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1GirlMisanthrope
Feb 16, 2011, 2:42 am

Just checking in to see what the group thinks about the newest editions to steampunk.

The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder. The author has created many amazing steampunk modes of travel. Great story. Only wish there were illustrations of the author's inventions.

Vampire Empire mixes horror with steampunk with romance. I was on the fence for a while but by the end I was looking forward to the follow up books.

Johannes Cabal the Detective by Jonathan L. Howard. I enjoyed Johannes Cabal the Necromancer immensely so I was thrilled when Howard threw our protagonist into some steampunk. Dry wit abounds.

I have The Iron Duke but haven't read it yet. I have pre-ordered "The White City", the 3rd book in Elizabeth Bear's delicious New Amsterdam series. Can't wait!

2brianjungwi
Feb 16, 2011, 6:52 am

Curious to know what steampunk sites or story sites people visit online, any new steampunk stories floating out around out there?

3KayEluned
May 4, 2012, 6:11 pm

1# I have not read any Mark Hodder books, he looks interesting I will have to give him a read I think :)

4Soukesian
May 5, 2012, 1:29 pm

Mileage will vary, but I'm afraid I couldn't finish The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack - the Victorian atmosphere seemed thinly rendered, and the premise, once revealed, was so bloody silly I just couldn't go on. Not a million miles from the equally dismal The Affinity Bridge, either.

Steampunk Reloaded, on the other hand, is an excellent collection, even better than the first.

5Soukesian
Edited: May 7, 2012, 7:46 am

Sorry, hadn't had my lunchtime port, and I was a bit out of sorts. But *spoiler* can we have an absolute moratorium on historical figures as reanimated cyborgs, please?

I also really enjoyed The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar, the first of a trilogy, which I'll have to get to. Definite feel of the early Tim Powers books, but Tidhar is very much his own man, and I think we can expect great things of him. He recently posted his thoughts on the genre on his blog:

http://lavietidhar.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/some-notes-towards-a-working-definit...

Not sure if Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the D'Urbervilles fits Tidhar's definition or not but Kim Newman is in cracking form, he always nails the Victorian atmosphere, and it's a thoroughly entertaining collection of tales.

If you're interested in the roots of Steampunk, Black Coat Press have put out translations of three new titles by Albert Robida, to add to their enormous catalogue of early French SF, Horror and pulp adventures, much of it translated by the indefatigable Brian Stableford. Robida is best remembered as an illustrator and his work on his masterpiece The Twentieth Century (Early Classics of Science Fiction) is an incredible source of Steampunk style and invention - well worth seeking out.

6KayEluned
May 7, 2012, 8:01 am

As a relative new comer to the wonderful world of Steampunk I would like some advice.
I keep seeing books of steampunk short stories mentioned, so what, in your opinion, is the BEST book of Steampunk short stories?

7justjukka
May 7, 2012, 3:04 pm

This isn't literature, but I like the steampunk angle in The Legend of Korra. Unfortunately, I have more criticism for the show, thus far, than praises.

8richardderus
May 9, 2012, 5:34 pm

I got waylaid by a book with a memorable, but misleading, title: Tall Tales with Short Cocks. No, really, not pornographic! No no no! It's "bizarro." Oh, go look at my thread...post #26.

9Soukesian
May 12, 2012, 9:35 am

>6 KayEluned: Steampunk and The Steampunk Bible are both great starting points.

10KayEluned
May 13, 2012, 3:04 pm

Thank you Soukesian I will go and find those book now : )

11bakabaka84
May 17, 2012, 5:50 am

be warned in Steampunk by Ann VanderMeer that Soukesian mentioned the writing is rather uneven. There are some gem's in it but i found that there were more clunkers. although its essays on steampunk do provide a good primer.

