The Steampunk Adventures of Harry Lampeter

The Anarchic Urban Adventurer

By: Roger Ley

Narrated by: Craig Bowles

Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Urban anarchist Harry Lampeter is employed by MI6 on a casual basis. Modern technology has collapsed, returning the world to the steam age. The war between Scotland and England, is on hold while the United States army of occupation keeps the peace. The Americans are in no hurry to leave, they plan to make Great Britain the 54th State of their Union. 

Scotland and England eye one another with mistrust and an arms race seems inevitable as the English plan building a fleet of Ironclad warships. Telford Stephenson, an agent of the Scottish Secret Intelligence Service, has stolen a copy of the Ironclad plans, but Harry Lampeter is hot on his trail.

©2020 Roger Ley (P)2020 Roger Ley

Unfortunately I couldn't quite engage with the MC!

The writing's fine enough I suppose, and I thought that the main story thread was pretty good too...
Unfortunately, I also found that I couldn't really engage with the titular character. From my perspective, Harry Lampeter is thoroughly unlikable! He's a conniving womanizer, who mostly gets away with all his shenanigans and schemes!
For me I felt that the narrator, Craig Bowles, didn't add anything to the book either! Although Craig is easy to listen to, I kept losing track of who was who as the book progressed.
Hmmmm... I gotta say, I'm not exactly hyped up for a sequel.

Excellent steampunk story line

I love the backstory, great explanation as to why we would revert to steam in the future. I love all the references to current figures and politicians. There is a lot of sexual references and occurrences but nothing is super graphic or uncomfortable. The only critique I have is that it could have more detail in places, I felt it jumped around a little without a clear explanation or how we got there. The narrator is great!

Excellent story

Love steampunk with Harry. The author and narrater did an excellent job of putting you on scene, you are there, where the action is. You should read this book, or listen, I recommend it.

A Futuristic Satire!

A amusing Satire of the future of England after a micro bacterial microbe that eats plastic is released and puts the world in a Victorian Steampunk type of future.

Oh behave, baby

Okay so that line isn't anywhere in the book, but the story had such an Austen Powers vibe that I could not resist. The novel is short, yet it manages to cover a lot of ground. Of necessity it is quite fast paced. I liked the overall flow and rhythm. Every sentence has meaning and every word choice is important. As such, it isn't the kind of book you listen to "while". While doing the dishes is okay but while driving or while cooking might not work. If you've missed a beat because you were focusing on something else, you may get lost.

Okay, so about the story. Harry is a self-important, narcissistic arse. I like him. I probably wouldn't be friends with him in real life, but I like him as a character. The story is about preventing the Scots from stealing the English war tech and moves on to prevent the invasion of Britain by the US. Saying it like that makes it sound quite shallow, but it really isn't. The author manages to pull all weird plot points together and make the ending very satisfying.

When I see the word "dystopian" I cringe a bit on the inside. I'm so over the horrible future type of novel, where everything is a struggle for survival and no one is happy. Not so here! The novel is set in a dystopian future, but is quirky, upbeat and fun. And the characters are happy. Maybe it plays on our current situation with Covid lockdown, but I really enjoyed something lighter, with a happy ending.

I didn't take to the narrator initially, I thought him very dry. Until I realised that this dry humour is quintessentially British and is, in fact, exactly what is needed. Maybe I've spent too much literary time on the otherside of the Atlantic recently ? Anyway the dry style of the narrator serves as a perfect counterpoint to the rollicking, frolics of the character.

This story is fantastic! but change narrators

I was in love with the story as soon as we had trump 5 dollar bills (obviously an alternate universe) and love the idea of the plastic-eating bacteria --- Each of the first few chapters could have been books on their own! I love the rhythm and the language of the book and the pacing was very well done by the author. However, I was not so impressed by the narrator -- he got very dry and very monotonous.... If only Luke Daniels could narrate this -- there would be no stopping for this book!! I hope there are more with a new narrator. So enjoyed. Would have like to have a "special girl" enter the picture with a special talent... something Harry doesn't have but would be really useful for him ... someone to give him a run for his money!! A great potential character. Looking forward to the next one.

I received this book for an unbiased review.

James Bond with out all the gadgets.

Great story good fun with lots of fast action. Harry gets the job done while have a bit of fun on the side. Also, the narrator Craig Bowles does a great job narratoring the story.

Steam Punk meets James Bond

Seems like I am listening to a steamy victorian spy novel. Very entertaining and fun listen but I wish it was longer and a tad less crude but overall it was a great read. The author has done a good job of building a new word with lots of room for more adventures.

An enjoyable story

What an entertaining story following Harry and his many adventures. It's well written and Bowles does a great job narrating and bringing Harry to life throughout the book. Its a quick audio book that kept me so compelled that I listened to it in one sitting from beginning to end. I hope Roger Ley continues the series of Harry so we can see his character continue to develop.

A confusing slog

I was actually pretty excited for this short story after reading the summary and a few of the reviews. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to the billing in my case. While it is a short story and I didn’t expect much world building and character evolution, I didn’t connect with much of either here at all. The idea that advanced tech would collapse into a new steam age when a polymer eating bacteria escaped into the wild is certainly a stretch, but no more than some that I have entertained in the past. The pacing was way too fast for most of the developments, with little to no explanation for a significant part of it. The dialogue dominates way too much of the story as well; making it hard for me to follow. The poorly supported shifting loyalties made the world confusing to me. Harry starts out working for one side, before turning coat (not usually a problem, but it is better if that is not in the same “short” story even for a merc). The military aspect was more irritating than expected and difficult to place within my own experience as a veteran (especially the strategy and tactics used). I am use to some dramatic license, but this story pushed a bridge too far, especially with the rather crude emphasis on raunchy byplay. If you like that sort of thing … add a star to my rating. In addition, I was never able to get a clear picture of what the point was, which make it a little difficult to enjoy the story (I listened to it twice trying to see if I missed anything).

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This story is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
#HarryLampeter #TheSecretAudiobookClub

Enjoyable listen

Wow!
Loved it from the start to end. Narration - brilliant! This was first of this kind of book I've listened and it left me wanting for more. So refreshing. Will definitely listen to this author's other creations!

Very enjoyable

Enjoyed listening to this humourous futuristic novel. Which may well turn out not to be all fiction. Nicely narrated in English. Some places are local to me, which only added to the charm

007 of steam punk

great story good fun with lots of fast action the narrator does a great job

If a story is by Roger Ley than it definitely is excellent!

I “read” this story on audible - Craig Bowles, the narrator, brings the story to life in such an excellent way - I found myself having to leave everything (I usually listen to my books while I do some other mundane routine stuff) and listen well. Roger Ley has a vivid imagination yet his futuristic tales sound so believable. What with his characters being so “real” and so very British - I love them and also love the way he mentions real people and historical facts.

good book, well narrated

I enjoy steampunk books and this is a great example. at the beginning it explains how the world went back to Victorian times with a very valid example of what might happen. after that the story flows well and the characters are very solid. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Witty alternate future

I recently read an article about plastic eating bacteria, so I felt right at home as the book started. Ley gives an interesting twist on something we're currently hoping will solve our plastic pollution problem. The book is filled with witty quips and lots of references to current events - watch out for these gems in the story. My only criticism is that the story could have included a bit more detail on the whys and the hows - some of the jumps from one scene to the next left me with questions and wondering about possible contradictions.

A Very enjoyable audio book

Loved the story, good believable characters, a great mix of steampunk technology with the small exception of a nuclear device! A very enjoyable audio book but a bit on the short side.

Never listened to anything like this before

I listened to this on a whim to try something different - I am so glad I did. It was such a fun listen and I really want to listen to more.

It is different from normal dystopian listens and the tongue is firmly in the cheek. The names are so apt especially the captain. Loved the girls as well.

Really good listen and was so disappointed when it ended.

The narrator added so much to the story

I was given a free copy by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review which I have done.

OMG! Hopefully our future will be different!

It's a nice small easy-going story.
It's a good reading for a on the move listening, as it does not require absolute concentration.
It's an idea of a scary future...
But who knows???!
The narrative and the narrator voice are great.

Fresh.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale, it was very interesting and well read, with familiar locations, and a great storyline.