Synopsis
Reviews: *an impressive offering* *a sublime undercurrent of historical detail* *The story flows right from the first page, gripping stuff. It's a can't put down book.* 1815. Wellington retreats from Waterloo. The Napoleonic War becomes The Rambling War. 1853. Europe is broke and France is ruled by a puppet government that answers to both Prussia & Great Britain. The embers of outright revolution are inflamed by an unknown force, with Wilhelm Stieber, the sneakiest and cleverest agent of them all, chief amongst the suspects. Who is he working for? And how can they possibly use revolution to their own ends? Who is the power behind the forces of revolution? And can it be vanquished? William Hope finds himself in a secret technological weapons facility. The only problem is that it is run by Brocklehurst, a traitor to the nation. He is working with a foul beast called Rune, and it desires the Lady Amara. Brocklehurst's only option is to kill William and he must find a way to escape. Amara is taken from her home and enslaved to imbue an automaton army with the souls of the dead. The automata are virtually indestructible, and anyone owning them may just own Europe. She may hold the key to defeating them, after all she did enable their creation. But what can a slave girl do? William and Amara must team up - with Brocklehurst's valet, Bob - to identify and defeat the threat to Europe.
About the Author
A scientist by education and profession, he is also a lover of nature by passion. Many of the ideas for his books come from a love of history, and especially the history of technological advances and war, and the wonder at the effect on civilisations. Some parts of ‘The Tyrant Rises’ (the first novel in the series) were written some years ago, but only with an introduction to Steampunk and an ongoing enjoyment of making stuff up, did the story finally fall in to place (along with the reading of many novels, from The Moonstone to Pride and Prejudice, Turtledove to du Maurier, Harry Flashman to Harry Potter). He loves the idea of ridiculous steampunk technology and has a long history of tangling with mythical beasts. He has travelled Europe widely (often alone and by motorbike), usually being humbled by places visited (Verdun springs to mind), awed by nature (Golden Eagles, wild pigs and green lizards in the Pyrenees) and constantly surprised – and grateful - at the kindness of people all over. Chris has a wife, 3 children, full-time job, an allotment, is a keen photographer, amateur botanist, motorcyclist and an avid reader. He has recently taken up ink drawing also. He has too little time.
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