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Dan Willis
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The Flux Engine Paperback – September 4, 2015

by Dan Willis (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 174 ratings

John Porter didn’t expect his experiment to go horribly awry and send every Tommy in town on a rampage.

The steam-powered metal men tore down half of Sprocketville before they were stopped. After that debacle, John expected a visit from the sheriff ... not a robber who stole his heirloom crystal—a mysterious gift from his long-lost mother—and then shot him in the chest for good measure.

Left for dead, John is revived, and then deputized, by legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickok, who represents shadowy powers that are also after John’s crystal. Throwing in with Hickok and the daughter of the world’s greatest thief, John embarks on a perilous journey to recover his crystal, discover his legacy, and ultimately save the world from a villain who intends to use the crystal to create the most deadly weapon ever known.

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  1. Print length
    326 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 4, 2015
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.82 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1614753334
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1614753339
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ WordFire Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 4, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1614753334
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1614753339
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.82 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 174 ratings

About the author

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Dan Willis

Dan Willis

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Dan Willis has worked as a programmer, a web designer, and has written for the game industry. He is an award-winning author who has written for the long-running DragonLance series of fantasy novels. He is currently working on the Arcane Casebook series, stories of a down and out detective making a living in a magical, 1930’s New York. The Dragons of the Confederacy series follows a Yankee engineer and a spy as they take on the forces of the South in a steampunk twist on the Civil War. Lastly, The Flux Engine, which takes place in a Steampunk wild west where a young man seeks to reclaim his mysterious heritage only to find that people are willing to kill to possess it.

Dan lives in Utah with his family.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
174 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this steampunk adventure for its engaging plot and believable characters. The book receives positive feedback for its readability, with one customer noting it's a quick read. They appreciate the writing quality, with one review highlighting how the prose brings the story to life.

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Fun storyCharacter developmentReadabilityWriting quality
26 customers mention "Fun story"23 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy this steampunk adventure, finding it engaging and fun to read, with one customer noting how the universe develops throughout the narrative.

"...The universe filled in as the story went along. There was action, adventure, intrigue...no magic, but then again it is steam punk vs magic based,..." Read more

"...was not something I would have expected and yet it made for an interesting and fun story...." Read more

"...An engrossing plot, believable characters that are suitably larger than life, all wrapped up quite nicely in an alternate steampunk world...." Read more

"Well defined characters with an interesting storyline hat kept my interest throughout...." Read more

11 customers mention "Character development"8 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the believable characters in the book, with one noting that the villains are not mindlessly evil.

"...The world and characters are very interesting. I hope to be reading another adventurous tale soon." Read more

"...An engrossing plot, believable characters that are suitably larger than life, all wrapped up quite nicely in an alternate steampunk world...." Read more

"This is a good steampunkish adventure. Heroes that are flawed, but likeable, and an interesting technology and world...." Read more

"Well defined characters with an interesting storyline hat kept my interest throughout...." Read more

9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning it's a quick read.

"...of Howard Tayler of Schlock Mercenary fame, and I was not disappointed at all...." Read more

"This was a quick read that I could not put down. I look forward to learning more about the world and the characters in it...." Read more

"...Overall, a good read." Read more

"Great writer. Finish his books way to fast. Always looking for more." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting how well it is painted by prose.

"...big wide world are all common thematic elements but they are well painted by prose in "The Flux Engine" and I look forward to future books..." Read more

"Well written and funny. I loved the spin on history and how a small invention can change everything. Where is book 2 ?" Read more

"Great writer. Finish his books way to fast. Always looking for more." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • J Krug
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters in a fun read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a really fun read. The universe filled in as the story went along. There was action, adventure, intrigue...no magic, but then again it is steam punk vs magic based, so that worked out. I hope this is part of a series or these characters come back in other books as I want to see what happens next. I recommend this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • wyldphyre
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great take on steampunk in the Wild West
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I wasn't sure what this book was going to be like when I started reading it, but it had come with a good recommendation, so off I went. Well, I'm totally glad I read it.

    The approach taken with the steampunkish technology and the various other advancements of this world was something I found to be unusual and refreshing, and, regardless of how far from the actuality of the old west it was, it worked really well when applied to the setting of the story. Retrofitting the American West in this fashion was not something I would have expected and yet it made for an interesting and fun story.

    Now I just have to wait for more books to be released so I can see what else might happen to these characters.
    One person found this helpful
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  • NewMexicoDude
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great book.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great beginning to what I hope will be a very long series of books. The world and characters are very interesting. I hope to be reading another adventurous tale soon.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I picked up this little gem at the recommendation of Howard Tayler of Schlock Mercenary fame, and I was not disappointed at all. An engrossing plot, believable characters that are suitably larger than life, all wrapped up quite nicely in an alternate steampunk world.
    If you like steampunk, get this book.
    If you like westerns of the spaghetti variety, get this book.
    If you like characters that live with you as you're reading, get this book.
    I just hope he has a sequel in the very near future, because I cannot wait for a 2nd installment!
    Helpful
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  • Kcathy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Well defined characters with an interesting storyline hat kept my interest throughout. Looking forward to the next in the series that I’m hoping will come soon.
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  • Queen Talk Talk
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The world building is a little rough. Keep reading all is explained. This is more action adventure than comedy/romance. Young adult but there are deaths.
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  • Seeth
    3.0 out of 5 stars It's ok
    Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    To be honest, I was kind of hoping to find something more...interesting.
    Boy discovers amazing power, boy meets girl who is amazing, but really is just not as good without boy, bad guy is overwhelmingly powerful, turns out boy has the secret to the power.

    Kinda sums it up. I loved the concept and the setting, it was just so unfortunate that the author felt it necessary to include a romance angle. Hopefully there's another, where the clever shines and has nothing taken away from it by a trite piece of story that feels like it was attached "because it has to be".
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read. Wild west, with steam and crystal tech.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This was a quick read that I could not put down. I look forward to learning more about the world and the characters in it. For me there was a good balance of action and character development.

    This book seems suitable for young adults, although there is violence and a few deaths in the book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Arioch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un très bon mélange de genres
    Reviewed in France on December 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Entre le steampunk et le western, ce roman est très bien mené. Les personnages sont intéressants, l'histoire bien montée, l'univers original. Que dire de plus ?
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  • Stuart Duncan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another grand adventure!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 14, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Having read a number of Dan's books, I thoroughly enjoyed this one as well. Thank you and please keep up the great writing!
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  • Fulby
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, now awaiting the sequel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this, the only downside is that it is obviously intended to be the first book in a new setting so the ending wasn't quite as cleared up as I'd like. As long as there are more in the series though that's not a problem :-).
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