Everyone is sick of love stories with vampires in them. Most people are well on their way to being sick of werewolf romances as well. And among the groups who actually know what steampunk is,it has been thought to have had its day. With this in mind,Gail Carrigers series of steampunk romances featuring both vampires and werewolves ought to feel stale and annoying. Yet,three Parasol Protectorate books Soulless,Changeless and Blameless (Orbit,$7.99 each) have come out over the past year,I have devoured them all,and I am in no danger of tiring of them. Soulless introduces us to Alexia Tarrabotti,a London spinster afflicted with a large nose,an Italian surname and a surfeit of intelligence. Shes also a preternatural,the opposite of supernatural. Not only does she have no soul,but physical contact with her makes vampires and werewolves temporarily mortal. Unlike most well-brought-up Victorian ladies,Alexia,therefore,knows the supernatural set quite well. She is especially fond of the vampire Lord Akeldama with his outrageous clothing and harem of attractive young men; and Professor Lyall,the wonderfully sane werewolf Beta. Equally,she feels strong dislike for the gorgeous Lord Maccon,werewolf pack Alpha with an annoying protective streak where Alexia is concerned. Romance fans would know exactly where this is going. Soulless is primarily a romance,though with plenty of blood,guts and mad scientists. Its sequels,Changeless and Blameless,are closer to adventure novels. Changeless has Alexia travelling to Scotland by dirigible,while Blameless has her being chased across Europe among a gloriously silly profusion of guns,false moustaches and hot-air balloons. These books are ridiculous,and entirely comfortable being that way. But theyre also intelligently conceived. In Carrigers universe the Puritan fathers left England over the decision to welcome supernaturals into society,and werewolf and vampire skills,social dynamics and safety concerns are the major reasons for the Empire,the bureaucracy and the blandness of British cuisine. Real historical concerns are brilliantly woven in; the second and third books even address the Egyptian Question. Alexia is a wonderful heroine. Shes clever,frequently self-serving,not particularly nice,and thoroughly capable of bludgeoning you to death with her parasol should she feel threatened. While Carrigers rather Heyeresque romance plot may be satisfying,most of the series moving moments come from the marvellous cast of side characters. I love Alexia and Maccon but would quite happily sacrifice their adventures if it meant more time with Lord Akeldama and his partner Biffy,or Madame LeFoux (excellent milliner or evil genius?) and especially the magnificent Professor Lyall. Carrigers language owes a lot to Wodehouse. Its a difficult style to sustain,and occasionally the author slips up or sounds too forced. But this is easy enough to forgive. These books are unselfconsciously funny,smart and completely fresh. I dont know how long this series is going to be; a fourth and fifth book have been announced,but there is no information on whether the fifth will be the last. But if Carriger is going to keep producing things at this rate and of this standard,Id be quite happy for it to be endless.
