It’s been a while since I read a steampunk novel that felt like a return to the exciting, early days of steampunk. But J. M. Sattler’s debut novel does just that. After a mood-setting, curiosity-piquing prologue set in the sumptuous, gaslight-lit and pipe-smoke filled board room of the mighty Steamweaver Company, we are given a brief overview of the history, geography and politics of The Steamlands. Resist the urge to skip ahead to chapter one. This is a well-thought-out world you’re about to step into and you’ll benefit from learning a little about it before diving in.

Your reward for your diligence is to be deposited directly onto Thiona Masters airskiff, the Pride, just in time for the Great Steamlands Airship Regatta, high in the skies above the city of Slatewater. Buckle up! As the saying goes, you’re in for a bumpy ride. Soon enough you’ll also meet a slightly mysterious, well-dressed gent named A.E. Cleanslate. Situations are developing and the participants, just like the regatta airships, are starting to jockey for position in this thriller. The back-cover blurb promises “a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Game of Thrones”. And I’m not inclined to argue with that!

Folks who know about the city/state of New Babbage — a sprawling, smoke-belching, dark and moody city that has existed for almost two decades on the servers of Linden Lab’s virtual world of Second Life may notice some playfully contorted yet familiar references scattered throughout the book. That’s deliberate. They are a tip of the hat for any Babbagers reading the story. (And yes! I found my own avatar, Ceejay Writer, in a very subtle reference.)

There’s a certain point in the book where our intrepid duo finds themselves in a desert that became my personal bonding moment with the storyline. There was no turning back after that. Another favorite location was Anvil Island, out in the middle of an ocean. If you don’t hear James Bond music upon your arrival there, something is wrong with you.

“But Lori,” I hear you asking, “Is there a clever clockwork mechanical robot?” Well of course there is, and it’s a doozie! “Fine,” you might add, “What about a rousing chase scene on top of a speeding train?” to which I just chuckle knowingly, and give you a wink and a nod.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, it’s been a while. Over the years, I’ve gotten caught up in the flouncy, humorous, lighthearted steampunk romps that abound. Those are great fun and I will not be turning away from them anytime soon. But it’s nice to get firmly reattached to my sooty roots. J.M. Sattler reminds us how steampunk began so many years ago, planting his story firmly on the original foundations of aesthetics, dialog, secrets and mysteries, and high adventure.

Within Wheels is the first book in an intended series. I encourage you to help the author keep his brass-plated muse alive through reviews and recommendations to friends. And of course, by buying the book.