Steampunk books to suggest

[Joseph]

Amanda -- How about Flaming Zeppelins: The Adventures of Ned the Seal by Joe R. Lansdale? Or maybe The Buntline Special by Mike Resnick? I've read the Lansdale and liked it; haven't read that particular Resnick, but what I've read of his has been good.

[Mark]

I loved The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers.

[Cee]

Fancy Latin words! :o

[Mick]

Try watching the cartoon film 'Steamboy' it will be right up your street and give you plenty of inspiration... :o)

Mick

[Elaine]

If you're looking for 8000 or so words to read while escaping the fam. today check out "Animatae's Shadow". It's a short story of mine that is free. Let me know what you think :-)

http://elaineturnerthewriter.com/anim...

[Jonathan]

I'm currently reading The Secrets of the Lazarus Club by Tony Pollard. The use of actual famous persons from the Victorian Era in a fictional murder mystery puts it in the Steampunk bracket for me. Would also recommend The Witches of Chiswick by Robert Rankin, its a crazy adventure with lots of unusual ideas like a sprout called Barry who lives in the main protagonists ear.

[Jonathan]

Message 50 Edward.
I'd call it Steampunk just for the steam powered cars and dirigibles. I've just added it to my Steampunk to-read shelf.

[Morgan]

I love Steampunk books but can never seem to find books that arent part of a series...Im currently reading 5 different book series and dont want to start anymore. Are there any really good Steampunk books dont belong to a series?

[Elektra]

New steampunk enovella out -- The Last Ride of the Iron Cowboy by James Daniel Ross (author of I Know Not: The Story of Fox Crow; The Radiation Angels series; as well as many short stories). This is steampunk in the Wild West, with compelling characters and lots of action.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Ride-Iron-...

Currently available at the bargain price of $0.99, or free to borrow if you have amazon prime.

[Balogun]

I recommend http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...
It combines steampunk and horror for a thrilling read!

[Spiro]

From Hell, journey back to Victorian London with --

"Jack the Ripper and Black Magic: Victorian Conspiracy Theories, Secret Societies and the Supernatural Mystique of the Whitechapel Murders".

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-th...

Jack the Ripper and Black Magic: Victorian Conspiracy Theories, Secret Societies and the Supernatural Mystique of the Whitechapel Murders

[Kacey]

Morgan wrote: "I love Steampunk books but can never seem to find books that arent part of a series...Im currently reading 5 different book series and dont want to start anymore. Are there any really good Steampunk..."

"The Difference Engine" by Gibson and Sterling is a stand alone. "Empire State" by Adam Christopher is another, although its placement in the steampunk genre is a bit of a mystery to me, because there's not much 'steam' (more like some strange analog to electricity) and it's set in Prohibition America. It's still a good read.

Other than that, anything by Verne and Wells should do the trick. ;)

[Kacey]

Wells and Verne will always be at the top of my list, but there are a few modern stories that I would definitely recommend:

1) "The Affinity Bridge", "The Osiris Ritual", and "The Immorality Engine" by George Mann follow the many peculiar investigations of Sir Maurice Newbury and Miss Veronica Hobbes in Victorian England. He's also recently published the first book of another series called "Ghosts of Manhattan", which is about a steampunk hero in Prohibition Era America, and which follows a slightly altered history in 1926, where England and the US are currently in the midst of a cold war (not sure where he's going with this yet, but the set up is good).

2) "The Difference Engine" by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling is another Victorian Era steampunk adventure (it revolves around 'The Great Stink' if you know what that is; if not, they describe it well enough to read through the novel without having to crack open a history book, so please don't be frightened)

3) "Pheonix Rising (a 'Ministry of Peculiar Occurrneces' book)" by Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris has already been mentioned, but I'm giving it another shout-out because it was my first (modern) steampunk book. H.G. Wells and Jules Verne have always entertained me with their wild creations, but Pheonix Rising actually got me over my fear of reading new books in the genre. I love Wellington and Eliza, and I certainly hope you will, too.

4) "Whitechapel Gods" by S.M. Peters is more of a horror/steampunk book, and there are some things I wish the author would've gone into better detail about, but it's a good read. It's sad, but exciting.

