Great idea, grindingly slow writing. Author is of the school who believes that every move a character makes must be chronicled, in painful detail. ("Lady Sarah ascended the steps to the door. She turned the knob, opened the door and crossed the threshold. She walked across the marble floor to the reception desk ..." That's not a direct quote, but it's not far off.) This was very disappointing, because I loved the concept: the author has fun with references to "War of the World," Sherlock Holmes, Springheel Jack and other late Victoriana. Some lovely steampunk touches, including a rejuvenated Victoria, "cogitators," powered by leprechauns and a Martian tripod public transportation system. (I WANT ONE!!) But an example of a book that really needed a firm editor.

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