mad_about_books's review against another edition
5.0
In my humble opinion, reading a book by an author as yet unknown is like meeting a person for the first time. Rather than sizing that individual up by their dress or demeanor, that first impression comes within the confines of a few paragraphs. If those paragraphs scream read on, it is a pleasure to make the acquaintance. The first paragraphs of THE PERILS OF PRAGUE did so scream, most loudly. It felt like the start of a beautiful new friendship.
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy that allows a writer to strike out in myriad ways. It requires a clever, no, ingenious mind to take a robot filled with circuit boards and turn it into an automaton filled with gears and springs and pulleys. In the steampunk universe, every creation is a Rube Goldberg perfected.
Professor Harmonious Crackle and Miss Titania Bang have a Holmes and Watson feel, and there is a distinct homage throughout the book that Whovians will certainly appreciate. Of course, there is also an archvillain to keep things interesting.
THE PERILS OF PRAGUE is narrated by an unnamed first person who, through no particular effort of his own, becomes a companion to Crackle and Bang.
Steampunk can be as simple as the mention of goggles and gears, or it can be intricate descriptions of steam powered systems. As I read the descriptions of intricate collections of pipes and hoses, gears and levers, complete with tubes and dials, I had a vision of Doc Coleman's workspace containing intricate diagrams of just how all these things worked. There is an amazing amount of detail about the various nefarious devices foisted upon our heroes, all of which made some mad sort of sense.
In the grand scheme of steampunk, Doc Coleman falls somewhere in between China Mieville and Shelley Adina (both of whom I have read and enjoyed). If you haven't experienced steam, THE PERILS OF PRAGUE is certainly a good choice for dipping in a toe and testing the waters. I, for one, can't wait to read the next episode in the Adventures of Crackle and Bang.
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy that allows a writer to strike out in myriad ways. It requires a clever, no, ingenious mind to take a robot filled with circuit boards and turn it into an automaton filled with gears and springs and pulleys. In the steampunk universe, every creation is a Rube Goldberg perfected.
Professor Harmonious Crackle and Miss Titania Bang have a Holmes and Watson feel, and there is a distinct homage throughout the book that Whovians will certainly appreciate. Of course, there is also an archvillain to keep things interesting.
THE PERILS OF PRAGUE is narrated by an unnamed first person who, through no particular effort of his own, becomes a companion to Crackle and Bang.
Steampunk can be as simple as the mention of goggles and gears, or it can be intricate descriptions of steam powered systems. As I read the descriptions of intricate collections of pipes and hoses, gears and levers, complete with tubes and dials, I had a vision of Doc Coleman's workspace containing intricate diagrams of just how all these things worked. There is an amazing amount of detail about the various nefarious devices foisted upon our heroes, all of which made some mad sort of sense.
In the grand scheme of steampunk, Doc Coleman falls somewhere in between China Mieville and Shelley Adina (both of whom I have read and enjoyed). If you haven't experienced steam, THE PERILS OF PRAGUE is certainly a good choice for dipping in a toe and testing the waters. I, for one, can't wait to read the next episode in the Adventures of Crackle and Bang.
morganhazelwood's review
5.0
If you're looking for a super-fun steampunk adventure, look no further than The Perils of Prague!
This madcap escapade starts at the opera and enjoys toying with the tropes of the genre: goggles, a proper empire, airships, colonies, automatons, steam-powered machines inspired by various levels of sanity, and a ticking clock of an adventure.
The characters are three-dimensional, the world is thoroughly fleshed out, and properly invokes the pulp-iness of the original Indiana Jones movies.
5 stars because the story embraces its genre and does it well.
This madcap escapade starts at the opera and enjoys toying with the tropes of the genre: goggles, a proper empire, airships, colonies, automatons, steam-powered machines inspired by various levels of sanity, and a ticking clock of an adventure.
The characters are three-dimensional, the world is thoroughly fleshed out, and properly invokes the pulp-iness of the original Indiana Jones movies.
5 stars because the story embraces its genre and does it well.
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