|
|
|
|
|
I very much enjoyed the book. I love all the small touches. The crows in the crows’ nests. The dragons calling the humans fur babies, because they live in the otter’s fur. The Steampunks’ bureaucracy that’s out of control. A day of infamy perpetrated by mobile paperwork kiosks. The begrudging promotion. The union requirement for “arr” talk when at sea.
I like that all three adventurers are underrated by their respective cultures. I like that the romantic subplot doesn’t get any more contrived. I like Mitch’s arc: he becomes less nervous and more confident, and more willing to call out people who believe something wrong or stupid. I like teleportation via sneezes. I like that Mitch is still underrated at the end, judged insufficient to restore the statue, and relegated to scribe work. I like that Purl’s anger about a situation the Crochets brought upon themselves drives her toward trying to be a supervillain. And I like Fanny. I like that she is as sensible about seeing through myths as Mitch is, but she has more experience, so she’s sometimes better than he is at it.
I look forward to reading the sequel!
A Review of:
Scott Coon, The Wizard, The Pirate, & The Steampunk Librarian
Coon has set this story in the wacky, magical world of Rentsoc with the Ring of Nivek hanging
high overhead. If you have ever followed the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole or read Alice’s
story about that, this will seem familiar. Coon does a great job of setting up a comical world
governed by magic and the exotic steam that powers it. Our creation myths turn out to be fact
in Rentsoc with people living on the backs of continent-sized animals. The clans fight each
other for dominance because of their dependence on steam or their lack of access to it.
The story follows Mitch, a wizard who travels by hummingbird, Pearl, pretending to be a
Steampunk but really an enchantment-wielding spy for the Crochet clan and Captain Fanny, a
rowdy and resourceful pirate. Each has a secret plan to get back into the good graces of their
clan. There is only one catch: they each need a dragon’s help. The story is light-hearted, comical,
and action-packed. Our heroes and anti-hero experience many close calls as they try to get
steam for their people and return home as heroes
Coon deftly pokes fun at every prominent player in our sadly fractious real world. The common
sense morality he shares is not overbearing, but our players and their comic antics are clearly
visible throughout the story. As everyone understands, it is only the dragons who really know
what's going on.
Read The Wizard, the Pirate, and the Steampunk Librarian if you read just one steampunk
bonanza this year!
A quick, lighthearted read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Coon's blend of whimsy and practicality in the world-building gives a Doctor-Who vibe, and the dynamic trio of Mitch, Pearl, and Fanny pushes the story along. Great for a chuckle on a gray day.
In the ocean world of Rentsoc, where continent-sized animals swim through the seas, three unlikely heroes embark on an adventure to save the steampunk city of Shellsteam. One can’t have steampunk without steam, so when the magical dragon bone powering Shellsteam's Master Furnace begins running out, timorous wizard scribe Mitch the Adequate is sent to deliver the message to his superiors. Instead, he's swept up by Pearl, a Librarian who claims dragons are friendly and convinces Mitch and pirate Captain Fanny to join her quest to Teta the Otter. But Pearl’s motives are not as straightforward as they appear to be, and games more dangerous than dragon-hunting are afoot in Rentsoc.
Scott Coon’s first foray into fantasy is an emphatic success. Rentsoc Book 1: The Wizard, The Pirate, and The Steampunk Librarian weaves a delightfully imaginative fantasy that blends absurdist humor, heart, and high-seas adventure in equal measures. The world-building is exceptional: continent-sized animals serving as nations, simmering feuds between the Steampunks and the Crochets, and multilingual dragons high on funny snuff smoke combine in a rich, whimsical setting. Beneath the gags, Coon’s writing is compassionate and thoughtful, subtly touching on questions of duty, power, and belief.
The character development shines brightest. Mitch's journey from harried, timid scribe to confident hero is entirely earned. The deep loyalty hidden under Fanny's tough pirate exterior provides emotional depth. Their slow-burn romance adds warmth without overwhelming the adventure. Pearl/Purl’s Big Reveal works brilliantly and recontextualizes prior scenes. Some of the travel sequences might benefit from being more concise, but the payoff at Teta makes the journey worthwhile. The ending's discovery that any heat source creates steam subtly undermines the premise of the entire quest in a satisfying way.
Coon's humor, from the bureaucratic absurdity of Steampunk tea ceremonies to Mitch's teleportation mishaps, keeps the tone light even during tense moments. He leaves nary a trope subverted, especially when it comes to dragons.
“Wizard” succeeds as both rollicking adventure and thoughtful examination of prejudice, redemption, and found family. Highly recommended for fans of Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Diana Wynne Jones.
“The Wizard, The Pirate, & The Steampunk Librarian” is a jaunty fantasy adventure full of heart, humor and swashbuckling action. Author Scott Coon masterfully weaves surreal and slightly absurdist humor with wildly whimsical worldbuilding around a solid storyline. Told from the alternating points of view of the three main characters–a shy wizard with self-esteem issues, a brash pirate with a loving heart, and an impetuous librarian with secrets up her sleeve–this book is a page-turner that constantly surprises the reader. Coon’s deeper explorations of the socio-political concerns of this incredible fantasy world are illustrated in these characters’ thoughts and interactions with one another, and tempered with the author’s wit and boundless creativity. Reading this book put me in mind of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams, and “The Face in The Frost” by John Bellairs, with a sprinkling of “Biting the Sun” by Tanith Lee.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. I look forward to adding the published paperback to my library!
Scott Coon’s writing sparkles with charm and playful humor, effortlessly drawing readers into The Wizard, The Pirate, & The Steampunk Librarian—a world in which officials humiliate their subjects by scheduling meetings to include a compulsory hour-long wait.
At the heart of the story is Mitch, an endearingly insecure wizard saddled with the less-than-glorious title of “Adequate.” Though at first glance he may seem unremarkable, he reveals a quiet intelligence as he begins to question the official narrative, and also Pearl, who presents herself as a fellow underdog. But her confidence overwhelms his sense of caution, and her call to adventure is too tempting to ignore. This could be the opportunity he’s always dreamed of—a chance to become extraordinary.
