The mystery series following crown investigators Newbury and Hobbes in the alternate Victorian London where Queen Victoria is kept alive using clever...moreThe mystery series following crown investigators Newbury and Hobbes in the alternate Victorian London where Queen Victoria is kept alive using clever steampunk technology. The story is like a combination of Indiana Jones and Sherlock Holmes in a world were anything could happen including zombies. (less)
Aurorarama is a steampunk revolution in the coldest reaches of Earth in a city called New Venice found in the Arctic circle. The city is the home of i...moreAurorarama is a steampunk revolution in the coldest reaches of Earth in a city called New Venice found in the Arctic circle. The city is the home of idealists, artists, military, and Inuit trying to live a harmonious life in a place that is mostly blanketed in darkness. The two protagonist, Brentford Orsini,a civil servant and Gabriel de’Atelier a professor and romantic, become part of the prophecy for change in New Venice, which the government and the secret police, the Gentleman of the Night, are trying to prevent.
The story evokes the sense of beauty and isolation of the ice, and the longing for an idealized home where art, exploration, and safety live in harmony with ancient culture of the Inuit. A lyrical book that has all the sense of the Victorians spiritualism, romance, and morality from the perspective of an adventurous duo.
I recommend looking up the quotes included at the beginning of each chapter for a better perspective. Many you may know, but Jean-Christophe Valtat has found some obscure and very interesting quotes from Victorian writings of the time on explorations of the North Pole and Victorian philosophy. A highly original book that will appeal to those who read in and outside of the science fiction genre.(less)
The next adventure in the Newbury and Hobbes series in which secrets of the crown investigators is unraveled through an investigation of murders and t...moreThe next adventure in the Newbury and Hobbes series in which secrets of the crown investigators is unraveled through an investigation of murders and theft of Egyptian artifacts. A fast paced Victorian romp in a steampunk world where mad science has created unusual consequences. As always a fun, fast-paced adventure with wit and humor. (less)
The story is about an unlikely trio, a socialite, an assassin, and a doctor, accidentally finding themselves mistaken as spies of nefarious cabal. The...moreThe story is about an unlikely trio, a socialite, an assassin, and a doctor, accidentally finding themselves mistaken as spies of nefarious cabal. The three heroes band together against the cabal in order to ensure their own survival and dive headlong into a mysterious world of sexual deviants, mad science, and power hungry Victorians. The stories suspense is created by using third person narrative which switches from each character chapter to chapter, usually backtracking to what the other characters were doing at the time. I found the story exhilarating and enjoyed the development of the characters beyond their own expectations.(less)
The sequel to The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, takes up immediately after the first with our heroes continuing their quest. This is a book for tho...moreThe sequel to The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, takes up immediately after the first with our heroes continuing their quest. This is a book for those who enjoyed the first book, though don't expect a nicely completed ending to this adventure. So enjoy the character's trials and tribulations and the writing of Gordon Dahlquist.(less)
A fantastic journey reminiscent of Gibson's Neuromancer with nanotech and mystery. An amazing world with a mix of architectures both real and virtual....moreA fantastic journey reminiscent of Gibson's Neuromancer with nanotech and mystery. An amazing world with a mix of architectures both real and virtual. I have read very littler in the hard SF genre, but this book made me want to branch out into this genre. The concepts and descriptions were accessible and beautiful for a person with a mind of an artist. (less)
I was delighted to find out that the second in the Iron Seas series focused on Lady Corsair, the captain of the airship from the Iron Duke, and the tr...moreI was delighted to find out that the second in the Iron Seas series focused on Lady Corsair, the captain of the airship from the Iron Duke, and the treasure hunter Archimedes Fox. The reader will enjoy the expansion of the Horde-occupied Morocco and the chemistry and wit between the two. The balance between story and romance offers an enjoyable read. (less)
The last of the Parasol Protectorate series takes us on a new journey with Alexis, Lord Macon, and her daughter Prudence after being summoned by the v...moreThe last of the Parasol Protectorate series takes us on a new journey with Alexis, Lord Macon, and her daughter Prudence after being summoned by the vampire queen of Alexandria in Egypt. A nice conclusion to this series that ties up some of the loose ends about Alexis’ father along with the mishaps of traveling with Ivy Tunstell and the acting troupe blending adventure, humor, and outrageous hats.(less)
The story is set in the near future where corporations use genetic modifications to create a delicate global infrastructure focused on profits over th...moreThe story is set in the near future where corporations use genetic modifications to create a delicate global infrastructure focused on profits over the ecosystem told from the perspective of Snowman as he pieces the events that have brought the planet into it’s current state. A story is a shocking and poignant tale of corporate greed, eco-terrorists and apathy that will leave you thinking about our own future. As for the audio version of this book, the reader took a disc to get used to his reading pattern and was overall adequate. Regardless, the story was compelling enough to keep me listening. (less)
The second book in the MaddAddam trilogy takes place during the same time span as the first book, Orxy and Crake, but is told from the perspective of...moreThe second book in the MaddAddam trilogy takes place during the same time span as the first book, Orxy and Crake, but is told from the perspective of three people living as part of the extreme splinter group, God's Gardeners. Ren is a teenage girl living with her mother who has left her husband, Toby a woman who was saved by the God's Gardeners, and Adam One the leader of this group. This book will reveal a very different perspective of the events told in the first book and will have you doubting the viewpoints of Snowman.
This book will flush out the world more, but still leaves questions as to the motivation of Crake, which I hope the last book covers. In this installment, Atwood showcases a female perspective of the world and describes the type of struggles for non-compound people. The dual views from a young teenage girl, Ren, as opposed to that of a woman, Toby, who has had to make some really hard decisions was gripping. Also the ideology of the Gardeners through Adam One sermons helps to see the opposing views to this new world of bio-genetic splices.
Something that the audio book offers is the songs Adam One leads after each sermon are fully flushed out songs created by Orville Stoeber. Though this is also the one thing that bothered me in the listening of the audio book, and I will admit to fast forwarding through most of the songs. The songs and Adam One’s sermons both were hard for me listen to and I think it was because they embodied the extreme religious fervor that struck a sickening cord for me. The songs are very church-esque/John Denver/hippy styled songs, which for me brought back uncomfortable memories from childhood. So despite my feelings, Margaret Atwood did an excellent job portraying these people.
On the whole, I am excited to see what Margaret Atwood has in store in the final book of this series. And as with the first book in the series I will probably take the time to read each again so I can pick up the nuances of her writing, such as spelling of names, and such which are sorely amiss in the audio version. (less)
Loading...
