A Steampunk Guide to Tea Duelling book review

A Steampunk Guide to Tea Dueling by Khurt Khave

Introduction
For those of you that are unfamiliar with Tea Duelling, it’s a high pressure, high octane game of wits, intelligence, timing, bravery and strong biscuits. A Steampunk Guide to Tea Duelling is a handy book designed at shining a guiding light on a successful duel. Written by Kurt Khave, a paperback copy costs around $9 from Amazon.

Overview
The book opens with a simplistic, yet clear explanation of steampunk followed by a quick start guide on tea duelling.

To make sure that you can get a game going as soon as possible, the following five pages are a step-by-step illustration of tea duelling, from preparing tea and presenting biscuits, to the end game.

That’s tea duelling pretty much wrapped up – or so I thought. However, Khave then describes several optional duelling styles.

The book offers various tips and hints and the accompanying photographs are splendidly produced. They’re taken in a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party scenario and really work well with the topic of the book.

You’d think that once all aspects of tea duelling is covered, the book is done and finished. However, he’s dedicated several pages in the back to simple recipes for your party; from cucumber sandwiches, to cakes and biscuits.

Conclusion
If you’re after an amusing little book that covers a highly popular and entertaining corner of steampunk events, then A Steampunk Guide to Tea Duelling is great, simple resource for improving your technique from “pro” tips to cheats.
Khave begins by saying that he’s not going to use the American term “cookie”, but the British term “Biscuit”. However, amusingly he calls them Cookies by the following page.

This doesn’t come across as a professionally authored book, but a project written by a steampunk, for steampunks.

For the tips, tricks and superb photography, A Steampunk Guide to Tea Duelling is a great little conversation starter. Just don’t leave it on your coffee table.

Ratings
Features 4
Pace n/a
Value 4
Overall 4