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Thomas Riley (Steampunk Novels) |  | Author: Nick Valentino
Publisher: Quake
Category: Book
List Price: $13.99
Buy New: $9.80
as of 8/1/2010 02:09 MDT details
You Save: $4.19 (30%)
New (9) Used (4) Collectible (2) from $6.75
Seller: supermoviedeals
Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 119014
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5 x 0.8
ISBN: 1590807006
EAN: 9781590807002
ASIN: 1590807006
Publication Date: November 15, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
For more than twenty years West Canvia and Lemuria have battled one another in a constant war. From the safety of his laboratory, weapons designer Thomas Riley has cleverly and proudly empowered the West Canvian forces with his brilliant designs. But when a risky alchemy experiment goes horribly wrong, Thomas and his wily assistant, Cynthia Bassett, are thrust onto the front lines of battle. Forced into shaky alliances with murderous sky pirates in a deadly race to kidnap the only man who can undo the damage--the mad genius behind Lemuria's cunning armaments--Thomas' own genius is put to the ultimate test.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 22
 High Adventure July 13, 2010
Karina Harris (Alabama, USA)
I just finished Nick Valentino's "Thomas Riley". A friend and I met the author at a Book Fair in April. My friend purchased the book because Valentino did such a wonderful job of creating interest! Neither of us are typical fans of science fiction--so that is saying something that we both wanted to read his novel.
The story tells the high adventure of Thomas Riley and Cynthia Basset; weapons designers for the country of West Canvia. When an alchemy experiment goes awry, both are caught up in a mission that threatens their lives and the lives of all with whom they come in contact.
While I remain more a fan of fantasy than sci-fi, I must say there were times when I was completely engrossed in the story. I think those who truly enjoy the more intricate parts of this genre (the extreme detail of weaponry, technological jargon, and futuristic battle sequences) would call this book a success. I would give it 3 stars...but apart from some grammatical mistakes that always lower a book's ranking for me, I realize this book would most likely garner higher praise from a more dedicated sci-fi fan.
If you enjoy action, detailed battle sequences, futuristic drama...with sky pirates and magical alchemy experiments thrown in...then this is the book for you!
Karina Harris; author of "Second Chance"
 Impressive June 17, 2010
Dijjet (Tennessee)
I thought Valentino did a great job with his debut novel. Granted, I am new to the Steampunk genre, but I found the progression of the story innovative. I found myself wishing that the book was longer to give it a more epic feel, but I saw today that there will be a Thomas Riley 2 so that problem was resolved. If you are looking for a fun and light read then i suggest you pick it up.
A good intro to Steampunk June 7, 2010
Hank Harwell (Irving, TX United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In one of the strangest turns of events I ever experienced, I was a winner in a contest promoting the new young adult steampunk novel, Thomas Riley. Included in my winnings was a signed copy of the book, which I read just after Christmas. The book itself was quite a fast read (as I would expect one marketed to the YA audience would be), and I was able to breeze through the pages quickly.
The story is about Thomas Riley, a celebrated engineer and alchemist who, with his assistant Cynthia, is a weapons designer. Riley's nation has been at war with a rival for the last 20 years, with neither side gaining much of an advantage. Riley's weapons have been instrumental in keeping the other side from affecting life at home much. But then an attack nearby forces Riley to engage in a dangerous experiment, and when the process fails, he and Cynthia must infiltrate enemy territory to reverse the mistake. As they do so they must not only avoid enemy soldiers, but also notorious sky pirates.
The book has some not-so-great things and some really good things about it. I'll start with the not-so-great, as I feel that there are more things to like than not.
The narrative voice was a little jarring at first. I had read an anthology of steampunk fiction, and my 'ear' was tuned to the way the fiction was written for that book. When I read Thomas Riley, it didn't match what I had read in the anthology. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but it wasn't what I had expected.
The pacing at first seemed a little off, as well. Once the experiment failed and the the mission really began, however, it really began to pick up. I also wasn't crazy about the body count. This seemed to be out of character for a YA novel. Perhaps it has been too long since I last read something from that section of the bookstore.
The author, Nick Valentino, could have benefited from a little tighter editing. There was one chapter where Thomas Riley is stated as having three special grenades, and then he uses at least four of these grenades! Also, a character was portrayed as speaking with a 'British accent,' despite presumption that the story was set on an alternate earth, with no indication that Great Britain existed at all.
In short, these are minor quibbles that would temporarily take me out of the story, but it wasn't hard for me to jump right back in. I found the characters to be fun and engaging. There was a good mix of courage, ingenuity and frailty present, and the supporting players seemed to have other functions rather than simply to set the leads up for more heroics.
The steam gadgets were inventive and well-placed. The 'technical' jargon was kept to a minimum, which allows the reader to follow what is happening without having to try to figure out what was just said first.
Finally, Valentino includes several 'jumping-off' points in the story that allows for sequels, without requiring them. It will be interesting to follow the series and see how it progresses.
 A Stempunk lovers dream book! June 7, 2010
Elgwin
It doesn't take long for you to grasp and feel the steampunk world of Thomas Riley. It draws you in immediately and barely stops to take a breath as Thomas ans Cynthia are thrown into the middle of the action time and time again. Any fan of steampunk will find themselves aching to read more and more. Having a chance to meet the author and hear him speak about his world he has created was inspiring enough to catch my attention. You can tell he is a man that loves this genre and the world he has created. A must read!
Steampunk cornucopia for young and old June 7, 2010
brienneselwyn
On the back you can read: Ages 13 and up. That means a YA novel. I don't read many YA books.
But In this case I can assure you that it does not matter if you are 13 or 50 like me or even older. It is an all age book. Compared to the other stuff I read, Thomas Riley was a short read with just 278 pages. But I learned a long time ago, that it is the content that counts.
So what delivers Nick Valentino on 278 pages?
I was thinking whether to start with the world or the character or the story. Finally I decided to start with the world.
The two countries West Canvia and Lemuria are combatants in an ongoing war for more than 20 years and both have an obvious European background. Somewhere in the book someone spoke with a British accent. Beside the mentioned countries the Seychelles are one more location.
But world means more than locations. And that is the point where the book reveals its true nature:
S T E A M P U N K
Thomas Riley is a cornucopia of airships, dirigibles, gobsmacking steampunk weapons and gadgets. People wear goggles, corsets, neckerchiefs and high collared shirts.
A lot of these weapons and gadgets have been designed and tested by the two main characters of the story who are older than I expected. Weapon designer Thomas Riley is 29 years old and his assistant Cynthia Bassett counts 24 years. I appreciated it. I would have liked to get more information about them. Especially when they have been confronted with the destructive effects of the weapons ( which they invented) in reality. Beside this Thomas and Cynthia are confident and able to adjust in nearly no time to changing situations. And I think I can tell you that they are more than colleagues but no twosome. Don't worry you will find love in the book and more .....
Anyway I hope there will be more books with Thomas and Cynthia because every new book opens the opportunity to develop the characters and to let the readers get more inside their heads.
That lead me finally to the story which is in the end a quest. A quest which leads from Thomas' laboratory via battle grounds on earth and in the air to the heart of the enemy territories. Not to forget the trip to the Seychelles... There is a conclusion which leaves enough open questions for a sequel. At the beginning I mentioned the 278 pages. From my point of view there are some things which have deserved to be explained a bit more in detail. I'm sure Nick Valentino is aware of it and he express it by using Thomas and let him say in one scene: "I have a vague idea. I truly wish I could tell you, but we don't have time to find out for sure"
That is also one more reason why I would like to read a sequel.
The prose fits perfectly to the story and I found it was not difficult to read and understand.
Thomas Riley is just the right book for people who would like to enter the world of steampunk books and of course for people who can't get enough of steampunk weapons and gadgets.
Thomas Riley is a fast paced steampunk adventure in well devised steampunk world including a splash of alchemy science with developeable characters. If you freeze open-mouthed when you are offered tons of steampunk weapons and gadgets and air-ships then you should give Thomas Riley a try.
Anyway I recommend to visit the Sir Thomas Riley website. Nick Valentino keeps his site up to date.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 22
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