Traveller's Reviews > Clockwork Fagin

Feeling a bit burnt out from academic and other 'heavier' reading, I was looking for some light distractions. My "most disturbing story list" that I've been trying to complete, is also not quite what I would call restful or delightful.

Well, luckily, being an eternal fan of anything Steampunk, I stumbled upon this story, and it was indeed a delightful distraction.
In typical postmodern fashion, it jumbles up styles and genres, all the while keeping it fun without the narration becoming coarse or callous.

Set in an anachronous Canada, (possibly some alternate reality?), it features a shelter for maimed children, which gives it a Dickensian feel. Steampunk is mixed with cyberpunk, shaken up with a hint of Victorian Social Activism and a dash of coming-of-age story, told in a charming and inimitable style - all to intriguing and comic effect.

The story has a heart-warming ending which was surprisingly wholesome given the subject-matter. I just felt that the ending came too soon!

Despite the human aspect of the storyline ending rather abruptly with a bit of an anti-climax for me, the ingenious world-building, the melding of man, machine, and computing devices into a hilarious and rather stinky "Steam-cyborg-robot" story, gave me just the rest and rejuvenation I needed to put a spring (metaphorically speaking) back into my step. I would have liked the story to have been longer and more fleshed out, but oh well, at least it didn't limp or drag. (And I mention "fleshed-out", "limp", and "drag" in a metaphorical sense here. 😏)

The story is part of an interesting - looking Steampunk story collection that I bought a few years ago. Based on this story I'll definitely soon explore the collection further.