Scan barcode
jacobshere's review
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
drea_design's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book was a little different from what I usually read. That being said, I did enjoy the narrative quite a bit. The story moved along at a good paced up until the end. It ended too abruptly and left so much to be explained.
I would have loved to have a map included in the book to follow their journey.
This book was a little different from what I usually read. That being said, I did enjoy the narrative quite a bit. The story moved along at a good paced up until the end. It ended too abruptly and left so much to be explained.
I would have loved to have a map included in the book to follow their journey.
david_agranoff's review against another edition
4.0
Totally amazing Afrocentric alternative history steampunk adventure from a Hoosier author. Loved it full review coming
emtees's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.5
I rated this a little higher than I wanted to because I think I tend to be too hard on novellas. I always get frustrated when they introduce a whole world and then end before you’ve had a chance to see much of it. That doesn’t mean that the book should be longer, just that I want it to be, but in this case I think this story could have used a few more chapters, especially at the end. The story introduces a really cool alternate-history steampunk America and, considering the short page count, we actually see or at least hear about a lot of it, from the free state of Texas, patrolling their borders with their beloved guns, to the western territory ruled by the Five Civilized Tribes, a powerful federation of Indigenous Americans, to the imperial power of a Jamaica with a very different history. I would love to have seen more of this world, but I don’t think we necessarily needed to; enough of it’s history, complex power structures and unique technology comes through in the story we get. It’s just the plot that gets a little muddled.
”Beneath the power of empire is the problem of justice. Peel that back and beneath the power of justice is the problem of violence.”
The story is about Desmond Coke, a sort of Jamaican secret agent who goes on the run with a young boy, Lij, who is wanted by pretty much all the powerful figures in this world because of his unique origins. As they travel, Desmond and Lij pick up both enemies and potential allies. Desmond, a thoughtful and complex character, also ponders all kinds of political and philosophical questions and the story examines concepts like colonialism, power, violence and justice. It also looks at the power of stories and storytelling. There is a lot packed into its short length. Like I said, though, I think it gets a bit rushed at a certain point. The first two-thirds flow nicely, but the ending seems to barrel through events without any real explanation and conflicts are wrapped up too neatly. While some of the open questions add to the feel of the story, others just feel like dropped plot points.Especially the question of what happened when Cayt touched Lij’s mind; I was fine with not knowing what Lij’s deal really was, but considering that after her encounter with him, the main antagonist of the book just gave up and walked away, I felt like we needed a little more explanation. I also would have liked the book to touch at least a little bit more on Desmond’s belief that Lij’s unique behavior - very obviously autism, though no one in the book seemed to recognize it - was the result of his cloning and/or the process used to raise him. That’s a slightly uncomfortable implication, though a logical conclusion within the world of the story, and while I chose to believe Desmond was simply wrong, I wish it had been addressed.
That’s my only criticism, though; otherwise this is a really strong novella with great characters and a fascinating setting.
”Beneath the power of empire is the problem of justice. Peel that back and beneath the power of justice is the problem of violence.”
The story is about Desmond Coke, a sort of Jamaican secret agent who goes on the run with a young boy, Lij, who is wanted by pretty much all the powerful figures in this world because of his unique origins. As they travel, Desmond and Lij pick up both enemies and potential allies. Desmond, a thoughtful and complex character, also ponders all kinds of political and philosophical questions and the story examines concepts like colonialism, power, violence and justice. It also looks at the power of stories and storytelling. There is a lot packed into its short length. Like I said, though, I think it gets a bit rushed at a certain point. The first two-thirds flow nicely, but the ending seems to barrel through events without any real explanation and conflicts are wrapped up too neatly. While some of the open questions add to the feel of the story, others just feel like dropped plot points.
That’s my only criticism, though; otherwise this is a really strong novella with great characters and a fascinating setting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
raforall's review against another edition
4.0
Three Words That Describe This Book: Steampunk, Story About Stories, Engaging
This is another alternative history, dark fantasy Western. It is Steampunk but with an Afro-Caribbean foundation.
But what is unique here is the relationship between Desmond and the child. They are on the run, but there is time for the reader to learn about them and be lured in by their relationship in between the action. Broaddus' writing style engages us, draws us in to participate.
There are plenty of eccentric characters here and the story is a fun read, but there is also lots to ponder as the book delves into politics and religion but without being preachy about either.
Readalikes: Pairs well with RIVER OF TEETH by Gailey and DREAD NATION by Ireland but is different than both. I have reviews for those on my shelf too. Also THE BLACK GOD'S DRUM by Clark-- especially this one.
UNBURY CAROL by Malerman because of the mystical western frame with steampunk influences. Here is my review of that book: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2018/02/what-im-reading-novel-novella-and.html
Finally, many people who enjoy steampunk in general will like this novella. Here is the Goodreads Steampunk page: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/steampunk
This is another alternative history, dark fantasy Western. It is Steampunk but with an Afro-Caribbean foundation.
But what is unique here is the relationship between Desmond and the child. They are on the run, but there is time for the reader to learn about them and be lured in by their relationship in between the action. Broaddus' writing style engages us, draws us in to participate.
There are plenty of eccentric characters here and the story is a fun read, but there is also lots to ponder as the book delves into politics and religion but without being preachy about either.
Readalikes: Pairs well with RIVER OF TEETH by Gailey and DREAD NATION by Ireland but is different than both. I have reviews for those on my shelf too. Also THE BLACK GOD'S DRUM by Clark-- especially this one.
UNBURY CAROL by Malerman because of the mystical western frame with steampunk influences. Here is my review of that book: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2018/02/what-im-reading-novel-novella-and.html
Finally, many people who enjoy steampunk in general will like this novella. Here is the Goodreads Steampunk page: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/steampunk
misssusan's review against another edition
3.0
this was really good! i'm pleased, i wasn't sure i was going to like it after bouncing so hard off broaddus' king arthur retelling. i wish i knew a bit more about jamaican and early american history because i feel like i would've appreciated what he was doing even more with some context. i also wish this was longer because there is so much going on here and it's cool but it'd be even cooler with some room to breathe
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
sonofthe's review
4.0
Let me start with a disclaimer. I've never been a big fan of steampunk.
And yet I've found myself reading it a bit lately. I can't say that it's growing on me, but there are occasionally good stories.
This one kept me going throughout. More because of the characters than anything else. Lij most of all. Sure, the setting was cool, and seems like it'll probably grab fans of steampunk more than it grabbed me, but it was the characters and their rich backgrounds that kept me wanting more.
It was also the unusual (if my limited knowledge—stereotype?—of steampunk is true) in the cultures represented. I think of cowboys a la Wild Wild West. Or high society urbanites. Or civil war figures. Here we get a renegade Jamaican elite warrior and his ward. We get a couple leaders from a fascinating alternate history group of native nations. The most typical characters are the Pinkerton detective and the alluded-to captains of industry.
Broaddus kept me wondering about the when of the story. With the diversions from history and the varieties of steam tech, I couldn't really place things. Probably late 19th to early 20th century, but that's pretty vague. And typical?
Buffalo Soldier also shares an interesting concept with the last steampunk story ([b:Everfair|26114130|Everfair|Nisi Shawl|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445423571s/26114130.jpg|46061074]) I read. Both talk, to varying extents, about the idea that people can be home. I'm not sure why it never came to me before. Maybe because I've been lucky enough to have anchor places in my family. But the idea that people can be home has stuck with me since Everfair, and cropped up again here. Explicitly, that is. I'm sure it can be found in all sorts of stories.
Anyway, I think Buffalo Soldier should work for a variety of people. Probably especially for fans of steampunk, but the characters should give most people a good way through the story.
And yet I've found myself reading it a bit lately. I can't say that it's growing on me, but there are occasionally good stories.
This one kept me going throughout. More because of the characters than anything else. Lij most of all. Sure, the setting was cool, and seems like it'll probably grab fans of steampunk more than it grabbed me, but it was the characters and their rich backgrounds that kept me wanting more.
It was also the unusual (if my limited knowledge—stereotype?—of steampunk is true) in the cultures represented. I think of cowboys a la Wild Wild West. Or high society urbanites. Or civil war figures. Here we get a renegade Jamaican elite warrior and his ward. We get a couple leaders from a fascinating alternate history group of native nations. The most typical characters are the Pinkerton detective and the alluded-to captains of industry.
Broaddus kept me wondering about the when of the story. With the diversions from history and the varieties of steam tech, I couldn't really place things. Probably late 19th to early 20th century, but that's pretty vague. And typical?
Buffalo Soldier also shares an interesting concept with the last steampunk story ([b:Everfair|26114130|Everfair|Nisi Shawl|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445423571s/26114130.jpg|46061074]) I read. Both talk, to varying extents, about the idea that people can be home. I'm not sure why it never came to me before. Maybe because I've been lucky enough to have anchor places in my family. But the idea that people can be home has stuck with me since Everfair, and cropped up again here. Explicitly, that is. I'm sure it can be found in all sorts of stories.
Anyway, I think Buffalo Soldier should work for a variety of people. Probably especially for fans of steampunk, but the characters should give most people a good way through the story.
5elementknitr's review
4.0
I got this book, thinking it was a book of short stories, but when it arrived from the library, I see it's a novella.
When I finished, I found myself wishing this were a full novel, instead of novella.
And, really, it kind of is a book of short stories, in that three of the characters told their cultures' lore, so.... bonus!
When I finished, I found myself wishing this were a full novel, instead of novella.
And, really, it kind of is a book of short stories, in that three of the characters told their cultures' lore, so.... bonus!
rouver's review against another edition
3.0
This felt like a short story that was too long to include in [b:The Voices of Martyrs|29362866|The Voices of Martyrs|Maurice Broaddus|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461082361s/29362866.jpg|49608242]. Unfortunately, I wanted it to be a lot more fleshed out than it was. The setting was a slice of speculative fiction...what if United States was still controlled by England, Texas was an independent nation, and the native Americans were able to unify and prevent the westward expansion of the Europeans? Although, the world wasn't an exact duplicate...it was "Tejas" and England was "Albion", with a steampunk veneer to the whole thing. With an added dollop of futuristic DNA engineering that gave two characters mystical mental abilities. It took a long while to piece together what the setting was, and who the characters were. I'm familiar with authors throwing the reader headlong into the storyline & revealing everything simply through being immersed in the world, but it didn't work for me in this book. It felt like Broaddus was trying to fit a bunch of intriguing ideas into too short a book.
Broaddus always manages to write bits that I love, though:
"One day, all that will be left of us is our stories. When our tribe has become little more than a faded dream with only our tales left to shape our children and our children's children. But a story only needs a teller for it to be remembered. At night, when the road is free of travelers and the villages are silent, the dream of us will fil the land. There is no death, only movement between worlds.
Our stories live on after us."
---------------------
"When the powerless seek their own sense of control, 'crime' is what an unjust system produces"
Broaddus always manages to write bits that I love, though:
"One day, all that will be left of us is our stories. When our tribe has become little more than a faded dream with only our tales left to shape our children and our children's children. But a story only needs a teller for it to be remembered. At night, when the road is free of travelers and the villages are silent, the dream of us will fil the land. There is no death, only movement between worlds.
Our stories live on after us."
---------------------
"When the powerless seek their own sense of control, 'crime' is what an unjust system produces"