Gears of Wonderland

By Jason Anderson

James Riggs lives a normal life with a mind-numbing job, an overbearing boss, and a demanding fiancée. Then he witnesses the murder of his best friend. Saved from the murderer by a strange man in a white suit, James is cast down a hole and into a world he always believed was a kid’s story. Wonderland.

But things have changed since Alice’s visit. The Knave of Hearts has seized the Heart throne, conquered all of Wonderland with his steam-powered technological marvels, and rules the land with an iron fist.

Aided by the Mad Hatter’s daughter, James journeys to discover why he has been brought to Wonderland and how the tattoo on his arm could be the key to Wonderland’s salvation—or its destruction.

Edited by Lynn O’Dell (Red Adept Reviews).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jason Anderson
• Release date: Oct 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466019461

Jason Anderson

Jason G. Anderson lives in Hobart, Tasmania with his wife and several cats. During the day, he helps Antarctic scientists manage the vast quantities of data they collect. At night, he dreams of other worlds and realities much different to our own. His writing interests include sci-fi, urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic and steampunk.

Book preview

Chapter 1

For what felt like the hundredth time, James glanced at the clock on the far wall of the office. The grinning Cheshire Cat plushy sitting on top of his monitor appeared to mock him as he again confirmed it was past seven o’clock.

He cursed his luck as he typed. Officially, he’d started his vacation two hours ago. Three hours ago, if you counted his plan to leave work early so he could be home in time to finish packing. But as he had shut down his computer, his boss, Ian, had dumped a pile of work on him, work that he’d quickly discovered were reports Ian should have completed.

The thought of leaving them undone and making his boss do his own work had been tempting, but he’d quickly pushed the idea aside. He didn’t want to cause any trouble.

James worked frantically, the clatter of the keyboard echoing throughout the empty office. Forty-five minutes later, he typed the final words on the last report and hit ‘Send.’ He sighed with relief. They weren’t perfect, but they would do. He’d been afraid he was going to be stuck in the office until midnight. At least he was going to have time to finish packing.

As he threw his few personal items into his bag, he glanced at the calendar on the rear wall of his cubicle. Seeing the next two weeks blocked out with ‘Holiday’ gave him a feeling of comfort. His fiancée had been pushing for the trip for months, and his agreement had changed their conversations from how much she wanted to go, to what they should do when they went—a much more pleasant topic. Then, he noticed the note he’d scrawled on the calendar for today.

‘Parcel.’

His heart leapt into his throat. The parcel! He’d forgotten all about it in the mad rush of the afternoon. The other reason he’d planned to leave early was to intercept it before Laura got home.

The bus ride seemed to take forever. A glance at his phone as he got off the bus confirmed that it was almost eight thirty. He hoped Laura had gone out with her friends for after-work drinks when he’d messaged her that he would be late. It was the only way he would get home before she did.

Rounding the corner onto his street, he breathed a sigh of relief. The lights in the small flat they shared were off. He was safe. Then, he realized he was looking at the wrong flat. His heart sank when he saw the lights of his own flat. Laura was home.

James climbed the stairs to the front door with trepidation. Outside the door, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. Maybe the parcel hadn’t arrived. Maybe Laura had ignored it, seeing that it was addressed to him. Maybe everything would be all right. He opened the door, and stepped inside.

The open box on the floor of the lounge room told him it wasn’t going to be all right. Laura was sitting on the edge of the sofa, still dressed in her work clothes. She had a calm expression on her face, although she sat stiffly. His purchase rested on the coffee table in front of her.

He forced a smile and tried to keep his voice light and happy. Hey. Sorry I’m late, Ian gave me some—

She pointed to the box on the table. What’s this? Her voice had a hard edge to it.

It’s nothing, really. Just something I bought for—

When we talked about it last time, you promised you would give it up. For me. For us. That you’d get rid of your childish habits and stop playing silly games. You agreed that you would put it behind you.

He looked at the boxed chess set. He had paid a lot of money for it. The pieces were Swarovski crystal with flecks of red or white marble in the tops, and the board was made of etched glass with intricate patterns around the outside. He had stumbled across it online by accident and been captivated by its beauty. The plan had been to keep it hidden at work, so she wouldn’t find out about it.

So much for that plan.

I’m sorry. I didn’t buy it to play, I swear. I thought the set looked pretty, so I got it to—

James, it’s still a chess set!

He stared at his feet. I’m sorry.

How many times do I have to tell you, James? We’ve been over this before. Chess is a game. Only children and pathetic no-hopers play games. Laura stood and put her hand gently on his cheek, her voice softening. You’re twenty-four now, an adult, soon to be married to a wonderful woman who wants only the best for you. It’s time to grow up and act your age. I know growing up can be hard sometimes, and we have to give up the things we loved when we were kids, but as an adult, we get lots of new fun things to do. You’ll do this little thing for your fiancée, won’t you?

James sighed internally. His inner voice wanted him to stand up for himself and argue with her, tell her that it was his chess set, and he’d keep it if he wanted. But he knew that if he did, the fight would go on for hours. And he’d ultimately give in, anyway. He always did.

He put on an apologetic smile to satisfy Laura. Of course I will. I’m sorry I upset you.

I know you’re weak, James. She gave him a peck on his cheek. That’s why you have me to be strong for you. She picked up the chess set and walked toward the door. I’ll put this in my car and dispose of it in the morning before we leave. We don’t want to keep it in the flat, do we?

I could always send it back and get a refund, said James hopefully.

Laura shook her head. No, the only way you’ll become strong enough to resist your urges is by learning that if you waste your money on things like this, it’s gone for good. You need to learn your lesson properly. It’s best for both of us if I get rid of it. She flashed him another smile, then stepped outside.

James sighed. It had been a wonderful chess set. He would miss it. And he hadn’t even had a chance to study it.

His cell phone rang. He glanced at the number before answering. It was his boss, just the person he didn’t want to talk to.

Hey, Ian. Don’t worry; I got your reports done. And I’ve left documentation with Al, so if you have any questions while I’m away, he should have the answers.

Ah, James, I’m glad I caught you before I left. Listen, I’m going to be away next week. Something’s come up, and I have to leave for Hawaii immediately. I need you to come in next week and cover for me.

What? But Laura and I are going to France tomorrow. I’ve had this vacation booked for months. The hotel is paid for, and I had to make a reservation six months in advance for the restaurant Laura’s been dying to try. I can’t cancel it.

Sorry, James, but you’ll have to put your holiday on hold. I need you to manage the Henderson project while I’m gone. Al knows the details, but I need you to provide the guidance. He can’t see the big picture like you can. I’m counting on you.

Ian, come on, please. Be reasonable about this–

Ian cut him off, a hard note audible in his voice. It’s a simple choice, James. Either you come in to work next week, or you don’t bother coming in to work at all. Then, his voice softened. You don’t want to be looking for work in an economy like this, especially with a wedding coming up.

James gripped the phone tightly, then bowed his head. Okay, I’ll get the files from Susan on Monday morning and get the project finished.

Ian coughed. Actually, Susan has had to take an emergency vacation. Something about a sick mother to look after. Good luck, James. Ian hung up.

He stared at his cell phone. Susan didn’t have a mother. At least, not one who was alive. He remembered talking with Susan once about their parents, and she had told him her mother had passed away when she was very young, and she had grown up with only her dad. The lying son-of-a—

Laura returned to the flat. Who was that?

Trying to ignore the falling sensation in his stomach, James cleared his throat. It was Ian. We need to talk…

* * *

After the incident with the chess set, he had expected Laura to blow her top with the news he couldn’t go to France. Instead, she had icily informed him to find somewhere else to stay the night and think carefully about the choices he had made over the past few days.

He quickly realized that one of the choices he had made was to leave his wallet in his bag and, in the drama of being kicked out of his own flat, he had forgotten to pick it up. That made his destination options rather limited.

He decided to walk to Melvin’s house. Laura didn’t approve of Melvin—she didn’t approve of much anything James had done or enjoyed before she met him—therefore, he hadn’t seen a lot of Melvin over the past eighteen months, even though Melvin was his oldest friend. Despite the circumstances, he was happy at the chance to see Melvin again for more than a few stolen minutes during his lunch break.

