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The Gentlemen's Speculative Society
Nell Gwynne's Scarlet Spy
Lady Beatrice was a prim and proper daughter of a soldier until tragedy struck, condemning her to walk the streets of early-Victorian London. But Lady Beatrice is no ordinary lady of the night, and when she is recruited by the exclusive establishment known as Nell Gwynne's her vocation takes an unexpected turn.
165 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2010
166 people want to read
About the author
Kage Baker
162 books356 followersBorn June 10, 1952, in Hollywood, California, and grew up there and in Pismo Beach, present home. Spent 12 years in assorted navy blue uniforms obtaining a good parochial school education and numerous emotional scars. Rapier wit developed as defense mechanism to deflect rage of larger and more powerful children who took offense at abrasive, condescending and arrogant personality in a sickly eight-year-old. Family: 2 parents, 6 siblings, 4 nieces, 2 nephews. Husbands: 0. Children: 0.
Prior occupations: graphic artist and mural painter, several lower clerical positions which could in no way be construed as a career, and (over a period of years for the Living History Centre) playwright, bit player, director, teacher of Elizabethan English for the stage, stage manager and educational program assistant coordinator. Presently reengaged in the above-listed capacities for the LHC's triumphant reincarnation, AS YOU LIKE IT PRODUCTIONS.
20 years of total immersion research in Elizabethan as well as other historical periods has paid off handsomely in a working knowledge of period speech and details.
In spare time (ha) reads: any old sea stories by Marryat, the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brien, the Hornblower books, ANYTHING by Robert Louis Stevenson, Raymond Chandler, Thorne Smith, Herman Melville (except Pierre, or the Ambiguities, which stinks) Somerset Maugham, George MacDonald Frasier.
Now happily settled in beautiful Pismo Beach, Clam Capital of the World, in charming seaside flat which is unfortunately not haunted by ghost of dashing sea captain. Avid gardener, birdwatcher, spinster aunt and Jethro Tull fan.
http://www.sfwa.org/2010/01/rip-kage-...
Prior occupations: graphic artist and mural painter, several lower clerical positions which could in no way be construed as a career, and (over a period of years for the Living History Centre) playwright, bit player, director, teacher of Elizabethan English for the stage, stage manager and educational program assistant coordinator. Presently reengaged in the above-listed capacities for the LHC's triumphant reincarnation, AS YOU LIKE IT PRODUCTIONS.
20 years of total immersion research in Elizabethan as well as other historical periods has paid off handsomely in a working knowledge of period speech and details.
In spare time (ha) reads: any old sea stories by Marryat, the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brien, the Hornblower books, ANYTHING by Robert Louis Stevenson, Raymond Chandler, Thorne Smith, Herman Melville (except Pierre, or the Ambiguities, which stinks) Somerset Maugham, George MacDonald Frasier.
Now happily settled in beautiful Pismo Beach, Clam Capital of the World, in charming seaside flat which is unfortunately not haunted by ghost of dashing sea captain. Avid gardener, birdwatcher, spinster aunt and Jethro Tull fan.
http://www.sfwa.org/2010/01/rip-kage-...
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 5, 2012
A fun, quick read. This book contains the novella The Women of Nell Gwynne's and the related short story "The Bohemian Astrobleme." The premise is interesting: an exclusive group of clever Victorian courtesans collect useful information from London’s elite, using nifty little steampunk inventions supplied by an organization that Baker’s fans will recognize as an early incarnation of The Company.
While the plots of these stories felt rushed and unsatisfying, Kage Baker’s prose is wonderful and amusing, and when I was finished I wanted more of these characters. I wish Baker had lived to continue writing about them.
While the plots of these stories felt rushed and unsatisfying, Kage Baker’s prose is wonderful and amusing, and when I was finished I wanted more of these characters. I wish Baker had lived to continue writing about them.
