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madelyn91's review
3.0
I enjoyed it for what is was but it fell flat often. I’ve read a few of these stories in other anthologies so that may be why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped.
Clockwork Fairy Tales is great one to start with if you are looking to dive into the Gaslight/Steampunk genre!
Clockwork Fairy Tales is great one to start with if you are looking to dive into the Gaslight/Steampunk genre!
regorama's review
5.0
I enjoyed it far more than I expected (and I expected to enjoy it!). Usually anthologies are hit-and-miss, but this one had only one that I kind of didn't like (the Stovepiper, the Steampiper, and the Pied Piper was a little misogynist for my tastes). The rest were amazingly written and wonderful shadows of the "originals". Proof positive that stories are eternal and storytellers are priceless. These storytellers are worth their weight in brass and æther.
faeriedrumsong's review
3.0
This collection of classic folk and fairy tales has been twisted with metal, steam, and gears. The intriguing premise was disappointing only in its disjointedness. A few of the stories were really strong, and a few were only middlingly good, but there were a few that were so intriguing, that I felt let down that they didn't continue. The adaptation of "The Pied Piper" however, with its overt (and really unnecessary) racism, its implicit approval of borderline pedophilia, and its clunky writing, almost made me gag with disgust. But I'm glad I made it through to the last story, the adaptation of "The Swan Maiden" with its mix of magic and steampunk tech, it was the most fairy-tale feeling adaptation, as most of the rest fulfilled the role of Victorian era sci-fi.
These stories are not all based on well-known stories, and I found myself Googling some of the stories, so that I had a frame-work.
I listened to the audio book, the voicing in some of these stories was just plain ANNOYING at first. I really had to give myself some time to adjust, and in some cases I had to start the story over once I'd done that. So, be prepared.
These stories are not all based on well-known stories, and I found myself Googling some of the stories, so that I had a frame-work.
I listened to the audio book, the voicing in some of these stories was just plain ANNOYING at first. I really had to give myself some time to adjust, and in some cases I had to start the story over once I'd done that. So, be prepared.
slipperbunny's review
3.0
Not as great as I thought this would be but I found some new interesting authors. My favourite story was Fair Vasyl from Steven Piziks. I should really try to find more steampunk books.
heatherp23's review
4.0
As with all anthologies, some stories were definitely better than others, but overall, very entertaining steampunk.
jena_33's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
overhillunderhill's review
4.0
It is sometimes not fair to rate a book of short stories. One story can be amazing and one can suck. Over all, I enjoyed this collection. There were about 2 that I didn't like that lost the collection one star. I will now be more specific, by story...
La Valse (based on The Red Shoes): I have never been the hugest fan of the Red Shoes as most fairy tales are lessons and the bad guys get what's coming to them and the good guys win. The little girl in the classic tale doesn't necessarily deserve her outcome. In this version, the correct people get the punishment and I definitely approve.
Fair Vasyl (based on Vasilisa the Beautiful): This was one of the best about following the original tale and just dressing it up with a new twist. I loved the gender-bend and the LGBTQ twist to tale. One of my favorites in the whole collection
The Hollow Hounds (based on the Tinderbox): I was very creeped-out by the original story and actually enjoyed this interpretation better than the original. Seriously good interpretation only all the ghoulsih bits are now clockwork bits and that wasn't as nightmarish for me. Definite improvement to the original
The Kings of Mount Golden (based on the King of the Golden Mountain): I do not recall the original story so this can be only a review of this story and not as an interpretation. While interesting and well written, I felt sad, mostly for Brannock/Roland who was such a good kid who just wanted someone to love him and both options for father sucked. Good story, just sad.
You Will Attend Until Beauty Awakens (based on Sleeping Beauty): This story had such potential. The structure splitting between the POVs was interesting. The twist where loves first kiss was the cause not the cure of problem was a really nice choice. I loved that the hero of the tale, the prince that saved the day was deeply disinterested and not at all into the Princess. What I thought failed was that they kept tip-toeing around this being a lesbian retelling but didn't go there in the end. Also, it just sort of stopped. There was no wind-down of the tale at all. I did not need "and they all lived happily ever after" but they never even bothered to show people waking back up. Finally, there was this hint of a deeper story in the beginning with the 13 fairies and that never got answered either. In short, great beginning no follow through.
Mose and the Automatic Fireman (based on Mose the Fireboy): This had the feel of American Folk Heroes like Paul Bunyan and John Henry. Absurdly larger than life great men, defeating the machine that will take away their livelihood and usually sacrificing themselves to save someone else or a group of people. It's almost hard not to like these characters. Mose is the same!
The Clockwork Suit (based on The Emperors New Clothes): This one bore little to no resemblance to the original except in barest bones concept and final "Emperor has no clothes on" line. That said, it was a cool steampunk story and I certainly enjoyed it.
The Steampiper, the Stovepiper and the Pied Piper of New Hamelin, Texas (based on The Pied Piper of Hamelin): Worst story of the collection. The male gaze in this one made me want to puke. There was a pause to hear about a Freiburg sister's breasts every other page. I'm not much a fan of westerns on the best of days, but I could almost handle the classic cowboys-and-indians archetype with some gears on it in a classic steampunk way if it weren't for the gross sexism. However, even without the male-gaze BS, there was still the painful trope of a Comanche Raider with a belt full of scalps buying/stealing white children. Even if this trope was based on something that went on, I need people to stop repeating this crap and actually learn the true story and tell it to me without describing everyone's boobs.
The Mechanical Wings (based on the Wild Swans): Brilliant and absolutely perfect retelling of one of my all time favorite fairytales. This was not clumsily putting some gears on it either, the tale was masterful. I am so glad the collection ended on this one and not the Pied Piper.
La Valse (based on The Red Shoes): I have never been the hugest fan of the Red Shoes as most fairy tales are lessons and the bad guys get what's coming to them and the good guys win. The little girl in the classic tale doesn't necessarily deserve her outcome. In this version, the correct people get the punishment and I definitely approve.
Fair Vasyl (based on Vasilisa the Beautiful): This was one of the best about following the original tale and just dressing it up with a new twist. I loved the gender-bend and the LGBTQ twist to tale. One of my favorites in the whole collection
The Hollow Hounds (based on the Tinderbox): I was very creeped-out by the original story and actually enjoyed this interpretation better than the original. Seriously good interpretation only all the ghoulsih bits are now clockwork bits and that wasn't as nightmarish for me. Definite improvement to the original
The Kings of Mount Golden (based on the King of the Golden Mountain): I do not recall the original story so this can be only a review of this story and not as an interpretation. While interesting and well written, I felt sad, mostly for Brannock/Roland who was such a good kid who just wanted someone to love him and both options for father sucked. Good story, just sad.
You Will Attend Until Beauty Awakens (based on Sleeping Beauty): This story had such potential. The structure splitting between the POVs was interesting. The twist where loves first kiss was the cause not the cure of problem was a really nice choice. I loved that the hero of the tale, the prince that saved the day was deeply disinterested and not at all into the Princess. What I thought failed was that they kept tip-toeing around this being a lesbian retelling but didn't go there in the end. Also, it just sort of stopped. There was no wind-down of the tale at all. I did not need "and they all lived happily ever after" but they never even bothered to show people waking back up. Finally, there was this hint of a deeper story in the beginning with the 13 fairies and that never got answered either. In short, great beginning no follow through.
Mose and the Automatic Fireman (based on Mose the Fireboy): This had the feel of American Folk Heroes like Paul Bunyan and John Henry. Absurdly larger than life great men, defeating the machine that will take away their livelihood and usually sacrificing themselves to save someone else or a group of people. It's almost hard not to like these characters. Mose is the same!
The Clockwork Suit (based on The Emperors New Clothes): This one bore little to no resemblance to the original except in barest bones concept and final "Emperor has no clothes on" line. That said, it was a cool steampunk story and I certainly enjoyed it.
The Steampiper, the Stovepiper and the Pied Piper of New Hamelin, Texas (based on The Pied Piper of Hamelin): Worst story of the collection. The male gaze in this one made me want to puke. There was a pause to hear about a Freiburg sister's breasts every other page. I'm not much a fan of westerns on the best of days, but I could almost handle the classic cowboys-and-indians archetype with some gears on it in a classic steampunk way if it weren't for the gross sexism. However, even without the male-gaze BS, there was still the painful trope of a Comanche Raider with a belt full of scalps buying/stealing white children. Even if this trope was based on something that went on, I need people to stop repeating this crap and actually learn the true story and tell it to me without describing everyone's boobs.
The Mechanical Wings (based on the Wild Swans): Brilliant and absolutely perfect retelling of one of my all time favorite fairytales. This was not clumsily putting some gears on it either, the tale was masterful. I am so glad the collection ended on this one and not the Pied Piper.
carlyoc's review
2.0
Almost every single writer featured in this anthology seems to have poor writing or at least does not showcase their writing well in short stories. There was a lot of showing-not-telling, and tacky, cliche, over-done steampunk tropes. I did like the variety of fairy tales that they drew from, from Russian fables, to Grimm classics, to American Tall Tales. But many characters were treated as caricatures, such as the German twins in "The Steampiper, the Stovepiper, and the Pied Piper of New Hamelin Texas," who engage in an unlikely incestuous foursome with the savior-protagonist, along with their clearly underage little sister, for the sake of a pun.
If I had to pick a favorite of the stories, "Fair Vasyl" wasn't too bad; it added a cute automaton twist to traditional Baba Yaga tales and even featured some gay characters. Plus it had a talking cat, which makes every story better. This was one of the few that toed the line between creative-use-of-steampunk-themes and now-you-are-trying-too-hard.
If I had to pick a favorite of the stories, "Fair Vasyl" wasn't too bad; it added a cute automaton twist to traditional Baba Yaga tales and even featured some gay characters. Plus it had a talking cat, which makes every story better. This was one of the few that toed the line between creative-use-of-steampunk-themes and now-you-are-trying-too-hard.
bookishkitchenwitch's review against another edition
5.0
This is the Fairy Tale book I grew up with. I still have my tattered, well loved copy that I read over and over myself and then with all 3 of my boys.