Review: Dieselpunk at its Finest
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 7, 2014
DragonflyDragonfly is a Dieselpunk series -- a  saga about World War II and Nazi Germany.  It stars a feisty young woman pilot, and a newly discovered and still secret fuel:  crystals.  Just this side of magic crystals.  I know, shades of Lennon and McCarthy.  But not those kinds of crystals.  These particular crystals are found only in a deep cave on an island off the coast of Penzance.It is the beginning?  Early beginning?  of World War II, the Nazis have all kinds of wonderful new techno killing machines and are overrunning Britain.  Our protagonist lady pilot is sent to the Royal Naval Station Enysfarne, which is located in an ancient castle.  A young scientist, Nigel Somebody, has discovered the crystals and that by arranging them in descending size order, and pouring water through them, he can create fusion, which can explode or propel a vessel, plane, etc.  He and his  engineering buddies build a wonderful plane which they call the Dragonfly, and which is powered by the crystals.  And guess what.  It can also dive and go underwater, like a submarine.  I know.  You men are all probably giddy with the vision of this thing.  Us ladies, probably not so much.The book has a number of absolutely beautiful illustrations of the fanciful machines concocted by both sides of the conflict.  In my Kindle Fire HD, they are just stunning, but I can't figure a way to produce one here to give you an idea of the quality of the artwork.  When was the last time you read a work of fiction that was illustrated that wasn't a kid's book or one published in 1937?  Right.  So the illustrations alone make this worth the read.  Remember those cheesy illustrations from early sci fi?  The ones in this book are not your father's sci fi illustrations.This was a fun book, in spite of the Nazi atrocities, which I confess I sort of skimmed over.  I like my world filled with sunlight and daisies, love and sweet music.  I'm a wuss.Well written, nicely plotted, good pacing, interesting characters.  And shooting.  What's not to like?