Review: Evolution Expects by Jonathan Green

Ulysses Quicksilver, the debonair dandy adventurer and freelance agent of the Throne is back with a new challenge: Evolution Expects (2009) [US][UK] by Jonathan Green. This is the fourth adventure of Ulysses within the PAX BRITANNIA series:

"In the closing years of the 20th century the British Empire's rule is still going strong. Queen Victoria is about to celebrate her 160th jubilee, kept alive by advanced steam technology. London is a fantastical sprawling metropolis where dirigibles roam the skies, robot bobbies enforce the law and dinosaurs are on display in London Zoo. Welcome to Magna Britannia, a steam driven world full of fantastical creations and shady villains. Here dashing dandies and mustachioed villains battle for supremacy while below the city strange things stir in the flooded tunnels of the old London Underground." [Source] Read The World of PAX BRITANNIA for detailed information.

And again Jonathan Green delivers an additional short story: Conqueror Worm. Maybe you have heard or read this title before? Then I must say: You are right. It is also the title of a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. With this novella, we jump back into 1797 and get to know Cassandra Tyrrell, a the female secret agent. She rescues Sir George Sackville from highwaymen but to at what price...

The Setup

We are back in Londinium Maximum, the heart of the British Empire. But the heart is aching under a carpet of noxious smog. Beside its toxicity the smog is depressing the inhabitants. The people need a man who promise a bright future. And the new Prime Minister Devlin Valentine needs an impressive debut. All hope concentrates on the new Jupiter Station which shall blow away the smog after the launch. The town is preparing for the great day. But there are far more perils blaze the trail. The city's underworld is in uproar. Which gang will control the town? Who controls the Golem which is terrorizing the East End? Why are people changing into insects? Who his the man flying across London whom people take for the incarnation of Spring-Heel Jack? And what is going on in the Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as Bedlam? A lot of lose ends and it is up to Ulysses Quicksilver, his manservant Nimrod and a few other supportes to clear the situation.
This is the fourth Ulysses Quicksilver adventure. I need to emphasize this because events of the past stories have an impact on this story. For example Ulysses has to cope with his left arm which is different from the right one. What happened with his left arm is part of Human Nature (2007) [US][UK] and to tell more would be a spoiler.

My Take in Brief

Before I start with my take I would like to present you the aspirations of Jonathan Green and the scope of the PAX BRITANNIA series. In June 2008 Graeme interviewed Jonathan Green and this is the last qustion plus answer:

" 10) Finally, why should everyone be reading your ‘Pax Britannia’ books?
Because they’re great fun reads and an entertaining way to take yourself out of the world for a few hours. Also, there’s a big story in there that’s steadily beginning to take shape (and which I had planned from day one), so you want to be there for the ride and the dramatic denouement in about… twelve books time (or thereabouts)."

So I think this should be the base on which this book and the rest of the series has to be reviewed. That means: Is it a great fun read and is it an entertaining way to take yourself out of the world for a few hours?
My simple and plain answer is: YES!

Jonathan Green has the gift to fill his alternate world with a bunch of suitable ingredients which work together very well. Letus start with the the debonair dandy adventurer and freelance agent of the Throne, Ulysses Quicksilver. He says about himself:

"I am only a hero of the empire." [page 219]

For me he is a mix of Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Indiana Jones and Alain Quartermain. And I promise Ulysses is as entertaining as the mentioned gentlemen.
But he has not to face the enemies of the British Empire alone. Nimrod, his manservant is a stalwart character and he can not deny traces of a British butler.
They both are the linchpin of all the stories. And as in the previous adventures unexpected persons take side of Ulysses and Nimrod. In Evolution Expects we meet the arcane Spring-Heel Jack and Eliza, who is more than a whore.
This takes me immediately to another important point of entertainment. If you have an eye for sometimes obvious and sometimes in a roundabout way placed allusions from daily life via fiction up to history you get doubled entertainment. I often reread passages in order to detect all allusions. But I am sure I miss a lot.
Let me give you some examples in order to express what I mean.
"Keep moving and don't look back." [p. 169] Remember the bible when Lot and his family flee from Sodom and Gomorrha.
A crewman welcomes the passengers on board the Jupiter Station with the words: "Enjoy the ride." [p. 172]
If you have ever taken a ride on the London Eye you know what I'm talking about.

"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" [p. 169]

Did you read the graphic novel Watchmen or watched the movie?
Then we have links to myths like the Golem and the Spring-Heel Jack which acts in several cases like Batman.
And finally I like the naming of characters. There is a doctor with Name Seziermesser. It is a German word. Translated it means scalpel. There is another doctor who is not the youngest. His name is Methusaleh.
Jupiter Station should solve the London toxic air problem. The station has been invented by Halcyon Beaufort-Monsoon. You see the relation to weather. There is the LCAL = London Clean Air League. In real life you have the CCAL = Campaign for Clean Air in London.
But Jonathan Green has more to offer. I Every book offers new technical ingredients (weapons, apparatuses, mechanical devices).
And the author takes care of readers which have missed one of the previous books. He integrates short flashbacks whenever it is necessary.
Evolution Expects differs in in several aspects from the previous books. For me it is more fidgety which - I assume - is a result of two things: On one hand to write a cracking adventure and on the other hand to build the foundation for the powerful background story which will be unfolded in the following books.
And it the story is more darker than the last one which I appreciate. The introduction of the sidekick Eliza gave more zest to the relation between Ulysses and Nimrod.

All in all it was a great fun to read. You will be surprised how time passes.

Anyway I recommend to buy the books, read them, and have fun with an awesome hero in a gorgeous steampunk world...

Viva La Steampunk!

Bona Fide's Book Oracle

What is Bona Fide's Book Oracle? To keep it short. It is a palaver about the reviewed book held by ediFanoB and his alter ego Bona Fide. And I am the keeper of the minutes. Now read my minutes.

Edi: "Hey Bona, we have to squash again our brain. A rhyme, a rhyme! Shall I write a poem?" Bona: "Numbskull! Shut up or I will send you to Londinium Maximum...." Edi: "OK, OK. That was a fast paced story. So much action. I would like to fly across London like this Spring-Heel Jack." Bona: "I didn't know that roly-poly can fly that high!" Edi: "Come on. Insults are not helpful. Maybe I should send you to Bedlam." Bona: "You are not a cent better as me. My English is getting worse. Maybe you are right." Edi: "Did you enjoy this fast paced,with breathtaking action mixed, riddled with allusions - Batman, Ozymandias, Golem, Watchmen, The Bible - just to name a few, enriched with eccentric characters where the name is a play on profession - the Jupiter Station has been invented by Halcyon Beaufort-Monsoon, peace of prose?" Bona: "Yes!" Edi: "Yes? That is your whole answer?" Bona: "Long question, short answer. But let me add following. This book is the prelude to something great. What is the Star Chamber? Who are the members? Which plans do they have? And not to forget the Crucible!" Edi: "That means you recommend to read this book and the prequels and the sequels?" Bona: "Of course! It is like a TV series. Do you watch just one episode in the middle? And do you know another sassy, cracking, rollicking and entertaining steampunk series? A series where each book enlightens grey autumn days." Edi: "To be honest, NO!" Bona: "Hey taker of the minutes. I hope for your life that you didn't miss a single word. Go, write it down in your strange babbage box." Edi: "Nothing to add from my side. Take your papers and go!"

More Jonathan Green and PAX BRITANNIA

For more information about the author you can use following links: Jonathan Green blog, Jonathan Green on Twitter, Another Jonathan Green blog.
For more information about the PAX BRITANNIA series: Official PAX BRITANNIA blog, The World of PAX BRITANNIA post, PAX BRITANNIA publisher Abaddon Books.

Origin of the copy

The copy of Evolution Expects which I read and used for this review has been purchased by me.

Bona Fide: Weekly Roundup #42

Hello and welcome to issue #42 of my Weekly Roundup. I can't believe that another week is coming to the end. One thing I know for sure: I definitely slept not enough (between four and five hours per night). I needed more time for blogging - this is the third post for this week - and more time for reading - read one book and started the next. No, I won't tell you. But expect reviews within this month. Not to forget the time I spent for reviews. This is no complain. It is my own decision. Do you spend more time for reading books or for reading blogs? I'm really interested in your answers. And now enjoy reading.....

Bona Fide's Menu

Books

1. Delivery of the week: Reviewer copy of The Rats and the Ruling Sea by Robert V.S. Redick
   
2. Shelf discovery of the week: The Fool's Gold Trilogy by Jude Fisher
3. PAX BRITANNIA news
   

Blogosphere

1. Steampunk reading list by Jessica Strider
2. Astronomical Clocks: so many gears.....
   
3. British Pubs: Sign of the Times, Part Two
   
4. A reading bait for kids

Movies

1. Riese - The Series

Quotes

1. This week German proverbs instead of quotes

Books

This week I received my second reviewer copy in trade paperback format and "only" 634 pages. I read around 30 pages per hours. That would mean theoretically I can read the book within one day. Did you ever read 24 hours at a stretch? Oops, I forgot to tell you the title and the author: It is The Rats and the Ruling Sea (2009) [US][UK], which will hit stores on both sides of the Atlantic on 29th of October. It is the second book of the Chatrand Voayge series. When everything goes well I will start reading on upcoming Sunday. So hopefully I can offer you my review before October 29th. In case you missed it, read my post The World of Robert V.S. Redick with more information about the author and his books. is the second book of the Chatrand Voyage series.

Surprise, suprise. I found a whole unread trilogy in the depths of my bookshelf! I must admit I can't remember when and why I bought these books. After reading the blurb I remembered one reason: A heroine.As mentioned in the menu I talk about the Fool's Gold trilogy by Jude Fisher which is the pseudonym for Jane Johnson, who is the Publisher of HarperCollins' science fiction and fantasy list, Voyager. For more information visit Jude Fisher's website. The site has been update last in 2007. Jane Johnson decided to write and publish the next books under own name. Let's come back to the books. As I didn't read them I just can offer you the paperback covers and blurbs and a review for each book. There are different covers for the UK and the US edition. I own the US edition. Therefore I show you the US covers.

The series starts with Sorcery Rising (2003, pb) [US][UK].

"From the barren isles of the North come the Eyrans. Hardy seafaring folk. From the South come their old enemies, the Istrians. Slave-owners, who drove the Eyrans from their lands. And from all over Elda come the nomadic peoples - the Footloose - purveyors of charms and (untilnow) harmless potions.
But whence comes the sorcery that disrupts the annual Allfair at which they all gather?
Katla Aransen and her family have sailed to the fair to trade their goods. The Vingo clan have travelled from Istria to purchase a bride for their appaling eldest son. Tycho Issian has come to sell his daughter to the highest bidder. King Ravn Asharson, Stallion of the North, seeks a political alliance; while others seek his downfall.
For centuries, Elda has been bereft of magic; but this year something has changed. A mysterious force is abroad once more, and it will change the world forever..." [Source]

For more information read Victoria Strauss's review of Sorcery Rising.

The story continues in Wild Magic (2004, pb) [US][UK].

"Magic has returned to Elda, creating all manner of wonders and terrors.
None yet know that the source of this magic is the legendary Rosa Eldi, restored to the world, but not yet restored to herself. Unaware of her true nature, she has married King Ravn Asharson of the North, and now with usurpers and assassins circling she must conceive a child to establish the succession.
In the Southern Empire, the fire of holy war is smouldering and violence is everywhere, fuelled by fundamentalist hatred and bigotry. Caught up in these machinations, peace-loving Saro Vingo is forced to take up arms against the North; and Virelai, apprentice sorcerer, finds himself chained to the murderous plans of his master, Tycho Issian.
Ignoring his king's call to arms, Aran Aranson, chief of the Rockfall clan, is in the grip of a mad obsession borne of a magical map and dreams of sailing the frozen seas to Sanctuary, island of legend, to find a fortune. His daughter, Katla, dreams of sailing with him; but her fate lies elsewhere.
All over Elda, forces are aligning themselves for good or for evil. There is magic in the world again, but it is wild and unpredictable, and few will count its touch a blessing." [Source]

For more information read Victoria Strauss's review of Wild Magic.

The story ends with The Rose of the World (2006, pb) [US][UK].

"The Goddess of Elda - the Rose of the World - is now free and married to King Ravn of the Northern Isles. But the ships of the Southern Empire, under the fanatical leadership of Lord Tycho Issian, are bringing holy war to the North; and she may soon become a prize of combat.
Meanwhile, Katla Aransen has been abducted by Istrian raiders and finds herself in the harem of Rui Finco, Lord of Forent. There she will learn for herself the hardship suffered by the women of the South.
And Saro Vingo is imprisoned beneath the Eternal City, listening to the cries of those tortured by his mad brother, Tanto, Tycho Issian's henchman. Can he escape and put an end to his brother's atrocities?
North will fight South and all those caught in the vice of their passage will be crushed - unless guardianship of Elda is taken from the bloody hands of the warmongers and returned to those who truly care for it. " [Source]

For more information read Victoria Strauss's review of The Rose of the World.

