The Arctic Marauder

by Jacques Tardi, 63 pages

After surviving a mysterious tragedy in the arctic seas, rescued passenger Jérôme Plumier notes a pattern of such incidents and begins to follow the trail of clues.  Could they have something to do with his late uncle's tinkering?

This wonderfully illustrated graphic novel takes a most unexpected turn in its plot and tone as the story progresses.  The detailed images look vintage Victorian with a steampunk twist, but the story is sneakily deeper and more twisted than the standard adventure yarn it at first appears.  A cynical tale of human nature's darker side spun with gloomy, subtly sarcastic cheer, The Arctic Marauder seems to be saying something equally applicable to contemporary society as to that of its greedy, murderous, science-touting masterminds of an age gone by.

"The Buntline Special" by Mike Resnick

320 pages

The year is 1881. The Mississippi River divides the United States from the Indian nations of the West. The only thing keeping the US from expanding is the magic of powerful Indian medicine men. The America government is desperate to expand its territory (since it's the "destiny" of the US and all), so it sends Thomas Edison out West to the town of Tombstone, Arizona, to discover a scientific answer to the Indians' magic. When he arrives, he brings some of his other inventions to the town: horseless carriages, electric streetlights, and *ahem* robotic prostitutes. Meanwhile, Wyatt Earp and his brothers are hired to protect the genius. Problem is, Edison and Earp have enemies who make the Indian threat seem tame--the Clayton gang. When they find themselves in over their heads, Earp's old friends Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson ride into help. Though you'd think they'd get some good-karma by offering their assistance, Bat is turned into--what else--a bat and Doc is stalked by a zombie gunslinger. The gang will have to do some quick thinking--and shooting--to get out of this one.

I enjoyed every bit of this fast-paced story. Usually I want some more character development than what this one has, but because it's so action-oriented I was okay with a little less info in that department. I loved all the funky steampunkness and the wacky dialogue. The book kept me guessing about what was going to happen next and made me laugh as well. Fun, fun, fun!

Clockwork Prince

by Cassandra Clare
502 pages

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Loved it! The story is moving along so nicely; Tessa’s made out with both boys, there’s a mole and you never guess who it is, we find out just how strategically devious Mortmain is and Tessa ends up engaged...to the wrong boy, of course.

Can’t believe I have to wait until November to read the final installment. I mean c’mon Ms. Clare, you have like 5 books out for Mortal Instruments. Which I heard were a lot like Infernal Devices, so I’m on to those next.

Phrases that crack me up: Horrors no (our Hell no), By the angel (our OMG) and Infernal Devices (things that Henry makes that are supposed to work)

Clockwork Angel

by Cassandra Clare
673 pages
(Large Type edition)

When sixteen-year-old orphan Tessa Gray's older brother suddenly vanishes, her search for him leads her into Victorian-era London's dangerous supernatural underworld, and when she discovers that she herself is a Downworlder, she must learn to trust the demon-killing Shadowhunters if she ever wants to learn to control her powers and find her brother.

What’s not to love about this book? It’s my favorite time period (Victorian-era), in one of my fav places (London) about a supernatural underworld with a love triangle. I can't wait to devour the second book.

Clockwork Prince

By Cassandra Clare
498 pages

There have been some other recent reviews of the second book in the Infernal Devices series, so I won’t spend time on the story.  I enjoyed this book much more than the first in the series.  I felt the story moved at a better pace and the characters came into their own (in the first book I felt the characters were too similar to those in Clare’s first series, The Mortal Instruments).  Where I was indifferent before, I am now looking forward to the next installment! 

A Web of Air

By Philip Reeve
304 pages

After Fever Crumb leaves London and the city’s irrational plan to become nomadic, she finds shelter in an unlikely environment for an engineer: a travelling theater.  Her two young charges, Fern and Ruan, adore the theater barge, but even though Fever has been useful in electrifying the theater, she knows that she does not belong here.  When the company reaches Mayda, she learns of a resident with an unusual passion – Arlo who is obsessed with flight.  But Arlo has demons in his past, and worse, there are those who are bent on stopping him from realizing his dream to fly.  As Fever sets out to help Arlo, she starts to feel true excitement over the technological wonder they are working on, and then complex feelings that her engineer background has not prepared her for.

I struggled a bit with Fever Crumb when I read it and found the same to be true for part of this book, but about midway began to connect with it in a greater way.  The action is just right and the description of both Fever and Arlo are right on.  Fever begins to realize that human emotion, while unreasonable, is powerful and unavoidable, and the ending is heartbreaking.  If there is one thing these books are not, it is idealistic, so while I am looking forward to the third I know it may not be a happy ending. 

Parasol Protectorate: Book the Fifth: Timeless

by Gail Carriger, 386 pages

Persons of significance express suspicious interest in the infant inconvenience and send Alexia and crew off to Egypt.

In this final volume of the paranormal-steampunk series, secrets and lies are exposed, bathing is vehemently opposed, and the unnatural world order changes with the times, though fought--somewhat literally--tooth-and-nail. I'm sad it's done! But I'm happy to hear she may be working on a companion book / series featuring the infant inconvenience's exploits. Woot!

Soulless

Gail Carriger, REM (art and adaptation), 228 pages

Headstrong Alexia Tarabotti worries more than she cares to admit that spinsterhood may very well be in her future. But when she gets caught up in a rogue vampire case that lets her be useful to Queen and country (and a certain handsome if infuriating werewolf), the prospect of not settling down for a secure life of domesticity and social calls loses its ominous edge. Adventuring and putting her quick mind, silver-tipped parasol, and unique unnatural ability to good use sound rather exciting to her, actually. Much to the werewolf's displeasure.

Yay, the manga adaptation of the first Parasol Protectorate book is out! And, yay, it's about as much fluffy fun as the novel. The art's a fine fit and everybody looks like themselves, although Alexia's a little tinier-waisted than expected and looks about to spill out of her scandalously low-cut bodice most of the time. Otherwise, though, I'm quite pleased, as it's rare for an adaptation to work out so nicely and maintain as much of the original's personality. I look forward to the next one.

"Clockwork Prince" by Cassandra Clare

502 pages

In the hidden magical world of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has finally found safety with the Shadowhunters. On the downside, her brother, Nathan, has betrayed the group to the Magister and remains missing. Then things get worse when the powers that be in the Clave plan to have Charlotte replaced as head of the Institute. If that happens, Tessa will be put out on the street and easy prey for the Magister, who wants to use her powers for evil. Charlotte and the Shadowhunters are given a test: find the Magister within two weeks, or she will lose the Institute to her rival, Benedict Lightwood, who seems to be more concerned with his own mysterious agenda than the welfare of the Clave. As if the challenge wasn't difficult enough, it appears that the Shadowhunters have yet again been betrayed by someone within their ranks.

I can't get enough of the Infernal Devices series! I love the world Clare has created, with the magic and funky steampunk elements. The characters are probably what really has me hooked, though. The bad ones are so easy to hate, the good guys are so lovable, and there are plenty who fall somewhere in the middle, which I like because that's how real life is. I'm not so thrilled about the Will-Tessa-Jem love triangle, though. I am Team Will all the way, especially after reading this second book and learning some pretty important things about his background that explain some of the less-than-wonderful aspects of his personality. I adore Jem too, of course, but I just think Will and Tessa belong together. The fact that I care so much says a lot, as I usually don't really get so into the romantic aspects of books. I don't know how I'm going to wait until November for the third title in the series.

The Parasol Protectorate: Book Four: Heartless

by Gail Carriger, 385 pages

Alexia has returned home to England, her council position, and her castle full of hairy werewolves, but she's getting quite tired of having to fend off the now constant attempts on her life. Why can't the blasted vampires just let her alone? Are they really so afraid of the impending addition as all that? And is it just her, or are they not the only ones out there making trouble?

Revelations about any number of people close to her give Alexia reason to pause, blink, sigh, and shake her head. Some also cause her to go on perfectly legitimate verbal tirades--and not all of them directed at her exasperating husband (for once!). Nicely balanced comedy and drama once again take the reader for a pleasant ride through a paranormally steampunked Victorian world where cutting barbs and social slights can be nearly as effective as a well-aimed parasol (Alexia's custom-made one shoots various poisons, projectiles, and an electromagnetic disrupter field). The next volume comes out in the spring (and so does the first graphic-novel adaptation, I think), so I won't have to wait too terribly long to have another fun, chuckle-filled evening spent curled up in my reading chair.

Parasol Protectorate: Book Three: Blameless

by Gail Carriger, 355 pages

Left without the protection of her pack, Alexia takes her exoneration into her own hands and travels to the continent for answers from the people responsible for her secretive late father's existence and who have striven more than anyone else to see unnaturals wiped from the face of the earth--the Knights Templar.

Italy's almost as bad as Scotland, as far as her compatriots are concerned, but Alexia has to admit she likes the food. Hee. Again with the chuckles and social commentary, but with more action this time as Alexia is quite literally on the run from murderous pursuers. Not that the people she's running to are much safer.... This volume, like its predecessor, only wraps up one or two current plot points and lets the big one cross over into the next book. I like me some continuity and series-spanning story arcs, so this is quite satisfactory.

Parasol Protectorate: Book Two: Changeless

by Gail Carriger, 374 pages

Alexia Macon (née Tarabotti) may now be the lady of a castle full of werewolves and the newest addition to the Queen's unnatural advisory council, but she still has to find time for tea with her friend Ivy (whose taste in hats is as abysmal as her personality is warm and melodramatic), her ridiculous family, and chasing unsightly regiments off her front lawn. The last thing she needs is to have to run after her spontaneously absent husband--to that backwater, Scotland, no less! and on a dirigible!--when he fails to inform her of the rather important details of his current mission. Something is mysteriously dispelling unnaturalness (vampires and werewolves temporarily return to being human--and mortal--and tethered ghosts are exorcized) and suspicious eyes turn to Alexia and her innate nulling abilities. If she's going to get to the bottom of things, and get her workaholic husband back home to civilization where she can keep an eye on him, she'll have to brave far deadlier dangers than airsickness and country "manners."

Book Two is even more fun than Book One and ends on an unexpected, except in 20/20 hindsight of course, cliffhanger. With its aether-based airship and communication technologies, this installment ventures further into steampunk territory. Alexia picks up a new admirer--or threat?--in the person of a genius French inventor / haberdasher who turns heads and raises eyebrows in her trousers and top hat. The new character additions work nicely, as does the shaking up of other relationships to either comedic or dramatic effect, and keep the story and its inhabitants open to growth.

Parasol Protectorate: Book 1: Soulless

by Gail Carriger, 357 pages

Alexia Tarabotti is just a little too Italian (that complexion! that nose!) and a little too headstrong to attract a respectable husband--and she's not getting any younger. She tries not to let this worry her, especially as she'd much rather be out there doing something than sitting at home being a proper "lady." After all, certain segments of the population aren't getting any older, either, what with vampires, werewolves, and ghosts integrated into society and into Queen Victoria's government. Not one to judge others by their outsides (having been the object of much judgment, herself), she's made close friends with the most outrageous (and clever) of the vampires and something not exactly friendly but still engaging with a certain handsome boor of a werewolf who also happens to be one of Victoria's chief unnatural investigators. After narrowly escaping an oddly random vampire attack at an otherwise tedious ball, Alexia decides that if she can use her own unnatural gift (thanks to her paternal genes) to make herself useful to Queen, country, and cranky werewolf, she may not so much mind the prospect of spinsterhood.

The dry, snappy banter and narration in this paranormal / steampunk / mystery / romance series has won me over. What it lacks in emotional depth and development (though it can still be surprisingly touching at moments), it makes up for in pointed remarks, thought-out world-building, and fun. Carriger obviously knows and loves her setting and her characters' voices and uses them to good effect. It's hard to read these and not giggle. (I'm also excited, because the series is coming out as an author-approved, manga-style graphic novel--woot!)

"Clockwork Angel" (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

476 pages

Tessa's life hasn't been easy. Her parents died when she was only three, so she's been raised by her aunt Harriet and her older brother, Nate. Then, in 1886, Nate gets a job in London and moves across the Atlantic, and soon after that Harriet dies. Because Tessa is only sixteen and has no other family, Nate arranges for her to join him in England. However, Tessa is kidnapped and held hostage as soon as she steps on British soil. Her captors, the Dark Sisters, show her that she has the ability to transform into another person at will as long as she is holding one of their possessions. It turns out that there is a dark world that Tessa was never aware of before, a world of vampires, demons, warlocks, and other supernatural creatures. Her transformative ability means that she, too, is a "Downworlder," which is the collective term for all non-human supernatural beings. Tessa is eventually rescued by the Shadowhunters, a group of powerful warriors who act as police among the Downworlders and prevent evil creatures from doing harm to humans and other Downworlders. However, Tessa is far from safe even after her escape. She still has to find Nate and help the Shadowhunters find out who is behind the creation of a growing army of destructive robots.

I haven't read any of the Mortal Instruments series, which this book is a prequel to, but I will have to now because I loved Clockwork Angel! The action grabbed me from the first page, and the pacing is just right: it moves quickly, but there's enough time for characterization as well. I really cared about the characters, even some of the minor ones. I like that the vampires and other monsters are scary in this book, not all hot and sexy like in many of the other popular teen books that are out right now. Clare creates a really interesting world that I am looking forward to reading more about in the rest of the Infernal Devices series, as well as Mortal Instruments.

"Clementine" by Cherie Priest

201 pages

Maria Isabella Boyd was so successful as a Confederate spy that she's too famous for further espionage work, and now her employment options are slim. Since her husband died, she's been especially desperate for employment, so she finally goes to work--reluctantly--for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in Chicago. To her further disappointment, her first big assignment comes from the Union Army. A Union-sponsored transport airship called the Clementine is being relentlessly pursued across the Rockies and the Yankees want Maria to stop the chaser. The dirigible is carrying a top secret load of military materials that must be delivered to Louisville, Kentucky, without interference from whoever is chasing the ship. The evidence suggests that the pursuer is a runaway slave named Croggon Hainey who's wanted by authorities in the North as well as the South. Maria will stop at nothing to catch Hainey and his crew, but she certainly never expected to collaborate with him after finding him! That's exactly what happens after she discovers the real reason that Hainey is chasing the Clementine.

I loved this book from beginning to end. The action is pretty much nonstop and well-paced. The book is too short for much character development, but I liked the main characters and started rooting for them right away. I enjoyed the way that the early chapters alternate between Maria and Hainey's stories and then they come together in the late middle. The blend of real history (Pinkerton Detective Agency did--and still does--exist, and Belle Boyd was an actual Confederate spy) and made-up technology is super-fun. I found the ending as satisfying as the rest of the story. A great quick read for steampunk fans!

"Boneshaker" by Cherie Priest

416 pages

In the early days of the Gold Rush in the Northwest, Russian prospectors hired inventor Leviticus Blue to create a machine that could drill through Alaska's thick ice to reach the precious metals. What he came up with was Dr. Blue's Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Machine. On its first run, something went wrong. The Boneshaker went out of control, destroying downtown Seattle and opening the source of a subterranean gas that turns everyone who breathes it into the living dead. A wall was built to enclose the toxic city and keep "the Blight" contained.

Now it's sixteen years later. Leviticus Blue's widow, Briar, is just trying to make it through each day, living just outside the wall around Seattle and working in a dangerous factory to put enough food on the table for herself and her fifteen-year-old son, Ezekiel. Her late husband's ruined reputation have left Briar isolated and lonely, so Zeke is all she has left. Then Zeke becomes convinced that his father was set up by the Russians and is determined to clear his name. He disappears behind the walls of the devastated city of Seattle to search for evidence, and Briar is forced to go after him. Neither of them could have imagined the horrors of the ravenous undead, criminals, and pirates that wait for them within the city.

I loved every minute of this steampunk adventure and the funky twist it puts on the Gold Rush period of American history. Briar and Zeke are both characters who are easy to relate to, and I was pulling for them the whole way. I really loved some of the secondary characters, too, particularly Lucy and Angeline. Both of them, as well as Briar, are strong, independent females and I like seeing that in books that take place during the Civil War era. My only complaints are that part of the end doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the story (that's all I'll say to avoid spoilers), and some of the dialogue didn't ring true to me (I doubt that anyone said, "Hey man, you're a champ" in the 1860s). Still, I highly recommend this book for fans of either steampunk and zombie fiction.

