Android Karenina

Android Karenina is the latest mash-up the good folks at Quirk Classics have laid in our hands.  A few summers ago, I forced myself to read all the way through Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.  While there were some parts of the book that I flew through, I had to remind myself that it would be better to finish the book than jump in front of a train, myself.

It pleases me to no end to say that Ben H. Winters' version of the classic is much more entertaining.  As Anna tries to decide between her husband, whose face is half covered by a mechanical device, social standing and her lover, she is being targeted by the anti-government terrorist group, UnConSciya.  Lucky for her, the ever-faithful Class III Android Karenina is always there to soothe her whenever she's upset or compliment her whenever she needs a bit of an ego boost.

Being androids don't stop the Class III's from having human emotions, which makes following their lives as interesting as following the humans, thus making this book all the more enjoyable. 

It is a bit slow in the beginning, and can be a little overwhelming trying to remember the human characters who have 3-4 names each, and the androids who are written as their Class/Function/Model (example: II/Governess/D145).  The Class III's are less confusing as they are often looked upon as members of the family, and are given nicknames.  If you can get past the name confusions and the snail's pace at the beginning, Android Karenina is a wonderful book to keep you entertained this summer.  Tolstoy's 19th Century Russia in Mr. Winters' hands is, without a doubt, a steampunk classic.

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Quirk Classics has a second hit on their hands with the adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. In Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Ben H. Winters throws the Dashwood sisters in with Sea Monsters and Pirates, they even stay at an underwater colony for a while!

After Mr. Henry Dashwood is eaten by a Hammerhead, Norland Park becomes the property of his son, Mr. John Dashwood. John's wife is not a very hospitable woman, and almost immediately encourages Henry's widow and daughters to find someplace else to live. They are offered Barton Cottage on Pestilent Island where Marianne is rescued from an octopus by the Mr. Willoughby. Shortly after he abruptly leaves the island, Elinor and Marianne are invited to spend some time at Sub Station Beta where they are forced to fight off man eating lobsters before the Station collapses.

Meanwhile, Margaret befriends creatures on the island whose description almost reminds me of Gollom from the Lord of the Rings movies. Poor Colonel Brandon is not only unattractive, he's hideous, but finds a little bit of hope when Mr. Willoughby breaks Marianne's heart. Between the pirates, sea monsters, and people who aren't who they appear to be, it's nothing short of a miracle that the lovely Dashwood sisters are able to find their happily ever afters!

While I found this book slightly easier to put down that PPZ, I still thought it was a good read, and definitely recommend it.