Last time, we crowdsourced straight-up horror novels.
Now it’s time to dive back down into the niche a little bit and ask —
What are your essential steampunk reads?
Hell, just what is steampunk as you define it?
Drop into the comments and list your top three essential steampunk reads (doesn’t matter if it crosses over with what other people have said; that’s the point, as you’ll see when we tally ’em). Then, if you’re so inclined, talk about what steampunk even is to you as a subgenre.
The comment section awaits.
ashleycapes says:
I immediately thought of ‘Steamboy’ …and then read ‘novels.’ I know, I suck.
Keen to see the results, I’d love some suggestions.
August 19, 2013 — 7:07 AM
pooks says:
Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series. Barking spiders! BVC’s short story anthology, The Shadow Conspiracy. Carriger’s Soulless series. [oops, I too forgot about the ‘novel’ aspect when I mentioned the anthology.]
August 19, 2013 — 7:10 AM
Jemima Pett says:
I love the idea of steampunk but haven’t read many yet. I love Lindsay Buroker’s Flash Gold series and recommend that. Disappointed with Darren Craske’s Equivogue Principle, but it largely because his geography is so bad.
August 19, 2013 — 7:24 AM
Aliyah says:
Meljean Brooks’ Iron Seas series, Tales of the Underlight by Jax Garren, and Devon Monk’s Age of Steam series are all reads that I love.
August 19, 2013 — 7:41 AM
Heather Ormsby says:
Haven’t read much in this genre, but I loved Boneshaker (The Clockwork Century, #1) by Cherie Priest.
August 19, 2013 — 7:59 AM
NiTessine says:
1. The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
2. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vols. 1 and 2., by Alan Moore
3. and I’m gonna cheat here and say Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, which is a computer game from Troika Games.
Steampunk is a bit tricky as a genre, since it’s become perhaps too popular. To me, steampunk is primarily about its pseudo-Victorian milieu and the issues of the day, such as women’s suffrage and colonialism. There’s that -punk suffix, the all-important countercultural element that makes it interesting beyond just “corsets and airships are the two sexiest things on earth”. If that element isn’t there, I think it might be useful to borrow a page from Phil Foglio and call it gaslight romance. I mean, if it’s all for Queen and country, it can’t be very punk, now can it?
Not that corsets and airships aren’t the two sexiest things on earth.
August 19, 2013 — 8:23 AM
Veronica says:
Arcanum remains one of my very favourite games. It was brilliant. I’m forever searching for things like it.
August 20, 2013 — 6:32 AM
Katie Cross says:
Ah! Great idea. I don’t know any steampunk novels and I’ve wanted to read a few to get an idea of what it is. ‘know the markets’ and all that jazz. Thanks Chuck!
August 19, 2013 — 8:59 AM
shannonB. says:
Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld
Iron Seas series by Meljean Brook
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
August 19, 2013 — 9:11 AM
Shawn Gaston says:
Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker is the first and only modern steampunk novel (ie, written after Steampunk became a “thing”) that I’ve read that’s just a really good novel in and of itself. It’s my go to example of This Is A Good, Well Told Story That Is Also A Steampunk Story. I’ve sadly been a complete slacker about picking up the later books she’s done.
Beyond that, and limiting ourselves to novels, I’ve got nothing. There are books I’ve heard really good things about, but no others that I’ve read first hand.
August 19, 2013 — 9:12 AM
Shawn Gaston says:
I’m leaving out stuff like Perdido Street Station, which I really liked but is more weird William S. Burroughs meets fantasy novel to me, and The Difference Engine, which started the whole thing off more or less and honestly I found hard to finish.
August 19, 2013 — 9:15 AM
epbush says:
I recommend (anything written by ME!!!!) er, sorry. Other than my stuff:
FOR ADULTS: I recommend M.K. Hobson’s The Native Star (GREAT American style Steampunk), Jay Lake’s Mainspring (except for the last 10 pages but don’t let that stop you.) and Stephen Hunt’s The Court of the Air. (Delicious complicated world building and is more of a crossover piece) I also liked Katie Cross The Girl in the Steel Corset. Tonia Brown’s RAILROAD series of novella’s is one of the best indy books out there. (the Rodger Dodger series.) And my books! (sorry – I should be flogged for the shameless self – promotions).
For Children – (MY COAL CITY STORIES BOOKS! STEAMDUCK!) My that keeps happening – sorry. For kids, There is no series more beautifully drawn than William Joyce’s Guardians of Childhood Series – start with The Man in the Moon. The Dover series of Steampunk Coloring books – especially the stained glass one are GREAT and I recommend for the middle grade years kiddos – The Ruby Series (It’s like the mesh of Harry Potter and Aladdin) by Jodie Brownlee.
August 19, 2013 — 9:19 AM
Shecky says:
This one is nowhere near finished, but Jim Butcher has a contracted steampunk series called THE CINDER SPIRES. He’s only written a portion of the first book, THE AERONAUT’S WINDLASS, but I can tell you that even that little bit’s grabbing me as much as his DRESDEN FILES and CODEX ALERA series. Updated Victorian sensibilities, airships like you’ve never seen, wiseass talking cats… it’s obvious Jim’s having an absolute *ball* with this one. I can’t wait to see the rest of it (currently VERY preliminary publishing estimate: MAYBE late 2014).
August 19, 2013 — 9:27 AM
epbush says:
As to what Steampunk IS – I speak on that often. It’s HIGH ADVENTURE in LOW TECHNOLOGY. Lots of people say it’s Victorian but that is so limiting. The other part of Steampunk, and what keeps romance novels with some gears glued on from being TRUE Steampunk, is the element of subversion. Good Steampunk looks at the values and social structure of the novel’s setting and puts a dick in its ear. Women sky pirates and bucking the social cast. That’s more important than the invented contraptions. We look back at history with 21st century eyes and see what ought to have been. That’s Steampunk. One last recommendation that REALLY shows this clearly (and it’s gay porn!) The Inventor’s Companion – by Ariel Tachna. Hot sex AND social subversion in a great story. So much better than Firebug – which had more gadgets and some good sex, but less… Steampunk.
August 19, 2013 — 9:29 AM
Joshua Allen says:
The only one I’ve read is The Company Man. Unless Windup Girl counts (more like springpunk). Both are worth checking out, imo.
August 19, 2013 — 9:29 AM
adaddinsane says:
Okay I know this subject 🙂 I write it.
Infernal Devices by K. W. Jeter (the man who coined the term “steampunk”)
Very tough read in the same way that “Dr Strange and Mr Norrell” is a tough read because they are very stylised. But worth it in the end, I loathed the protagonist, as it turns out, there was a reason.
Scott Westerfield’s Leviathan series
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Flash Gold series by Lindsay Buroker
Chroniker City stories by Brooke Johnson
The Devices series by Shelley Adina
These exemplify what you might call “hard steampunk” where there are no fantastical elements beyond the science being … stretched.
The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger for the supernatural steampunk (though she has a very original take on werewolves, vampires and ghosts).
I suppose the original definition of steampunk is “Victorian Retro-futurism”, Science Fiction as if written in the Victorian period; as opposed to say “Dieselpunk” which is “Pre-WWII Retro-futurism” (see Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow), or Clockpunk which is “Regency Retro-futurism” see the Dr Who episode “Girl in the Fireplace”.
However it is now a huge sub-culture encompassing music (Abney Park, Unwoman, Professor Elemental), jewelry, cosplay, cookery and simply dressing up. But a key element is elegant practicality. In other words if you build a steampunk-looking clock it should work.
(And if you’re passingly interested, and Chuck doesn’t mind, a steampunk vignette by me: http://www.wattpad.com/18529289-south-african-steam-1900-vignette
August 19, 2013 — 9:50 AM
EldritchGirl says:
I’d like to suggest the Tales of the Ketty Jay series by Chris Wooding. It’s outlandishly brilliant. It has a Firefly sensibility with outrageous characters.
The one that really sticks out in my mind is the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. Well researched, funny, paranormal. An absolutely incredible series and it sets the bar high for any other steampunk tales.
