Though the middle is maybe a little slack, this is an excellent bildungsroman in the alt-history suggested by The Man in the High Castle, run half a century later and into the life of one small boy who aims to pilot one big ass robot. 

The Sunday Street Team is a group of bloggers led by the marvelous Nori @ ReadWriteLove28 who aim to bring well-deserved attention to new and upcoming books and their authors. 

This month's post is featuring Tara Sim and her steampunk debut novel, Timekeeper. 

I would recommend Timekeeper to fans of historical fiction and steampunk, especially if you are looking for a new take on the genre. I would also recommend Danny's story to anyone looking for a diverse novel that does not shy away from the tough questions. Even though the middle was a little bit slow, anyone who enjoys a good steampunk will enjoy Timekeeper.

If you want to hear more of my thoughts about the book and enter in the giveaway, then click on the original link.

Might I begin by saying that Booklikes not having a cover for this novel is weak as fuck. I've recently been assigned a bunch of Jewish science fiction to read for my B&N gig, partially because of my own interest, certainly. It's been an illuminating couple of books, grounding myself in the terminology and world view of a real world people set into fictional worlds.

Judenstaat is an alternate history in which Israel does not exist. Instead the Jewish state encompasses Saxony in Germany, bordered between East and West. It's a murder mystery of sorts (and writ large), beginning with the almost long ago murder of a Saxon conductor. Slow moving and (honestly) hard to get into, Judenstaat eventually rewards the patient. But you're going to have to do a dozen googles and struggle to remember your hazy Soviet history, because the author is not going to fuck around and hold your hand. Good. The way it should be. 

Deadlands Ghostwalkers Book Giveaway

We are giving away a Trade Paperback copy of DEADLANDS: GHOSTWALKERS by Jonathan Maberry and a *signed* bookplate to one lucky winner!

Visit From the Shadows 10/29-11/12 to enter. This giveaway is open to mailing addresses in the US and Canada. Giveaway ends November 12, 2015 midnight EST.

http://www.fromtheshadows.info/2015/10/book-giveaway-deadlands-ghostwalkers-jonathan-maberry.html

#steampunk #fantasy #deadlands #urbanfantasy #alternatehistory

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper by David Barnett
Expected publication: October 13, 2015 by Tor Books

In an alternate ninteenth century where a technologically advanced Britain holds sway over most of the known world and the American Revolution never happened, young Gideon Smith is firmly established as the Hero of the Empire.

Back in London, Gideon and his colleagues: journalist Aloysius Bent, airship pilot Rowena Fanshawe, and Maria, the mechanical girl to whom Gideon has lost his heart, are dragged into a case that is confounding the Metropolitan Police. For the city is on the edge of mass rioting due to the continuing reign of terror by the serial killer known only as Jack the Ripper, who is rampaging though London's less salubrious quarters.

While chasing the madman, a villain from their past strips Gideon Smith of his memory and is cast adrift in the seedy underbelly of London, where life is tough and death lurks in every shadowy alley.

With mob rule threatening to engulf London, the Empire has never needed its hero more...but where is Gideon Smith?

Gideon Smith and the Mask of the Ripper is the latest in David Barnett's riproaring steampunk adventures about a Britain that never was...but should have been.


Looking quite a ways ahead again this week, but with David having just revealed the cover, now seems as good a time as any to celebrate the return of Gideon Smith. The first two books in the series have been a ton of fun, and the Ripper storyline is one I've been waiting for him to get back to. Can't wait to land an early copy of this!