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Galvanic Century #1 - 4
The Collected Bartleby and James Adventures
Alton Bartleby is a social savant and the foppish toast of steampunk London’s upper crust. James Wainwright is a brilliant but socially stunted working class engineer with a flair for invention and a propensity towards violence. Together they solve the mysteries that Scotland Yard cannot.
This novel is the first in the Galvanic Century series of steampunk mysteries.
This novel is the first in the Galvanic Century series of steampunk mysteries.
108 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
23 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Michael Coorlim
27 books55 followersMichael Coorlim is a teller of strange stories for stranger people. He collects them, the oddballs. The mystics and fire-spinners, the sages and tricksters. He curates their tales, combines their elements and lets them rattle around inside his rock-tumbler skull until they gleam, then spills them loose onto the page for like-minded readers to enjoy.
He writes fast-paced stories about real people in fantastic situations, plots with just a twist of the surreal, set in worlds just a shadow’s breadth from our own.
Some whisper that he may, in fact, be a wizard. Others maintain that he’s naught but bluster and blarney. The truly wise know that there’s nary a difference.
Questionable activities
Michael Coorlim’s fiction can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Smashwords.
He also writes the indie-focused book blog Book Nouveau.
Pry a little deeper
If you want early notifications of upcoming titles, discounts, giveaways, and other fun you can subscribe to his new release mailing list. You can also find him on facebook and twitter as @mcoorlim. Email him at Coorlim@gmail.com – he’d love to hear from you.
He writes fast-paced stories about real people in fantastic situations, plots with just a twist of the surreal, set in worlds just a shadow’s breadth from our own.
Some whisper that he may, in fact, be a wizard. Others maintain that he’s naught but bluster and blarney. The truly wise know that there’s nary a difference.
Questionable activities
Michael Coorlim’s fiction can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Smashwords.
He also writes the indie-focused book blog Book Nouveau.
Pry a little deeper
If you want early notifications of upcoming titles, discounts, giveaways, and other fun you can subscribe to his new release mailing list. You can also find him on facebook and twitter as @mcoorlim. Email him at Coorlim@gmail.com – he’d love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 29, 2022
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
September 21, 2017
Entertaining enough :-)
This volume got me intrigued for two reasons: some reference to Sherlock Holmes, and steampunk genre. Ultimately, there's not much of either topics in my opinion. However, this quick read has us follow the arising of two unlikely detectives in a Victorian London, and it works :-) Likeable characters and original stories (or investigations since that's how the book is broken down). I'm pretty sure I'll get a hold of the next few volumes, if only to see how the characters develop.
This volume got me intrigued for two reasons: some reference to Sherlock Holmes, and steampunk genre. Ultimately, there's not much of either topics in my opinion. However, this quick read has us follow the arising of two unlikely detectives in a Victorian London, and it works :-) Likeable characters and original stories (or investigations since that's how the book is broken down). I'm pretty sure I'll get a hold of the next few volumes, if only to see how the characters develop.
September 23, 2013
A rather stiff price for an ebook that's just about 36,000 words long, I thought at stumbling upon this volume, yet it took Michael Coorlim only a few lines to hook me due to his eloquent while not overly florid style (reminiscent of the authors that lived in the same age in which these tales are set); hence no sooner did I reach the end of the free sample of the first tale herein contained ("And they called her spider"), than I bought this collection where the four stories are equally marvellous since they're swift, intriguing and ingenious, plus there is a pertinent social commentary that drives each of them. A brilliant work indeed!
May 16, 2019
Bartleby and James: Edwardian Steampunk Chronicles (Galvanic Century Book 1)by Michael Coorlim
Michael Coorlim does write some mean steam punk. If I could say that anything was typical steampunk I would have to say that his work has a lot of the marks, but falls short of a bit of steam. There are air ships and geared mechanical devices and necromancing with the use of brains and other body parts brought back to life to integrate with some of these devices. There also exists in this universe a Mr. Holmes and a Victor Von Frankenstein. But once again, if it is there, steam is in the background somewhere where I missed it. We are in an Edwardian era rather than Victorian. But what's important to me is that these short stories entertained me and I'm giving them high marks; and for that I'm going to be just a bit nit-picky in some areas.
I'm told short stories are a lot more difficult than novels and I will give it this much in that there is less time to introduce characters and the science involved when you have to get right to the plot and reach a conclusion in short order. This set does a fair job and because it is told from James’s point of view we often get more of a look at James than Bartleby. Though much like the Holmes and Watson duo the story is told by James and he is the one to introduce us to Bartleby. But the dynamic is quite different from those other two old soldiers and this narrative ends up favoring James.
James is a bit of an antisocial loner who has strong anti-religious opinions and he often denigrates other engineers. We find out quite early that they both might share the weakness of being bigots.
Bartleby detests Americans.
While James expresses poor opinions about America's engineers.
In context I thought this was James but looking back it could be just as easily Bartleby though it would make more sense to be James. The progression of dialogue would almost argue Bartleby. So I might attribute it, in spirit, to both.
Yet later we find both acknowledging that the RGAE or RGEA allow for enough slop in it's membership to have members of somewhat unaccredited nature, which makes them just a bit hypocritical.
The R.G.A.E. and the R.G.E.A. show up often and seem as though there might be two organizations one is The Royal Guild of Artificers and Engineers and the other is the Royal Guild of Engineers and Artificers.
I'm sure they are the same; but just the same, what's the difference: really?
It is not difficult to see that James has issues dealing with Bartleby's fiancé though in the same token its a wonder that Bartleby has Aldora as his intended.
As mentioned early on it's easy to see that there is almost a comparison to Holmes and Watson and when a character named Holmes makes a cameo it cements that thought. But these two are nowhere near the dynamic of that duo (And, somewhere internally to this set of stories, that fact is mentioned). Bartleby is far from a concise deductive reasoning detective. In fact often his logic seems flawed. Take the example below::
This one is the most outstanding of all examples; but it clearly shows that his deductions seem more colored by his own personal experience rather than observable fact.
Perhaps this helps put James in a better position than Watson was with Holmes, in that they now become a team that works together equally blessed and flawed; as a complementary set.
Bartleby is more often than not ready to rely on someone else knowledge to help solve the case so there are a number of contacts he has for this. Holmes, if I remember correctly, had many agents that were good for the legwork and information gathering while he more often relied on his own knowledge and the expanding of that knowledge. Still the stories are all quite clever mysteries.
Throughout there are examples of sentences that baffle and befuddle me, requiring deciphering, and I often have to be careful because sometimes it's a difference in British and USA English. I have highlighted a couple here that I feel were most troubling.
I always pined myself for a personal experience with the mysteries of the divine.
The 'I always' is simple present yet the pined doesn't seem to work with it and perhaps it should be 'I always pine'- but this is the least of the problems with this sentence.
Without punctuation I first read this as 'I always pined myself' and oddly that works if you take the use of 'for' as 'because of' it would read:: 'I always pine myself because of a personal experience.' :: But then the next sentence refutes that:: 'In the orient my wishes were granted.':: So pined here seems to mean 'long for'.
I always long for a personal experience with the mysteries of the divine.
Since this is in dialogue and people do speak this way it might work but as you can see at least one reader gets confused.
A second example is""
This one took a stretch for me to try to unravel.
Again there is a lack of punctuation and this time in narrative it leaves me thinking there are words missing unless perhaps I could switch of and over.
I joined Bartleby in the dining room, to tell him my finding, over a supper of cold knots of beef and ginger beer.
Other wise I keep having it::..., to tell him my findings of a supper, over cold knots of beef and ginger beer.
I do think that these stories could use one more brush with the editors. But other than the confusing sentence structure, which might be just me being sensitive, these stories are well written mysteries with a smidgen of character development, but emphasis seems more toward the punk aspect albeit Steampunk, Clockworkpunk, or Paranormalpunk. It is all very entertaining and should be of interest to most SFF fans who are not particular about the science aspects and definitely an addition to any collector of things Steampunk.
I'll be looking at more from Michael Coorlim
J.L. Dobias
Michael Coorlim does write some mean steam punk. If I could say that anything was typical steampunk I would have to say that his work has a lot of the marks, but falls short of a bit of steam. There are air ships and geared mechanical devices and necromancing with the use of brains and other body parts brought back to life to integrate with some of these devices. There also exists in this universe a Mr. Holmes and a Victor Von Frankenstein. But once again, if it is there, steam is in the background somewhere where I missed it. We are in an Edwardian era rather than Victorian. But what's important to me is that these short stories entertained me and I'm giving them high marks; and for that I'm going to be just a bit nit-picky in some areas.
I'm told short stories are a lot more difficult than novels and I will give it this much in that there is less time to introduce characters and the science involved when you have to get right to the plot and reach a conclusion in short order. This set does a fair job and because it is told from James’s point of view we often get more of a look at James than Bartleby. Though much like the Holmes and Watson duo the story is told by James and he is the one to introduce us to Bartleby. But the dynamic is quite different from those other two old soldiers and this narrative ends up favoring James.
