Posts Tagged ‘veridon’

_Heart of Veridon_ is an enjoyable pulp crime story that takes place in an excellent steampunk fantasy setting.

At first, it isn’t clear how the fantasy aspect matters. When an artifact of unknown significance falls into the hands of downfallen ex-pilot and small-time criminal Jacob Burn, people start trying to kill him. He doesn’t know why. He doesn’t understand who is after him. He’s not sure whom he can trust. And for a while, it doesn’t particularly matter that he is a steampunk cyborg in a city full of steampunk cyborgs, steam-driven trams, mysterious religions, and at least a couple of intelligent non-human minority populations. He’s just a tough guy on the run, doing whatever it takes to escape and figure out what’s going on.

But long before the end, hidden truths about Veridon open up, and the fantasy elements begin to make a difference in how the story unfolds. While some of Veridon’s secrets are foreshadowed a little too heavily, others are completely surprising. The linkage of plot and setting turns out to be very solid and, along with some fairly engaging action, makes the story worth reading.

There are a few rough spots, though. It’s hard to like the way that the main character antagonizes his own friends and acquaintances. Several supporting characters aren’t developed as strongly as their roles in the story probably merit. The names for people and things, given the exotic quality of the setting, are sometimes absurdly mundane (I had to assume I was reading names translated into English equivalents). And the ending is abrupt and feels slightly implausible based on facts established within the story–it works, but the poignancy the author aimed at is undermined by questions about whether it should work.
Heart of Veridon