Introduction to Steampunk

[Michelle]

Here is where we can discuss the article: Top 20 Steampunk Books - An introduction to the Genre.


What did you think of the list?
Did you find it helpful?
Anything we should keep in mind for similar articles in the future?
Did you agree with our selections? If not, what would you change?
Have you read any of the books listed? If so, what did you think of them?

And, last but not least...what are your favourite steampunk books?

We'd love to hear some feedback!

[jhass777]

Hi Michelle,

I loved this Steampunk article. It is a genre I hope to read more of in the future. This was very informative and I will use it as a benchmark for my foray into the world of Steampunk.

A number of those books are on my to-read pile (which is way to big). I always wanted to read Anubis Gates. I recently ordered the Parasol Protectorate omnibus collection which includes Soulless, Changeless, and Blameless by Gail Carriger (can’t go wrong with 3-in-1). I’m also interested in Half-Made World (thanks to Stephan’s picture) and Retribution Falls. Luckily, I’ve read Cheri Priest’s Boneshaker and plan to read the other three books in the Clockwork Century (already have them on hand) along with Perdido Street Station (another one I’m excited about).

Why are there so many great books out there? I wish I had machine that could pause time while reading books.

Have you seen Angry Robot Books? Of course you have, Roil by Trent Jamieson is from them.

[Michelle]

Yeah! I believe that they have recently republished both Infernal Devices and Morlock Night. I have Anubis Gates and all the Clockwork Century novels (except the 2nd one which I can't seem to find anywhere), Perdido, Howl's Moving Castle and the Richard Harland ones. I really want to get Retribution Falls and Alchemy of Stone, and wouldn't mind trying the Carriger ones. I fully expect to find hobbits scaling my to-read pile on epic quests to destroy pieces of my jewelry soon. Lucky I read fast.
I too have always wished for a time pause function! Then I could read all the books!!

[Aldric]

Heh, I've read 4 of this top 20 I think. The only one I truly loved was the Neil Stephenson one, which I hadn't thought was at all steampunk. I tend to not like this genre, but I'm always willing to try more stuff. I actively disliked 2 of the books I've read on this list. I'll probably go through this list and see which ones are rated highly on like goodreads, to try another couple steampunks.

[Michelle]

Some of these are probably not to everyones taste. I deliberately included a variety so people can pick the ones they think sound good.

The Stephenson one isn't 'true' steampunk but I thought it shared enough characteristics to be included and people often refer to it as such.

For curiosities sake, which books were the ones you didn't like?

[Rebecca]

I was pleasantly surprised to see something I'd read on this list! Granted, it's not very steampunky, and ended up number 20 on the list. I quite enjoyed Howl's Moving Castle, both the book and the movie, though the two were rather different. I'd say it was fairly young YA, perhaps just a little above the age level of the Alcatraz series.

[Aldric]

For curiosities sake, which books were the ones you didn't like?

Half Made World was one. It wasn't all bad, but I disliked it more than I liked it. The second I was talking about was Soulless. It's a bit trickier though. Now that I think about it, I did reasonably like the first book in the series, though it feels a bit too much like paranormal romance/erotica. The problem for me came on the second book. Then, the series had none of the "new" feel to it, and lost a lot that made the first one kind of fun. It felt even more of erotica and one or two of the cool characters from the first book weren't even in it. I gave up on the series and author after the second book.

After all the dislike I've been saying, I will say my probable favorite steampunk I've read isn't on your list. It's called The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack and is by Mark Hodder. Perhaps the reason I liked it, though, was because it's also got time travel, and the time travel (and events in the book) CAUSE the world to become steampunk, as opposed to the 'original timeline'.

[Caitrin]

Well dang, I saw that in the store Aldric and passed on it, I'll have to keep an eye out for it in the future as your description sounds good (re: Strange Affair)

Part of the reason I picked up Perdido Street Station was because of this topic!

[Stephan]

Cool! I've been wanting to pick that up as well. What did you dislike about The Half-Made World, Aldric? I sorta loved it.

[Aldric]

Let's see if I can remember and pin down what I didn't like. I thought the two powers were kind of stupid. The Guns seemed really stupid in a lot of ways, I mean the actual powers, not their agents. The Line felt basically just like a magical Borg, instead of a technological one. I really didn't like any of the characters very much. The only one I found at all interesting was the main Gun agent, and even that was only if I had to pick one.

Also, the whole point of the struggle didn't really make sense to me. I mean the whole race for the mentally decimated ex-General. They probably gave more of a reveal or info by the end, but I can't even remember what it was. I just remember the two powers going for the general and not being satisfied by the end. Sorry, some of what I recall are just impressions.
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Oh, Caitrin, I did like Spring Heeled Jack, and in fact did also read the sequel, but I don't mean to imply it's AMAZING and you have to read it. It wasn't perfect, but aspects of it were pretty darn neat, some of the stuff. It's also one of those where they take some actual historical characters and do things with them. Since it's a time-travel story where an event makes it diverge from our reality, they have total freedom to play with historical characters however they like.

Also, mixed in with "normal steampunk" stuff, there is a ton of oddly advanced biotech, which I don't think is normal in steampunk. I gave both the first and the second book 4 stars on goodreads. So I guess I'm making a mild disclaimer in case you don't like it.

[Caitrin]

Oh it's all good! I just thought the concept sounded fun and like something I would read. And I don't really have much preconcieved notions about steampunk so things that might bother most steampunk fans probably wouldn't bother me. However, as I was brainstorming a story the idea of making it steampunk was something that instantly interested me when I thought of it so I do plan on reading a lot more in the genre and researching it and such.

[Stephan]

Hmmm... I kinda loved the mix of technology and spirituality in both The Gun and The Line. I agree with you that the conclusion felt a bit weak, though it definitely does promise great things for the next novel. The whole premise of an everlasting war between spirits that manifest themselves in technology just blew my mind. And personally, I loved all the characters. They were pretty cool MAPs, each of them. Well, except those brainwashed by The Line, that is.

[Aldric]

I guess it's one of those 'everybody likes different things'. I really like plenty of MAP characters in other stories, just not most of these. And hearing about the worldbuilding, from the book, sounds interesting to me.... But actually reading it, I just didn't find it cool or pleasant.

[Aloren]

I also really enjoyed Half Made World but I listened to it as an audio book so maybe it was one of those times were a good narrator can made a good or ok book great. I am looking forward to the next book.

I tried Boneshaker but got about 3/4s of the way through and picked up something else and never went back to it... So now I am wary to try other steam punk books.

But the list was very well put together!

[Stephan]

Haha, I read it and enjoyed it... The narrator in my mind must be awesome!

[Michelle]

I just got my copy of 'Alchemy of Stone' today. I am excited!

[Stephan]

Is that the one with the amazing cover of a dead cyborg lying in the grass?

[Michelle]

Yes. I ordered that cover especially cause I loved it. It's so pretty.

[Rebecca]

Where are the pictures in the Book Bragging thread?!

[Stephan]

Where are the pictures in the Book Bragging thread?!

+1

[Michelle]

I can't find the cord that connects the camera to the computer...