James is a bit of an antisocial loner who has strong anti-religious opinions and he often denigrates other engineers. We find out quite early that they both might share the weakness of being bigots.
Bartleby detests Americans.
"Likewise a low creature. Just another nouveau-riche American trophy wife who has thus far spent the voyage trying to insinuate herself into the good graces of her betters. No doubt she holds hopes of an introduction into the London social scene. As if I'd inflict her upon them."
Coorlim, Michael (2014-09-10). Bartleby and James: Edwardian Steampunk Chronicle (Galvanic Century Book 1) (p. 41). Pomoconsumption Press. Kindle Edition.
While James expresses poor opinions about America's engineers.
"For what?" I'd lived and worked in the man's country previously, and I didn't find it very suiting. A very different sort of engineering culture and climate, one I wasn't keen on entering into again. Sloppy. Undisciplined.
Coorlim, Michael (2014-09-10). Bartleby and James: Edwardian Steampunk Chronicle (Galvanic Century Book 1) (p. 52). Pomoconsumption Press. Kindle Edition.
In context I thought this was James but looking back it could be just as easily Bartleby though it would make more sense to be James. The progression of dialogue would almost argue Bartleby. So I might attribute it, in spirit, to both.
Yet later we find both acknowledging that the RGAE or RGEA allow for enough slop in it's membership to have members of somewhat unaccredited nature, which makes them just a bit hypocritical.
The R.G.A.E. and the R.G.E.A. show up often and seem as though there might be two organizations one is The Royal Guild of Artificers and Engineers and the other is the Royal Guild of Engineers and Artificers.
I'm sure they are the same; but just the same, what's the difference: really?
It is not difficult to see that James has issues dealing with Bartleby's fiancé though in the same token its a wonder that Bartleby has Aldora as his intended.
As mentioned early on it's easy to see that there is almost a comparison to Holmes and Watson and when a character named Holmes makes a cameo it cements that thought. But these two are nowhere near the dynamic of that duo (And, somewhere internally to this set of stories, that fact is mentioned). Bartleby is far from a concise deductive reasoning detective. In fact often his logic seems flawed. Take the example below::
"Our killer probably doesn't know how to do a proper wash, which points to an officer as the culprit. Perhaps the blood stained all the uniforms in his load. He discovered this, wheeled the load out in a laundry trolley and dumped the lot overboard, disposing of enough to obfuscate his identity, I'd wager. That was the shift we felt. Wet laundry as ballast."
"Why does an inability to do the wash indicate an officer?"
"Trust me, James. I was an officer once. We're rather quite helpless." He almost stumbled as he crept to the hatch. "I say, James, we'd better hurry. The tilt is getting quite noticeable."
Coorlim, Michael (2014-09-10). Bartleby and James: Edwardian Steampunk Chronicle (Galvanic Century Book 1) (p. 44). Pomoconsumption Press. Kindle Edition.
This one is the most outstanding of all examples; but it clearly shows that his deductions seem more colored by his own personal experience rather than observable fact.
Perhaps this helps put James in a better position than Watson was with Holmes, in that they now become a team that works together equally blessed and flawed; as a complementary set.
Bartleby is more often than not ready to rely on someone else knowledge to help solve the case so there are a number of contacts he has for this. Holmes, if I remember correctly, had many agents that were good for the legwork and information gathering while he more often relied on his own knowledge and the expanding of that knowledge. Still the stories are all quite clever mysteries.
Throughout there are examples of sentences that baffle and befuddle me, requiring deciphering, and I often have to be careful because sometimes it's a difference in British and USA English. I have highlighted a couple here that I feel were most troubling.
"I always pined myself for a personal experience with the mysteries of the divine. In the Orient my wishes were granted.
Coorlim, Michael (2014-09-10). Bartleby and James: Edwardian Steampunk Chronicle (Galvanic Century Book 1) (p. 97). Pomoconsumption Press. Kindle Edition.
I always pined myself for a personal experience with the mysteries of the divine.
The 'I always' is simple present yet the pined doesn't seem to work with it and perhaps it should be 'I always pine'- but this is the least of the problems with this sentence.
Without punctuation I first read this as 'I always pined myself' and oddly that works if you take the use of 'for' as 'because of' it would read:: 'I always pine myself because of a personal experience.' :: But then the next sentence refutes that:: 'In the orient my wishes were granted.':: So pined here seems to mean 'long for'.
