Review: It needs a LOT of help
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 08 27, 2012
Character development, plot development, etc etc.  Short stories need to be simple in background, or built from a plot that is already known to the reader.  If this story is built on the foundation of another theme or plot than the author needs to plainly state that somewhere in the beginning.  Who are the phantoms, what era is this story placed in, why are the phantoms impressing children for their ships, time travel and swords, steam driven power and time travel??????  All of these ideas need to be fleshed out to make them part of a good short story.  This one probably would have been an excellent novel but as a short story it is sadly lacking.  I have placed this author on a short list of those authors I will not read in the future.  I was very disappointed.