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The Sisters of Saint Nicola of The Almost Perpetual Motion vs the Lurch
A new short story from Garth Nix, best-selling author of the Old Kingdom series.
In this raucous, steampunk tale a sacred order of scientist nuns battle against vicious Invaders from Mars and their murderous machines in an ongoing conflict that has lasted centuries.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
In this raucous, steampunk tale a sacred order of scientist nuns battle against vicious Invaders from Mars and their murderous machines in an ongoing conflict that has lasted centuries.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2022
48 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Garth Nix
236 books14.9k followersGarth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 1, 2022
Cute. A little hyperactive, like a three-year-old with too much sugar, but cute nonetheless.
“Why is it Saint Nicola of the Almost Perpetual Motion?” Woodbine asked the Grand Druid Thrisby .....
“They’re scientists,” said Thrisby. He was puffing on his pipe, sending large smoke rings into orbit around his own head to help keep the stench of dead Lurch at bay. “Very rigorous in their descriptions. Perpetual motion is impossible, but you can get close, hence the ‘almost’.
Always good to find scientific rigor in your nuns.
Three-and-a-half stars, rounding up for the celebration.
https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
“Why is it Saint Nicola of the Almost Perpetual Motion?” Woodbine asked the Grand Druid Thrisby .....
“They’re scientists,” said Thrisby. He was puffing on his pipe, sending large smoke rings into orbit around his own head to help keep the stench of dead Lurch at bay. “Very rigorous in their descriptions. Perpetual motion is impossible, but you can get close, hence the ‘almost’.
Always good to find scientific rigor in your nuns.
Three-and-a-half stars, rounding up for the celebration.
https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
December 16, 2023
📚
Free short story from Tor
📚
Scientist-warrior-steampunk nuns and battle druids vs. nefarious invaders from Mars?
We need a full-length book based on this story post-haste, Mr Nix!
(Approx. reading time: 36 minutes.)
Scientist-warrior-steampunk nuns and battle druids vs. nefarious invaders from Mars?
We need a full-length book based on this story post-haste, Mr Nix!
(Approx. reading time: 36 minutes.)
July 18, 2022
The novice saw it first, but within a few seconds of her call, an augmented eye was turned toward the heavens, confirming that what Maralinda had first seen as a fire streaking across the sky was in fact some kind of craft, a ship designed to cross the void between the planets.
“They have come back,” said Sister Thromgood. Her right eye, blue and as natural as the day she was born, blinked rapidly with sudden emotion, and her fingers fumbled with the focus ring on the crystal lens of her reconstructed left eye.
It must be fun to live in Garth Nix's head - the inventiveness of his stories just keeps surprising me. There's plenty of humour here too, in this story of steampunk nuns and druids (with their ceremonial "herbs") doing their best to fight off Martian invaders. It's a romp - one with a lot of info about the world to get to the reader, which is why it dropped a star - but way too much fun to seriously ding. Fingers crossed we someday get a full-length novel here, or more shorts!
Free from Tor: https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
“They have come back,” said Sister Thromgood. Her right eye, blue and as natural as the day she was born, blinked rapidly with sudden emotion, and her fingers fumbled with the focus ring on the crystal lens of her reconstructed left eye.
It must be fun to live in Garth Nix's head - the inventiveness of his stories just keeps surprising me. There's plenty of humour here too, in this story of steampunk nuns and druids (with their ceremonial "herbs") doing their best to fight off Martian invaders. It's a romp - one with a lot of info about the world to get to the reader, which is why it dropped a star - but way too much fun to seriously ding. Fingers crossed we someday get a full-length novel here, or more shorts!
Free from Tor: https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
August 15, 2022
Maralinda is a novice in the sisterhood of Saint Nicola. She's been training for years and wants nothing more than to be a full sister in the sisterhood. When the vicious Invaders from Mars attack, she has an opportunity to prove herself and she gets battle ready.
I loved the blurb. It sounds fascinating and kickass so I hate to say that I did not enjoy this. It took me a while to get into the story if I can call it that because there isn't exactly a story and by the time I started to enjoy it, it came to an end. The action fell short of my expectations. The setting is interesting and it is decently detailed but other than that I didn't like anything else.
2 stars
I loved the blurb. It sounds fascinating and kickass so I hate to say that I did not enjoy this. It took me a while to get into the story if I can call it that because there isn't exactly a story and by the time I started to enjoy it, it came to an end. The action fell short of my expectations. The setting is interesting and it is decently detailed but other than that I didn't like anything else.
2 stars
August 3, 2022
Warrior scientist nuns? Count me in.
August 17, 2022
2.8 A steam-punky, battle-nuns-ish, H.G. Wells influenced short story. Pretty good fun. Nice way to spend half an hour.
May 21, 2023
A sacred order of fighting scientist nuns join forces with the forestry druids in command of menhir-tossing trees, battling a centuries-old fight against space invaders collectively called Lurch, but individually called War Globules, Trivets, Flingers, and most potent of all, Supreme Ganglions.
This is fun and zany brought to mind the crazy graphics of MTV's cartoon Aeon Flux with the more restful poses of Obelix the Gaul.
Ultimately, though, this is neither, but rather Garth Nix, whose work I've only ever encountered in short form. I need to rectify that soon.
September 9, 2022
What I like about Garth Nix's books is that he always creates memorable worlds. Worlds that I wouldn't mind exploring further. The same can be said about this short story. I hope we get more stories set up in this particular world.
August 18, 2022
A nice, entertaining 'episode' in a war between the worlds, featuring scientific nuns who spot an incoming invading ship from Mars and set out to destroy it and its 'munching people into mincemeat' occupants, as told through the eyes of a novice nun who gets her chance to become involved in the fight.
There is no preamble to the story, so be prepared to be dropped into the thick of the action as the nuns take on the Lurch. The history of the conflict and where it might go in the future is given in quick bursts as the nun's goliath war machine rushes to get to the scene before competitive druids riding trees (really!) to claim the bounty from the ship; if they survive the battle.
There is no preamble to the story, so be prepared to be dropped into the thick of the action as the nuns take on the Lurch. The history of the conflict and where it might go in the future is given in quick bursts as the nun's goliath war machine rushes to get to the scene before competitive druids riding trees (really!) to claim the bounty from the ship; if they survive the battle.
September 3, 2022
The idea of steampunk filled with warrior scientist nuns could have so much potential. Except Nix prefers to have nuns for the cool imagery and with zero religious references, from the names to the hymns. They're not even celibate and even enter into non-committed relationships with druids (?).
I thought more of amazons than nuns at all
Read on TOR: https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
I thought more of amazons than nuns at all
Read on TOR: https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
October 25, 2022
Whatever was going on here, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was fantastically weird stuff in the best way! I would have happily read a full length novel about this, honestly. The blend of sci-fi and steampunk was amazing, every worldbuilding detail a wonderful smack in the face and despite it being too short to really get into it I loved it.
January 7, 2023
Auf diese Kurzgeschichte hat mich Google aufmerksam gemacht und scheinbar hat der Riese meinen Lesegeschmack richtig erkannt, denn Garth Nix' Text konnte mich auf ganzer Linie überzeugen.
Steampunk hat mir schon immer sehr gut gefallen. Leider waren die meisten auf Deutsch übersetzten Bücher immer nur mittelmässig, sodass ich mich eher enttäuscht aus dem Genre verabschiedete. Nix schafft es jedoch in einer Kurzgeschichte genau all jenes zu involvieren, was mir bisher gefehlt hat.
Grossartig ausgedachte Maschinen, ein rasanter Plot und Charaktere mit denen man gerne seine Zeit verbringt. Es ist ein faszinierender Text, der auf kurze Distanz sehr viel zu bieten hat. An einigen Stellen musste ich sogar an Tolkien denken. Auch schafft es der Autor, seiner Hauptfigur genug Charakter zu verleihen, dass ich als Leserin bei der Stange blieb.
Bei vielen kürzeren Texten, die mir gefallen habe, hoffte ich stets darauf, dass es noch mehr dazu gäbe. Dies ist hier nicht der Fall, was ich aber als positive Aussage werte, denn die Geschichte ist gut genau so wie sie ist.
Auf jeden Fall hat Garth Nix bewiesen, dass er Steampunk kann.
Steampunk hat mir schon immer sehr gut gefallen. Leider waren die meisten auf Deutsch übersetzten Bücher immer nur mittelmässig, sodass ich mich eher enttäuscht aus dem Genre verabschiedete. Nix schafft es jedoch in einer Kurzgeschichte genau all jenes zu involvieren, was mir bisher gefehlt hat.