Leviathan

by Scott Westerfeld, 440 pages

As World War I begins, all the greatest European powers start to divide. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their clanker machines and the British have their Darwinist, fabricated beasties. Prince Aleksanders parents have been murdered by the Germans and now he must flee his home with Count Volger and his master of mechaniks teacher or risk being killed himself. Shortly after arriving at their hideout in the mountains of Switzerland they are joined by a badly wounded Darwinist air ship, the Leviathan. Alek goes against Count Volgers advice and tries to help the ship, but they soon find out that he is Austro-Hungarian. To save Alek they make a deal with the Leviathan, they will replace the ships engines with their clanker engines as well as help run them if they ship will fly them to safety. While on the ship they must keep their true identities a secret, but Alek's new friend Dylan Sharp discovers their secret. Their Secret is safe with Mr. Sharp, who has a very big secret of his own. Will their secrets be discovered? Will the Leviathan captains keep their word and fly them to safety?

Behemoth

by Scott Westerfeld, 485 pages

Behemoth is a ferocious beast used in the British Navy. Now that they are at war with the Clankers the Darwinist will need both the Behemoth and the Leviathan to battle. As Leviathan makes its way to the Ottoman Empire to deliver Dr. Barlow's mysterious eggs they run into trouble with the German Navy ship. They peacekeeping quest has failed and they find themselves alone in enemy territory.
Deryn and Alek struggle to maintain their friendship when it might mean they are being treasonous. Deryn is posing as girl aboard the British Air Services and is falling for Alek, who has no idea that she is a girl. While Alek is posing as a commoner in the Ottoman Empire when he is actually an archduke of Austria-Este. To bring this war to an end they will need each other, new allies and bravery to overcome what is ahead.

If you loved reading Leviathan, you will definitely love reading Behemoth. It is a steampunk adventure, full of nonstop action. The black and white illustrations by Keith Thompson enhance the story and capture the imaginary world Westerfeld has created. Leviathan focused a lot on the introduction of the characters and the setting, while Behemoth is full of constant action and character development. The Leviathan series is an awesome YA book and I would suggest it to anyone who is just starting to read steampunk books.

Fever Crumb

By Philip Reeve, 324 pages.

Ok, these are going to have to be shorter, I am WAY behind!

From her childhood, Fever Crumb was an unusual child. Taken in by Dr. Crumb of the Order of Engineers, she is raised in a world where logic is valued above all else and emotion is shunned. There are no women in the Order, which makes Fever stand out; but she also has unusual physical features which she discovers remind people of the dreaded Scriven, a not-quite-human race that was wiped out after years of human oppression. When Fever is sent to live with and assist the archeaologist Kit Solvent, she begins to discover a tangled web of mysteries and for the first time is thrown into an emotionally charged world. Fever must learn to balance reason with emotion if she is to solve the mysteries of her past, and protect her future from the political upheaval of her society.

Behemoth (Leviathan: 2)

by Scott Westerfeld
(2010 | 485 p)

The adventure continues in "Behemoth," the second installment of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy. Deryn Sharp, a young woman who has disguised herself as a boy so that she can serve in the British Air Service, is quite enamored with Alek, the heir to the empire of Austria-Hungary. Unfortunately, Alek doesn't know that he's a she and young love is quite thwarted as a result. Deryn's loyalties are torn between her oath to the British Air Service, which she takes quite seriously, and her feelings for Alek.

Through a series of misadventures Deryn and Alek find themselves working together to halt the first World War. No small task for a pair of 15-year-olds, even if one of them may be a future Emperor. I found myself slightly confused by some of the political machinations -- but that probably speaks more to my ignorance regarding the events surrounding World War I than to Westerfeld's storytelling.

Written in the delightful steampunk style, Westerfeld creates a fascinating world of machine loving Clankers and beastie fabricating Darwinists. This young adult novel features strong female characters, a definite plus. Recommended for fans of steampunk or young adult science fiction.