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Girl Genius #4
Agatha H. and the Siege of Mechanicsburg
In a time when the Industrial Revolution has become an all-out war, mad science rules the world—with mixed success.
In Agatha H and the Siege of Mechanicsburg, Agatha Heterodyne, the last of the Heterodyne family, has returned to her family’s hereditary town with the might of the Wulfenbach Empire hot on her heels. The only thing holding off an outright attack is Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, the heir to the Empire, who has joined Agatha and her friends inside the great artificially intelligent fortress of Castle Heterodyne. Now they must race to repair the mechanisms that once allowed the Castle to defend Mechanicsburg, before the rest of Europa shows up to take all the revenge the mad Heterodynes of the past so richly earned.
In Agatha H and the Siege of Mechanicsburg, Agatha Heterodyne, the last of the Heterodyne family, has returned to her family’s hereditary town with the might of the Wulfenbach Empire hot on her heels. The only thing holding off an outright attack is Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, the heir to the Empire, who has joined Agatha and her friends inside the great artificially intelligent fortress of Castle Heterodyne. Now they must race to repair the mechanisms that once allowed the Castle to defend Mechanicsburg, before the rest of Europa shows up to take all the revenge the mad Heterodynes of the past so richly earned.
456 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2020
40 people are currently reading
783 people want to read
About the author
Phil Foglio
166 books353 followersA popular science fiction fan artist in the 1970s, Phil Foglio began writing and drawing cartoons and comics professionally in the 1980s. His work includes Magic: The Gathering, Buck Godot, and the popular series of comics and novels, Girl Genius, co-written with his wife, Kaja Foglio.
Awards:
Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist (1977 and 1978)
Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story (2009, 2010, 2011)
Awards:
Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist (1977 and 1978)
Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story (2009, 2010, 2011)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 29, 2020
Girl Genius Novels book 4. Spoilers for the earlier books/webcomic of the same storyline.
The continued work on the Castle evolves into all out war, with weasels, two dragons fighting, the need for a spark, Moloch's being confused about women, and more.
Again a faithful retelling of the webcomic -- taking advantage of the new medium to express some things that are better suited to words than to comic strip format. For instance, while it was obvious that Snaug would not be a good girlfriend for Moloch, this makes her clearer.
The footnotes are used for backstory as well as the amusing notes. (Some of them mentioned future events that might be regarded as a trifle spoilerish for future stories.)
The continued work on the Castle evolves into all out war, with weasels, two dragons fighting, the need for a spark, Moloch's being confused about women, and more.
Again a faithful retelling of the webcomic -- taking advantage of the new medium to express some things that are better suited to words than to comic strip format. For instance, while it was obvious that Snaug would not be a good girlfriend for Moloch, this makes her clearer.
The footnotes are used for backstory as well as the amusing notes. (Some of them mentioned future events that might be regarded as a trifle spoilerish for future stories.)
January 26, 2022
Bravo for ending this book at the point they did, and leaving the cliffhanger for the next book! Super satisfying!
Like the other novels in this series, this adapts a group of the Girl Genius graphic novels, which in turn collects a bunch of the webcomic. I read and enjoyed the webcomic, particularly for Phil's distinctive silly, kinetic art style. When I read Agatha H and the Airship City, I thought I'd be bored by the novels, since they lack the art and the prose is more sturdy than artful. (e.g., the number of times a character "concedes the point" or how many characters get kicked in the solar plexus.) Even though much of the book is simply retelling the graphic novel in prose, I like the plot and world and characters so much I'm delighted to revisit them. Plus, there are extended scenes where we get some of the interiority of the characters, which I appreciated (especially the romance). And the Foglio's zany humor shines so bright in things like the numerous footnotes that, even without art, I often laughed out loud. (Jäger exclamations, like "what the dumboozle" or "leetle feeshes in trousers" are among my favorites.)
This volume made me appreciate Klaus even more, and be very afraid of Miss Snaug.
If you like steampunk fantasy with a strong female scientist lead, romance, monsters, robots, and welcome a super silly sense of humor, then please read the webcomic and the books. Because I'd love to talk about it with more people!
Like the other novels in this series, this adapts a group of the Girl Genius graphic novels, which in turn collects a bunch of the webcomic. I read and enjoyed the webcomic, particularly for Phil's distinctive silly, kinetic art style. When I read Agatha H and the Airship City, I thought I'd be bored by the novels, since they lack the art and the prose is more sturdy than artful. (e.g., the number of times a character "concedes the point" or how many characters get kicked in the solar plexus.) Even though much of the book is simply retelling the graphic novel in prose, I like the plot and world and characters so much I'm delighted to revisit them. Plus, there are extended scenes where we get some of the interiority of the characters, which I appreciated (especially the romance). And the Foglio's zany humor shines so bright in things like the numerous footnotes that, even without art, I often laughed out loud. (Jäger exclamations, like "what the dumboozle" or "leetle feeshes in trousers" are among my favorites.)
This volume made me appreciate Klaus even more, and be very afraid of Miss Snaug.
If you like steampunk fantasy with a strong female scientist lead, romance, monsters, robots, and welcome a super silly sense of humor, then please read the webcomic and the books. Because I'd love to talk about it with more people!
July 12, 2021
Will review at Fantasy Literature.
April 10, 2020
I have a strange fascination with these books and I really don't know why. I dislike procession stories and at times the story and characters are so ridiculously silly I have to force myself to keep reading.
In the end my liking of Agatha was defeated by how hard it was to keep reading and I had to give up, however I can see why the fans of these books would really like this story.
In the end my liking of Agatha was defeated by how hard it was to keep reading and I had to give up, however I can see why the fans of these books would really like this story.
April 25, 2021
A great story made better by footnotes!
March 21, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Agatha H. and the Siege of Mechanicsburg is the 4th book in the series by Phil & Kaja Foglio. Released 17th March 2020 by Night Shade, it's 456 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This book (and indeed the series) is absolutely full of exuberant humor (especially the footnotes), clever plotting, larger-than-life characterizations, and over-the-top action at a breakneck pace. Although the crazy pacing and light-speed dialogue might easily overshadow, this is a really well written novelization from a technical standpoint as well. There are so many differences between graphic and textual storytelling and relatively few novelizations really make the transition well. Emphatically not the case here. This is a well written book on its own merits, and a fun read and I recommend it highly.
This is the 4th book in the series with a somewhat complex back-story and a set of returning characters and as such might not work very well as a standalone (Think old-time action serials on radio or TV).
Really a distracting romp and just the "right book at the right time". Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Agatha H. and the Siege of Mechanicsburg is the 4th book in the series by Phil & Kaja Foglio. Released 17th March 2020 by Night Shade, it's 456 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This book (and indeed the series) is absolutely full of exuberant humor (especially the footnotes), clever plotting, larger-than-life characterizations, and over-the-top action at a breakneck pace. Although the crazy pacing and light-speed dialogue might easily overshadow, this is a really well written novelization from a technical standpoint as well. There are so many differences between graphic and textual storytelling and relatively few novelizations really make the transition well. Emphatically not the case here. This is a well written book on its own merits, and a fun read and I recommend it highly.
This is the 4th book in the series with a somewhat complex back-story and a set of returning characters and as such might not work very well as a standalone (Think old-time action serials on radio or TV).
Really a distracting romp and just the "right book at the right time". Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 11, 2020
This is a terribly funny and entertaining series that feels very much like the over-the-top-Victorian era-mad-scientist comic it is based on, in the best possible way!
Yes, you do need to start with the first book. Even when you do that there are lots of people and events to keep straight. Some things are mentioned to remind you but there is so much happening in this twisty, yet amazingly engaging story that the more knowledge you come equipped with the better you will enjoy the book!
This series centers around Agatha Heterodyne. She thought she was just a normal girl but it turns out she is part of a family of Sparks, mad scientists, who rule Mechanicsburg. She is actually the child of two different terribly powerful Sparks and the only reason she is still alive is because of the love, care and inventions of her father and uncle. She needs to revive the family Castle, which is actually a mad scientist sentient lair, and defend her town from the forces of the Empire. Many different weapons, friends, allies, Sparks and monsters come out of everywhere in order to help and hinder her mission. During all of this she also finds herself dealing with her mother trying to take over her body and the feelings she has for both Gil and Tarvek.
This is an totally over the top romp through a world ruled by mad scientists and peopled by their minions. Yes, it is a bit crazy at times but it is also very fun, unexpected and deep as well. I think this series is amazing and well worth the read. I can only hope that we have many more books in the series to look forward to!
Yes, you do need to start with the first book. Even when you do that there are lots of people and events to keep straight. Some things are mentioned to remind you but there is so much happening in this twisty, yet amazingly engaging story that the more knowledge you come equipped with the better you will enjoy the book!
This series centers around Agatha Heterodyne. She thought she was just a normal girl but it turns out she is part of a family of Sparks, mad scientists, who rule Mechanicsburg. She is actually the child of two different terribly powerful Sparks and the only reason she is still alive is because of the love, care and inventions of her father and uncle. She needs to revive the family Castle, which is actually a mad scientist sentient lair, and defend her town from the forces of the Empire. Many different weapons, friends, allies, Sparks and monsters come out of everywhere in order to help and hinder her mission. During all of this she also finds herself dealing with her mother trying to take over her body and the feelings she has for both Gil and Tarvek.
This is an totally over the top romp through a world ruled by mad scientists and peopled by their minions. Yes, it is a bit crazy at times but it is also very fun, unexpected and deep as well. I think this series is amazing and well worth the read. I can only hope that we have many more books in the series to look forward to!
August 10, 2025
ALL HAILE THE LADY HETERODYNE!!!!
Finely after years of wating we get the conclution to the siege of Mechanicsburg. Ofcorse those who read the online comic now what is about go down but like the 3 novels before it this one ad more detal. Both throu the discriptions of emtion hard to convay i pictures and the once again hilarius foot motes that sould defetly not be overlooked. Ontop of all this the novel once again taked the opetunety to fill in seces betwen the frames giving awseres and deapth not found in the comics. If you like the comick or the previus novels you are gona love this one too. It is the continuation of all the hummer and drama that the foligos are so good ad.
So by this book and once more join Agatha Heterodyne on a thrilling ride in the world of gears, mosters, lighting and the best(jet somhove also underplayd) love triangel I have ever read about.
LONGE LIVE THE MISTRES OF MECHANICSBURG. ALL HAILE THE LADY HETERODYNE AND TREMBEL BEFORE HER!!
Finely after years of wating we get the conclution to the siege of Mechanicsburg. Ofcorse those who read the online comic now what is about go down but like the 3 novels before it this one ad more detal. Both throu the discriptions of emtion hard to convay i pictures and the once again hilarius foot motes that sould defetly not be overlooked. Ontop of all this the novel once again taked the opetunety to fill in seces betwen the frames giving awseres and deapth not found in the comics. If you like the comick or the previus novels you are gona love this one too. It is the continuation of all the hummer and drama that the foligos are so good ad.
So by this book and once more join Agatha Heterodyne on a thrilling ride in the world of gears, mosters, lighting and the best(jet somhove also underplayd) love triangel I have ever read about.
LONGE LIVE THE MISTRES OF MECHANICSBURG. ALL HAILE THE LADY HETERODYNE AND TREMBEL BEFORE HER!!
December 22, 2020
4.5 A tour de force as usual, the Foglio's newest Girl Genius novel is a little hard to get into if you haven't read the books or the comics in a while, but the rest of the book more than makes up for the first 10 percent. The scheming is multi-layered to the point of byzantine absurdity, the characters weird and fun, the humour is top-notch and made me laugh more times than I can tell and the footnotes are well on their way to approaching Pratchett's (only these are numbered as is proper for a "scientific" work as this).
The only complaint I have is that the scenery, especially inside Castle Heterodyne, is often described in rather broad strokes. Makes you want to go back to read the comics, but not so great if you want to read the novels on your own. But that's a rather minor quibble and gets better as the narrative progresses.
Now I can't wait for GURPS Girl Genius to come out!
The only complaint I have is that the scenery, especially inside Castle Heterodyne, is often described in rather broad strokes. Makes you want to go back to read the comics, but not so great if you want to read the novels on your own. But that's a rather minor quibble and gets better as the narrative progresses.
Now I can't wait for GURPS Girl Genius to come out!
April 12, 2020
So much fun, just like the first three. Adventure, romance, mad science, the Girl Genius novels always deliver.
Not quite a cliff hanger ending, but I still desperately hope the next one, and the rest of the series for that matter, comes out in much less than six years. And in a matching set for my bookshelf.
The cover art is just fantastic. The first three were nice, but this one is better. If it ever comes out as a poster, I'd definitely hang it on my wall. Who wouldn't want to see a mad genius riding a dragon riding an elaborate bicycle into battle on their wall everyday?!
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It's finally here!!
I am madly reading the previous three novels in preparation for book four. I can't wait until I can get my hands on a copy here in locked down Australia.
Not quite a cliff hanger ending, but I still desperately hope the next one, and the rest of the series for that matter, comes out in much less than six years. And in a matching set for my bookshelf.
The cover art is just fantastic. The first three were nice, but this one is better. If it ever comes out as a poster, I'd definitely hang it on my wall. Who wouldn't want to see a mad genius riding a dragon riding an elaborate bicycle into battle on their wall everyday?!
--------------
It's finally here!!
I am madly reading the previous three novels in preparation for book four. I can't wait until I can get my hands on a copy here in locked down Australia.
May 18, 2020
The Heterodyne tales -- illustrated and text -- are all ripping good fun, and this installment is no different. It encompasses the second half of the Mechanicsburg comics, and faces the massive challenge of eleventy-dozen "regular" cast members and three previous volumes of sinister plots layered one atop each other like papier-mache.
It's a challenge the book doesn't always quite succeed against, and there are times when puzzling out if we've run up against this person in earlier tales (or even this one), and under what circumstances, even with copious footnotes, becomes exhausting.
Still, it meets the challenge often enough (and is a fun enough tale on its own if you just let go to be swept along like a log ride down the Dyne) to be an enjoyable time. Looking forward to Vol. 5!
It's a challenge the book doesn't always quite succeed against, and there are times when puzzling out if we've run up against this person in earlier tales (or even this one), and under what circumstances, even with copious footnotes, becomes exhausting.
Still, it meets the challenge often enough (and is a fun enough tale on its own if you just let go to be swept along like a log ride down the Dyne) to be an enjoyable time. Looking forward to Vol. 5!
June 6, 2020
A very fun read, especially if you're a follower of the Girl Genius webcomic. These books are more than simply novelizations of the comic, they add a great deal of extra context, background and they have wonderful, wonderful footnotes. This book spans the graphic novels from about halfway through volume 10 (Agatha Heterodyne & the Guardian Muse) through about halfway through volume 12 (Agatha Heterodyne and the Siege of Mechanicsburg)
March 16, 2020
Excellent follow up to the last few of these books-I’m not much for comics (I understand that they wrote a comic first and then novelised it) but this series is hilarious (Especially the footnotes) and the storyline is really interesting. Thoroughly recommended.
June 2, 2020
A most excellent and well-mannered read!
No, seriously, this is a lot of fun. Fills in some details left out of the comic and told with the trademark Folio style.
I just hope we don't have to wait another SIX YEARS for the next one!
No, seriously, this is a lot of fun. Fills in some details left out of the comic and told with the trademark Folio style.
I just hope we don't have to wait another SIX YEARS for the next one!
March 20, 2021
Laugh out loud hilarious and witty. I love their footnotes that give these books a satirical air of a scholarly work. Their graphic novels of this story are equally good.
March 22, 2020
This series is just so much fun. I like the novel versions because there is so much more story in a textual work, although the graphic versions are good too.
April 3, 2020
As usual, a fun romp. Never disappointed by these books.
April 11, 2020
Smart and funny. Don't skip the footnotes
May 26, 2020
It goes on and on and on... No breaks... Really action packed story.
March 23, 2021
(3.5/5) The humour is at its best and the book manages to keep you gripped.
June 9, 2024
While I love just about everything the Foglio's do, I was a bit disappointed in this book.
I love the Girl Genius comic and this was a faithful adaptation of the chapters covered. However, this really reads like the second and third acts of the story started in Agatha H. and the Voice of the Castle. It had been a while since I'd read the previous volume or the comics, so I was a tad lost with the story situation one enters into in the first pages. There are so many characters inside and outside of the Castle that some kind of review (beyond the footnotes) would have refreshed a reader in my situation from trying to figure out if I need to remember this or that minor character. (The comics give, at least, a visual cue for all the different characters encountered throughout this story, so, if you can't recall who's who [in the novel] just from the name, the comic's illustrations could assist you in putting them in their relative context.) The "plot" meanders for the first 2/3 of the book and really only gets to something relevant when the final internal fixes on the Castle are completed.
Even so, the writing was good, I really love the Jägermonsters and their dialog, and the hints dropped at Crewman Higgs' background and identity were intriguing.
This is definitely NOT a standalone novel. I would recommend that you read Agatha H. and the Voice of the Castle and this book back-to-back to avoid the kind of confusion I suffered. Perhaps that would have given me that much more enjoyment from the experience.
I love the Girl Genius comic and this was a faithful adaptation of the chapters covered. However, this really reads like the second and third acts of the story started in Agatha H. and the Voice of the Castle. It had been a while since I'd read the previous volume or the comics, so I was a tad lost with the story situation one enters into in the first pages. There are so many characters inside and outside of the Castle that some kind of review (beyond the footnotes) would have refreshed a reader in my situation from trying to figure out if I need to remember this or that minor character. (The comics give, at least, a visual cue for all the different characters encountered throughout this story, so, if you can't recall who's who [in the novel] just from the name, the comic's illustrations could assist you in putting them in their relative context.) The "plot" meanders for the first 2/3 of the book and really only gets to something relevant when the final internal fixes on the Castle are completed.
Even so, the writing was good, I really love the Jägermonsters and their dialog, and the hints dropped at Crewman Higgs' background and identity were intriguing.
This is definitely NOT a standalone novel. I would recommend that you read Agatha H. and the Voice of the Castle and this book back-to-back to avoid the kind of confusion I suffered. Perhaps that would have given me that much more enjoyment from the experience.
July 14, 2021
A lengthy, but much anticipated conclusion to three series. All of the myriad of characters from the three previous novels converge in this installment; aft times it's tough to keep them all straight. Several lose ends are left flipping in the breeze, which is rather disappointing. Who is Airman Higgs really? What happened to Bill and Barry? What actually killed Lucretia? Will they ever extract Lucretia from Agatha's mind? What became of Bangladesh Dupry? Will we see the slaver weasels again? They sounded like cute mechanicals, especially the kitten weasels. Where did Otelia/VonPin end up? Lastly, the ending was disappointing and disatisfying. It felt rushed and slap dash. And what happened to Gil, so bizarre and out of nowhere. If you're going to revive the Baron from death, do something meaningful and truly dastardly with him. Not THAT. While there was much to enjoy on this novel, there's equally enough to disappoint. The ending is rather clear they're won't be a 5th book, so all those loose ends are even more frustrating. All that said, the audiobook version is definitely worth the listen even if only for the phenomenal narrator and all those fabulous accents. The Yaegers will remain my favorite characters in the series with their "shveethart", "shneeky shmart guy", "kiddo", and their love of a true ostentatious hat.
January 23, 2023
As much as I loved the bulk of this book, I was quite disappointed with the ending. So many lose ends just left dangling and to my knowledge this was the last book of the series. I understand that with so many characters and plot lines not everything will be resolved but having all the main character’s stories left so unfinished was maddening.
I almost want to give 3 stars but 90% of the book was exciting, action packed and chock full of cool steampunk & fantasy elements. The main characters were given even more detail, back stories and emotions. The relationships were interesting, each one so different from the next.
Since this book was published in 2020 I’m hoping upon hope that maybe, just maybe a fifth book is in the works to finish off the story. Heck I’d even be happy with a novella to tie up the unfinished business.
I almost want to give 3 stars but 90% of the book was exciting, action packed and chock full of cool steampunk & fantasy elements. The main characters were given even more detail, back stories and emotions. The relationships were interesting, each one so different from the next.
Since this book was published in 2020 I’m hoping upon hope that maybe, just maybe a fifth book is in the works to finish off the story. Heck I’d even be happy with a novella to tie up the unfinished business.
December 31, 2022
Agatha has made it to Mechanicsburg and finds it populated with natural minions in need of a leader. But is she that leader? Will her sentient family castle accept her? Can she repair it in time to thwart the invasion attempts of pretty much every other would be power in the world? And what about the Other - AKA her mom, who still has a toxic (and nonexclusive) relationship with Agatha's mind? All these questions and more are addressed (or maybe even answered) in this Girl Genius novel.
The books are SO much fun! And there are FOOTNOTES! I highly recommend these to readers of lighthearted and quirky fantasy, especially fans of the late great Terry Pratchett.
The books are SO much fun! And there are FOOTNOTES! I highly recommend these to readers of lighthearted and quirky fantasy, especially fans of the late great Terry Pratchett.
June 1, 2021
This is for the Audio & HB versions.
I do love the humor in these stories. There is a bit of mass killings but you know just of people who get in the way.
I originally read the comics and look forward to listening to the audio books as they come out. That is what I did this time.
If you have not read the comics look them up on the internet. All of the pages are there for free. The expressions are to die for.
I do love the humor in these stories. There is a bit of mass killings but you know just of people who get in the way.
I originally read the comics and look forward to listening to the audio books as they come out. That is what I did this time.
If you have not read the comics look them up on the internet. All of the pages are there for free. The expressions are to die for.
October 29, 2021
This 4th installment of the series is just complete madness. I love it but, because it was so long since I read the 3rd book I got really lost in all the characters and plots. It's a long book that could have done with some better editing. At the end of the book I realised very little had actually happened. The writing isn't always the best. There's a lot of dialogue, characters and an overabundance of footnotes that slighrly ruins the storytelling element.
Read
March 10, 2022I listened to this mainly for the novelty of reading a novelization of a comic, possibly my first. Not much else to say about it. GG fans will enjoy it, and there's a few extra nuggets in the sprawling mythos of Girl Genius, mostly in the (narrated) footnotes.
Time to read something more serious...
Time to read something more serious...
March 10, 2022
Of course, I read the comic as well as these novels. I do like the novels better - the stories are madcap and creative, but the books give me more plot behind the madcap. I'm willing to believe that this is because I'm not an experienced graphic novel reader.
Anyway, I had fun with this. I hope Foglio keeps putting them out, because I will keep enjoying them.
Anyway, I had fun with this. I hope Foglio keeps putting them out, because I will keep enjoying them.
May 8, 2021
The pacing is a little too breakneck and the story is rarely allowed to slow down and breathe, but overall it's still very good. Having read both the novels and the comics I actually prefer the novels.
November 9, 2022
Great continuation in the series. Mechanicsburg is one crazy ... yet awesome ... city. And the inhabitants are a hoot. All so fascinating! The authors creativity makes me think they are a "construct". I hope there is a book #5!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews