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The Constantine Affliction
1864. London is a city in transition. The Constantine Affliction–a strange malady that kills some of its victims and physically transforms others into the opposite sex–has spread scandal and upheaval throughout society. Scientific marvels and disasters, such as clockwork courtesans, the alchemical fires of Whitechapel, electric carriages, and acidic monsters lurking in the Thames, have forever altered the face of the city.
Pembroke “Pimm” Halliday is an aristocrat with an interest in criminology, who uses his keen powers of observation to assist the police or private individuals–at least when he’s sober enough to do so. Ellie Skyler, who hides her gender behind the byline “E. Skye,” is an intrepid journalist driven by both passion and necessity to uncover the truth, no matter where it hides.
When Pimm and Skye stumble onto a dark plot that links the city’s most notorious criminal overlord with the Queen’s new consort, famed scientist Sir Bertram Oswald, they soon find the forces of both high and low society arrayed against them. Can they save the city from the arcane machinations of one of history’s most infamous monsters–and uncover the shocking origin of . . .
THE CONSTANTINE AFFLICTION
Pembroke “Pimm” Halliday is an aristocrat with an interest in criminology, who uses his keen powers of observation to assist the police or private individuals–at least when he’s sober enough to do so. Ellie Skyler, who hides her gender behind the byline “E. Skye,” is an intrepid journalist driven by both passion and necessity to uncover the truth, no matter where it hides.
When Pimm and Skye stumble onto a dark plot that links the city’s most notorious criminal overlord with the Queen’s new consort, famed scientist Sir Bertram Oswald, they soon find the forces of both high and low society arrayed against them. Can they save the city from the arcane machinations of one of history’s most infamous monsters–and uncover the shocking origin of . . .
THE CONSTANTINE AFFLICTION
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2012
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1427 people want to read
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December 23, 2012
“Why privilege the natural? We can do so much better than that.”
It’s 1864 and London is a city of transformation and change, where scientific marvels coexist with disasters and maladies. The Constantine Affliction is one of the latter, a mysterious “disease” that physically transforms its surviving victims into the opposite gender effectively altering the very fabric of society and its gender-related expectations forever.
Nobody knows how it all started but an intrepid duo of protagonists—Pimm, a drunken aristocrat with an interest in criminology and Skyler, a journalist who hides her gender behind a male byline—is about to find out the shocking origins of the disease as they stumble on a dastardly plot that threatens the Kingdom.
I have the slight suspicion that I might be about to damn T. Aaron Payton’s The Constantine Affliction with faint praise. An enjoyable book, The Constantine Affliction is a breezy read that relies heavily on the utterly familiar yet fun trope of the Gentleman Detective and the Intrepid Lady Journalist Who Fall in Love While Saving the Day. There is nothing new in the portrayal of either the Detective or the Lady—in fact, their romantic relationship is underdeveloped and unsurprising—but still, a fun trope is a fun trope is a fun trope.
This is a very superficial reading of The Constantine Affliction, which does in fact have a lot more to offer than its main investigative storyline and tepid romance and that is largely due to its thought-provoking thematic core stemming from the eponymous disease. The story uses this disease and its consequences to examine gender roles to great effect. For example, men who have been transformed into women realize that—surprise!—their mental faculties have remained intact. And women who have been transformed into men all of a sudden have all sorts of opportunities open to them.
Although the story contemplates and criticizes gender roles very successfully, I think it completely fails to address other sides of the issue especially that of gender identity. What does it mean exactly to be transformed into a person of the opposite gender when you remain the same? Surely gender role is only but one aspect of such transformation. So, although I appreciated the way the book addresses the issue of gender roles and of societal expectations, I also thought that any other equally important aspects of this transformation were left out entirely. I am also rather conflicted about the idea behind the story itself: Does it not say that men can only understand sexism if they experience it?
Furthermore, despite its strong female lead and the general message of the obvious stupidity of constricting women to certain roles, I do have to question the general depiction of female characters and what such portrayal means within the context of the novel. The murder victims in the story are still all female, the Constantine Affliction is sexually transmitted by prostitutes (because “men are still men,” don’t you know?), and the main male character is plagued by the memory of a Dead Lover.
Although, admittedly, there is fun to be had with The Constantine Affliction and the basic tenets of the novel are thought-provoking, I can’t help but feel disappointed when I think of all it could have been.
In Book Smugglerish, an underwhelmed 5 out of 10.
It’s 1864 and London is a city of transformation and change, where scientific marvels coexist with disasters and maladies. The Constantine Affliction is one of the latter, a mysterious “disease” that physically transforms its surviving victims into the opposite gender effectively altering the very fabric of society and its gender-related expectations forever.
Nobody knows how it all started but an intrepid duo of protagonists—Pimm, a drunken aristocrat with an interest in criminology and Skyler, a journalist who hides her gender behind a male byline—is about to find out the shocking origins of the disease as they stumble on a dastardly plot that threatens the Kingdom.
I have the slight suspicion that I might be about to damn T. Aaron Payton’s The Constantine Affliction with faint praise. An enjoyable book, The Constantine Affliction is a breezy read that relies heavily on the utterly familiar yet fun trope of the Gentleman Detective and the Intrepid Lady Journalist Who Fall in Love While Saving the Day. There is nothing new in the portrayal of either the Detective or the Lady—in fact, their romantic relationship is underdeveloped and unsurprising—but still, a fun trope is a fun trope is a fun trope.
This is a very superficial reading of The Constantine Affliction, which does in fact have a lot more to offer than its main investigative storyline and tepid romance and that is largely due to its thought-provoking thematic core stemming from the eponymous disease. The story uses this disease and its consequences to examine gender roles to great effect. For example, men who have been transformed into women realize that—surprise!—their mental faculties have remained intact. And women who have been transformed into men all of a sudden have all sorts of opportunities open to them.
Although the story contemplates and criticizes gender roles very successfully, I think it completely fails to address other sides of the issue especially that of gender identity. What does it mean exactly to be transformed into a person of the opposite gender when you remain the same? Surely gender role is only but one aspect of such transformation. So, although I appreciated the way the book addresses the issue of gender roles and of societal expectations, I also thought that any other equally important aspects of this transformation were left out entirely. I am also rather conflicted about the idea behind the story itself: Does it not say that men can only understand sexism if they experience it?
Furthermore, despite its strong female lead and the general message of the obvious stupidity of constricting women to certain roles, I do have to question the general depiction of female characters and what such portrayal means within the context of the novel. The murder victims in the story are still all female, the Constantine Affliction is sexually transmitted by prostitutes (because “men are still men,” don’t you know?), and the main male character is plagued by the memory of a Dead Lover.
Although, admittedly, there is fun to be had with The Constantine Affliction and the basic tenets of the novel are thought-provoking, I can’t help but feel disappointed when I think of all it could have been.
In Book Smugglerish, an underwhelmed 5 out of 10.
July 2, 2018
Book Club Buddie D. and I strapped in for another adventure laden steampunk extravaganza with The Constantine Affliction. Author Tim Pratt thought up a highly imaginative plot where this mysterious illness (see title) transforms men into women and women into men. What I found encouraging was that the change of sex did not change the sexual orientation because that would have been intolerable.
All the great Steampunk ingredients are there: the city of London in all its grimy Victorian splendor, a highly genius madman, fearless heroines, giant moustaches, necromancy, alien monsters, street urchins, clockwork prostitutes, a dash of romance, a string of gruesome murders, oodles of magnificent inventions… but oddly enough no dirigible was spotted in the night sky (boo!). Oh, and there was some levity as well, don’t worry.
As you can imagine, the affliction created some interesting dilemmas for Victorian society. There is a very thin (straight) romance plot running through it all but the main focus is on the genius yet sinister machinations of a single man. The clock is ticking and it does not bode well for the people of London and beyond. Can our motley crew of heroes (an amateur sleuth with a penchant for the bottle, his wife who used to be his male best friend, a crossdressing female journalist and an ex- thug built like a barge) save us all from impending doom?
m/f
Themes: it’s alive!, Victor Victoria, if you build it they will come, automatons both fascinate and scare me, the fem bots came to mind but these galls didn’t shoot rockets from their boobs, the ultimate death of the villain was a tad anticlimactic though.
4.5 stars
All the great Steampunk ingredients are there: the city of London in all its grimy Victorian splendor, a highly genius madman, fearless heroines, giant moustaches, necromancy, alien monsters, street urchins, clockwork prostitutes, a dash of romance, a string of gruesome murders, oodles of magnificent inventions… but oddly enough no dirigible was spotted in the night sky (boo!). Oh, and there was some levity as well, don’t worry.
As you can imagine, the affliction created some interesting dilemmas for Victorian society. There is a very thin (straight) romance plot running through it all but the main focus is on the genius yet sinister machinations of a single man. The clock is ticking and it does not bode well for the people of London and beyond. Can our motley crew of heroes (an amateur sleuth with a penchant for the bottle, his wife who used to be his male best friend, a crossdressing female journalist and an ex- thug built like a barge) save us all from impending doom?
m/f
Themes: it’s alive!, Victor Victoria, if you build it they will come, automatons both fascinate and scare me, the fem bots came to mind but these galls didn’t shoot rockets from their boobs, the ultimate death of the villain was a tad anticlimactic though.
4.5 stars
August 9, 2012
If this is what T. Aaron Payton can offer, I can't wait to get my hands on more of his books! The Constantine Affliction is a witty, imaginative new offering that will please fans of steampunk and historical mysteries - it is well-written, has delightful characters and is altogether fun.
The Victorian London of The Constantine Affliction is not quite the one we're used to reading about; people are still coming to terms with the spread of a sexually-transmitted disease that changes the gender of its victims. Lord Pembroke Halliday, better known as Pimm, is forced to investigate the cause of a series of murders involving the human prostitutes managed by Abel Value, one of London's most notorious criminals, if he wants to protect his best friend Freddy (or currently his wife Winifred, actually, but more on that later) from scandal. Eleanor Skyler, a talented journalist writing under the byline "E. Skye," is a much more willing investigator who is intrigued by the truth behind a new chain of brothels featuring clockwork courtesans. Naturally, their respective investigations collide and they realize that there's quite a bit more happening in the seedy underbelly of London society than meets the eye.
Freddy/Winifred is a real hoot and one of the best things about this book, I must say. A sufferer of the Constantine Affliction due to his less-than-careful choices of bedside companions, he (or she) is now Lady Pembroke thanks to a marriage of convenience and finds new ways to support his best friend Pimm, such as hiding in a next-door room with guns at the ready when Pimm receives unsavoury guests. HA. The situations the two find themselves in are hilarious, but it's also quite sweet that Pimm went to such lengths to protect Freddy when his family would have rejected him after he contracted the disease. The inclusion of Freddy is also a very clever move by the author. Because readers have established a connection with Freddy, we see not only the humorous side of the affliction but also the potentially painful after-effects experienced by survivors - particularly upper-class men. What on earth do they do with their lives afterwards, when they are ridiculed by society and find themselves placed under the same restrictions as women were in the 19th Century? It certain puts a new spin on the dangers of infidelity, and it grounds a plot that might otherwise have been dismissed as pure frivolity.
Furthermore, it opens up all manners of possibilities for discussions on gender equality. I can't be the only reader who's just a little sick of books where authors use their characters to preach feminist viewpoints (or otherwise). The Constantine Affliction, on the other hand, is a really fascinating new way to approach the subject. Through the effect it had on secondary characters and other members of society in the story, we can see the contradictions - men and women being treated differently and judged differently, the confusion introduced by the affliction (should men or women who have changed genders be considered based on their genders at birth?) and the new possibilities it opens up for women changed into men. Pimm, Ellie and Freddy also engage in some very thoughtful conversations where this (and other related) topics are brought up, and I really appreciated that the author wasn't afraid to introduce intelligent debates that gave readers something to think about, even while the characters are having all sorts of fun with clockwork courtesans, murder mysteries and treasonous intrigue.
Pimm and Ellie are both perceptive, resourceful individuals and I liked them immensely, even if I didn't quite connect with them on an emotional level. Pimm has his vices, of course, and Ellie's bravery veered slightly into reckless territory that left her in a few close scrapes along the way, but they made a great combination. The author mentions in an afterword that he was influenced by other mystery-writing greats like Dorothy Sayers and this shows - Pimm reminds me of the best of the classic aristocrat detectives. For those who like a sprinkling of romance, we do get that here; it's actually adorable to find a male protagonist who appreciates his counterpart precisely because of her intelligence! But what about Freddy, you say? I confess I was a little worried, but everything is resolved admirably at the end, to the satisfaction of all involved.
There have been an unwelcome trend in the last year or so of supposedly "steampunk" books where machines and airships were thrown in and left as window dressing. Not so here, I'm glad to say! Machines and science in general is at the very heart of this story. What appears to be a simple serial murder mystery resulting from a gender-changing affliction is all rooted in science. T. Aaron Payton manages to capture both the confusion and excitement in an age where new technology is all the rage and is evidently a double-edged sword that may bring improvements but also a variety of problems.
If I had one complaint to make, it is the fact that the climax veered away from the scientific basis established throughout the story. Of course, there is new technology introduced along the way that may be entirely impossible even by modern standards, but it is convincingly written and doesn't require significant suspension of belief. I did draw the line when the villain introduced the supernatural at the end, however, and was frankly a little disappointed that after the logic of it all, we're presented with extraterrestrials. At least it produced a fun scene where Ellie and Freddy fended them off with Pimm's fencing swords?
That aside, T. Aaron Payton has produced a fantastic steampunk story that is thoroughly worth a read. The book has a tagline stating that it's a "Pimm and Skye Adventure," which makes me wonder whether there will be any more. It certainly reads perfectly well as a standalone novel, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there might be a sequel!
The Victorian London of The Constantine Affliction is not quite the one we're used to reading about; people are still coming to terms with the spread of a sexually-transmitted disease that changes the gender of its victims. Lord Pembroke Halliday, better known as Pimm, is forced to investigate the cause of a series of murders involving the human prostitutes managed by Abel Value, one of London's most notorious criminals, if he wants to protect his best friend Freddy (or currently his wife Winifred, actually, but more on that later) from scandal. Eleanor Skyler, a talented journalist writing under the byline "E. Skye," is a much more willing investigator who is intrigued by the truth behind a new chain of brothels featuring clockwork courtesans. Naturally, their respective investigations collide and they realize that there's quite a bit more happening in the seedy underbelly of London society than meets the eye.
Freddy/Winifred is a real hoot and one of the best things about this book, I must say. A sufferer of the Constantine Affliction due to his less-than-careful choices of bedside companions, he (or she) is now Lady Pembroke thanks to a marriage of convenience and finds new ways to support his best friend Pimm, such as hiding in a next-door room with guns at the ready when Pimm receives unsavoury guests. HA. The situations the two find themselves in are hilarious, but it's also quite sweet that Pimm went to such lengths to protect Freddy when his family would have rejected him after he contracted the disease. The inclusion of Freddy is also a very clever move by the author. Because readers have established a connection with Freddy, we see not only the humorous side of the affliction but also the potentially painful after-effects experienced by survivors - particularly upper-class men. What on earth do they do with their lives afterwards, when they are ridiculed by society and find themselves placed under the same restrictions as women were in the 19th Century? It certain puts a new spin on the dangers of infidelity, and it grounds a plot that might otherwise have been dismissed as pure frivolity.
Furthermore, it opens up all manners of possibilities for discussions on gender equality. I can't be the only reader who's just a little sick of books where authors use their characters to preach feminist viewpoints (or otherwise). The Constantine Affliction, on the other hand, is a really fascinating new way to approach the subject. Through the effect it had on secondary characters and other members of society in the story, we can see the contradictions - men and women being treated differently and judged differently, the confusion introduced by the affliction (should men or women who have changed genders be considered based on their genders at birth?) and the new possibilities it opens up for women changed into men. Pimm, Ellie and Freddy also engage in some very thoughtful conversations where this (and other related) topics are brought up, and I really appreciated that the author wasn't afraid to introduce intelligent debates that gave readers something to think about, even while the characters are having all sorts of fun with clockwork courtesans, murder mysteries and treasonous intrigue.
Pimm and Ellie are both perceptive, resourceful individuals and I liked them immensely, even if I didn't quite connect with them on an emotional level. Pimm has his vices, of course, and Ellie's bravery veered slightly into reckless territory that left her in a few close scrapes along the way, but they made a great combination. The author mentions in an afterword that he was influenced by other mystery-writing greats like Dorothy Sayers and this shows - Pimm reminds me of the best of the classic aristocrat detectives. For those who like a sprinkling of romance, we do get that here; it's actually adorable to find a male protagonist who appreciates his counterpart precisely because of her intelligence! But what about Freddy, you say? I confess I was a little worried, but everything is resolved admirably at the end, to the satisfaction of all involved.
There have been an unwelcome trend in the last year or so of supposedly "steampunk" books where machines and airships were thrown in and left as window dressing. Not so here, I'm glad to say! Machines and science in general is at the very heart of this story. What appears to be a simple serial murder mystery resulting from a gender-changing affliction is all rooted in science. T. Aaron Payton manages to capture both the confusion and excitement in an age where new technology is all the rage and is evidently a double-edged sword that may bring improvements but also a variety of problems.
If I had one complaint to make, it is the fact that the climax veered away from the scientific basis established throughout the story. Of course, there is new technology introduced along the way that may be entirely impossible even by modern standards, but it is convincingly written and doesn't require significant suspension of belief. I did draw the line when the villain introduced the supernatural at the end, however, and was frankly a little disappointed that after the logic of it all, we're presented with extraterrestrials. At least it produced a fun scene where Ellie and Freddy fended them off with Pimm's fencing swords?
That aside, T. Aaron Payton has produced a fantastic steampunk story that is thoroughly worth a read. The book has a tagline stating that it's a "Pimm and Skye Adventure," which makes me wonder whether there will be any more. It certainly reads perfectly well as a standalone novel, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there might be a sequel!
May 11, 2017
Addictively wonderful!
Fingers crossed that T. Aaron Payton aka Tim Pratt writes more Pimm & Skye Adventures!
I hope to write a full review someday.
Fingers crossed that T. Aaron Payton aka Tim Pratt writes more Pimm & Skye Adventures!
I hope to write a full review someday.
February 21, 2013
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
It's true: just as some people always love them some Scandinavian crime fiction, I always love me some steampunk! And in fact, this is what has directly led to me taking it easier recently on fans of subgenres I find silly, precisely from realizing that I'm a big fan of a subgenre that a lot of others find ridiculous; and there's nothing wrong with that, either, as long as you recognize that you're basically letting your fetishistic love of the accrouchements surrounding that subgenre forgive what is sometimes only mediocre storytelling, and vow to make that easy love only an occasional treat instead of the main ingredient of your reading diet. Take this charming but forgettable title, for example, which I confess even just a month between finishing it and now has already become hazy in my head, just another Sherlockian actioner containing the same beats as all the others; although certainly I haven't forgotten the great and unique central premise, the thing that's gotten it most of its press, that Payton's speculative alt-history Victorian London includes a sexually transmitted disease that turns people literally into the opposite gender, and that the resulting panic regarding human intimacy has among other things created an entire new industry of robot prostitutes. That's what makes subgenres work, after all, no matter which one you're talking about -- they mostly all concern themselves with roughly the same general type of storyline, and it's the very specific details where one book will stand out over another among readers -- and for existing fans of steampunk, Constantine has everything you could want regarding this, although it's only okay as a general piece of literature and will drive non-fans of Victoriana batsh-t crazy. This should all be kept in mind when deciding whether or not to pick up a copy yourself.
Out of 10: 8.0, or 9.0 for steampunk fans
P.S. I'll never be able to think of steampunk the same way after seeing Felicia Day's take on it in The Guild…
[video removed]
It's true: just as some people always love them some Scandinavian crime fiction, I always love me some steampunk! And in fact, this is what has directly led to me taking it easier recently on fans of subgenres I find silly, precisely from realizing that I'm a big fan of a subgenre that a lot of others find ridiculous; and there's nothing wrong with that, either, as long as you recognize that you're basically letting your fetishistic love of the accrouchements surrounding that subgenre forgive what is sometimes only mediocre storytelling, and vow to make that easy love only an occasional treat instead of the main ingredient of your reading diet. Take this charming but forgettable title, for example, which I confess even just a month between finishing it and now has already become hazy in my head, just another Sherlockian actioner containing the same beats as all the others; although certainly I haven't forgotten the great and unique central premise, the thing that's gotten it most of its press, that Payton's speculative alt-history Victorian London includes a sexually transmitted disease that turns people literally into the opposite gender, and that the resulting panic regarding human intimacy has among other things created an entire new industry of robot prostitutes. That's what makes subgenres work, after all, no matter which one you're talking about -- they mostly all concern themselves with roughly the same general type of storyline, and it's the very specific details where one book will stand out over another among readers -- and for existing fans of steampunk, Constantine has everything you could want regarding this, although it's only okay as a general piece of literature and will drive non-fans of Victoriana batsh-t crazy. This should all be kept in mind when deciding whether or not to pick up a copy yourself.
Out of 10: 8.0, or 9.0 for steampunk fans
P.S. I'll never be able to think of steampunk the same way after seeing Felicia Day's take on it in The Guild…
[video removed]
September 7, 2012
Two stars? Two and a half? Maybe three? I don't even know. There were some quite inventive parts (The Affliction, the various creative uses of steampunk), and a few engaging characters (WiniFred, Ellie, Pimm), but so much of this was flat, dry, or just uninvolving. The aspects of The Constantine Affliction that I liked, I really liked, but the bad was so. damn. bad. I don't even know. I'm just glad to be done.
Review to come.
Review to come.
October 14, 2013
This book was a pleasant surprise.
I read only the description of the book, not reviews.
The story takes place in an alternative Victorian London. Three years before the events in the book, a strange affliction started spreading among the people, rich and poor alike. They called it the Constantine Affliction shortening the name from Constantinopolitan, its alleged origin. It killed a lot of people, but those who survived transformed into the opposite sex. I loved this idea. People acted the way you can imagine: some tried to hide the fact wearing false mustache, the others changed names, families denounced their sons and daughters. There was no one unaffected by it.
Several things are happening at the same time: there are rumours of tentacled monsters living in the Thames, Whitechapel is burning with alchemical fires and someone is killing women leaving them at the door of the most powerful crime lord in London. That takes us to our hero, Lord Pembroke “Pimm” Halliday, a very functional alcoholic and a brilliant amateur investigator. The fact that he shielded his best friend Freddy after he changed into a woman by marrying him was a reason enough to love him, but throughout the story you get to respect him even more. He is forced to accept a case from the crime lord.
Following leads for her next story, Eleanor Irene Skyler, a talented journalist E. Skye, runs into Pimm and somehow they end up investigating the murders and later the affliction together.
It is a great Lovecraftian mystery with just a touch of romance. I won't write about the events in the book. I loved its characters. Though Pimm is brilliant and Ellie is not some whimpering miss, but a talented and resourceful young woman, there are others which make this story even better. Freddy is a great character who brings humour into otherwise a dark story.
The villain was not as great as Pimm and Ellie. Still, you may agree with him on a few things. He gets to drone on about his plans twice, but I've decided to consider that as humorous part of the book.
All in all, a fun story.
I read only the description of the book, not reviews.
The story takes place in an alternative Victorian London. Three years before the events in the book, a strange affliction started spreading among the people, rich and poor alike. They called it the Constantine Affliction shortening the name from Constantinopolitan, its alleged origin. It killed a lot of people, but those who survived transformed into the opposite sex. I loved this idea. People acted the way you can imagine: some tried to hide the fact wearing false mustache, the others changed names, families denounced their sons and daughters. There was no one unaffected by it.
"Victims transformed by the Constantine Affliction were, legally speaking, considered to be the same sex they'd been at birth—otherwise you could have a daughter transforming into a firstborn son and inheriting her father’s estate over her younger brothers. In practice, though, most victims of the Affliction went into hiding, or tried to pass as their original sex, or—like Freddy—simply changed their identities and began a new life."
It was rumoured that it started with prostitutes, so anyone who transformed was unfaithful or a person he or she lives with is. That led to clockwork courtesans.Several things are happening at the same time: there are rumours of tentacled monsters living in the Thames, Whitechapel is burning with alchemical fires and someone is killing women leaving them at the door of the most powerful crime lord in London. That takes us to our hero, Lord Pembroke “Pimm” Halliday, a very functional alcoholic and a brilliant amateur investigator. The fact that he shielded his best friend Freddy after he changed into a woman by marrying him was a reason enough to love him, but throughout the story you get to respect him even more. He is forced to accept a case from the crime lord.
Following leads for her next story, Eleanor Irene Skyler, a talented journalist E. Skye, runs into Pimm and somehow they end up investigating the murders and later the affliction together.
It is a great Lovecraftian mystery with just a touch of romance. I won't write about the events in the book. I loved its characters. Though Pimm is brilliant and Ellie is not some whimpering miss, but a talented and resourceful young woman, there are others which make this story even better. Freddy is a great character who brings humour into otherwise a dark story.
"One of the benefits, she said, was how much easier it was to shock someone as a woman. Freddy had always enjoyed shocking people."
Adam, a Frankenstein-like character in his search for love and one of the people that Pimm meets in the course of his investigation, is both terrible and sad. We only get hints on his origin, but it is enough. I am glad how the author resolved his issue.The villain was not as great as Pimm and Ellie. Still, you may agree with him on a few things. He gets to drone on about his plans twice, but I've decided to consider that as humorous part of the book.
All in all, a fun story.
October 22, 2012
Above Victorian England, the sky is lit up by a strange phenomenon known as the aurora anglais, Whitechapel has been walled off as alchemical fires rage inside, and London is trying to come to grips with the Constantine Affliction, a seemingly sexually transmitted disease which transforms its victims into the opposite sex, that is, if they survive the transformation. Men now frequent clockwork brothels which use automatons as prostitutes to avoid the disease.
However, someone is killing human prostitutes and leaving them in front of these brothels. Abel Value, both pimp for the murdered women and owner of the brothels thus targeted, blackmails Lord Pembroke 'Pimm' Halliday, younger son of a Marquess, functioning alcoholic, and brilliant detective, into investigating. Although Pimm finds the idea of working for a notorious criminal somewhat distasteful, he soon takes the case with the aid of his wife, Winnifred, who was his best friend, Freddy, before falling victim to the affliction; Adam, a brilliant scientist, hopeless romantic, and Frankenstein monster; and Eleanor Skyler, a journalist who hides her gender under the nom de plume E. Skye so that readers will take her seriously. What they discover is a conspiracy so deep and so far-reaching that all of England is in danger.
The Constantine Affliction is steam punk at its finest. Sure, the plot is improbable and occasionally, the story gets mired in long monologues which are meant to explain what's been happening but, hey, its fantasy. The characters are well-drawn, even secondary ones; there's plenty of twists and turns within the story to keep the reader involved; and the story is intelligent, dealing with issues of gender roles, class, science and ethics without sidetracking the plot or browbeating the reader. Surprisingly, under all the alchemy and adventure is the real Victorian England, the poverty, the dirt, and the overarching class system - author Payton clearly took the time to research the era, a rarity in historical fantasy. But most of all, The Constantine Affliction takes the reader on a fun ride, never forgetting for a moment that the purpose of the story is to entertain and that it does in spades.
However, someone is killing human prostitutes and leaving them in front of these brothels. Abel Value, both pimp for the murdered women and owner of the brothels thus targeted, blackmails Lord Pembroke 'Pimm' Halliday, younger son of a Marquess, functioning alcoholic, and brilliant detective, into investigating. Although Pimm finds the idea of working for a notorious criminal somewhat distasteful, he soon takes the case with the aid of his wife, Winnifred, who was his best friend, Freddy, before falling victim to the affliction; Adam, a brilliant scientist, hopeless romantic, and Frankenstein monster; and Eleanor Skyler, a journalist who hides her gender under the nom de plume E. Skye so that readers will take her seriously. What they discover is a conspiracy so deep and so far-reaching that all of England is in danger.
The Constantine Affliction is steam punk at its finest. Sure, the plot is improbable and occasionally, the story gets mired in long monologues which are meant to explain what's been happening but, hey, its fantasy. The characters are well-drawn, even secondary ones; there's plenty of twists and turns within the story to keep the reader involved; and the story is intelligent, dealing with issues of gender roles, class, science and ethics without sidetracking the plot or browbeating the reader. Surprisingly, under all the alchemy and adventure is the real Victorian England, the poverty, the dirt, and the overarching class system - author Payton clearly took the time to research the era, a rarity in historical fantasy. But most of all, The Constantine Affliction takes the reader on a fun ride, never forgetting for a moment that the purpose of the story is to entertain and that it does in spades.
December 8, 2012
I love steampunk and I love mystery, and this book is a great mix of both thrown into a historical version of London. A disease, called the Constantine Affliction, has ravaged society with some very unusual side affects, like turning women into men and vice versa.
In fact, one of our main characters has been afflicted. Freddie was once the best friend of Pimm but, with the Affliction, turned into a female. Pimm does the honourable thing, which is of course to marry her. Pimm saw this as the only way to keep his friend around.
Another fun character is Eleanor Skyler – a female jounralist whoc uses the by-line of E. Skye to keep her anonimity. She finds herself dragged into this case after deciding to write an article about the clockwork brothels.
Pimm finds himself contacted to the crime kingpin, Able Value, to investigate what is happening to his ‘girls’.
From there, this turns into a rollicking adventure full of fun, interesting science and a multitude of interesting possibilities. This is a great book and if you like to be caught up in a great story with fascinating lead characters, then I can heartily recommend “The Constantine Affliction”.
In fact, one of our main characters has been afflicted. Freddie was once the best friend of Pimm but, with the Affliction, turned into a female. Pimm does the honourable thing, which is of course to marry her. Pimm saw this as the only way to keep his friend around.
Another fun character is Eleanor Skyler – a female jounralist whoc uses the by-line of E. Skye to keep her anonimity. She finds herself dragged into this case after deciding to write an article about the clockwork brothels.
Pimm finds himself contacted to the crime kingpin, Able Value, to investigate what is happening to his ‘girls’.
From there, this turns into a rollicking adventure full of fun, interesting science and a multitude of interesting possibilities. This is a great book and if you like to be caught up in a great story with fascinating lead characters, then I can heartily recommend “The Constantine Affliction”.
July 5, 2016
This was ridiculous from the beginning but at around 85% it completely lost its shit. I'll say only one thing: alien tentacle gods from another dimension.
Romance: barely existent.
(I'm always on the lookout for books without romance and I know there are others like me. From now on I'll make a note in my "reviews" so expectations can be adjusted or the book can be skipped.)
Romance: barely existent.
(I'm always on the lookout for books without romance and I know there are others like me. From now on I'll make a note in my "reviews" so expectations can be adjusted or the book can be skipped.)
May 22, 2022
This book is a bit of a hot mess, but it's very fun. It is a fast read and lots of crazy things happen that leave you scratching your head and wondering what the heck but the characters are lovable and entertaining.
I don't know how to go into most of the plot or premise without giving anything away, so I will only touch on the disease for which the book is named. The Constantine Affliction is a (fictional) disease that either kills or turns those afflicted into the opposite gender against their will. This could have been a very interesting and deep look into gender equality, fluidity, and body dysphoria. But it wasn't. So, if you're hoping for this to use a crazy "what if" scenario to discuss any of those things, you will be disappointed. The characters occasionally show very modern ideas about gender equality spurred by this development that would be otherwise greatly out of character for a Victorian era person. And the closest it comes to discussing body dysphoria is by mentioning how many people choose to continue to dress and present themselves based on their pre-change gender, but even that is only mentioned in passing and as background. It's actually a bit disappointing that the author proposed such a mind-bending thought experiment, and then mostly avoided the topic altogether.
So, deep thinking and thoughtful exploration, this book is not. But if you want something completely crazy with a mish-mash of subjects, likable characters, and a fast plot, then you will be entertained. And since a crazy palette cleanser is really all I was looking for in this book, I was happy.
I don't know how to go into most of the plot or premise without giving anything away, so I will only touch on the disease for which the book is named. The Constantine Affliction is a (fictional) disease that either kills or turns those afflicted into the opposite gender against their will. This could have been a very interesting and deep look into gender equality, fluidity, and body dysphoria. But it wasn't. So, if you're hoping for this to use a crazy "what if" scenario to discuss any of those things, you will be disappointed. The characters occasionally show very modern ideas about gender equality spurred by this development that would be otherwise greatly out of character for a Victorian era person. And the closest it comes to discussing body dysphoria is by mentioning how many people choose to continue to dress and present themselves based on their pre-change gender, but even that is only mentioned in passing and as background. It's actually a bit disappointing that the author proposed such a mind-bending thought experiment, and then mostly avoided the topic altogether.
So, deep thinking and thoughtful exploration, this book is not. But if you want something completely crazy with a mish-mash of subjects, likable characters, and a fast plot, then you will be entertained. And since a crazy palette cleanser is really all I was looking for in this book, I was happy.
March 9, 2017
Novela entretenida, pero poco más. El escenario es interesante, y plantea algunas ideas buenas, pero no llega a sacarles su potencial. El malo es de opereta, el final parece sacado de la manga para justificar un par de escenas espectaculares pero muy forzadas, la trama de Adams está metida con calzador... Pero lo que peor he llevado son los personajes, bastante planos, lo que me da especial coraje viniendo de un autor como Tim Pratt, que en un puñado de páginas es capaz de crear personajes tan interesantes como los que protagonizan Little Gods o Living with the Harpy.
Este ha sido mi segundo intento con una novela de Pratt, después del primero de la serie de Marla Manson, y en ninguno de los dos he logrado reconocer al autor que me ha fascinado con su ficción corta.
Este ha sido mi segundo intento con una novela de Pratt, después del primero de la serie de Marla Manson, y en ninguno de los dos he logrado reconocer al autor que me ha fascinado con su ficción corta.
September 20, 2014
The first 150 pages were engaging because there is a real creative premise to this book. Sadly, an interesting premise isn't an interesting novel, as the last 150 pages indicated.
Three things:
1) Marysues. Every character here was flat as hell, acting on no reason at all, and though they all were human they all had super powers that fixed all their problems. I mean like fucking immortality, super strength, super speed, engineering genius, fame and wealth, blablablablabla-- stop! Be human! Most characters also had one or two niches that entirely defined them, no other part of them was explored. I.e: The journalist thinks about writing 95% of the book, and love the other 15%. :| The only character I cared about was Adam, who seemed engaging and complex and a nod to Adam in Adam&Eve, but he only had a few chapters, and the author gave him the dullest conclusion, which was SO frustrating.
2) Plot: Similar to Marysues the plot followed the 'man, that's convenient' plot 'twists'. This made a very predictable story where you can tell everything is going to be alright-- it was way too bluntly methodological. The characters didn't really suffer and never even have a moment of doubt. Also there are TONS of plot holes in this story which the author tries to cover up with a character explaining themselves for like ten pages of dialogue (also most characters here have the same annoying habit of ranting) as a way for the author to prove to everyone that this plot makes sense... but even after that ten pages of bland plot description.. the story still doesn't make sense!!
3) Theme: The premise to this story is that there is a plague going around that either a) kills the infected or b) turns the infected to the other gender. This story frequently says that there is no differences between the genders. It presents itself as a feminist book in this way but the feminism isn't fully explored. The consequences of gender neutrality are never mentioned. The cause of gender hierarchies are never discussed. Defining genders and non-binary gender identities is something else that is never discussed. Etc. So the theme, like everything else, falls flat.
I honestly am unsure how this got published without an Editor pointing these things out. I'm guessing Night Shade Books REALLY wants to get into the Steampunk market.
Three things:
1) Marysues. Every character here was flat as hell, acting on no reason at all, and though they all were human they all had super powers that fixed all their problems. I mean like fucking immortality, super strength, super speed, engineering genius, fame and wealth, blablablablabla-- stop! Be human! Most characters also had one or two niches that entirely defined them, no other part of them was explored. I.e: The journalist thinks about writing 95% of the book, and love the other 15%. :| The only character I cared about was Adam, who seemed engaging and complex and a nod to Adam in Adam&Eve, but he only had a few chapters, and the author gave him the dullest conclusion, which was SO frustrating.
2) Plot: Similar to Marysues the plot followed the 'man, that's convenient' plot 'twists'. This made a very predictable story where you can tell everything is going to be alright-- it was way too bluntly methodological. The characters didn't really suffer and never even have a moment of doubt. Also there are TONS of plot holes in this story which the author tries to cover up with a character explaining themselves for like ten pages of dialogue (also most characters here have the same annoying habit of ranting) as a way for the author to prove to everyone that this plot makes sense... but even after that ten pages of bland plot description.. the story still doesn't make sense!!
3) Theme: The premise to this story is that there is a plague going around that either a) kills the infected or b) turns the infected to the other gender. This story frequently says that there is no differences between the genders. It presents itself as a feminist book in this way but the feminism isn't fully explored. The consequences of gender neutrality are never mentioned. The cause of gender hierarchies are never discussed. Defining genders and non-binary gender identities is something else that is never discussed. Etc. So the theme, like everything else, falls flat.
I honestly am unsure how this got published without an Editor pointing these things out. I'm guessing Night Shade Books REALLY wants to get into the Steampunk market.
December 15, 2012
It's really a shame that this book hasn't gotten more publicity, as it's some of the most fun I've had playing in the steam-punk genre in ages. Like most steampunk, it takes place in Victorian London. This version of London, however, has been transformed, not only by new steam driven technology, but by a mysterious disease - the titular Constatine Affliction. The Affliction is primarily sexually transmitted, causing Prince Albert to fall from grace when he succumbs to it. However, its effects are slowly transforming Victorian society, because those who survive are transfigured into the opposite sex.
Our protagonists in this world are crusading journalist and 'spinster' Ellie Skyler, who goes by the byline E. Skye, and usually drunken aristocrat Pembroke 'Pimm' Hanover. Their paths cross when Ellie, who has disguised herself as a man to investigate the new clockwork brothels that have sprung up to counteract the Affliction, catches the Queen's closest confidant where he surely shouldn't be - tinkering with the wind-up sex workers. Meanwhile, Pimm has been contacted by a brutal pimp to find out who's killing his girls, some of the only living prostitutes left in London. These two events are entangled with the new tech taking London by storm, and possibly even the source of the Affliction itself.
So, while the novel is a fun romp in the popular steam-punk style, what really sets it apart is its great take on gender. Pimm marries his best friend Freddy when Freddy is unexpectedly turned into Winifred. Winifred's experience of being new to life as a woman gives her a unique perspective on the injustice of women's inequality, and her character may be the best part of the novel. Also, for fans of Victorian Lit, there are tons of neat little Easter eggs that will probably fly over the heads of more casual readers. For example, Vic-Lit readers will probably recognize the mysterious 'Adam' with his lab full of science equipment, and they might even get the reference to the Continental professor working on a paper about the trajectories of asteroids. Even if you don't catch all the knowing winks the author makes, if you like steam-punk and thoughtful takes on gender issues, you'll enjoy the Constantine Affliction.
Our protagonists in this world are crusading journalist and 'spinster' Ellie Skyler, who goes by the byline E. Skye, and usually drunken aristocrat Pembroke 'Pimm' Hanover. Their paths cross when Ellie, who has disguised herself as a man to investigate the new clockwork brothels that have sprung up to counteract the Affliction, catches the Queen's closest confidant where he surely shouldn't be - tinkering with the wind-up sex workers. Meanwhile, Pimm has been contacted by a brutal pimp to find out who's killing his girls, some of the only living prostitutes left in London. These two events are entangled with the new tech taking London by storm, and possibly even the source of the Affliction itself.
So, while the novel is a fun romp in the popular steam-punk style, what really sets it apart is its great take on gender. Pimm marries his best friend Freddy when Freddy is unexpectedly turned into Winifred. Winifred's experience of being new to life as a woman gives her a unique perspective on the injustice of women's inequality, and her character may be the best part of the novel. Also, for fans of Victorian Lit, there are tons of neat little Easter eggs that will probably fly over the heads of more casual readers. For example, Vic-Lit readers will probably recognize the mysterious 'Adam' with his lab full of science equipment, and they might even get the reference to the Continental professor working on a paper about the trajectories of asteroids. Even if you don't catch all the knowing winks the author makes, if you like steam-punk and thoughtful takes on gender issues, you'll enjoy the Constantine Affliction.
September 4, 2012
I requested THE CONSTANTINE AFFLICTION from Netgalley because I just couldn't pass up the blurb. It sounded too absurd, but it was there for the reading, so I gave it a chance, and I'm glad I did. Even though there's such a strange premise--a gender-swapping disease?--the novel didn't delve into the stupid or the perverse. The book instead asks the question "what happens when gender roles don't mean what they used to? Are they necessary at all?" and makes you think, an oddity in the steampunk genre. There's a bit of a hand-wavey explanation for the disease's cause, and there are aliens (!) introduced near the end, but on the whole the book is well-written and quite often funny. The setting feels real and shows the research the author did on the Victorian period, while the characters each have their own voice. While the overall story arc is completed, there is probably more to be told from this alternate world, and I'd be interested to see what this author comes up with.
Received as a digital ARC via Netgalley.
Received as a digital ARC via Netgalley.
November 27, 2012
I really liked this steampunk mystery by T. Aaron Payton. In some ways it is formulaic...detective meets beautiful woman in trouble and together they have adventures and save the world. But there are some very interesting themes in it as well. The Constantine Affliction is the name for a sexually transmitted virus created by a mad scientist who wanted to overthrow society's gender stereotypes, quite extreme in that London society. Payton has a lot of fun predicting how Victorian society might have dealt with this issue. Add in a Frankenstein looking for his love while creating female slave zombies for whorehouses along the way, an evil Parliamentarian, and a plot to overthrow the Queen, and you have a lot of exciting adventure, even without the Cthulu types. But the relationships and characters stand up well too. Pimm marries his best friend who's been turned female, but then falls for intrepid feminist female journalist Ellie Skye. I think this will be the first of many adventures for them and I look forward to seeing them more!
June 14, 2013
T. Aaron Payton’s The Constantine Affliction is a witty gender-bending romp through Victorian London as it never was. Most of us will call this “steampunk.” Payton prefers “gonzo-history.” I say, “whatever works.”
Ellie Skyler, who is assumed to be male, makes her living as a journalist using the pen name “E. Skye.” She plans to go in male attire into one of the city’s clockwork brothels, where the prostitutes are nearly perfect simulacra of human women, to write an expose. Clockwork “comfort houses” have become even more popular since the rise of the Constantine Affliction, a sexually-transmitted disease that changes the gender of those who survive it. Even though Albert, the Prince Consort himself, has survived the disease and been transformed into a “horse-faced woman,” London has made surprisingly few social changes as a result ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Ellie Skyler, who is assumed to be male, makes her living as a journalist using the pen name “E. Skye.” She plans to go in male attire into one of the city’s clockwork brothels, where the prostitutes are nearly perfect simulacra of human women, to write an expose. Clockwork “comfort houses” have become even more popular since the rise of the Constantine Affliction, a sexually-transmitted disease that changes the gender of those who survive it. Even though Albert, the Prince Consort himself, has survived the disease and been transformed into a “horse-faced woman,” London has made surprisingly few social changes as a result ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
October 18, 2012
If someone asks me, hey Justin, show me how to do Urban Fantasy and/or Steampunk well. I'd show them this novel. Link for full review.
http://www.staffersbookreview.com/201...
http://www.staffersbookreview.com/201...
October 29, 2012
My god do the villains love their exposition. One villain who loves to ramble about his greatness is more than enough; did there really have to be two? And multiple speeches for one of them?
And that's the only reason why I didn't mark this as five stars.
And that's the only reason why I didn't mark this as five stars.
August 29, 2012
Utterly charming.
October 9, 2012
3.75 stars. I have to admit that I did not expect that ending. That said, with so many themes being explored, the storyline felt at times as if it were spread thin.
February 13, 2020
I loved the characters, setting, and the general plot - but the romance B plot was very forced and the ending was anti climactic.
September 3, 2022
Offering up an interesting mix of genres (with an abrupt change of course in the last act), The Constantine Affliction is a fun, engaging, imaginative read that manages to succeed despite the relative blandness of its main character. That's not to say Pimm isn't an interesting character on his own, but he lacks the quirks and personality traits that make the other characters leap off the page.
T. Aaron Payton (better known as T.A. Pratt), has put together a story here that's equal parts thriller, mystery, horror, comedy, and adventure. At the heart of it lies the aforementioned Pimm (an aristocrat who likes to play detective - when not drowning his sorrows), the far more engaging Winifred (his best friend turned spouse - thanks to the gender-changing Constantinopolitan Affliction), and the rather remarkable Syke (investigative reporter and feminist heroine - for whom the glass is always half-full). Facing off against the unlikely trio of heroes is an even unlikelier trio of villains in Abel Value (criminal overlord), Sir Bertram Oswald (the Queen's consort), and Mr. Adams (cousin to Frankenstein's monster). Throw in some clockwork courtesans and some extra-dimensional monsters, set against the backdrop of a London under siege from darkness and disease, and you have yourself one heck of a tale.
Before we get to the story, let me take a moment to talk about the Constantine Affliction itself. Here we have a sexually transmitted disease, and one that often results in death. Nothing remarkable about that, especially for the Victorian age. Those who survive it, however, do not do so unchanged - upon being restored to health, they find that their gender has changed. Winifred is the one 'victim' we get to know best in the tale, and she is one of the strongest characters in the novel, especially in the latter stages. Hers is not the only prominent commentary on gender in the novel, however, as Syke's character has a lot to say about gender roles. Smart, independent, and damned good at her job, she is forced to masquerade as a man in print if she's to have her stories taken seriously.
Elsewhere, there is an awful lot going on, but Payton manages to keep it all on track, all the while building towards a pair of key revelations that quite cleverly connect the dots between the mixed genres. At times chilling, amusing, and altogether fascinating, this is the kind of book where you just have to give yourself permission to settle in and enjoy the ride. It's paced exceptionally well, so much so that you never begrudge Payton the opportunity to explore a few bizarre tangents (and of those there are aplenty). Perhaps Skye's intimate investigation of the clockwork courtesans goes into a bit too much detail, but it's fascinating, and it does help to justify some plot elements further on. Similarly, Mr. Adam's researches into life-after-death may be a bit too grotesque for some readers, but you'll come away believing in the possibility for romance with a disembodied brain.
Where the story faltered a bit, for me, was in the Lovecraftian insanity of the final act. It almost seemed as if, having so deftly handled so many genres already, Payton simply couldn't resist the urge to go all the way with the monstrous finale. The strength of the characters keeps it from becoming too fantastic, but it was so far removed from what I was expecting that I struggled a bit to keep my disbelief willingly suspended. It does give Winifred, our gender-bent heroine, a chance to shine, and does allow for a fitting resolution to the character of Mr. Adams, but it also cast Pimm a bit further out of the limelight.
All-in-all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, with enough plot lines to fill a trilogy of novels. Unfortunately, it seems as if this is to be our one-and-only adventure with Pimm and Skye, but there's always hope for a crowdfunded or self-published follow-up (depending, of course, on what rights the publisher has to the series).
T. Aaron Payton (better known as T.A. Pratt), has put together a story here that's equal parts thriller, mystery, horror, comedy, and adventure. At the heart of it lies the aforementioned Pimm (an aristocrat who likes to play detective - when not drowning his sorrows), the far more engaging Winifred (his best friend turned spouse - thanks to the gender-changing Constantinopolitan Affliction), and the rather remarkable Syke (investigative reporter and feminist heroine - for whom the glass is always half-full). Facing off against the unlikely trio of heroes is an even unlikelier trio of villains in Abel Value (criminal overlord), Sir Bertram Oswald (the Queen's consort), and Mr. Adams (cousin to Frankenstein's monster). Throw in some clockwork courtesans and some extra-dimensional monsters, set against the backdrop of a London under siege from darkness and disease, and you have yourself one heck of a tale.
Before we get to the story, let me take a moment to talk about the Constantine Affliction itself. Here we have a sexually transmitted disease, and one that often results in death. Nothing remarkable about that, especially for the Victorian age. Those who survive it, however, do not do so unchanged - upon being restored to health, they find that their gender has changed. Winifred is the one 'victim' we get to know best in the tale, and she is one of the strongest characters in the novel, especially in the latter stages. Hers is not the only prominent commentary on gender in the novel, however, as Syke's character has a lot to say about gender roles. Smart, independent, and damned good at her job, she is forced to masquerade as a man in print if she's to have her stories taken seriously.
Elsewhere, there is an awful lot going on, but Payton manages to keep it all on track, all the while building towards a pair of key revelations that quite cleverly connect the dots between the mixed genres. At times chilling, amusing, and altogether fascinating, this is the kind of book where you just have to give yourself permission to settle in and enjoy the ride. It's paced exceptionally well, so much so that you never begrudge Payton the opportunity to explore a few bizarre tangents (and of those there are aplenty). Perhaps Skye's intimate investigation of the clockwork courtesans goes into a bit too much detail, but it's fascinating, and it does help to justify some plot elements further on. Similarly, Mr. Adam's researches into life-after-death may be a bit too grotesque for some readers, but you'll come away believing in the possibility for romance with a disembodied brain.
Where the story faltered a bit, for me, was in the Lovecraftian insanity of the final act. It almost seemed as if, having so deftly handled so many genres already, Payton simply couldn't resist the urge to go all the way with the monstrous finale. The strength of the characters keeps it from becoming too fantastic, but it was so far removed from what I was expecting that I struggled a bit to keep my disbelief willingly suspended. It does give Winifred, our gender-bent heroine, a chance to shine, and does allow for a fitting resolution to the character of Mr. Adams, but it also cast Pimm a bit further out of the limelight.
All-in-all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, with enough plot lines to fill a trilogy of novels. Unfortunately, it seems as if this is to be our one-and-only adventure with Pimm and Skye, but there's always hope for a crowdfunded or self-published follow-up (depending, of course, on what rights the publisher has to the series).
May 27, 2017
The Constantine Affliction (2012) by T. Aaron Payton (Tim Pratt) is a steampunk mystery meets fantasy meets science fiction meets a few literary allusions along the way. You'll find nods to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary Shelley, and Virginia Woolf among the clockwork automatons, alchemical science, and bizarre 1950s-B-movie monsters lurking in the Thames River. I particularly enjoyed discovering the real identity of Adams, the man who does autopsies (and other work) when a murder needs investigating. But I get ahead of myself...
The date is 1864 in Queen Victoria's England. Of course, this is a steampunk version of Victorian times, so it's not quite the Victorian England one is familiar with. There are calculating engines, airships, and flying machine that will soon replace the dirigible airships. There are magnetic field manipulators and clockwork ladies of the evening...and those unspeakable monsters which no one has seen but everyone talks about. There is also the titular Constantine Affliction. A strange disease which, when it doesn't kill the afflicted, mysteriously changes the person's gender after a period of high fever and delirium. The disease has been spread through prostitutes (thus the clockwork variety, immune from disease and easily cleansed) and has reached the highest levels of power--claiming the Queen's consort, Prince Albert as one of the highest profile victims.
From this world, we meet Ellie Skyler, an intrepid female reporter who hides her identity behind the byline E. Skye. To her editor's dismay, she refuses assignments to cover the latest in Paris fashion and writes of the monsters in the river, interviews those who have been Afflicted, and plots to enter a clockwork brothel in (gasp!) male attire. Little does she know that her venture into masculine recreation will lead her to a plot to overthrow the Queen. We also meet Lord Pembroke "Pimm" Halliday, younger son of the aristocracy, who to his family's dismay dabbles in detection. He has been blackmailed into investigating the murders of prostitutes--some of the few remaining of the human variety--working for one of the most notorious men in London. Abel Value threatens to ruin the reputation of Pembroke's wife Winifred (who just happened to have been Pimm's best friend Freddy before the Affliction struck him) if he doesn't investigate. Like a certain Professor Moriarty from another Victorian England, Abel Value is thought to be behind most of the crime in London--but there is never any evidence to connect him to it.
Working from different angles, Ellie and Pimm find themselves on the same track and join forces to stop the man who lurks in the shadows behind Value--before monsters even worse than those rumored to be in the Thames are let loose on an unsuspecting England.
This is a rollicking good novel that could definitely be a fine steampunk mystery series if Payton/Pratt decides to continue with the characters. Pimm and Ellie work well together and make an excellent team as well as an interesting couple. Winifred/Freddy is charming as well--stealing every scene she's in and adding color to the detective efforts. She could have her own book--life after the change and where it takes her after she and Pimm & Ellie sort out their relationship/s. The mystery plot isn't the strongest point--not much of a mystery really and those who want clues to discover on their own may be a bit disappointed, but it's well worth it for the overall story and adventure. Most interestingly, the book addresses issues of gender in a fresh and fascinating way. Should those changed by the Affliction be tied to their birth gender? In a world where inheritance so often was tied to oldest sons--what happens when an eldest daughter changes and becomes the eldest male child? If for no other reason, I would like to see Payton/Pratt write a sequel that examines the results of Victorian adjustment to the new order of things in terms of gender and gender equality.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
The date is 1864 in Queen Victoria's England. Of course, this is a steampunk version of Victorian times, so it's not quite the Victorian England one is familiar with. There are calculating engines, airships, and flying machine that will soon replace the dirigible airships. There are magnetic field manipulators and clockwork ladies of the evening...and those unspeakable monsters which no one has seen but everyone talks about. There is also the titular Constantine Affliction. A strange disease which, when it doesn't kill the afflicted, mysteriously changes the person's gender after a period of high fever and delirium. The disease has been spread through prostitutes (thus the clockwork variety, immune from disease and easily cleansed) and has reached the highest levels of power--claiming the Queen's consort, Prince Albert as one of the highest profile victims.
From this world, we meet Ellie Skyler, an intrepid female reporter who hides her identity behind the byline E. Skye. To her editor's dismay, she refuses assignments to cover the latest in Paris fashion and writes of the monsters in the river, interviews those who have been Afflicted, and plots to enter a clockwork brothel in (gasp!) male attire. Little does she know that her venture into masculine recreation will lead her to a plot to overthrow the Queen. We also meet Lord Pembroke "Pimm" Halliday, younger son of the aristocracy, who to his family's dismay dabbles in detection. He has been blackmailed into investigating the murders of prostitutes--some of the few remaining of the human variety--working for one of the most notorious men in London. Abel Value threatens to ruin the reputation of Pembroke's wife Winifred (who just happened to have been Pimm's best friend Freddy before the Affliction struck him) if he doesn't investigate. Like a certain Professor Moriarty from another Victorian England, Abel Value is thought to be behind most of the crime in London--but there is never any evidence to connect him to it.
Working from different angles, Ellie and Pimm find themselves on the same track and join forces to stop the man who lurks in the shadows behind Value--before monsters even worse than those rumored to be in the Thames are let loose on an unsuspecting England.
This is a rollicking good novel that could definitely be a fine steampunk mystery series if Payton/Pratt decides to continue with the characters. Pimm and Ellie work well together and make an excellent team as well as an interesting couple. Winifred/Freddy is charming as well--stealing every scene she's in and adding color to the detective efforts. She could have her own book--life after the change and where it takes her after she and Pimm & Ellie sort out their relationship/s. The mystery plot isn't the strongest point--not much of a mystery really and those who want clues to discover on their own may be a bit disappointed, but it's well worth it for the overall story and adventure. Most interestingly, the book addresses issues of gender in a fresh and fascinating way. Should those changed by the Affliction be tied to their birth gender? In a world where inheritance so often was tied to oldest sons--what happens when an eldest daughter changes and becomes the eldest male child? If for no other reason, I would like to see Payton/Pratt write a sequel that examines the results of Victorian adjustment to the new order of things in terms of gender and gender equality.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
September 23, 2018
Klappentext:
Ein Steampunk-Roman in der Tradition von Mary Shelleys Frankenstein.
1864. London ist eine Stadt im Umbruch. Eine seltsame Krankheit, die einige ihrer Opfer tötet und bei anderen eine Geschlechtsumwandlung auslöst, hat zu gesellschaftlichen Skandalen und Unruhen geführt. Technische Wunderwerke und Katastrophen wie mechanische Kurtisanen, die alchimistischen Feuer Whitechapels, elektrische Kutschen und in der Themse lauernde Säuremonster haben die Stadt unumkehrbar verändert.
Der Adlige Pembroke „Pimm“ Halliday hat einem Hang zur Kriminologie, und nutzt seine scharfe Beobachtungsgabe, um sowohl der Polizei als auch Privatpersonen beizustehen … zumindest, wenn er nüchtern ist. Ellie Skyler ist eine furchtlose Journalistin, getrieben von dem Drang, die Wahrheit aufzudecken, egal wo sie sich verbirgt.
Als Pimm und Skye über eine finstere Intrige stolpern, die den berüchtigtsten Verbrecherboss der Stadt mit dem neuen Geliebten der Königin, dem berühmten Wissenschaftler Sir Bertram Oswald, in Verbindung bringt, bekommen sie es mit der gehobenen Gesellschaft und der Unterwelt gleichermaßen zu tun. Können sie die Stadt vor den geheimnisvollen Ränken eines der größten Monster der Geschichte retten – und dabei den schockierenden Ursprung des Morbus Konstantin aufdecken?
