Home - Reviews - Books - Review of "Hot & Steamy: Tales of Steampunk Romance"

Review of "Hot & Steamy: Tales of Steampunk Romance"
By: Eva Jarkiewicz
Date: July, 2011

Publisher: Daw Publishing
Writer: various
Editors: Jean Rabe and Martin H. Greenbert
Genre: Science Fiction / Steampunk
Format: paperback
Review Rating: 8/10

Although I would normally not pick up an anthology as I prefer stories that have more time to develop and the character's tales to be told, this time I decided to give one a chance on the recommendation of a friend.

I started with the story and author that the book had been recommended for "Cassandra's Kiss" by Mary Louise Eklund and then was unable to put the book down. The fact that I am now ordering Steampunk'd so that I can read the prequel to this story must be a sign that I enjoyed it. It was a gentle entry into this sub-genre of Science Fiction as it focused more on the characters and didn't beat the reader over the head with the science that makes Steampunk what it is. It also reminded me why I don't select anthologies, I want more. What was the history of the characters (which I will learn a bit more of in Steampunk'd) and what comes next? The story definitely leaves the door open for follow ups which I hope will be coming.

Then I decided to check out the other stories, thinking I probably just read the only good one in the anthology. Well I was wrong, there are quite a few good authors and their stories in this book. I am still trying to determine which ones would make the top of my list after "Cassandra's Kiss". Was it "For the Love of Byron" by Mickey Zucker Reichert? Or perhaps it was "For Queen and Country" by Elizabeth A Vaughan? And let's not forget "Absinthe-Minded Archeologist" by Vicki Johnson-Steger?

Get Your Own Copy Here