I always long for a personal experience with the mysteries of the divine.
Since this is in dialogue and people do speak this way it might work but as you can see at least one reader gets confused.
A second example is""
I joined Bartleby in the dining room to tell him my findings of a supper over cold knots of beef and ginger beer.
Coorlim, Michael (2014-09-10). Bartleby and James: Edwardian Steampunk Chronicle (Galvanic Century Book 1) (p. 20). Pomoconsumption Press. Kindle Edition.
This one took a stretch for me to try to unravel.
Again there is a lack of punctuation and this time in narrative it leaves me thinking there are words missing unless perhaps I could switch of and over.
I joined Bartleby in the dining room, to tell him my finding, over a supper of cold knots of beef and ginger beer.
Other wise I keep having it::..., to tell him my findings of a supper, over cold knots of beef and ginger beer.
I do think that these stories could use one more brush with the editors. But other than the confusing sentence structure, which might be just me being sensitive, these stories are well written mysteries with a smidgen of character development, but emphasis seems more toward the punk aspect albeit Steampunk, Clockworkpunk, or Paranormalpunk. It is all very entertaining and should be of interest to most SFF fans who are not particular about the science aspects and definitely an addition to any collector of things Steampunk.
I'll be looking at more from Michael Coorlim
J.L. Dobias
February 10, 2016
A good idea that could have been more developed. The main protagonists have a bit of depth but still seemed two dimensional at best, and I couldn't really connect with them. I would have liked to have seen more world building than is shown in any of the stories. All we get is a few passing mentions and hints about the alternate reality in which Bartleby and James live and, while there is a lot of talking about how rapidly their world is changing, there isn't much description of the effect this is having on the everyday life of the citizens of London. For example, the detectives often take cabs, but these are never described, so presumably just ordinary, horse-drawn types. The writing doesn't always flow smoothly and there seemed to be a gap in the airship story in my copy, either that or a very abrupt change of scene. The ways in which the detectives solve their mysteries isn't anything out of the ordinary, and certainly doesn't put them up there with Holmes and Watson. The style of narration tries, and to a large extent succeeds, to have an "Edwardian" flavour about it, so it is somewhat convoluted at times, but that does add a bit of atmosphere to the stories. The author might be interested to note, however, that "off of" is an American idiom not used in ordinary speech in Britain. We just say "off".
September 26, 2015
I found this small collection of Steampunk Holmesian tales entertaining. They declare themselves to be very different from Holmes and Watson, but it is quite easy to see a decided kinship which for a fan like myself is satisfying. I eagerly await the next installment.
April 5, 2015
Steampunk?
Good stories, if perhaps a trifle less steamppunkish than one would wish. This is more alternative history than steampunk. The genre is really not known for sublety.
Good stories, if perhaps a trifle less steamppunkish than one would wish. This is more alternative history than steampunk. The genre is really not known for sublety.
January 16, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S BARTLEBY AND JAMES: EDWARDIAN STEAMPUNK CHRONICLE ABOUT?
Alton Bartleby is something of an intellectual dilettante—he has some degree of brilliance and uses it to flit around from idea to idea, interest to interest, and so on. He gets very invested in some sort of project or occupation for a little while, and then plunges wholeheartedly into something else. Thankfully (for him) he has the wealth to indulge his flitting attention span.
James Wainwright is his friend—Wainwright's a brilliant engineer, who is far more interested in whatever device he's fiddling with than interacting with anyone. He seems to go along with Bartleby helping him out with whatever flight of fancy he's on. But he's not so sure about his latest idea—after meeting a certain retired Consulting Detective who now keeps bees, Bartleby wants to be a detective.
He sticks with it for longer than Wainwright or his fiancé expects—this book collects four short stories recounting some of their earliest cases. The Duo tangles with an automaton assassin, an out-of-control airship, a rogue spiritualist, and more.
THE TONE
These stories are told with a very light touch—they're not comedic, but they have their moments, but they're definitely not stories that take themselves too seriously.
That doesn't stop them from brushing up against serious thoughts or emotions—and there is a little bit of character growth (and the "little bit" is solely a function of the brevity of the collection based on what I've read). Bartleby is largely the same man we meet in the beginning, except that he doesn't seem to be tiring of being a detective. James, on the other hand, is definitely not someone he'd recognize from his pre-detective days.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT BARTLEBY AND JAMES: EDWARDIAN STEAMPUNK CHRONICLE?
This was a fun, quick read—a nice little dose of Steampunk with a thin coating of Victorian P.I.
