Steampunk books to suggest

[George]

So I've been looking for a few good Steampunk/neo-victorian books to read and haven't had a lot of success. I also think it would be helpful to have a list of good suggested works in one place as a reference for other newcomers such as myself or even just to decide what your next book will be.

[M]

I've been reading a lot of steampunk anthologies (story by story, when I have the time :P):

- Extraordinary Engines, ed Nick Gevers
- Steampunk and Steampunk II, ed Jeff & Ann VanderMeer
- Hot & Steamy, ed Jean Rabe & Martin H. Greenberg

I haven't gotten my hands on very many full steampunk novels so I'm curious to see what others have to post... Any highly recommended series? (I tend to be a series reader.)

[Nathan]

Try

Peshawar Lancers, SM Stirling

Phoenix Rising, by Morris and Ballantine

The Difference Engine, Gibson and Stirling

Infernal Devices, K W Jeter

[Cpt.m.e.never]

Paul Stewarts 'the Immortals' is pretty steampunk, and I've read it three times now. I like it quite a lot.

[Ginger]

I am reading "Flaming Zeppelins, the Adventures of Ned the Seal" by Joe R. Lansdale it has two stories, and have to say it is very funny and has every one from the head of Buffalo Bill to Jules Verne. I would highly recommend it for anyone with a sense of humor. I finished the first story last night and will probably finish the second story tonight.
I have also read "Iron Duke" By Meljean Brook and "Phoenix Rising:Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novel" which I thought was very good. If you like the idea of steampunk superheroes you might try the "Falling Machine".

[Karen]

Cpt.m.e.never wrote: "Paul Stewarts 'the Immortals' is pretty steampunk, and I've read it three times now. I like it quite a lot."

Have you read the series The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart/Chris Riddell? Not necessarily steampunk but some interesting elements including sky pirates and floating ships.

[Karen]

I highly recommend "The Clockwork Man" by William Jablonsky. Next on my list is "The Wind-Up Girl" by Paolo Bacigalupi, the first of a number of his books I plan to read.

[Colingavaghan]

"The wind-Up Girl" is an excellent, excellent novel, but it is not steampunk. Although it does use highly advanced springs as a means of storing and transporting energy, the setting is 23rd century Thailand, and the genre definitely 'mundane sf'.

[[deleted user]]

Ginger wrote: "I have also read "Iron Duke" By Meljean Brook and "Phoenix Rising:Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novel" which I thought was very good."

Thanks so much for giving our novel a read! Now that Pip and I are out of deadlines (for the moment) I'm catching up. I'm currently reading Avaolon Revisited and Changeless.

[Rich]

Whitechapel Gods by S M Peters is excellent

Glass Books of the Dream Eaters and it's follow up The Dark Volume have a great ambient erotic vibe with lots of Steampunk elements.

Mainspring by Jay Lake has a tremendous premise but loses its momentum half-way.

Are there any non-YA Dieselpunk novels though?

[October]

Though it's an incredibly mixed bag, the Steampunk'd anthology would be worth a skimming through.

Also (and I'm surprised no one's mentioned this!) H.G. Wells's The Time Machine and The Invisible Man are a must along with the aforementioned necessity of Jules Verne!

[Trixysenred]

So I'm currently reading The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer, and even though I'm only half way through, I am completely in love with this book! It is the embodiment of everything steampunk; part poetry, part prose, and entirely wonderful.

[Willow]

I adored, "The Greyfriar -- Vampire Empire," by Clay and Susan Griffith. The Steampunk world in that book is so awesome, and the story moves at a very fast pace. I couldn't set the book down. I can't wait until the second book comes out in September.

[Peter]

Esther Friesner's Druid's Blood is a steampunk/fantasy novel.

For some real deep cuts of steampunk, see Michael Moorcock's The Warlord of the Air and the rest of the Oswald Barnstable trilogy. Moorcock was way ahead of the curve.

I also modestly offer my own The Innocent's Progress And Other Stories.

