10 Comments
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M. Pax's avatar

Loved this! I'm a sucker for steampunk.

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

It’s an interesting category—all that smoke and grinding gears offer up some tantalizing story lines.

Glitterpuppy's avatar

Good read. You took me there…

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Thanks for reading and commenting. Always appreciated!

Rebecca Douglass's avatar

I think I just have something against unhappy endings :D But you do raise the possibility, with the insight he has at the very end.

Rebecca Douglass's avatar

Ow! Well, he sold his soul to the machine and that didn't leave any for love, did it? I hope she finds a way to come back and kick the Guild's arse. Maybe with his help. He could still redeem himself, novel-length :D

C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

You are the eternal optimist, Rebecca! I love that you see his potential.

Steve Elliott's avatar

No idea what steampunk is but I enjoyed this.

Jeff's avatar

Wow, dark yet reminds of the world we're moving into with AI... You're a talented storyteller, Lee. Happy Valentine's Day.

K.C. Knouse's avatar

I knew something would arise to create conflict. Control and the power it brings was the thing. Ka-el chose to believe the lie from the Guild rather than the truth of his relationship with Syra. As I read this, I kept reminding myself that you had written it. It is so different from the other stories I have read of yours. I admire your range, Lee. This is a dandy.