The stories were all a little too brief for me, I could barely get my teeth sunk into them—I'd prefer one story told over 120 pages rather than four.
But these were fun enough that I can see myself going on with the books. And think just about anyone would, too.
---
"Good news, James," he said. "We are to be detectives."
I looked up from my workstation, the jeweller's loupe in my eye distorting his otherwise handsome face. "I've no desire to be a detective."
"That's unfortunate," Bartleby said. "For it's what we're to be."
WHAT'S BARTLEBY AND JAMES: EDWARDIAN STEAMPUNK CHRONICLE ABOUT?
Alton Bartleby is something of an intellectual dilettante—he has some degree of brilliance and uses it to flit around from idea to idea, interest to interest, and so on. He gets very invested in some sort of project or occupation for a little while, and then plunges wholeheartedly into something else. Thankfully (for him) he has the wealth to indulge his flitting attention span.
James Wainwright is his friend—Wainwright's a brilliant engineer, who is far more interested in whatever device he's fiddling with than interacting with anyone. He seems to go along with Bartleby helping him out with whatever flight of fancy he's on. But he's not so sure about his latest idea—after meeting a certain retired Consulting Detective who now keeps bees, Bartleby wants to be a detective.
He sticks with it for longer than Wainwright or his fiancé expects—this book collects four short stories recounting some of their earliest cases. The Duo tangles with an automaton assassin, an out-of-control airship, a rogue spiritualist, and more.
THE TONE
"I may be able calibrate my Forensic Viewers and attune them to his particular N- Ray signature."
"I don't know what that means."
"My science goggles can track him."
"Brilliant!"
These stories are told with a very light touch—they're not comedic, but they have their moments, but they're definitely not stories that take themselves too seriously.
That doesn't stop them from brushing up against serious thoughts or emotions—and there is a little bit of character growth (and the "little bit" is solely a function of the brevity of the collection based on what I've read). Bartleby is largely the same man we meet in the beginning, except that he doesn't seem to be tiring of being a detective. James, on the other hand, is definitely not someone he'd recognize from his pre-detective days.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT BARTLEBY AND JAMES: EDWARDIAN STEAMPUNK CHRONICLE?
Bartleby shook his head. "Look, can you invent... detective things?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"I don't know. You're the engineer."
This was a fun, quick read—a nice little dose of Steampunk with a thin coating of Victorian P.I.
The stories were all a little too brief for me, I could barely get my teeth sunk into them—I'd prefer one story told over 120 pages rather than four.
But these were fun enough that I can see myself going on with the books. And think just about anyone would, too.
January 29, 2018
Creative Detective Duo work with nods to the inspiration and other elements of fiction. Throw in some steampunk and it was a great read.
February 26, 2022
Fun adventures in an alternative Victorian England.
November 27, 2023
This was an entertaining collection of steampunk stories. Bartleby and James are interesting characters.
I liked some of the stories better than others as usual.
I liked some of the stories better than others as usual.
January 30, 2015
The beginning of this book started off a bit odd, it really did feel like I was reading a Sherlock Holmes book that was dipped into a steampunk world. The first story or two just felt too similar to Sherlock that I did get the feeling that I should give up - since I wasn't that big a Sherlock fan.
However I stuck with it and I did enjoy it, I liked James, the character is very into science, he is an atheist and has no time for any excess emotions, he doesn't seem to understand them, he likes things to be clear - he could be viewed as the Sherlock in the duo, if it wasn't for the fact that he is a man of science, not only science though, but he doesn't interact with people, it's not his area and he gets not real enjoyment out of it. Bartleby is a man who has a lot of money, he is rich - well off and comfortably so - he is a social man who goes around and talks to anyone, he also interested in the human mind, he likes to get into people's heads, to make them think and get himself to think more than continually go around the social circle.
In the first short story we learn about Bartleby, a man who was trained by the Great Detective himself, Sherlock Holmes - although in the book he is simply called the Great Detective and Sherlock, most likely to avoid paying royalties. Which is fair enough, the name is only mentioned a handful of times and only serves to show how similar Bartleby is to the man.
We learn many things about the duo, although most of it is their investigations, I wish we could learn more about their private lives, particularly at the end of the book, Bartleby has a fiance and James has an adoptive daughter, the former was only mentioned at the end of the book and the later came about in the middle of the book. But we know very little about these character, all I know is that from reading this book I enjoy James, I find him an interesting character and I want to know more about him; at the same time I would also wish to know more about Bartleby, how he came across his fiance, why is he engaged since he doesn't seem the type to be engaged. So many questions that I am hoping the next book will answer.
