Tag Archives: LGBTQI

Some Kind of Wonderland by Richard Bowes

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for mad hatters and march hares ellen datlow book cover

Title: Some Kind of Wonderland
Author: Richard Bowes
In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, LGBTQI, Romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: Things I learned working on Wonderland led to my nice gig as a location scout and fixer for movies and TV shows shooting in New York.

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Synopsis

Some Kind of Wonderland is being reshown after fifty years of being forgotten. But as an old film resurfaces, so do old memories and a love that lasts the measure of time.

Thoughts

I enjoyed this short story far more than I was expecting. I thought that it would be a slightly lame recap on the filming of a rework of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. And it was that. But it really wasn’t lame. The description of the film, the characters and their issues (both within and without the film), even the setting were such a beautiful contemporary and modern approach to an old classic.

I really enjoyed the mystery and layout of the romance throughout this story. Especially since the retelling and unravelling come about fifty years after the beginning of the tale. The slightly surreal story and way in which it is told mirrors the incredibly tripped out feeling of Wonderland. The finding of oneself and being true to who you are are so very clearly reflected in both of the tracks of the story.

 <- Mercury ReviewAlis Review ->
Image source: Bookdepository

The Hands That Feed by Matthew Kressel

Book Review, , ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk

Title: The Hand That Feed
Author: Matthew Kressel
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: LGBTQI, Steampunk
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “Tell me, Divya,” I said.

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Synopsis

Jessica Rowe has employed Divya in her store, but she might be slowly falling for the quiet beauty. Sadly, ambitions, prejudice and a mayor candidate might be getting in the way of their happily ever after.

Thoughts

I enjoyed the slight hint of an LGBTQI relationship throughout this story – it wasn’t intense and overbearing, but there was enough that this short story gets put on the LGBTQI shelf in my collection. I also liked that you constantly questioned the actual motives of Divya as you could further see Jessica falling for her… there was just something slightly and uncomfortably off in their interactions that doesn’t truly click until the very end of the storyline when everything is revealed.

Small automatons running through the streets at night stealing objects for their master and ensuring her livelihood seems like a great novel to be honest. I’m a little bit disappointed that it was such a short story! Although, every good short story leaves me wanting more, so I suppose it’s doing that job amazingly well. The world building, characterisation and development of relationships in such a few pages was so well done, that this story continues to linger long after you have turned the final page.

 <- The People’s Machine ReviewMachine Maid Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Armature of Flight by Sharon Mock

Book Review, , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of SteampunkTitle: The Armature of Flight
Author: Sharon Mock
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: LGBTQI, Steampunk
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: “If you like.”

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Synopsis

Leo and William are in love, but Leo has obligations and William needs to find a way to stand on his own two feet. Will they find a way to make it work together? Or will life and all its pitfalls get in the way?

Thoughts

I really don’t know how I felt about this story. The idea of love and loss was a good theme. The use of two homosexual men and their roles in their societies was fun. But this just didn’t grab me and sweep me away like so many other stories in The Mammoth Book of Steampunk. And, since I liked all of the concepts in this, I was really disappointed in myself for not being swept away.

This is one of those weird stories that I can tell you all of the activities throughout. But I can’t really tell you what happened in it. The activities and the actions yes, but the actual emotional, social, psychological aspects of the story? I really don’t know. And these are the parts of the stories that I really love… which is why I gave this short story a lower rating. It was still really good, but nothing that really grabbed me in any way, shape or form…

 <- The Clockwork Goat and the Smokestack Magi Review The Anachronist’s Cookbook Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Effluent Engine by N.K. Jemisin

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of SteampunkTitle: The Effluent Engine
Author: N.K. Jemisin
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace) & The Mammoth Book of Gaslit Romance (Ekaterina Sedia)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, LGBTQI, Steampunk
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Jessaline beheld the honest shock on her face and felt some guilt for having troubled her so.

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Synopsis

Jessaline is on a mission to save her people. But what she finds could end up saving herself.

Thoughts

Reading the title of this short story made me think it was going to be really funny. And a little quirky. And it really wasn’t. There was discussion of minorities, freedom and prejudice. All topics that I love to read about and sink my teeth into on a frequent basis.

Jessaline is on a mission to save her countrymen from the horrors of conquest and the taking of their freedom. Yet, on the way she ends up finding something much better – true love. Or at least, that’s how it seems throughout. And the fact that it’s a woman based in “olden times” just makes it all the more engaging. I kind of loved that the love story in this was about two women.

With a backdrop of a steampunk world with one of the leading females being a scientist, this story shows the power of others and how inner strength can shine through. Whether you are living in your brothers shadow, or hiding amongst the shadows as a spy…

 <- Prayers of Forges and Furnaces Review The Clockwork Goat and the Smokestack Magi Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Christmas Curse by Ruby Moone

Book Review, , ,

Overview

The Christmas CurseTitle: The Christmas Curse
Author: Ruby Moone
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, LGBTQI, Romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Kindle
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: In his line of work, a man had to take care, very great care.

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Synopsis

It’s almost Christmas 1806, and government agent Jared Templeton finds himself adopted by a beautiful stray dog as he walks his customary route each night to his Mayfair home. Having never owned a dog before, Jared is surprised to find himself talking to the beast. It’s wonderfully easy and lifts some of the heavy burdens he carries.

Eventually Jared confides in the dog, not only secrets about his work as an agent, but also the biggest secret about himself. About his innermost desires and needs, safe in the knowledge his companion will never betray him.

But at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Jared discovers things are not quite what they seem …

Thoughts

I got this little novella to complete a reading challenge – an author with the name of a jewel. I had no idea what it was like. What it was about. Really any idea about anything. I got it because it was one of the few that I could actually find in Australia. And I didn’t regret it in the least. It is the first truly LGBTQ (I think that’s the right acronym) story that I have read. And I loved it.

This is based at Christmas time, which I normally find beautiful and mystical. But I really didn’t take that away from this tale. I took away the LGBTQ storyline. And it was this sweet little romance that I enjoyed. I found the writing a little lacking in moments, but the ability of the author to write such a great plot.

This wasn’t one of those earthshattering tales that I am desperate to pick up again. Not even one that has made me desperate to find out more about the author. But it was a tale that was sweet, and interesting. And just an easy way to spend half an hour. Simple is the best word to describe this. And I mean that in the absolute best sense.

 <- More Christmas reviews More LGBTQI reviews ->
Image source: Smashwords