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Clockwork Dragons: A Fantasypunk Anthology
A word of power summons the essence of ancient magics. Sparks of light activate enchanted runes and ensorcelled conduits flair with etheric energy. Smoke swirls and gears grind as the machine awakens. Red eyes snap open, cutting through the gloom, steel wings and copper springs flexing. The sorceress steps back to behold her creation come to life.
The clockwork dragon is born.
Technology meets magic in the exciting new genre of fantasypunk. Inside you'll find strange worlds brought to life by a cabal of more than two dozen fantasy writers and the odd goblin who stole ink and quill.
The next anthology from Zombie Pirate Publishing, CLOCKWORK DRAGONS contains twenty five short stories from authors all around the globe.
The clockwork dragon is born.
Technology meets magic in the exciting new genre of fantasypunk. Inside you'll find strange worlds brought to life by a cabal of more than two dozen fantasy writers and the odd goblin who stole ink and quill.
The next anthology from Zombie Pirate Publishing, CLOCKWORK DRAGONS contains twenty five short stories from authors all around the globe.
- GenresAnthologies
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2020
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15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 20, 2021
A multitude of stories, all magical fantasy to some extent, many with steampunk elements... but not all with dragons, just in case you were wondering!
The usual caveat applied to multi-author anthologies: with so many voices and variations on a theme, there will invariably be some stories that appeal and others that don't. The quality here is generally quite high, though there's a definite difference between those who are masters of short story writing and those who are likely used to getting a longer page count (also a generally high proof reading has been done, though a few do have the usual typos). To me, a few felt meandering, others didn't really go anywhere, and some were just too confusing for me to follow. Two were YA romances, which really were not my thing, and one was cosmic horror - ditto with added argh! I wished they'd come with genres or a mini synopsis at the start.
While there are quite a few here that I just didn't get on with, those I found that I loved, I really loved.
-"Rusted Wings": The perfect circular story of a metal dragon, a thief, and a whole lot of diamonds... Simplistic and to the point, it was a 5 minute read that still felt super satisfying with it's twist.
-"Scream Into The Wind": Another very short one this time contemporary fantasy putting the punk eco-punk with humour. A Scandinavian wind spirit needs music to dance to, and a new band has some ideas to give her back her mojo... Silly, fun and original!
-"The Huntress' Song": This was a semi-dark fantasy tale, all atmospheric and eerie. A dragon hunter collects specimens for the human war effort, all the while singing her song... Utterly creepy and strange.
-"The Spell Market": A Medieval steampunk fantasy mystery where a young girl questions her place in the world. Pidge runs errands at the Spell Market, helping the vendors get business while making sure the customer gets what they want. She's living free and easy, until a new shop opens, one with more to it than meets the eye... Wonderful YA with great world building and compelling characters.
-"Watchbird": A dystopian steampunk fantasy where men and fae have been at war, leaving scorched earth and twisted wreckage as a boundary between their lands. A young human girl secretly scours the wrecks for parts to use in her experiments, but a chance encounter with dangerous scavengers sends her running into fae territory. Again, perfect YA stuff with an ending that made me desperate for a continuation of the story. Engaging characters, great world building; the works.
-"Sleep, My Love": You know fairy tales can be dark? Yeah, this retelling knows its source material. A formerly cursed woman and a marriage to a Mr Prince..? It builds up the expectation and dread perfectly while picturing a gritty steampunk world. You kinda know what's coming but when it does? Perfect twisty foreshadowing.
The usual caveat applied to multi-author anthologies: with so many voices and variations on a theme, there will invariably be some stories that appeal and others that don't. The quality here is generally quite high, though there's a definite difference between those who are masters of short story writing and those who are likely used to getting a longer page count (also a generally high proof reading has been done, though a few do have the usual typos). To me, a few felt meandering, others didn't really go anywhere, and some were just too confusing for me to follow. Two were YA romances, which really were not my thing, and one was cosmic horror - ditto with added argh! I wished they'd come with genres or a mini synopsis at the start.
While there are quite a few here that I just didn't get on with, those I found that I loved, I really loved.
-"Rusted Wings": The perfect circular story of a metal dragon, a thief, and a whole lot of diamonds... Simplistic and to the point, it was a 5 minute read that still felt super satisfying with it's twist.
-"Scream Into The Wind": Another very short one this time contemporary fantasy putting the punk eco-punk with humour. A Scandinavian wind spirit needs music to dance to, and a new band has some ideas to give her back her mojo... Silly, fun and original!
