The Glow of Luminiferous Aether on Tinsel

by Jana Denardo

As Chief Tactician for the airship DeGrasse, Jacob Scarberry has spent the last six months on a wearying tour of duty. He’s missing home, and his prosthetic leg is conducting the December cold straight to his core. But with the holidays coming up, he’s looking forward to a well-earned leave, sharing some Christmas surprises with his lover, Dr. H. Alphus Troyer, and welcoming in the dawn of the 20th century.

A professor at Ohio University, Al is already on Christmas break, and his unconventional household is in a festive frenzy. Al is a bit less joyous, his anticipation of Jacob’s return warring with uncertainty over the special gift he had commissioned for him. Would Jacob appreciate it, or will it put a strain on their relationship?

Suddenly Al’s worries become trivial when the newspapers report an attack on the DeGrasse. With Jacob fighting for his life miles away, Al is left to wonder whether Jacob will return at all, or whether the planned festivities will become holiday heartbreak instead.

Genres: Holiday, Steampunk, LGBT, M M Romance, Queer, Gay, Christmas

ebook

First published November 27, 2017

About the author

Jana Denardo's career choices and wanderlust take her all over the United States and beyond. Much of her travels make their way into her stories. Fantasy, science fiction, and mystery have been her favorite genres since she started reading, and they often flavor her works. In her secret identity, she works with the science of life and gives college students nightmares. When she’s not chained to her computer writing, she functions as stray cat magnet. She’s also learning that the road to enlightenment is filled with boulders she keeps falling over and that the words gardening and Zen don’t go together no matter what anyone says.

Visit Jana's blog at http://jana-denardo.livejournal.com/.

Reviews

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

A holiday story with a steampunk theme is not something I have seen often, so coming across this one was a treat. It’s set two weeks before the turn of the century – 1900 that is – and has all the elements I enjoy in this genre: an airship with an interesting crew member, a chief tactician with a mechanical leg and a hankering for a certain professor, said professor anxiously awaiting the chief tactician’s return so he can present him with a special gift, and a surprise pirate attack on the airship. This world is not at peace, with several wars tearing apart what we know as the USA. All of this action/adventure plus a touch of festive spirit – once all the unpleasantness is dealt with – made for very entertaining reading.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice story and I enjoyed the little descriptions that indicated the era this took place in. (Like the billowing skirts when someone is kneeling down).

Tiny tiny spoiler that might not even be a real spoiler below this, so mind yourself if you haven't read this yet:
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The writer must know a nurse or two, because that gleam in the eyes of a nurse when getting the chance to look at a 'nice wound' is just too real :P

[Julesmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore steampunk, so I didn't even wait to read the blurb before buying this one just based on the title. And the story delivered exactly what the title promised: a steampunk Christmas short. Well done enough that I was left wishing for more stories about these characters and this world.

Some Favorite Quotes:
Behind Marion, the tinsel some wag had hung on the inside of the railings fluttered in the breeze, dully reflecting the bright moonlight.

he could never deny Jacob the sky.

"Damn poor form, attacking just before Christmas. Pirates have no sense of decorum."

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. A festive short. This was likable, but it didn't really grab me. I didn't connect with the characters and it all felt a bit flat. I wanted more.

[Minerva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really loved the steampunk setting and the introductions of all the characters. However, after that, some scenes seemed a little rushed, which made it harder to stay connected with the characters. I also had the feeling this could have been edited better, because a few sentences were repeated almost literally in different parts of the book, while in such a short story it wasn't very likely we'd already have forgotten those pieces of information. Apart from those small points it was an enjoyable read!

[Heather York · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful blend of holiday and steampunk. Those who follow my blog will know that I don't really see steampunk as a separate genre, for me its all science fiction but that is just my personal feelings. Steampunk, or science fiction in general, is not a genre we often associate with Christmas. For some not being a typical genre means its pretty open game for plot, for me it actually means it has a lot to live up to. Jana Denardo does not disappoint. Taking a common theme, loved one waiting at home while their significant other is away serving and hearing news of danger, can be a dangerous thing for authors when treading the line of cliché and original storytelling. The Glow of Luminiferous Aether on Tinsel is a lovely blend of said cliché and steampunk originality letting Jacob and Al(and the reader) remember what is really important. Whether you like steampunk, alternative history, or just a great heartwarming tale, I seriously recommend checking this short story out because it certainly left me smiling and I certainly wouldn't say no to reading more if the author were to explore this universe further .

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little steampunky Christmas story. I'll pull this out again at Christmas to reread.