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Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #anthology
Magical Mechanications
Four steampunk novelettes from the authors of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris
Little Red Flying Hood by Tee Morris
Prepare for a dogfight with the Big, Bad Wolf...
In France a deadly battle is raging in the skies, but Scarlett Quinn has been shuffled off to reconnaissance duty in an ailing biplane that has seen better days. However, fate will put her in the cross-hairs of one of Germany's greatest aces, behind enemy lines and way over her head. Completing her mission will be no easy task, and Scarlett must use her wits and skills if she wants to return safely back to earth.
Aladdin and His Wonderfully Infernal Device by Tee Morris
Aladdin is a street-wise thief that finds himself under the tutelage of a world-renown illusionist. He is escorted deep into the deserts in search of a treasure beyond his wildest dreams, and discovers instead something far more valuable—a destiny.
Little Clockwork Mermaid by Pip Ballantine
The mermaid Lorelei is the youngest daughter of King Triton, but she has always been drawn to the Above world. Though she is revels in the joys of her tail and the underwater world, she has never felt she belongs there. The Sea Witch and her marvelous contraptions offer a way to pursue her dreams. What she will find there will change her fate forever.
Mechanical Wings by Pip Ballantine
Based on Hans Christian Anderson's classic fairytale Wild Swans, this is the story of Eleanor and her quest to save her beloved brothers.
When the beautiful Faine Escrew marries Eleanor's father, she, her brother's and the flying City of Swans are thrown into danger. Even worse, she is sent away by her new step-mother, and discovers her brothers have been locked in mechanical swans, and only she can save them.
This impossible task demands everything from Eleanor, and only her wits and determination can save those she loves.
Little Red Flying Hood by Tee Morris
Prepare for a dogfight with the Big, Bad Wolf...
In France a deadly battle is raging in the skies, but Scarlett Quinn has been shuffled off to reconnaissance duty in an ailing biplane that has seen better days. However, fate will put her in the cross-hairs of one of Germany's greatest aces, behind enemy lines and way over her head. Completing her mission will be no easy task, and Scarlett must use her wits and skills if she wants to return safely back to earth.
Aladdin and His Wonderfully Infernal Device by Tee Morris
Aladdin is a street-wise thief that finds himself under the tutelage of a world-renown illusionist. He is escorted deep into the deserts in search of a treasure beyond his wildest dreams, and discovers instead something far more valuable—a destiny.
Little Clockwork Mermaid by Pip Ballantine
The mermaid Lorelei is the youngest daughter of King Triton, but she has always been drawn to the Above world. Though she is revels in the joys of her tail and the underwater world, she has never felt she belongs there. The Sea Witch and her marvelous contraptions offer a way to pursue her dreams. What she will find there will change her fate forever.
Mechanical Wings by Pip Ballantine
Based on Hans Christian Anderson's classic fairytale Wild Swans, this is the story of Eleanor and her quest to save her beloved brothers.
When the beautiful Faine Escrew marries Eleanor's father, she, her brother's and the flying City of Swans are thrown into danger. Even worse, she is sent away by her new step-mother, and discovers her brothers have been locked in mechanical swans, and only she can save them.
This impossible task demands everything from Eleanor, and only her wits and determination can save those she loves.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2016
13 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 26, 2019
This was a decent set of short stories. I have not read any of the books in the main series for the Ministory of Peculiar Occurrences, but as far as I can tell these are just standalone fairy tale retellings set in the same general universe and don't really require any outside knowledge. The only one that really stuck with me was the the Aladdin retelling, but that might be because I just really love Aladdin. The others were The Little Mermaid [which I don't generally care about although I wouldn't say I dislike it either], Little Red Riding Hood [interesting for retellings if done well, but I'm not much for WWI/II inspired stories], and the one with all the swan brothers [honestly I kind of hate this fairy tale in general because it just makes me go ???]. It was interesting to see how the authors incorporated the steampunk elements to the fairy tales but did not really make me want to read the main series at all.
October 1, 2021
A collection of four novellas from the authors behind the "Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences". It's not clear from the stories themselves whether they all take place in that world but two of them do mention the Ministry so it's likely they all do.
The four included stories are:
1) "Mechanical Wings" by Pip Ballantine
2) "Aladdin and His Wonderfully Infernal Device" by Tee Morris
3) "Little Clockwork Mermaid" by Pip Ballantine
4) "Little Red Flying Hood" by Tee Morris
Obviously, given the titles, these are pastiches of well-known fairy tales. Some are very close to the original story (i.e. the Clockwork Mermaid is extremely similar to the original tale albeit with clockwork legs when the time comes for her to transform). Others are very dissimilar but merely share a common theme and/or names (i.e. Little Red Flying Hood is about a WWI female pilot named Scarlet who goes up against a Red Baron type of German pilot named Wolfe).
All four were enjoyable reads.
The four included stories are:
1) "Mechanical Wings" by Pip Ballantine
2) "Aladdin and His Wonderfully Infernal Device" by Tee Morris
3) "Little Clockwork Mermaid" by Pip Ballantine
4) "Little Red Flying Hood" by Tee Morris
Obviously, given the titles, these are pastiches of well-known fairy tales. Some are very close to the original story (i.e. the Clockwork Mermaid is extremely similar to the original tale albeit with clockwork legs when the time comes for her to transform). Others are very dissimilar but merely share a common theme and/or names (i.e. Little Red Flying Hood is about a WWI female pilot named Scarlet who goes up against a Red Baron type of German pilot named Wolfe).
All four were enjoyable reads.
December 23, 2018
Such a nice steampunk variation on classic fairytales
Great steampunk twists on classic fairy tales. Not too short, but entertaining and crisply written. Very enjoyable to read them.
Great steampunk twists on classic fairy tales. Not too short, but entertaining and crisply written. Very enjoyable to read them.
March 10, 2018
4 novellas. Three really great and 1 good. I wish the first one was expanded to a novel. Steam punk versions of fairy tales rock.
September 24, 2018
Received a free copy for a review. Enjoyed all the stories, but my favorite was Mechanical Wings. Fairy tales written a different way.
July 22, 2019
Super fun read! Love the updated prospective of older fairytales.
May 18, 2020
Four clever and amusing steampunk recasting of some classic tales.
April 12, 2019
•audiobook•
There are fairytale retellings and then there are models placed on pedestals for all to study and learn.
These four steampunk retellings are inventive, fun, and unexpected.
I love the world Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris create. All of them. And I strove to listening and collecting more.
It’s addictive and satisfying. I really hope they work on more of these!
There are fairytale retellings and then there are models placed on pedestals for all to study and learn.
These four steampunk retellings are inventive, fun, and unexpected.
I love the world Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris create. All of them. And I strove to listening and collecting more.
It’s addictive and satisfying. I really hope they work on more of these!
February 18, 2017
It is always fun to read adventures by Tee and Pip and this collection lives up to expectations! Wonderful versions of classic stories.
April 16, 2020
A mixed bag of short pieces. None are outstanding and none involve the Ministry.
August 23, 2016
This is a book of "novelettes," with all from the steampunk genre. They were all spins of classic tales, including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Little Red Riding Hood, and Wild Swans. I found these to be entertaining stories, and would read more from this author.
December 22, 2016
I'm only giving this one 3 stars. I found 2 of the 4 stories a little bit slow. I loved the one about the mermaid and also the one about the swans. I only wish it hadn't ended where it did. I'd like to see the evil stepmother get hers.
July 4, 2016
Wonderful surprise!
I don't normally read books in this genre and still don't know why I bought it but it is an absolute delight.
I don't normally read books in this genre and still don't know why I bought it but it is an absolute delight.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews