Steampunk Pinkertons, Falling Skies and GANTZ

I may have mentioned this before, but I'm distantly related to the Younger Brothers. They were notorious bank and train robbers who rode with Jesse James. That explains a lot, huh? It was actually the Younger gang before the James brothers joined in. The history of those days is fascinating. Now it's fantastical. Canadian author David Luchuk has re-written it in full steampunk glory. Not the Younger Brothers, but the detective agency that dogged the James and Youngers for years - The Pinkertons.

HarperCollins Canada released this digital audio series, The Pinkerton Files, with three initial episodes, and more to follow in the spring, along with more platforms. It's available now at on iTunes, Audible, Kobo, and other digital retailers. There is also a tie-in e-book. I gave the episodes a listen and was very impressed. The father and sons each relays his own story. As does a female detective, Kate, who is loads of fun with her steampunk skills and audacity. The principal Allan Pinkerton is friends with President Lincoln and is thrown into the birth pangs of the civil war whether he likes it or not. They uncover plots against the President and political plots disguised as robberies.

Battlestar Galactica's Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh) plays Allan Pinkerton. He said, “Playing Allan Pinkerton was the most fun I’ve had in a while,” said Hogan. “The world that Luchuk has created is a truly amazing place to be.”

Each episode is only 60-90 minutes. It's like listening to an old-fashioned radio show. The series is not just read, it's performed by Hogan and his all-star family.

I mentioned a new Steven Spielberg TNT series, Falling Skies airing in June 2011. Here's the newly released trailer.

Into Japanese science fiction also or instead? GANTZ premieres nationally January 20th for one night along with a live, post-show interview with the actors who play Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato.