Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders (The Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin Book 1)

Hats with gears and copper tubing? This book might as well just say steampunk over and over. There's nothing remotely believable about anything. It's beyond ridiculous. It's a cash grab grounded on the popularity of steampunk.

Good pulp fiction, it delivers what it promises. However, I kept feeling like there could be more to this story. It could have just been deeper in content at points, and at the finale you feel a bit disappointed as a result. Like the cook left the savory out of the meal. But it is a fun romp, and worth the read.

Tggggb. mjvgjjbh hhjnnnbb b hunger for the past few months ago by a chance of the past few years ago and I am not been attacked and I know how much you can give me me a chance to be trusted too much of the members and I'm not going to be trusted too much of alliance with an sent a chance of the members and I know that the past few weeks ago and I'm not sure how to get a chance in the past year and a half years of the enemy and I am not sure how to be giving away free to be trusted too long ago and I am back my might to most of

This...could definitely be better. Given the title, you could assume this was a steampunk work, but most steampunk novels, i.e. the works of Stephen Hunt or Cherie Priest tone down the science fiction to the point it feels part of the world they're building, and they leave a lot of it up to your imagination, so you can use your own mind to picture what fantastical devices they are writing about. This book hits you over the head with so much unnecessary detail, any person reading it could draw you an identical picture of our protagonist and his ridiculous gadget-covered top hat. Where others are subtle in their steampunkery, this one shouts it in your face with a megaphone. The entire story takes place on an airship, everything, including incredibly-advanced robots, is driven by steam, they use black powder firearms, everything is covered in an unnecessary amount of tubes, gauges, and gears, etc. to the point that it just becomes laughable. As for the story, it doesn't start picking up until about a third of the way in, as the protagonist and his crew get involved in a dangerous rescue mission with a band of hard-as-nails mercenaries to save one of the rules of their ruling families. For world-building, the author does a superb job, creating a post-apocalyptic earth where technology has regressed to being driven by coal and steam, poisonous fog fills the sky, descendants of alien invaders live alongside humanity, and few people live past their fifties, making twenty the new middle class. If I have to draw a comparison, it feels a lot like China Mieville's "Railsea" or the SyFy movie "Mutant Chronicles," both of which have a similar world and which I really do enjoy. However, the "post-apocalyptic technological regression" setting has been done an awful lot, and while I do like the way in which he creates this world, especially with his Uncanny Valley Martians, a lot of it feels re-hashed, ESPECIALLY with the four ruling clans, which feel like a rip-off of the Megacorporations of Mutant Chronicles. So, for an exercise in world-building and character description, this story succeeds, but it really struggles in the story, originality, and subtlety departments. If you're looking for a quick read, this book is a good choice, but I wouldn't look for much more than that. If you want a good steampunk story, look up Cherie Priest, Chris Wooding, or Stephen Hunt for some great takes on the genre. Mr. Preston, I'm sure you're a good writer, but this genre just plain isn't your forte. If you want to write steampunk, blend it better with the world you're creating, don't just shove it in the reader's face. And while all the details are great, there is such a thing as too much, and you exclude your readers by taking away their ability to picture the world with their imaginations. Sorry, this book had great promise, but in the end it just fell flat.

'Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders' by Richard Ellis Preston jr. is a pretty decent start to a series. Plus it's got the kind of swashbuckling swagger that seems to be lacking in much of the Steampunk genre, in my view.

Captain Romulus Buckle is captain of the airship the Pneumatic Zeppelin. The book launches you right into a rescue mission, so the action is afoot while you are meeting the other characters. What I loved most about this book is that a lot of these type of books have a great cover with a zeppelin on them, then that is barely part of the book. In this one, we get the steampunk equivalent of a Napoleonic naval story, but with "forgewalkers," "steampipers," and something to do with the planet Mars.

It feels a bit YA when it's all said and done, so it wasn't quite as satisfying as I'd hoped, but I do like the strange world that's been created, and the interesting characters that inhabit it. Count me in for the next installment.

I received a review copy of this ebook from the store Publishing, 47 North, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Dashing and daring, Romulus Buckle is the adopted son of Admiral Balthazar Crankshaft, the chief of the Crankshaft clan. He is also the young captain of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, a prize dirigible that he stole from the Imperial Clan. Buckle soars over what was once California, in a post-apocalyptic Earth which was forever changed by an alien assault. This attack polluted Earth’s surface with a noxious gas and caused a climate of endless snow. The many clans of Snow World engage in small skirmishes but are not openly at war. Balthazar, along with the leaders of several other important clans, have been kidnapped during a recent attempt at peace talks. The Crankshaft clan has received intelligence that the clan leaders are being held in the mysterious fortress known as the City of the Founders. A rescue mission has been sanctioned but little is known about the Founders' defenses and much is rumored. Romulus and his loyal crew immediately volunteer even though the odds are slim that they will succeed, let alone survive.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK. Yes, I am aware I am emphasizing my point with the dreaded caplock, but I will not offer an apology. This swashbuckling quest set mainly aboard the Pneumatic Zeppelin was so fast paced and exciting, I finished it in one day. Romulus Buckle knows his steam powered airship like the back of his hand and, along with his assorted crew members, made the daring rescue attempt a pleasure. Richard Ellis Preston Jr.’s steampunk adventure is just like riding a great rollercoaster, a little slow going in the beginning, as the author acquainted the reader with the setting, but early on he hit the apex and once the car (or zeppelin in this case) began to accelerate it was pure adrenaline, exhilaration, wind in your face, no holds barred excitement. I was also impressed with the engineering details of the zeppelin. Preston managed to allow me to visualize the complicated workings that seemed mechanically sound without boring me in the slightest. The characters were well written and diverse. I am intrigued to learn more about their mysterious backgrounds as the series unfolds. The tone is jaunty and the novel is not intended for those looking for brooding introspection. Preston is an enthusiastic storyteller, spinning a tale of derring-do. I can’t wait to hop aboard the Pneumatic Zeppelin and take another wild ride in its upcoming adventure: Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War.

"Romulus Buckle & the city of the founders" by Richard Ellis Preston is an exciting new edition to the steampunk/ fantasy genre, of refreshing originality and extraordinary premise. This debut set within a distopian future is a tale of high action and adventure that takes you on a thrilling ride of unforgettable memorability and remarkable uniqueness. The sweeping saga is full of significant potential; comprising of inspired imaginative ideas amid an incredibly detailed, well thought out narrative set within a complex backdrop. Sucked into a darkly magnetic post-apolocalyptic world of mystical, spellbinding sights this entertaining adventure story was like nothing I have encountered before!

"...Buckle leapt down the last four stairs. His boots landed hard on the Castle deck grating. The female steampiper was on him in an instant, her sword blade waving back and forth, glimmering gold in the yellowish illumination of the firefly lanterns on the railing hooks.
Buckle backed up, getting his bearings. From the way she balanced the weight of her blade in her arm and wrist, he knew that he was up against an elite swordswoman. He could hear the battle raging below: muskets blazing, swords clanging, shouts of men and women locked in mortal combat.
The fight for the life of the Pneumatic Zeppelin was in full swing!"

This explosive, action-packed literary masterwork is indeed something very special and full on, fast-paced from the very first page. The snappy, punchy sentences and fervent intensity adds to the overall stimulating saga along with the dynamic dialogue and cast of colourful, captivating characters. Unable to tear my gaze from the pages I was literally glued to this book, lost within a remarkable otherworldly adventure of supreme singularity and epicness! Left with a list of questions lingering in my mind once I had finished reading, I now wait with baited breath and eager anticipation as to the next instalment and sequel to such an astonishingly fantastic story. I loved the characters Spartak, Tinskin, Gallowglass and the imperial clans all of who were so spunky and individualistic!

This recommended read for fans of sci-fi and steampunk blends together an interesting, eclectic mix of genre and curious concepts for a truly fresh, fabulous read. I cannot wait for the next book in the "Romulus Buckle & the engines of war" series that's set to be a striking series of great magnitude.

*I would like to thank the author for having a signed physical copy + magnet of his book as a first-read giveaway on Goodreads*

5 STARS - 10 out of 10!

Preston’s great strength, perhaps honed in his career as a screenwriter, is his ability to evoke and describe the physical details of a scene, its characters, land, atmosphere, and, of course, the brass fittings and leather clothes and steam engines of steampunk.

The details of this world are interesting. It is the “Snow World”, Earth about 300 hundred years after an invasion by aliens, dubbed “Martians” but they aren’t really from Mars) which left Earth with large obelisks of indestructible material and no electricity. In the ruins of Los Angeles, it has even left a permanent cloud of poison gas. Man has reverted to small clans built around professions: (the Crankshafts, merchants that Captain Romulus Buckle belongs to; the Alchemists, engineers of steam powered robots and other things; the Imperials who built the main character of the story, the airship Pneumatic Zeppelin.

And, while it’s still ludicrous, Preston’s steampunk technology is less ludicrous than that of a lot of other steampunk stories. This is something of a naval adventure with detailed descriptions of the airship and, when necessary, its repair. Essentially, the plot involves the rescue of Crankshaft leader Balthazar from imprisonment in the City of Founders, a clan living under the ruins of Los Angeles.

We get a traditional start to the story with detailed background and descriptions of the Pneumatic Zeppelin and its crew, mostly in their ‘teens and twenties. There’s handsome Romulus, half-Martian and Chief Engineer Max, and fiery Chief Navigator Sabrina. Preston does a good job with his many combat scenes on land and air.

However, for such a long story, the plot offers few surprises. We pretty much suspect where Preston will be taking us in future books. Max and Buckle, both adopted by Balthazar, will develop a romantic attraction. The fight between Smelt of the Imperials, who thinks Buckle broke a treaty and stole the Pneumatic Zeppelin, and Buckle, who thinks the Imperials broke a treaty and launched an attack on the Crankshafts, is a war engineered by the Imperials. The mysteries Preston offers as an incentive to pick up future books aren’t that many. What exactly happened to Elizabeth, Buckle’s sister? What is Sabrina’s secret past in the City of the Founders? What is the origin of Lady Andromeda’s strange charisma? And the suspense of the probable war between the Founders and everyone else (assuming they can put aside their differences and unite) isn’t that great.

Still, if you really like the physical aesthetics of steampunk – those steam engines and clothes – you might want to pick this one up.

[Review copy provided by the publisher.]

Romulus Buckle and the City of the Founders by Richard Ellis Preston, Jr

This is a steam punk, post apocalypse tale of zeppelineers and their inter-clan rivalries.

The bulk of this story takes place on the Pneumatic Zeppelin, a hydrogen fueled zeppelin captained by Romulus Buckle of the Crankshaft clan. Preston does an excellent job of painting easily imagined scenes, sets and characters. The crew of the Pneumatic Zeppelin is colorful, memorable and entertaining. Preston provides enough description to clearly see each character and their interrelationship.

The mix of high technology as in robots and the extreme volatility of a hydrogen fueled zeppelin provides an excellent counterpoint to the plot. The Founders are the villains in this tale. A mysterious clan that seeks to gain domination over all the other clans. Their tactics seem to first divide the contentious clans and embroil them in interclan feuding. Once the clans are at each others throats then the Founders can strike.

Their plan is rudely interrupted by the actions of Romulus Buckle and his loyal crew.

I recommend the book.

When I first started reading Roumlus Buckle and the City of the Founders I was ready to toss it aside. The overwrought descriptions tried to hard, the names sounded like someone from Punk'd or JackA.. named them, the same people who post FB flatulence jokes. Nothing wrong with any of that, just not appealing to me. Then I read a few reviews and decided to stick with it at least until the what some people said was the "good part." and if I still found myself bored and half listening to the remake of 21 Jump Street I'd give up.

Around page 75 or so, when the tanglers show up, it's a different book. I find it almost as if the author started out with this steampunk parody and the realized there was a real story but didn't want to flush the first 79 pages of his hard work. Frankly, he should have just started at page 73 or 74.

Once the action starts and Romulus is trying to get back to his crew and we get deeper into the world as it now exists, the book becomes so much more interesting with lots of action, double dealing, who to trust, who not to trust, characters I had dismissed in the first few pages suddenly have stories and depth. The author can write, and write a darn engrossing story, it just takes awhile to get there.

The ending is a cliffhanger but the main thrust of the book story is resolved. Once I got into it, I really enjoyed reading the book.

Thoroughly entertaining steampunk adventure, I loved it! I thought this book was a little slow at the start, there were lots of introductions of characters and background going on, but a bit of action started fairly quickly and escalated quite nicely from there. I thought this was a fantastic world, set in an area of Southern California I know well, but hundreds of years in the future after a catastrophic alien attack left the landscape and atmosphere changed forever, as well as inhibiting the use of electricity. Romulus Buckle and his airship crew set out to rescue his adoptive father, Balthazar Crankshaft, who has been kidnapped, along with several other clan leaders, by the Founders. There are wonderful, quirky characters with fun names, interesting steam contraptions, including the zeppelin and their weapons, lots of adventure, and a very satisfactory ending which left plenty of questions to be answered in the next book, Romulus Buckle and the Engines of War. I can't wait to read the next adventure to find out more about the backgrounds of my favorite characters, including Sabrina, Romulus and Max, and to get all my questions answered.

I've never been much of a "steampunker". While the genre has an intense amount of inherent romance and brilliant imagery I usually find it to be anthropocentric, chauvinistic and mired in cliche. There a a lot more here than just a "Steampunk" book. I'm not entirely sure how to review it.
It's well written and more importantly fun to read or hear read to you.

I suppose the best review is that I will be following along with the rest of the series.

While this certainly has all of the markings for a good steampunk novel, it misses the mark by quite a bit. All of the setting is good and the world building is decent, considering that it is a steampunk USA. It is not too difficult to do to add dirigibles to an already existent world. But the plot is paper-thin and the characters are lacking.

Also, when you create a mechanical owl, i have no choice but to picture Bobo from Clash of the Titans. and that takes me right out of the moment. Adding Martians to the mix was an interesting twist, yet it was not handled very well either.

All in all, this was high on the list of potential, but fell extremely short on delivery.

The world of Romulus Buckle is unique in its blend of science fiction, steampunk and post-apocalyptic fiction. The result is compelling.

Romulus Buckle is the hero of the tale, but he shares the stage with some fascinating and clearly drawn friends (and enemies). Buckle emerges as a brilliant dirigible captain. The storytelling is just as deft.

Characterisation - check. Coherent world-building - check. Fast pace - check. Distinctive style - check. But what stood out for me was how, without losing momentum or feeling clumsy, tantalising clues were strewn, preparing for future story development.

I received an advance reader copy (which was lovely since I've been wanting to read RB's story for ages), but the downside is that I'm hyper-vigilant not to drop spoilers. Let's just say there are some seriously interesting twists.

Part of the appeal of steampunk is its unashamed enjoyment of Adventure with a capital A. Our ordinary world becomes remarkable and characters are confronted with high stakes choices--and in RB they're not comic book heroes. Their responses are nuanced.

I have to come back to the world-building and descriptive power of the book. I could all but smell, taste, feel and shiver at the scenes of battle. The Pneumatic Zeppelin, the dirigible, is a world of her own, and RB hauled me into it. As a sidenote, if you know Los Angeles you'll be intrigued by its re-imagining.

Romulus Buckle and the City of the Founders is proof that steampunk can inhabit the future as well as the past.

This book wants to be the most steampunkiest steampunk tale you have ever read

Romulus Buckle for example is by no means the most ridiculous name you will see in this book but doesn't it sound steampunk?

The majority of the novel takes place in a Zeppelin. There's no electricity, but boy is there lots of steam and big clanking machines. Oh yes, this novel plants its flag proudly on top of Mount Steampunk and lets it wave.

So what I'm saying is that it may be trying a bit too hard. Particularly near the beginning where we get pages (no exaggeration) of description as a method to introduce characters. Particular attention is paid to their hats which contain some sort of brass tubing or something. I honestly couldn't tell you what because I basically tuned it out after the third sentence on the subject.

There's far too much telling and not enough showing in the early part of the book and it kind of saps my basic goodwill to the core idea of a Zeppelin Captain and his crew. By the time the plot actually started moving I was getting impatient.

And the plot incidentally is fine. They're on a daring mission to rescue their adopted father/clan leader from a nefarious foe. Nothing wrong with that. Along the way there's lots of derring do and feats of bravery. Also good. And the author gradually feeds in some twists and questions that are intended for future books. The world they're playing in gets a bit more depth as we go along too, though not a huge amount. But enough to make it sound interesting.

But here's the killer problem. I don't actually care about any of these people. They have no depth or really much in the way of emotion. I'm told they feel things but I don't feel it with them.

