Hodder, Mark

Hodder completes his steampunk series (The Return of the Discontinued Man) in an action-packed finale that delves deep into the backstory and personal history of heroes Burton and Swinburne as they explore alternate pasts and futures...

Set in a universe that parallels the one depicted in the previous trilogy, this outing leaves the door open for exploring a new dimension as Hodder develops more adventures. Steampunk aficionados and series fans should enjoy this. [For more steampunk fiction, see Matt Bett's Odd Men Out, reviewed below.

The author of the Philip K. Dick Award-winning Burton & Swinburne series (The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack; The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man; Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon) launches a new series that features a pair of uncommon—and uncommonly appealing—protagonists and blends the fantastic with elements of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and H.P. Lovecraft. Hodder once again excels in his ability to blend Victorian steampunk, psychological thriller, and "sword and planet" fantasy into an intriguing and entertaining adventure. [Previewed in LJ 8/15 Genre Spotlight feature, "Hungry for SF," by Kristi Chadwick

This is big, meaty steampunk, set in the mid- to late 1800s, featuring historical figures (e...

Hodder knows Victorian history well enough to take delightful liberties in a darkly humorous adventure that should appeal to genre fans as well as those interested in alternate histories.