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Boneshaker - by Cherie Priest
Steampunk zombie apocalypse.
"What are, 'Three things that have jumped the shark', Alex?"
Yeah, I couldn't help but think that as I was reading along. Though, even given the sort of staleness of these
tropes, I suppose they could have been handled in a way that was more engaging, but at least for me things
fell a little flat. The majority of the text dealt with Briar and Zeke wandering around town, playing their
overwrought roles of "impulsive 15 year old" and "protective, stubborn, newly-concerned mother", with a few
other characters and events sprinkled in for good measure. The villain kept us guessing, in a way, largely
due to a tremendously over-concealed plot point that is supposed to be the twist at the end.
What I did find enjoyable were the thoughtful descriptions of machinery, which were designed to set us
firmly into a steampunk sort of world. While maybe a little heavy handed, it was still enjoyable to
visualize the equipment and the occasionally lush decorations that are the hallmark of a well done
version of these types of settings.
Gripe: I got the impression that the author may not have a fantastic command of some of the physics
of certain situations, though my belief is always ready to be suspended. Also, the 'blight' was such
a macguffin that it makes one's head spin, but when you decide you want zombies in Seattle in the
1860s, I suppose you do what you gotta do.
I think a lot of people in the book club enjoyed this one, which is great! I suppose I've sort
of lost my interest in the Steampunk World's Fair as well, but I'm delighted that many have not.
This read will appeal to those still steeped in the enjoyment of that culture, and is a fun romp
through a pretty gritty setting, that Walking Dead and Professor Elemental fans alike will probably enjoy.
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