The Oilman's Daughter

By: Ian Thomas Healy, Allison M. Dickson

Narrated by: Paul Tuttle

1907: A world of steam and steel, of brass and bravery. Spaceships ply the lanes above the Earth, running on coke furnaces and a prayer, while the atomic-powered Circumferential Rail runs the route between Paris, France, and Houston, Texas. Where there is cargo, and passengers of means, pirates soon follow, and this is how Jonathan Orbital, heir to the Circumferential Rail finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy surrounding a kidnapped French woman with a valuable secret.

Enter the roguish space pirate Phinneas Greaves, who kidnaps the beautiful and intelligent Cecilie Renault off the Circumferential Rail in order to deliver her father's research to the highest bidder. The smitten Jonathan will stop at nothing to rescue her, but both men soon learn the global implications of the woman's knowledge, and they are forced to wage harrowing battles across the Big Black of space and the dusty landscapes of the American West, with the only certainty being that those who want to exploit this revolutionary technology will stop at nothing to acquire it.

The Oilman's Daughter is a rollicking steampunk collaboration representing the best of authors Ian Thomas Healy (Just Cause Universe) and Allison M. Dickson (Strings, Colt Coltrane).

©2015 Allison M. Dickson and Ian Thomas Healy (P)2017 Local Hero Press, LLC

A fascinating steampunk adventure

I found the premise of this book intriguing, and it did not disappoint. It was an interesting and engaging story that reminded me of Clive Cussler’s Issac Bell series but in a steampunk world, and that world was fascinating to consider. Steam-powered spaceships. An orbital railway. Cable elevators to space stations. Atomic power taken for granted while people scoff at claims that petroleum and internal combustion will ever be practical. The author described all these things in an effective manner, providing intricate details but also leaving the imagination free. And regarding the science and physics, I found it easy to suspend disbelief. Would any of this technology really work? Likely not, but it felt true to the possibilities we might have imagined in the age of steam. I really liked how the book captured that feeling. The Oilman’s Daughter is a fast-paced adventure of piracy, gallantry, and greed in a world where industrial tycoons have set their eyes on the final frontier.

The audio narration took some getting used to, but it grew on me. Each voice is distinct thanks to a full cast. I received this audiobook for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Don't miss this story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story had many twists and turns, we worth listing too again and again!

What other book might you compare The Oilman's Daughter to and why?

I like that there were different voices used in telling this story, instead only one voice actor. It made the story more enjoyable.

Have you listened to any of Paul Tuttle’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I enjoy listening to he's voice work. He is excellent as always.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was shocked how the butler turned on Mr. Orbital.

Thoroughly enjoyable

Great story line. Enjoyed every moment. Made for a great drive on an endless highway

A rollicking ride

What made the experience of listening to The Oilman's Daughter the most enjoyable?

Cross The Expanse with The Prestige (and add a bottle of vodka) and you've got The Oilman's Daughter. A classic wild adventure. If you like Gail Carriger or Kenneth Oppel's work, you're going to like this.

What other book might you compare The Oilman's Daughter to and why?

Kenneth Oppel's Skybreaker series, steampunk space travel!
Gail Carriger's Finishing School adventures, sass and sneaky wit
Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series, adventure and a tongue in cheek nod to period pulp adventures.

What about Paul Tuttle’s performance did you like?

Well done voicing, well intoned and deftly read

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I snorted tea laughing

Any additional comments?

Read it!