However I stuck with it and I did enjoy it, I liked James, the character is very into science, he is an atheist and has no time for any excess emotions, he doesn't seem to understand them, he likes things to be clear - he could be viewed as the Sherlock in the duo, if it wasn't for the fact that he is a man of science, not only science though, but he doesn't interact with people, it's not his area and he gets not real enjoyment out of it. Bartleby is a man who has a lot of money, he is rich - well off and comfortably so - he is a social man who goes around and talks to anyone, he also interested in the human mind, he likes to get into people's heads, to make them think and get himself to think more than continually go around the social circle.
In the first short story we learn about Bartleby, a man who was trained by the Great Detective himself, Sherlock Holmes - although in the book he is simply called the Great Detective and Sherlock, most likely to avoid paying royalties. Which is fair enough, the name is only mentioned a handful of times and only serves to show how similar Bartleby is to the man.
We learn many things about the duo, although most of it is their investigations, I wish we could learn more about their private lives, particularly at the end of the book, Bartleby has a fiance and James has an adoptive daughter, the former was only mentioned at the end of the book and the later came about in the middle of the book. But we know very little about these character, all I know is that from reading this book I enjoy James, I find him an interesting character and I want to know more about him; at the same time I would also wish to know more about Bartleby, how he came across his fiance, why is he engaged since he doesn't seem the type to be engaged. So many questions that I am hoping the next book will answer.
April 2, 2014
A collection of short stories featuring the steampunk detectives Bartleby and James, who seem to be loosely based on Holmes and Watson. Bartleby is a savant and James is an engineer. The stories include:
- And They Called Her Spider - Spider is an acrobatic female assassin who murders her victims in front of an audience but without anybody seeing the killing blow - there is something mysterious about her. This story also features a rapid detox machine built by James. Previously reviewed in May 2012.
- Maiden Voyage of the Rio Grande - Starts with James imprisoned on board a luxury American airship called the Rio Grande that is captained by a German. It was commissioned by an American industrialist named Frank Herbert - any illusion to the SF writer of the Dune series? James was suspected of killing one of the ship's engineers but Bartleby comes to his rescue. It appears that the murder was done to cover up sabotage. There are some minor typos in this story.
- On the Trail of the Scissorman - Bartleby & James take on the case of a boy whose parents have been killed by the mysterious Scissorman, who turns out to be a Frankenstein like creation.
- A Matter of Spirit - Starts with Bartleby & James interviewing, Buckley, an old Guild class mate of James, who has turned to the spirit world, much to James's disgust & scepticism. A female mystic has disappeared and Buckley has been charged with her murder. James has been appointed as Buckley's advocate by the Guild. This story is more along the lines of an Agatha Christie locked room murder - the skills of James are barely necessary. In fact, I thought that this was the weakest of the stories in this collection.
The characters of Bartleby & James are well developed through all these stories, although there are minimal physical descriptions of them. This is not unreasonable as James is the narrator & he has only passing interest in people & biology. These stories are good examples of the steampunk genre without reaching the heights of the Wild, Wild West.
- And They Called Her Spider - Spider is an acrobatic female assassin who murders her victims in front of an audience but without anybody seeing the killing blow - there is something mysterious about her. This story also features a rapid detox machine built by James. Previously reviewed in May 2012.
- Maiden Voyage of the Rio Grande - Starts with James imprisoned on board a luxury American airship called the Rio Grande that is captained by a German. It was commissioned by an American industrialist named Frank Herbert - any illusion to the SF writer of the Dune series? James was suspected of killing one of the ship's engineers but Bartleby comes to his rescue. It appears that the murder was done to cover up sabotage. There are some minor typos in this story.
- On the Trail of the Scissorman - Bartleby & James take on the case of a boy whose parents have been killed by the mysterious Scissorman, who turns out to be a Frankenstein like creation.
- A Matter of Spirit - Starts with Bartleby & James interviewing, Buckley, an old Guild class mate of James, who has turned to the spirit world, much to James's disgust & scepticism. A female mystic has disappeared and Buckley has been charged with her murder. James has been appointed as Buckley's advocate by the Guild. This story is more along the lines of an Agatha Christie locked room murder - the skills of James are barely necessary. In fact, I thought that this was the weakest of the stories in this collection.
The characters of Bartleby & James are well developed through all these stories, although there are minimal physical descriptions of them. This is not unreasonable as James is the narrator & he has only passing interest in people & biology. These stories are good examples of the steampunk genre without reaching the heights of the Wild, Wild West.