Grossartig ausgedachte Maschinen, ein rasanter Plot und Charaktere mit denen man gerne seine Zeit verbringt. Es ist ein faszinierender Text, der auf kurze Distanz sehr viel zu bieten hat. An einigen Stellen musste ich sogar an Tolkien denken. Auch schafft es der Autor, seiner Hauptfigur genug Charakter zu verleihen, dass ich als Leserin bei der Stange blieb.
Bei vielen kürzeren Texten, die mir gefallen habe, hoffte ich stets darauf, dass es noch mehr dazu gäbe. Dies ist hier nicht der Fall, was ich aber als positive Aussage werte, denn die Geschichte ist gut genau so wie sie ist.
Auf jeden Fall hat Garth Nix bewiesen, dass er Steampunk kann.
January 15, 2023
2.5/5 Entretenido pero aquí es cuando me pregunto si este relato fuera publicado por un sello tan famoso si no fuera un escritor famoso. Bueno pero súper olvidable.
January 20, 2023
Bit of an info dump initially, but done sensibly. Fast paced and action packed, it was a fun read!
October 10, 2024
This brief story has it all: battles, strategy, romance, philosophy, and some wry humor.
September 18, 2023
A fantasy meets sci-fi novella introducing us to a convent of badass nuns as they prepare to fight a battle against space invaders. It gets into it from the get-go so you have to be in a certain state of mind, this is not something you use to introduce someone to sci-fi with, a lot goes on pretty quickly. But it's fun and thrilling and when a novella feels it ended too quickly you know it's good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2022
The Sisters of Saint Nicola of The Almost Perpetual Motion vs the Lurch by author Garth Nix is a raucous, steampunk tale in which a sacred order of scientist nuns battle against vicious Invaders from Mars and their murderous machines in an ongoing conflict that has lasted centuries. You can read for free on the Tor.com site https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
“Does that mean we will intervene?” asked Maralinda, clapping her hands. The sound of flesh meeting flesh was something rarely heard there. Unlike the other nuns, she had not yet taken the final vow, which would dedicate her to a life of dangerous experimentation, and so did not always wear the cunningly jointed gauntlets or the armoured habit of a full sister.
“Our vow requires it,” said Smith. “But that does not mean you will be going, Novice Maralinda. You may run and tell Sister Martial McDougall she is to take command of Ravelin Two—raise steam and deploy fast wheels. The usual crew plus sixteen sisters-at-arms. She is to select them from those on the fallow roster.”
I loved this and really hope to see more stories (or even a full-length one) in this universe. Great fun, and imaginative world building as well. So many great ideas like the druids and their full fighting forest, or Saint Nicola’s Fire. I’m going to try more of his short stories.
4 Stars
“Does that mean we will intervene?” asked Maralinda, clapping her hands. The sound of flesh meeting flesh was something rarely heard there. Unlike the other nuns, she had not yet taken the final vow, which would dedicate her to a life of dangerous experimentation, and so did not always wear the cunningly jointed gauntlets or the armoured habit of a full sister.
“Our vow requires it,” said Smith. “But that does not mean you will be going, Novice Maralinda. You may run and tell Sister Martial McDougall she is to take command of Ravelin Two—raise steam and deploy fast wheels. The usual crew plus sixteen sisters-at-arms. She is to select them from those on the fallow roster.”
I loved this and really hope to see more stories (or even a full-length one) in this universe. Great fun, and imaginative world building as well. So many great ideas like the druids and their full fighting forest, or Saint Nicola’s Fire. I’m going to try more of his short stories.
4 Stars
August 1, 2022
They have come back, and, no surprise to anyone, the sisters are prepared. Sister Maralinda, still a novice, wishes to join the fight, but the scientist-sisters spring into action and head for the landing site. They know what they what to expect in an encounter with the Lurch, and Maralinda soon finds herself in the thick of the battle.
What will be the outcome?
=========
This short story, a science fiction/steampunk tale, pits a sacred order of scientist-nuns against invaders from Mars. As the sisters race toward the Lurch’s landing site, they discover the druids . . . and the trees . . . are also headed for the landing site.
With readers pulled into the telling of the tale from the outset and a; a few unexpected twists lead to surprising revelations and keep the tension high. Steampunk fans are sure to enjoy this story as much as those who appreciate stories in the science fiction genre.
Recommended.
What will be the outcome?