5) "Dead Iron" by Devon Monk (the first book in a new series) is excellent as far as steam- and clock-work inventions go, just as long as you're okay with a New World setting in America instead of jolly old England. Still, it's got some lovely creations and is well worth the read.

6) This recommendation might be considered cheating, because the Johannes Cabal series by Jonathan L. Howard is my absolute favourite, but the second book, "Johannes Cabal: the Detective", takes to the sky with derigibles and other fantastic flying machines. I would suggest reading "The Necromancer" first, but if you google who Leonie Barrow is I don't think you should run into too much trouble understanding Johannes' backstory. Again, I know this is cheating, but I'm a little shameless in that sense...

[Kara]

Great knock-out of a list Kacey!

[Kevin]

I am currently reading "Dead Iron" by Devon Monk and Dreadnought by Cherie Priest. They are different in their story lines but similar settings. I am enjoying them both.

[Corinne]

Hi everyone :)

I'm new here beacause I want to try steampunk books :) I searched a bit and found that almost every one has either vampire, zombie, magician, witch or other "strange people" that populate them. Those are "things" I can't stand, it bores me, and I put the book aside. I have bought K.W. Jeter "Infernal Devices" , because I thought there was no such stuff inside, but 25% through the book, the hero has come to Wetwick and I'm disappointed about its denizens... (not to spoil the story for other readers) I'll continue a bit but think I'll drop it soon. Any suggestion is welcome :)

[Joseph]

Corinne wrote: "Hi everyone :)

I'm new here beacause I want to try steampunk books :) I searched a bit and found that almost every one has either vampire, zombie, magician, witch or other "strange people" that ..."

The Difference Engine doesn't have any supernatural elements at all -- it's just a reimagining of Victorian times with operating Babbage engines and the like.

[Corinne]

Eh, this one seems very promising :)

[Heather]

My "Steampunk Smugglers" series doesn't have supernatural elements. The titles were lost in the Goodreads reshuffle and I've been unable to reload them, but they are available at Amazon, BN etc. The titles are "Captain Andrew's Flying Christmas" and "Captain Fenna's Dirigible Valentine."

Corinne wrote: "Hi everyone :)

I'm new here beacause I want to try steampunk books :) I searched a bit and found that almost every one has either vampire, zombie, magician, witch or other "strange people" that ..."

[Lisa]

Heather wrote: "My "Steampunk Smugglers" series doesn't have supernatural elements. The titles were lost in the Goodreads reshuffle and I've been unable to reload them, but they are available at Amazon, BN etc. Th..."
Hi Heather.
I just added your two e-books to my amazon wishlist. Thanks for making me aware of their existence!

[Ronald]

Corinne wrote: "Hi everyone :)

I'm new here beacause I want to try steampunk books :) I searched a bit and found that almost every one has either vampire, zombie, magician, witch or other "strange people" that ..."

They're young adult novels, but I very much enjoyed Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy. Kenneth Oppel's Airborn series (also young adult) is good as well--he does invent a sort of flying cat, but otherwise, it's pretty much straight steampunk (no paranormal).

[Corinne]

thanks to everyone, I'll have a look on this :)

[Pauline]

Instead of supernatural creatures, I mixed science fiction into my steampunk, creating something of a mashup. I have a novella (Tangled in Time), a novel (Steamrolled) and a short story (Steam Time) in the Dreamspell Steampunk anthology, Vol 1. Warning, there is romance as well. :-) Looks like the anthology got hosed in the big change, too, since it is a digital only release.

Tangled in Time
Steamrolled

[Pauline]

It really is science fiction. I guess what I did was mix some modern folks into my steampunk?

It really is fun to mess about with steampunk, though.

[Chris]

There's also the Shadow Conspiracy shared world Steampunk anthos from Book View Cafe.

The Shadow Conspiracy: Tales of the Steam Age Vol. I
The Shadow Conspiracy II

Not to mention my own Wodehouse Steampunk book
What Ho, Automaton!

[Pauline]

Oh, I love Wodehouse! how fun!

[Tracy]

Affinity Bridge by George Mann was very well-written, although it did have some zombie-like people in the ba..."

Affinity Bridge is a crime drama? That's just up my (dark and mysterious) alley. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Pauline]

Affinity Bridge has a very Sherlock Holmes feel to it, IMHO. I liked it a lot and the cover is awesome.

[Pauline]

I like the action/adventure stuff more myself and wanted more romance that Mann was providing! Don't need sex, but do like hearts and flowers. LOL!

[Pauline]

Traditional steampunk (this list is not current, as it was compiled last year, but it is a starting place)

The Affinity Bridge (George Mann) and its sequel, The Osiris Ritual (a great place to start if you’ve never read steampunk before)

Whitechapel Gods (S.M. Peters)

Mainspring (Jay Lake)

The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Mark Hodder)

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Alan Moore)

The Narrows (Alexander Irvine)

You can also read the immensely popular Girl Genius online for free.


Steampunk romance/erotic steampunk romance


Here There Be Monsters (Meljean Brook, from the Burning Up anthology)

The Iron Duke (Meljean Brook)

Sky Rat (Angelia Sparrow)

Steamed (Katie MacAlister)

Island of Icarus (Christine Danse)

The Miraculous Lady Law (Robert Appleton)

Silk, Steele, and Steam (Samhain Publishing’s anthology)

Like Clockwork (Bonnie Dee)

Tangled In Time and Steamrolled, and Steam Time (Pauline Baird Jones) Not erotic

Clockworks and Corsets (Regina Riley)

Hot and Steamy: Tales of Steampunk Romance (DAW Books anthology)

Full Steam Ahead and Mechanical Rose (Nathalie Gray)

Clockwork Heart (Dru Pagliassotti)

Dreamspell Steampunk Vol 1 (I have short story in this anthology)

I stalk, er, follow The Galaxy Express blog because she tracks science fiction and steampunk romance. (grin)

[Pauline]

P.S. I had a hard time getting into Steamed, but really liked Gail Carriger's Soulless, though it has vampires and such.

[Pauline]

Most welcome!

[mundiemom5]

Gail Carriger is the Queen of Steampunk in my opinion! The Parasol Protectorate series is possibly the funniest (if you like that sarcastic British humor) books I have ever read. They are what I consider quasi-adult. There are references to sex but not explicit and homosexually is accepted and commonplace. Cassandra Clare is also a dab hand at Steampunk with her Infernal Devices series but it is strictly YA.

[Kacey]

Jaq wrote: "Thank you! I've copied the first part to a Word doc to refer back to. Springheeled Jack is on my wishlist already. I skipped the Romance section as I'm not really into Romance, even though an eleme..."

Oh, the Spring Heeled Jack was such a hoot! I think you'll like it. The whole Burton & Swineburne series is actually quite funny/exciting. ;) And I can sympathize with you on wanting to skip the Romance section (unless it plays a smaller role in the story).

[James]

So there's a pretty awesome book coming out about Mutants in the wild west...it's not traditional steampunk as far as I'm familiar with the genre, but there are other stories in the same universe, and one of them's going to be set in London in the 1840s. Help me get it done! The more resources I have, the better I'll do! Book 1 is titled "Cash Chronicles: The Book o' Samson", and will be released in mid-late March. Find it here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cas... and please, PLEASE like it!! That way you'll get the status update when it comes out! And thanks. :)

[Lesa]

Just read this book

I loved it and would say if you are thinking about reading it, do it was a lot of fun and now I look forward to book two this summer.

The next Steampunk book I am looking to read is

[D.W.]

Classic - The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives

[Cari]

I'm not sure who reads erotic steampunk but my book
....
is a nominee in: Erotic Steampunk Romance at The Romance Reviews
There's only 3 in my section and I'd LOVE some votes if you liked my crazy BDSM steampunk :)

http://www.theromancereviews.com/book...

I also have my first steampunk review from someone who doesn't normally read erotic so I'm rather chuffed (stoked/ delighted etcetera)
http://daily-steampunk.com/steampunk-...
There doesn't seem to be a news section so I put this in here. Hope that's okay?

[Cari]

Just to inform anyone who's interested in erotic steampunk, the above book, Iron Dominance won Best Book 2011 in the Erotic Steampunk category.