On Thursday I posted about The World of PAX BRITANNIA. In case you like the series as much as I do you will be as happy as I am about the following news posted by Jonathan Green himself:
"Following on from Blood Royal [US, Apr 2010][UK, Dec 2009], and the second book in the new Ulysses Quicksilver story arc, is Dark Side...

"Escape the rat race of the human race and
Start a new life on the Moon!
You'll find incredible opportunities awaiting industrious individuals in the off-world colonies on Earth's most popular emigration destination.
And if you're simply looking to get away from it all at the Empire's most exclusive holiday resort, with weekly flights departing from the London spaceports, let us bring you the Moon in style!
From the architectural splendour of Luna Prime to the unrivalled calm of Tranquility and Serenity City, there really is something for everyone on Earth's favourite satellite.
See your world as never before when you experience Earthriseover the Caucasus Mountains. Visit the Island of the Winds and wonder at the Peaks of Eternal Light. Marvel at the magnificence of the Moon massifs and charter a solar yacht to voyage across the mysterious Sea of Dreams.
Or if it's adventure you're looking for, why not seek out old enemies and win new allies as you hunt for the killer of your nearest and dearest? While you're at it, investigate industrial espionage undertaken on an audacious scale. Partake in a breathless race against time across the dust deserts of the Ocean of Storms and witness the breaching of Man's final frontier firsthand.
So what are you waiting for? Murder and mayhem await you on the dark side of the Moon. But remember, in space no one can hear you hullabaloo.[Source]

Viva La Steampunk!

Blogosphere

Jessica Strider over at Sci-Fi Fan Letter started to create a steampunk reading list. I know this is not the first try. But it seems the people who would like to enter the world of steampunk novels is growing. Maybe you find some interesting books over there or you can add books to the list.

Steampunk is an ongoing theme for me. And when I think of gears pictures of astronomical clocks pop up in my mind. If you want to see good collection of this kind of clocks then head over to Incredible Astronomical Clocks. So many gears.....

In summer I posted about British pub signs because you find pub signs from time to time in fantasy books. Now the wonderful people from Dark Roasted Blend posted British Pubs: Signs of the Times, Part Two. And again the found splendid and weird pub signs.

You have children or you know children who like to play but not to read?
Maybe this is the solution for you: Read Fantasy books coming to the Nintendo DS this Christmas by Fantasy Book Reviews.

Movies

With the last Roundup I discovered web comics for me. This week a web series arouse my interest:
Riese, a steampunk inspired series. It is about a female traveller named Riese. She has to flee across the lands of Eleysia. Her compagnion is Fenrir, a wolf. The Sect, a mysterious and brutal religious group is hunting Riese. Assassins are on her track and she has to discover her own secret. Watch the trailer:



Quotes

So this week I present you some German proverbs. As there was not much time to work on this within this week, I use wikiqoute as my main source.

" * Wein auf Bier, das rat' ich dir. Bier auf Wein, das lass sein. (humorous)
Translation: "Wine on beer, I recommend to you. Beer on wine, leave alone."
Meaning: "Cider on beer, never fear; beer upon cider, makes a bad rider."
Alternate: "Liquor before beer, all is clear; beer before liquor, get sicker and sicker."
American: "Beer on whiskey, pretty risky; Whiskey on beer, have no fear." or "Liquor before beer, you're in the clear; beer before liquor, never been sicker."”

" * Bei Nacht sind alle Katzen grau
Translation: In the night all cats are gray
Meaning: Human vision switches to monochrome mode in the dark.
Meaning: Used when explaining why you could not discern one thing from the other, either literally or as a metaphor. (Polite)
other Meaning: If it is late enough and I am drunk enough I don´t care what my one-night-stand looks like. (Vulgar)”

" * Du siehst den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht.
Translation: You fail to see the forest because of all the trees.
Said when somebody fails to see the obvious solution to a problem.
Equivalent: You can't see the wood for the trees.
Equivalent: You can't see the forest for the trees.
Meaning: You only see the details, but not the big picture.”

