Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Steam Mole

by Dave Freer (Goodreads Author)

3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 · rating details · 9 ratings · 2 reviews

Steampunk adventure with an environmental point. After a daring chase across the globe, Tim Barnabas and Clara Calland have brought Clara's scientist father's secret formula to Westralia. Here, much of Australia is simply too hot to be habitable by day. Duke Malcolm, of the Imperial Security Service, transports Claras rebel-father to a prison in Eastern Australia, hoping t...more

Hardcover, 300 pages

Published December 4th 2012 by Prometheus Books

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 41)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Feb 24, 2013 Mara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: male-author-challenge, tbr-2013-challenge, books-to-buy, 2013-reads, alternate-history, steampunk

Cover Blurb: Yes or No? No. Yet more character impersonators (and that kid looks nothing like how I imagine Tim), and it's just kind of boring.

Characters: The two protagonists have actually improved since Cuttlefish. Tim doesn't harp on the race issue nearly as much as he did in the previous book, and Clara has abandoned her feminist attitude, while still maintaining her adventurous and resourceful streak. Linda would have been a good addition to the cast, except she was, in so many ways, so muc...more

like · see review

Feb 21, 2013 Candace (Lovey Dovey Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-sci-fi-fantasy, ya-historical-fiction, multicultural

Dave Freer's Cuttlefish laid the perfect foundation to Clara and Tim's story, from their blooming friendship to their dangerous adventure. After many days dodging Duke Malcolm's army, Clara and the other residents of the Cuttlefish have finally made it to the Republic of Westralia. Their journey begins anew in The Steam Mole as they adapt to life on land and all the trials that follow.

What I love about Cuttlefish and The Steam Mole is how consistent Freer remains with the steampunk and science-f...more Dave Freer's Cuttlefish laid the perfect foundation to Clara and Tim's story, from their blooming friendship to their dangerous adventure. After many days dodging Duke Malcolm's army, Clara and the other residents of the Cuttlefish have finally made it to the Republic of Westralia. Their journey begins anew in The Steam Mole as they adapt to life on land and all the trials that follow.

What I love about Cuttlefish and The Steam Mole is how consistent Freer remains with the steampunk and science-fiction elements. Clara is no longer confined to an illegal, coal powered submarine, but Freer easily introduces another intricate, and quite important, machine: the steam mole. The steam mole is a central part of the novel that intrigued me because it took the biggest scenes of adventure underground. It's like exploring a whole new world with the same suspenseful aura and complex storyline.

Freer extends our view of Clara's world. With her mother's sudden illness, and the fragile hope that her father is imprisoned nearby, the story's plots and subplots diverge. New characters are thrown into the growing pile of perspectives like Lampy, the young aboriginal with a dark past and bright future. Lampy reminded me of Tim because of their similar backgrounds and temperaments; both know how to survive in the most unlikeliest situations and both are the victims of prejudice based on the color of their skin. This aspect brings a certain cultural awareness that is highly overlooked in young adult literature. That it's found in a steampunk, sci-fi novel is even more of a draw.

While I did enjoy The Steam Mole and it's perfectly pieced together conclusion, I have to say that it wasn't quite the sequel to Cuttlefish that I'd been expecting. By the end of the story I got the impression that the characters were settling in their new lives, not gearing up for a possible future adventure. When the subplots finally converged and the wrongs set right, the outcome felt as though forced. Freer made it too easy and not as nerve-wrecking as the explosive conclusion of Cuttlefish. I really love Clara and Tim, their ability to tough it out is awesome, I'm hoping to find their story continue in another novel. Hopefully, one with just as much action and alternate history!

*Book provided via publisher in exchange for an honest review*(less)

like · see review

May 24, 2013 JennRenee marked it as to-read

May 24, 2013 Michael Mcdaid marked it as to-read

May 24, 2013 Carol marked it as to-read

May 22, 2013 Amelia marked it as to-read

May 04, 2013 Yessica marked it as to-read

Apr 17, 2013 Garrett B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, alternate-history, read-in-2013, non-dystopian-science-fiction, science-fiction

Apr 10, 2013 Erik marked it as to-read

Apr 06, 2013 George marked it as to-read

Shelves: young-adult-steam-punk

Mar 22, 2013 2013 Bistro marked it as to-read

Mar 17, 2013 Dave Freer rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

May 04, 2013 Paul rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 12, 2013 Richarnda marked it as to-read

Feb 27, 2013 Jennifer Gilbert marked it as to-read

Feb 22, 2013 SCPL Teens marked it as to-read

Shelves: steampunk

Feb 17, 2013 Shveta Thakrar marked it as to-read

Feb 15, 2013 Lauren marked it as to-read

Feb 13, 2013 Laura marked it as to-read

Shelves: steampunk

Feb 11, 2013 Jeff Crosby marked it as to-read

Shelves: up-next, kindle, ebook, time-travel-alt-hist, steampunk

Feb 07, 2013 Wendy added it

Shelves: ordered

Jan 31, 2013 Jessica marked it as to-read

Shelves: can-t-find-but-want-to-read

Jan 31, 2013 Ashley marked it as to-read

Shelves: bookclub

Jan 29, 2013 Bernie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk

Jan 18, 2013 Katie marked it as to-read

Jan 16, 2013 Sheila marked it as to-read

Jan 14, 2013 Cnorlien marked it as to-read

Dec 29, 2012 Ricki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, review, historical-fiction, ya

Dec 19, 2012 Princess Bookie marked it as to-read

Dec 10, 2012 Mutantreptile marked it as to-read

« previous 1 2 next »

Science Fiction > Alternate History

2 users

See top shelves...

Books by Dave Freer

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Steam Mole

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: The Steam Mole
avg rating	preview: The Steam Mole Goodreads rating: 3.89 (9 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15847905-the-steam-mole?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345903018l/15847905.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15847905-the-steam-mole?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Steam Mole by Dave Freer[/url]

The Steam Mole

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Books by Dave Freer

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Steam Mole

The Steam Mole

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (2)

Genres

Books by Dave Freer

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Steam Mole

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)