I dig it. Can I offer one suggestion? Was there plastic in steampunk? Maybe glass would be better. Maybe I’m way off, though.

Point well taken, glass it is!

ooo, way to plug City of Ember in there, one of my fave books, though i’m not sure it was necessary. Let the story lean not upon the works of DuPrau!

Another point, again well taken. I’ve retained the reference, but without the book title, so as not to confuse the matter (hopefully)!

I don’t often read this genre but I like what I read here. Certainly a cataclysmic ending. Well done Y.Z.