There’s also Delilah S Dawson’s Sang novels. Dark and lush steampunk world. Love it.
Steampunk started as a relatively sci-fi genre (from old favorites like The Time Machine to The Difference Engine) but now I see it most frequently used in romance novels! Some of the best steampunk stories I’ve read lately have been decisively in the romance catagory: Bec McMaster, Zoe Archer, Beth Ciotta, Kate Cross, Lynn Viehl, Claire Robyns… SO MUCH STEAMPUNK ROMANCE! It’s kind of insane. I never read romance novels (I used to actively avoid them, dismiss them, denounce them as silly) until I noticed all the steampunk that’s gotten into them in the last few months. Now I can’t get enough. I don’t know what to make of it, to be honest.
August 19, 2013 — 9:50 AM
adaddinsane says:
Yes, Steampunk Romance is huge – must admit I do find the requirements of the romance genre irritating (Girl meets Boy, Instant attraction on both sides, Problems ensue to keep them apart). Drives me nuts. Mind you Brooke Johnson sneaked one past me on that and I do like her style 🙂
August 19, 2013 — 11:50 AM
Karen Myers says:
Lindsay Buroker – 7-book Emperor’s Edge series. Loved it.
August 19, 2013 — 10:07 AM
Gaye Weekes says:
Never knowingly read anything in this sub-genre but having looked at Wiki… I wholeheartedly nominate the brilliant ‘Mortal Engines’ series by Philip Reeve. In the US it is known as ‘The Hungry City Series’ I believe. A quartet of books, the first: ‘Mortal Engines’ published back in 2001.
August 19, 2013 — 10:11 AM
Shannon says:
Lilith Saintcrow’s – Clare and Bannon books. Really can’t say too much about them, because spoiler alert. They are such great fast paced reads with an ensemble of characters that grab you by the gut and hold on.
August 19, 2013 — 10:13 AM
Puck says:
1. Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger
2. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
3. All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen
All three have some exciting weird technology/fantasy elements (including awesome clockwork and steampowered machinery) and interesting social problems. I am with NiTessine on the whole point of steampunk is its emphasis on both the issues of the day and the pseudo-Victorian mileu. 😀
August 19, 2013 — 10:27 AM
PersephonePress says:
Jules Verne and Mary Shelley. They’re oldies, but goodies, and essential parts of the very foundation of steampunk.
August 19, 2013 — 10:27 AM
Greg says:
1 Infernal Devices by KW Jeter
2.The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar
3 Adventures of Burton and Swinburne
Steampunk as a genre as it has developed has become a sprawling beast encompassing enough sub sub genres that you almost need to say which type of steampunk about which you speak. Steampunk to me need not be set in an alternate Victorian ear it need not break stereotype and the social limits of the Victorian era it need not involve gears, zeppelins, and corsets Clay and Susan Griffith’s Vampire wars it great Steampunk that is set in the future, Mechanique by Geniveve Valentine I want to include in my three above too but its connection to era and the social mores play little part. The Shadows of the Apt epic fantasy series by Adrian Tchaikovsky is second world fantasy but is totally steampunk and involves lots of magic, world war, ancient powers, slavery, industry and prophecy. Steampunk now often involves magic and alchemy it can be primarily a romance or a mystery or crime story; Andrew Mayer and George Mann have written steampunk superhero and pulp hero tales. Some Steampunk is set in a DIY setting and others are heavy dystopic industrial production worlds. So yeah asking the question what is steampunk it totally valid and I honestly have no real answer other then I know it when I read it…
August 19, 2013 — 10:31 AM
Wilson says:
I’ll second Tales of the Ketty Jay series, by Chris Wooding. Fantastic series.
August 19, 2013 — 10:59 AM
Todd Moody says:
Shelly Bates writing as Shelly Adina has a line of YA Steampunk books out, referred to as the Magnificent Devices series. The first one is called Lady of Devices, and centers around a 17 year old girl living on the street in London circa 1889, who has a talent for combustable devices.
