Cogs Maketh the Man
Enter Cogs Maketh the Man by Joan Wendland. Though, at times, it reads like straight-up Pride and Prejudice fan-fiction, the author has, with great skill, achieved something utterly new and refreshing by melding Jane Austen’s plot with unique SteamPunk elements.
Georgian romance has certainly enjoyed great success. Indeed, lists of ‘Greatest Romantic Stories’ are invariably headed by the most famous pillars of this sub-genre: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Indeed, these books are so successful that even other titles from the same authors struggle in their shadow.
Most influential of all is Pride and Prejudice. Still receiving praise centuries after first publication, it has become the de facto benchmark and figure head for all romantic literature., and that’s a problem. Who would dare try anything new or innovative with this masterwork looming over all?
…it can’t possibly work…
Just like the original, this charming little story takes basic philosophical questions about identity and love and dresses them in a bright new ball gown. Then, beneath the shadow of circling airships, it rides a mechanical stallion to a coming out ball where the robotic servants all run by clock-work.
At first glance, it sounds like it can’t possibly work. How can the delicate mannerisms of Regency England sit comfortably together with the cold mechanics of automata?
The answer is simple. By wisely retaining the literary style of the original prose, the story still manages to convey the angst and self-imposed tension of social etiquette within the constraints of class and breeding. At the same time, by moving the point of focus from Miss Bennet to Mr. Darcy, all the anachronisms simply slide smoothly into place like well oiled cogs and levers.
In my eyes, two matters prevent this story from achieving a fifth star:
- The action concludes rather abruptly. I have not actually read Pride and Prejudice myself, but I suspect that this book stops at about the same point in the story that Jane Austen’s most famous work also does. However, especially considering the revelations in the third act, I would have welcomed a bit more action as we follow the characters into their on-going lives. Put simply, I wanted to keep reading.
- Though ever present, the Steampunk aspect was rather underplayed for my tastes. I would have welcomed more consideration of how autonomous mechanical devices might have changed the culture and society of that time. Also, though airships are certainly present in the book, many of the other conventions of Steampunk literature are missing. For instance, the clothing lacks excessive buckles and eye glasses and there is no mention of steam locomotion, etc…. In short, this is ‘Steampunk Light’ and again leaves a hardcore fan wanting a bit more.
Otherwise, all in all, I found it an enjoyable read.
If all this has greased your pinions, leave a short comment to let me know what you think about my review, then go snatch yourself a copy.
Even better, if you have already read it, let me know if you agree with my assessment or if you think I have misrepresented something, but do remember NO SPOILERS! We don’t want to ruin it for others.
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