Granville. Book 1. Granville, my love

Two hundred years ago, Britain lost the war against Napoleon and, along with the rest of the conquered Europe, became part of the French Empire. Only recently, after a long campaign of civil disobedience, the country regained its independence –... thus the British Socialist Republic was born. Now London is connected to the continent by the Channel railway bridge; a short train journey and you are already in Paris, the largest and most dazzling city in the world, also known as Granville (“the great city”). It is along this route that Detective Inspector LeBrock from Scotland Yard sets off, investigating the mysterious death of diplomat Raymond Lee-Wydra, chasing the serial killer known as the Mad Dog who escaped from the gallows, or uncovering a conspiracy in high spheres of power – with truly badger-like stubbornness. After all, LeBrock is none other than a badger, and the world of “Granville” is mostly populated by anthropomorphic animals, while humans (“headless ones”) serve in the most menial jobs and are deprived of civil rights…
For the first time in Russian – a masterpiece of modern steampunk, a finalist for the Hugo Award (2013) and a laureate of the French Prix ActuSF de l’Uchronie (2025), awarded for the best works in the genre of alternative history.