August 19, 2013 — 11:33 AM
S.C. Barrus says:
As someone who loves the genre (my upcoming novel is steampunk), I’ve sadly been disappointed with most of the steampunk novels I’ve read. I tried to read Boneshaker and Court of the Air, but I couldn’t get very far into either before I passed on them. So I’m excited to see what other people recommend. I really want to find some quality works I can delve into.
One I did love was China Mieville’s Perdido Street Station which thoroughly blew my mind.
I was introduced to the genre by the videogame Arcanum: Of Steamwork and Magick Obscura, which is a fantastic game I highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed early Fallout or Infinity Engine games. I also love classic sci-fi like Verne, but while that was a precursor, it’s not exactly steampunk.
August 19, 2013 — 11:49 AM
Jessie says:
The Looking Glass Wars Trilogy by Frank Beddor
The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
The Glorious Victorious Darcys series by Beth Ciotta
The London Steampunk series by Bec McMaster
The Blud series by Delilah S. Dawson
August 19, 2013 — 12:16 PM
The Baroness says:
K.W. Jeter’s Morlock Night and Infernal Devices
James Blaylock’s The Digging Leviathan
At one time I was deeply confounded by the adoration people had for this era. Steam power brought about the industrial revolution, and with it Corporate Barons and pollution. As an environmental chemist and consultant I have visited a LOT of manufacturing sites nationwide and the dirtiest have almost always been steam powered. (Of course it can be argued that this is because these are also the *oldest*)
The corsets and velvet and airships that we are all so giddy about, these trapping represent the elite classes, not the poor sods who actually had to run all that steam powered equipment. But then it dawned on me that perhaps that was the point….
This is a long and round-about way to answer the question “what is Steam Punk.” I think it is a fictionalized Democratization of luxury goods and lifestyle, well spun with the premise that anything is possible. This last point must have been what the entire era felt like; the steam engine changed so many things so fast that it undoubtedly must have seemed like ANYthing – time travel, through-the-earth travel, female airship captains—was possible. Though novels not set in the Victorian Age have been labeled Steam Punk, that spirit of Anything Is Possible Through Brains and Gadgetry seems to hold.
THAT said, K.W. Jeter, as was mentioned, did coin the phrase and my understanding is that he did so somewhat frivolously. Furthermore, by my logic, MacGyver is Steam Punk.
August 19, 2013 — 12:37 PM
Jonathan D. Beer says:
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines series. It’s YA, but like no YA you’ve ever read. Giant traction cities caterpillar-tracking their way around the globe, eating each other, and characters that would be considered dark and troubled in any adult book series, handled with aplomb. I would definitely say that the Mortal Engines books are required steampunk reading.
Otherwise, I’d say The Windup Girl should be in there. It may not be strictly steampunk, but the aesthetic and feel of the book is pure, dirty underclass.
Speaking of which, China Meiville’s Perdido Street Station is a book that I would add to any steampunk book list, despite lacking the ubiquitous cogs and gears. It also happens to be a book that reduced me to a sobbing wreck, which is no mean feat.
As you may have guessed from my book choices, I have quite a liberal definition of steampunk. I tend to cleave pretty close to the definition offered up by Mike Perschon (steampunkscholar.blogspot.com), as I think that steampunk is far more about the use of an aesthetic that may include steam power, cogs, and goggles, than a prescriptive list of elements that must be included. Steampunk for me is much more about the feel of a book than ensuring that a checklist has been met (especially as this definition can end up including some books which are very far indeed from what might have been historically considered as steampunk). A focus, or at least an awareness, of society’s underclass is a must for any book with pretentions of steampunk credentials.
August 19, 2013 — 1:21 PM
Patrick Regan says:
1. The Difference Engine – because one needs a grounding in the classics
2. Leviathan – it captures both the great and the potentially bad of steampunk. Which is to say, it’s YA, so it lets itself have some fun with the Premise (We are in an airship, we can all agree that’s awesome, the end), but it’s set against the backdrop of the first World War, and isn’t afraid to point out that war SUCKS.
3. I’m going to be all different here and say: The Diamond Age.
Hear me out.
The Diamond Age is essential steampunk reading not for it’s tech (which is mostly nan-bots and replicators and such), but for it’s culture. One of the leading powers in the world literally call themselves the Victorian, and the whole thing has this intense feeling of Victorian adventurism, diy punk, and top hats and brass that feels VERY steampunk.
August 19, 2013 — 1:43 PM
Daniel Swensen says:
Michel Vaillancourt’s “By Any Other Name.” The author clearly did his research, and the book is like a love letter to the steam engine. A really lovely level of detail couched in a great, fast-paced action-adventure story. The sequel is good too.
August 19, 2013 — 1:58 PM
Christa says:
The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger (adult)
The Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross (YA)
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (Adult)
The Immortal Empire series by Kate Locke (Adult)
The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade (YA)
Dearly Departed by Lia Habel (YA)
Society of Steam series by Andrew P Mayer (Adult)
August 19, 2013 — 2:00 PM
Anna Lewis says:
I’m new to steampunk but I’m really enjoying a brand-new book called “Chasing the Lantern”, by Johnathon Burgess, a fellow client of my editor. It’s got lovely imagery and (so far) is a sky-pirate double-crossing treasure hunt adventure. I only wish I had more time to read the fun stuff like this….
August 19, 2013 — 2:09 PM
Palex says:
The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder.
Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld
Any of the Clockwork Century novels by Cherie Priest. They’re all very good.
August 19, 2013 — 2:15 PM
boydstun215 says:
The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling.
August 19, 2013 — 2:17 PM
petewoodworth says:
I’m not a fan of involved definitions, especially for literature, so I’ll just go with the notion that “steam” means it takes place in a world where steam-level industry is generally the technological standfadard, while the “punk” portion dictates that something about the story – setting, characters, etc. – deviates sharply from our historical expectations of such a world: alternate history, amazing gadgets, magic and monsters, etc.
Still a little involved, I’ll admit, but it’ll suit.
As for books, I’m a fan of the Tee Morris & Philippa Ballantine’s “Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences” series – and was before I made it into their anthology, just to be clear – as well as Gibson’s “Difference Engine” for setting a standard. I like Lia Habel’s world in the “Dearly” series as well; the notion of a futuristic setting entertaining a faux-Victorian fad is a nice twist. I’m also a fan of Leanna Hieber’s “Darker Still” books as the research she put into the little details of the setting is great. Emilie Bush’s “Steamduck” books are adorable and some of the only stuff for the really young crowd out there. And, of course, the Foglio’s “Girl Genius” is just awesome.
I will also shamelessly plug my own steampunk novel, “The Impossible Mister Lapin”, as it is still searching for an agent/publisher and so can use all the love it can get, not to mention that I think everyone enjoys a good “alchemical rabbit-man solving mysteries for a cryokinetic Queen Victoria in alternate Uncanny Britannia” story now and then. Right?
You can read the first chapter here: http://peterwoodworth.com/who-is-mister-lapin/
August 19, 2013 — 2:26 PM
petewoodworth says:
Whoah. Sorry about those typos. Never update by phone if you can avoid it.
August 19, 2013 — 2:33 PM
joshnstanton says:
God, there’s some great ones out there. I especially loved Mark Hodder’s ‘The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack.’ Fantastic book. Really inventive and clever. Must read.
August 19, 2013 — 4:21 PM
Kimberly Peck says:
Okay I have two series for you. Well one series and one that is going to be a series once more comes out.
The first is The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. It’s a mash up of Victorian, Steampunk, and Fantasy. I highly recommend it. The first book in the series is titled, Soulless.
The second is the Apparatus Infernum series by a husband and wife duo, A.A. Aguirre. It’s Steampunk, Mystery, and Fantasy. The first one is the only one out so far and titled, Bronze Gods.
August 19, 2013 — 4:34 PM
Laura Anderson says:
Mark Hodder’s Burton and Swinburne series. The first one is The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack.
August 19, 2013 — 5:02 PM
Dream3r says:
Steampunk is my niche, admittedly. I love it.
