Heart of Steam & Rust (Empires of Steam and Rust) Read online

  —Steve Sullivan

  August 28, 2012

  www.stephendsullivan.com

  [email protected]

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Since 1980, as a writer, artist, and editor, I’ve worked on some of the best known and most influential properties in the world, including: Dungeons & Dragons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, The Simpsons, Middle Earth, Fantastic 4, Speed Racer, Thunderbirds, Dragonlance, Legend of the Five Rings, Iron Man, Darkwing Duck, Mage Knight, and many others.

  I’ve written (and published) more than 50 books and numerous short stories. I’ve won the Origins Award, gaming’s highest honor, for my fantasy fiction twice: first for The Lion (the final book in the original L5R series), and then for my Mage Knight short story, “Podo & The Magic Shield.” I created, wrote, colored, and did much of the art for The Twilight Empire graphic novel, which ran as a serial in Dragon magazine for more than 4 years. I can’t even count (or remember) the number of comics and game projects I’ve worked on.

  All that is nice, but what really matters to me is that my readers enjoy my stories and art. I hope that you will give my other work a try, and if you enjoy it—I hope you do!—please recommend my books to your friends.

  If you have questions or suggestions, you can contact me by writing to [email protected].

  *

  Thanks for reading my book!

  www.stephendsullivan.com

  Adventure guaranteed. (Monsters optional.)

  www.walkaboutpublishing.com

  Official Home of The Blue Kingdoms

  *

  If you enjoyed this story, you may enjoy my other books and stories. Find more at my site and in e-book and print form at many fine booksellers.

  Write me at: [email protected]

  Sign up for my free newsletter at: www.stephendsullivan.com

  Find an error? Let me know at: [email protected]

  Updated 8/30/12

  Alternate Cover.

  WALKABOUT PUBLISHING

  Great stories by great authors.

  Robert E. Vardeman—Michael A. Stackpole—Marc Tassin—James M. Ward

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  Paul McComas—William F. Nolan—Annette Leggett—Donald J. Bingle

  Stephen D. Sullivan—Jean Rabe—And More!

  Pirates of the Blue Kingdoms • Blue Kingdoms: Buxom Buccaneers

  Blue Kingdoms: Shades & Specters • Blue Kingdoms: Mages & Magic

  Zombies, Werewolves, & Unicorns • Stalking the Wild Hare

  Martian Knights & Other Tales • Luck o’ the Irish • Carnage & Consequences

  Stories from Desert Bob’s Reptile Ranch • Unforgettable

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  Under the Protection of the Cow Demon • And More!

  Walkabout Publishing

  P.O. Box 151

  Kansasville, WI 53139

  www.walkaboutpublishing.com

  Official Home of the Blue Kingdoms.

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Samples of Other Stories

  Kit Chapman Challenger & The Last Ranodon

  Automata Futura

  Forever Crimson

  About the Story

  About the Author

  Alternate Cover

  SAMPLES OF OTHER STORIES

  “About the Author”