October 3, 2020
Right, so contains the Women Of Nell Gwynne's AGAIN (the publisher is really milking this one) and a short story, The Bohemian Astrolabe, "starring" Lady Beatrice, who is as game as they come. She's a great character and had Baker lived, I'm convinced she would have become a bigger star in the company universe. The Bomhemian Astrolabe is a fun adventure, but ends abruptly and really left me wanting more of the character. I guess this ends my Kage Baker reading :-(. Thanks Ms. Baker. You were a glorious writer and your company series is one of the most underappreciated.
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February 23, 2016hey! Look what I got in the mail today (finally!)
The Women of Nell Gwynne's
The Bohemian Astrobleme re-read 4/9/2015
The Women of Nell Gwynne's
The Bohemian Astrobleme re-read 4/9/2015
September 9, 2017
Loved it. My only disappointment is that the book was not a wholly new story, but the first story in the series plus a second, much shorter one.
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October 26, 2025Why you might like it: Immortal operatives; corporate/time systems. Rubric match: not yet scored. Uses your engineering/rigor/first-contact/world-building rubric. Tags: time-travel, company, history
October 17, 2011
Full review can be found here.
As of the very first lines, this book strikes you. It is probably largely due to the fact that the style is so very formal but at the same time… I can only think to call it in-your-face and cheeky. The main character is always referred to as Lady Beatrice because that is the name that she took for her prostitute persona. The reader never knows what her name was before this, though they do (briefly) follow her through the early years of her life and the events that led up to her decision to sell her body to earn her way.
The author introduces the reader to a steampunk early Victorian society where the underground Gentlemen’s Speculative Society has invented any number of interesting and quirky devices, such as mechanical lenses that allow the blind to see, but do not share their inventions with society at large. At least, not for now. But they do use these inventions to influence society with the help of the secrets that the women of Nell Gwynne’s extract from their high-ranking clientele. Some of the devices are great fun!
But the characters themselves are even more fun. There’s just something about writing about whores that allows the author to present the tight-laced society that they live in and characters that completely contradict everything about that society. Books about whores also always seem to have an undercurrent of dry, sarcastic humour and Nell Gwynne’s is no exception! I’m a big fan of dry humour when it is handled correctly, as it is here. Lady Beatrice always goes with whatever the flow but tries to subtly influence it to meet her means, sometimes with funny or unexpected consequences.
I believe that it was the author's original intention to continue this series of novellas but that life unfortunately did not allow for such. This is a great shame as it could have heralded the start of an excellent series about Lady Beatrice's adventures.
A quick note on The Bohemian Astrobleme: this short story delves more into the Gentlemen’s Speculative Society and the work that they do. It’s about a specific type of meteorite only found in Bohemia that gives a powerful electric shock to anyone who touches it after it comes in contact with a specific type of acid. It is soon ascertained that this red glass would make excellent battery fuel cells. Ludbridge, whom we met in The Women on Nell Gwynne’s is sent to Bohemia with two companions to track the origin of the glass. Lady Beatrice soon joins him and again the reader is treated to a delightful romp through this society with characters who are quiet and others who are too cocky for their own good.
As of the very first lines, this book strikes you. It is probably largely due to the fact that the style is so very formal but at the same time… I can only think to call it in-your-face and cheeky. The main character is always referred to as Lady Beatrice because that is the name that she took for her prostitute persona. The reader never knows what her name was before this, though they do (briefly) follow her through the early years of her life and the events that led up to her decision to sell her body to earn her way.
The author introduces the reader to a steampunk early Victorian society where the underground Gentlemen’s Speculative Society has invented any number of interesting and quirky devices, such as mechanical lenses that allow the blind to see, but do not share their inventions with society at large. At least, not for now. But they do use these inventions to influence society with the help of the secrets that the women of Nell Gwynne’s extract from their high-ranking clientele. Some of the devices are great fun!
But the characters themselves are even more fun. There’s just something about writing about whores that allows the author to present the tight-laced society that they live in and characters that completely contradict everything about that society. Books about whores also always seem to have an undercurrent of dry, sarcastic humour and Nell Gwynne’s is no exception! I’m a big fan of dry humour when it is handled correctly, as it is here. Lady Beatrice always goes with whatever the flow but tries to subtly influence it to meet her means, sometimes with funny or unexpected consequences.
I believe that it was the author's original intention to continue this series of novellas but that life unfortunately did not allow for such. This is a great shame as it could have heralded the start of an excellent series about Lady Beatrice's adventures.
A quick note on The Bohemian Astrobleme: this short story delves more into the Gentlemen’s Speculative Society and the work that they do. It’s about a specific type of meteorite only found in Bohemia that gives a powerful electric shock to anyone who touches it after it comes in contact with a specific type of acid. It is soon ascertained that this red glass would make excellent battery fuel cells. Ludbridge, whom we met in The Women on Nell Gwynne’s is sent to Bohemia with two companions to track the origin of the glass. Lady Beatrice soon joins him and again the reader is treated to a delightful romp through this society with characters who are quiet and others who are too cocky for their own good.
March 12, 2015
Nell Gwynne's Scarlet Spy is actually a novella, "The Women of Nell Gwynne's," and a short story, "The Bohemian Astrobleme," published in 2009 and 2010 respectively by the late Kage Baker. Essentially a variation on steampunk, the stepchild of sf/f that arrived more or less in the 1980s which posited that Victorian times contained various modern/post-modern technologies used by the favoured few. In this variant, the "Scarlet Spy" is Lady Beatrice, a proper British woman, child of a British soldier, who finds she has no place in society after she has been captured and gang-raped by Afghanis during a British incursion there; so, being a self-possessed and practical woman, she turns to prostitution and is soon recruited to the house of Nell Gwynne. But that house is not only a bawdy house; rather, the women of the house take only select customers, Members of Parliament and the like, and in the course of their duties, they gather intelligence, which they provide to the Gentlemen's Speculative Society, a very secret society of men who have a knack for, well, inventing many many marvels. The Gentlemen's Speculative Society is, indeed, the precursor to the Company, Baker's fascinating time-traveling organization that features in many of her works. Here, though, in 1844 and 1845, Lady Beatrice is happy to use her skills to discover the secret of a not-so-wealthy Lord who has been buying up precious metals and other items and has invited several millionaires to his estate in order for them to bid on what he has created; and to find the source of the peculiar gem, red tektite, which is far more deadly than it seems.... Individuals who are aghast at prostitution and whores might be shocked and offended by these stories, but I can't imagine anybody else would be, as Baker writes in a very genteel, very 19th Century manner, with none of today's rather coarse terminology, while at the same time she makes what is happening quite explicit to the reader's mind. I would have enjoyed more of Lady Beatrice and of the Gentlemen's Speculative Society, and it's interesting to get a glimpse into Baker's idea of the origins of the Company, but although I enjoyed them, these are definitely slight additions to the writer's oevre. Recommended for those who know and love Kage Baker's work, and for those curious about steampunk with a bit of titillation thrown in.
August 11, 2013
This is a pretty decent story, for a short story. Or, possibly, novella.
As the blurb says, this slight - 165 pages - book contains both "The Women of Nell Gwynne's", which I guess qualifies as a novella, and "The Bohemian Astrobleme", which is definitely a short story.
In the first story we meet Lady Beatrice, the eponymous Scarlet Spy, who is "ruined" and turns to prostitution to survive, and is soon picked up by the house of Nell Gwynn to turn her talents to larger purposes.
I generally don't like when rape is used as a plot device, as I feel it's overdone, by-and-large, but it does make some sense in the context of this story. Since Lady Beatrice came from a higher class family, which is one reason she is particularly suited to become a spy at the high class Nell Gwynne's, and it would have to either be "ruin" or financial disaster of some sort to lead her there. There is no angst in this book. She deals with it pragmatically and by disassociating - which is, in some ways, more disturbing, but it's never really dwelt on, which makes it more tropey than not.