The only downside was that Melvin lived some distance away, and James had little option but to walk. He was thankful the weather was reasonable—crisp, but not too cold, and with no sign of rain.

After an hour and a half of trudging, Melvin’s building finally came into view. His tiny flat was above an old bicycle shop. Melvin had lived there ever since James had known him, for reasons he couldn’t fathom. The place was a dump. Cold in winter, hot in summer, it had water pipes that spat brown-colored water, and an electrical system he was sure would cause a fire at some point. But Melvin loved the place. He claimed it had ‘character.’

Excuse me, do you have the time?

James jumped. He hadn’t noticed the man standing on the corner. He wore a white suit, with a wide-brimmed hat that obscured his face with shadow. His voice had a strange accent to it that James couldn’t place. To James’s bemusement, the man was looking at some sort of pocket watch.

Er, sure. James fumbled for his phone. It’s just after ten. Ten-oh-eight, according to this.

Excellent; I’m not late. Thank you. The man adjusted his watch slightly, then flipped the lid shut and put it back into his pocket. He gave James a faint smile, his mouth the only part of his face visible beneath the hat, and leaned back against the building.

Yeah. No problem. Have a good one.

Chuckling to himself, James crossed the street. The outfit the guy wore was unusual, even for London. It almost looked like a cross between what a nineteen twenties gangster would wear and a suit from Victorian times. And who used a pocket watch in modern society?

He put his thoughts about the man aside when he reached the building with Melvin’s flat and climbed the rusty stairs leading to the front door. He knocked loudly, trying to make himself heard over the loud sounds of the TV coming from within. After a few moments, the volume lowered, and he heard shuffling movements. The door opened slightly, a security chain stopping it from opening far.

Who’s there?

It’s me. Sorry for the late hour, but I need somewhere to crash.

James! Melvin closed the door to undo the chain, then opened it fully to let him enter. I wasn’t expecting to see you. Come in, come in. What’s happened? Is everything all right?

Not really. He entered the flat. Laura and I had a fight.

Melvin sighed, shaking his head, as he motioned for James to take a seat. Was it a real fight, or did she just tell you the latest thing she thought you had done wrong?

Hey, it’s not like that. I broke a promise, and she was upset. Then, my boss called and said I had to go into work next week or I’d lose my job, even though we’d already booked a trip to France. So she’s mad about that, and mad that I ordered a chess set after I promised her I would give it up. She wanted to be alone this evening.

Melvin sighed again. You need to learn to stick up for what you want, James. One day, it will be very important that you do.

I know, I know. I shouldn’t have let my boss browbeat me into going to work next week.

That’s not what I meant. But you already knew that.

James looked away uncomfortably, then stood. If you don’t mind, I have to use the bathroom.

Melvin waved his hand. You know where it is. I’ll make us some coffee. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night.

James stepped into the small bathroom and closed the door. After he had finished relieving himself, he flushed the toilet and washed his hands, drying them on the threadbare hand towel. He was about to go back out into the living area when a loud crash startled him. It sounded as if something had smashed through the front door.

You! Melvin’s voice held a combination of surprise and fear. James opened the bathroom door a crack to see what was happening. A giant of a man, almost seven feet tall, stood inside the broken door. A tarnished metal mask covered the man’s face, and he wore black leather gloves and a long brown leather coat with the Ace of Spades symbol clearly embossed on the lapel.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw what the intruder held in his hands—two large knives, almost eighteen inches long with the blades curving up slightly to end in a lethal point. They weren’t blades intended for decoration. They were blades designed to kill.

Before James could react, the man slashed several times at Melvin’s neck and torso. Blood exploded from Melvin’s body, and he let out a sickening gurgle as he slumped to the ground. The murderer stared at Melvin’s collapsed form for several moments.

James stood frozen in fear. His hand slipped on the door handle where he had been holding it after opening the door, and the handle flicked back with an audible noise.

The killer raised his head and stared directly at him.

