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Karen Memory

Book 1 in the series:Karen Memory

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Karen Memory is a steampunk Western novel set in an alternate history Seattle, featuring a diverse cast of characters. The story follows Karen Memery, a strong and pragmatic protagonist who works at a high-class bordello and gets entangled in a series of events involving a rescued prostitute, a serial killer, and a mind control machine. The book combines elements of adventure, mystery, and romance, all set against a backdrop of a rough Wild West atmosphere with a steampunk twist.

Characters:

The characters are richly drawn, featuring a diverse and engaging cast that includes LGBTQ+ individuals and represents a variety of cultural backgrounds, enhancing the story's depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by a distinctive first-person narrative that combines humor and a colloquial tone, effectively showcasing the protagonist's voice while occasionally displaying grammatical quirks.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a thrilling steampunk Western adventure centered on a strong female protagonist, intertwining romance, survival, and a series of escalating conflicts involving a serial killer and local politics.

Setting:

The setting is a vibrant, fictional Pacific Northwest boomtown, enriched by steampunk elements that evoke the gritty feel of the Wild West.

Pacing:

The pacing is predominantly fast, with high stakes and urgency maintained throughout, although some slower moments provide necessary exposition.
You ain’t gonna like what I have to tell you, but I’m gonna tell you anyway. See, my name is Karen Memery, like “memory” only spelt with an e, and I’m one of the girls what works in the Hôtel Mon Cher...

Notes:

The story is set in a fictional boom town called Rapid City in the Pacific Northwest.
The protagonist, Karen Memery, is a young prostitute who works in a high-class bordello run by Madame Damnable.
Karen is portrayed as a large, strong woman who gained her physical fitness from working with horses alongside her father.
The book features a diverse cast, including a transgender seamstress named Miss Francesca and a character named Priya, an Indian girl rescued from forced prostitution.
The plot includes elements of steampunk such as an electric glove and a mind-control device used by the antagonist, Peter Bantle.
US Marshal Bass Reeves, a historical figure, plays a significant role in the story as he hunts a serial killer targeting prostitutes.
The narrative is told from Karen's first-person perspective, giving the story an intimate and immediate feeling.
The book discusses heavy themes such as prostitution, identity, and social justice, while still maintaining lighthearted and adventurous elements.
The world features quirky aspects, including automatons, airships, and a sewing machine that doubles as armor.
Despite its serious themes, the book includes humor and romance, particularly between Karen and Priya, making it a nuanced read.
Karen Memory critiques societal prejudices against sex workers and explores themes of friendship, survival, and love in a historical context.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include violence against sex workers, misogyny, societal racism, and discussions around sex and sexuality.

Has Romance?

There is a notable romance present in the story, primarily between the protagonist Karen and a character named Priya, explored thoughtfully throughout the narrative.

From The Publisher:

"You ain't gonna like what I have to tell you, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. See, my name is Karen Memery, like memory only spelt with an e, and I'm one of the girls what works in the Hôtel Mon Cherie on Amity Street. 'Hôtel' has a little hat over the o like that. It's French, so Beatrice tells me."

Set in the late nineteenth century-in a city a lot like what we now call Seattle Underground-when airships plied the trade routes, would-be gold miners were heading to the gold fields of Alaska, and steam-powered mechanicals stalked the waterfront, Karen is a young woman on her own, is making the best of her orphaned state by working in Madame Damnable's high-quality bordello. Through Karen's eyes we get to know the other girls in the house-a resourceful group-and the poor and the powerful of the town.

Trouble erupts one night when a badly injured girl arrives at their door, begging sanctuary, followed by the man who holds her indenture, and who has a machine that can take over anyone's mind and control their actions. And as if that wasn't bad enough, the next night brings a body dumped in their rubbish heap-a streetwalker who has been brutally murdered.

Hard on the heels of that horrifying discovery comes a lawman who has been chasing this killer for months. Marshal Bass Reeves is closing in on his man, and he's not about to reject any help he can get, even if it comes from girl who works in the Hôtel Mon Cheri.

Elizabeth Bear brings alive this Jack-the-Ripper yarn of the Old Steampunk West with a light touch in Karen's own memorable voice, and a mesmerizing evocation of classic steam-powered science in Karen Memory.

Ratings (2)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (1)

Reader Stats (18):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (13)
Not Interested (3)

About the Author:

ELIZABETH BEAR was the recipient of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2005. She has won two Hugo Awards for her short fiction, a Sturgeon Award, and the Locus Award for Best First Novel. Bear lives in Brookfield, Massachusetts.

 
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