Steamed Up

Title:  Steamed Up

Author:  Anthology

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  344 pages

Rating:  A List

Up All Night Satisfaction

Blurb:  Inventors, pilots, tinkers, and soldiers; magical metals to replace an aging heart or a ruined limb; steam-powered fantasy worlds of clockwork nightingales, automatons, dirigibles, and men. The stories in this anthology visit diverse times in the history of modern man, and the men who populate these tales face war and cruelty, masters and autocrats, illness and poverty and greed. Yet the heat of romance outmatches even the steam engines, and time and again, the gears of love rule the day.

Stories included are:

The Clockwork Nightingale’s Song by Amy Rae Durreson

Caress by Eli Easton

Swiftsilver by Bell Ellis

The Clockwork Heart by Kim Fielding

The Galatea’s Captain by Anka Grace

Screws by R.D. Hero

The Golden Goose by Mark Lesney

Spindle and Bell by Augusta Li

Ace of Hearts by Mary Pletsch

Five to One by Angelia Sparrow

Untouchable by Layla M. Wier

Review:  This is one of the best anthologies I have ever read.  It is an excellent sampling of steampunk stories.  While some were better than others, every story was great, there was not a false note.  Frequently it seems like there are at least a couple that fall far short of the standard set by the excellent stories.  I didn’t find one story that was anything less than very enjoyable.  Honestly, I would be hard pressed to claim any one as my favorite because there are several that were amazing.  Not to mention that fabulous cover.  Sigh.

The worlds that were created in these stories were fascinating, full of magic and strange tech, as well as much love and even some romance.  Most of the stories took place in times or worlds that would not allow or accept two men loving each other so things were harder for them.  Some of the worlds were almost completely foreign and had their own set of rules and society.

A thoroughly enjoyable anthology from beginning to end.  Full of hope, love, magic and possibilities. Highly recommended to everyone.  I’d already told several people to read it within hours of finishing the first story.

Reviewed by Nina