Author Jon del Arroz is a newcomer to the steampunk scene. On 11/28/2017 I reviewed his first novel in the genre, “For Steam and Country”, which was published that same year. The sequel, “Blood of Giants” features the further adventures of teenage adventurer Zaira von Monocole. Whereas the first book was an enjoyable YA adventure, […]
Philip José Farmer’s “The Wind Whales of Ishmael”
The great Philip José Farmer was the master of grand concepts – story ideas based with unique original settings, such as Riverworld, which features a strange physical afterlife into which all the humans who ever lived are reincarnated. One of his lesser-known works is a blending of historical and far future concepts: his 1971 novel […]
Happy New Year 2019 from Steampunk Desperado!
Review, Rudyard Kipling’s “Kim”
For many years, scholars regarded Kipling as one of the great writers in the English-language canon. Political correctness has damaged his reputation, due to post-modernist interpretations of his novels and poetry as an apologia for British Imperialism. Being familiar with leftist over-sensitivity, I had my doubts. After reading his 1901 young-adult novel Kim, I’ve concluded […]
Merry Christmas 2018!
Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets
I don’t know how it happened, but Madeleine Holly-Rosing’s “Boston Metaphysical Society” escaped my notice until quite recently. It began in 2013 as a series of graphic novels. Her recent prose adaptation, “Boston Metaphysical Society: Storm of Secrets”, was published just this year. The story takes place in an alternate history in which powerful families […]
Announcing our New Look
When Facebook starts nagging you to make another post, it’s a sure sign that you’ve been neglecting your social media obligations. I recently discovered an excellent steampunk site called “Airship Ambassador” and decided I need to work harder at getting cross-links from other blogs. First, however, we needed a new look. My first task was […]