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Harry Lampeter and the Return to Steam #2
The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter
Anarchic urban adventurer Harry Lampeter is employed by MI6 on a casual basis. Modern technology has collapsed, returning the world to the steam age and the war between Scotland and England, is on hold as the United States army of occupation keeps the peace. The Americans are in no hurry to leave, they plan to make Great Britain another State of their Union. Scotland and England eye one another with mistrust and an arms war seems inevitable as the English plan building a fleet of Ironclad warships. Telford Stephenson, an agent of the Scottish Secret Intelligence Service, has stolen a copy of the plans, but Harry Lampeter is close on his trail.
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About the author
Roger Ley
10 books24 followersRoger Ley has written eight novels and one anthology of speculative stories, including his four-part series 'Harry Lampeter and the Return to Steam', the three-part ‘Chronoscape Chronicles’ and the two-part ‘Cyber Crisis’ series. His writing has been podcast and broadcast internationally.
He was born and educated in London, and spent some of his formative years in Saudi Arabia. Later, he worked as an engineer in the oilfields of North Africa and in the North Sea before starting a career in higher education.
His early articles, which appeared in publications including The Guardian, Reader's Digest, The Oldie, and Best of British, led to his well-received collection of autobiographical stories 'A Horse in the Morning'.
He lives in Suffolk (UK).
This is his Amazon author page:
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01KOVZFHM
This is his website:
rogerley.co.uk
‘Chronoscape’ is a science fiction novel about time and alternate realities in which the Government is able to read the newspapers from two weeks in the future. 'The future is flexible, we can change it.'
'The Muslim Prince' is an alternate history thriller that asks the question, 'What if Princess Diana hadn't died?' It is a spin-off novel from 'Chronoscape'
'Dead People on Facebook' is a collection of stories connected to 'Chronoscape' in various speculative genres including: Steampunk, Horror, Time Travel, a little Magic and one Romance.
Harry Lampeter and the War with Scotland' tells how Harry leaves the Merchant Airship Service and joins MI6 as an observer of the war with Scotland and, more importantly, the American 'peacemakers'.
'The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter' is an irreverent romp through a steam age world as the Unted States Army attempts to takeover England in preparation for its invasion of Europe
'Harry Lampeter and the Turing Engine' describes Harry's adventures during the war against the Franco German alliance.
'Harry Lampeter and the Unholy Alliance continues Harry's unruly adventures, as mad Pope Benedict XVII attempts to fill the political vacuum in Europe by reviving the Holy Roman Empire and becoming its Emperor.
'The Digital Meltdown' is a prequel to the Harry Lampeter stories and tells how the digital age ended and the world returned to the age of steam.
‘A Horse in the Morning’ is a collection of mainly comic autobiographical stories.
He was born and educated in London, and spent some of his formative years in Saudi Arabia. Later, he worked as an engineer in the oilfields of North Africa and in the North Sea before starting a career in higher education.
His early articles, which appeared in publications including The Guardian, Reader's Digest, The Oldie, and Best of British, led to his well-received collection of autobiographical stories 'A Horse in the Morning'.
He lives in Suffolk (UK).
This is his Amazon author page:
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01KOVZFHM
This is his website:
rogerley.co.uk
‘Chronoscape’ is a science fiction novel about time and alternate realities in which the Government is able to read the newspapers from two weeks in the future. 'The future is flexible, we can change it.'
'The Muslim Prince' is an alternate history thriller that asks the question, 'What if Princess Diana hadn't died?' It is a spin-off novel from 'Chronoscape'
'Dead People on Facebook' is a collection of stories connected to 'Chronoscape' in various speculative genres including: Steampunk, Horror, Time Travel, a little Magic and one Romance.
Harry Lampeter and the War with Scotland' tells how Harry leaves the Merchant Airship Service and joins MI6 as an observer of the war with Scotland and, more importantly, the American 'peacemakers'.
'The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter' is an irreverent romp through a steam age world as the Unted States Army attempts to takeover England in preparation for its invasion of Europe
'Harry Lampeter and the Turing Engine' describes Harry's adventures during the war against the Franco German alliance.
'Harry Lampeter and the Unholy Alliance continues Harry's unruly adventures, as mad Pope Benedict XVII attempts to fill the political vacuum in Europe by reviving the Holy Roman Empire and becoming its Emperor.
'The Digital Meltdown' is a prequel to the Harry Lampeter stories and tells how the digital age ended and the world returned to the age of steam.
‘A Horse in the Morning’ is a collection of mainly comic autobiographical stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 10, 2021
The entire concept of this book is genius. This is not my first date with Mr Ley and every time he manages to blow my mind with his vision for our future. Alongside the genius concept, the entire story is executed with flair and panache. Harry Lampeter is a fabulous creation and his attitude to life and love makes this quasi ne'er-do-well even more engaging. Craig Bowles' narration manages a remarkable feat. He narrates the book in the way I would read it, only better. How does he do that? This is a fantastic listen, which will leave you begging for more.
April 13, 2020
"The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter" is a romp for the ages!
Raunchy, wild, impulsive characters and plot make this book a refreshingly naughty read!
Harry Lampeter is wickedly moveable. He has a way with the ladies, which doesn't mean it's always HIS way.
"Harry laughed, pulled the covers down and gave Emma a playful slap on her naked right buttock."
The dialogue is witty and lends itself to humour. "‘You should have taken it off, Telford. Nobody would have noticed you in your pants at the seaside.’ ‘Afraid I wasn’t wearing any, Harry, tradition and all that."
I highly recommend this steamy fast-paced adventure.
Raunchy, wild, impulsive characters and plot make this book a refreshingly naughty read!
Harry Lampeter is wickedly moveable. He has a way with the ladies, which doesn't mean it's always HIS way.
"Harry laughed, pulled the covers down and gave Emma a playful slap on her naked right buttock."
The dialogue is witty and lends itself to humour. "‘You should have taken it off, Telford. Nobody would have noticed you in your pants at the seaside.’ ‘Afraid I wasn’t wearing any, Harry, tradition and all that."
I highly recommend this steamy fast-paced adventure.
March 18, 2021
*Audiobook Review*
Listening to this audiobook, I found it amazing how much the speculative future world resembled the past with its airships, spies, double agents and armadas. This was a fun listen, featuring renegade patriot Harry Lampeter and an ensemble of fiends and friends - and some who fell somewhere in between. Although I enjoy dystopian, SF books, Steampunk is a relatively new genre for me, which I will most probably revisit in the future.
Seeing Martin Riley in his cameo role at the beginning of the book was like briefly bumping into an old friend. Likewise for the mentions of Diana and James, the then Muslim king of England. A nice sense of continuity there.
The narration is very good - adjusting to the style of the book, staying a tune to the characters, and remaining consistent throughout.
Overall, this has been a worthy listen - but more than any other adjective, it was FUN!
Listening to this audiobook, I found it amazing how much the speculative future world resembled the past with its airships, spies, double agents and armadas. This was a fun listen, featuring renegade patriot Harry Lampeter and an ensemble of fiends and friends - and some who fell somewhere in between. Although I enjoy dystopian, SF books, Steampunk is a relatively new genre for me, which I will most probably revisit in the future.
Seeing Martin Riley in his cameo role at the beginning of the book was like briefly bumping into an old friend. Likewise for the mentions of Diana and James, the then Muslim king of England. A nice sense of continuity there.
The narration is very good - adjusting to the style of the book, staying a tune to the characters, and remaining consistent throughout.
Overall, this has been a worthy listen - but more than any other adjective, it was FUN!
March 5, 2020
The story captured the British people and their culture. The ending was an anti-climax. The work needed another edit to correct the missing and unneeded punctuation marks. It could have been pointed out in the story how the British burned the White House and Library of Congress in the War of 1812 and how U.S. armed forces were doing similar things. The book cover is confusing and dull, it looks like some one with spider powers is walking on the side of a building the a city landscape in vertical.
March 13, 2020
Steampunk Adventure, in a Dystopian London, and a World Reduced back to Victorian Age Technology.
The world is suddenly bereft of electrical technology, due to a mistake that releases a plastic eating virus that destroys almost all modern gadgets. Steam engines and dirigibles replace modern cars and jet aeroplanes, and London consists of many crumbling buildings, but with many of the older buildings remarkably intact and looming out of the swirling smog and mist. It is also a semi war zone as occupying American troops battle with rebel Brtish elements still intent on resisting them. In all of this chaos, a population of civillians manages to flourish, and Victorian type pubs and fashions abound, overshadowed by the sinister airships flying overhead in the misty skies. Open air markets, and seedy taverns, team with characters who could be straight out of a typical Dickens novel. Prostitution, drug dealing, and murky business ventures flourish alongside more reputable business activities, as some people try to live honest lives. It is within this seething chaos, that Harry Lampeter, a James Bond type character of a Steampunk world, pursues his activities as a secret agent of the British monarchy and the government. Like the redoubtable secret agent of the twentieth century, he is not averse to combining business with pleasure, and he bounces from one lady to another, not always bothering with a bed, whilst he completes his assignments, in his own unique and unorthodox manner. He is also an amateur pilot and an aeronaut and has friends and contacts in the grimy underworld who are experts at neferious tasks that he can't do himself. The story is action packed, with scenes of Victorian style battles but also danger for him as he cannot be certain who can be trusted not to mislead him. The strange contraptions in the story are as well described as the multitude of characters, and the pretty ladies. Airships and biplanes are described with a realistic and living detail, and one can almost feel the cold air streaming past your face as the aerial scenes are described. As in any good thriller, there are some interesting devices, like an electrostatic generator, in a brass and wooden container, used to power a distinctly modern weapon, with devastating effect.
This is pure Steampunk, with a distinctly Victorian atmosphere, and there are no dragons or magicians with improbable magic powers, but down to earth characters and machines who could inhabit the world, if ever such a disaster really occurred. A truly rollicking adventure, where the mist and the smog of London seems to rise out of the page that you are reading, and one can almost hear the laughter and the chatter of the characters in the taverns, as well as the sputtering of the engines that turn the propellers of the airships flying overhead. Despite its cruelty and unpleasantness, I miss the world described in this book, and I hope this is the first in a long series of books still to come.
The world is suddenly bereft of electrical technology, due to a mistake that releases a plastic eating virus that destroys almost all modern gadgets. Steam engines and dirigibles replace modern cars and jet aeroplanes, and London consists of many crumbling buildings, but with many of the older buildings remarkably intact and looming out of the swirling smog and mist. It is also a semi war zone as occupying American troops battle with rebel Brtish elements still intent on resisting them. In all of this chaos, a population of civillians manages to flourish, and Victorian type pubs and fashions abound, overshadowed by the sinister airships flying overhead in the misty skies. Open air markets, and seedy taverns, team with characters who could be straight out of a typical Dickens novel. Prostitution, drug dealing, and murky business ventures flourish alongside more reputable business activities, as some people try to live honest lives. It is within this seething chaos, that Harry Lampeter, a James Bond type character of a Steampunk world, pursues his activities as a secret agent of the British monarchy and the government. Like the redoubtable secret agent of the twentieth century, he is not averse to combining business with pleasure, and he bounces from one lady to another, not always bothering with a bed, whilst he completes his assignments, in his own unique and unorthodox manner. He is also an amateur pilot and an aeronaut and has friends and contacts in the grimy underworld who are experts at neferious tasks that he can't do himself. The story is action packed, with scenes of Victorian style battles but also danger for him as he cannot be certain who can be trusted not to mislead him. The strange contraptions in the story are as well described as the multitude of characters, and the pretty ladies. Airships and biplanes are described with a realistic and living detail, and one can almost feel the cold air streaming past your face as the aerial scenes are described. As in any good thriller, there are some interesting devices, like an electrostatic generator, in a brass and wooden container, used to power a distinctly modern weapon, with devastating effect.
This is pure Steampunk, with a distinctly Victorian atmosphere, and there are no dragons or magicians with improbable magic powers, but down to earth characters and machines who could inhabit the world, if ever such a disaster really occurred. A truly rollicking adventure, where the mist and the smog of London seems to rise out of the page that you are reading, and one can almost hear the laughter and the chatter of the characters in the taverns, as well as the sputtering of the engines that turn the propellers of the airships flying overhead. Despite its cruelty and unpleasantness, I miss the world described in this book, and I hope this is the first in a long series of books still to come.
June 28, 2022
Received as an audio review copy from the author, this is an honest review. Narrated by Craig Bowels, comes another excellent steampunk adventure that begins rather harrowingly with a scientific breakthrough with the creation of plastic- eating microbes. Once a great thing... goes off the rails when these microbes eat everything they touch; sadly claiming the lives of those behind the creation. For Harry Lampeter, crazy-ass trouble seems to always follow him... and he can't get enough of fun despite it all. Highly recommended.
January 31, 2021
Harry and friends and occasional opponents, before they all switch sides a time or two, romp crazily across the British Isles. Outwitting and confounding each other, not to mention the actual enemy, the United States who are dead set on invading and expanding their empire. Meanwhile the Scots and the English continue their centuries long battles and strife. Achieving as usual, not a lot! In a plastic free world, things have returned to airships and tuck tucks for transport, plus of course Harry’s motorbike. The only drawback fo me (as a Scot) was the narrators unfortunate Scottish accent and mispronunciations. Despite his talents in other areas I can’t help feeling a narrator with a broader range of accents would have added an extra dimension to the story.
May 17, 2023
With excellent narration by Craig Bowles, conflict between England, Scotland and the US becomes more complex in this alternate steam powered reality, which is one part Victorian and 2 parts modern, as Harry Lampeter pursues international.military plans and Telford Stephenson. (Book 2 of the continuing 3 book Harry Lampeter series.)
December 16, 2023
James bond Steampunk style.
Odd sort of dystopian world that has gone Steampunk. Politics are kind of medieval and modern. Nuclear follies still possible
Odd sort of dystopian world that has gone Steampunk. Politics are kind of medieval and modern. Nuclear follies still possible
March 17, 2024
a real fun read.
Of the steampunk novels I have read this one used the broadest use of steampunk without it taking over the story.
Of the steampunk novels I have read this one used the broadest use of steampunk without it taking over the story.
March 22, 2020
In the near future a bacterium that feeds on plastics is discovered in some sludge at the bottom of a Japanese dump. Refined and developed by an ingenious scientist, plastic waste processing plants are set up around the planet. It is unfortunate however that the organism escapes and feeds ravenously on all things plastic. The glass from windows comes crashing to the ground as the frames are eaten away, most forms of transport come to a halt as the plastic coating on electric cables is gobbled up and the world returns rapidly to steam age technology. The historic animosity between Scotland and England has intensified to the point that the countries are now at war. And the Americans, on various pretexts, have flooded England with military personnel tasked with a not-so-secret aim of making the UK their 54th state.
In this strange new world Harry Lampeter is employed by the British Secret Service and we join him on an assignment to provide some false drawings to the Scottish shipyards on the Clyde, one of many adventures that will find him fired by the Secret Service, employed by anther organisation to smuggle an atom bomb to Edinburgh, use blackmail to prevent London being razed to the ground and destroy a huge armada at the port of Felixstowe.
Harry is aided in his clandestine work by good friend, safecracker and drug dealer ‘shaky’ Tom Fletcher and his sometimes fevered brow is calmed and consoled by Emma and Elsa, a pair of highly regarded exotic dancers.
The complex narrative is competently handled by Roger Ley who is a talented author - one is never left floundering in the frequently outlandish goings-on. The plot is filled with a wry, typically British humour that reminded me very much of the great Tom Holt. The characters are solid and well-drawn and the dialogue had me in stitches at times. As a Sassenach living in the Highlands of Scotland, I found the war footing between the two countries a great humorous thread running through the story.
The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter is a fine piece of work and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope that Roger Ley will be able to find more work for Harry once he has recovered from his recent adventures.
In this strange new world Harry Lampeter is employed by the British Secret Service and we join him on an assignment to provide some false drawings to the Scottish shipyards on the Clyde, one of many adventures that will find him fired by the Secret Service, employed by anther organisation to smuggle an atom bomb to Edinburgh, use blackmail to prevent London being razed to the ground and destroy a huge armada at the port of Felixstowe.
Harry is aided in his clandestine work by good friend, safecracker and drug dealer ‘shaky’ Tom Fletcher and his sometimes fevered brow is calmed and consoled by Emma and Elsa, a pair of highly regarded exotic dancers.
The complex narrative is competently handled by Roger Ley who is a talented author - one is never left floundering in the frequently outlandish goings-on. The plot is filled with a wry, typically British humour that reminded me very much of the great Tom Holt. The characters are solid and well-drawn and the dialogue had me in stitches at times. As a Sassenach living in the Highlands of Scotland, I found the war footing between the two countries a great humorous thread running through the story.
The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter is a fine piece of work and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope that Roger Ley will be able to find more work for Harry once he has recovered from his recent adventures.
April 22, 2021
I'm a big fan of Roger's, and I have to say, The SA of HL is an EXCELENT addition to his bibliography! Mr. Ley writes in the style of the golden and silver age of scifi pulp: his plots are fast, emphasizing cool ideas and larger than life characters. Set in an alternate version of England where plastic-eating bacteria have plunged the world into the neo-victorian era, this book is full of steam-based tech, crazy fashion, lurid sex, witty dialogue, and some surprisingly fascinating realpolitik.
I'll say right now: there's not a lot of bang-bang in SAHL. While there are some gory war scenes here and there, most of the book focuses on espionage as British agent Harry Lampeter swaps out secret plans, crosses and double-crosses his employers, and makes life Hell for an invading army of American imperialists. The books is far more concerned with building a convincing politic situation, such that it is more spy drama that steampunk swashbucklery. While most books in the genre focus on wizards, crazy and impractical tech, and bizarre Comic con costumes, SAHL stands out by being more grounded and, in many ways, more plausible. This is more in the realm of historical fiction, portraying the current world thrown into chaos by the end of the plastic age as global powers vie for control of the UK. I snagged a glimpse of Mr. Ley's propensity for constructing political drama in the last book of his I read, Chronoscape, and he REALLy brings his talents to light with SAHL, which focuses on England's struggle to hold an American invasion at bay.
But really, the highlight of the book is Harry Lampeter himself. He truly is the perfect callback to fellows like Conan the Barbarian and Mad Max, and amoral but lovable rogue who works for a pay check but can be trusted to do the right thing at the end of the day. I can see Roger had a blast writing this as we watch Harry bugger his pair of bisexual lesbian lovers, trade barbs with his Scottish rival Telford, and dance circles around the bigoted American army big-wigs. Harry makes the book shine, and I really look forward to seeing more of him.
THe downfall of the books is also its greatest strength: it's fast. When I say pulp, that's not meant to be derogatory, simply a statement about style. Th book is what I would call a weekend read- easy to pick up, hard to put down, and a fun little ride that will leave you wanting more. Descriptions are sparse, but the action keeps moving at a breakneck pace. The reader will have just grasped one scenario before they're thrust into the next. We get merely a glimpse of Harry's world, which I found to be a bit of pity: it seems like such a fascinating place! The book is less of a story, and more an introduction to a fascinating setting centered on a rather likable protagonist.
Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit, and its definitely a fun read. I'd recommend it for a 16-22 audience, and hope they don't ask mommy and daddy too many questions. If you're a fan of fast-moving scifi or just a current fan of Roger's work, you'll REALLY like this, and I definitely hope to see more of Harry Lampeter in the near future.
I'll say right now: there's not a lot of bang-bang in SAHL. While there are some gory war scenes here and there, most of the book focuses on espionage as British agent Harry Lampeter swaps out secret plans, crosses and double-crosses his employers, and makes life Hell for an invading army of American imperialists. The books is far more concerned with building a convincing politic situation, such that it is more spy drama that steampunk swashbucklery. While most books in the genre focus on wizards, crazy and impractical tech, and bizarre Comic con costumes, SAHL stands out by being more grounded and, in many ways, more plausible. This is more in the realm of historical fiction, portraying the current world thrown into chaos by the end of the plastic age as global powers vie for control of the UK. I snagged a glimpse of Mr. Ley's propensity for constructing political drama in the last book of his I read, Chronoscape, and he REALLy brings his talents to light with SAHL, which focuses on England's struggle to hold an American invasion at bay.
But really, the highlight of the book is Harry Lampeter himself. He truly is the perfect callback to fellows like Conan the Barbarian and Mad Max, and amoral but lovable rogue who works for a pay check but can be trusted to do the right thing at the end of the day. I can see Roger had a blast writing this as we watch Harry bugger his pair of bisexual lesbian lovers, trade barbs with his Scottish rival Telford, and dance circles around the bigoted American army big-wigs. Harry makes the book shine, and I really look forward to seeing more of him.
THe downfall of the books is also its greatest strength: it's fast. When I say pulp, that's not meant to be derogatory, simply a statement about style. Th book is what I would call a weekend read- easy to pick up, hard to put down, and a fun little ride that will leave you wanting more. Descriptions are sparse, but the action keeps moving at a breakneck pace. The reader will have just grasped one scenario before they're thrust into the next. We get merely a glimpse of Harry's world, which I found to be a bit of pity: it seems like such a fascinating place! The book is less of a story, and more an introduction to a fascinating setting centered on a rather likable protagonist.
Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit, and its definitely a fun read. I'd recommend it for a 16-22 audience, and hope they don't ask mommy and daddy too many questions. If you're a fan of fast-moving scifi or just a current fan of Roger's work, you'll REALLY like this, and I definitely hope to see more of Harry Lampeter in the near future.
January 6, 2021
I recently read an article about plastic eating bacteria, so I felt right at home as the book started. Ley gives an interesting twist on something we're currently hoping will solve our plastic pollution problem. The book is filled with witty quips and lots of references to current events - watch out for these gems in the story. My only criticism is that the story could have included a bit more detail on the whys and the hows - some of the jumps from one scene to the next left me with questions and wondering about possible contradictions.
January 30, 2021
Oh behave, baby! Okay so that line isn't anywhere in the book, but the story had such an Austen Powers vibe that I could not resist. The novel is short, yet it manages to cover a lot of ground. Of necessity it is quite fast paced. I liked the overall flow and rhythm. Every sentence has meaning and every word choice is important. As such, it isn't the kind of book you listen to "while". While doing the dishes is okay but while driving or while cooking might not work. If you've missed a beat because you were focusing on something else, you may get lost.
Okay, so about the story. Harry is a self-important, narcissistic, arse. I like him. I probably wouldn't be friends with him in real life, but I like him as a character. The story is about preventing the Scots from stealing the English war tech and moves on to prevent the invasion of Britain by the US. Saying it like that makes it sound quite shallow, but it really isn't. The author manages to pull all weird plot points together and make the ending very satisfying.
When I see the word "dystopian" I cringe a bit on the inside. I'm so over the horrible future type of novel, where everything is a struggle for survival and no one is happy. Not so here! The novel is set in a dystopian future, but is quirky, upbeat and fun. And the characters are happy. Maybe it plays on our current situation with Covid lockdown, but I really enjoyed something lighter, with a happy ending.
I listened to the version narrated by Craig Bowled and I didn't take to the narrator initially, I thought him very dry. Until I realised that this dry humour is quintessentially British and is, in fact, exactly what is needed. Maybe I've spent too much literary time on the otherside of the Atlantic recently ? Anyway the dry style of the narrator serves as a perfect counterpoint to the rollicking, frolics of the character.
Okay, so about the story. Harry is a self-important, narcissistic, arse. I like him. I probably wouldn't be friends with him in real life, but I like him as a character. The story is about preventing the Scots from stealing the English war tech and moves on to prevent the invasion of Britain by the US. Saying it like that makes it sound quite shallow, but it really isn't. The author manages to pull all weird plot points together and make the ending very satisfying.
When I see the word "dystopian" I cringe a bit on the inside. I'm so over the horrible future type of novel, where everything is a struggle for survival and no one is happy. Not so here! The novel is set in a dystopian future, but is quirky, upbeat and fun. And the characters are happy. Maybe it plays on our current situation with Covid lockdown, but I really enjoyed something lighter, with a happy ending.
I listened to the version narrated by Craig Bowled and I didn't take to the narrator initially, I thought him very dry. Until I realised that this dry humour is quintessentially British and is, in fact, exactly what is needed. Maybe I've spent too much literary time on the otherside of the Atlantic recently ? Anyway the dry style of the narrator serves as a perfect counterpoint to the rollicking, frolics of the character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2021
I was actually pretty excited for this short story after reading the summary and a few of the reviews. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to the billing in my case. While it is a short story and I didn’t expect much world building and character evolution, I didn’t connect with much of either here at all. The idea that advanced tech would collapse into a new steam age when a polymer eating bacteria escaped into the wild is certainly a stretch, but no more than some ideas that I have entertained in the past. The pacing was way too fast for most of the developments, with little to no explanation for a significant part of it. The dialogue dominates way too much of the story as well; making it hard for me to follow. The poorly supported shifting loyalties made the world confusing to me. Harry starts out working for one side, before turning coat (not usually a problem, but it is better if that is not in the same “short” story even for a merc). The military aspect was more irritating than expected and was difficult to place within my own experience as a veteran (especially the strategy and tactics used). I used to some dramatic license, but this story pushed a bridge too far, especially with the rather crude emphasis on raunchy byplay. If you like that sort of thing … add a star to my rating. In addition, I was never able to get a clear picture of what the point was, which makes it a little difficult to enjoy the story (I listened to it twice trying to see if I missed anything).
I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This story is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
#HarryLampeter #TheSecretAudiobookClub
I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This story is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
#HarryLampeter #TheSecretAudiobookClub
January 2, 2021
I listened to this on a whim to try something different - I am so glad I did. It was such a fun listen and I really want to listen to more. It is different from normal dystopian listens and the tongue is firmly in the cheek. The names are so apt especially the captain. Loved the girls as well. Really good listen and was so disappointed when it ended. The narrator added so much to the story I was given a free copy by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review which I have done.
I thought I had posted this but cannot find the review so have copied my review from audible.
I thought I had posted this but cannot find the review so have copied my review from audible.
January 16, 2021
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars
In the future a well intentioned harvesting of a japanese plastic eating bacteria has taken modern technology back to an age of steam, England and Scotland are at war, and the Americans are the occupying "peacekeepers" who are trying to turn the countries into 54th state. Harry is a cross between James Bond and Delboy. Part suave sophisticate and part wideboy. His Scottish counterpart Telford is of a similar ilk. The story is fast paced, clever and witty. At first I was put off by the narrator but as the story developed I found I didn't mind him so much and his voice fit the book. This is very short and I finished it in 2 short sittings (and only because I started after midnight, otherwise it wouldn't have needed more than one). A really enjoyable and fun read./listen.
Edit Review
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars
In the future a well intentioned harvesting of a japanese plastic eating bacteria has taken modern technology back to an age of steam, England and Scotland are at war, and the Americans are the occupying "peacekeepers" who are trying to turn the countries into 54th state. Harry is a cross between James Bond and Delboy. Part suave sophisticate and part wideboy. His Scottish counterpart Telford is of a similar ilk. The story is fast paced, clever and witty. At first I was put off by the narrator but as the story developed I found I didn't mind him so much and his voice fit the book. This is very short and I finished it in 2 short sittings (and only because I started after midnight, otherwise it wouldn't have needed more than one). A really enjoyable and fun read./listen.
Edit Review
November 25, 2021
What a book
Never having read this author before, and this genre is far from my usual reading, for a change, I read the blurb and thought this could be interesting and requested an audio code.
Wow, that's all I can say. The narration was excellent, the story was highly engaging, and nothing like I had ever read before.
The Worldbuilding was very detailed but not to the point that it bored you. The characters were humorous and had depth.
At no point did I think I could guess where the story was going, which was great. I would highly recommend this book/audio.
Craig Bowles, also a new to me narrator, did wonders with the characters. Easy to listen to. I did speed up the narration like usual to 1.3 on Audible.
The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter
The Anarchic Urban Adventurer
By: Roger Ley
Narrated by: Craig Bowles
Series: Harry Lampeter and the Return to Steam, Book 2
Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
❤❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚 📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.3 speed on Audible
I received this audiobook for free at my request. My review is my opinion and an honest review - nor did the author influence my opinion.
Never having read this author before, and this genre is far from my usual reading, for a change, I read the blurb and thought this could be interesting and requested an audio code.
Wow, that's all I can say. The narration was excellent, the story was highly engaging, and nothing like I had ever read before.
The Worldbuilding was very detailed but not to the point that it bored you. The characters were humorous and had depth.
At no point did I think I could guess where the story was going, which was great. I would highly recommend this book/audio.
Craig Bowles, also a new to me narrator, did wonders with the characters. Easy to listen to. I did speed up the narration like usual to 1.3 on Audible.
The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter
The Anarchic Urban Adventurer
By: Roger Ley
Narrated by: Craig Bowles
Series: Harry Lampeter and the Return to Steam, Book 2
Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
❤❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚 📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.3 speed on Audible
I received this audiobook for free at my request. My review is my opinion and an honest review - nor did the author influence my opinion.
September 1, 2022
It's a short read, but worth the credit. This second outing of Harry Lampeter beats the first and will leave you wanting more of the world. Set in a changed future, borrowing on the technology of the past Harry seems to have split the difference and bounds through scraps, schemes and intrigues with the loose morals of a 1960s wide-boy on the make. It's fun and though it seems to lag and wander a bit in the middle, the reason for this becomes clear in a strong ending. Would listen again.
December 20, 2024
Omg this is genius! A bacterium that feeds on plastic is discovered in the near future but soon escapes. Loved the British humour and finding out what happened to Harry and the other characters during the war with Scotland. The characters are very interesting and I am looking forward to following their next adventures. I love that I can’t guess what’s gonna happen next and it’s keeping me on my toes throughout the story. Another brilliant story and narration.
September 5, 2023
Plenty of Action as Harry and Telford return in this second book, once again brilliantly narrated by Craig Bowles.
The start to this book gave us a much better look in to the plastic eating bacteria that set the world back to the steam age, I'm excited to see what's next for Harry and his girl's Emma and Elsa
The start to this book gave us a much better look in to the plastic eating bacteria that set the world back to the steam age, I'm excited to see what's next for Harry and his girl's Emma and Elsa
March 13, 2021
I found this to be a very good book.It had good characters and a great plot.Craig Bowles was a fine narrator.Hopefully there will be more adventures.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
March 7, 2022
I found this book to be interesting. The start of the book lays out the world of steampunk. The over zealous nature of man to save the environment brought it back to the 18 century. If your into witty and humor this is a book for you.
October 7, 2023
Intriguing
And the story continues to grow and get better. I love the world is returned to steam and the political aspects give me a good laugh. If you enjoy apocalyptic type stories then give this series a try
And the story continues to grow and get better. I love the world is returned to steam and the political aspects give me a good laugh. If you enjoy apocalyptic type stories then give this series a try
August 22, 2020
I read A LOT of books from many different genres. Sometimes but not often, a book will be so good I just can’t put it down. The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter is one of those books.
Roger Ley lassoed my interest with his character, Harry Lampeter, from the very beginning. Harry is a bit rude, snarky, sexually inappropriate, adventurous, and absolutely fascinating! In a world devoid of plastics, steam engines rule the realm. Harry is a secret agent working towards lifting the heavy boot of the United States off of the once powerful Great Britain’s neck.
Double crossings, fights, shoot-outs, romance, and spy games are just a few of the adventures that Harry finds himself in the middle of. I found myself shocked at times and then laughing out loud. I loved this book and would really like to see it become a TV series.
I will be recommending this book to all of my friends!
Roger Ley lassoed my interest with his character, Harry Lampeter, from the very beginning. Harry is a bit rude, snarky, sexually inappropriate, adventurous, and absolutely fascinating! In a world devoid of plastics, steam engines rule the realm. Harry is a secret agent working towards lifting the heavy boot of the United States off of the once powerful Great Britain’s neck.
Double crossings, fights, shoot-outs, romance, and spy games are just a few of the adventures that Harry finds himself in the middle of. I found myself shocked at times and then laughing out loud. I loved this book and would really like to see it become a TV series.
I will be recommending this book to all of my friends!
October 10, 2024
The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter
The Anarchic Urban Adventurer
By: Roger Ley
Narrated by: Craig Bowles
Airships, conflict, satire and perfection!
Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 10-10-24
Harry and Telford … Friends, rivals, compatriots, soldiers, spies … Various roles at various times as the world continues to change in the aftermath of the return to steam! Brilliantly satirical, a nice bit bawdy, action packed and fabulously brought to life via dynamic narration, “The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter, The Anarchic Urban Adventurer” is a FABULOUSLY satisfying delight! The action is non-stop, fast, fun and furious, but my favorite part is the characters! I love these characters, these quirky delightful characters! I know people just like some of them, they resonate with me! The words they speak fit their personalities PERFECTLY, lending that extra dash of humanity that gives a feeling of authenticity to the entire presentation! What really seals the deal is the narration! The flow is so smooth, so natural, that time just slips away as I’m transported back to another age! Five fantastic stars across all categories as I steam on to part three!
The Anarchic Urban Adventurer
By: Roger Ley
Narrated by: Craig Bowles
Airships, conflict, satire and perfection!
Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 10-10-24
Harry and Telford … Friends, rivals, compatriots, soldiers, spies … Various roles at various times as the world continues to change in the aftermath of the return to steam! Brilliantly satirical, a nice bit bawdy, action packed and fabulously brought to life via dynamic narration, “The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter, The Anarchic Urban Adventurer” is a FABULOUSLY satisfying delight! The action is non-stop, fast, fun and furious, but my favorite part is the characters! I love these characters, these quirky delightful characters! I know people just like some of them, they resonate with me! The words they speak fit their personalities PERFECTLY, lending that extra dash of humanity that gives a feeling of authenticity to the entire presentation! What really seals the deal is the narration! The flow is so smooth, so natural, that time just slips away as I’m transported back to another age! Five fantastic stars across all categories as I steam on to part three!
February 11, 2023
This is a carry-on from Harry Lampeter and the war with Scotland and according to book 2 still a war with Scotland but a lull at the moment and the Americans keeping the piece! although their ulterior motive is to make Gt Britain one of their unions. Harry working for MI6 sometimes has been acquired to get back our plans for the fleet of ships were building which was stolen by Telford Stephenson. How will he get them back is more of a tit-for-tat situation.
Love the characters and the shenanigans this book offers a different era and a great listen especially as technology is going backwards and not forward makes this a compelling listen. and we have our own Graig Bowles narrating it.
Love the characters and the shenanigans this book offers a different era and a great listen especially as technology is going backwards and not forward makes this a compelling listen. and we have our own Graig Bowles narrating it.
January 25, 2021
The writing's fine enough I suppose, and I thought that the main story thread was pretty good too...
Unfortunately, I also found that I couldn't really engage with the titular character. From my perspective, Harry Lampeter is thoroughly unlikable! He's a conniving womanizer, who mostly gets away with all his shenanigans and schemes!
For me I felt that the narrator, Craig Bowles, didn't add anything to the book either! Although Craig is easy to listen to, I kept losing track of who was who as the book progressed.
Hmmmm... I gotta say, I'm not exactly hyped up for a sequel.
Unfortunately, I also found that I couldn't really engage with the titular character. From my perspective, Harry Lampeter is thoroughly unlikable! He's a conniving womanizer, who mostly gets away with all his shenanigans and schemes!
For me I felt that the narrator, Craig Bowles, didn't add anything to the book either! Although Craig is easy to listen to, I kept losing track of who was who as the book progressed.
Hmmmm... I gotta say, I'm not exactly hyped up for a sequel.
October 29, 2023
The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter: The Anarchic Urban Adventurer
By: Roger Ley
Narrated by: Craig Bowles
4 STARS
Harry is back spying. England, Scotland and America are involved in hostilities.
He has to report to people that don’t like him, much. He still has time to jump in and out of bed with women.
A quick, quirky listen.
I read the Kindle Unlimited edition, but the Audible audiobook is even better!!!
The narration was well done, Craig Bowles gave great energy to all the characters. I still adore a British accent for this genre.
This team of author and narrator are a winning combination.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have
voluntarily left this review.
By: Roger Ley
Narrated by: Craig Bowles
4 STARS
Harry is back spying. England, Scotland and America are involved in hostilities.
He has to report to people that don’t like him, much. He still has time to jump in and out of bed with women.
A quick, quirky listen.
I read the Kindle Unlimited edition, but the Audible audiobook is even better!!!
The narration was well done, Craig Bowles gave great energy to all the characters. I still adore a British accent for this genre.
This team of author and narrator are a winning combination.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have
voluntarily left this review.
January 20, 2023
Harry, along with his group of colorful friends and “frenemies” is back! This tale is jam-packed with spies, bombs, and secret meetings!
Roger Ley has a talent for keeping things fresh, in a world where everything is old and rusty!
Craig Bowles narrates the story beautifully. The reader is so deeply immersed in the story, that it feels as if one is sitting right at the table with Shaky Tom and Harry Plotting shenanigans.
Roger Ley has a talent for keeping things fresh, in a world where everything is old and rusty!
Craig Bowles narrates the story beautifully. The reader is so deeply immersed in the story, that it feels as if one is sitting right at the table with Shaky Tom and Harry Plotting shenanigans.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews