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Anyone know anything about Steampunk?

16 replies

BabeRuthless · 19/08/2012 16:12

Fancy dipping my toe in. I've got a kindle & there's so much stuff on the amazon store I really want to avoid getting anything which is a bit rubbish.

Who are the best authors? Are there any good anthologies to get me started? What are the Steampunk "classics"? I really like anything set in a dystopian future and I love, love, love the game Fallout 3 if that's any guide.

Cheers in advance for any help.

OP posts:
DuchessofMalfi · 19/08/2012 18:27

Steampunk? Think that's passed me by. What is it? Confused

Campaspe · 19/08/2012 18:59

I thought steampunk was like sci-fi with a Victorian setting, if that makes any sense? Lots of futuristic machines, but a period sensibility.

Babe - I can't advise personally, but I do know that Waterstones and Foyles have steampunk sections, and their booksellers would probably be able to advise.

TerrariaMum · 19/08/2012 19:08

Try The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. That's what got me interested. Also, here for fun.

Kayano · 19/08/2012 19:30

There is a set of books by Philip Reeve that is fantastic and quite steampunk IMO

Mortal Engines.

Great characters and a brilliant plot!

FallenCaryatid · 19/08/2012 19:37

China Mieville; Perdito St Station, The Scar.

Oh, I've just found DD's list on my laptop, she's not here so I haven't a clue about which ones are fantastic.

o The Difference Engine by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling
o The Age of Unreason by J. Gregory Keyes (a series of four novels)
o The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
o The Peshawar Lancers by S.M. Stirling
o Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
o Morlock Night by K. W. Jeter
o The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
o Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti

Infernal Devices by K. W. Jeter
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore
Steampunk: anthology, ed. by A. VanderMeer & J. VanderMeer
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
Extraordinary Engines: the Definitive Steampunk Anthology
Souless by Gail Carriger
Leviathan by Scott Westerfields
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Steampunk Trilogy by Paul Di Filippo
Homunculus by James Blaylock

FallenCaryatid · 19/08/2012 19:38

Waterstones are very good at informed recommendations.

FasterHigherBeardierDaddyman · 19/08/2012 19:41

There's a mammoth book of steampunk on kindle atm for 99p. Might be a good place to start.

One thing to watch out for is the trend for "steampunk romance", turning a sci fi genre into twilight...

CoteDAzur · 19/08/2012 20:03

From that list, The Diamond Age is a brilliant book but it is not steampunk. It is cyberpunk or speculative fiction as that sort of book is increasingly called these days.

BabeRuthless · 19/08/2012 21:49

Cheers for all the answers. The "Steampunk romance" thing is precisely the kind of pothole I want to avoid so thanks for that tip Wink

Plenty to be getting on with there though! This is why i love this forum. No matter how obscure the subject, you always get an informed answer. Now if anyone needs me I'll be with my kindle. Is it wrong to want to stroke it?

OP posts:
TerrariaMum · 20/08/2012 09:50

oooh, Tim Powers, I forgot. He is brilliant in general.

frenchfancy · 23/08/2012 16:59

Thanks to this thread I've just downloaded a free novella by
Lindsay Buroker to see how I get on with the genre.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 23/08/2012 20:28

Isn't it the Mammoth Book of Steampunk Romance though? (or SP Erotica even!) Do be careful with the titles, so you get the right one Grin
You might like P S Power's "Gwen Farriss" books, there are two so far, carrying straight on from each other - the first one is Abominations, followed by Monster (or maybe Monsters) and they are cheapo on Kindle just now.

AmaraDresden · 23/08/2012 20:31

I really enjoyed the Gail carriger series, never really read steampunk before that!

NotGeoffVader · 03/09/2012 10:52

I recently read 'The Japanese Devil Fish Woman' by Robert Rankin. Quite frivolous and silly, but an entertaining combination of fantasy/sci-fi and steampunk.
I did also read his other steampunk novel 'The Mechanical Messiah and other marvels of the modern age' but didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much.

SlayerKat · 10/09/2012 20:36

Boneshaker was FANTASTIC highly recommended

NotALondoner · 10/09/2012 20:43

good radio 4 programme on recently by that fat bloke from radio 1.

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