Read
August 2, 2015The problem I always hit with steampunk is that the execution doesn't match up to the ideas, and this is another example. I can understand, sort of, why steampunk authors use words that are outside their core vocabulary in an attempt to sound "period," and get them wrong. After all, while our vocabularies are probably as large as, or larger than, the vocabularies of the Victorians, a lot of the words we know don't belong in a tale set a century ago, because they refer to things that weren't invented then. ("Fractals," for example, were a concept invented in the 1970s, which makes a reference to them on almost the first page of this book anachronistic and jarring.) That new vocabulary perhaps displaces some of the old vocabulary, and leads to the frequent homonym errors in steampunk books like this one.
Unfortunately, I can't think of an excuse for the fact that steampunk authors also seldom know how to punctuate.
The story itself seemed OK, but 26% of the way through I had already marked 24 errors, even ignoring a few, and I knew I'd just be constantly distracted by them and not enjoy the ride. So I stopped, and won't be giving it a star rating, since I don't do that for books I didn't finish.
Unfortunately, I can't think of an excuse for the fact that steampunk authors also seldom know how to punctuate.
The story itself seemed OK, but 26% of the way through I had already marked 24 errors, even ignoring a few, and I knew I'd just be constantly distracted by them and not enjoy the ride. So I stopped, and won't be giving it a star rating, since I don't do that for books I didn't finish.
September 4, 2016
I haven't read any steampunk before this collection, but based on how much fun this was, I've got a whole new genre I need to immerse myself in. I loved the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle references. If you've ever read Doyle, but wished Watson was funnier, then James is the narrator you've been waiting for. He's gruff, he's got that dry humor, he just wants to be left alone to tinker in his workshop...UNLESS the case has something to do with engineering. Then he's ready to piece together what's going on right the heck now. I just love him. Bartleby's mercurial moods, luxurious taste, and "social savant"-ness were a hilarious foil to James.
I know there are a couple reviews saying that the reveals in the first couple stories don't give enough information on how Bartleby came to his conclusions, but I never thought, "I wonder how he figured this out." The clues and information all seemed to be deftly written into the story.
I've been trying to decide which of these was my favorite, but that's a tough call. Each story is more fun than the last, so being last, "Matter of Spirit" is technically my favorite, but they were all such a blast to read.
I know there are a couple reviews saying that the reveals in the first couple stories don't give enough information on how Bartleby came to his conclusions, but I never thought, "I wonder how he figured this out." The clues and information all seemed to be deftly written into the story.
I've been trying to decide which of these was my favorite, but that's a tough call. Each story is more fun than the last, so being last, "Matter of Spirit" is technically my favorite, but they were all such a blast to read.
October 4, 2015
An absolutely delightful romp through Edwardian London! This was such a fun book to read. It’s categorized as Edwardian Steampunk which is a genre I’ve never picked up before so I had no idea what to expect. I was so pleasantly surprised. This story is set in the early 1900’s, has a bit of a Sherlock and Watson feel and explores the scientific developments of the period in a fun way. The heroes are Alton Bartleby, an aristocratic son with a short attention span, and James Wainwright, an engineer who loves to invent new machines. These two guys are such good friends and so likable; the author has done a great job fleshing out these characters. They take on four different cases in this book ranging from automatons to spirits. This book is the first in a series and I am definitely interested to read the rest. There is some violence but no bad language or sex scenes so I think it would be suitable for just about any age. The book is on the shorter side, so a perfect lazy Sunday read. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did.
February 1, 2013
The Collected Bartleby and James Adventures by Michael Coorlim is a collection of four well-executed mysteries. As the reader progresses through each of these stories, they enter into the steam punk setting and style of the characters. The unfolding events reveal the depth of each character and create a world for the reader to visit, even if it is only for a little while. The author is a clearly skilled wordsmith as evidenced by the clear images brought forth in the telling.
Unfortunately, the author’s personal agenda was too evident and the tales would be a better read if objectivity allowed the reader to form their own opinions on political or religious issues. This is a fun and entertaining selection that leaves you looking forward to more adventures with these brilliant detectives.
Unfortunately, the author’s personal agenda was too evident and the tales would be a better read if objectivity allowed the reader to form their own opinions on political or religious issues. This is a fun and entertaining selection that leaves you looking forward to more adventures with these brilliant detectives.
February 4, 2016
Was not sure if I'd like a Steampunk mystery but I did. Set in Victorian times, a period I enjoy for a setting. The book is composed of four different mysteries that seem almost impossible to solve.
Alton Bartleby is well off and a bit of a fop, but he has an analytical mind that is capable of taking odd bits and bobs of clues and finding the common thread. James Wainwright, the other lead character, is not so social, comes from a lower class but is a wizard with mechanical things. Between the two they are able to solve these strange and bizarre mysteries.
The book ended a bit too soon so I will have to find more in this series....I hope there are more!
Another good read for me!
Alton Bartleby is well off and a bit of a fop, but he has an analytical mind that is capable of taking odd bits and bobs of clues and finding the common thread. James Wainwright, the other lead character, is not so social, comes from a lower class but is a wizard with mechanical things. Between the two they are able to solve these strange and bizarre mysteries.
The book ended a bit too soon so I will have to find more in this series....I hope there are more!
Another good read for me!
December 22, 2014
Entertaining
I've come to enjoy the steampunk genre and this work is no exception. I enjoy the parallels to the Sherlock Holmes mythos as well as the direct references to the "Old Man" and the "Great Detective". Other ties to period classics are used effectively, too, such as Victor Frankenstein making an appearance. That being said, the work could use a bit of proofreading clean up - making sure names are spelled consistently and maybe word choice in a place or two. Overall, it was quite enjoyable and I look forward to reading the next volume in the Galvanic Century chronicles.
I've come to enjoy the steampunk genre and this work is no exception. I enjoy the parallels to the Sherlock Holmes mythos as well as the direct references to the "Old Man" and the "Great Detective". Other ties to period classics are used effectively, too, such as Victor Frankenstein making an appearance. That being said, the work could use a bit of proofreading clean up - making sure names are spelled consistently and maybe word choice in a place or two. Overall, it was quite enjoyable and I look forward to reading the next volume in the Galvanic Century chronicles.
January 14, 2013
I recently read a copy of Michael Coorlim’s The Collected Bartleby and James Adventures. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a fun steampunk world paying homage to the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I especially liked how Coorlim developed his two protagonists, exposing their flawed natures and the reasons for those traits. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys steampunk novels, especially mysteries
July 6, 2015
Pretty interesting. The characters are fun and each case in the story makes fun read on its own. I also like that we see some character development and progression throughout the various cases. I enjoy seeing characters changes and grow.
I will look forward to getting some more of these stories to see how things go for the characters, though I would like to see a longer case, perhaps novel sized with a few other smaller mysteries tied into a master plot.
I will look forward to getting some more of these stories to see how things go for the characters, though I would like to see a longer case, perhaps novel sized with a few other smaller mysteries tied into a master plot.
March 19, 2015
This was a fun collection of short stories about a hyper-intelligent dandy and a super-literal engineer who solve crimes around the turn of the century in London. Using characters in the public domain, such as Sherlock and Frankenstein, Mr. Coorlim successfully builds an interesting world. I look forward to the next chronicle of the Galvanic Century.
October 27, 2015
Entertaining and absurd. You'll most definitely want to suspend your disbelief (and most things you learned in science class). But, if you love fantastical Victorian tales of horror and suspense, you'll get a kick out of Bartleby and James exploits. The book is stuffed with short stories, each just right for a sitting.
March 19, 2013
I won this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaways and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed these short mysteries and the character development throughout the series. I would recommend this book to readers looking to get lost in a good steampunk story.
December 25, 2014
These four stories are not nearly enough. They whet the appetite of the reader and leave you craving more. Well-written with fantastic characters and exciting adventures. I cannot wait to pick up the other adventures in this thrilling and fascinating series.
December 25, 2014
These four stories are not nearly enough. They whet the appetite of the reader and leave you craving more. Well-written with fantastic characters and exciting adventures. I cannot wait to pick up the other adventures in this thrilling and fascinating series.
March 15, 2016
I quite enjoy Sherlock and believe that it has become it's own genre within mysteries. Bartleby and James format of several short stories within the novel reminds me of Doyle's originals. Both Bartleby and James have...
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To read more book reviews go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
May 23, 2013
My only disappointment was that the stories ended, I'd love to have them as full novels. Lucky for me the newest Galvantic story is a full novel.
October 21, 2014
This was a really good steampunk novel. What a interesting twist there were detective I really looking forward to other books in this series.
February 28, 2015
Downloaded e-book
Interesting steampunk short stories with a splash of Sherlock Holmes adoration thrown in. Nothing really special but quick and mindless read.
Interesting steampunk short stories with a splash of Sherlock Holmes adoration thrown in. Nothing really special but quick and mindless read.
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