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Gaslight & Grimm: Steampunk Faerie Tales
Once Upon a Time…
...ageless tales were told from one generation to the next, filled with both wonders and warnings. Tales of handsome princes and wicked queens, of good-hearted folk and evil stepmothers. Tales of danger and caution and magic...classics that still echo in our hearts and memories even to this day, told from old, cherished books or from memory at Grandma's knee.
Oh yes, tales have been told...but never quite like these. Journey with us through the pages of Gaslight and Grimm to discover timeless truths through lenses polished in the age of steam.
contains:
In Wolf’s Clothing by James Chambers
When Pigs Fly by Christine Norris
From the Horses (sic) Mouth by Bernie Mojzes
The Steamy Tale of Cinderella by Danny Birt
The Clockwork Nightingale by Jean Marie Ward !
The Walking Horse by Jeff Young
The Patented Troll by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin
A Cat Among the Gears by Elaine Corvidae
The Steam-Powered Dragon by David Lee Summers
All for Beauty and Youth by Kelly A. Harmon
The Giant Killer by Jonah Knight
The Hair Ladder by Diana Bastine
The Perfect Shoes by Jody Lynn Nye
...ageless tales were told from one generation to the next, filled with both wonders and warnings. Tales of handsome princes and wicked queens, of good-hearted folk and evil stepmothers. Tales of danger and caution and magic...classics that still echo in our hearts and memories even to this day, told from old, cherished books or from memory at Grandma's knee.
Oh yes, tales have been told...but never quite like these. Journey with us through the pages of Gaslight and Grimm to discover timeless truths through lenses polished in the age of steam.
contains:
In Wolf’s Clothing by James Chambers
When Pigs Fly by Christine Norris
From the Horses (sic) Mouth by Bernie Mojzes
The Steamy Tale of Cinderella by Danny Birt
The Clockwork Nightingale by Jean Marie Ward !
The Walking Horse by Jeff Young
The Patented Troll by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin
A Cat Among the Gears by Elaine Corvidae
The Steam-Powered Dragon by David Lee Summers
All for Beauty and Youth by Kelly A. Harmon
The Giant Killer by Jonah Knight
The Hair Ladder by Diana Bastine
The Perfect Shoes by Jody Lynn Nye
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2016
12 people are currently reading
827 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Ackley-McPhail
116 books206 followersAward-winning author, editor, and publisher Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for longer than she cares to admit. In 2014 she joined forces with husband Mike McPhail and friend Greg Schauer to form her own publishing house, eSpec Books (www.especbooks.com).
Her published works include eight novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court, The Redcaps’ Queen, Daire’s Devils, The Play of Light, and Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She is also the author of the solo collections Eternal Wanderings, A Legacy of Stars, Consigned to the Sea, Flash in the Can, Transcendence, Between Darkness and Light, The Fox’s Fire, The Kindly One, and the non-fiction writers’ guides The Literary Handyman, More Tips from the Handyman, and LH: Build-A-Book Workshop. She is the senior editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series, Gaslight & Grimm, Side of Good/Side of Evil, After Punk, and Footprints in the Stars. Her short stories are included in numerous other anthologies and collections.
In addition to her literary acclaim, she crafts and sells original costume horns under the moniker The Hornie Lady Custom Costume Horns, and homemade flavor-infused candied ginger under the brand of Ginger KICK! at literary conventions, on commission, and wholesale.
Danielle lives in New Jersey with her husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail and four extremely spoiled cats.
Her published works include eight novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court, The Redcaps’ Queen, Daire’s Devils, The Play of Light, and Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She is also the author of the solo collections Eternal Wanderings, A Legacy of Stars, Consigned to the Sea, Flash in the Can, Transcendence, Between Darkness and Light, The Fox’s Fire, The Kindly One, and the non-fiction writers’ guides The Literary Handyman, More Tips from the Handyman, and LH: Build-A-Book Workshop. She is the senior editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series, Gaslight & Grimm, Side of Good/Side of Evil, After Punk, and Footprints in the Stars. Her short stories are included in numerous other anthologies and collections.
In addition to her literary acclaim, she crafts and sells original costume horns under the moniker The Hornie Lady Custom Costume Horns, and homemade flavor-infused candied ginger under the brand of Ginger KICK! at literary conventions, on commission, and wholesale.
Danielle lives in New Jersey with her husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail and four extremely spoiled cats.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 22, 2022
Nov 22, 845am ~~ Review asap.
250pm ~~ I have not read many (if any) steampunk titles, but I noticed a song on YouTube a few weeks ago by a group called Steam Powered Giraffe and after seeing another link that talked about the band, I thought it might be fun to try a title or two of steampunk reading.
I found this collection of short stories at my favorite online used bookseller, and added one other title to my shopping list. When they came, the other title turned out to be a big book, too big for the end of the year, when I like to finish up lots of shorties and not spend weeks on just one title.
So here we are. First thing I noticed about this book is that the editor signed it on the title page. There is also a page with printed out spaces for a reader to collect the autographs of each story's author. Whoever had this book before I got it had the editor's signature on that page and also with that dedication on the title page (Autumn ~~ Get it in gear!) and had collected three other author signatures. I suppose they were the only ones at the gathering where 'Autumn' bought the book?
Anyway, since I don't know much of anything about the genre, I cannot judge whether or not these are typical 'steamy' stories, but except for one or two that I could not get myself interested in (The Walking House, for example) I very much enjoyed the book. The authors were very clever in their re-imaginings of the various original tales. There were riffs on Puss 'N Boots, The Three Little Pigs, The Goose Girl, Little Red Riding Hood, The Nightingale, and Baba Yaga, to name a few. That last one was the original for The Walking House, which never caught my fancy and I ended up skipping.
One of the fun ones to read was The Steam-Powered Dragon, based on a story called The Dragon And HIs Grandmother. I thought that mixing in elements of Rudyard Kipling's story The Man Who Would Be King was pretty cool here. I don't really remember ever reading the original Grimm story, though. Most of the other originals were familiar to me so I was able to have fun seeing how the authors played with the images and created their clockwork versions.
It was an entertaining book, and I just might explore more steampunk someday.
250pm ~~ I have not read many (if any) steampunk titles, but I noticed a song on YouTube a few weeks ago by a group called Steam Powered Giraffe and after seeing another link that talked about the band, I thought it might be fun to try a title or two of steampunk reading.
I found this collection of short stories at my favorite online used bookseller, and added one other title to my shopping list. When they came, the other title turned out to be a big book, too big for the end of the year, when I like to finish up lots of shorties and not spend weeks on just one title.
So here we are. First thing I noticed about this book is that the editor signed it on the title page. There is also a page with printed out spaces for a reader to collect the autographs of each story's author. Whoever had this book before I got it had the editor's signature on that page and also with that dedication on the title page (Autumn ~~ Get it in gear!) and had collected three other author signatures. I suppose they were the only ones at the gathering where 'Autumn' bought the book?
Anyway, since I don't know much of anything about the genre, I cannot judge whether or not these are typical 'steamy' stories, but except for one or two that I could not get myself interested in (The Walking House, for example) I very much enjoyed the book. The authors were very clever in their re-imaginings of the various original tales. There were riffs on Puss 'N Boots, The Three Little Pigs, The Goose Girl, Little Red Riding Hood, The Nightingale, and Baba Yaga, to name a few. That last one was the original for The Walking House, which never caught my fancy and I ended up skipping.
One of the fun ones to read was The Steam-Powered Dragon, based on a story called The Dragon And HIs Grandmother. I thought that mixing in elements of Rudyard Kipling's story The Man Who Would Be King was pretty cool here. I don't really remember ever reading the original Grimm story, though. Most of the other originals were familiar to me so I was able to have fun seeing how the authors played with the images and created their clockwork versions.
It was an entertaining book, and I just might explore more steampunk someday.
July 29, 2018
Steampunk retelling of classic fairy tales. Some super clever and beautifully written, others less so—1 skim and 1 DNF. But I really enjoyed the collection.
September 23, 2016
[I got a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
I found this anthology quite inspiring in general, and it left me with a better impression than anthologies generally do. I appreciated that most stories, while building upon the foundations of original tales, didn't hesitate to stray from them at some point, instead of being "mere" retellings almost identical to their inspirations. For instance, the one inspired by "Rapunzel".
The ones I liked best:
- "When Pigs Fly" (original story: The Three Little Pigs): airship and their badass captains, on a backdrop of Alliance vs. Rogues conflict. I was bound to like this one.
- "From the Horse's Mouth" (The Goose Girl): a gritty retelling, that doesn't shy away from the grim realities of a country at war.
- "The Giant Killer" (Jack the Giant Killer): with Jack being more of a Jane, with interesting devices and a tendency to get into trouble... but always with a certain style.
Remarks on a couple of other stories:
- "The (Steamy) Tale of Cinderella (Cinderella, obviously): set in a fleet gathered around the princely ship, where the fated ball is to be held. But the Prince isn't just some charming vapid man, Cinderella is more interested in machines than in snagging a man, and there's a nice LGBT dimension. I do regret, though, that the latter was presented a little abruptly, out of nowhere—there could have been so much more, instead of the (at first) traditional approach of shaming same-sex relationships. Fortunately Cinderella's and the Prince's decision is an interesting one.
- "The Hair Ladder": I liked the different relationship dynamis between "Rapunzel" and "the witch". I wasn't convinced by the mother, however, as she was much too selfish and vain, and felt like a cardboard villain.
But overall, these stories were more 3 to 4 stars each than anything really bad. "The Walking House" (Baba Yaga) is probably my least favourite.
I found this anthology quite inspiring in general, and it left me with a better impression than anthologies generally do. I appreciated that most stories, while building upon the foundations of original tales, didn't hesitate to stray from them at some point, instead of being "mere" retellings almost identical to their inspirations. For instance, the one inspired by "Rapunzel".
The ones I liked best:
- "When Pigs Fly" (original story: The Three Little Pigs): airship and their badass captains, on a backdrop of Alliance vs. Rogues conflict. I was bound to like this one.
- "From the Horse's Mouth" (The Goose Girl): a gritty retelling, that doesn't shy away from the grim realities of a country at war.
- "The Giant Killer" (Jack the Giant Killer): with Jack being more of a Jane, with interesting devices and a tendency to get into trouble... but always with a certain style.
Remarks on a couple of other stories:
- "The (Steamy) Tale of Cinderella (Cinderella, obviously): set in a fleet gathered around the princely ship, where the fated ball is to be held. But the Prince isn't just some charming vapid man, Cinderella is more interested in machines than in snagging a man, and there's a nice LGBT dimension. I do regret, though, that the latter was presented a little abruptly, out of nowhere—there could have been so much more, instead of the (at first) traditional approach of shaming same-sex relationships. Fortunately Cinderella's and the Prince's decision is an interesting one.
- "The Hair Ladder": I liked the different relationship dynamis between "Rapunzel" and "the witch". I wasn't convinced by the mother, however, as she was much too selfish and vain, and felt like a cardboard villain.
But overall, these stories were more 3 to 4 stars each than anything really bad. "The Walking House" (Baba Yaga) is probably my least favourite.
June 12, 2016
I like steampunk and fairytale retellings so I was enjoying these 13 short stories. Just when you think that a famous fairytale can't be re-imagined anymore, someone comes up with an original idea. I liked the blend of magic and steam powered technology in the Red Riding Hood story. The three little pigs story made me giggle. Their names are Porky, Petunia and Wilbur, all named after famous pig characters, very clever. I was wondering if 'straight from the horse's mouth' was a phrase that originated from the Grimm story The Goose Girl, but I guess it was actually from horse racing. But it seemed like it since in the Goose Girl there is a talking horse. The Cinderella story is very clever. The Nightingale is a Hans Christian Andersen story not Grimm, which confused me. The Grimm story is the Nightingale and the Blindworm. Some of the tales I wasn't familiar with, I had to look them up. The Goose Girl, The Nightingale and The Dragon and his Grandmother. The Red Shoes is another Hans Christian Andersen story. This is my favorite line: "knowledge that the rest of the company envied her so much they would bleed pea green if poked with a pin." 4 stars.
May 31, 2016
**I received this book through NetGalley and eSpec Books in exchange for an honest review**
In Wolfs Clothing : 3/5
A decent retelling- I'm alright with the whole 'Red Riding Hood' legacy being a sort of spell. I'm a little wary of the whole 'Marceline turns younger' thing, mainly because Morris repeatedly says that he's sexually attracted to her while she appears to be a 'maiden' (to the point where I'm hesitantly putting this under the 'pedophilia' bookshelf). I don't really understand the steampunk genre, but I feel like, outside of the setting and the fact that Marceline is a mechanic, there isn't much to it in this story. [Shelves: super pale main character, pedophilia, werewolves, world-building]
When Pigs Fly: 1/5
I skipped this story because I bored of it quickly. I don't know if it's because of The Three Little Pigs basis or the fact that it was just... so dry. I didn't care for the sibling dynamic and I went to the next story very, very quickly.
From the Horses Mouth: 4/5
So far, this is the best story I've read so far. I don't know anything about The Goose Girl, but I love the old woman and the horse head, as well as the reveal at the end. In my opinion, the best use of suspense/withheld information so far.
The (Steamy) Tale of Cinderella: 3/5
Before anyone panics, the 'steamy' part refers to the steampunk engines of a ship. I really liked the Mer-Matron as a fairy godmother, but I have to knock down two stars for this undercurrent of misogyny and homophobia (that women can't operate machinery or wear pants and that Cinderella has to be locked up because she likes girls). My question is, why limit yourself to the same boring restrictions of this old world when you're writing a completely new one? . [Shelves: homophobia, lgbtq, mermaids, misogyny, slutshaming]
The Clockwork Nightingale*: 3/5
Good writing, but there are definitely issues with how Shiro is Japanese, where, if he's supposed to parallel the Chinese Emperor, means that the author equates all Asians to one another. It's an even bigger problem if Big Roy is supposed to be the Chinese Emperor- he wasn't evil in the story, just uncaring. The nightingale was also free to leave after he lost interest, something that Big Roy didn't show (also, while Roy's race isn't stated, it's implied that he's white- and if he isn't, and is Japanese like Shiro, then it's the same problem again). It was decent, if too long and packed with an undercurrent of racism. [Shelves: asian characters, casual racism, japanese characters, super pale main character, western]
The Walking House: 3/5
If it weren't for my love of Russian folklore, I probably would've set this down a few paragraphs in. It takes too long to get to Baba Yaga and, when they do, it's all overshadowed by romance. [Shelves: super pale main character, russian folklore]
The Patented Troll: 1/5
Saw that it was based off of 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' and began with "Once upon a time, in a world of gears and steam" and was immediately thrown off. Not for me.
A Cat Among the Gears: 2/5
It was just really, really hammy. I'm cool with sassy narrators and all, but, being such a short story, having the main character constantly make digs at everyone (including the reader) got really annoying. The premise was really flimsy, too, and I immediately cringed upon seeing the word 'minion'. [Shelves: animal main character, bad writing bad plot]
The Steam-Powered Dragon: 3/5
It was cute, but there was a bit of 'the English don't deserve any of the anger of their former colonies' nonsense through it. The Indian grandmother was nice, and I liked the dragon, but the three English soldiers were genuinely lazy and manipulative (sort of like how they were trying to say the English weren't!) [Shelves: indian characters, casual racism, poc side characters]
All for Beauty and Youth: 3/5
I don't know if it was because of the lack of house-made-of-candies, but it didn't feel very Hansel and Gretel to me. At the very most, Gretel remained the hero between the siblings, which was nice. The 'draining children of their breath' reminded me of some other story that I can't remember (and vaguely of Jupiter Ascending, if I'm being honest) [Shelves: abusive homes, misogyny]
The Giant Killer: 4/5
A good retelling, but I think it suffered from a lack of backstory. I assume it was a fantastical version of the United States (with references to the Civil War and Revolutionary War), but minor things like why Revere had a sword threw me off-guard. [Shelves: action, fantasy, world-building]
The Hair Ladder: 3/5
I would probably like this retelling more if Julia wasn't portrayed as so selfish and mean- it's shallow and, in the context of the original myth, classist. The mother in the original was poor and wanted to eat- so her husband stole rapunzel/rampion from the neighbor's garden (who later turned out to be a witch that took their child as payment for the theft). Having her turn into a selfish pregnant woman who like shiny things and would blowtorch her own daughter... It doesn't sit right with me. [Shelves: classism, misogyny]
The Perfect Shoes: 3/5
It's a good, well-thought-out story (and, personally, I think The Red Shoes worked very well with the steampunk genre), though I'm a little sketchy on the difference between Monique and M. de Raymond. She seemed very much a teenager to me (and was a child in the original, if I remember correctly), so I didn't really care for their relationship [Shelves: ballet, unhealthy relationships, unspecified age difference]
*Shiro Shimotsuga is intended to take the place of the Chinese Emperor from the original tale, making his character the racist 'Asians are interchangeable' stereotype. On top of this, his last name is actually a district in the Tochigi Prefecture in Japan. His first name is an uncommon first name in Japanese- it's usually used as a noun meaning 'white'.
In Wolfs Clothing : 3/5
A decent retelling- I'm alright with the whole 'Red Riding Hood' legacy being a sort of spell. I'm a little wary of the whole 'Marceline turns younger' thing, mainly because Morris repeatedly says that he's sexually attracted to her while she appears to be a 'maiden' (to the point where I'm hesitantly putting this under the 'pedophilia' bookshelf). I don't really understand the steampunk genre, but I feel like, outside of the setting and the fact that Marceline is a mechanic, there isn't much to it in this story. [Shelves: super pale main character, pedophilia, werewolves, world-building]
When Pigs Fly: 1/5
I skipped this story because I bored of it quickly. I don't know if it's because of The Three Little Pigs basis or the fact that it was just... so dry. I didn't care for the sibling dynamic and I went to the next story very, very quickly.
From the Horses Mouth: 4/5
So far, this is the best story I've read so far. I don't know anything about The Goose Girl, but I love the old woman and the horse head, as well as the reveal at the end. In my opinion, the best use of suspense/withheld information so far.
The (Steamy) Tale of Cinderella: 3/5
Before anyone panics, the 'steamy' part refers to the steampunk engines of a ship. I really liked the Mer-Matron as a fairy godmother, but I have to knock down two stars for this undercurrent of misogyny and homophobia (that women can't operate machinery or wear pants and that Cinderella has to be locked up because she likes girls). My question is, why limit yourself to the same boring restrictions of this old world when you're writing a completely new one? . [Shelves: homophobia, lgbtq, mermaids, misogyny, slutshaming]
The Clockwork Nightingale*: 3/5
Good writing, but there are definitely issues with how Shiro is Japanese, where, if he's supposed to parallel the Chinese Emperor, means that the author equates all Asians to one another. It's an even bigger problem if Big Roy is supposed to be the Chinese Emperor- he wasn't evil in the story, just uncaring. The nightingale was also free to leave after he lost interest, something that Big Roy didn't show (also, while Roy's race isn't stated, it's implied that he's white- and if he isn't, and is Japanese like Shiro, then it's the same problem again). It was decent, if too long and packed with an undercurrent of racism. [Shelves: asian characters, casual racism, japanese characters, super pale main character, western]
The Walking House: 3/5
If it weren't for my love of Russian folklore, I probably would've set this down a few paragraphs in. It takes too long to get to Baba Yaga and, when they do, it's all overshadowed by romance. [Shelves: super pale main character, russian folklore]
The Patented Troll: 1/5
Saw that it was based off of 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' and began with "Once upon a time, in a world of gears and steam" and was immediately thrown off. Not for me.
A Cat Among the Gears: 2/5
It was just really, really hammy. I'm cool with sassy narrators and all, but, being such a short story, having the main character constantly make digs at everyone (including the reader) got really annoying. The premise was really flimsy, too, and I immediately cringed upon seeing the word 'minion'. [Shelves: animal main character, bad writing bad plot]
The Steam-Powered Dragon: 3/5
It was cute, but there was a bit of 'the English don't deserve any of the anger of their former colonies' nonsense through it. The Indian grandmother was nice, and I liked the dragon, but the three English soldiers were genuinely lazy and manipulative (sort of like how they were trying to say the English weren't!) [Shelves: indian characters, casual racism, poc side characters]
All for Beauty and Youth: 3/5
I don't know if it was because of the lack of house-made-of-candies, but it didn't feel very Hansel and Gretel to me. At the very most, Gretel remained the hero between the siblings, which was nice. The 'draining children of their breath' reminded me of some other story that I can't remember (and vaguely of Jupiter Ascending, if I'm being honest) [Shelves: abusive homes, misogyny]
The Giant Killer: 4/5
A good retelling, but I think it suffered from a lack of backstory. I assume it was a fantastical version of the United States (with references to the Civil War and Revolutionary War), but minor things like why Revere had a sword threw me off-guard. [Shelves: action, fantasy, world-building]
The Hair Ladder: 3/5
I would probably like this retelling more if Julia wasn't portrayed as so selfish and mean- it's shallow and, in the context of the original myth, classist. The mother in the original was poor and wanted to eat- so her husband stole rapunzel/rampion from the neighbor's garden (who later turned out to be a witch that took their child as payment for the theft). Having her turn into a selfish pregnant woman who like shiny things and would blowtorch her own daughter... It doesn't sit right with me. [Shelves: classism, misogyny]
The Perfect Shoes: 3/5
It's a good, well-thought-out story (and, personally, I think The Red Shoes worked very well with the steampunk genre), though I'm a little sketchy on the difference between Monique and M. de Raymond. She seemed very much a teenager to me (and was a child in the original, if I remember correctly), so I didn't really care for their relationship [Shelves: ballet, unhealthy relationships, unspecified age difference]
*Shiro Shimotsuga is intended to take the place of the Chinese Emperor from the original tale, making his character the racist 'Asians are interchangeable' stereotype. On top of this, his last name is actually a district in the Tochigi Prefecture in Japan. His first name is an uncommon first name in Japanese- it's usually used as a noun meaning 'white'.
November 11, 2021
A fun read, especially if you enjoy Fairy Tales and Steampunk.
August 11, 2024
This was a fun anthology. It features steampunk retellings of several fairy tales, all of which do a great job of reinventing the stories in fresh, unexpected ways.
November 1, 2021
I found this a very good anthology: nice assortment of authors and stories that tell fairy tales with a steampunk spin. It's far and away one of the better anthologies I've enjoyed: most will have a few tales I loved and several I found lacking. This had no clinkers at all; it is solid quality from cover to cover. I particularly enjoyed Bernie Mojzes "From the Horse's Mouth" and Jean Marie Ward's "The Clockwork Nightingale".
Do yourself a favor: pick up a copy of eSpec Books' Gaslight and Grim and settle in for a fun journey.
Do yourself a favor: pick up a copy of eSpec Books' Gaslight and Grim and settle in for a fun journey.
July 24, 2018
I enjoyed this collection of updated faerie tales set in a steampunk universe--some more than others, of course, but all in amazingly imaginative settings. My favorites include The Giant Killer (I want to see her again), A Cat Among the Gears, When Pigs Fly, and The (Steamy) Tale of Cinderella. Oh, almost forgot The Patented Troll. The others are good too, though not all have happy endings--or are happy journeys.
April 17, 2019
This was a lovely book. I did like some stories more than others, but I can attribute that to personal taste since all the stories were well executed whether they resonated with me or not. I was particularly fond of "From the Horses Mouth," "The Clockwork Nightingale," and "A Cat Among Gears."
Read
June 8, 2018Loved this collection. Some very imaginative retellings of classic stories. Marvelous
June 9, 2019
A superb collection of fairy tales retold for the Steampunk universe. Most were very imaginative and refreshing but, as with all collections, there were a couple that I found difficult to get along with simply because it felt that the authors were trying a little too hard to be different. Three stories I particularly enjoyed were red riding hood, the red shoes and Rapunzel.
I tend to avoid anthologies but the combination of fairy tales and Steampunk was completely irresistible - it was nice not to be disappointed. Would definitely recommend.
With thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the review copy.
I tend to avoid anthologies but the combination of fairy tales and Steampunk was completely irresistible - it was nice not to be disappointed. Would definitely recommend.
With thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the review copy.
July 7, 2017
Thirteen fairy tales transformed into shorts for this steampunk anthology provide several evenings of excellent enterainment, if you manage to put the book down before dawn.
In Wolfs Clothing by James Chambers - Can a family curse become a blessing in wolf's clothing?Another addition to Morris Garvey's continuing storyline. Look for other stories by Mr. Chambers staring Morris where steampunk technology and magic cross. (Based on Little Riding Hood)
When Pigs Fly by Christing Norris - A lively story of airships and fighter dogfights, where sibling rivalry has unexpected consequences on the air battlefield. (Based on the Three LIttle Pigs)
From the Horses Mouth by Bernie Mojzes - A story within a story; from a horses (mechanical) mouth comes a tale true, leaving the audience with more questions and a royal child by one parent on the run. (Based on The Goose Girl)
The (Steamy) Tale of Cinderella by Danny Birt - Cinderella could care less about the ball, what she really wants is a turn at the steam engine. (Based on Cinderella)
The Clockwork Nightingale by Jean Marie Ward - Closely related to the Ballad of John Henry, human vs. steam machine, in this case caged singers. (Based on The Nightingale)
The Walking House by Jeff Young - Baba Yaga's challenges will never change, no matter what the technology, nor will her steel teeth and taste for flesh. (Based on Baba Yaga)
The Patented Troll by Gail Z. and Larry N. Martin - One of my favorite fairy tales is the Three Billy Goats Gruff, so I am picky and this one doesn't reach my standard after my love affair with "3-Part Puzzle" by George R. Dickson. (Based on The Three Billy Goats Gruff)
A Cat Among the Gears by Elaine Corvidae - Following the original Fairy Tale closely, A Cat Among the Gears is a pleasant steampunk variation. (Based on Puss 'n Boots)
The Steam-Powered Dragon by David Lee Summers - A slow story about three deserters, a dragon and his grandmother. I think this was my least favorite anthology story. (Based on The Dragon and His Grandmother)
All for Beauty and Youth by Kelly A. Harmon - Another of my favorite fairy tale, All for Beauty and Youth does an solid job of children overcoming the evil in their lives. Not as action pack as most modern movie variations, but the children are closer to their appropriate ages in this story and use their brains instead of their brawn. (Based on Hansel and Gretel)
The Giant Killer by Jonah Knight - Lively steampunk action with strong female character and three giants wreaking havoc in Boston. (Based on Jack the Giant Killer)
The Hair Ladder by Diana Bastine - A weird little tale about parenthood, love, and selfishness. (Based on Rapunzel)
The Perfect Shoes by Jody Lynn Nye - This particular fairy tale always spooks me and this variation is no exception. Art is an obsession which drives the artist, cruel and beautiful to the point of never wanting to do it again ... until the next time. Would I wear red shoes, pick up a red needle, grip a crimson pen, or lay my fingers upon a blood keyboard ... to embroider, to do calligraphy, to write, to sing, to dance ... to the very best of my ability, to the limits of exhaustion and beyond? The scars on my hands from embroidery, from drilling holes in my fingertips pushing the needle through cloth, from cutting permanent creases in my joints while guiding thread, say I would. Would you wear red shoes for your art? Does this story represent your greatest nightmare and your fondest wish? (Based on The Red Shoes)
In Wolfs Clothing by James Chambers - Can a family curse become a blessing in wolf's clothing?Another addition to Morris Garvey's continuing storyline. Look for other stories by Mr. Chambers staring Morris where steampunk technology and magic cross. (Based on Little Riding Hood)
When Pigs Fly by Christing Norris - A lively story of airships and fighter dogfights, where sibling rivalry has unexpected consequences on the air battlefield. (Based on the Three LIttle Pigs)
From the Horses Mouth by Bernie Mojzes - A story within a story; from a horses (mechanical) mouth comes a tale true, leaving the audience with more questions and a royal child by one parent on the run. (Based on The Goose Girl)
The (Steamy) Tale of Cinderella by Danny Birt - Cinderella could care less about the ball, what she really wants is a turn at the steam engine. (Based on Cinderella)
The Clockwork Nightingale by Jean Marie Ward - Closely related to the Ballad of John Henry, human vs. steam machine, in this case caged singers. (Based on The Nightingale)
The Walking House by Jeff Young - Baba Yaga's challenges will never change, no matter what the technology, nor will her steel teeth and taste for flesh. (Based on Baba Yaga)
The Patented Troll by Gail Z. and Larry N. Martin - One of my favorite fairy tales is the Three Billy Goats Gruff, so I am picky and this one doesn't reach my standard after my love affair with "3-Part Puzzle" by George R. Dickson. (Based on The Three Billy Goats Gruff)
A Cat Among the Gears by Elaine Corvidae - Following the original Fairy Tale closely, A Cat Among the Gears is a pleasant steampunk variation. (Based on Puss 'n Boots)
The Steam-Powered Dragon by David Lee Summers - A slow story about three deserters, a dragon and his grandmother. I think this was my least favorite anthology story. (Based on The Dragon and His Grandmother)
All for Beauty and Youth by Kelly A. Harmon - Another of my favorite fairy tale, All for Beauty and Youth does an solid job of children overcoming the evil in their lives. Not as action pack as most modern movie variations, but the children are closer to their appropriate ages in this story and use their brains instead of their brawn. (Based on Hansel and Gretel)
The Giant Killer by Jonah Knight - Lively steampunk action with strong female character and three giants wreaking havoc in Boston. (Based on Jack the Giant Killer)
The Hair Ladder by Diana Bastine - A weird little tale about parenthood, love, and selfishness. (Based on Rapunzel)
The Perfect Shoes by Jody Lynn Nye - This particular fairy tale always spooks me and this variation is no exception. Art is an obsession which drives the artist, cruel and beautiful to the point of never wanting to do it again ... until the next time. Would I wear red shoes, pick up a red needle, grip a crimson pen, or lay my fingers upon a blood keyboard ... to embroider, to do calligraphy, to write, to sing, to dance ... to the very best of my ability, to the limits of exhaustion and beyond? The scars on my hands from embroidery, from drilling holes in my fingertips pushing the needle through cloth, from cutting permanent creases in my joints while guiding thread, say I would. Would you wear red shoes for your art? Does this story represent your greatest nightmare and your fondest wish? (Based on The Red Shoes)
July 4, 2016
Gaslight and Grimm is a collection of fairy tales you know and love ‘punked’ into unimaginable guises. From the sultry seduction of the Big Bad Wolf in James’ Chambers’ take on Red Riding Hood, ‘In Wolf’s Clothing’ to Jody Lynn Nye’s poignant portrayal of dancer's desire to become prima ballerina, in ‘The Perfect Shoes’ based upon The Red Shoes, there are variations to suit all tastes. Each writer has wrought their own style upon Grimms’ work. David Lee Summers brings a touch of the East to The Dragon and His Grandmother in ‘The Steam Powered Dragon’. Kelly A. Harmon adds a touch of gritty egalitarianism to Hansel and Gretel in the heart rendering ‘All For Beauty and Youth’, while Gail Z. And Larry N. Martin herald and end to desolation and despair with their version of the Billy Goats Gruff, ‘The Patented Troll’. Other authors and tales are: Christine Norris, ‘When Pigs Fly’; Bernie Mojzes, ‘From the Horse’s Mouth’; Danny Birt, ‘The Steamy Tale of Cinderella’; Jean Marie Ward, ‘The Clockwork Nightingale’; Jeff Young, ‘The Walking House’; Elaine Corvidae, ‘Cat Among the Pigeons’; Jonah Knight, ‘The Giant Killer’ and Diana Bastine, ‘The Hair Ladder’.
Throughout Gaslight and Grimm, the stories are illustrated with the delicate woodcuts of Dustin Blottenberger which add a further folkloric feeling to the collection of super, sinister and delightful tales.
If you love the grimness of Grimm and the weird whimsy of Steampunk them this anthology will be a most pleasurable experience. Should you love Grimm but have yet to venture into the weird realms of Steampunk then here is enlightenment!
Throughout Gaslight and Grimm, the stories are illustrated with the delicate woodcuts of Dustin Blottenberger which add a further folkloric feeling to the collection of super, sinister and delightful tales.
If you love the grimness of Grimm and the weird whimsy of Steampunk them this anthology will be a most pleasurable experience. Should you love Grimm but have yet to venture into the weird realms of Steampunk then here is enlightenment!
July 6, 2016
I received a copy of this for free from NetGalley.
I was initially really intrigued by the premise of this collection. There have been many fairy tale retellings coming to my attention recently, and I was really interested to see how the authors would spin steampunk into fairy tales. I might have found it more enjoyable if I remembered more of the original stories they retold, rather than just the mainstream ones. (It's been a long time since I've read the Grimm versions!)
The quality of the stories varied greatly. There were a few I wished could be full novels, some that worked well as short stories but could've used a little more work, and a couple that just fell totally flat.
It was good to see a few more inclusive characters (gay Cinderella, y'all), and there were certainly some new twists and some stories turned around completely!
Overall, I'd say I enjoyed it enough to want to finish, but probably not enough to read it again. I'm definitely interested in this genre as a whole and will be keeping an eye out for more books in this vein.
I was initially really intrigued by the premise of this collection. There have been many fairy tale retellings coming to my attention recently, and I was really interested to see how the authors would spin steampunk into fairy tales. I might have found it more enjoyable if I remembered more of the original stories they retold, rather than just the mainstream ones. (It's been a long time since I've read the Grimm versions!)
The quality of the stories varied greatly. There were a few I wished could be full novels, some that worked well as short stories but could've used a little more work, and a couple that just fell totally flat.
It was good to see a few more inclusive characters (gay Cinderella, y'all), and there were certainly some new twists and some stories turned around completely!
Overall, I'd say I enjoyed it enough to want to finish, but probably not enough to read it again. I'm definitely interested in this genre as a whole and will be keeping an eye out for more books in this vein.
August 29, 2016
I am a few stories in so far, and I feel compelled to write a review already. Some of the fairy tales I'm not so familiar with, but others I have heard in one form or another over the years. The re-imagining of these tales are brilliant, a brilliant twist on these tales. It also provides a good preview of some authors you may not be familiar with, as each tale is written by a different author. It opens with an adaptation of "Little Red Riding Hood" by James Chambers, and incorporates parts of the story we are all familiar with, and is followed by "The Three Little Pigs" adaptation by Christine Norris, which is as unexpected as it is enjoyable. If you enjoy steampunk or fantasy literature, this is a must read.
November 29, 2016
Like in most compilations of short stories, there were some I really liked, and some that weren't as good. I didn't dislike any of the stories from this book, which is good. And several, like the Cinderella and Rapunzel retellings, that have stuck with me and make me think. Overall, I liked this book, and if you are a steampunk or fairy tale fan, this you will probably like it, too.
I received this book as a free giveaway from the Goodreads giveaways.
I received this book as a free giveaway from the Goodreads giveaways.
October 22, 2016
Fantastic new take on old fairy tales. If you think you know what's going to happen, think again. Each story has it's own little twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
September 12, 2016
If you like steampunk and fairy-tales, then I highly recommend this book. Although I have a few personal favourites, no one story shines out over the rest or lets the collection down. All are equally absorbing, superbly written and masterfully worked. It will keep you thoroughly entertained.
May 21, 2016
This book feels like dark treacle. It is deceptively sweet, strangely liquid and can drown you in a peculiar feelings.
The re-tales are all of books we have read and enjoy. Little Red Riding Hood. Cinderella. The Three Little Pigs.
Or are they?
When the wolf is a tale and a pelt, when the houses are hot=air baloon... what is known, and what is not?
The tales are deep and heavy like syrup, known and secretive like the Giocon'da''s smile,
I don't know if I liked this book... but I'll be thinking about it for a long, long time.
The re-tales are all of books we have read and enjoy. Little Red Riding Hood. Cinderella. The Three Little Pigs.
Or are they?
When the wolf is a tale and a pelt, when the houses are hot=air baloon... what is known, and what is not?
The tales are deep and heavy like syrup, known and secretive like the Giocon'da''s smile,
I don't know if I liked this book... but I'll be thinking about it for a long, long time.
June 8, 2016
Backed on Kickstarter so I may have a bit of a bias.
Isn't the cover gorgeous. OMG I love it.
I fell in love with the description as soon as I read it and couldn't hit the backer button fast enough. I'll update once I've received and read.
Isn't the cover gorgeous. OMG I love it.
I fell in love with the description as soon as I read it and couldn't hit the backer button fast enough. I'll update once I've received and read.
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