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Railroad! #1
Rodger Dodger
Railroad is a fast-paced steampunk story of gadgetry, gunplay and grit.
Join us as we follow the strange stand-alone train known as the Sleipnir (pronounced Schlipnear); eight cars of free traveling steam powered might. Able to lay her own tracks, as well as pick them up again, the train is a marvelous feat of engineering, and as an unbound entity she can travel anywhere her master desires. The only trouble is the trouble she attracts. Her owner and creator, one Professor Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer, can’t seem to help but catch the attention of all manner of odd characters, including an undead conductor and a ghostly guardian. But even the most well intending ghost just isn't enough to keep trouble from the tracks. From run of the mill outlaws, to world-class super villains, the crew of the Sleipnir needs hands-on protecting and they need it fast!
Enter Rodger Dodger, dead-eye marksman and all around vexed soul. Dodger finds he is inexplicably drawn to the Sleipnir and her crazy crew, though he is reluctant to return to the work of a gunslinger after a dreadful history of bloodshed and violence. At the request of a restless spirit, Dodger takes on the work, straps on the biggest guns this side of the Mississippi and soon finds his life will never be the same again. (Which is just fine with him because he didn't like the one he had anyways.)
On a train that can go anywhere, anything is bound to happen!
Join us as we follow the strange stand-alone train known as the Sleipnir (pronounced Schlipnear); eight cars of free traveling steam powered might. Able to lay her own tracks, as well as pick them up again, the train is a marvelous feat of engineering, and as an unbound entity she can travel anywhere her master desires. The only trouble is the trouble she attracts. Her owner and creator, one Professor Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer, can’t seem to help but catch the attention of all manner of odd characters, including an undead conductor and a ghostly guardian. But even the most well intending ghost just isn't enough to keep trouble from the tracks. From run of the mill outlaws, to world-class super villains, the crew of the Sleipnir needs hands-on protecting and they need it fast!
Enter Rodger Dodger, dead-eye marksman and all around vexed soul. Dodger finds he is inexplicably drawn to the Sleipnir and her crazy crew, though he is reluctant to return to the work of a gunslinger after a dreadful history of bloodshed and violence. At the request of a restless spirit, Dodger takes on the work, straps on the biggest guns this side of the Mississippi and soon finds his life will never be the same again. (Which is just fine with him because he didn't like the one he had anyways.)
On a train that can go anywhere, anything is bound to happen!
95 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Tonia Brown
84 books101 followersTonia Brown is a Southern author with a penchant for Victorian dead things. She lives in North Carolina with her genius husband and an ever fluctuating number of cats. When not writing she raises unicorns and fights crime with her husband under the code names "Dr. Weird and his sexy sidekick Butternut."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 8, 2015
ABR's full Railroad! Volume One: Rodger Dodger audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
This was my first Steampunk anything! It is fast paced for a first time listener – I had to start it over a second time just to make sure I was clear on what was happening. The thing that popped into my head was “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” type feeling I had when I heard the narrator begin with the story line.
I enjoyed the gruffness of Carpenter (Rodger Dodger) and his many questions about the train as it helped to describe what was going on. Professor Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer, Ph.D., M.D. was excellent as an eccentric professor and inventor. Ched, I’m not sure about but I took him as a possible zombie or perhaps in the same shape as the group of train robbers – enhanced!
The inventions in this story were fantastic. They were clearly described and important to the storyline. Everything was described in a rich vocabulary and visually stimulating. The brief glimpse into Rodger Dodger was enlightening and thought evoking.
Rodger Dodger’s time in the military and later as a gun slinger was interesting and very poignant as it provided a keen insight into the man. Bringing in Lalayna and Boone were an interesting touch, pushing Dodger onto the path of his destiny.
The character and plot development was strong and flowed nicely together.
I look forward to hearing the rest of this adventure!
The narrator, JoBe Cerny did an excellent job of making the story seem surreal. He was difficult to understand when he was Ched but by making him a little difficult to understand one can gleam and that perhaps Ched is unique and when he speaks, he is one you need to stop and heed. Seems he knows more than he lets on and the narrator helps portray this accurately.
Julia Farmer did an excellent job as LaLayna. Definitely the mistress of seduction and innocence all rolled into one with a hint of a deep hidden dark personality with other things going on.
I enjoyed the book, the reading and look forward to more.
There were no issues with the production, everything went smoothly.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
This was my first Steampunk anything! It is fast paced for a first time listener – I had to start it over a second time just to make sure I was clear on what was happening. The thing that popped into my head was “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” type feeling I had when I heard the narrator begin with the story line.
I enjoyed the gruffness of Carpenter (Rodger Dodger) and his many questions about the train as it helped to describe what was going on. Professor Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer, Ph.D., M.D. was excellent as an eccentric professor and inventor. Ched, I’m not sure about but I took him as a possible zombie or perhaps in the same shape as the group of train robbers – enhanced!
The inventions in this story were fantastic. They were clearly described and important to the storyline. Everything was described in a rich vocabulary and visually stimulating. The brief glimpse into Rodger Dodger was enlightening and thought evoking.
Rodger Dodger’s time in the military and later as a gun slinger was interesting and very poignant as it provided a keen insight into the man. Bringing in Lalayna and Boone were an interesting touch, pushing Dodger onto the path of his destiny.
The character and plot development was strong and flowed nicely together.
I look forward to hearing the rest of this adventure!
The narrator, JoBe Cerny did an excellent job of making the story seem surreal. He was difficult to understand when he was Ched but by making him a little difficult to understand one can gleam and that perhaps Ched is unique and when he speaks, he is one you need to stop and heed. Seems he knows more than he lets on and the narrator helps portray this accurately.
Julia Farmer did an excellent job as LaLayna. Definitely the mistress of seduction and innocence all rolled into one with a hint of a deep hidden dark personality with other things going on.
I enjoyed the book, the reading and look forward to more.
There were no issues with the production, everything went smoothly.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
July 26, 2011
I’m not a big fan of steampunk. I enjoy well written stories in this genre and I have read some very good ones, but I value excellent characterization and an exciting plot over attention to detail and environment. Since it is historical accuracy and technological and fashion detail which are the keystones to the genre, the things I value are sometimes overlooked. That doesn’t mean I’m not willing to take a chance on a writer I know I like. That’s why I agreed to review Railroad!
Enter Dodger, our leading man, looking for a job. When opportunity presents itself, or rather forces itself upon him, he embarks on the adventure of playing professional gunman for train security.
Rairoad! does have the attention to detail characteristic of steampunk. There is a vivid description of the train, Sleipnir, in the intro chapter, and similar description continues throughout the tale, but the characterization is appealing also. Dodger (aka Mr. Carpenter) is a well-developed protagonist. He is bold, quirky and interesting. Mr. Torque, the clockwork man, is an effective contrast with his stiff and regulated ways, Ched, the chief engineer is oddly frightening, and the professor is on the extreme end of eccentric, making Dodger seem more like the typical everyman despite his quirks.
The western theme interwoven into the plot gives the story spirit, and keeps it fun amongst the fiddly technological references (which the average steampunk fan loves, but I don’t enjoy as much.) It plays out in the storyline and the dialogue, and gives the tale some buoyancy. Dodger brings with him his own set of problems, which leads to gunfights, chases and other action-filled excitement. Once the spooky aspect is thrown in, along with a ghost and a romantic interest, I was definitely taken with this.
All in all, I think this is a very clever introduction to the series and its outlandish main character. I also find it amusing that the railroad reference applies to the train itself. It’s steampunk stories like this one, that doesn’t take itself too seriously, which keep me interested in revisiting the genre. Five stars from me.
Enter Dodger, our leading man, looking for a job. When opportunity presents itself, or rather forces itself upon him, he embarks on the adventure of playing professional gunman for train security.
Rairoad! does have the attention to detail characteristic of steampunk. There is a vivid description of the train, Sleipnir, in the intro chapter, and similar description continues throughout the tale, but the characterization is appealing also. Dodger (aka Mr. Carpenter) is a well-developed protagonist. He is bold, quirky and interesting. Mr. Torque, the clockwork man, is an effective contrast with his stiff and regulated ways, Ched, the chief engineer is oddly frightening, and the professor is on the extreme end of eccentric, making Dodger seem more like the typical everyman despite his quirks.
The western theme interwoven into the plot gives the story spirit, and keeps it fun amongst the fiddly technological references (which the average steampunk fan loves, but I don’t enjoy as much.) It plays out in the storyline and the dialogue, and gives the tale some buoyancy. Dodger brings with him his own set of problems, which leads to gunfights, chases and other action-filled excitement. Once the spooky aspect is thrown in, along with a ghost and a romantic interest, I was definitely taken with this.
All in all, I think this is a very clever introduction to the series and its outlandish main character. I also find it amusing that the railroad reference applies to the train itself. It’s steampunk stories like this one, that doesn’t take itself too seriously, which keep me interested in revisiting the genre. Five stars from me.
July 22, 2016
Railroad! Volume One: Rodger Dodger by Tonia Brown is a unique steampunk western serial novel that will keep you coming back for more. The reader is introduced to Rodger Dodger, a man with a past that he can't wait to forget. In an attempt to leave his old life behind, he decides to apply for a security job. Upon arriving to the Sleipnir, Rodger starts to question if he should take the job when he is confronted by the man who placed the help wanted ad, characters that aren't as they appear, and the majestic Sleipnir.
Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer is not only eccentric but the creator of the extraordinary Sleipnir - a steam powered train that does not need tracks to run because she has the ability to lay her own tracks. With an invention so unique, there are several people that would love to have the Sleipnir for their own and Hieronymus will do anything to protect her.
Add one of a kind characters such as Mr. Torque and Ched, and the Sleipnir is a guaranteed wild ride. If you love westerns, especially with steampunk elements, do yourself a favor and lose yourself in the western world that Tonia Brown has created. If you aren't familiar with steampunk, be sure to read Railroad! first as Tonia Brown will instill the love of steampunk in your heart forever. Board the train and let the adventure begin!
Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer is not only eccentric but the creator of the extraordinary Sleipnir - a steam powered train that does not need tracks to run because she has the ability to lay her own tracks. With an invention so unique, there are several people that would love to have the Sleipnir for their own and Hieronymus will do anything to protect her.
Add one of a kind characters such as Mr. Torque and Ched, and the Sleipnir is a guaranteed wild ride. If you love westerns, especially with steampunk elements, do yourself a favor and lose yourself in the western world that Tonia Brown has created. If you aren't familiar with steampunk, be sure to read Railroad! first as Tonia Brown will instill the love of steampunk in your heart forever. Board the train and let the adventure begin!
May 4, 2012
Steampunk is a genre that for the last few years I have found especially intriguing, at least on the esthetic level. I haven't read nearly enough to hop on the steam-powered bandwagon, but I count myself as a prospective fan. For me, I just want a rollicking good time, and in the case of Tonia Brown's Railroad, I got just that.
