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36th out of 59 books
—
24 voters
Clockwork Fagin (Free story from Steampunk!)
Imagine an alternate universe where tinkerers and dreamers craft and re-craft a world of automatons, clockworks, calculating machines, and other marvels that never were. Where scientists and schoolgirls, fair folk and Romans, intergalactic bandits, utopian revolutionaries, and intrepid orphans solve crimes, escape from monstrous predicaments, consult oracles, and hover ove...more
Kindle Edition, 50 pages
Published
September 2011
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Downtrodden inmate Sian O'Leary 17, originally from Hamilton, sold, like others, by impoverished parent, narrates "golden time" p91, arrival of "Monty" Montreal Montague Goldfarb, who brings brave heart, hand, and hope. Sisters of St Augustine Hospital send recovered children mutilated by machinery in steampunk Muddy York to Home for the Rehabilitation of Crippled Children run by sadistic greedy Zophar Grindersworth, who sends them out to beg, and beats them down, worse than abused dogs. He star...more
Clockwork Fagin is a short-story/novella that is available as a free stand alone download from Kindle or Cory Doctorow's web page.
As anyone who is familiar with my blog will know, I saw Doctorow speak at last year's Edinburgh Book Festival and that talk goes down as one of, if not the best book festival talk I've ever attended. He's funny, thought provoking and cutting edge on digital publishing and adoption of future printing/production techniques. The novella was recommended to me by a friend...more
As anyone who is familiar with my blog will know, I saw Doctorow speak at last year's Edinburgh Book Festival and that talk goes down as one of, if not the best book festival talk I've ever attended. He's funny, thought provoking and cutting edge on digital publishing and adoption of future printing/production techniques. The novella was recommended to me by a friend...more
A really good short story from Doctorow. I've only recently started to read more in the steampunk genre and I found this story very interesting.
You don't really get too much information about the outside of the orphanage as this is where the vast majority of the story takes place, however, Doctorow has certainly left enough scope to make this into a full-scale novel if needs be.
Story itself is very well written (the only other thing I've read by Doctorow is Little Brother so I really am not sur...more
You don't really get too much information about the outside of the orphanage as this is where the vast majority of the story takes place, however, Doctorow has certainly left enough scope to make this into a full-scale novel if needs be.
Story itself is very well written (the only other thing I've read by Doctorow is Little Brother so I really am not sur...more
The last of my pile 'o free SteamPunk books, and probably the best of the bunch. This one is pretty short...maybe better described as a long short story than a novella.
Fagin refers to the character in Oliver Twist. When the miserly, ruthless headmaster of a home for disfigured orphans checks out, the kids find that life without a chaperone is a much more pleasant existence. But society will never allow them to live on their own without adult supervision. What to do, what to do?? Maybe put some o...more
Fagin refers to the character in Oliver Twist. When the miserly, ruthless headmaster of a home for disfigured orphans checks out, the kids find that life without a chaperone is a much more pleasant existence. But society will never allow them to live on their own without adult supervision. What to do, what to do?? Maybe put some o...more
I had never read any of Doctorow's work before, so I wondered what the fuss was all about. Now I know. He is quite the skillful wordsmith. There were word usages, however that I could not find even in my Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, such as refering to one's offspring as one's "get," but perhaps this is regional Canadian slang.
I'm not sure why, but this story, which began for me as mere entertainment, actually brought a small tear to my eye by its end. Perhaps it was the transformation of...more
I'm not sure why, but this story, which began for me as mere entertainment, actually brought a small tear to my eye by its end. Perhaps it was the transformation of...more
Cory Doctorow once again delivers the goods! His cyberpunk books are always well worth the read, but I was slightly concerned when he took on a Steampunk story. Worthless worry. He mixes just the right amount of steam with the proper amount of punk--and then sets it in an alternate Canada.
If the rest of the stories in this collection are half as good as this single, it will be a treasured addition to my Kindle library.
This *is* just a single story selected from an anthology, so if that is not yo...more
If the rest of the stories in this collection are half as good as this single, it will be a treasured addition to my Kindle library.
This *is* just a single story selected from an anthology, so if that is not yo...more
Steampunk YA novella set in an orphanage for children maimed from accidents in factories and run by a sadistic man. Then one day a new orphan shows up and things turn around.
I don't want to give away what happens here, but it is violent, gory, but wholly inventive. It was weird and I'm sure I'm supposed to be grossed out by what happens, but I also thought it was poetic justice and I ended up really liking the story.
[The story is in a new YA Steampunk anthology, but I got it as a freebie on Amaz...more
I don't want to give away what happens here, but it is violent, gory, but wholly inventive. It was weird and I'm sure I'm supposed to be grossed out by what happens, but I also thought it was poetic justice and I ended up really liking the story.
[The story is in a new YA Steampunk anthology, but I got it as a freebie on Amaz...more
Steampunk with a dark sombre dystopian edge and a flavouring of the classic Oliver Twist story to boot. Although the genre can be a little over the top and out there for some, it also fills the gaps left between the more popular genres.