Anyway -
Getting past that it's a fairly standard sort of spy story, complete with special gadgets made for the ladies to help in the endeavors - which is the only thing that makes it remotely steampunkish.
Like I said - decent for a set of short stories, but not a lot of depth, which I suspect is due to time constraints. Sort of enjoyable and pulpy, but nothing spectacular.
As the blurb says, this slight - 165 pages - book contains both "The Women of Nell Gwynne's", which I guess qualifies as a novella, and "The Bohemian Astrobleme", which is definitely a short story.
In the first story we meet Lady Beatrice, the eponymous Scarlet Spy, who is "ruined" and turns to prostitution to survive, and is soon picked up by the house of Nell Gwynn to turn her talents to larger purposes.
I generally don't like when rape is used as a plot device, as I feel it's overdone, by-and-large, but it does make some sense in the context of this story. Since Lady Beatrice came from a higher class family, which is one reason she is particularly suited to become a spy at the high class Nell Gwynne's, and it would have to either be "ruin" or financial disaster of some sort to lead her there. There is no angst in this book. She deals with it pragmatically and by disassociating - which is, in some ways, more disturbing, but it's never really dwelt on, which makes it more tropey than not.
Anyway -
Getting past that it's a fairly standard sort of spy story, complete with special gadgets made for the ladies to help in the endeavors - which is the only thing that makes it remotely steampunkish.
Like I said - decent for a set of short stories, but not a lot of depth, which I suspect is due to time constraints. Sort of enjoyable and pulpy, but nothing spectacular.
October 30, 2011
This is an expansion of Kage Baker's Company series (which I admit to not having read anything of except for a couple of short stories). The expansion is that the Nell Gwynne stories are set in the mid 19th century. Nell herself runs the most exclusive and high class house of prostitution in London. Unknown to most, including their clients, is that Nell's women are spies for the Gentlemen's Speculative Society a forerunner of The Company. While the Gentlemen push the bounds of science far past tradtitional steampunk, Nell's women are obtaining information from those higher in power.
And, when called upon make the movie James Bond look like an beginner. Sydney Bristow is an amateur. This women, especially Lady Beatrice use their brains and bodies better than just about anyone in fiction. You don't doubt that they will obtain the information (location of a mine of rare minerals-no problem), or device (and while they're at it solve a murder).
Don't expect great characterization (my sole issue really) or explicit descriptions of sex acts. Do expect a fun, breezy ride.
And, when called upon make the movie James Bond look like an beginner. Sydney Bristow is an amateur. This women, especially Lady Beatrice use their brains and bodies better than just about anyone in fiction. You don't doubt that they will obtain the information (location of a mine of rare minerals-no problem), or device (and while they're at it solve a murder).
Don't expect great characterization (my sole issue really) or explicit descriptions of sex acts. Do expect a fun, breezy ride.
April 27, 2013
This was a fun, short, super-fast and easy read in the science-fiction/steampunk genre. Strong independant female characters, a little adventure, a big of Jules Verne-esque inventions. Really, what's not to like?
Lady Beatrice has had a tough life and because of society's stupid rules, even though the things that happened to her were through no fault of her own she cannot be received anywhere in polite society. But, being a smart and pragmatic woman, she decides to join the ladies of Nelle Gwynne's, an upscale brothel which has some very special services on offer.
The story is really easy to read, and quite short. It's a fun, fluffy fantasy that has the benefit - to me - of very strong, independant female characters. That is always a plus. The story itself isn't high literature, but I enjoyed this. If you like steampunk, this is a good read.
Lady Beatrice has had a tough life and because of society's stupid rules, even though the things that happened to her were through no fault of her own she cannot be received anywhere in polite society. But, being a smart and pragmatic woman, she decides to join the ladies of Nelle Gwynne's, an upscale brothel which has some very special services on offer.
The story is really easy to read, and quite short. It's a fun, fluffy fantasy that has the benefit - to me - of very strong, independant female characters. That is always a plus. The story itself isn't high literature, but I enjoyed this. If you like steampunk, this is a good read.
August 1, 2016
Two stories with Lady Beatrice of Nell Gwynne's. First is "The Women of Nell Gwynne's" which tells the story of Lady Beatrice and her fall from grace and how she came to be employed at Nell Gwynne's. She goes on her first real mission and it turns into a kind of Agatha Christie murder mystery, with Star Trek science.
The second story is "The Bohemian Astrobleme" where Lady Beatrice is called to Bohemia to assist some members of the Gentleman's Speculative Society is obtaining some information that only her special skills can procure. Lady Beatrice is a rather wooden character in this one, probably because Kage Baker died before fully fleshing out this story. Still good.
The second story is "The Bohemian Astrobleme" where Lady Beatrice is called to Bohemia to assist some members of the Gentleman's Speculative Society is obtaining some information that only her special skills can procure. Lady Beatrice is a rather wooden character in this one, probably because Kage Baker died before fully fleshing out this story. Still good.
August 24, 2011
This is a reprint of the Nebula-winning novella The Women of Nell Gwynne's combined with the short story "The Bohemian Astrobleme." Both stories center on Lady Beatrice, who works at Nell Gwynne's, which is the (fallen) ladies' auxiliary to the Gentlemen's Speculative Society, which is the precursor to the Company. Both stories are fun steampunk capers with Baker's trademark humor, so this edition makes for a pleasant afternoon's read. It should work for both Company novices and long-time fans.
January 20, 2012
Whimper. No more Kage Baker after this one....
An excellent steampunk romp, wherein Baker takes us into the world of a well-bred prostitute turned agent of a secret Victorian organization that will eventually evolve into the Company.
Very nice read, quick and engaging, with never a dull moment. Love Lady Beatrice; now I've got to go back through the Company novels to figure out just how/where she might appear there because I think she's there. It's just been long enough since I read a Company story that I can't pull it up right away.
An excellent steampunk romp, wherein Baker takes us into the world of a well-bred prostitute turned agent of a secret Victorian organization that will eventually evolve into the Company.
Very nice read, quick and engaging, with never a dull moment. Love Lady Beatrice; now I've got to go back through the Company novels to figure out just how/where she might appear there because I think she's there. It's just been long enough since I read a Company story that I can't pull it up right away.
May 26, 2013
Nell Gwynne's Scarlet Spy is a paperback reprint of The Women of Nell Gwynne's with a bonus story, "The Bohemian Astrobleme." My original insightful, exciting & action-packed review is here.
November 23, 2012
It's bittersweet to read this book, which included a rare short story by Kage I hadn't read yet. I wish she could have written more. Full review will follow soon on www.farbeyondreality.com, and a review of On Land and at Sea, a novella Subterranean Press will be publishing posthumously at the end of December, will appear there and on Tor.com close to its date of publication.
February 3, 2011
This was wonderful, and I'm so sad we won't see more of Lady Beatrice and Nell Gwynne's. RIP Kage Baker, you will be sorely missed.
February 8, 2011
Reprint under new title. But I sure enjoyed it the first time around.
March 17, 2011
Interesting steampunk-ish take on The Comapny books.
August 11, 2011
Both stories are excellent, though they're missing just a little something. Not sure what. But I'd definitely give this 4.5 stars
January 10, 2012
A light piece of fluff but well-written fluff. Didn't quite manage bawdy or saucy but thankfully avoided sordid.
December 17, 2012
It was very easy to read and had a nice concept and idea behind it. It's a pity that it's that short though, more like a short story.
April 18, 2015
I really like this book. It's an adult steampunk story very cleverly done.
April 21, 2022
A quick fun, easy read. Probably shouldn't be the first Kage Baker you ever read, but if you like this author, put it on your list.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews