Quote:
Originally Posted by Hitch
Well, I love Steampunk, on the rise or not (and not twerky romance novels disguised as steampunk....grumble), but after his other series, which I did not love, I didn't want to bother. Some of you seem to like it, though, yes? Cinder Spires, I mean?
I suspect I'll wait until there are at least two. Fool me once, shame on you...
Hitch
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Joseph R. Lallo's "Free Wrench" series might satisfy any itch you have for steampunk. It's set on some other world and has elements that are rather like very early SciFi, especially what the airships use for lifting gas and fuel. Some time prior to the start of the series there was an accident at the only source of the "ichor" from which the lifting gas and various other stuff is made. The well caught fire and spewed out a purplish gas called "fug". The fug covered nearly the entire world, except for one high volcanic caldera containing a very large lake and an island. The fug killed most life, plant and animal, and mutated what it didn't, including humans. The mutated humans, known as "fuggers" live down in the fug yet maintain a chokehold on the technology allowed to the normal humans living within the caldera. Fuggers can breathe normal air for a long time without any ill effects, even after extended exposure it will make them uncomfortable but won't kill them. The reverse? Not so much. Death in short order or (not yet explored) possibly become a fugger. The fuggers are the only source for airship lifting gas, fuel, most medical supplies and other essentials. The fuggers also maintain a monopoly on airship repairs and *they always know if a normal human makes any unauthorized repairs*. Airships that come into port with unauthorized repairs get heavy fines or other punishments. One thing the fuggers do NOT control is a special metal found only on the island in the middle of the caldera. It's commonly made into wide coil springs (like giant watch springs) where it can be wound up very tightly to store a considerable amount of mechanical power. The Calderans use it to power vehicles and some other machinery. The fuggers are always willing to trade for it.
The protagonist is Nita, a young woman who works in the island's steam plant. The island Calderans are mostly artists. Nita's family was not happy she went into engineering and mechanics. Her mother has fallen ill and only the fuggers have a cure. She signs on with the crew of the run-down airship "Wind Breaker" and sets off on her quest to obtain it.