Essential three, I think:
Heart of Veridon by Tim Akers
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
The Lazarus Machine by Paul Crilley
August 19, 2013 — 6:05 PM
Nikki says:
1. Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
2. The Iron Seas series by Meljean Brook
3. Bannon & Clare series by Lilith Saintcrow
Plus a couple of YA options: the aptly named Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross and the Steampunk Scarlett novels by Kailin Gow.
August 19, 2013 — 7:01 PM
rjkeith says:
Mark Hodder’s Burton& Swineburn series, Map of Time/World by Felix J. Palma, and Scott Westerfield’s LEVIATHAN series.
August 19, 2013 — 7:13 PM
Mike Reeves-McMillan says:
Like S.C. Barrus, I often find myself disappointed with steampunk novels, which tend to have cool ideas but poor execution (sometimes very poor). I won’t be a downer by pointing out which of the ones already mentioned I think fall into that category.
I will add my voice to the admirers of Leviathan (though strictly speaking it’s dieselpunk), and also vote for Lindsay Buroker, and then suggest a few that nobody has mentioned:
The also-strictly-speaking-dieselpunk The Wizard that Wasn’t by Ben Rovik.
The Reeves and Worcester books by Chris Dolley. Steampunk P.G. Wodehouse pastiche. Once I’ve said that, you’re in or you’re out.
Heather Albano’s Timepiece, which is a lovely tribute to Frankenstein, among other things.
James Calbraith’s alternate-history-with-dragonriders-probably-better-than-Novik-in-some-ways, starting with The Shadow of Black Wings.
You could argue (and I would) that Tim Powers’ The Anubis Gates is steampunk. It’s certainly very good.
Definition of steampunk? There are many. There’s a kind of buzzword-based steampunk, where as long as you have airships, corsets, and things powered by steam and clockwork and made out of brass (even if that makes no sense), you’re all good. The social definition, bringing in the “-punk”, has already been mentioned (and is part of what I personally go for), though I don’t think it’s absolutely essential. I tend to use a technological definition, where either an alternate history of our world includes more powerful technology than was in fact the case (probably with a bit of magic), or a fantasy alternate world has technology that’s beyond the medieval (probably with a lot of magic).
Then there’s neo-Victorian, like The Diamond Age. It’s one of those things that you know when you see it.
August 19, 2013 — 10:04 PM
delilahsdawson says:
1. Cherie Priest
2. Scott Westerfeld
3. Meljean Brook
4. Gail Carriger
And while I believe there are infinite definitions of steampunk, I need it to contain imaginative steam-related technology and some element of rebellion.
And you can’t limit me to three, because PUNK.
August 19, 2013 — 10:51 PM
silence says:
Carriger’s Soulless series
Meljean Brooks’ Iron Seas series
Lilith Saintcrow’s Clare and Bannon books
Girl Genius by Phil & Kaja Foglio based on the web comic which is even better http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/
August 19, 2013 — 11:24 PM
Veronica says:
I think all I’ve read that’s steampunk is The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger, which was great. Interested to see what others recommend.
August 20, 2013 — 6:37 AM
Cassandra Page says:
My favourite is “Stormdancer” by Jay Kristoff. I’m waiting for the sequel to come out next month. And then it will be mine, oh yes.
August 20, 2013 — 6:53 AM
Duncan Eagleson says:
1. The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
2. The Court of the Air, by Stephen Hunt
3. Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest
Tough to list only three, and since others have gone beyond that, I’ll mention my runners-up would be “Infernal Devices” by K.W. Jeter, Lavie Tidhar’s “Bookman” trilogy, and “Gaslight Dogs” by Karin Lowachee.
As to definition, I tend to agree with NiTessine. The popular perception of what Steampunk “is” seems to have shifted over the last decade. Once it was a genre that used the trappings of Victorian science fiction to examine and deconstruct the imperialist/colonialist attitudes contemporary society inherited from Victorian Age Britain. Today, most novels marketed under that rubric seem to be Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance dressed up in gears and goggles. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, per se – some of those are enjoyable adventures. But I miss the subversive quality of the earlier steampunk works. These days it appears there’s more of that going on in various short stories than in novels.
August 20, 2013 — 2:58 PM