Look Homeward, Clockwork Angel, a new novella by Elias Anderson and E.C. Belikov, could not be more fun to read and definitely signals the entry of a new and exciting series into the Steampunk genre. It's a great tale, full of interestingly flawed characters, harrowing action, and few downsides. It's amazing what happens when you get literature written by Steampunks for Steampunks. Weighing in at a modest eight chapters and a bit – the last “chapter” would more correctly be called an epilogue – Clockwork Angel is a good night's read, filled with excitement and poignancy.

Normally, I am not a fan of epigraphs, especially ones lifted in whole from other works, but the poem excerpt that begins the story, taken from Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel, is especially poignant after the reader has reached the end of the novella. I highly recommend going back and re-reading the poem once you have finished the story.

In point of fact, there are only a couple facets of this ripping story that keep it from bridging the gap from great to outstanding. First, and most importantly to this reviewer, is that Anderson and Belikov desperately need an editor. The novella is full of simple but distracting errors in punctuation, grammar and spelling which could easily be caught by an experienced copy editor. This issue, in my opinion, keeps Clockwork Angel from being one of the best new Steampunk stories I have seen.

Secondly, we definitely need to see more of the principle villain, Stanford Parker. He and his ranch, where he manufactures clones for slavery and organ harvesting, are central to the story, yet he doesn't overtly appear in the story until the last two chapters.  There are vague references to him throughout, mostly in the memories and thoughts of Violet, the main protagonist. Parker is thoroughly unlikable when we do finally meet him, but he appears much too late to make him an integral part of the story.

A third, but minor, point is the level of detail. I feel that this is a common mistake that freshmen Steampunk writers make, wherein they are so concerned with getting everything as accurate as possible that they overlook how too much detail can actually damage the flow of the story. Again, though, this is a problem that can easily be solved by having an independent editor.

That being said, Look Homeward, Clockwork Angel, is a great read, with protagonists that feel fully fleshed out. A novella is a difficult format in which to fully realize a character's salient points and motivations, but Anderson and Belikov manage to give the reader portraits of each of the characters – Violet, Moriarty and Tibbs – that, while not complete, give definite impressions of each person and make the reader hunger for more, especially the sordid details of each one's past.

Violet is an angry, moralistic woman with a speedy gun hand and a quicker temper. Dale Moriarty, a disgraced Inspector – a sort of lawman – is steady and analytical, always falling into his detective-driven habits. And then there is Tibbs – a (certifiable) mechanical genius with an addiction to 'pheta, the story's equivalent of a super-upper – who is more secretive than both Violet and Moriarty. It is with great relish that I look forward to finding out where this trio and their airship, the Masamune, go from here.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world now dominated by steam technology, Clockwork Angel is a fast-paced yarn full of twists, turns and action. It is easy to fall into the story and let your imagination run riot with the images it inspires. From its Casablanca beginning to its Terminator ending, this story is a fun ride,and I give it a firm four out of five in terms of cogwheels and gears. 

Links to purchase this novel on a variety of platforms:

Kindle - http://amzn.to/o7qpmx

Smashwords - http://bit.ly/rfIeZ1

Nook - http://bit.ly/mXOxNN

Zora E. Sternbilt is our newest correspondant for the Chronicle.  Look here for her continued reviews and commentary on the steampunk media scene.