As with the moveable steampunk colossi at the heart of Liberator, Harland’s narrative takes a while to warm up, but once it is under a full head of steam it thunders along at a tremendous pace. The initial lethargy is due to the protagonist, Col. Arguably the most vital member of the revolution (certainly, he thinks so), Col has since been relegated to the ghettos along with the rest of the Swanks, his burgeoning relationship with the revolutionary leader, Riff, cast into doubt and deemed unacceptable by her comrades. Col’s social standing places him outside the scope of action, which also distances the reader. It is not until Col stops wallowing in his angst over his relationship with Riff and starts getting involved again that things pick up.

The increased pace brings with it high adventure, juggernaut chases, massive battles, impossible weaponry, and many feats of derring-do, but with so much happening amid the ongoing and ever-expanding revolution, acts of betrayal, tests of loyalty, and the consequences of any actions are overwhelmed by the unstoppable momentum of the narrative. Though many of the novel’s resolutions are dealt with hastily, Liberator is still well worth the ride.