=========
This short story, a science fiction/steampunk tale, pits a sacred order of scientist-nuns against invaders from Mars. As the sisters race toward the Lurch’s landing site, they discover the druids . . . and the trees . . . are also headed for the landing site.
With readers pulled into the telling of the tale from the outset and a; a few unexpected twists lead to surprising revelations and keep the tension high. Steampunk fans are sure to enjoy this story as much as those who appreciate stories in the science fiction genre.
Recommended.
August 29, 2022
##
Uhm, I don’t really have a lot to say about this story, purely because the length is not a long one and it had a lot going on.
It essentially is the story of a single steampunk battle of nuns versus aliens with some druids thrown in for a good but small measure. And that’s the entirety of it.
The worldbuilding was wild if a bit info dumpy and yet simultaneously not fully explained, with characters of the orderly soldier variety. The nuns never speak of religion, and the druids seem to commandeer trees as if they were gundams and yeah, I can’t really wrap my head around it all but I would definitely read a full length novel about it.
It’s a strange but quick little read that wouldn’t fit well in an anthology, which is likely why it’s been released as a single short e-story.
If anything about the short synopsis intrigues you, it really can’t hurt to pick such a short story up.
Uhm, I don’t really have a lot to say about this story, purely because the length is not a long one and it had a lot going on.
It essentially is the story of a single steampunk battle of nuns versus aliens with some druids thrown in for a good but small measure. And that’s the entirety of it.
The worldbuilding was wild if a bit info dumpy and yet simultaneously not fully explained, with characters of the orderly soldier variety. The nuns never speak of religion, and the druids seem to commandeer trees as if they were gundams and yeah, I can’t really wrap my head around it all but I would definitely read a full length novel about it.
It’s a strange but quick little read that wouldn’t fit well in an anthology, which is likely why it’s been released as a single short e-story.
If anything about the short synopsis intrigues you, it really can’t hurt to pick such a short story up.
July 22, 2022
Great story. I'd be happy to read a book set in this world.
Read online here.
Read online here.
September 3, 2022
Cyborg armored nuns partner with druids riding walking oak trees to repel an attack from mechanoid Martians. The author hit virtually every trope in science fiction, fantasy, and steampunk. The result is a rollicking romp that had me in stitches. Nix is incredibly creative and original. His talent is on full display in this short story. If you feel like you need a pick-me-up, treat yourself to this delightful read.
July 15, 2025
This is a short steampunk tinged story, set in a world where a sect of warrior nuns battle against invading alien creatures. The characters are good (especially the trainee nun who really wants to prove herself), but since most of the emphasis is on the frenetic action (and there is a lot of it), there's not really enough space to fully establish everyone. There is also so much world building lore, that it can feel a little overwhelming.
August 5, 2022
This felt most like “Angelmage” if I were to compare it to Nix’s existing catalog. There was quite a bit of info dumping happening, and I think this would have worked better as a novella rather than short story. That said, the characters were interesting, and I wish we could read what happens next.
December 11, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
Great idea but a rather hyperactive execution.
I understand that this was a short story but the author really throws you into the action with little explanation. This story really could have done with being a touch longer and a bit of context would have been helpful. I find myself rather confused.
Great idea but a rather hyperactive execution.
I understand that this was a short story but the author really throws you into the action with little explanation. This story really could have done with being a touch longer and a bit of context would have been helpful. I find myself rather confused.
August 2, 2022
I really appreciated how this short story drops you right in the middle of the action, but also accomplishes great world building at the same time. A good short story leaves you wanting more of a world, and I think I'd want to see more of this setting.
August 11, 2022
It was a really fun read with fascinating worldbuilding. The world building was also integrated into the story very well, so I didn't get huge info dumps, but I was also never confused about what was going on
August 12, 2022
Good light steampunk story, in the style of HG Wells's "War of the Worlds." Recommended reading.
Story link: https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
Story link: https://www.tor.com/2022/07/13/the-si...
February 4, 2023
Took me half a year to read this somehow, but it was an OK read. It didn't captivate me as Sabriel did, but it did still interest me. I have a vague feeling that this novelette is a seed for a whole new world, that may work better in novel form, but for now I'll take what I got.
December 23, 2023
Garth Nix is becoming a favorite author. This is an entertaining book about the Sisters of Saint Nicola and their fighting allies, the Brotherhood, as they battle the Lurch - aliens looking to take over the world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews