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errantdreams's review against another edition
5.0
The author’s introduction gives the best description of the world I can imagine, so I’ll quote it here:
"[A] vision of what Sherlock Holmes might be like, if he were in fact a she and much more an anarchist, living in a rollicking steampunk universe where the rails are surrounded by ravening hordes of the undead."
The worldbuilding, as you can begin to see from that quote, is terribly fun. Steampunk, pirates, same-sex relationships, and zombies, oh my! I’m not wholly interested in the Victorian aspects of the steampunk milieu, but this is more adventure than period piece. This appears to be an alternate Earth, with America broken up into various Duchies and areas connected by rail. Airships exist, but are expensive and not so frequently used. Marta and her crew are pirates and troublemakers, and all of the characters are rich and interesting. One of the pirates used to be an opera singer (which actually becomes relevant), and another, trouble-making man loves to sew and embroider. These details are brought into the mix in charming and delightful ways.
The stories are great, and often put the characters into moral quandaries. Marta is determined that they don’t ‘do’ charity, but sometimes they find excuses to do the right thing. The characters are properly witty and banter as though they’re fencing with swords. I really enjoyed this collection of tales!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/06/review-wireless-alex-acks/
"[A] vision of what Sherlock Holmes might be like, if he were in fact a she and much more an anarchist, living in a rollicking steampunk universe where the rails are surrounded by ravening hordes of the undead."
The worldbuilding, as you can begin to see from that quote, is terribly fun. Steampunk, pirates, same-sex relationships, and zombies, oh my! I’m not wholly interested in the Victorian aspects of the steampunk milieu, but this is more adventure than period piece. This appears to be an alternate Earth, with America broken up into various Duchies and areas connected by rail. Airships exist, but are expensive and not so frequently used. Marta and her crew are pirates and troublemakers, and all of the characters are rich and interesting. One of the pirates used to be an opera singer (which actually becomes relevant), and another, trouble-making man loves to sew and embroider. These details are brought into the mix in charming and delightful ways.
The stories are great, and often put the characters into moral quandaries. Marta is determined that they don’t ‘do’ charity, but sometimes they find excuses to do the right thing. The characters are properly witty and banter as though they’re fencing with swords. I really enjoyed this collection of tales!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/06/review-wireless-alex-acks/
witmol's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The second collection featuring Captain Marta Ramos and her piratical adventures by rail and air shifts in dynamic compared to the first. Comparatively, the stories don't quite pack the same punch as their predecessors and instead smooth out to a more reflective denouement rather than the light-hearted fare-the-well note readers may be used to. While the schemes and situations remain fun to read, Acks covers more serious issues in this book such as genocide and abuse of power.
Overall, I enjoyed a closer look at the character of Simms and I hope Ramos and Douglas go toe-to-toe once more.
Overall, I enjoyed a closer look at the character of Simms and I hope Ramos and Douglas go toe-to-toe once more.
dawnvogel's review
4.0
(This review originally appeared at Mad Scientist Journal.)
Wireless and More Steam-Powered Adventures by Alex Acks is the second collection of steampunk adventure stories featuring Captain Marta Ramos and her intrepid crew of railway pirates. The stories in this collection are all longer pieces, and they’re connected to one another sequentially. In some ways, this almost makes Wireless a non-traditionally structured novel, but the individual stories can also stand alone.
The first of the stories, “Blood in Elk Creek,” delves deep into the threat of Infection, a loathsome disease that runs rampant in the wide-open spaces between the Duchies. Occurring roughly simultaneously to Marta’s adventures in the first story, Simms has adventures of his own in “Do Shut Up, Mister Simms,” when he gets roped into a heist with Deliah Nimowitz. Finally, the titular story, “Wireless,” brings the whole gang back together for a larger and more dangerous adventure.
While Wireless and More Steam-Powered Adventures could be read as a novel, the structure of three independent stories does not lend itself to a traditional novel structure. However, each of the pieces are necessary to the larger whole, as the first story sets up a major point of contention in the third story, while the second story, though it may initially seem tangential, adds a necessary element that helps instigate the third story. As the foreword to the book recommends, these stories should be read in the order they are presented, and I think that each story is essential to the enjoyment of the book as a whole.
The publisher provided us with a free copy of this collection in exchange for review consideration.
Wireless and More Steam-Powered Adventures by Alex Acks is the second collection of steampunk adventure stories featuring Captain Marta Ramos and her intrepid crew of railway pirates. The stories in this collection are all longer pieces, and they’re connected to one another sequentially. In some ways, this almost makes Wireless a non-traditionally structured novel, but the individual stories can also stand alone.
The first of the stories, “Blood in Elk Creek,” delves deep into the threat of Infection, a loathsome disease that runs rampant in the wide-open spaces between the Duchies. Occurring roughly simultaneously to Marta’s adventures in the first story, Simms has adventures of his own in “Do Shut Up, Mister Simms,” when he gets roped into a heist with Deliah Nimowitz. Finally, the titular story, “Wireless,” brings the whole gang back together for a larger and more dangerous adventure.
While Wireless and More Steam-Powered Adventures could be read as a novel, the structure of three independent stories does not lend itself to a traditional novel structure. However, each of the pieces are necessary to the larger whole, as the first story sets up a major point of contention in the third story, while the second story, though it may initially seem tangential, adds a necessary element that helps instigate the third story. As the foreword to the book recommends, these stories should be read in the order they are presented, and I think that each story is essential to the enjoyment of the book as a whole.
The publisher provided us with a free copy of this collection in exchange for review consideration.
juliusmoose's review
5.0
I really liked this sequel to Murder on the Titania. It elaborates a bit more about what’s going on in the world, especially the business with the Infected. It shows some of what’s going on with the Native people, which I definitely appreciate. There was a much deeper and more thoroughly drawn character arc for Captain Ramos than I was expecting.
kjcharles's review
Ooooh I loved this. Three closely linked novelettes, featuring Captain Ramos and her pirate train crew in a steampunky alt-American West. The characters are terrific--likeable, engaging, with a moral core as well as a piratical swagger. There's a great warped f/f romance following on from the first book [b:Murder on the Titania and Other Steam-Powered Adventures|39074899|Murder on the Titania and Other Steam-Powered Adventures|Alex Acks|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1522302843s/39074899.jpg|60630277] (I think this one is much the stronger, the characters are more deveoped and the writing freer).
The adventure swashes and buckles, villains are dispatched in a variety of satisfying ways, the steampunk elements aren't overused (ie it's not full of the droning on about automata and clockwork hats or whatever that makes most steampunk barely readable to me--the action swooshes through in a cloud of plausibility) and there is excellent use of zombies. A highly recommended rip-roaring action read. Also, you should absolutely read [b:Hunger Makes the Wolf|30688858|Hunger Makes the Wolf (The Ghost Wolves, #1)|Alex Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479722544s/30688858.jpg|51234697] by the same author if you enjoy kickass action hero women, diverse casts, and action adventure with a powerful moral sensibility and social conscience.
The adventure swashes and buckles, villains are dispatched in a variety of satisfying ways, the steampunk elements aren't overused (ie it's not full of the droning on about automata and clockwork hats or whatever that makes most steampunk barely readable to me--the action swooshes through in a cloud of plausibility) and there is excellent use of zombies. A highly recommended rip-roaring action read. Also, you should absolutely read [b:Hunger Makes the Wolf|30688858|Hunger Makes the Wolf (The Ghost Wolves, #1)|Alex Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479722544s/30688858.jpg|51234697] by the same author if you enjoy kickass action hero women, diverse casts, and action adventure with a powerful moral sensibility and social conscience.
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