This novella is the opening salvo in what promises to be an especially weird western. Rodger Dodger introduces us to the title character as he answers an open call for a security officer on board a train called the Sleipnir. For a gunslinger on the run from his past, a job on a train might sound downright cozy, but when he meets its eccentric owner--and inventor--Professor Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer, and discovers the train navigates across the wild west without using conventional railroads, Dodger wonders if he's bitten off more than he can chew.
Dodger on his own didn't strike me as all that compelling a character, but that's mainly because there's so little about him that's revealed in the first half of the book. He's a quiet, no-nonsense sort with a bit of charm and a lot of history in his wake that revisits him later in the book, but there wasn't quite enough to make him stand out as the star of the story. The absence of a hook there is compensated with a trio of strange and comical characters aboard the Sleipnir. There's the professor who seems a tad out of touch with polite society, having spent much of his time in recent years aboard his train, and seemingly evading unsavory characters. There's his robotic butler-of-sorts, Mr. Torque, a clockwork servant with a dry wit and resigned tolerance for his bewildering boss. And then there's the chief engineer, Ched, who gave me the impression that he's a zombie, thought that's never said outright. I just assume as much given his appearance--and odor.
The book definitely feels like the introduction to a series, and I often enjoy the setup of a wayward antihero joining forces with a band of misfits. The book offered enough excitement and enough characterization to pull me in, but made it plain that the real chills and spills will come later in the series, as evidenced by a band of outlaws who cross paths with the train and its crew. I was effectively charmed by what Tonia has got here and I am certainly going to need to make room on my reading pile for the second volume of Railroad.
This novella is the opening salvo in what promises to be an especially weird western. Rodger Dodger introduces us to the title character as he answers an open call for a security officer on board a train called the Sleipnir. For a gunslinger on the run from his past, a job on a train might sound downright cozy, but when he meets its eccentric owner--and inventor--Professor Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer, and discovers the train navigates across the wild west without using conventional railroads, Dodger wonders if he's bitten off more than he can chew.
Dodger on his own didn't strike me as all that compelling a character, but that's mainly because there's so little about him that's revealed in the first half of the book. He's a quiet, no-nonsense sort with a bit of charm and a lot of history in his wake that revisits him later in the book, but there wasn't quite enough to make him stand out as the star of the story. The absence of a hook there is compensated with a trio of strange and comical characters aboard the Sleipnir. There's the professor who seems a tad out of touch with polite society, having spent much of his time in recent years aboard his train, and seemingly evading unsavory characters. There's his robotic butler-of-sorts, Mr. Torque, a clockwork servant with a dry wit and resigned tolerance for his bewildering boss. And then there's the chief engineer, Ched, who gave me the impression that he's a zombie, thought that's never said outright. I just assume as much given his appearance--and odor.
The book definitely feels like the introduction to a series, and I often enjoy the setup of a wayward antihero joining forces with a band of misfits. The book offered enough excitement and enough characterization to pull me in, but made it plain that the real chills and spills will come later in the series, as evidenced by a band of outlaws who cross paths with the train and its crew. I was effectively charmed by what Tonia has got here and I am certainly going to need to make room on my reading pile for the second volume of Railroad.
November 3, 2011
Railroad Volume One: Rodger Dodger is one of my first forays into the world of steampunk and if this is what steampunk is all about I LOVE IT! The characters created by Tonia Brown are fantastical and vivid...highly entertaining. Rodger Dodger is exactly the type of person you think of when you read his name, but maybe with a slight more compassionate quality then his name might suggest. Professor Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer, well, just his name is loveable, but he's that quirky professor you wish you had in college, but never was lucky enough to end up in his class. Highly intelligent, kind and considerate to a fault, but with that eccentric quality that makes him just plain likeable. Ched, the engineer is right up my alley, too for reasons that you will have to read to determine. Rodger, Dittmeyer and Ched are not the only characters in Railroad Volume One: Rodger Dodger, there are other lifeforms in this tale of the odd and amusing, but the Sleipnir could be viewed upon as a character. She is a magnificant wonder of the modern world and is able to run without tracks to wherever location the Professor deems worthy of an adventure.
Set in the Old West, Railroad Volume One: Rodger Dodger has that feel of ever present danger of a gunfight just about to happen as a tumbling tumbleweed rolls past. The combination of the Old West with it's saloons, steam trains, Colt revolvers and the out of this world abilities of the Sleipnir and her crew make this a highly imaginative and entertaining read. Seriously, I could not put it down and I CANNOT WAIT for Volume Two...did you hear that, Mrs. Brown? ;)
Obviously, I definitely recommend Railroad Volume One: Rodger Dodger to purchase and read multiple times.
Set in the Old West, Railroad Volume One: Rodger Dodger has that feel of ever present danger of a gunfight just about to happen as a tumbling tumbleweed rolls past. The combination of the Old West with it's saloons, steam trains, Colt revolvers and the out of this world abilities of the Sleipnir and her crew make this a highly imaginative and entertaining read. Seriously, I could not put it down and I CANNOT WAIT for Volume Two...did you hear that, Mrs. Brown? ;)
Obviously, I definitely recommend Railroad Volume One: Rodger Dodger to purchase and read multiple times.
December 22, 2012
I was rather disappointed in this book, but it was a freebie from Amazon at some point, so who can complain.
This is a steampunk novel, which for the uninitiated means science fiction with a sort of victorian flavor. I would think I would be a fan, of this kind of book. But I didn't enjoy it much.
There isn't a story here, really just a back story that introduces the next installment about a train that doesn't need a track because it lays its own track in a tank tread fashion. (from my understanding)
Unfortunately, I had to read through more than a quarter of the book before there was a bit of action. It was mostly the cowboy being amazed at the train and arguing with the professor about whether it could work or not. I just kept thinking, get on with the story already. Much of the book was committed to people being amazed at the train.
Maybe I don't get steam punk. I understand it's about the technology, but I just wanted more story. I nearly gave up but it did pick up about midway through. There was some conflict with outlaws chasing the train. My first thought was, "Just run them over. You're on a train that's faster and you're not limited to a track..." But that idea wasn't even glossed over.
But I see that I'm in the minority among reviewers. They seemed to think this was amazing too. So maybe I'm just not steampunk material.
This is a steampunk novel, which for the uninitiated means science fiction with a sort of victorian flavor. I would think I would be a fan, of this kind of book. But I didn't enjoy it much.
There isn't a story here, really just a back story that introduces the next installment about a train that doesn't need a track because it lays its own track in a tank tread fashion. (from my understanding)
Unfortunately, I had to read through more than a quarter of the book before there was a bit of action. It was mostly the cowboy being amazed at the train and arguing with the professor about whether it could work or not. I just kept thinking, get on with the story already. Much of the book was committed to people being amazed at the train.
Maybe I don't get steam punk. I understand it's about the technology, but I just wanted more story. I nearly gave up but it did pick up about midway through. There was some conflict with outlaws chasing the train. My first thought was, "Just run them over. You're on a train that's faster and you're not limited to a track..." But that idea wasn't even glossed over.
But I see that I'm in the minority among reviewers. They seemed to think this was amazing too. So maybe I'm just not steampunk material.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2013
Dodger answers an ad to work as security on a railroad line. Thinking it will be no be deal he shows up for his interview to see a train like nothing he has ever seen before. After some crazy occurrences he walks away thinking to never step foot on that train again. But somethings are harder to let go of, such as an amazing pair of guns that come with a strange side effect and a desire to know more.
I really liked this book, I love steampunk and I'm used to it always being part of the Victorian Era and it was nice to see it take place in a western setting. I have a soft spot for gunslingers, and Dodger is one of my favorites. He has a past and I'm am very interested as to all the details of it. The crew on the line is extremely weird, I liked the Doc a lot and he is exactly what I would expect from someone that made the train. I want to know more about all of them, and can say that my only complaint is that the book was to short. Though it did end at the perfect spot.
I also like how the way the train works was explained. The best part in my opinion was when they met up with the bandits, there are some funny lines in there. I'm hoping more will be explained about them in the next book. I want to know exactly what they are and how they came to be.
Would I recommend it? Yup, I'm going to start looking into the next book to come.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
I really liked this book, I love steampunk and I'm used to it always being part of the Victorian Era and it was nice to see it take place in a western setting. I have a soft spot for gunslingers, and Dodger is one of my favorites. He has a past and I'm am very interested as to all the details of it. The crew on the line is extremely weird, I liked the Doc a lot and he is exactly what I would expect from someone that made the train. I want to know more about all of them, and can say that my only complaint is that the book was to short. Though it did end at the perfect spot.
I also like how the way the train works was explained. The best part in my opinion was when they met up with the bandits, there are some funny lines in there. I'm hoping more will be explained about them in the next book. I want to know exactly what they are and how they came to be.
Would I recommend it? Yup, I'm going to start looking into the next book to come.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
March 27, 2015
This is a nice, light entertainment, the first volume in a serial novel. I think it has some characteristics of the old-fashioned Western serial movies. It's set in the Old West, but one that has more in common with "The Wild, Wild West" than with "Tombstone".
I was interested in this book because it has a train in it, albeit a very unusual train, one that doesn't need conventional tracks. It has a bit of the paranormal, with a ghost, dog-men, a possible zombie(?). It has a wacky genius professor, a clockwork butler, and a Hero With A Past. A Heroine shows up near the end of this volume too.
This isn't the sort of thing I usually spend much time on, so I don't plan to pick up the other volumes, but I don't regret listening to this.
The narrator is earnest and tries really hard. His pronunciation of Sleipnir slides around a little, and there are a few infelicities in his pacing, but I'll give him A for effort.
I got this audiobook for free in return for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. If you like this sort of Crazy West steampunk-y story, you'll like this book.
I was interested in this book because it has a train in it, albeit a very unusual train, one that doesn't need conventional tracks. It has a bit of the paranormal, with a ghost, dog-men, a possible zombie(?). It has a wacky genius professor, a clockwork butler, and a Hero With A Past. A Heroine shows up near the end of this volume too.
This isn't the sort of thing I usually spend much time on, so I don't plan to pick up the other volumes, but I don't regret listening to this.
The narrator is earnest and tries really hard. His pronunciation of Sleipnir slides around a little, and there are a few infelicities in his pacing, but I'll give him A for effort.
I got this audiobook for free in return for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. If you like this sort of Crazy West steampunk-y story, you'll like this book.
March 30, 2015
I have never read a Steampunk book, but I'm familiar with the concept. Frankly, the problems I had with this story had nothing to do with the Steampunk aspect, but with the pacing of the book. The first third of the book only briefly introduces the characters and describes - in detail - the Sleipnir. While the train and all the other tech sounds really neat, there was just too much attention paid to describe it. Thus, the characters didn't get interesting until the bandits attack. By then, I was bored and struggled to finish the story.
I listened to the audio version and JoBe Cerny and did an excellent job. He had the right attitude and pacing to keep the story lively when the written work stopped holding up its end of the bargain. His characters were distinct and showed more character than was written. Example, Ched sounded as disgusting as the text described him. Julia Farmer also did a great job and deserves some recognition for her small role.
Too much detail in the technology.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
I listened to the audio version and JoBe Cerny and did an excellent job. He had the right attitude and pacing to keep the story lively when the written work stopped holding up its end of the bargain. His characters were distinct and showed more character than was written. Example, Ched sounded as disgusting as the text described him. Julia Farmer also did a great job and deserves some recognition for her small role.
Too much detail in the technology.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
March 14, 2015
I love this series! Even more so after listening to this in audiobook format. JoBe Cerny and Julia Farmer bring these unique characters to life on a whole new level.
A little bit western, a miniscule touch of horror and adventure wrapped up with steampunk machines and gadgetry along side quirky characters. Everything else, I've already said in my review of the eBook -
Rodger Dodger aka Mr. Carpenter is that rough, tough, don't mess with me kinda guy with a heart of a pussycat. Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer (I dare you to say that name out loud without snickering) is the perfect absent minded steampunk professor. Then there is Ched - hmmmm that man(?) is ***different*** and the beautiful but determined Lelanea Dittmeyer (niece of Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer). The cast is perfection. I loved each character. Add the story plus the details and you have a rip roaring fun ride!
A little bit western, a miniscule touch of horror and adventure wrapped up with steampunk machines and gadgetry along side quirky characters. Everything else, I've already said in my review of the eBook -
Rodger Dodger aka Mr. Carpenter is that rough, tough, don't mess with me kinda guy with a heart of a pussycat. Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer (I dare you to say that name out loud without snickering) is the perfect absent minded steampunk professor. Then there is Ched - hmmmm that man(?) is ***different*** and the beautiful but determined Lelanea Dittmeyer (niece of Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer). The cast is perfection. I loved each character. Add the story plus the details and you have a rip roaring fun ride!
December 16, 2012
I think my goal for next year is going to be to read more Steampunk, because I really do enjoy it. Picked this up when it was free on Amazon and decided to give it a read this past week. It was really good. I loved the world building and interesting devices.
Even though this very much feels like the beginning of a bigger story, it is plenty of story on it's own. The characters are interesting and there is enough going on and resolved in this to make it a stand alone piece.
The only complaint I had was at times the descriptions of how devices worked went on too long for me. I have a very accepting mind, if you tell me what the goggles do, I don't need to know the specifics of how they do it. Not sure if this is a Steampunk thing or this author.
Overall, great read!
Even though this very much feels like the beginning of a bigger story, it is plenty of story on it's own. The characters are interesting and there is enough going on and resolved in this to make it a stand alone piece.
The only complaint I had was at times the descriptions of how devices worked went on too long for me. I have a very accepting mind, if you tell me what the goggles do, I don't need to know the specifics of how they do it. Not sure if this is a Steampunk thing or this author.
Overall, great read!
March 30, 2015
Is there anything you would change about this book?
While enjoyable, just like a regular train on the tracks I was able to see where the story was heading but also like the Sleipnir not everything is as it seems at first glance. The Chapter titles give away more then I like.
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
Interesting? If they got off "light" on the first day, what's a regular day like.... or for that matter a unusual one? Why do things seem to be attracted to the professor? Whats up with the driver? What was for lunch???? So many unanswered questions!
Did JoBe Cerny do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
Characters were clear and unique. Very well done.
While enjoyable, just like a regular train on the tracks I was able to see where the story was heading but also like the Sleipnir not everything is as it seems at first glance. The Chapter titles give away more then I like.
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
Interesting? If they got off "light" on the first day, what's a regular day like.... or for that matter a unusual one? Why do things seem to be attracted to the professor? Whats up with the driver? What was for lunch???? So many unanswered questions!
Did JoBe Cerny do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
Characters were clear and unique. Very well done.
November 5, 2011
Rodger Dodger aka Mr. Carpenter is that rough, tough, don't mess with me kinda guy with a heart of a pussycat. Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer (I dare you to say that name out loud without snickering) is the perfect absent minded steampunk professor. Then there is Ched - hmmmm that man(?) is ***different*** and the beautiful but determined Lelanea Dittmeyer (niece of Hieronymus J. Dittmeyer). The cast is perfection. I loved each character. Add the story plus the details and you have a rip roaring fun ride! I purchased the ebook via Smashwords.com which offers this in a variety of formats.
May 25, 2015
This book was fast moving yet some of the conversations were WAY too long and repetitive.I'm not sure if this is a YA book,but it would really be appreciated by that crowd.
Dodger is applying for a job.It turns out to be a very non traditional job,but does he really want it and all the 'stuff' that goes along with it.We get to meet some interesting characters and encounter some cool gadgetry.
JoBe Cerny was a fine narrator for this book as was Julia Fammer.They gave life to each character.
was gifted a copy through Audioblast for an honest review.
Dodger is applying for a job.It turns out to be a very non traditional job,but does he really want it and all the 'stuff' that goes along with it.We get to meet some interesting characters and encounter some cool gadgetry.
JoBe Cerny was a fine narrator for this book as was Julia Fammer.They gave life to each character.
was gifted a copy through Audioblast for an honest review.
January 5, 2012
I'd never read a steampunk story, so I had no idea what to expect from this novel. I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised.
The characters were likable and believable, there was plenty of action, intrigue and lots of cool steampunk tech on offer. Tonia's writing is excellent, and the story tore along at a good pace without any significant spelling or grammar errors to pull you out of the tale.
Can't wait to read the next installment.
