The Airship War (Gears of a Mad God) Paperback – May 14, 2013

This novella finds our heroine, Coleen Garman, in Monaco, attending a very fancy-schmantzy party where she meets Benedeto Disaronna, a prince and the rightful ruler of the island nation of Capria. When they meet, Ben is a pure, shallow playboy, with no interest in his homeland. However, the cult of Katharis has taken an interest in Capria and Colleen must get there and must find a way to get Ben to come with her.With her usual pluck and unique charm, she gets herself and Ben to Capria. The island is being ruled by his uncle, who greets him warmly and then proceeds to try to have him killed.The remainder of the novella involves much of Brent Nichols specialty, fast, graphically violent action scenes. Ben seems to find the mature man in himself as many of the islanders rally around him in his cause to take back Capria from his uncle and from the cult of Katharis.One little thing that has begun to niggle at me is how often Coleen finds just the disparate items she needs to create a weapon of some kind. It is an excuse to show how creative and atypical she is for a woman of her day. She, Ben and the islanders begin to organize to fight their various enemies.The title is a bit misleading because the "airship" (a pre-Hindenberg dirigible) doesn't play a large part in the story.By the end, Coleen finds herself alone, Ben having left for Italy to summon the small Legion that is training with the Italian Army and is about to leave for Africa and Ben intends to order them back to Capria to defend their homeland. That is not a spoiler, just the segue into Book 5.Again, as I have said before of this series, it is more like an old time Saturday matinee serial than a serious book. It's all for fun, but is exciting to read.

Thoroughly enjoyable romp through a world that almost was and I, for one, would love to see made real. Airships hauling freight, cultures rich in tradition but still open to visitors, and exotic wonders both strange and practical around every corner. A delight on every page.

If you didn't get enough of Colleen last time, then here's some more.Actually, I didn't, and was happy to plunk down my little bit of change to fill up an hour or two of fun reading. Cost less than a movie, and worth much, much more.

If you are a fan of Lovecraft-style horror and traditional steampunk you will love this book. Even if you have never heard of H.P. Lovecraft or steampunk, but enjoy a good story, you will enjoy this book.