[Ronald]

Karen wrote: "Have you read the series The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart/Chri..."
I love these--Their relationship to steampunk is similar to Frank L. Baum's--while mostly pure fantasy, there are definite steampunk alliances (In Edge Chronicles case, largely due to the artwork of the amazing Chris Riddell). But I think Tik-Tok (OZMA OF OZ et al) is an incredibly steampunk-y character--and just squeaks into the upper limit as actually being of the period--1907 pub date)

[Joseph]

I've really enjoyed Stephen Hunt's Jackelian books, particularly The Kingdom Beyond the Waves. They're alternate-world steampunk fantasy; the setting has a distinct Dickensian feel to it at times. Kingdom Beyond the Waves actually reads like a steampunk take on an H. Rider Haggard lost race novel.

[Nathalia]

I also recommend The Greyfriar, it's such a lovely book and they didn't go overboard with the whole vampire feel. Encrypted is also pretty interesting.

[David]

If it is O.K. for a reader/writer to suggest his own book, I'll drop a shameless self-promotion real quick.
Fistful of Reefer
Is a weird western punk based in 1918 Texas. So it gets a bit dieselpunk in time period, but has the same steampunk spirit.
Of course I'm a bit biased, but I think its pretty good.

Along those lines, I rather liked Mike Resnick's The Buntline Special

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

anyone read this book?? worth reading??

[Bill]

The Burton and Swinburne books were fun steampunk ("The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack" & "The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man") by Mark Hodder. Sometimes, they are a little stretched in believability -even for steampunk- but the characters know they are in an alternate timeline which adds a twist that is unique. Also, I enjoyed the George Mann novels ("The Affinity Bridge" & "The Osiris Ritual")

[David]

Bill wrote: "The Burton and Swinburne books were fun steampunk ("The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack" & "The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man") by Mark Hodder. Sometimes, they are a little stretched in b..."

I've heard great things about them, but still haven't gotten to it.

[Shanna]

I added all of your suggestions to the library plus a few others from my own library. Hopefully this will help people looking for something new to read. :)

[Trym]

I've been browsing through some of the steampunk lists, and it seems to me a lot of it is also young adult fiction. Does anyone have any suggestions for steampunk for older readers? I'd rather not wallow in teen angst!

[Shanna]

I tried to split out the YA from the adult stuff in the library. Priest and Blaylock are two that are adult. :)

[Nathalia]

Trym wrote: "I've been browsing through some of the steampunk lists, and it seems to me a lot of it is also young adult fiction. Does anyone have any suggestions for steampunk for older readers? I'd rather not ..."

Oh goodness, I know exactly how you feel. I hope Steampunk and Dieselpunk's sudden rise to popularity will introduce more books geared towards adults. I try my best to stay away from anything YA so i'm missing out on a lot of Steampunk/Dieselpunk books.

[Shanna]

Feel free to move stuff around, most of the things I put in the library I've not personally read so I'm not clear on which genre they should fall into, the more we add to the library the more we have to read. :D

[Kara]

Sounds good. =)

[P.J.]

I would definitely suggest The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.

Whilst not strictly Steampunk, as the setting is fantasy, in a city styled on Renaissance Venice, it does have some Steampunk elements.

And ... now I know this is really cheeky, but I'm going to suggest it anyway. Have a look at Liberator's Ruin, a Steampunk Fantasy.

Here's a description:
In a world at war, three people may decide the fate of an entire country.

Nathaniel An’Rieyr, captain of the Storm Brother, has no interest in the war. He has made a career avoiding it whilst simultaneously profiting from it. War might be waging across the world, but that’s none of his business. Except even the best laid plans can fail utterly, and there’s not a damned thing he can do about it ...



As the last surviving member of the Illysian Royal Family, the war is all Anna has left. The Rhivellian Empire took her family, her throne and her country. Unable to compete against the might of the Rhivellian war machine, Anna enacts a plan to retrieve a mighty artefact from a long-forgotten time. With it, she will finally have the power to force the Empire from her land. A goal for which she will sacrifice anyone, even her closest ally.



Thomas Ras’Kar, High Inquisitor of the Rhivellian Empire, has been sent to the capital of Illys in disgrace, where he will be forced to contend with the incompetent Thane Charles. Three years of occupation has seen the people of Illum cowed and the Thane’s interest turned to his own pleasures. A fate worse than death for a man of honour and action such as Thomas. But the Princess is returning to Illum, and she may be the key to Thomas’ redemption.

[[deleted user]]

I would add another vote for The Greyfriar and The Iron Duke and a big nod to all of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate novels.

Peter, you mentioned "Innocent's Progress." Was that story in the Like A Wisp of Steam: Steampunk Erotica anthology?

[Tegan]

I just found yesterday. Not sure if it's been mentioned, but it looks good!

[Peter]

Jennie: Yes, "The Innocent's Progress" is in Like A Wisp of Steam: Steampunk Erotica. It also appears in my steampunk erotica short story collection The Innocent's Progress And Other Stories with five others.

[[deleted user]]

Peter wrote: "Jennie: Yes, "The Innocent's Progress" is in Like A Wisp of Steam: Steampunk Erotica. It also appears in my steampunk erotica short story collection [book:The Innocent's Progress And..."

I will have to look for that. I enjoyed your story very much.

[Peter]

Jennie: Thank you. You can download it at http://innocentsprogress.com

[Ellen]

I love that book Linda. It's endless fun.

[Pickle]

Ive only read a few steampunk books but all have been very good reads, i need to read more and will check out some of the previous recommendations.

Perdido Street Station
The Scar
Infernal Devices
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack

[Nishi]

Cheers Everyone!
I have an erotic steampunk story launched today from Decadent Publishing: Mile High Airship Club
MHAC is actually a prequel, but I can't divulge any further juicy details. If you like your steampunk with a bit of class and a whole lot of steamy, then take a peep:
http://www.decadentpublishing.com
I posted an excerpt on my author page. Tea, airships, and stockades--oh, my!

[Kara]

=) I've got Geist reviewed now!
(I too am going to check out the podcasts).

[Kouk]

I have only read 1 so far.


It is a YA steampunk!

[Paul]

I was wondering if people have read ?

While it's very definitely Alternate History, it has steam powered cars, dirigibles as the main form of flight, Irish troubles (Fenian Anarchists are always good for a story) and Royal Mounted Police.

Since the Peshawar Lancers makes the cut as a steampunk novel I wondered what other people thought?

[Stacia]

They've already been mentioned, but I'll add my votes for The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack and The Dream of Perpetual Motion.

[Pickle]

is a fantastic book or would be my two recommendations.

[Cee]

You all have such awesome recommendations! Added a bunch of them to my TBR (:

[Gary]

Hey, all. I am digging deeper into steampunk and figured I'd start in the roots: any recommendations for what to start with Jules Verne? Go chronologically or a certain title? Thanks.

[S.l.]

Try this steampunk cliffhanger series called "Mina's Daughter: The Harker Chronicles"... it is a continuation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, following the adventures of Katie Harker. New installment publishes the 15th of every month.

[Pickle]

Gary wrote: "Hey, all. I am digging deeper into steampunk and figured I'd start in the roots: any recommendations for what to start with Jules Verne? Go chronologically or a certain title? Thanks."

ive read and found it very slow and a bit dull. A great book in its day but i found a bit dated.

i found to be a lot more exciting.

[Richard]

New out last week Kultus

[Gary]

Thanks for the recommendation, Pickle.

[Craig]

Rick wrote: "
anyone read this book?? worth reading??"

It wasn't bad. I got bored through the second story, though and had to put lots of effort into reading it. I prefer Extraordinary Engines: The Definitive Steampunk Anthology, personally.

Linda wrote: " Beautiful Book. I recommend it based s..."
Can't...buy...fast...enough...GAH!

I'm going to be checking this thread regularly, oh yes.

Craig

[Mary]

Anyone read this?

http://www.amazon.com/Clockwork-Muse-...

[Stacia]

Amanda, have you looked at "The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack"? Loved that book! (I haven't seen the movie you mention....)