Die wirklich abstruse Prämisse dieser Krankheit hat mich dazu veranlasst, dem Buch eine Chance zu geben, doch es ist soviel mehr, denn im Lauf des Steampunk-Krimis entwickelt sich zudem eine irre Diskussion über Geschlechterrollen und Definitionen von Männlichkeit/Weiblichkeit. Im viktorianischen Zeitalter war das natürlich eindeutiger, aber die Argumente sind im Hinblick auf heutige Transgender-Diskussionen aktueller denn je. Die beiden Hauptcharaktere Pimm und Ellie sind lebensnah und liebenswert und besonders die ambitionierte Journalistin, die auf gesellschaftliche Regeln pfeift, war meinem Herzen natürlich nahe.
Bitte lasst euch von dem scheußlichen Cover nicht verunsichern, innendrin wartet ein wirklich großartiges Abenteuer!
"Wenn man nicht wissen kann, mit welchen [sic] Geschlecht jemand zur Welt gekommen ist, wird es schließlich zunehmend absurd, darauf zu bestehen, dass Männer und Frauen grundsätzlich anders sind."
"Sie dürfen sich nicht durch ein alltägliches Problem wie eine Entführung davon abhalten lassen, sich um wirkliche [sic] wichtige Dinge wie die Liebe zu kümmern."
October 27, 2017
3 to 3.5 stars for me.
I'm always on the lookout for great Steampunk, but usually only find mediocrity, which is a shame. The Constantine Affliction was an entertaining, quick read but that's all that it was. Some elements, including the title-giving affliction were just a touch too weird for me.
The Constantine Affliction is set in Victorian London where alchemy and experiments with other steampunk technology have heralded in a new life. However, in recent months, an STD called the Constantine Affliction has been transmitted by prostitutes. The disease causes the affected to change their gender.
Our protagonists are Lord Pembroke, just called Pimm, who is a rich nobleman who investigates crime in his spare time and otherwise drinks entirely too much alcohol. Pimm is being blackmailed by the infamous Abel Value because he knows that Pimm's wife Winifred is really his genderchanged best friend Freddy. He forces Pimm to investigate the murder of prostitutes that work for him illegally, as prostitution with real women is forbidden due to the Constantine Affliction.
The second protagonist is Ellie Skyler, a journalist who is investigating Abel Value as well, because he also runs clockwork brothels, where the whores have been replaced with automatons. Both Ellie and Pimm run into each other and stumble over a conspiracy that is far bigger than they first assume, threatening the kingdom.
The protagonists are likable if superficial. You never really get to understand why Pimm is an alcoholic, other than vague mentions of his dead fiancee. The major villain didn't really convince me much. My standout character is probably Freddy, the genderchanged guy who embraces the newfound femininity.
The final 10% add a Mythos-twist to the story, as Lovecraftian creatures arrive on the scene.
I don't know if I would recommend this book to anyone. The gender stuff wasn't as clever as it could have been, and some stuff, like the clockwork whores made me feel vaguely uncomfortable. If you like Victorian steampunk, why not?
I'm always on the lookout for great Steampunk, but usually only find mediocrity, which is a shame. The Constantine Affliction was an entertaining, quick read but that's all that it was. Some elements, including the title-giving affliction were just a touch too weird for me.
The Constantine Affliction is set in Victorian London where alchemy and experiments with other steampunk technology have heralded in a new life. However, in recent months, an STD called the Constantine Affliction has been transmitted by prostitutes. The disease causes the affected to change their gender.
Our protagonists are Lord Pembroke, just called Pimm, who is a rich nobleman who investigates crime in his spare time and otherwise drinks entirely too much alcohol. Pimm is being blackmailed by the infamous Abel Value because he knows that Pimm's wife Winifred is really his genderchanged best friend Freddy. He forces Pimm to investigate the murder of prostitutes that work for him illegally, as prostitution with real women is forbidden due to the Constantine Affliction.
The second protagonist is Ellie Skyler, a journalist who is investigating Abel Value as well, because he also runs clockwork brothels, where the whores have been replaced with automatons. Both Ellie and Pimm run into each other and stumble over a conspiracy that is far bigger than they first assume, threatening the kingdom.
The protagonists are likable if superficial. You never really get to understand why Pimm is an alcoholic, other than vague mentions of his dead fiancee. The major villain didn't really convince me much. My standout character is probably Freddy, the genderchanged guy who embraces the newfound femininity.
The final 10% add a Mythos-twist to the story, as Lovecraftian creatures arrive on the scene.
I don't know if I would recommend this book to anyone. The gender stuff wasn't as clever as it could have been, and some stuff, like the clockwork whores made me feel vaguely uncomfortable. If you like Victorian steampunk, why not?
December 8, 2018
The setting and Constantine affliction, which changes people's genders, is an amazing background for the story, but kind of stays in the background and isn't a huge part of the story, which could have improved this book. The main character, Pimm, is an alcoholic and not very interesting overall. Throughout the book he makes no attempt to do anything about the drinking and just excuses it to himself despite others disapproval. Freddy could have been such an interesting character if she had more dialogue than the minor villains. Part of the ending was anticlimactic and kinda deserved a lot more than a quick end for such a pivotal thread. Most of the book however was very good despite these flaws, and reading it was quite enjoyable. But looking back at it, some parts just seem too underdeveloped and deserving of more. Despite this, due to how enjoyable it was to read I'll give it 4 stars not 3
May 19, 2021
I was hoping for some really good old fashioned Steampunk, but it's certainly not the usual kind of Steampunk that one is used to. It's alright though, i read it to the end and don't feel disappointed.
One caveat: this is most certainly not for children, so don't go giving them a copy or you may be answering some rather awkward questions.
So yeah, an alcoholic private-detective meets his soul mate, a cis-woman, but he's already married to a trans-woman who has been changed by the Constantine Affliction; then there's a Frankenstein monster scientist looking for his soul mate, or rather trying to create her from corpses; a mad crazy megalomaniac inventor, Queen Victoria, dark and dingy Victorian London streets and tunnels, criminals and monsters, to name but a few: all designed to keep you thoroughly entertained.
So yeah, have at it.
One caveat: this is most certainly not for children, so don't go giving them a copy or you may be answering some rather awkward questions.
So yeah, an alcoholic private-detective meets his soul mate, a cis-woman, but he's already married to a trans-woman who has been changed by the Constantine Affliction; then there's a Frankenstein monster scientist looking for his soul mate, or rather trying to create her from corpses; a mad crazy megalomaniac inventor, Queen Victoria, dark and dingy Victorian London streets and tunnels, criminals and monsters, to name but a few: all designed to keep you thoroughly entertained.
So yeah, have at it.
April 26, 2022
I was excited about a steam punk mystery set in historical London. At times the book was very creative, but the overall plot of the book wasn’t all that creative. The beginning mystery was great, I was hooked and wanted to know more, but I felt like the ending was a bit random and easily solved.
I thought a lot could be done with a gender changing illness, but the author only really used it to highlight women being equal to men. Ok duh. What about gender dysphoria? Or some kind of interesting society where it’s expected to change genders? Seemed like it just was superficial.
I’m left confused by the nature of clockwork women. The beginning of the book heavily implies that dead girls brought back to life masquerade as mechanical clockwork women, but then later on they have actual mechanical women.
I thought a lot could be done with a gender changing illness, but the author only really used it to highlight women being equal to men. Ok duh. What about gender dysphoria? Or some kind of interesting society where it’s expected to change genders? Seemed like it just was superficial.
I’m left confused by the nature of clockwork women. The beginning of the book heavily implies that dead girls brought back to life masquerade as mechanical clockwork women, but then later on they have actual mechanical women.
June 4, 2018
Agatha Christie meets Frankenstein - and then some. Lord Pembroke's lifelong friend is a victim of Constantine Affliction and, hiding from society, is posing as Pimm's wife. Criminal Abel Value threatens to expose their secret unless Pimm discovers who is murdering Value's prostitutes Similar to all STDs in its transmission but different in its effects, the disease causes sexual transmutations. The idea may have been taken from recent studies showing bisphenol A, phthalates and other chemicals cause hermaphroditic tendencies but, then, most good novels have a basis in truth.
Pimm manages to solve the solve the murders with the help of Ellie, a reporter, only to find himself in a more complex mystery for the second half of the book.
Pimm manages to solve the solve the murders with the help of Ellie, a reporter, only to find himself in a more complex mystery for the second half of the book.
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