The story is a little dark and if tales about children being mistreated make you shed a tear then I suggest a tissue to wipe the occasional damp eye.
I liked the idea of the meek overcoming the strong via talent, working together and sheer tenacity.
This tale is a p...more
The story is a little dark and if tales about children being mistreated make you shed a tear then I suggest a tissue to wipe the occasional damp eye.
I liked the idea of the meek overcoming the strong via talent, working together and sheer tenacity.
This tale is a p...more
Those of you familiar with the basic premise of steampunk universes know that they are not a very nice place.
This one is no exception.
It is a tale of abuse, deception, and murder.
But for all that, it's short, simple to read, and while it won't win any literary awards it's not bad, and I'll probably pick up the whole anthology if I ever come across it.
This one is no exception.
It is a tale of abuse, deception, and murder.
But for all that, it's short, simple to read, and while it won't win any literary awards it's not bad, and I'll probably pick up the whole anthology if I ever come across it.
A neat little short story, free at the time I picked it up. I am likely to purchase the entire book of short stories, based on the quality of this one.
Essentially a retelling of a Charles Dicken type tale - orphan brought into an orphanage, but it is a steam punk version of Victorian London, and the tale ends up quite a bit more cheerful than the original.
Essentially a retelling of a Charles Dicken type tale - orphan brought into an orphanage, but it is a steam punk version of Victorian London, and the tale ends up quite a bit more cheerful than the original.
Great story all about how ophans take control of a factory. I loved the imagination of the children and how they all group together. Gives a perspective into the past on how children would work and the conditions in which they work. A great read.
Sex:No
Drugs:No
Alchol: Mention of them drinking brandy.
Sex:No
Drugs:No
Alchol: Mention of them drinking brandy.
This was my first time reading steampunk and I quite enjoyed it. It's well-written and keeps your interest. Usually I stay away from short stories, because I think it's difficult to pace them well, but I think this one was perfect.
I would definitely read more in this genre and by this author.
I would definitely read more in this genre and by this author.
A quick read set in steampunk Canada. Similar to a Dickens story. The first one third was a bit confusing, after that the story moves along well. AT least one aspect seemed a bit like red herring, if brought to the conclusion even the author makes it was not consistent.
This story was offered as a free preview of the collection. Doctorow's story makes good use of Dickens' theme set in York/Toronto. An extremely funny and well thought out story. Engrossing. I almost forgot to get off at my stop.
This short story is free online, and clearly I need to read more Doctorow because I really liked both this and For The Win. Sort of a steampunk re-imagining of Fagin's orphanage from Oliver Twist. Well-written and entertaining.
I am not a Steampunk fan, but this story really appealed to me. If you get a chance to download/listen to it from Escape Pod podcast, do not miss out because(pro)narration only adds to overall experience.
I really enjoyed this short story. I've been reading Cory Doctorow's writing on Boingboing for years, but this is the first of his fiction that I've picked up. I look forward to reading more!
The beginning of this story had way more scatological references than I would have liked, but I ended up really enjoying it. The writing was excellent throughout and the story and characters were very engaging.
Wonderful and entertaining short story, delightfully punk without a corset in sight. Well worth your time if you love reading high-stakes tales with a happy ending.
http://escapepod.org/2011/10/20/ep-31...
audiolink-coolth
This is an awesome short story, and the audio makes it even better!
audiolink-coolth
This is an awesome short story, and the audio makes it even better!
Sep 23, 2011
Seawood
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
steampunk eurotrash
Recommended to Seawood by:
The Twitter Hive Mind
Pretty good - this is the first story in a collection as a promo, I think, I look forward to finding the rest. Great setting, atmosphere, etc.
Another wonderful story by Cory. He amazes me with his world-building and full blown characters, even in a short story.
Had to read it for my fantasy lit class, and glad i did. Was really enjoyable, although the end left me wanting more.
Clockwork Fagin was an enjoyable read but to me the narrator's voice read like MG and not YA. He sounded too young. I definitely would like to find out more about his world.
Reading this story made me decide to read everthing Cory Doctorow has published.
Nice short story. Steampunk, steam computation, St Aggie's. Good mix.
My first encounter with any steampunk, and I really enjoyed it.
This was a very cute steam punk story. Inventive and heartwarming.
I think it's the best thing I've read in a long time.
Loved Muddy York & St Agathas
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Canadian blogger, journalist and science fiction author who serves as co-editor of the blog Boing Boing.
He is an activist in favor of liberalizing copyright laws and a proponent of the Creative Commons organization, using some of their licenses for his books.
Some common themes of his work include digital rights management, file sharing, Disney, and post-scarcity economics.
http://us.macmillan.com...more
More about Cory Doctorow...
He is an activist in favor of liberalizing copyright laws and a proponent of the Creative Commons organization, using some of their licenses for his books.
Some common themes of his work include digital rights management, file sharing, Disney, and post-scarcity economics.
http://us.macmillan.com...more
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