A lizard disguised as the Queen of England, a missing jar containing the world’s oddest relic, and a raunchy love affair between Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman are all found in The Steampunk Trilogy. Think that’s bizarre? You’re right, but the resulting literary concoction is hilarious.
This trilogy is actually three short stories with similar steampunk elements. For those who are not familiar with the term, steampunk incorporates a historical setting using elements of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. This creates a retro-futuristic environment, which Di Filippo utilizes wonderfully in all three stories. Check out five of the characters you will find in The Steampunk Trilogy:
1. V
A genetically engineered lizard who would rather spend her days in a brothel than being fed flies off a silver platter. She has pleasured the likes of Louis Napoleon as well as the American ambassador to England, and she has now been employed by the prime minister as a stand-in for Queen Victoria.
2. Professor Louis Agassiz
A less-than-subtle bigot from Switzerland who is on a quest to find an ancient relic: an enchanted vulva, otherwise known as the “fetiche.” His quest leads him into a dark world of black magic and sorcery.
3. The Hottentot Venus
The main attraction of a once-successful London sideshow. A dark-skinned Khoisan, she stood naked in a large cage as viewers prodded her. According to folklore, the Khoisan women of South Africa have “curtains of shame.” Don’t try to guess what those are, but hers could be the key to saving mankind.
4. Walt Whitman
A scandalous writer with a notorious reputation. You first meet him as he’s lustfully bathing himself outside of Emily Dickinson’s window, and he only gets sexier. He’s pals with Emily’s brother.
5. Emily Dickinson
Emily begins as a naive, sheltered virgin and transforms into a corrupted, sexy adventurer. She falls for Walt. Hard. Some serious character development is in store for the dearly beloved poet.
These stories are so outrageous that you won’t want to put them down! As SF Site describes The Steampunk Trilogy, “from Dickens to the cutting edge of the avant-garde, Di Filippo’s got it covered, in a spunky synthesis that manages to be at once raunchy and well-read.” How can you not be curious about what else these stories have to offer?
Paul Di Filippo is a prolific science fiction, fantasy, and horror short story writer with multiple collections to his credit, among them The Emperor of Gondwanaland and Other Stories, Fractal Paisleys, and many more.