The Mechanical Messiah and Other Marvels of the Modern Age by Robert Rankin
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Easter 1900: imagine a world where Tesla-inspired steampunk technology rubs shoulders with religious dogma and the birth of cinema. Here, we have a robot—excuse me, automaton—believed to be the Mechanical Messiah. The story tracks a series of bizarre, yet entertaining, events that transpire as the characters attempt to unveil or exploit this walking tin can for spiritual or material gain.
Between its steampunk sensibilities, theological antics, and a dab of satire aimed at early Hollywood, this novel manages to juggle an array of themes without missing a comedic beat. A sprawling steampunk saga that's not to be missed by any discerning SFcrowsnest reader.