Gears of Wonderland (steampunk fantasy) [Kindle Edition]

Jason G. Anderson (Author)

Book Description

James Riggs lives a normal life with a mind-numbing job, an overbearing boss, and a demanding fiancée. Then he witnesses the murder of his best friend. Saved from the murderer by a strange man in a white suit, James is cast down a hole and into a world he always believed was a kid’s story. Wonderland.

But things have changed since Alice’s visit. The Knave of Hearts has seized the Heart throne, conquered all of Wonderland with his steam-powered technological marvels, and rules the land with an iron fist.

Aided by the Mad Hatter's daughter, James journeys to discover why he has been brought to Wonderland and how the tattoo on his arm could be the key to Wonderland’s salvation—or its destruction.

Edited by Lynn O'Dell (Red Adept Reviews).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Anderson stays true to Lewis Carol's world and characters, but adds so many of his own ideas that Wonderland feels, well, wondrous again." - Heather Blackwood, Amazon review

Product Details

• File Size: 405 KB
• Print Length: 224 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1466420251
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005USJ5U8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,581 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Grab this one November 7, 2011

By Heather Blackwood

Format:Paperback

If you like steampunk and Wonderland, this is a must-read. We get to visit old favorite characters from the original stories, and meet new ones. Anderson stays true to Lewis Carol's world and characters, but adds so many of his own ideas that Wonderland feels, well, wondrous again.

I love how Wonderland is divided into six kingdoms with the accompanying war and political intrigue. The Heart, Club, Spade and Diamond kingdoms are there, as well as the Red and White kingdoms, who fight over territory. The people are strange, alien and still familiar, Victorian and modern. It feels like there is a whole world of weird and beautiful things and people to encounter, and we get to go on a tour.

The book has fun twists, lots of running and adventure, romance and cool mechanicals. You'll be glad you bought this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gears of Wonderland is a fast paced, action packed, steampunked .... August 13, 2012

By Katherine Whitmore

Format:Paperback

Gears of Wonderland is a fast paced, action packed, steampunked adventure that was not only fun, but so very refreshing. Like a lot of people, I'm a sucker for a good remake. A great revamping of an old fairy tale idea, the ability to take something special, magical and close to our hearts and find a way to make it brand new again. Jason G. Anderson's Gears of Wonderland does just this. Anderson's remodeled Wonderland is one of the most original ones I've ever read.

The story follows the tale of your everyday man, James Riggs. It starts with a very brief glimpse into James's blah rundown existence, you know, crappy job where he's not appreciated and a lame, bossy fiancé that kicks him out, then quickly turns into an action mystery when his best friend is murdered in front of him and he flees the scene only to be caught by a man in a white suit who throws him down a hole.

From the first second James is thrown down the rabbit hole it's go time. James, along with the reader barely has time to get his bearings before we meet up with Kara, the mad hatters daughter and we're off on our adventure. Learning about the young mad King of Hearts and running for our lives with shifty pirates, you can't turn the page fast enough. I'm a gal that likes a story that moves and flows with ease, like this one. Anderson gives you just enough of the surroundings to feel out where you are and just enough back story to get you to your next destination on the journey. Which is great, because then it feels like you're really right there with James. You only know what he knows. In such a new and large Wonderland world it could have been easy to lose the reader. But keeping us right with James, even in his limitations of knowledge, you don't get sidetracked or too confused. The other wonderful thing about James that is so refreshing is that he stays an everyday man. He doesn't suddenly understand everything or knows how to sword fight. He uses what he brought with him. His mind and heart. As he cares more about the people he encounters the more he comes up with ways to help where he can. Another thing that really sells a story for me is the protagonist. If I don't like or believe in the person going on this journey why would I want to go on it with them. James seems so very real that it's easy to relate and root for him.

The other stand out character in this tale, to me, has to be the King of Hearts, Lahire. Personally, I'm also a sucker for a great villain. One that is not simply evil, but more rounded, more real. Lahire, who's view we get to see every once in a while, has a lot going on under the surface. Which makes him not only intriguing but even more creepy.
After James and Lahire, the other part that makes Gears of Wonderland so great is the totally original mechanically filled new landscape of Wonderland. Instead of being filled with magic and chaos, the new King of Hearts has made Wonderland a place of smoke machines and strict order. Instead of cards and furry animals, the supporting casts are people. Mysterious, funny, strong people with much depth and untold stories all their own. If Anderson does decide to continue writing in this new Wonderland, I would happily fall back down the rabbit hole.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderland Has Changed November 20, 2011

By Michael Rose

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a fresh and unique take on Wonderland. Alice's visit has set in motion changes that she never could have imagined and the Wonderland that James encounters is a Victorian/steampunk world where mechanical men act as assassins and flying ships roam the skies. All the familiar characters are here: The Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat... but these are not the lovable if mad characters that Alice encountered. Viewed through an adult's eyes they are quite different, indeed.

To avoid spoilers I do not want to discuss the plot but I will just say that this one is a page turner. Even during scenes that are not "action-oriented" Mr. Anderson keeps the reader interested and his unique view of Wonderland keeps the reader surprised and guessing at every turn. He creates characters that the reader cares about and cheers for and although the story line is resolved he leaves enough up to the reader's imagination and lays the groundwork for a possible sequel. I can easily see a fascinating story developing from James's further adventures in Wonderland as he (semi-spoiler) comes to terms with his new life there.

More About the Author

Jason G. Anderson was born in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, but later moved to Hobart to attend the University of Tasmania. Getting a degree in computing, with the intention of becoming a professional programmer, he quickly took up a job that wasn't programming related and hasn't looked back! He developed a love of reading from an early age, spending many hours in the local library reading the (limited selection of) novels they had available. He lives with his wonderful wife, Marina, and their three cats. During the day he deals with large quantities of scientific data. At night he prefers to write about imaginary worlds far removed from our own.