The characters were likable and believable, there was plenty of action, intrigue and lots of cool steampunk tech on offer. Tonia's writing is excellent, and the story tore along at a good pace without any significant spelling or grammar errors to pull you out of the tale.
Can't wait to read the next installment.
February 6, 2012
Western Steampnk is a favorite genre/artistic movement/style of mine, and any time I hear about something in this vein, I make it a point to check it out, and with Railroad! I've become a fan of Tonia Brown. Railroad is everything you could want in a steampunk western. The characters are well fleshed out, as is the gadgetry and atmosphere. Tonia has a wonderful sense of imagination. I've already downloaded the next two volumes and can't wait to read them!
July 22, 2012
This is actually my first steam punk book I have read so I don't know how well it holds up to others in the genre. I absolutely love this book. It is like reading some sat serial from the 30's. It has cool gadgets and genetically altered dog people. It is an action thrill ride and I look forward to reading the next in the series
March 11, 2013
A rollickingly fun steampunk western! This short story serves as a great introduction to the cast of colourful characters that make up this web-serial, complete with sharp-shooters, spunky heroines, mad professors, automatons, ghosts, undead conductors &, of course, fantastic inventions. 4 stars!
April 13, 2012
Just a fun, serialized read. It takes more of an innocent approach to steam punk, without all the Wizz! Bang! Gadzooks! on the front end. I like how it weird-wests a good story of man vs man and man vs himself.
November 9, 2012
I really loved this book. Rodger Dodger is great along with the train and the other characters. Can't wait to read more.
November 9, 2013
Steampunk in the old west, a fun tale - have to read another volume to see where it does - but a train that lays its own tracks is a novel idea (for the old west)
August 6, 2016
This is a very fun read. The main character is interesting and complex. The story is lively. I found myself very engrossed. Can't wait the read more.
May 18, 2020
Take a trip back in time like no other
Lots of fun parts, old West feel with a twist. Love that the man reads. ghosts, dog men and a devil woman? Dodger better get on this train, and you need to ready this tale of the unusual calls to you.
Lots of fun parts, old West feel with a twist. Love that the man reads. ghosts, dog men and a devil woman? Dodger better get on this train, and you need to ready this tale of the unusual calls to you.
November 2, 2018
Very good series. A definite must have if you love steampunk!
July 5, 2021
So the problem I have with steampunk fiction is this: far, far too often, a great concept is let down by poor execution. Unfortunately, this book is an example.
I was hopeful when I noticed that an editor was named on the title page, but there are significant editing issues. Having been an editor in the past, I know that when a manuscript is bad, it's hard to catch all the errors, but I would have expected "apposed" and "axels" to be picked up by a spellcheck. I would also have hoped that an editor would have caught the fact that the main character's name (which is also the title of the book) is spelled incorrectly four times.
Then there's "condensate" instead of "condense", "aiming there weapons" instead of "their", "many a folk", "a might bit" instead of "a mite bit", "I suppose its part my fault" (should be "it's") and "he switched the guns places" (should be "guns'"). There are several incompletely revised sentences, too, that change grammatical direction partway through.
That's all at the basic level of copy editing. At the next level of editing, I would expect the editor to pick up that the author is using "locomotive" to mean the whole train (it just means the part that pulls the rest of the train), and may be doing something similar with "bogie" and possibly "holster".
An editor with a good general knowledge might also point out that the supposedly English Professor has a very American-sounding name, uses the phrase "I guess" instead of "I suppose", and in fact has nothing about him that is remotely English.
She might think to check for anachronisms, too. Now, I expect some technological anachronisms in steampunk, since that's more or less the basis of the genre, but sociological anachronisms annoy me. The main character was in the American Civil War, and someone he knew in that war says it's been five or six years since he saw him, which places this story not much later than 1870.
Yet the text refers to both "steroids" and "hallucinogens". A few seconds searching the Google Books Ngram Viewer, which goes through a large number of English books looking for words you specify and shows when they started to be used, tells me that "steroids" was first used around 1935, and "hallucinogens" around 1955. Now, this may be deliberate anachronism for purposes of worldbuilding, but the main character is also described as reading the novel Ulysses. Presumably this is Joyce's novel, which was published in the 1920s. [Apparently not; the author has clarified that she meant The Odyssey, so it's not an anachronism, just an inaccuracy.]
Now, it's not all bad. The train is cool. The nine-shooters are kind of cool. There's a nice piece of description of the absent-minded professor as 'the kind of man who remained so unaware of his surroundings that he could be ambushed by a ten-piece brass band playing “Nearer My God to Thee.”' But it's too little, for me, to make up for all the issues. Besides which, I usually say of novellas that they're too short and I wanted more. This novella, I felt, dragged. Not much happens in it, and it could probably have been told a lot more crisply. It's less a novella than the slow-moving, overwritten first third of a novel - a novel that, in the hands of the right editor, might have had some potential.
The ebook is based on a website, and has "return to top" links at the end of each chapter. I'm not sure what the point of these is (they take you back to the table of contents), since it's a linear story and nobody would read it out of order. The title page mentions an illustrator as well as an editor, but the ebook doesn't have illustrations, so the illustrator's contribution is as notable by its absence as the editor's.
Overall, this is another piece of steampunk fiction that could have been good if it had been better executed. I'm growing a little disillusioned with how many of those there are.
I was hopeful when I noticed that an editor was named on the title page, but there are significant editing issues. Having been an editor in the past, I know that when a manuscript is bad, it's hard to catch all the errors, but I would have expected "apposed" and "axels" to be picked up by a spellcheck. I would also have hoped that an editor would have caught the fact that the main character's name (which is also the title of the book) is spelled incorrectly four times.
Then there's "condensate" instead of "condense", "aiming there weapons" instead of "their", "many a folk", "a might bit" instead of "a mite bit", "I suppose its part my fault" (should be "it's") and "he switched the guns places" (should be "guns'"). There are several incompletely revised sentences, too, that change grammatical direction partway through.
That's all at the basic level of copy editing. At the next level of editing, I would expect the editor to pick up that the author is using "locomotive" to mean the whole train (it just means the part that pulls the rest of the train), and may be doing something similar with "bogie" and possibly "holster".
An editor with a good general knowledge might also point out that the supposedly English Professor has a very American-sounding name, uses the phrase "I guess" instead of "I suppose", and in fact has nothing about him that is remotely English.
She might think to check for anachronisms, too. Now, I expect some technological anachronisms in steampunk, since that's more or less the basis of the genre, but sociological anachronisms annoy me. The main character was in the American Civil War, and someone he knew in that war says it's been five or six years since he saw him, which places this story not much later than 1870.
Yet the text refers to both "steroids" and "hallucinogens". A few seconds searching the Google Books Ngram Viewer, which goes through a large number of English books looking for words you specify and shows when they started to be used, tells me that "steroids" was first used around 1935, and "hallucinogens" around 1955. Now, this may be deliberate anachronism for purposes of worldbuilding, but the main character is also described as reading the novel Ulysses. Presumably this is Joyce's novel, which was published in the 1920s. [Apparently not; the author has clarified that she meant The Odyssey, so it's not an anachronism, just an inaccuracy.]
Now, it's not all bad. The train is cool. The nine-shooters are kind of cool. There's a nice piece of description of the absent-minded professor as 'the kind of man who remained so unaware of his surroundings that he could be ambushed by a ten-piece brass band playing “Nearer My God to Thee.”' But it's too little, for me, to make up for all the issues. Besides which, I usually say of novellas that they're too short and I wanted more. This novella, I felt, dragged. Not much happens in it, and it could probably have been told a lot more crisply. It's less a novella than the slow-moving, overwritten first third of a novel - a novel that, in the hands of the right editor, might have had some potential.
The ebook is based on a website, and has "return to top" links at the end of each chapter. I'm not sure what the point of these is (they take you back to the table of contents), since it's a linear story and nobody would read it out of order. The title page mentions an illustrator as well as an editor, but the ebook doesn't have illustrations, so the illustrator's contribution is as notable by its absence as the editor's.
Overall, this is another piece of steampunk fiction that could have been good if it had been better executed. I'm growing a little disillusioned with how many of those there are.
June 1, 2015
Railroad! Vol. 1 Rodger Dodger by Tonia Brown Rodger Dodger is a man with a past, a past he rather not have to explain. Hieronymous Dittmeyer is the creator of the fabulous train Sleipnir. It puts down tracts of it’s own, letting them travel wherever they wish. Dittmeyer recently lost his Security Specialist and he’s looking to hire a replacement. Dodger (aka Carpenter) was the only one foolish enough to answer the ad.
This book starts off a little slow, being a bit of an info dump on the fancy train and her occupants. Still, there was enough steampunk awesomeness there to keep me interested and I am very glad I continued on with this book. the story gets good, really good. I do believe I am now hooked on the series, which is awesome since there is something like a dozen of these books.
Professor Dittmeyer is something of a brilliant ditz, being one of those brainiac types that can get lost in the details of whatever he is focused on. He has a mechanical assistant he created that brings drinks and snacks when asked. Then there is the chief engineer and driver Ched. Now you might say Ched was a zombie, but only if you wanted to be subjected to his dry, cutting humor. He was one of my favorite characters, often being the one to cut to the heart of something.
There was really only 1 female character and we see her way at the end of the book. When she finally arrives on scene, the first thing we learn about her are her looks. Basically, she is a sexual object from the beginning. There are glimpses that she is more, but then back to her sexy looks. We had very little of her but I still hope the author chooses to do more with her and perhaps balance the gender ratio in future installments; tossing in a token estrogen is not enough.
The ending is set up perfectly for the next adventure and I am definitely looking forward to that. There are bigger story arcs to explore, and it appears each character has a few secrets that need uncovering.
The Narration: JoBe Cerny did a very good job. He was a great choice for the voice of Dodger, giving his character that gruff wild west wanderer voice. Also, I loved his voice for the undead Ched and the mechanical manservant.
This book starts off a little slow, being a bit of an info dump on the fancy train and her occupants. Still, there was enough steampunk awesomeness there to keep me interested and I am very glad I continued on with this book. the story gets good, really good. I do believe I am now hooked on the series, which is awesome since there is something like a dozen of these books.
Professor Dittmeyer is something of a brilliant ditz, being one of those brainiac types that can get lost in the details of whatever he is focused on. He has a mechanical assistant he created that brings drinks and snacks when asked. Then there is the chief engineer and driver Ched. Now you might say Ched was a zombie, but only if you wanted to be subjected to his dry, cutting humor. He was one of my favorite characters, often being the one to cut to the heart of something.
There was really only 1 female character and we see her way at the end of the book. When she finally arrives on scene, the first thing we learn about her are her looks. Basically, she is a sexual object from the beginning. There are glimpses that she is more, but then back to her sexy looks. We had very little of her but I still hope the author chooses to do more with her and perhaps balance the gender ratio in future installments; tossing in a token estrogen is not enough.
The ending is set up perfectly for the next adventure and I am definitely looking forward to that. There are bigger story arcs to explore, and it appears each character has a few secrets that need uncovering.
