Visitors met the irrepressible Karen Memory in Elizabeth Bear’s 2015 book Karen Memory, and fell in love with her steampunk Victorian Pacific Northwest town, and her down-to-earth story-telling voice. Now Karen is back with Stone Mad, a new tale about spiritualists, magicians, con-men, and an upset dropped tommy-knocker?a magical creature who generally lives in the deep gold mines of Alaska, but continues to be kidnapped and brought to Fast City. Karen and Priya are out for a evening on the town, celebrating the purchase of their very own small ranch and Karen’s retirement from the Hotel Ma Cherie, when they meet the Arcadia Sisters, spiritualists who unexpectedly stir in the tommy-knocker in the cellar. The ensuing show could lower the home, if Karen didn’t hurry in to recovery everyone she can.