Arabella of Mars

This review refers to the audiobook version by Barrie Kreinik.

There is much to enjoy in this tale. It has a creative advanced historical setting with sail ships able to travel the aether of space which allows for the odd justaposition of early 19th century England with the colonization of Mars and beyond. It has some interesting characters including an indigenous intelligent race on Mars, a disinherited Maharaja from India, and an independant and intelligent title character.

I enjoyed the novel thoroughly, although for the 2017 Norton Award I would choose either The Evil Wizard Smallbone or The Girl Who Drank the Moon though Arabella fits well among the finalists.