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The Steam Clock Legacy #3
Yuletide Miracle
By day, London’s Steam Emporium is a bustling Christmas market, an all-ages toyshop full of technological marvels. By night, its volunteers assemble—a ragtag community of wounded servicemen and women—under the tallest Christmas tree in Europe. They are the empire’s forgotten heroes, fallen on hard times.
But this year they have an exciting addition: old Red Mulqueen, newly arrived from abroad, has a fighting spirit and the most extraordinary clockwork leg. He’s here on a mysterious mission, and is wanted by the Leviacrum, Britain’s tyrannical authority.
Red’s plans take a turn, however, when he saves the life of a troubled young schoolboy, Edmond Reardon, and becomes the object of the lad’s incorrigible curiosity. They strike up an unexpected friendship. But when danger descends on the Emporium, Red, Edmond and their veteran friends must band together to fight for what matters most during Christmas—each other.
A Steam Clock Legacy novella.
But this year they have an exciting addition: old Red Mulqueen, newly arrived from abroad, has a fighting spirit and the most extraordinary clockwork leg. He’s here on a mysterious mission, and is wanted by the Leviacrum, Britain’s tyrannical authority.
Red’s plans take a turn, however, when he saves the life of a troubled young schoolboy, Edmond Reardon, and becomes the object of the lad’s incorrigible curiosity. They strike up an unexpected friendship. But when danger descends on the Emporium, Red, Edmond and their veteran friends must band together to fight for what matters most during Christmas—each other.
A Steam Clock Legacy novella.
- GenresSteampunk
100 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2013
About the author
Robert Appleton
61 books71 followersRobert Appleton is a British science fiction and adventure author partial to tales of survival in far-flung locations. Many of his sci-fi books share the same universe as his popular Alien Safari series, though tend to feature standalone storylines. His rebellious characters range from an orphaned grifter on Mars to a lone woman gate-crashing the war in her biotech suit. His sci-fi readers regularly earn enough frequent flyer miles to qualify for a cross-galaxy voyage of their choosing. His publishers include Harlequin Carina Press, and he also ghost-writes novels in other genres. In his free time he hikes, plays soccer, and kayaks whenever he can. The night sky is his inspiration.
His work has been nominated for several awards, and in 2011 he won the EPIC Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Be sure to follow Robert on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://bit.ly/3qLWVHu
His work has been nominated for several awards, and in 2011 he won the EPIC Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Be sure to follow Robert on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://bit.ly/3qLWVHu
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 27, 2013
Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite.
“Yuletide Miracle” by Robert Appleton is as fine an example of the Steampunk genre as you’ll find anywhere. The story does not focus on the artifacts of a Steampunk world; rather it simply makes use of them to further the story, as the occasion may call for.
In “Yuletide Miracle”, young Edmond Reardon is trudging through the snow with his parents, Professor Cecil Reardon and Mrs. Lois Reardon, on Christmas Eve, wondering when and if they are ever going to enter a store to buy something. Spying what appears to be a 10-pound note partially buried in the slushy curbside snow, he bends down pretending to tie his shoe, so he can pick up the money without his parents noticing.
Suddenly a car swerves to avoid a giant snowball, and skids directly toward Edmond. His mother screams and reaches for him, but just when it appears the two of them will both be killed, the strong arms of a stranger snatch them from the path of the out-of-control steamcar. Grateful for saving their lives, Lois invites the obviously down-and-out stranger to share their Christmas Eve dinner, and he readily accepts.
Throughout the story this stranger, Red Mulqueen, plays a significant role as a radical trying to expose and break up the powerful Atlas Club, which has subsumed the Leviacrum Council in an effort to take control of England through subterfuge. Not until the final page do we understand just who Red Mulqueen is.
Robert Appleton has fashioned a potent and compelling tale with such a breathtaking bombshell of a conclusion, you will be tempted immediately to reread the entire story, with this additional information in hand. Even if you successfully eschew the temptation, “Yuletide Miracle” will remain in your head for some time, as you re-evaluate various events in light of your new understanding.
“Yuletide Miracle” is not a long story, but it is definitely long enough you get your money’s worth. Quantity notwithstanding, the quality of the story is well worth the money, too. This is a poignant tale that truly is a “Yuletide Miracle.”
“Yuletide Miracle” by Robert Appleton is as fine an example of the Steampunk genre as you’ll find anywhere. The story does not focus on the artifacts of a Steampunk world; rather it simply makes use of them to further the story, as the occasion may call for.
In “Yuletide Miracle”, young Edmond Reardon is trudging through the snow with his parents, Professor Cecil Reardon and Mrs. Lois Reardon, on Christmas Eve, wondering when and if they are ever going to enter a store to buy something. Spying what appears to be a 10-pound note partially buried in the slushy curbside snow, he bends down pretending to tie his shoe, so he can pick up the money without his parents noticing.
Suddenly a car swerves to avoid a giant snowball, and skids directly toward Edmond. His mother screams and reaches for him, but just when it appears the two of them will both be killed, the strong arms of a stranger snatch them from the path of the out-of-control steamcar. Grateful for saving their lives, Lois invites the obviously down-and-out stranger to share their Christmas Eve dinner, and he readily accepts.
Throughout the story this stranger, Red Mulqueen, plays a significant role as a radical trying to expose and break up the powerful Atlas Club, which has subsumed the Leviacrum Council in an effort to take control of England through subterfuge. Not until the final page do we understand just who Red Mulqueen is.
Robert Appleton has fashioned a potent and compelling tale with such a breathtaking bombshell of a conclusion, you will be tempted immediately to reread the entire story, with this additional information in hand. Even if you successfully eschew the temptation, “Yuletide Miracle” will remain in your head for some time, as you re-evaluate various events in light of your new understanding.
“Yuletide Miracle” is not a long story, but it is definitely long enough you get your money’s worth. Quantity notwithstanding, the quality of the story is well worth the money, too. This is a poignant tale that truly is a “Yuletide Miracle.”
August 2, 2020
~Steampunk and Christmas…great combination
~I was really looking forward to this story, it combined two of my favorite genres. However, I just seemed to slog through it…I could not even finish it. Guess I found the story too convoluted and I was not able to really connect with any of the characters.
~I feel bad that I did not finish the entire book. I rated it a three-star, because that is right in the middle, I could not go any higher, but it did not deserve to be penalized any lower because I lost all interest in reading it.
~I was really looking forward to this story, it combined two of my favorite genres. However, I just seemed to slog through it…I could not even finish it. Guess I found the story too convoluted and I was not able to really connect with any of the characters.
~I feel bad that I did not finish the entire book. I rated it a three-star, because that is right in the middle, I could not go any higher, but it did not deserve to be penalized any lower because I lost all interest in reading it.
September 4, 2013
This was a pretty nice book.
Throughout the book the author uses steampunk to enhance the world.
I will probably read this book to my stepdaughter as she gets a bit older and may have more appreciation for the steampunk aspect of the book.
Overall, I believe the author could have fleshed out the details more, however it's possible he chose not to do so to keep the book a short and quick read.
Also, the book had a very nice surprise ending which gave me some new insights on the story.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Throughout the book the author uses steampunk to enhance the world.
I will probably read this book to my stepdaughter as she gets a bit older and may have more appreciation for the steampunk aspect of the book.
Overall, I believe the author could have fleshed out the details more, however it's possible he chose not to do so to keep the book a short and quick read.
Also, the book had a very nice surprise ending which gave me some new insights on the story.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
November 16, 2013
Excellent ending to the trilogy. It was rather surprising in fact. But I'm curious, what has happened to Sonja and Meridith?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews