The Aeronaut by Bryan Young, Book Review

Robert Preston left the United States to fight for France. It was being called the War to End All Wars. He believed in the cause. But, he went to lose the rest of himself after his heart was broken. Instead he finds himself and his heart through the people he meets and the challenges he overcomes.

The Aeronautby Bryan Young is a memoir style telling of a World War I adventure of fighting, romance, and espionage. Woven into the story are elements of steampunk to draw interest to the events, providing additional levels to the intrigue and suspense. I picked up a copy of The Aeronaut from the author at the League of Utah Writers (website) Spring into Books 2018 event for review purposes.

Plot

Robert Preston shares his story. He is The Aeronaut telling of his time being a member of the French Army. He joined their battle against the German forces because he knew it was the right thing to do and because he was heartbroken and believed he had nothing further to lose. What he didn’t count on was how much he had to gain.

As comrades in arms fighting for a common cause, Preston becomes friends with LeBeau, then, Renault, and eventually Sara. LeBeau and Renault are soldiers he meets on the lines of battle, while Sara is an English nurse Preston meets while recovering from wounds he sustained while becoming what many consider a hero.

The main part of The Aeronaut takes place after Preston and Sara meet. Their love grows but they are still a part of the war even though their feelings for each other give them some times of being apart from the war. But the war still rages, and Preston is still a soldier who is required to do his part.

Preston is recruited for a clandestine mission behind enemy lines. It is something he doesn’t want to do, but is physically the perfect man for the job. Being in a position of not being able to reject his assignment, Preston pushes forward.

Style

The Aeronaut is a first person memoir. Robert Preston is telling you his story. Included are his perceptions and feelings. Some are presented to be a little raw. There are scenes sharing the violence man can do against man, but not with horrific descriptions. As a memoir, the foreshadowing is well structured and is brought together nicely at the end.

The adding of steampunk elements allows for easier relatability with modern day readers. Instead of seeing the battle from a soldier climbing up over the wire to charge into no man’s land, there is the view of the battle from Preston as he uses his jetpack to jump forward, perform his part in the assault, then jump back over the contested zone of lingering death.

Steampunk adds to the story without overpowering it. Bryan Young creates a personal story and stays with it throughout The Aeronaut. The steampunk elements weave into his tale, supporting the story. I have read other works where the fantastical element become the mainstay, overpowering the characters and the main story arc. Here there is enough description to explain how and why the elements are there to support the story.

Overall

The Aeronaut is a well-structured war story. The point-of view allows for the sharing of not only the scenes that are taking place, but some of the personal turmoil the lead character goes through. It is known that Robert Preston survives, because it is his story. From early on in the telling you know there is more to the story than just surviving, which gives interest to continue reading to the end.

The level of description is good for adults and young adult readers. Experienced readers may find some of the events more easily predicted. However, that doesn’t take away from the solid storytelling. The details shows the author has a strong understanding of the historical events portrayed

The Aeronaut by Bryan Young is published by Silence in the Library Publishing (website).

I give The Aeronaut4 out 5.

About the Author

I’ve met Bryan Young at other writing events and know he also considered an expert concerning the Star Wars Universe and writes articles about historical events and items along with his other novels. You can find more about him at his author’s page, brianyoung fiction.com and on Twitter (@swankmotron)

You can find The Aeronaut on Amazon (link).

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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The Giant’s Seat by Dave Butler, Book Review

The Giant’s Seat is part two of the series The Extraordinary Journeys of Clockwork Charlie by Dave Butler. Butler picks up the action shortly after the closing scene of The Kidnap Plot (review here), continuing the action. Our hero, Charlie, and three of his friends, Bob, Ollie, and Gnat have set off across England to warn Charlie’s bap's friend, Caradog Pritchard about the Iron Cog.

The Story

One of the last things Charlie’s dad told him to do was to make his way to the mountain Cader Idris and find his father’s old friend who could help Charlie. The Giant’s Seat picks up two days into that journey as the group of adventurers are on Bob’s flyer. But a storm separates Charlie from the rest of the group.

Charlie undertakes a frantic search. His friends are missing, and Charlie knows it is perilous to be on his own. This leads him to meeting new people, an extended family of dwarfs. And, like many times when meeting new people, the relationship starts out poorly. The situation is rough on Charlie, but he makes the best of it and eventually he and the dwarfs become friends. He even finds out they have shared interests. Along the way he also meets an aspiring wizard who is having problems of his own and Charlie inspires him onto new adventures that bring the two together later.

With the help of the dwarfs, and elves, Charlie makes it to Wales and Cader Idris. In the town at the base of the mountain he is reunited with the rest of his travelling companions. Together they complete the quest they thought they were on and prepare to start a new one.

There are many new sights and experiences for all of them. But as a group working together our young adventures rise to the challenges in the same fashion as in The Kidnap Plot. The events are new ones. Butler does a wonderful job of continuing the story through his second book and not just going through what we already read in the first.

The Setting

The Giant’s Seat moves out of London, but the steampunk feel is maintained. The inventions presented are done with a sense of fun mixed in with the power of coal, water, pistons, and springs. The descriptions allow for a visualization of what is there without breaking the language used during the period of the time the story is set in.

The Writing

Dave Butler delivers another wonderful story. The Giant’s Seat follows right along with The Kidnap Plot. This isn’t just in the story being followed, but in the way the style and language presents the story.

The characters coming forward from the first book are given even more depth as their own stories are developed. The new ones have the same level of detail expected after the first book. And, where racial traits are presented in the first, they are carried forward to give continuity.

The Giant’s Seat continues with the multiple levels of plot. This series is set for middle grade and it is paced and presented in a language readers at that level can comprehend and work through. Butler keeps the story active by not stopping there. The additional levels of complexity give more advanced readers the opportunity to have a deeper experience.

The pace of the book is engaging. I kept reading, being drawn forward without getting sidetracked. I think it will keep other readers equally engaged.

There are lessons presented without beating the reader over the head. Butler empowers Charlie and company with the will and desire to do what is right. They learn the benefits of helping others. The story presents loss, and how it is dealt with. There are risks, rewards, and punishments for the actions chosen.

Author (from the book jacket)

Dave Butler’s first book for children was The Kidnap Plot, which The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books called “a strong start to a new series.” Dave lives in an old house and works in a study where one of the biggest bestsellers of the twentieth century was written. He has kept the room’s original shag carpet and wood-veneer walls. He likes games, guitars, languages, and, most of all, his family.

Dave lives in Provo, Utah. You can find him on the Web at davidjohnbutler.com.

Overall

The Extraordinary Journey of Clockwork Charlie; The Giant’s Seatis a fun and fantastic journey. Although it continues the story of Charlie and his friends, it is a work that can stand on its own.

People of all ages can enjoy this book.

The characters are intriguing and each has their own story.

I give it 4 ½ out of 5.

The Giant’s Seat is published as a Borzoi book published by Alfred A. Knopf (Random House).

I was given a copy of The Giant's Seat by the author for review purposes.

The Giant's Seat is available on Amazon (link).

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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The Secret Garden (Steampunk), Movie Review

The Secret Garden is a classic story—one that has stood up as a book and as a movie. With this in mind, Director Owen Smith didn't want to be compared to what has come before. Instead of "remaking" the movie in the same style that's been accomplished and enjoyed, he reset it in steampunk.

We are moved to a fictional factory that is in demise. Mary Lennox shows up for a short stay and ends up being orphaned and needing to stay longer. By the end she has changed things around for her uncle and those few people who have been holding on.

Sorry if this is a spoiler, but the story was written in 1910, released as a book in 1911, and the first movie came out in 1949.

The story has become a classic that lends itself to be a good movie. However, it is not the story that makes this movie. What sets this movie apart is the setting and the cast.

Using Steampunk

Smith succeeded with using a steampunk alternative for his presentation of The Secret Garden. The location they found creates a space where the story unfolds in spectacular fashion. Yes, alterations were made to the tale. They were not able to keep to the age of the original characters and as you watch what they did you find the alterations are done with taste and are reflected within this telling.

The aspects of the story they changed fit together to give a delightful family tale. Details were dealt with to make sure continuity is maintained throughout the movie. The visual effects for creating the steampunk universe play on the roles. The costumes fit the characters and add to the setting. Kudos to their designer because there were details in the costumes that could have been easily overlooked.

The extra tidbits used in the costume design helped to reflect the limitation of space and push the story along in the new setting. This was recognized at FilmQuest as The Secret Garden was nominated for Best Costumes.

Cast

The cast played off one another as though they truly were the characters they were portraying. This is probably why The Secret Garden was nominated for Best Ensemble Cast. All did well, but Amanda Waters (Mandie Movies) as Martha Sowerby was exceptional, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Other cast members included Erin Leigh Bushko as Mrs Medlock, Sacha Dzuba as Doctor Craven, Mark Ashworth as Ben Weatherstaff, Max River as Dickon Sowerby, Hannah Fierman as Lily Craven, Paden Garrett Anderson as Colin Craven, and Michael Vaughn as Archibald Craven.

Overall

I was able to see The Secret Garden at the 2017 FilmQuest Film Festival. It was nominated for seven awards: Best Supporting Actress (Amanda Waters), Best Costumes, Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Score, Best VFX, and Best Ensemble Cast. The movie runs 90 minutes.

The Secret Garden is a wonderful family tale presented as a movie worth sharing as a family. If you are familiar with the story, or not, this was done in a delightful manner that keeps with the style of movies The Dogwood Motion Picture Company has become known for.

I give The Secret Garden 4 out of 5.

The Secret Garden is currently on the film festival circuit.

This article is submitted to Utah Geek Magazine.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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