Thoughts on: Fables of the Flying City Ep 34-37

Fables of the Flying City

By:  Jared Axelrod

Genre:  Steampunk

Episode:  34 of 44, Book Two: Mouths of the Dead

Format:  Podcast; 22:15 minutes

Synopsis:
A Night At The Circus

In which a girl is in trouble, a light brings no warmth, a door is threatened, blending is achieved, acrobats are miscounted, inquiries are made, an old friend lends a helping hand and a new adventure begins.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Book 2!!

We follow a young acrobat running through the tunnel from people.  She can't go back after what she said.  Strange light at the end of the tunnel draws her on, hoping to get somewhere safe.  To run into the...Engine room.

Ashe has locked herself in the room Gatling rented at Redlaw Arms, and there are no credits left to pay for it.  Tolban comes to get Ashe out, to go to the Circus.  When Ashe agrees to go, she notes that the Ring Leader says there are four trapeze artists where Ashe only sees three.  She smells a story and is going to find it.

We almost get to hear what powers the Engines.  But, don't because its so horrid to put words to or even think on.  We do know Provost is now Elderheim, and she sends this young girl to the slab, where Elderheim states, this is the girls way of giving back to the city.

Ashe doesn't want to be seen or see the looks on peoples faces after the deaths of the others, the ones she feels she killed.  Tolban talks Ashe into going as the circus is where people are busy watching the show and not her.

We see different nations in the circus folk.  A view of different cultures the city has flown over.

Again, I'm left wondering on this scary Engine room!

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Episode:  35 of 44, Book Two: Mouths of the Dead

Format:  Podcast; 13:26 minutes

Synopsis:
To Stand In The Center

In which a secret is revealed, an old friend holds a hand, swinging leads to flight, support collapses, a ring is intimidating, Grayson refuses to be swallowed, origins are revealed, and claim of ownership is tested.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Mari teaches Ashe the trapeze.  Then Ashe goes to the Circus to try out for the position.  Through Grayson, we learn about the girl that Ashe is replacing.  The girl went to a bottled water meeting, with her family, and didn't return.

Hee hee.  Ashe falls a lot, but she has fire and keeps going until she gets it.  We learn a little bit of Mari and her circus background with her family.  When Ashe finally gets a flight through the air, one right jump on the trapeze with Mari, we learn the feeling of being in the air.  Jared does a wonderful job of giving that feel of weightlessness in his voice.

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Episode:  36 of 44, Book Two: Mouths of the Dead

Format:  Podcast; 12:22 minutes

Synopsis:
Familiar Connections

In which Cardor knocks timidly, a hotel room is viewed, condensation caves are visited, Ashe is there for the water, a collection of caps is surveyed, a boy spits, a larger picture is seen and a fan is revealed.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Cardor is at Ashe's door to her hotel room, needing her to leave, just short of begging Ashe to leave.  With no answer he pulls out the master key he smuggled from his father.  With the mess and squishy carpet, he leaves, waiting for Ashe to return.

Ashe is at the water mongers questioning.  We learn there are different color caps on the water bottles based on who's selling that brand of water.  We meet one of Heubal's children, Zeik, who also knows Ashe is with the Press.  But the trapeze artist was also one of Heubal's daughters as well.  Ashe tells she wants the girls story, and Zeik takes her to Heubal.

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Episode:  37 of 44, Book Two: Mouths of the Dead

Format:  Podcast; 12:39 minutes

Synopsis:
Old Heubal's Will

In which Old Heubal lays forth.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Ashe is having dinner with the missing trapeze girls sister and mom, Heubal.

This is where we learn of the different water mongers.  Heubal being one of the best and accepting any challenge from another water monger.  And we learn her view of the water mongers present.  We also learn Redlaw, the very same that owns the hotel Ashe is staying at, is into water now.

The trapeze girl, Mosul, was from the top, well known water monger family.  She claims to have been into the Articles of Amperstam and found something to use against Redlaw.  Ashe says the Articles should be in the Library.  What did Mosul find?  Could this be the reason for running and into the engine room?





If you would like to Listen to the stories about Ashe, you can find Fables of the Flying City free on the site for Fables of the Flying City: http://www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com/  There are links to iTunes and RSS feed.  You can also see the list of episodes in their order on Jared Axelrod's site.

If you are curious about the Graphic Novel, it is now available!  The Battle of Blood and Ink by Jared Axelrod and Steve Walker.  You can view a sample of the first 20 pages on Tor's site.