The Book Plank

Unseemly Science by Rod Duncan, The Fall of the Gas-lit Empire #2 In the divided land of England, Elizabeth Barnabus has been living a double life - as both herself and as her brother, the private detective. Witnessing the hanging of Alice Carter, the false duchess, Elizabeth resolves to throw the Bullet Catcher’s Handbook into the fire, and forget her past. If only it were that easy! There is a new charitable organisation in town, run by some highly respectable women. But something doesn’t feel right to Elizabeth. Perhaps it is time for her fictional brother to come out of retirement for one last case…? Her unstoppable curiosity leads her to a dark world of body-snatching, unseemly experimentation, politics and scandal. Never was it harder for a woman in a man’s world… Last year saw Rod Duncan's first fantasy novel, The Bullet-Catchers Daughter , after having written four hard crime novels. This was one of my favourite book of 2014 in the Steampunk category. The Bull...

The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan, The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire #1 Elizabeth Barnabus lives a double life—as herself and as her brother, the private detective. 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 alchemists of a travelling circus. But when she comes 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… Last year and earlier this year I read some cross genre books that featured heavy fantasy, alternate history and science influences. It is perhaps better to say that they were like the books of China Mieville. Rod Duncan's latest books is precisely this, without the grotesque bits though, its a perfect blend of the "normal" and the arcane. The Bullet-Catchers Daughter is the first fantasy book written by Rod Duncan, before switching to fan...

Author interview with Rod Duncan Author bio: Rod Duncan worked in scientific research and computing before settling in Leicester to be a writer. His first novel, Backlash, was short-listed for the John Creasey Memorial Award (now the CWA Debut Dagger). After four crime novels he switched to fantasy, and is currently writing a series of alternate history books, called ‘The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire’. Rod is also a screenwriter, and was once eaten alive in the feature film Zombie Undead. ------------------------------------------- Hi Rod, welcome over to The Book Plank and for taking your time to answer these few questions for us. BP: First off, could you give us a short introduction as to who Rod Duncan is? What are your likes/dislikes and hobbies? RD: I am insatiably curious and a compulsive communicator. Or, to put it another way, I am a writer. I love the company of creative people. Walking in the countryside is a great pleasure and helps me to process...