Frank Dutkiewicz of Diabolical Plots reviews the 25th annual Writers of the Future anthology and offers some pleasing words and reasonable critique of my story, “Life In Steam.”
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Life of Steam by Gra Linnaea. Third place second quarter
Mendel is an Inquisitor for the Dominican Order. His job is to determine if the Babbage machines of competing planets are just simple computation tools or abominations to god’s creation. The planet Wood has one that far exceeds the churches rules. Mendel is conflicted. Fulfilling the Dominicans directive means ending a miracle of life.
A universe where planets are flat islands of rock embedded in the firmament of the sphere of heaven? Spiderships powered by steam? An orthodox religion that holds sway over entire worlds? Life of Steam is as an original concept that I have [n]ever read. I love this author’s imagination and the incorporation of a sci-fi element into such a fantastic fantasy.
I liked this MC and the dilemma that he is confronted with. A previous conflict in his past boosted this story up a notch for me. The ending and resolution came off as a predictable and a bit flat, however. I don’t know why but somehow it felt as if this story deserved more. High marks on originality.
Grade A-
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Read the full review here.