12KayEluned
May 17, 2012, 7:01 am

Thanks bakabaka
I was specifically looking for something for my kindle and couldn't find the Vandermeer one on there anyway so I ended up getting Steapunk! An anthology of fantastically rich and strange stories by Gavin J. Grant as there wasn't much choice (unless I wanted Steampunk erotica, in which case there was plenty of choice!), will be starting reading it today probably so we'll see.....

13Soukesian
Edited: Jun 28, 2012, 2:52 pm

Just heard that The Chemickal Marriage, third volume of the series begun with The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist is out next month in the UK. Thoroughly enjoyed the first two volumes, really looking forward to this one. Dahlquist creates a fine alternative-Edwardian feel, and piles on intrigue, suspense and mysterious pseudo-science.

14majkia
Jun 28, 2012, 2:56 pm

I just won an Early Reviewer book that certainly looks to be steampunk The Iron Wyrm Affair. Fingers crossed!

15Soukesian
Jul 8, 2012, 6:27 am

Amazon got it wrong - the new Glass Books title isn't due until next year

16dhtabor
Apr 21, 2013, 2:08 pm

I can recommend The Wake of the Dragon by Jaq D. Hawkins. It's an airship pirate story with a lot of humour.

17PaulMarlowe
Jul 5, 2013, 8:40 pm

This message has been flagged by multiple users and is no longer displayed (show)
I hope no one minds my mentioning my recent steampunk short story collection, Ether Frolics - it was short-listed recently for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award, recognizing the best début
collection of short fiction by a Canadian author:

http://paulmarlowe.com/pm/EtherFrolics-NineSteampunkTales.htm

18WadeGarret
Nov 1, 2013, 7:56 pm

Hello,

Plz don't think this is spam, I would've put the link, but for w/e reason it ends up being broken. :)

My name is Wade Garret, author of Genesis: Book One of The Kingdom Come Series, published by Black Bed Sheet Books.

From the publisher:
Genesis: Book One of The Kingdom Come Series, is an ambitious, speculative fiction story in the epic tradition of Dune, The Dark Tower and A Song of Ice and Fire. Blending elements of gritty Steam/Diesel punk and realistic sword-wielding Dark Fantasy, this stand alone manuscript's cross-over appeal ranges from Y.A/N.A, to the mature, hardcore, Science Fiction and Fantasy book lover. Readers seeking a strangely familiar world of intrigue, intense action and mortal failings vs. the injustice of power and spiritual corruption will be drawn to this book. And once caught in its exciting pages, they'll quickly learn what really separates man from what is Evolved.

Back of the book:
After a year of laborious solitude and a conflict brought to the doorstep of his father's house, Jak, a Southlander of meek circumstance, will come to accept the future isn't set. Through abilities unnerving to any Areht, against enemies rising in every corner of the planet, he'll be forced to resolve his destiny as one of five that can change the world. Such selfless transcendence isn't easy, nor simply the heroic result of dark revelations shielded from him since childhood now exposed; rather, it's because of what's undeniable, even to him. Like all great forces collected at the tip of the spear, the truth of his purpose and the price of his existence has a cost and there's no getting around paying it.

Synopsis:
Jak Hartlen, 19, the son of William and Mary, will face many thresholds of flesh and mind on his road to reaping the Whirl Wind; seeds of grief and guilt only now coming to fruition.
If only they’d know what they were doing...
The Gan and their Areht who shape the world behind the scenes will hate him, because he's a threat they're not sure can be chained.
The Pillars and their Faithful who spread the world's leading religion will fear him, because his existence, once known, will challenge Ages of dogma and accepted history.
The Crimson King and its Servants who seek to return to power, destroying all that remains of The White, will hunt him, because even in death, they're not sure he'll ever bow to the Dark.
—They All Should.
For as One of Five with the power to shake the world, they will hollow his heart and mind through countless sacrifice and vengeful selfishness.

You can find it on Amazon.com; Black Bed Sheet Books; Goodreads and many other places, both in paper and a variety of digital formats.

Check it out. Thanks,

Wade
wjgarret.blogspot.com

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