The next in the series is Lust Plague
Standalone story in the same world.

[James]

Okay! "Cash Chronicles: The Book o' Samson" is now available on Amazon.com! It's got mutants in the wild west. You know you want to read it. Pick it up!

[James]

Now you can get the "Cash Chronicles: The Book o' Samson" ebook cheap. Go to Amazon and see what happens when mutants invade the wild west!

[Craig]

James wrote: "Now you can get the "Cash Chronicles: The Book o' Samson" ebook cheap. Go to Amazon and see what happens when mutants invade the wild west!"


That sounds great! It's officially on the list :D

[Pickle]

i really like steampunk but avoid steampunk romance novels somewhat down to the ridiculous front covers, which remind me of UK teen girl magazines.

One example is

I did read Mortal Engines and it was a whole lot better than i hoped for and would recommend this

[James]

Craig wrote: "James wrote: "Now you can get the "Cash Chronicles: The Book o' Samson" ebook cheap. Go to Amazon and see what happens when mutants invade the wild west!"


That sounds great! It's officially on t..."

Much appreciated, Craig. I hope you enjoy it, if and when you pick it up. I'm having a hell of a time promoting this thing. Any suggestions?

[Rachael]

I Read the difference engine as it was recommended to me as a definitive Steam Punk and one of the early definers it's a slow starter but stick with it it does get good after the first few chapters, Spring heeled Jack was a great read. I'd already read much of Jules verne and H. G. Wells when younger. Can anybody recommend any ocean focused steam punk along the lines of 20,000 leagues this particularly interests me but I have only come across Airships and city based plots so far, (Not that there's anything wrong with airships I would love one, :) but looking for something different)

[Joseph]

Rachael wrote: "Can anybody recommend any ocean focused steam punk along the lines of 20,000 leagues this particularly interests me but I have only come across Airships and city based plots so far,..."

How about From the Deep of the Dark by Stephen Hunt? I haven't read it yet but I've liked the previous five in the series. (The books are all standalone but take place in the same world with some character crossovers.) From the Amazon description:

"The sixth marvellous tale of high adventure and derring-do from the master of steampunk literature, set in the world of The Court of the Air. A daring underwater chase ends in a battle for the Kingdom itself! The streets of Middlesteel are under attack by an unseen enemy, leaving bloodless corpses in its trail. The newssheets scream vampire, but the truth is even more deadly than anyone knows. Charlotte Shades, Mistress of Mesmerism, is a thief -- and a darned good one at that. When two mysterious men ask her to steal King Jude's sceptre from the Parliament vaults, the challenge (and reward) is too great to pass up. After all, Charlotte's natural charm and the magic of the gem she wears -- the mysterious Eye of Fate -- have never failed her before. Only consulting detective Jethro Daunt and his steamman companion Boxiron know there's more to these two men than meets the eye. Yet even as they rescue Charlotte from a fate worse than death, they are thrown into a plot thicker than even they realize. They escape beneath the waves in an ancient submarine led by Commodore Jethro Black, where they encounter stiff resistance from the strange people who inhabit the vast underwater kingdoms. But man, woman, seanore and gill-neck alike must band together if they are to defeat a danger that might not even be from this world!"

Hmmm . . . I think that needs to go higher up my own queue . . .

[Cari]

Rachael, the entire Mortal Engines series was amazing. There is some ocean based action in one of them where a cruise liner has been converted into a city. And there was a submarine also.

I'm not sure which one that was as I read them a few years back.

[Ian]

If you are interested in Steampunk, vampire and Romantic Goth stories then you may care to check out a novel of mine "LONDON UNDERGROUND" (author Ian Bell)
which is currently available from all major online booksellers, including Amazon, Indigo Books, Barnes and Noble etc.

Hope you enjoy it...............

[Mellie]

Or how about a steampunk novel with a serial killer, an ancient Egyptian artifact and a dash of romance? :)

[Ian]

A steampunk novel with a serial killer, an ancient artifact and a bit of romance sounds just like a recent novel of mine - "THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOOD" (author: Ian Bell) available from most online booksellers, Amazon etc. It's not entirely Steampunk, but it ticks all the other boxes....