The Affinity Bridge by George Mann
A Newbury & Hobbes Investigation (Book 1)
ISBN: 978-0765323224
Steampunk, 334 pages

The more I read steampunk, the more I like it. Especially when the story and characters are as engaging as they are here.

This is the first book in George Mann’s Newbury & Hobbes Investigation series. As with traditional steampunk, the setting is Victorian England. Also, there are airships, zombies, brass automatons, and ground trains:

They stopped as a ground train trundled by, the huge steam engine roaring as the fireman stoked the flames, the carriages behind it bouncing along the cobbled road, their wooden wheels creaking under the strain. Newbury caught stuttering glimpses of the people inside the small carriages as they rushed by, snug inside their little booths, speeding on towards their destinations. The driver, on the other hand, was wrapped up warm against the elements, sitting atop the engine itself on a large dickey box, a huge steering wheel clasped between his gloved hands.

Beyond the science fiction however, is a well-crafted mystery. From the beginning I was enthralled. I knew immediately this was going to be an enjoyable book to read. I guessed at part of it, but when unraveled, the complete story was beyond what I’d imagined and I was thrilled to be so surprised. It’s been a long time since an author caught me off guard that way. It was wonderful!

The only part I had trouble with is how one of the sub-plots was resolved. It felt . . . awkward, as if it was loose end not discovered until too late and fixed hurriedly. Since the book opens with this particular storyline, or at least it’s main character, then I’m hoping it’s because it will be developed more in a later installment, so I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

Still, it didn’t detract much from the overall story and how much I liked it.

This is a definite recommendation not only to those who like steampunk, but especially for introducing it to others. It is an excellent ambassador for the genre.

Now, off to read the second in the series, The Osiris Ritual.

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
ISBN: 9780765318411
A Tor Book, published by Tom Doherty and Associates, LLC
Science Fiction/Steampunk/Alternative History

Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
ISBN: 978076532785
A Tor Book, published by Tom Doherty and Associates, LLC
Science Fiction/Steampunk/Alternative History

FTC Disclosure: I own both of them and they look great on my shelves!

Whether you’re familiar with steampunk or not, this is an author who represents  it so well, I have no problem recommending her novels as an introduction to this sub-genre of science fiction.

The unique aspect, for me at least, with these novels is the horror element. Who thought zombies could work so well in an alternative history novel? Well, it does!

Boneshaker and Dreadnought are books 1 and 3 respectively in the Clockwork Century stories. Unfortunately, the second Clementine, a short novel, is only available as an eBook as far as I can tell.

The books don’t need to be read in order, although I recommend reading Boneshaker first to help set the tone, and offer a better understanding of the Clockwork Century.

What struck me about the writing and stories is how quickly I became involved, especially with Boneshaker. The strength of this novel is its characters and the setting.

Dreadnought is a different read. If you can refrain from trying to compare the two, and read each, and judge each, singularly, then they are equally excellent reads. Despite being set in the same century and having characters appearing in both, they are as unique, and similar as siblings – not twins.

There is no cookie cutter formula used here to develop this series of novels. I love the fact that the author has no fear in giving her characters and their stories a quality unique to each.

Another love was that each book has a female protagonist that is not stereotypical and has strengths and faults that make them easy to like. My only gripe may be that the supporting characters in Boneshaker had a stronger presence and more impact on the reader than in Dreadnought.

I think this is because the author told the story in Boneshaker from the point of view of two people and Dreadnought from only one person. This would affect the development of the story and its characters as it all has to be told in a way that is more limiting.

However, it’s still successful. It took no more than two days to read each book. And both times I was up to the wee hours of the morning finishing them because I couldn’t put them down.

In fact, they were such fun and great reads, I am going to find it nearly impossible to wait until September when Ganymede is released.

These books are adult fiction, but would be fine for older teenagers. There is no heavy romance, but there is violence as there is a horror element in each. Not too gory, and never gratuitous.

Whether you are a steampunk fan or not, these books are worth a spot on your shelves or eReader. Definitely.

The Declaration by Gemma Malley (Book One in the Declaration Series)
ISBN: 9781599902951
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Young Adult Fiction/Speculative Fiction, Ages 13 & up

In order to better diversify my reading (and home library), I’ve been trying to read other genres. This book is one that has me kicking myself in the keister for not doing this sooner.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book in one sitting. ONE. As in I didn’t realized I had, until I finished and looked up to find my cats very grumpy from lack of attention. Maybe I should change my rating system from stars to a “grumpy kitty meter”. If I did, The Declaration gets 5 out 5 Shredded Shoes.

The premise for this dystopian novel derives from the author wondering what a society would be like if humans could live forever. However there remains the issue of population control.

In the year 2140, this is managed by the Declaration, an oath taken by those wanting immortality:

Longevity drugs are a fountain of youth. Sign the Declaration, agree not to have children, and you too can live forever. Refuse, and you will live as an outcast. For the children born outside the law, it only gets worse – Surplus status. – From the back cover

The story is told from the point of view of Surplus Anna: a young, indoctrinated, yet authentic voice. The realization of what is really going on in the world would not have the dramatic impact it does, if the main narrator were anyone else.

. . . captured when she was young and brought up in a Surplus Hall, a place where she is taught to hate herself and her parents; to be told again and again that she owes a debt to society, to Mother Nature, whose generosity she has abused by her very existence. – Description of Anna by the author

To help her enlightenment is Peter. Another Surplus, but not like any Anna has known before. He’s spent most of his life on the “outside”. What unnerves her most is that he knows things about her that he shouldn’t. Luckily, seeds of doubt have already been planted in Anna’s mind, so it isn’t too hard to accept her sudden decision to turn her back on the only life she’s ever known.

The author states that “The Declaration is, I hope, a story that will challenge its readers, that will stay with them, that will make them think about the freedoms and privileges we take for granted and about the price paid for these. But, ultimately, The Declaration is Anna’s Story.

This story does stay with you. Makes you wonder how many of us are willing to accept our true role on this planet, and whether or not it should be an infinite one. What price would any of us pay in order to have a longer life? Would we accept a Fountain of Youth if what we had to sacrifice, is youth itself?

Another highly recommended read. I can’t wait to get my hands on The Resistance and The Legacy.