-"The Huntress' Song": This was a semi-dark fantasy tale, all atmospheric and eerie. A dragon hunter collects specimens for the human war effort, all the while singing her song... Utterly creepy and strange.
-"The Spell Market": A Medieval steampunk fantasy mystery where a young girl questions her place in the world. Pidge runs errands at the Spell Market, helping the vendors get business while making sure the customer gets what they want. She's living free and easy, until a new shop opens, one with more to it than meets the eye... Wonderful YA with great world building and compelling characters.
-"Watchbird": A dystopian steampunk fantasy where men and fae have been at war, leaving scorched earth and twisted wreckage as a boundary between their lands. A young human girl secretly scours the wrecks for parts to use in her experiments, but a chance encounter with dangerous scavengers sends her running into fae territory. Again, perfect YA stuff with an ending that made me desperate for a continuation of the story. Engaging characters, great world building; the works.
-"Sleep, My Love": You know fairy tales can be dark? Yeah, this retelling knows its source material. A formerly cursed woman and a marriage to a Mr Prince..? It builds up the expectation and dread perfectly while picturing a gritty steampunk world. You kinda know what's coming but when it does? Perfect twisty foreshadowing.
September 18, 2020
Steampunk at it's Finest!
Step into realms where dragons pull carriages, 'automatrons' are so near human, one might become confused, and magic reigns across the land. Feast on stories filled with wizards, elves, and fairies. All contain steampunk based elements. Welcome to the adventure in reading, "Clockwork Dragons"! Steampunk brought to light by past well- known authors, such as Jules Verne and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, shines again in these twenty-five incredible stories by modern-day authors.
Cheer for the 'good guys' versus evil in, "The Earthstone" by Lynne Phillips. Browse along in, "The Tenth Muse" by Chris Bannor, about an interesting shop where you can sell or purchase vials of magic. And endure a day at the office in "Change is Everything" by Shawn M. Klimek, as Fumitz Ferix pushes his way through his unsatisfying desk job, wishing for a way to work fewer days a week and unexpectedly inventing something to impress his attractive co-worker.
Dive in and enjoy this book of clockworks and magic published by Zombie Pirate Publishing. You won't regret it!
Step into realms where dragons pull carriages, 'automatrons' are so near human, one might become confused, and magic reigns across the land. Feast on stories filled with wizards, elves, and fairies. All contain steampunk based elements. Welcome to the adventure in reading, "Clockwork Dragons"! Steampunk brought to light by past well- known authors, such as Jules Verne and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, shines again in these twenty-five incredible stories by modern-day authors.
Cheer for the 'good guys' versus evil in, "The Earthstone" by Lynne Phillips. Browse along in, "The Tenth Muse" by Chris Bannor, about an interesting shop where you can sell or purchase vials of magic. And endure a day at the office in "Change is Everything" by Shawn M. Klimek, as Fumitz Ferix pushes his way through his unsatisfying desk job, wishing for a way to work fewer days a week and unexpectedly inventing something to impress his attractive co-worker.
Dive in and enjoy this book of clockworks and magic published by Zombie Pirate Publishing. You won't regret it!
May 18, 2020
I was disappointed by this book, which I had been eagerly awaiting. Most of the stories have typos and lack editing.
March 27, 2021
So this is a collection of short stories. Some are complete, they have a begining a middle and an end. Some are just a begining, they feel like the first chapter of a larger story. A few are both, a complete story but you know there's more to it. Of course as I write this those authors don't offer more but I hope to one day see the stories they started here complete.
I've rated this book 5 stars overall but of course each story could be rated on it's own. Only one story could I not finish, the writing style just want my thing. Another story read like a children's book, very simplistic without details.
My favorite stories were Rusted Wings and Sleep, My Darling. If the authors were to offer an entire book from the stories here I would read about a third of them. Overall a fun book, it would be better if the authors had more to offer along the same lines as they started here.
On a final note I enjoyed the short story format as I could read a single story over my lunch break.
I've rated this book 5 stars overall but of course each story could be rated on it's own. Only one story could I not finish, the writing style just want my thing. Another story read like a children's book, very simplistic without details.
My favorite stories were Rusted Wings and Sleep, My Darling. If the authors were to offer an entire book from the stories here I would read about a third of them. Overall a fun book, it would be better if the authors had more to offer along the same lines as they started here.
On a final note I enjoyed the short story format as I could read a single story over my lunch break.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews