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Terra Mechanica: a Steampunk Anthology
In an alternative past with an unrealized future, trek around the world and beyond in nine separate adventures, in the ships locomotives, and flying machines that power the Steampunk universe.
DOTS, DASHES, AND DECEIT by Jay Barnson: A telegraph operator finds herself displaced by advancing technology but discovers a genius inventor and a young savant with secrets too dangerous to ignore.
THE PROMISE by Michael Cross: In a world ravaged by the unspeakable horrors of war, one soldier moves heaven and earth to keep a promise to his son, and alters the lives of every stranger who helps him along the way
THE VOYAGE OF VALERIE MCGRATH by Pete Ford: Sent on a desperate mission only she can fulfil, a brilliant scientist discovers the war her government wages against its own people, and the planet they rely upon for survival..
RIPPER BOUND by TC Phillips: With nothing but a brain implant and the force of his will, a talented bounty hunter returns far-flung criminals to justice, but what price will the technology ultimately demand of him?
DR. PAX’S GREAT UNSINKABLE BIRD by J.R. Potter: When a brilliant scientist falls prey to sky pirates who are after his flying machine, he must rely on his greatest achievement: a teenage girl whom he rescued from certain death.
SEVEN-YEAR ITCH by Rie Sheridan Rose: Toby Kincaid knew his clothes would grow filthy when he made a deal with the Devil, but he didn’t count on the wear to his spirit. He may win the wager but still lose his soul.
THE JOURNEY OF INSPECTOR ROUX by C. R. Simper: A legendary investigator goes down in flames and believes his life is over, until an eager young recruit drags him around the world in pursuit of a kidnapper.
PRIORITY PASSAGE by S. D. Simper: Marina will not allow the death of her father stand in the way of their dreams, but when her airship is boarded by sky pirates, she must decide what she values most: Nikita’s inventions or his daughter.
GANESH by Scott E. Tarbet: A farm boy abducted by a traveling-show huckster finds his calling as an airship pilot, never suspecting the transformative adventure awaiting him halfway around the world. An A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk expansion.
DOTS, DASHES, AND DECEIT by Jay Barnson: A telegraph operator finds herself displaced by advancing technology but discovers a genius inventor and a young savant with secrets too dangerous to ignore.
THE PROMISE by Michael Cross: In a world ravaged by the unspeakable horrors of war, one soldier moves heaven and earth to keep a promise to his son, and alters the lives of every stranger who helps him along the way
THE VOYAGE OF VALERIE MCGRATH by Pete Ford: Sent on a desperate mission only she can fulfil, a brilliant scientist discovers the war her government wages against its own people, and the planet they rely upon for survival..
RIPPER BOUND by TC Phillips: With nothing but a brain implant and the force of his will, a talented bounty hunter returns far-flung criminals to justice, but what price will the technology ultimately demand of him?
DR. PAX’S GREAT UNSINKABLE BIRD by J.R. Potter: When a brilliant scientist falls prey to sky pirates who are after his flying machine, he must rely on his greatest achievement: a teenage girl whom he rescued from certain death.
SEVEN-YEAR ITCH by Rie Sheridan Rose: Toby Kincaid knew his clothes would grow filthy when he made a deal with the Devil, but he didn’t count on the wear to his spirit. He may win the wager but still lose his soul.
THE JOURNEY OF INSPECTOR ROUX by C. R. Simper: A legendary investigator goes down in flames and believes his life is over, until an eager young recruit drags him around the world in pursuit of a kidnapper.
PRIORITY PASSAGE by S. D. Simper: Marina will not allow the death of her father stand in the way of their dreams, but when her airship is boarded by sky pirates, she must decide what she values most: Nikita’s inventions or his daughter.
GANESH by Scott E. Tarbet: A farm boy abducted by a traveling-show huckster finds his calling as an airship pilot, never suspecting the transformative adventure awaiting him halfway around the world. An A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk expansion.
360 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 24, 2014
As with most anthologies, Terra Mechanica's steampunk visions vary in style and execution. Though not all the tales were to my taste, enough of them caught my interest to make this a worthwhile read. In "The Journey of Inspector Roux," by C. R. Simper, I figured out the plot twists fairly early on, and it had some awkward moments (Moroccans speak French or Arabic, not 'Moroccan'), and yet the plight of the main character drew me in, and I found myself a little teary by the end. TC Phillips' "Ripper Bound" invoked some truly interesting technology. And Scott Tarbet's "Ganesh" set up a globe-trotting adventure, the origin tale for a ship with a very human soul. One of my favorite stories (and I'll admit to being biased here, since it's by my good friend Jay Barnson), "Dots, Dashes, and Deceit," takes two adventurous young women, a man who's been sorely underestimated, and sets them in the path of some international criminals. The other stand-out for me was Rie Sheridan Rose's "Seven-year Itch." Though fairly light on the steampunk elements, its folkloric tale of a deal with the devil was deeply involving. Terra Mechanica may not do much to challenge standard steampunk tropes, but it does present some truly entertaining tales. I consider the evenings I spent reading it time well spent.
May 26, 2014
I like the book. The stories are fresh and the authors do a splendid job of breathing life into their characters by capturing the voices of the Steampunk era.
(Disclaimer - I know there wasn't REALLY a Steampunk era, but one can, bytimes, indulge in flights of fancy induced by a well turned phrase.)
And, it's not all Victorian England. Ganesh by Scott Tarbet captures the spirit of the "Old West" in a way that very few writers do. There was a character (no spoilers) that reminded me of "Innocents Abroad" and then he pulled Sam Clemens into the story. It was great fun to read and gave me things to think about - just what I want in recreational reading.
I doff my stovepipe hat to the authors and editor.
(Disclaimer - I know there wasn't REALLY a Steampunk era, but one can, bytimes, indulge in flights of fancy induced by a well turned phrase.)
And, it's not all Victorian England. Ganesh by Scott Tarbet captures the spirit of the "Old West" in a way that very few writers do. There was a character (no spoilers) that reminded me of "Innocents Abroad" and then he pulled Sam Clemens into the story. It was great fun to read and gave me things to think about - just what I want in recreational reading.
I doff my stovepipe hat to the authors and editor.
June 1, 2014
With steampunk being such an under-saturated genre I tend to try out anything new and to be honest, that means I run into a lot of novels or anthologies that may not have the best pacing, plot arcs, or imagination. That being said, this anthology truly breaks the mold and stands out as top of the line in the genre! Each story is unique and genuine. I can't pin point any one story I liked less than the others (which is unusual for me) but I can remember stand out moments that nearly brought me to tears or made me cheer aloud! My two favorites were S. D. Simper's 'Priority Passage' and Michael Cross' 'The Promise'.
I plan on keeping on eye on each of these wonderful writers and would suggest you do the same. Simply unforgettable!
Full five star recommendation to any fan of the steampunk genre!
I plan on keeping on eye on each of these wonderful writers and would suggest you do the same. Simply unforgettable!
Full five star recommendation to any fan of the steampunk genre!
June 12, 2014
Terra Mechanica is a lush, diverse journey through strange, yet familiar histories, full of intrigue, airships, pirates, villains, clockwork machinery, and emotional nuances. Each story opens a distinct world, and sails you through a fascinating expedition of wonder and beguiling characters. While most of the roads you explore are straightforward, with few twists, they are all pleasant, enjoyable and a delight to explore.
The anthology is devised of nine stories, all built around the same theme: a world journey. The settings are varied, from an across Europe trek, airship flights in Russia and the South Pacific, a chase from France to Morocco, Indochina and Quebec, voyages to Western America, and to India and beyond. Each story holds a different point of view, while keeping the feel and aesthetics essential to steampunk.
As with all anthologies, I enjoyed some stories more than I did others, although I can’t say there was one I truly didn’t like. I preferred the ones with more emotional and reflective style, finding Dr. Pax’s Great Unsinkable Bird by J. R. Potter, Seven-year Itch by Rie Sheridan Rose and Priority Passage by S. D. Simper as highlights of the book, but I also enjoyed Dots, Dashes, and Deceit by Jay Barnson as a delightful adventure romp. However, the showpiece of the entire book, for me, was The Promise by Michael Cross. I loved the way that story shifted through vignette glimpses of lives, weaving a captivating patchwork whole, but still leaving pieces to the imagination of the reader. If there was one story that I found slightly disappointing, it was Ripper Bound by TC Phillips. While I found it well written and a good read, the plot, to me, seemed a bit predictable in its direction. And to be fair, I may have been a bit more critical with this one, as it falls very close to the horror genre.
Overall, Terra Mechanica: A Steampunk Anthology is a charming, and entertaining book, with shades of stories running from dark to light. I highly recommend it.
The anthology is devised of nine stories, all built around the same theme: a world journey. The settings are varied, from an across Europe trek, airship flights in Russia and the South Pacific, a chase from France to Morocco, Indochina and Quebec, voyages to Western America, and to India and beyond. Each story holds a different point of view, while keeping the feel and aesthetics essential to steampunk.
As with all anthologies, I enjoyed some stories more than I did others, although I can’t say there was one I truly didn’t like. I preferred the ones with more emotional and reflective style, finding Dr. Pax’s Great Unsinkable Bird by J. R. Potter, Seven-year Itch by Rie Sheridan Rose and Priority Passage by S. D. Simper as highlights of the book, but I also enjoyed Dots, Dashes, and Deceit by Jay Barnson as a delightful adventure romp. However, the showpiece of the entire book, for me, was The Promise by Michael Cross. I loved the way that story shifted through vignette glimpses of lives, weaving a captivating patchwork whole, but still leaving pieces to the imagination of the reader. If there was one story that I found slightly disappointing, it was Ripper Bound by TC Phillips. While I found it well written and a good read, the plot, to me, seemed a bit predictable in its direction. And to be fair, I may have been a bit more critical with this one, as it falls very close to the horror genre.
Overall, Terra Mechanica: A Steampunk Anthology is a charming, and entertaining book, with shades of stories running from dark to light. I highly recommend it.
June 19, 2014
I for the most part enjoyed reading this collection of stories.
My two favorites were Ganesh and The Promise.
Ganesh whet my appetite for more from Mr. Tarbet. I loved how well he tells a story and captures the imagination. I also loved the explanation of the character Ganesh from A Mid Summer Night's Steampunk (I highly recommend this book as well) but that it also stands alone as its own fanciful tale.
The Promise is well written and takes you from one scene to the next with anticipation of how it will all come together in the end. It did not disappoint.
A couple of the stories, Seven Year Itch and the story about cities elevated above the surface of the planet (sorry, the title escapes me) left me scatching my head at the end as I didn't feel there was enough to the story line or character development in both stories to make it interesting.
My two favorites were Ganesh and The Promise.
Ganesh whet my appetite for more from Mr. Tarbet. I loved how well he tells a story and captures the imagination. I also loved the explanation of the character Ganesh from A Mid Summer Night's Steampunk (I highly recommend this book as well) but that it also stands alone as its own fanciful tale.
The Promise is well written and takes you from one scene to the next with anticipation of how it will all come together in the end. It did not disappoint.
A couple of the stories, Seven Year Itch and the story about cities elevated above the surface of the planet (sorry, the title escapes me) left me scatching my head at the end as I didn't feel there was enough to the story line or character development in both stories to make it interesting.
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February 13, 2016As publisher and editor of this book, I refrain from giving this book a star rating in order to reflect as unbiased a score as possible. However, this book is intelligent, well-written, and thought-provoking, the writers erudite and imaginative. Those who follow the Steampunk genre will certainly enjoy this book.
May 23, 2014
Great collection of Steampunk stories! Some were great as a short stories, others I'd love to see expanded upon and become full books on their own. If you like anything about the Steampunk genre, do not pass up this collection!
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March 26, 2017As one of the authors in this anthology, I will refrain from giving it a star rating, but I am honored to be among these talented writers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews