Steampunk Community

We all love our steampunk, but at the same point we all have different tastes. So here's a section to recommend things that you like and want others to see, and things you saw that definitely shouldn't be read. What's your favorites?

Do Read:
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
By the Blood of Heroes
Ghosts by Gaslight

Don't Read:
Steamlust
The Buntline Special (or its sequel)
Phoenix Rising: The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences (it's unnecessarily erudite, bad form for a spy thriller)

Mm, sounds like a good place to start. I definitely want to read more Steampunk books. I don't have any recommendations yet, though.

No one's found anything new? Well, I can offer one more tip for readers out there; watch for the "just glue some gears on it" mentality. Steampunk books are quickly getting brass and leather cuts outs, trying to convince readers that they're authentic.

And on a mostly separate note, the "Leviathan" series is one that's gotten a lot of attention. On the one hand, I know the first book isn't exactly bad. However, it is most definitely for a teen audience. This means that it fails to deliver on a lot of the really visceral moments that should be in a WWI book. So if you want something that's light without a lot of calories, it's good for that.

Not necessarily new but Boneshaker by Cherie Priest is decent.

Another one to add to the watch list is "Steampunk III," an anthology collection of shorts. Generally speaking it's just flat and unimpressive. All of the tea room and dress of the era, but with falling-flat adventure and very little in the way of a pulse. Definitely wouldn't recommend.

I have Steampunk and The Difference Engine on the way from my book club. I also have the Steampunk Bible , had that one for a while now. I also get out to the Burning Man each year since I live here. I reveled on The Time Machine with Rod Taylor, couldn't get enough of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells as I was growing up as well as any movie or TV productions even loosely based on their works. I didn't miss the obvious pokes by The Wild Wild West TV show, the original series and later movies and remake. Here lately with Warehouse 13 showing up all sorts of inferences I have made it a point to get each season one way or another. I have seen the movie The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, I suppose I will have to break down and add the book as well. I will also have to check out Boneshaker. So many books, so little time.... ;)

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV

Left one out... for those that like stories with gay romance in them, Rach Gee and her "Selling Mars" series might be just up your alley. Trying to get a look at it to see if I like her style, but I've heard good things.

Has anyone read Gail Carriger's books? I not sure if you folks like the paranormal, but she's a terrific writer.

I agree with your conclusion on The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. I actually found myself bored and put it down.

Here's a great list for people looking for more: www.rantingdragon.com/top-20-steampunk-b...uction-to-the-genre/

Oooh... good stuff Erin. I'll admit that I've been shying away from reading Steampunk of late. I think I burned myself out pretty hardcore after a really intense year of reading and writing it all the time. Maybe by the time I get around to a new project that will no longer be the case. But hey, we'll see!