James took one look at the man who had killed his best friend and did the only thing he could think of. He slammed the bathroom door, flung open the window, and threw himself onto the fire escape. The intruder crashed through the bathroom door, but James was already halfway down the fire escape and running for his life.

He’d hoped the killer would let him escape. After all, as he wore a mask, James couldn’t possibly identify him. But as he reached the bottom of the fire escape, the killer began to follow.

For the second time that evening, James cursed the fact that Melvin lived in such a remote area of the city. Anywhere else, there would have been other people around, forcing the murderer to leave him alone. But the deserted street offered no chance of safety. He knew if he went to one of the surrounding houses to get help, he would be dead before anyone could answer the door. That was if they even answered the door.

His legs hadn’t had a chance to recover from the long walk to Melvin’s place, and his leg muscles almost immediately burned from the exertion. With no option left, he fled down the street, hoping to reach a busier area with traffic and people before the killer caught up to him.

He spied a narrow lane he remembered Melvin leading him through once. They had used the shortcut after going out to grab some takeout food. He risked looking behind him. The murderer was fewer than twenty yards behind and closing in fast. He could see the glint of the knives in the moonlight and knew if the killer caught up with him, he would be as dead as Melvin. He threw himself around the corner into the lane.

He nearly lost his footing as he realized the man in the white suit from earlier stood around the corner. Almost casually, the man lunged forward and tackled him.

I’m sorry for this, the man said. But I need to keep a promise to an old friend.

James braced himself to hit the ground, but the ground seemed to disappear beneath him. He felt as if he had been knocked into a deep hole. Or off a cliff. The man pushed him away, then disappeared in a bright flash of light.

After a moment of shock, James screamed as he fell. Thoughts flashed through his mind, all the hopes and dreams he had held for his life.

It took him a few seconds to realize he hadn’t hit the bottom of the hole. He stopped screaming and began to take notice of his surroundings. Then, he blinked a few times, trying to make sense of what he saw.

Cupboards and bookshelves lined the walls of the hole he was falling down, along with pictures of places, people, and maps hanging on short pegs. Most of the cupboards and shelves were empty, but a few contained various small items—jars, books, even a few dolls and other stuffed toys.

The thought that he was dead and having his final hallucinations crossed his mind.

He noticed a bright light far below him. Focusing on it, he realized with a sinking feeling that the bottom of the hole was fast approaching. He couldn’t make out what he would hit at the bottom. Not that it mattered. He wouldn’t survive landing on anything after falling such a long way.

For the second time, James screamed.

Chapter 2

James landed heavily, the fall knocking the wind out of him. The overpowering smell of rotten food and other things he didn’t want to think about assaulted his nose. The sound of indignant squeaks and lots of creatures scurrying away told him he wasn’t the only occupant of whatever he had landed in. He opened his eyes, unable to believe he was still alive after such a fall, then blinked in confusion.

He lay in an alleyway in the middle of a huge pile of rotten garbage. Unfamiliar buildings loomed on either side, and past them, he could see the night sky, with no sign of the hole he had fallen down.

Must have been dreaming, muttered James. He suddenly remembered the events before the imagined fall and looked around urgently for the killer or the man in white, but saw no trace of either one of them.

Cops. Gotta get the cops. He hauled himself out of the garbage pile and shook off the few items clung to his clothes. He pulled out his phone. No service.

He cursed the phone—the only place it ever had a reliable signal was inside his flat—and put it away. Figuring there would be a pay phone nearby, or maybe an open store, he hurried toward the end of the alley.

Reaching the street, he almost collided with a woman crossing the entrance to the alley. He managed to stop himself in time.

The woman seemed as surprised to see him as he was to see her. She wore a costume that looked vaguely Victorian, dark blue, with a full skirt but tight bodice. Her long black hair and slim figure suited the costume, but the thick leather belt around her waist with the large leather pouch attached didn’t match the rest of the outfit. But it was probably the perfect place to keep her money and phone.

His brain finally caught up with the idea that she might have a phone.

Please, I need to use your phone. My friend’s been attacked, and I need to call the cops. An ambulance, too. He might still be alive.

The woman looked at him as if he were mad. Phone? Cops? What are you talking about? She looked him up and down. And who the bloody hell are you, anyway?

He stared at her in disbelief. She was either drunk—although she didn’t sound drunk—or stupid. He was going to have to find someone else to help him.

A loud noise interrupted his thoughts. It sounded like a steam train coming down the road. He turned to see a strange sight. Four lights, nothing like the lights of a car, hurtled toward him.

The girl grabbed him and pulled him back. Quick! Into the alley, you idiot.

The cry of annoyance James had been about to loose died on his lips as the source of the noise became visible. The vehicle was like nothing he’d ever seen. The shape was similar to a horse-drawn carriage, but instead of the usual wood finishes on the side, the carriage was made from a weird lattice of metal bars meshed together in a way that suggested function, instead of comfort or design, had been the overriding theme. No horses pulled the contraption. Instead, the vehicle had a huge engine on the back, with a smoke stack billowing a noxious black cloud. His nose burned as the smoke reached him. The lights he had seen were lanterns, and they illuminated the carriage enough for him to see the man sitting in the driver’s seat—a man who appeared to be wearing a ‘red coat’ British soldier’s uniform from the 19th century.

As James tried to take in the strange carriage, he began to notice other details of his surroundings. The street on which he had emerged looked nothing like the main street he expected. The light level was low, with only a handful of street lamps visible, and the street lamps had been replaced with old-style gas lamps more fitting in a museum. They created just enough illumination to make out several of the buildings opposite. Unlike the shops and flats he knew, the buildings were small Victorian terraces. No, that wasn’t right. Paying closer attention, he realized that the details were wrong. They looked more like someone’s idea of what a Victorian terrace house should look like.

Thanks for almost getting me caught, idiot. The woman fixed him with a contemptuous gaze. "You know there’s a

Reviews for Gears of Wonderland

[joyelett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am always looking for good Steampunk style books and this one delivers. Not too heavy on the "steam" mostly the airships and weapons- so the descriptive words did not get in the way. I liked the way the Alice characters crossed over and intertwined with the new characters. I'm sure there will be more adventures for James and crew.

[avoraciousreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

James Riggs is a guy letting his boss and his fiancé boss him around. One evening his fiancé gets upset about a chess set he purchased when he promised to give up the ‘silly game’ and then his boss calls to tell him he has to cancel his planned vacation to come into work and cover for him. She kicks him out and he walks to his old friend’s apartment to stay the night there. However, just after he gets there a strange man comes to the apartment, murders his friend then chases James out to the street where a yet another strange man in a white suit grabs him and sends him down a hole into Wonderland. That’s when things get even stranger.James is now in Wonderland, but in a very different one than Alice was in. The Knave of Hearts has taken the throne, conquered the other kingdoms and is mass-producing stream-powered machinery. Steampunk Wonderland has emerged, but James arriving from Otherworld has thrown a massive spanner in the works.I haven’t read Alice in Wonderland in um, *cough* many many years (let’s leave it at that) and I haven’t watched the Disney® movie since the kids were little, so many of the references to the original book were probably lost on me. However, I do remember enough to know that this book is a clever take of a favorite tail. Well-written and fast-paced, with a twisty plot, interesting world and likeable characters, I enjoyed this book very much.*Many thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.

[ljldml · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Let me begin by saying, I love the cover of this book. I am automatically drawn to a book with a great cover, and this one's a winner. I am also new to the entire steampunk movement but I find it's a lot of fun! I love the combination of steampunk and wonderland in this book. Jason Anderson has created a story that Lewis Caroll would like.I don't like to reveal or spoil the story with my reviews, just buy this book- it's a gripper! You won't want to put it down until you're finished. When I was finished, I found myself looking for more pages, and rereading passages. This wonderland has kingdoms with wars, flying ships and other fun stuff. James is a wonderful character (no pun intended). He visits a land he believed to be just a story from a book. He becomes involved in an amazing journed.I hope to read more from Mr. Anderson. I can see more adventures for James in Wonderland.