Anything Goes discussion

lets discuss Steam Punk as a genre. and talk about the books that fit into this genre!

My understanding of steampunk is that it falls within science fiction and fantasy genre, and refers to the age of steam. What if the world evolved from that point without the technolgy we know today, but developed the Victorian inventions to far beyond their original application. When I think of steampunk, I think of Lara's Oxford in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, or Jules Verne. My book selection for this genre is Soulless.

Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines series and prequels also fit into this category with traction cities (e.g. London grinding around the countryside on caterpillar wheels) in a future dystopia, and archaeologists digging up shiny 'seedy' disks. Lara's world is less science-fictiony, as it co-exists with our own contemporary world, but certainly feels steampunkish. Aspects of Joan Aiken's Dido Twite stories (aka The Wolves of Willoughby Chase sequence), even though set in a Dickensian-like alternate world, are steampunk too.

When I mentioned steampunk to my eighteen year old daughter, she gave me the most quizzicle look, and when I say quizzicle, it was more "are you barking mad woman?". I explained it as a genre of books that I was exploring, however, she applied the term to fashion and proceeded to show me;
http://www.lolplease.com/steampunk-gi...
I've never considered myself conservative in anyway, but some of these are freaky! Not the kind of thing you'd want your 50 year old, rather chubby mother wearing!!!!!!!!

Steampunk started out as a genre of books, but they have inspired a range of fashion and jewellery. It's not often you can say that about literature is it?

Anyone tried Anno Dracula? It looks good but my local library doesn't stock it, so I'm going to have to buy it. As I have imposed a ban on buying new books (that's new to me - so I can't get around it by trawling charity shops) it has to be good before I'll commit myself.

It's one I'll add to the tbr!

Chris wrote: "It's one I'll add to the tbr!"

See, I said it looked good!

anno dracula i fantastic read. i really enjoyed it when i read it. :)

Jackie, I just picked up Anno Dracula from the library. i'll let you know what I think

Chris wrote: "Jackie, I just picked up Anno Dracula from the library. i'll let you know what I think"
Sorry, I've only just read this. Have you read it yet? If so, what's your verdict?

Not read it yet, it is in a pile of 10 "currently reading" books next to my bed. Unfortunately I have to give it back this week since someone else has reserved it at the library! I'll probably buy a kindle copy once I have rid myself of my current reading, or more accurately, non-reading funk!

I think I'll suggest it to the book buying team at my library. The worst they can do is say no.

I'm waiting for Anno Dracula to come in - I reserved it at the library a week or so ago. Seem to be building up a "currently reading" pile at the moment!

Angela wrote: "I'm waiting for Anno Dracula to come in - I reserved it at the library a week or so ago. Seem to be building up a "currently reading" pile at the moment!"

Glad to hear it Angela, I hate to be a freaky "multi-book" reader on my own

Chris wrote: "Angela wrote: "I'm waiting for Anno Dracula to come in - I reserved it at the library a week or so ago. Seem to be building up a "currently reading" pile at the moment!"

Glad to hear it Angela, I ..."

Started another one last night....but it's only 123 pages long, so should finish it later today!
Chris, it's good to be freaky:))))

I admire people who can keep track of more than one plot at a time. I wish I could, then I could swap books depending on my mood.

JackieB wrote: "I admire people who can keep track of more than one plot at a time. I wish I could, then I could swap books depending on my mood."

I didn't do this while I was working, Jackie - to be honest, it was all I could do to keep track of one plot most of the time!
One of the wonderful things about retirement is that I have more time for reading and thinking about what I read. I'm finding that by "multi-reading", I actually remember the plots better. Very odd!!

I'm just getting into steampunk, have read:
Lady of Devices
Her Own Devices
and
Agatha H and the Airship City.
Just started:
The Steampunk Detective.

My niece and I are attening the local anime convention in July, Tokyo in Tulsa, and are going to steampunk cosplay. Luckily, you don't have to be as elaborate as the ladies in the link Chris posted. I'm kinda going as a sort of dirigible aviator/mechanic, if that makes any sense. :) Should be fun.

Karin are you and your niece making your costumes or buying them? Do you know a place to buy them.

We are making them. In my searching for ideas, I've found several websites that sell them but I don't remember which ones. A Google search for steampunk costumes should put you on the right track. We went to thrift stores to find the different elements for the clothes. After that, it doesn't tale all that much to make your outfit steampunk. A pair if goggles, a utility belt, a painted nerf gun..... It doesn't really have to be that elaborate.

I was thinking thrift stores too. Maybe cobble some things together. I bet the shoes would be the hardest to do homemade. Guess I'll have to make up my mind to buy. The style is popular right now, but sheesh! how expensive!

If you are handy with a sewing machine (which I am not) you can find easy patterns for spats online, you can use those to cover any boots/ shoes you might already have. They look cool, too. My nice just happened to find some heeled boots at a thrift store. They look like hooker boots, LOL, but look great with her outfit. If I could post a pic here I would.

Here is a website with some pics of other steampunk outfits. These people have taken considerable time with the clothes. But it does display that it doesn't have to be extreme. My costume will not be nearly as good as any of these.

http://nomaddakinidesign.com/steampun...

Thanks. I'll add it to my Pinterest page. http://pinterest.com/pbdivaandrea/per...

So far the only thing steampunk I've read was short stories, Wild & Steamy by Meljean Brook and it was wild and steamy and steampunk. I actually enjoyed it. Another new genre for me.

I have read a couple of Steam Punk through my Sci Fi book club at my local Waterstones.

I just read The Emperor's Edge and really enjoyed it! I guess it's kind of steam punk!

Read The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross recently and loved it.

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Read The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross recently and loved it."

Just loaded that to my kindle, it looks good, but I'm buying too many books to keep up with reading them all

@Chris me too!

we don't learn do we!

Chris wrote: "we don't learn do we!"

Sadly not!

Ditto to the last 4 comments!!!

is there any good steampunk/fantasy book out there??

Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld. Alternative steampunk version of WWI.