The World of PAX BRITANNIA

PAX BRITANNIA is a series of adventure novels published by Abaddon Books. The creator of the World is Jonathan Green and he is currently the sole author of the series.

A series of adventure novels, which means all or nothing. Now, keep in mind that I am a big fan of steampunk... You may now get an idea what the series is about. Before I bore you with the juicy facts, read how the author describes his world:

"In the closing years of the 20th century the British Empire's rule is still going strong. Queen Victoria is about to celebrate her 160th jubilee, kept alive by advanced steam technology. London is a fantastical sprawling metropolis where dirigibles roam the skies, robot bobbies enforce the law and dinosaurs are on display in London Zoo. Welcome to Magna Britannia, a steam driven world full of fantastical creations and shady villains. Here dashing dandies and mustachioed villains battle for supremacy while below the city strange things stir in the flooded tunnels of the old London Underground." [Source]

The main characters of his books are the debonair dandy adventurer and freelance agent of the Throne, Ulysses Quicksilver and his manservant Nimrod. Ulysses is a mix of Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, and Indiana Jones.

So far the series consist of five books and I own a copy of each. But there are more to come. The next book will be published in December '09. Every book unfolds a bit more of the world, and a bit more about Ulysses Quicksilver, similar to the Dresden Files. Now, let's have a look at each book. I will give you a summary and some thoughts in my own words. The exception will be the fifth book -- for which you just get a blurb ,because you will be getting a full review next week.

The series started with Unnatural History (2007) [US][UK] by Jonathan Green, which mostly takes place in an alternate London.
There is an Overground instead of the Underground. The zoo of London harbors dinosaurs. There are colonies on Moon and Mars. Charles Babbage's differential machine is in use. Airships reign the air. And it's the year of Queen Victoria's 160th birthday. During a break-in at the Natural History Museum a watchman is murdered. Soon after a Professor of Evolutionary Biology disappears. And hefty Overground rail crash frees the dinosaurs of London Zoo. But Queen Victoria can depend on Ulysses Quicksilver....

I left a comment on Goodreads: Ulysses Quicksilver remained me a bit of Indiana Jones. Don't expect philosophical thoughts. The whole book is an enjoyable read and has a good flow. For me as an non native English speaker it was not difficult to read.
So if you like partially incredible adventures - think of Indiana Jones - and a world full of steam then give it a try.


El Sombra (2007) [US][UK] by Al Ewing, the second book of the series, is in many respects an exception. Beside a different author the story takes in the heart of Mexico! The country is ruled by the Ultimate Reich.
The town of Pasito has been torn apart by the steam-driven wings of the Luftwaffe. Then Pasito has been rebuild as a clockwork-town where people should become human robots. The whole area is under control of General Eisenberg. But there is one man who will face the Nazis and bring hope to the people: El Sombra.....

Included in the book is a short story - Fruiting Bodies - by Jonathan Green, featuring his dandy hero, Ulysses Quicksilver. The story is set some months after the events in Unnatural History, the first novel of the series. Quicksilver has to deal with a strange death in the East End. A prostitute is found dead, her body covered with strange fungus...........

A kind of Zorro fights Nazis who use big steam driven weapons to reclaim his town.
That is the shortest version of plot summary for this story.
What I didn't like are the torture scenes.
After 80 pages I was thinking to stop reading this book but fortunately I didn't. So I got the good descriptions of the steampunk stuff. But If you, don't mind torture scenes and a lot of violence, like bigsteampunk driven machines and weapons, a fast paced story and a partly open end then read it. You don't need more than one day to read it.
I liked the steampunk parts of El Sombra and I liked Fruiting Bodies


After the El Sombra break the series continues with the next adventure of Ulysses Quicksilver. In Leviathan Rising (2008) [US][UK] by Jonathan Green we go underwater. Ulysses Quicksilver has been invited to a cruise around the world. It is a special cruise on board the Neptune made by the Carcharodon Shipping Company. And what is special about ship cruise? The Neptune is the most advanced submersible cruise liner!
With Quicksilver on board it doesn't take long until a chain of calamitous events unsettle the crew and the passengers. There is murder and sabotage on board. And outside in the depths of the abyss the legacy of a secret war between Magna Britannia and the Chinese empire awakes: The Kraken........

The book also contains the additional novella Vanishing Point by Jonathan Green. This time Ulysses has to deal with ghosts and mysteriously machines.

I liked the story which is a mix of steampunk, The Abyss, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in eighty days, secret research and a whodunnit murder mystery.


With Human Nature (2007) [US][UK] by Johnathan Green Ulysses returns to London and surrounding. It begins with a usual crime of an unusual thing. The Cruickshank's Cabinet of Curiosities get lost of his main attraction: The Whitby Mermaid. Just the right case for Ulysses. But to his surprise he is only second in the raid of the case. Detective Gabriel Wraith is on the case. But that does not hinder Ulysses to take evidence. This is not the only mystery to be solved. Who is the man behind the criminal boos Magpie? Is the mysterious House of Monkeys involved in the theft? His investigations take him North to the "home" of the mermaid. Which horrors contain the Umbridge estate and the abandoned mines beneath? The moors of Ghestdale - are they haunted by an infernally hound?

Ulysses Quicksilver will discover the heart of the darkness and he has to fight for his life. Beside the fast paced action the exploration of different myths give the story some depths. Anways the book is as entertaining as the predecessors but darker. And Jonathan Green is not afraid to injure his hero drastically.

It seems to be a good custom to add a novella. This time we can enjoy Christmas Past by Jonathan Green. It features the three "m": Mystery, Murder and Mayhem sttled in a traditional festive Christmas.


Soon after the events around the Whitby Mermaid Ulysses Quicksilver has to face a new challenge: Evolution Expects (2009) [US][UK] by Jonathan Green.

"After more than 150 years as the supreme power on the planet, the British Empire has become a corpulent, stagnating monster. At its heart lies Londinium Maximum, a city under a near-permanent cloud of noxious smog. More than ever before, the realm of Magna Britannia needs a saviour - a man like new Prime Minister, Devlin Valentine. But while London prepares for the launch of the Jupiter Station there are those who want this longed-for change to come about more quickly, people who are prepared to give evolution a helping hand. When a deadly legacy returns, Ulysses Quicksilver finds himself drawn into that pit of despair known as Bedlam. With a dangerous masked vigilante stalking the streets, a monster from Jewish myth on the loose in the East End and rival gangs fighting for control of the city's underworld there may be nothing Ulysses can do to prevent a catastrophic metamorphosis!" [Source]

And again Jonathan Green delivers an additional short story: Conqueror Worm. Maybe you have heard or read this title before? Then I must say: You are right. It is also the title of a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. With this novella, we jump back into 1797 and get to know Cassandra Tyrrell, a the female secret agent. She rescues Sir George Sackville from highwaymen but to at what price...


The next book in the series will be Blood Royal [US, Apr 2010][UK, Dec 2009], by Jonathan Green.
"Magna Britannia, bestrides the globe and the solar system beyond like a colossus. Yet its capital, Londinium Maximum, still flounders in the aftermath of the unprecedented catastrophe that has so recently befallen it.
St Paul's Cathedral entertains a new congregation, one driven by its own unholy creed, while a coldly clinical killer is carving a name for himself across the city, a name that has been whispered upon the streets of Whitechapel for over a hundred years. Further afield, in the wolf-haunted heartlands of Europe, the spectre of war rears its ugly head. And at the centre of all this death and destruction stands a seemingly innocent child.
Ulysses Quicksilver, heroic figurehead for a beleaguered nation, is about to find himself thrown into the thick of things, as the royal families of Europe prepare for a conflict the like of which the world has never seen, and the consequences of one insane holy man's actions become painfully apparent. With the way ahead unclear, one thing is certain: the world, and Ulysses Quicksilver, will never be the same again." [Source]

I must admit I sent a pre-order for the book!

Finally let me say that I'm not the only fan of PAX BRITANNIA. Graeme over at Greame's Fantasy Book Review likes it as much as I do. In June 2008 Graeme interviewed Jonathan Green. I must quote the last question and answer because there we find a hint how many books to expect:
" 10) Finally, why should everyone be reading your ‘Pax Britannia’ books?
Because they’re great fun reads and an entertaining way to take yourself out of the world for a few hours. Also, there’s a big story in there that’s steadily beginning to take shape (and which I had planned from day one), so you want to be there for the ride and the dramatic denouement in about… twelve books time (or thereabouts)."

And now, buy the books, read them, and have fun with an awsesome hero in a gorgeous steampunk world... Viva La Steampunk!