Again and again it just feels like the author is trying too hard. Minor characters are given time that should have gone to the main characters. It's not practical to give the entire crew personality and when you're still introducing new characters in the final act, you've got pacing problem on your hands.

There's probably too much action as well. A few too many major set pieces that should have destroyed the ship. It becomes ridiculous what it survives and as a reader the escalation of these catastrophes just ceased to have meaning after a while.

At it's core there's a cool story. Chop 100 pages off the length and I think you'd have it. Perhaps for the second book in the series Richard Ellis Preston, Jr. won't feel the need to throw everything and the kitchen sink at us (along with detailed descriptions of the brass taps).

Would that author Richard Ellis Preston, Jr., had made up his mind about this a bit earlier in the process so that we might have been spared the preciousness of names like Romulus Buckle, Balthazar Crankshaft, Pluteus B. B. Brassballs, and Katzenjammer Smelt, none of these nicknames, aliases, or titles but rather all apparently crimes committed against innocent children by allegedly loving parents. I'd also like to point out that there are several good reasons why practical headgear for aerialists never has and never will include top hats or derbies! And what on Earth is a clan of pseudo-Prussians, complete with iron crosses, monocles, pickelhaubes, and an inability to get along with others, doing in Southern California? Add to this the fact that the officers and crew of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, several of whom are adopted children of the clan chief, care deeply for each other and insist on informing the reader about this in nauseating detail, and Mr. Preston had dug himself quite a hole with this reader by the time the action kicked into high gear.

To his credit Mr. Preston then proceeded to win me back over with 422 pages of almost uninterrupted, largely twee free, well written action from Chapter XIV on, as Captain Buckle and crew set out upon a suicide mission to rescue their kidnapped clan chief from the clutches of the mysterious and seemingly all powerful Founders. (They've also apparently set out to discover just how much damage a hydrogen filled airship can take and keep flying; the answer turns out to be a good deal more than I would have guessed but without any cheating I could detect.) I might have wished for more (presumably well known to the characters and thus unlikely to spoil the ending) history on the alien Storming of Earth, but otherwise I am well mollified and looking forward to the sequel Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War.

The Romulus Buckle series is an exuberant, swashbuckling tale of a dystopian future set in Los Angeles and populated with a great cast of over the top characters. The story is packed with non-stop action and adventure and really sets a great bar for inventive steampunk romance.

Romulus Buckle is the young captain of the Pneumatic Zeppelin - part of the fleet of his father's clan, the Crankshafts. When the leader of the clan (and Romulus' adoptive father) is kidnapped, the Buckle and his Zeppelin will travel across the Los Angeles landscape, fight prehistoric monsters, clan armies, and more - all the while assisted by his capable crew.

I really enjoyed this book - it's a book that has a strong enough plot, great world building, and all the adventure you'd expect from a pirate type adventure. There are even moments of amusement and humor thrown in at some of the situations in which Buckle finds himself. Add in Martians, Los Angeles ruined and under snow, and some inventive steampunking (where steampunk IS intrinsic to the plot and not set dressing) and you have a great read. Los Angeles natives will especially appreciate this book and its ruined Southern California locations.

I listened to the Audible version of this book and it was just a bit too over the top, though I appreciated all the characterization the narrator put into the reading.

In all, this is a gem in the steampunk or dystopian genre.

This story is very detailed and engineer- thought provoking. Great descriptions and completely transports you to a world thats similar to what we know -but not. This is my first steampunk story and I love it. I adore the narrator and think he enjoys all the character voices he got to do. So glad its on kindle unlimited!

The post apocalyptic steampunk was a great change from the typical, alternate history steampunk that has gotten played out in the past three years. Well-written, though awkward at times (the romance at the end felt forced, and the whole "Romulus-was-a-bigot-but-magically-now-is-not" thing was a bit unexplained and thin), and it felt longer than it was, but altogether, the good natured feel, the diverse cast, and the swashbuckling intrigue makes this a worthwhile (though exhausting) read.

I have been intrigued with the idea of steampunk for some time but have not found any books that I fancied. This one finally hit the spot for me. The world had a raison d'etre that I could accept. The details of steam-powered airship operations were fascinating and believable, and the story was engaging.

Only three things bothered me: 1. Hats and headgear with lots of gadgetry were lovingly described and often referred to as being "plugged in" to the ship's systems, but beyond dropping various eyewear into place, they seemed to serve no function, and they certainly never interacted with the ship. It's as if Preston was obligated to include them as a nod to steampunk fashion without any real reason to have them. 2. In a society with the industrial chops to build airships and robots, steam-powered though they be, the use of black powder weapons barely on a 17th Century level simply doesn't make sense. Surely they should be able to make brass cartridge casings. 3. About all that steam power. What do they use to fuel the boilers? There were several mentions of very small boilers in some pretty intricate machines but not a hint of how they kept the fires going.

Those details aside, I did enjoy reading this book and am looking forward to the next installment in the story.

I have a new favorite steampunk series, had to read it as fast as possible to see how it ended. Engaging storyline with lots of action and a lot of depth and detail in the flying of the zeppelin. Characters were well written with interesting back stories. Plenty of plot potential for a long series of books I hope!

This book by Richard Ellis Preston, Jr., is a fast-paced, swashbuckling steam punk tale that promises to be a talked about series for years to come. What a page turner! Preston keeps the action moving with crisp, short chapters all ending on a "hook." I loved the world-building, the story, and especially the characters' names. Romulus Buckle & The City of the Founders is the first steam punk novel I've read, but it won't be the last. I look forward to the rest of the series. I believe fans of Terry Pratchett's Disc World stories will find a lot to like in this first book in The Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin.

I wholeheartedly enjoyed this adventure!
This creative steampunk world is a great addition to the genre! It's well written, with engaging characters and thrilling action!
The apocalyptic setting creates tension on every page--there's a lot coming against Romulus, which makes this a page-turner. The cast of characters is well written. I enjoyed the alien species that was integrated so well into the book.
The only reason I didn't give it 5-stars (I love the plot, characters, and it was very well written) was because the first 60 pgs (at least) should have been cut.

I highly recommend it!

Romulus Buckle is my steamer of choice.

Seriously though, I mainly read UF, high fantasy and some lit classics, but my writerly wife knows REP Jr. and had nothing but outstanding things to say about him as a person. Since this very excellent book and it's audio version are available for free through Kindle Unlimited, I figured it was the least I could do to try it out. After all, Luke Daniels is a solid narrator who I enjoy listening to.

Boy am I glad I did.

After a world building start that takes a while to click along (but is by no means slow, especially if you enjoy world building) this book is non-stop adventure. The twists and turns are great, but what I like is that it doesn't suffer from trying to throw too much into a book the way a lot of books and movies have recently. It's not obvious or cliche, it's just straightforward and knows where it's going.

The characters are real and likeable. Romulus and his crew are somewhat archetypal but each main character brings a hint of something extra. For example, you wouldn't be wrong to compare Romulus with Han Solo, but you wouldn't be right either. Romulus is a lot more complex, but in a way that is completely genuine and real. Even if all the other characters were paper dolls I wouldn't have minded, but they've all got such great...well everything! Just go read it.

So why not 5 stars? Here's the thing: I liked it, I SUPER liked it, but I've got to reserve a 5 star for books that absolutely blew my entire world away. Romulus and Co. didn't quite do that, but they sure gave me an excellent ride that I'll most likely go on again before the third book comes out.

I listen to books in the car on my way to work and this book made me wish my commute was longer.

Popcorn? Let me explain, I call movies such as Fast and Furious a popcorn movie. Fun to watch. Cheap thrills. Ultimately forgettable though. That's not to say that kind of movie stinks or anything. It's just not deep, or Oscar material. I consider this a great "popcorn" book. It's fun and over the top.
It is of course an apocalyptic future. And swashbucklers rule the skies if they live very long. Bring in our young and charismatic hero. And you're set for a good read.
First up make sure to remember it is a light book. Not any real characters. All are just character types. All of the action is outrageous and over the top. In short, it's fun. Will it break any new ground or win any awards? No. But still worth a read all the same.

Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders is the book equivalent of a 1940's-era movie serial. It's an over-the-top post-apocalyptic steampunk adventure full of larger-than-life, quirky, and eccentric characters. The swashbuckling action is non-stop and there are more cliffhangers than you can shake a stick at. Romulus Buckle, captain of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, is heroic, honorable, indestructible, and, in the author's words, "shot bolt-through with aviator dash." The bad guys are fanatical, dishonorable, and bent on world domination, or at least domination of their little corner of the world.

I mostly enjoyed the book. Will you? I'm not sure. I think this may be a very reader-specific book. You need to have the right amount of tolerance for over-the-top extravagance and near-parody cliches. If knowing that the names of some of the major characters are Balthazar Crankshaft, Pluteus Brassball (commanding general of the elite military team, the Ballblasters), and Katzenjammer Smelt makes you roll your eyes, this may not be the book for you. If, on the other hand, that makes you smile, then perhaps you are among the right audience for this book.

I noticed that a couple of other reviewers have labeled this a teen novel. I suppose it could be considered young adult fiction. Romulus Buckle and his crew are mostly teens themselves. There is virtually no romance and I don't recall much in the way of foul language - a few "arses" here and there. Despite all the fighting and dying, the violence did not seem to me to be particularly graphic or glorified. But, without the prompting from other reviews, I probably would not have thought of this as being a young adult novel.

This book is the first in a series and it leaves many loose ends dangling at the end. I didn't love this book, but I certainly liked it well enough to want to read the next one in the series.

Purchased this book by Richard Ellis Preston, Jr. for my nephew who likes sci-fi, fantasy type books. He said it was a good, non-complex read with some plot twists but not overly outdone in characters. He likes this author's writings.

I'm a fan of adventure, fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction so this book seemed like a no brainer! But it really isn't. It's so very slow and takes forever to get in to the story that it took me months to actually get through the first hundred pages. I kept going to other books and putting this one down. Steampunk is never supposed to be like this; you shouldn't have to explain it. But somehow this author makes steampunk complicated by adding in one genre after another to the point where the first third of the book is really a mess.

There are so many other great books out there that are more fun to read that forceing yourself to get through a hundred pages of blah isn't really something I'm satisfied with. I don't recommend this book.

New found interest in steampunk items. Happend to catch this in the Kindle Lending Library. Took a couple of chapters to get into it, but once going, I was hooked. Yes, there are probably better stories out there but this story had a hook, had plenty of action, and kept me entertained. Just like with movies, that is what I look for. I'm not writing a term paper or book report on this thing so I'm not looking to do lots of analysis. It is a good book. Good world building. Interesting characters. Action. Aliens. Mysterious forces at play. Intrigue. All good stuff and made for a very good read.

I admit, my hopes for this steampunk novel were set pretty high. I love science fiction and steampunk, dystopian novels and high adventure. I adore pirate stories and squashbuckling tales. So what went wrong?

It really is the writing that trips things up. The author uses passive voice. At first I thought he was trying to capture the flavor of old classics, but all it does is make the reader feel less engaged in everything. I felt kept at a distance from the characters and the action.

That's unfortunate, since there are good characters and plenty of action. I feel like there is a good story in here, trying to get out. A good editor could correct much of this, but it's up to the author, really, to tighten his voice.

I reviewed an unfinshed bound galley, so perhaps more editing will show in the finished version. I don't think that's enough, though. The author should take this excellent start and clean it up, tighten it down, use active verbiage, and edit, edit, edit.

Recommended for die-hard steampunk/pirate enthusiasts, mainly.

No doubt inspired by the success of other series books , here comes another one. "The Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin" brings a fresh , inviting writing style that intrigues the reader from the first page through the last.
Very creative and original , this looks like a promising series if the author can keep the originality up.

Seemingly never a dull moment, and the author's use of flashbacks or recollections by his characters to tie everything together, makes his world come to fruition in an interesting way..... Yay cool steampunk ?

A rousing read, full of post apocalyptic steam punk adventure. The author builds the characters and their appearances, uniforms and atmosphere almost too vividly, but other than that minor downside for this reader, I highly recommend this book.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It was incredibly detailed and magnificent. Every description worthy of praise in itself. Riddled with art deco structures, pirate-esque toils, and the sweet highlights of steam punk generations. A great read for an adventure seeking book worm.

Mr. Preston has provided us with an astounding Steampunk world. The story is full of strange beasts, copper and steam driven technology, and zeppelins. The story draws you in and refuses to be put down. Thoroughly enjoyable, I urge anyone even remotely curious about this book to give it a try. I could see this becoming an amazing movie someday.

I always love the steampunk setting and this book surely did it justice! Anyone who loves the steampunk concept should read this. I think it took a lot of knowledge about how this kind of technology might work to write this book.