Over at Omnivoracious, Jeff Vandermeer has some thoughts on a few new graphic novels, most notably Doctor Grordbort's Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory:
Greg Broadmore has written and illustrated an amazing Steampunk compendium of retro-weapons, along with some stunning visuals of the weapons in action. This might indeed be a Boy's Life dream on the page, but who can resist such insane creations as Ignas Fraunhoffer III Gas Driven Gadabout or Dr. Grordbort's Highly Popular Portable Inertionaut. The concluding section, Lord Cockswain's Marvelous Interplanetary Excursions, is part wacked-out sci-fantasy art, complete with weird aliens, and part send-up of Imperial intent. Yes, there are nice descriptions of the inventions, but the primary joy here is in the intricate detail of the full-color art.
Steampunk lovers should also check out the anthology Jeff and Ann have just edited, Steampunk. Here's a bit from the PW review: "Michael Moorcock, the godfather of steampunk, is represented by an excerpt from his classic novel The Warlord of the Air. In 'Lord Kelvin's Machine,' a fine tale from prolific steampunk author James P. Blaylock, mad scientists plot to throw the Earth into the path of a passing comet, declaring that 'science will save us this time, gentlemen, if it doesn't kill us first.' Michael Chabon's vivid and moving 'The Martian Agent, a Planetary Romance' recounts the lives of two young brothers in the aftermath of George Custer's mutiny against Queen Victoria, while historical fantasist Mary Gentle describes a classic struggle between safety and progress in 'A Sun in the Attic.' This is a superb introduction to one of the most popular and inventive subgenres in science fiction."
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