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Elizabeth Barnabus #1-3 Omnibus
The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire Boxed Set
The ingenious alternate history of The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire trilogy presented in a single volume, to delight the mind and the heart. Containing The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter, Unseemly Science and The Custodian of Marvels, complete with appendices.
Elizabeth Barnabus lives a double life – as herself and as her brother, the private detective. She is trying to solve the mystery of a disappearing aristocrat and a hoard of arcane machines. In her way stand the rogues, freaks and self-proclaimed alchemists of a travelling circus. But when she comes up against an agent of the all-powerful Patent Office, her life and the course of history will begin to change. And not necessarily for the better…
Witnessing the brutal hanging of someone very close to her, Elizabeth resolves to throw the Bullet Catcher’s Handbook into the fire, and forget her past. If only it were that easy! There is a new charitable organisation in town, run by some highly respectable women. But something doesn’t feel right to Elizabeth. Perhaps it is time for her fictional brother to come out of retirement for one last case? Her unstoppable curiosity leads her to a dark world of body-snatching, unseemly experimentation, politics and scandal. Never was it harder for a woman in a man’s world…
You’d have to be mad to steal from the feared International Patent Office. But that’s what Elizabeth Barnabus is about to try. A one-time enemy from the circus has persuaded her to attempt a heist that will be the ultimate conjuring trick. Hidden in the vaults of the Patent Court in London lie secrets that could shake the very pillars of the Gas-Lit Empire. All that stands in Elizabeth’s way are the agents of the Patent Office, a Duke’s private army and the mysterious Custodian of Marvels.
Collects The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter, Unseemly Science and The Custodian of Marvels, complete with appendices.
File Under: Fantasy
Elizabeth Barnabus lives a double life – as herself and as her brother, the private detective. She is trying to solve the mystery of a disappearing aristocrat and a hoard of arcane machines. In her way stand the rogues, freaks and self-proclaimed alchemists of a travelling circus. But when she comes up against an agent of the all-powerful Patent Office, her life and the course of history will begin to change. And not necessarily for the better…
Witnessing the brutal hanging of someone very close to her, Elizabeth resolves to throw the Bullet Catcher’s Handbook into the fire, and forget her past. If only it were that easy! There is a new charitable organisation in town, run by some highly respectable women. But something doesn’t feel right to Elizabeth. Perhaps it is time for her fictional brother to come out of retirement for one last case? Her unstoppable curiosity leads her to a dark world of body-snatching, unseemly experimentation, politics and scandal. Never was it harder for a woman in a man’s world…
You’d have to be mad to steal from the feared International Patent Office. But that’s what Elizabeth Barnabus is about to try. A one-time enemy from the circus has persuaded her to attempt a heist that will be the ultimate conjuring trick. Hidden in the vaults of the Patent Court in London lie secrets that could shake the very pillars of the Gas-Lit Empire. All that stands in Elizabeth’s way are the agents of the Patent Office, a Duke’s private army and the mysterious Custodian of Marvels.
Collects The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter, Unseemly Science and The Custodian of Marvels, complete with appendices.
File Under: Fantasy
Audible Audio
First published November 2, 2017
18 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Rod Duncan
16 books214 followersRod Duncan worked in scientific research and computing before settling in Leicester to be a writer. His first novel, Backlash, was short-listed for the John Creasey Memorial Award (now the CWA Debut Dagger).
After four crime novels he switched to fantasy. The Bullet Catcher's Daughter was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. He is currently writing a series of alternate history books, called ‘The Map of Unknown Things'.
Rod is also a screenwriter, and was once eaten alive in the feature film Zombie Undead.
After four crime novels he switched to fantasy. The Bullet Catcher's Daughter was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. He is currently writing a series of alternate history books, called ‘The Map of Unknown Things'.
Rod is also a screenwriter, and was once eaten alive in the feature film Zombie Undead.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 5, 2018
A nice Steampunk story set in the Midlands. The main character is a strong willed independent woman in a world with views on what women should be allowed to do/know.
The characters are interesting and quite well written. The 3 books continue the main thread of characters and themes but each one has its own main story.
The characters are interesting and quite well written. The 3 books continue the main thread of characters and themes but each one has its own main story.
March 6, 2018
A fun listen.
March 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this book with its imaginary and quirky twist on Britains History. An incredibly suspenseful tale. Well worth a read, especially as there are more books after
May 31, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. Perfectly narrated by Gemma Whelan. It is set in our time (2009), but back in the 19th Century, things had changed dramatically, and we now find ourselves in a Great Britain that is divided into a monarchy and a republic (the borders running similar to those of England/Scotland), with practically no technical advancements. The Patent Office is the global power watching over everything and everybody, eliminating every technology they deem unseemly or dangerous.
Elizabeth, our main protagonist, is the legal property of the Duke of Northampton, who had obtained this 'ownership' by illegal means.
She is constantly on the run, because the duke is very powerful and influential, so she has to stay in exile in the Republic.
When things in the Republic take a turn to the worse, Elizabeth sets out to regain her freedom once and for all.
I like steam punk stories, and this one is great. The characters are believable and -- most of them -- lovable.
I listened to all three books within just four days, which is telling how fascinated I was, cause it usually takes me much longer to finish a book. I listened during every free minute.
I'm sad it is over, but the ending was perfect.
Elizabeth, our main protagonist, is the legal property of the Duke of Northampton, who had obtained this 'ownership' by illegal means.
She is constantly on the run, because the duke is very powerful and influential, so she has to stay in exile in the Republic.
When things in the Republic take a turn to the worse, Elizabeth sets out to regain her freedom once and for all.
I like steam punk stories, and this one is great. The characters are believable and -- most of them -- lovable.
I listened to all three books within just four days, which is telling how fascinated I was, cause it usually takes me much longer to finish a book. I listened during every free minute.
I'm sad it is over, but the ending was perfect.
April 1, 2021
What I loved: the most creative and original steampunk dystopian setting I've ever read chock full of historical and societal musings. Wonderfully readable narration. Easily followable mystery stories. Circus tricks.
What did not make me so happy: Lacklustre character relationships (that would have been alright in a told-not-shown way if they hadn't become pivotal to the plot of book 3). A middle book that sort of felt like filler in terms of the over-arching trilogy storyline. Weird formatting in books 1 and 2 meaning there are no paragraph breaks; typos too. An end that wasn't one for closure (and kinda felt too easy given all that came before).
Great for fans of 'punkish mysteries who aren't fussed by character studies and want a longer-than-trilogy series set in a far more creative steampunk England than you'd expect.
What did not make me so happy: Lacklustre character relationships (that would have been alright in a told-not-shown way if they hadn't become pivotal to the plot of book 3). A middle book that sort of felt like filler in terms of the over-arching trilogy storyline. Weird formatting in books 1 and 2 meaning there are no paragraph breaks; typos too. An end that wasn't one for closure (and kinda felt too easy given all that came before).
Great for fans of 'punkish mysteries who aren't fussed by character studies and want a longer-than-trilogy series set in a far more creative steampunk England than you'd expect.
October 17, 2020
The trilogy of the Gaslight empire. Steampunk, extremely good disguises, circuses and boats. Plus an evil corrupt institution in charge of the world. I loved the story, but would have preferred Elizabeth the central character to be less perfect and the complete and total picture by 20. She really could have done with some more flaws and perhaps some more years to make her more believable.
June 29, 2021
Very good series of investigation stories (if that's the right term) set in an alternate UK. The first and last stories were my favorite, and i'd certainly read more set in this universe with these characters if the author continued to write.
October 31, 2023
I found this trilogy to be very entertaining and fast paced that has despite its quirkiness some real depth to the main story.
Very well written and very well performed by the narrator. It was a joy to listen from beginning to end.
Very well written and very well performed by the narrator. It was a joy to listen from beginning to end.
June 2, 2019
Great steampunk novels!
July 2, 2019
Steam punk, no magic. Overall I like the stories. Didn't really fall in love with any of the characters, and not 100% sure what I thought of the very, very end. Well narrated.
October 9, 2019
Nope not for me. Couldn't finish.
February 9, 2021
The narrator was excellent.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews