the goggle/corset sword of shallow fashion "it's steampunk 'cause Nearly all of these short stories do a good job of being steampunk w/out falling on the goggle/corset sword of shallow fashion "it's steampunk 'cause there's goggles'" trope that so many mainstream novels do.
That said, the stories are well written, but there's really only two types of stories in this book: mechanized vibrators and not mechanized vibrators. I would have liked to see a larger variety of plots.
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