Short Synopsis
A wonderfully imagined novel about a greeting card writer who must come to terms with the madness of a genius inventor and his quest to create the perpetual motion machine.

Full Synopsis
Imprisoned aboard a zeppelin that floats above a city reminiscent of those of the classic films Metropolis and Brazil, the greeting card writer Harold Winslow is composing his memoirs. His companions are the only woman he has ever loved, who has gone insane, and the cryogenically frozen body of her father, the devilish genius who drove her mad. The tale of Harold's decades-long thwarted love is also one in which he watches technology transform his childhood home from a mere burgeoning metropolis to a waking dream, in which the well-heeled have mechanical men for servants, deserted islands can exist within skyscrapers, and the worlds of fairy tales can be built from scratch. And as he heads toward a final, desperate confrontation with the mad inventor, he discovers that he is an unwitting participant in the creation of the greatest invention of them all—the perpetual motion machine.

The Dream of Perpetual Motion is a memorable debut that will be one of the most talked-about books of the year.

"This mind-bending alternate history is a veritable showcase for...Palmer's creativity and intellectual ambition." ---Booklist

"Plangent, tender and sui generis: a steampunk The Tempest with the grim and rippling beauty of a fairy tale." ---Lauren Groff, New York Times bestselling author of The Monsters of Templeton

"Palmer's dazzling debut explodes with energy and invention." ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Palmer takes elements from Nabokov, Neal Stephenson, Steven Millhauser and The Tempest.... The result is a singular riff on steampunk---sophisticated, subversive entertainment that never settles for escapism." ---The New York Times

"Clever, creative.... The emotional core of the story, metaphysical philosophy, visual splendor, and quirky humor are all strong." ---Library Journal

"An extravagantly wonderous and admirable first novel inspired by The Tempest." ---The Washington Post

"A smart, funny, sad, and beautiful novel, full of magic, mystery, mechanical men, and a delightful amount of mayhem." ---Scott Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Ruins

"This imaginative tale of love is both heartbreaking and head-twisting. Dufris provides a sure and steady delivery." ---AudioFile

Kirkus Bestseller

Publishers Weekly Review