Sausages, Steam, And The Bad Thing

Sausages, Steam, And The Bad Thing: A Penny Dreadful Review

            The queen of intriguing titles has done it again. Rachael Acks, author of the delightful Marta Ramos mysteries, released a collected compendium of her novellas with Musa Publishing. But Miss Merriweather, you say, I already have all her books. Why should I buy them again? For the extras, my readers, the extras. This is so much more than a simple collection.

            Sausages, Steam, and the Bad Thing features bonus material to accompany each of the novellas, in addition to brand new stories. Fans will get an exclusive look into the world of Captain Ramos and Colonel Douglas through newspaper clippings, recipes, and more. Much of the bonus material focuses on secondary characters and What Happened Next after Captain Ramos waltzed out of their lives, mysteries solved. I especially adore the brief interlude from the point of view of Chippy the Exceedingly Tiny Dog entitled “Sniff, Sniff. Adventure!”

            A new story, “The Jade Tiger,” involves a daring train robbery and the liberation of a young girl. It offers a quick glimpse into Captain Ramos’s past, a subject on which she is all but mute. It also introduces us to a new character, the fierce, clever mother Madam Xing, who I hope we will see again.

            I give this compilation five gears out of five, and highly recommend it to any fan of intrigue and swashbuckling. I am madly in love with Captain Ramos and her strange world, and I delight in her quirky adventures.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,

Penny J. Merriweather

Dead Iron

Dead Iron: A Penny Dreadful Review

A man with a curse. A frontier town full of suspicious people that reluctantly tolerates him. A railroad baron that is much stranger than he seems. A beautiful witch. Her dead husband out for revenge. Three silver miners with odd contraptions and even odder secrets. Magic twines around the gritty gears that drive Dead Iron by Devon Monk.
The world is certainly different from anything I’ve seen before, and at first the supernatural elements seemed a little jarring. There’s a portion of chapter three where things become entirely unfamiliar and seem almost unsupported by the story up to that point. Yet, with a little more explanation, things do fall into place, and after chapter four, the story gets a lot better. I won’t spoil it, because it is definitely worth discovering on your own, especially when there’s an underground zipline involved.
I was saddened to find a handful of typos and nonsensical sentences sprinkled through the prose. It seems Ms. Monk’s editor was asleep on the job, and it really hurts the story.
I must say a few words about the awesomeness of the character Rose Small. She’s an unconventional foundling who, in my opinion, totally steals the show. She really shines by the climax, taking up arms in the defense of [spoiler redacted]. I wish her mysterious past had been explained rather than just hinted at.
I give Dead Iron three and one half gears out of five. It was quite good, but could have used another tweaking to make it truly brilliant. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this book if you enjoy the dark and supernatural in your Steampunk.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,
Penny J. Merriweather

The Zeppelin Story

The Zeppelin Story: A Penny Dreadful Review

            We see zeppelins and airships all the time in Steampunk literature, but where did they come from? How were they put together? What did they look like? Do they still exist? By chance, I found a compact little picture book that answers these questions. It is called The Zeppelin Story.

            Written by John Christopher, The Zeppelin Story is a pint-sized coffee table book suitable for all ages. The story is sensibly laid out, covering the major zeppelin developments, the World Wars, the Hindenburg, then finishing with a few words on modern airships and what new heights technology might rise to in the future. The illustrating photographs are attractively laid out and clearly captioned. This book contains everything from schematics to propaganda posters, from brief biographies of famous pilots to travel brochures. The Zeppelin Story is comprehensive and informative. If you can read, you can enjoy it.

I give this handy little book four gears out of five. It’s pretty to have out on display, full of fascinating information, and a perfect introduction to the art and science of airships.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,

Penny J. Merriweather

The Kinsey House

The Kinsey House: A Penny Dreadful Review 

            Comics aren’t just for children. They can and often do deal with adult themes. The Kinsey House is one that is most definitely not safe for work. There is a version that is not quite as graphic, but still might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Indeed, it is not my usual flavor, but I enjoyed it quite a bit!

            Oren Peters needs to find work and fast if he wants to avoid being drafted into the military. He accepts the first suitable job offer, which was perhaps not the wisest thing to do. Oren’s new employer is the mysterious Mr. Kinsey, who lives in a mansion populated by very attractive servants. Mr. Kinsey services the town’s clockwork and seems to be haunted by a sinister shadow being. I suspect something sorcerous may be occurring. Mr. Kinsey has certain needs of the flesh, which his attractive staff is obligated to fulfill. This is why this comic is not safe for work.

            I like the art in this comic quite a bit. The character designs are all very different – it would be difficult to mistake anyone for anyone else. The colors are rich, the anatomy is, er, quite realistic and lovely, and the settings are lavish.

            I give The Kinsey House four point five gears out of five.  There is some nudity and adult themes, so it may not be for everyone, but if you are brave enough to read it, I feel sure you will enjoy it.

Your Correspondent From The Aethernet,

Penny J. Merriweather