Rod Duncan writes alternate history, fantasy and contemporary crime. His novels have been shortlisted for the Philip K. Dick Award, the East Midlands Book Award and the John Creasey Dagger of the Crime Writers' Association. A dyslexic with a background in scientific research, he now lectures in creative writing at DeMontfort University.

Some might say that he is obsessed with boundary markers, naive 18th Century gravestones and forming friendships with crows. But he says he is interested in the way things change.

The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire 1: The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan

The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter, first in the Gas-Lit Empire series, was nominated for the Philip K Dick Award

A riotous novel of alternate history set in a divided England.

The land is divided, following the Luddite revolution, into the puritan, progress-hating north and the decadent, Royalist south. Living right on the border and flitting between the two nations Elizabeth Barnabus lives a precarious double life – as both herself and posing as her own brother, the daring private detective. Now she is trying to solve the mystery of a disappearing aristocrat and a hoard of arcane machines. In her way stand the rogues, freaks, and self-proclaimed inventors of a travelling alchemical circus. But when she Elizabeth up against an agent of the all-powerful Patent Office, her life and the course of history will begin to change. And not necessarily for the better…

CURATOR'S NOTE

Mystery, illusion, steampunk and more in this Philip K. Dick Award nominated trilogy! Who can resist a combination like that? – Lavie Tidhar

 

REVIEWS

  • "Steeped in illusion and grounded in an alternative history of the Luddite Rebellion, Duncan's strong supernatural mystery serves ably as both a standalone adventure and the start to a series…"

    – Publishers Weekly

  • "I was completely caught up in her adventure and her plight. I think steampunk readers and fantasy/sci-fi readers will enjoy this one, so I'm recommending it for them even though (and to some extent because) its use of steampunk is a bit different. I found it to be a refreshing change from more formulaic steampunk novels."

    – Popcorn Reads

  • "A detective story with a difference … Chapters begin with quotes from the legendary Bullet-Catcher's Handbook, phrases that introduce not only the idea of illusion that pervades the novel, but also the author's sly humour. Rod Duncan's talent has combined inventive plot and characterisation to create a smart, amusing and fascinating tale that had me reading long into the night."

    – Fantasy Faction
 

BOOK PREVIEW

Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

There was once a line marked out by God, through which were divided Heaven and Hell. And thus was chaos banished from the world. The Devil created lawyers to make amends. They argued the thickness of the line until there was room enough within it for all the sins of men to fit. And all the sins of women too.

Had I been a man, I could have strolled into that dark warren of narrow streets, blind alleys and iniquity, letting the steel tip of my cane tap out a leisurely report of my progress, receiving winks and catcalls from barkers and gamblers, gin-sellers and rowdy girls.

But the Backs is no place for a lady. By which I mean that no woman can risk the scandal of being seen there. Thus I strolled along Churchgate attired and disguised as a young gentleman. And from many years of practice, I was able to walk as one also, rolling the shoulders rather than the hips, maintaining a distance between my feet, occupying the centre of the road. Men fancy that they recognise a woman by dress, figure and face but it is more through movement that gender is revealed.

The further I advanced towards my goal, the deeper the potholes became. Deeper too were the shadows of doorways and arches, for the street lamps gave less light here, as if the grandees of the gas corporation wished to hide the lawlessness and sin that lay ahead.

All of which worked for my benefit that evening. I do not willingly expose my disguise to brighter lights.

Skulking can attract the interest of the curious, however. Therefore I held my head and top hat high, creating the illusion of one in possession of confidence. The act felt easier thanks to the weight of my father's flintlock pistol, which bumped reassuringly against my leg.

On reaching Haymarket, one catches view of the border crossing itself. It consists of two identical sentry boxes, one on each side, wherein guards can shelter, and a wooden toll gate through which no goods ever pass. The deliberate symmetry does nothing to please the eye. On this October night, four flaming torches had been placed on stands across the road, each leaving a splash of yellow reflected on the damp cobbles.