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A review by hopeevey
Pimp My Airship: A Naptown by Airship Novel by Maurice Broaddus
3.0
The publisher gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I hope they don't regret it.
This book has a lot going for it - excellent writing, compelling characterization, and nice pacing. Unfortunately, for me, some of the flaws got in the way of enjoying its finer qualities.
[b:Pimp My Airship: A Naptown by Airship Novel|45012727|Pimp My Airship A Naptown by Airship Novel|Maurice Broaddus|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1554870767s/45012727.jpg|69677574] takes place in a version of Indianapolis in an America that lost the revolutionary war. The setting is steam powered and gas-lit. Two very different protagonists, one from privilege and one from poverty, have their worlds broken open, laying bare the lies and self-delusion supporting a repressive social order. The social commentary is all over the story, sometimes subtle, sometimes not at all subtle, but consistently compelling.
The plot, however, isn't always consistent. For one, given the title, I expected more time in and around airships.All we get is stealing one to immediately blow it up.
Naptown is mentioned once in the text, in a throwaway comment. If any airships went there, I missed them. Steampunk doesn't require airships, but they really should be there if they're mentioned in the title and in the subtitle.
Thinking of throwaway comments... One of the protagonists brought someone back from the dead while at University. It is never again addressed after being mentioned once. I would have thought it would be a kinda big deal.
If the Colonel was working against Melbourne covertly, why try to get his daughter to marry Melbourne Jr.? Why be so upset when she took a job in Melbourne's corporation? It came to the same thing, but without her having to bed the brute.
Self-plagiarism is a pet peeve of mine. In this book there's more than one instance of repeating, word for word, descriptions from one part of the book to another. For instance, two different private vehicles were described as, "Twin brass tubes formed the body of the car, curving down on both ends stitched together by copper rivets." It's not a egregious as some authors' self plagiarism, but drives me bananas none the less.
Other readers may very well love this book, and feel that the thing's I've mentioned aren't even flaws. I'm not a huge steampunk reader, so my expectations may be off for the genre. I would certainly read more from this author.
This book has a lot going for it - excellent writing, compelling characterization, and nice pacing. Unfortunately, for me, some of the flaws got in the way of enjoying its finer qualities.
[b:Pimp My Airship: A Naptown by Airship Novel|45012727|Pimp My Airship A Naptown by Airship Novel|Maurice Broaddus|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1554870767s/45012727.jpg|69677574] takes place in a version of Indianapolis in an America that lost the revolutionary war. The setting is steam powered and gas-lit. Two very different protagonists, one from privilege and one from poverty, have their worlds broken open, laying bare the lies and self-delusion supporting a repressive social order. The social commentary is all over the story, sometimes subtle, sometimes not at all subtle, but consistently compelling.
The plot, however, isn't always consistent. For one, given the title, I expected more time in and around airships.
Naptown is mentioned once in the text, in a throwaway comment. If any airships went there, I missed them. Steampunk doesn't require airships, but they really should be there if they're mentioned in the title and in the subtitle.
Thinking of throwaway comments... One of the protagonists brought someone back from the dead while at University. It is never again addressed after being mentioned once. I would have thought it would be a kinda big deal.
Self-plagiarism is a pet peeve of mine. In this book there's more than one instance of repeating, word for word, descriptions from one part of the book to another. For instance, two different private vehicles were described as, "Twin brass tubes formed the body of the car, curving down on both ends stitched together by copper rivets." It's not a egregious as some authors' self plagiarism, but drives me bananas none the less.
Other readers may very well love this book, and feel that the thing's I've mentioned aren't even flaws. I'm not a huge steampunk reader, so my expectations may be off for the genre. I would certainly read more from this author.