The Narration: JoBe Cerny did a very good job. He was a great choice for the voice of Dodger, giving his character that gruff wild west wanderer voice. Also, I loved his voice for the undead Ched and the mechanical manservant.
June 1, 2015
Rodger Dodger is a man with a past, a past he rather not have to explain. Hieronymous Dittmeyer is the creator of the fabulous train Sleipnir. It puts down tracts of it’s own, letting them travel wherever they wish. Dittmeyer recently lost his Security Specialist and he’s looking to hire a replacement. Dodger (aka Carpenter) was the only one foolish enough to answer the ad.
This book starts off a little slow, being a bit of an info dump on the fancy train and her occupants. Still, there was enough steampunk awesomeness there to keep me interested and I am very glad I continued on with this book. the story gets good, really good. I do believe I am now hooked on the series, which is awesome since there is something like a dozen of these books.
Professor Dittmeyer is something of a brilliant ditz, being one of those brainiac types that can get lost in the details of whatever he is focused on. He has a mechanical assistant he created that brings drinks and snacks when asked. Then there is the chief engineer and driver Ched. Now you might say Ched was a zombie, but only if you wanted to be subjected to his dry, cutting humor. He was one of my favorite characters, often being the one to cut to the heart of something.
There was really only 1 female character and we see her way at the end of the book. When she finally arrives on scene, the first thing we learn about her are her looks. Basically, she is a sexual object from the beginning. There are glimpses that she is more, but then back to her sexy looks. We had very little of her but I still hope the author chooses to do more with her and perhaps balance the gender ratio in future installments; tossing in a token estrogen is not enough.
The ending is set up perfectly for the next adventure and I am definitely looking forward to that. There are bigger story arcs to explore, and it appears each character has a few secrets that need uncovering.
The Narration: JoBe Cerny did a very good job. He was a great choice for the voice of Dodger, giving his character that gruff wild west wanderer voice. Also, I loved his voice for the undead Ched and the mechanical manservant.
This book starts off a little slow, being a bit of an info dump on the fancy train and her occupants. Still, there was enough steampunk awesomeness there to keep me interested and I am very glad I continued on with this book. the story gets good, really good. I do believe I am now hooked on the series, which is awesome since there is something like a dozen of these books.
Professor Dittmeyer is something of a brilliant ditz, being one of those brainiac types that can get lost in the details of whatever he is focused on. He has a mechanical assistant he created that brings drinks and snacks when asked. Then there is the chief engineer and driver Ched. Now you might say Ched was a zombie, but only if you wanted to be subjected to his dry, cutting humor. He was one of my favorite characters, often being the one to cut to the heart of something.
There was really only 1 female character and we see her way at the end of the book. When she finally arrives on scene, the first thing we learn about her are her looks. Basically, she is a sexual object from the beginning. There are glimpses that she is more, but then back to her sexy looks. We had very little of her but I still hope the author chooses to do more with her and perhaps balance the gender ratio in future installments; tossing in a token estrogen is not enough.
The ending is set up perfectly for the next adventure and I am definitely looking forward to that. There are bigger story arcs to explore, and it appears each character has a few secrets that need uncovering.
The Narration: JoBe Cerny did a very good job. He was a great choice for the voice of Dodger, giving his character that gruff wild west wanderer voice. Also, I loved his voice for the undead Ched and the mechanical manservant.
June 12, 2019
Looks like a good series
This first installment looks like the series is going to be pretty good. It's paced well, the writing is good, and the characters are well developed if a trifle cliche. The action moves along without feeling rushed. Conversation is believable.
I did find one flaw in the techspeke that made me cringe - the "four stroke" steam engine. Obviously throwaway tech that the author thought sounded good, and didn't check if it was logica!. Steam engines can't be "four stroke" or "four cycle" (they mean the same thing). Steam cylinders are, by nature, either single acting (two stroke cycle) or double acting (one stoke cycle). And no, I don't have that backwards -- Google it. Anyway, that one flaw only detracted for a moment, and most readers won't catch it. So, I didn't deduct a star for it.
I will probably continue reading this series, assuming the books remain reasonably priced.
-- Matt
This first installment looks like the series is going to be pretty good. It's paced well, the writing is good, and the characters are well developed if a trifle cliche. The action moves along without feeling rushed. Conversation is believable.
I did find one flaw in the techspeke that made me cringe - the "four stroke" steam engine. Obviously throwaway tech that the author thought sounded good, and didn't check if it was logica!. Steam engines can't be "four stroke" or "four cycle" (they mean the same thing). Steam cylinders are, by nature, either single acting (two stroke cycle) or double acting (one stoke cycle). And no, I don't have that backwards -- Google it. Anyway, that one flaw only detracted for a moment, and most readers won't catch it. So, I didn't deduct a star for it.
I will probably continue reading this series, assuming the books remain reasonably priced.
-- Matt
October 21, 2013
If you are offended by my rating a book that I did not finish, please stop reading now. In truth, this book had a lot of promise, but Reading it felt more like a chore than entertainment. Ched's "dialect" required constant translation in my head to figure out what he was saying, and it was taking me out of the story. I also found the way things were being described to be pedantic and damaging to the flow. By chapter four or so, I just wanted to get on with the damn story already...not be told yet again that there were no tracks for the train. If you have more patience for a slow mover, it seemed to get good reviews here on Goodreads overall.
January 8, 2024
Stopped half way through. Very shallow characters and story. I didn't find this book interesting. Guess I'm not a fan of steampunk.
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