Unseemly Science by Rod Duncan
In the divided land of England, Elizabeth Barnabus has been living a double life – as both herself and as her brother, the private detective. Witnessing the brutal hanging of someone very close to her, Elizabeth resolves to throw the Bullet Catcher’s Handbook into the fire, and forget her past. If only it were that easy!
There is a new charitable organisation in town, run by some highly respectable women. But something doesn’t feel right to Elizabeth. Perhaps it is time for her fictional brother to come out of retirement for one last case? Her unstoppable curiosity leads her to a dark world of body-snatching, unseemly experimentation, politics and scandal. Never was it harder for a woman in a man’s world…
Cover Art: Will Staehle
(click the cover for a larger image)
File Under: Fantasy
Book Info:
The Second Book in the Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire Series
UK Print
Date: 7th May 2015
ISBN: 9780857664266
Format: Medium (B-Format) Paperback
R.R.P.: £8.99
North American Print
Date: 5th May 2015
ISBN: 9780857664273
Format: Small (Mass-Market) Paperback
R.R.P.: US$7.99 / CAN$9.99
Ebook
Date: 5th May 2015
ISBN: 9780857664280
Format: Epub & Mobi
R.R.P.: £5.49 / US$6.99
More Books in This Series:
1. The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter (September 2014)
3. The Custodian of Marvels (February 2016)
Buying Info:
UK Print & Ebook
Amazon.co.uk | Book Depository | Waterstones | WHSmith
North American Print & Ebook
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | BarnesandNoble.com | IndieBound.org
Global DRM-Free Epub & Mobi Ebook
Available now from the Robot Trading Company
Author Info:
Rod Duncan: WWW | @RodDuncan on Twitter
Discuss and Share:
Discuss and Review Unseemly Science on Goodreads.com
Read an Extract:
Sample Chapters to follow…
Praise and Reviews:
“Books work on several levels. A good story is complete in itself yet, at the same time, reading is a dynamic process: readers are not passive consumers of words. I’ve no idea what Duncan intended when writing, other than to invent a world and tell a story. Yet, for this reader at least, the subtexts and resonances of a divided Britain run by capricious aristocrats and politicians with vested interests were as entertaining as the story.”
– Heroines of Fantasy
“5 out of 5 stars with a high recommendation to anyone who has read the first book of the series. If not, I would definitely recommend they be read in order. Great for fans of Steampunk, character and plot-driven stories, alternate history, mystery, or a well-written adventure tale.”
– Yvette at Bookworlder
“I didn’t predict the twists that Unseemly Science threw at me. Not only is this book much darker than its predecessor, it also keeps you in more suspense, which is a feat considering I compared The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter to a spy novel. 4.5 of 5 Stars for a sequel that takes a macabre turn!”
– Victorian Soul Critiques
“Let’s just say I haven’t been this impressed by a book in a while… Unseemly Science is a beautifully written steampunk, alternate history style novel that manages to evoke the aesthetic without turning itself into a reflection of the rest of the trope out there. Elizabeth, the main protagonist, is a feminist heroine I can get behind — smart, intelligent, and void of the typical fantasy heroine. It’s a slow burn mystery but so intelligently written and with a well developed world, I barely put it down… If I were to recommend you pick up anything this week, The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter and Unseemly Science are it.”
– Adventures in Sci Fi Publishing
“They say the devil is in the details, and the sinister feel of Unseemly Science is perfectly shown with minute details. It’s very visual, with an underlying sense of urgency and terror driving the plot. I would even call it a Gothic novel akin to Ripper series by Amy Carol Reeves.”
– Nocturnal Book Reviews
“Rod Duncan weaves a fascinating tale. The plot is complex, but the various threads of the story can be followed, though their conclusion can’t be guessed.”
– Geeky Library
“Five stars. A worthy follow up to The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter.”
– Cayocosta 72
“Fans of steampunk and alternate history are going to dig this mystery novel – that has shades of horror as well liberally thrown in towards the end. A solid addition to the Gas-Lit Empire series and I’m purchasing the ticket for the next stop for sure!”
– Smorgasbord Fantasia
“The writing is as crisp, world-building deep, and characters as nuanced as the first book. This is a worthy second volume in what is turning out to be a fantastic series.”
– Online Eccentric Librarian
“Slipping back into the world Rod Duncan has created for his characters to play in was a bit like putting on a well-worn, comfortable, pair of gloves.”
– Frank Michael Serrington
“It’s darker and creepier than the first novel, a little less straight up action-adventure and a little more gradually building tension, but that worked. A thoroughly worthy sequel.”
– Lulu’s Bookshelf
“Every element in Unseemly Science make this book a terrific addition to The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire series. With Unseemly Science Rod Duncan ventures into a new direction when it comes to the setting of the book, it is darker it is grimmer and I think that with the third book it might become even more so, as the world that Elizabeth lives in, is on the brink of a change, of a revolution. The world that Rod Duncan showed in the first book is is greatly built upon and explored further. Just as with the world, Rod Duncan neatly keeps on developing his characters to the fullest and makes them even more lovable. Rod Duncan is definitely on the right track with this series.”
– The Book Plank
“I got the shivers soon after I began reading and they didn’t go away until after I finished. I thought I was hooked after reading Book #1 – now I am really hooked. If you’re a steampunk fan, I need to let you know that its use is different from some of the in-your-face elements found in other steampunk novels, and I liked that. Bottom line: If you like alternate history, Holmes-style mysteries with nasty villains, sci-fi/fantasy, or just a nail-biting read, I recommend both books in this series. Okay, Rod Duncan, I hope you’re busy writing Book #3 because I’m tapping my foot in anticipation of what Elizabeth is going to get into next!”
– Popcorn Reads
“A steampunk mystery novel! Two genres in one! It’s just like having a double-scoop ice cream cone.”
– Heights Libraries
“This book provides a very unique world that is part steampunk and part alternate history. It is part sci-fi and part adventure/thriller. It features a very strong, wholly original female protagonist that is sure to be admired by many. I recommend this book very highly.”
– Looking For a Good Book
Praise and Reviews for The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter:
“Rod Duncan’s The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter is a magic box pulsating with energy. Compulsive reading from the get-go, the blend of steampunk alternate history wrapped in the enigma of a chase makes for first-rate entertainment in this finely crafted novel.”
– Graham Joyce, author of Year of the Ladybird
“Steeped in illusion and grounded in an alternative history of the Luddite Rebellion, Duncan’s strong supernatural mystery serves ably as both a standalone adventure and the start to a series…Strategically placed steampunk tropes inform but do not overwhelm Elizabeth’s headlong quest to find a missing aristocrat sought by the Patent Office, which is fixated on both achieving perfection and eliminating “unseemly science.” A hazardous border crossing into the permissively corrupt Kingdom of England and Southern Wales provides ample excitement, and a glossary at the novel’s conclusion hints enticingly at a much more involved story to come.”
– Publishers Weekly
“I was completely caught up in her adventure and her plight. I think steampunk readers and fantasy/sci-fi readers will enjoy this one, so I’m recommending it for them even though (and to some extent because) its use of steampunk is a bit different. I found it to be a refreshing change from more formulaic steampunk novels.”
– Popcorn Reads
“A detective story with a difference … Chapters begin with quotes from the legendary Bullet-Catcher’s Handbook, phrases that introduce not only the idea of illusion that pervades the novel, but also the author’s sly humour. [Duncan’s misdirection is] subtly and well done, all the way through the book, right to a neat little twist at the end, a play on the title that had me nodding in approval. Each [character] is vividly portrayed, lively enough to feel like the heroes of their own stories, all with distinctive voices; it’s always a good sign when you find yourself reading dialogue out loud, rolling your lips and tongue around the words. Rod Duncan’s talent has combined inventive plot and characterisation to create a smart, amusing and fascinating tale that had me reading long into the night.”
– Fantasy Faction
“It’s all steampunk and circus wonder as we follow the adventures of Elizabeth Barnabas.The double crosses along the way keep the plot tight and fun, and the conclusion sets us up nicely for book two.”
– The Washington Post, Best New Science Fiction and Steampunk
“If I had a bowler hat, I’d take it off to the author of this beautifully crafted steampunk novel.”
– Chris D’Lacey, author of The Last Dragon Chronicles
“Close escapes and the hint of a possible romance drive the action forward. However, the ending raises some questions about the overall plot. Most readers will enjoy the adventure and look forward to the next installment.”
– SF Revu
“The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter is off to a solid start. Rod Duncan has created a wonderful setting in The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter taking in account the big as well as the small things that are needed to make a world go round. He has struck a perfect balance between both highlighting the characters, from our main protagonist Elizabeth Barnabus down to the secondary characters, and the world itself, using bits and pieces of exisiting history spinning it in his own way by adding enough fantasy influences to make it one-of-a-kind. It is with these kind of books that make sure the fantasy genre is kept fresh. If you are looking for something new and refreshing make sure you read The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter, it’s is everything you want and much more!”
– The Book Plank
“Looking for a good book? Mystery, duplicity, secret societies, alchemy, romance, action … The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan has it all and promises to be the talked-about/must-read book for sci-fi/fantasy enthusiasts this year!”
– Looking For A Good Read
“Really, a fine and well crafted novel. As per the glossary, Elizabeth plays a key role in the fall of the Gas-lit empire. Cheers to that as she is a captivating character. Angry Robot has picked a winner.”
– Koeur’s Book Reviews
“Steampunk at its best. Engaging characters, spectacular settings and snappy dialogue.”
– Cayocosta72 Book Reviews
“I was immediately hooked by the world Duncan created. What would the world look like if the Industrial Revolution had been halted, even reverse? What really made this book for me was Elizabeth Barnabas. Her unusual upbringing in a traveling circus and her five years of forced independence have made her clever and strong. She’s a wonderful character and it was a treat to watch her work through the challenges the cropped up as she find out why everyone wants to get their hands on the Duchess’s missing brother. The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter is the opening book in a series and I will be eagerly waiting for the next installment of Elizabeth’s adventures.”
– Summer Reading Project
“The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter is an entertaining book that has some genuine, original touches combined with a clever story and even cleverer characters.”
– SF Book Reviews
“Rod Duncan has successfully written an absorbing tale from the perspective of a woman in the early nineteenth century. This is science-fiction with the sub genre of Steampunk, so technology is unorthodox and fascinating. A cracking read.”
– Fancy Pans Cafe
“Duncan has crafted a credible and intriguing world where the twists of a society founded on very different ideals are perhaps even more important than the technology. That makes this novel, while solidly a steampunk offering, feel very fresh and engaging. The backdrop of the circus and the surprising way Elizabeth manages to make a living give the whole story real depth. This is the first in a planned series of novels entitled The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire: I’m certainly looking forward to the next installments. Fabulous.”
– Geek in Sydney