Stone Mad

By: Elizabeth Bear

Narrated by: Jennifer Grace

Listeners met the irrepressible Karen Memory in Elizabeth Bear's 2015 novel Karen Memory and fell in love with her steampunk Victorian Pacific Northwest city and her down-to-earth storytelling voice. Now Karen is back with Stone Mad, a new story about spiritualists, magicians, con men, and an angry lost tommy-knocker - a magical creature who generally lives in the deep gold mines of Alaska but has been kidnapped and brought to Rapid City.

Karen and Priya are out for a night on the town, celebrating the purchase of their own little ranch and Karen's retirement from the Hotel Ma Cherie, when they meet the Arcadia Sisters, spiritualists who unexpectedly stir up the tommy-knocker in the basement. The ensuing show could bring down the house, if Karen didn't rush in to rescue everyone she can.

©2018 Sarah Wishnevsky Lynch (P)2018 Recorded Books

I want to like these books….

….but I just cannot. I read an Elizabeth Bear short story of Karen Memery in an anthology once and really liked it. So, I looked up a couple books hoping for more of the same. This is the second disappointment. It really seems these are written for a completely introspective, constantly second guessing, feeling like an outsider, teenage girl. There’s nothing wrong with that audience, but it’s not for me. That focus leaves the story light on detail and adventure while overburdening it with miscellanea, too much internal monologue, and not nearly enough storyline. This story could’ve been narrated in less than an hour and should’ve been edited down to a short story instead of a novella. If you like all the stuff I mentioned, though, go for it as I’m sure you’ll enjoy the book. It fills that niche well. Just don’t expect hard adventure, fantasy, or sci-fi.

Wonderful character and relationship story

Narrator did a great job. Story reminiscent of Mark Twain's style. it was easy to listen to and think about.

Elizabeth bear is brilliant

Elizabeth Bear's foray into this unique world (almost a new genre?) is so very worth the ticket to ride. The Karen Memory books (including this story) in all their western/steam punk glory are amazingly good -- like genuinely great stories. They are brilliantly writen, funny, exciting, heartwarming, occasionally profound...really, most sincerely fun to read. Especially the original Karen Memory book (titled aptly, Karen Memory). Thoroughly enjoyed! A+!!