***Group Read: Steampunk (spoiler-free)

Quite a few folks have expressed an interest in reading some steampunk this year. Since I started the discussion with my review of Soulless, I got nominated to lead...8^}

By consensus, our first selection is The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers. Reading will begin February 15, with discussion on the spoiler thread beginning March 1. See you there!

Is there a general thread for What We Are Reading - Steampunk?

Hmm. Good idea. I'll create one.

I am in for this one, too! Great idea. Thanks for setting up the threads, Jim.

Count me in.

I'll be out of town February 18 - 21 at Disneyworld with my daughter's Jazz Ensemble. They're going to be competing.

I'm not taking my computer - too much to lug around and not much time to access anything, probably, so I'll be off the air those days.

I'm in ... but if the book doesn't get delivered to me this week, I won't be able to get my copy until I come back home on Feb 19 ... so I may be a few pages behind you guys.

>6 cameling: Oh ha ha, Caroline, you could get the book 2/28 and be fully prepared for the discussion on 3/1! You read like Stasia does...sit next to the book and osmotically absorb the information...and it makes me so jealous!!

I read The Anubis Gates back in 1984 or 85, and vividly remember scenes from it ... more than almost any other book I read at the time. I'm looking forward to seeing how well it holds up: probably pretty well -- I've read most of Tim Powers's other books and have never been disappointed.

Here's a bit of Powers trivia: according to rumors, the script for the next "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie is based on Powers's novel, "On Stranger Tides." It's not steampunk, but I remember it being great fun.

I'm in!! Can't wait for my first taste of steampunk!

Really? Another PofC movie? With Johnny, too? Interesting.

I shouldn't. I really shouldn't. Already, I have so many group reads and books to read for classes. But alas, it looks interesting, and I do love discussing my books, so count me in!

I'm in, just have to lay hands on the book.

Wow! I saw Soulless on Jim's thread and decided to download the sample onto my Kindle (by the way for those who don't have a Kindle or E-reader, it is
D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S!! Anyway, I enjoyed the first chapter so I bought it. I had never heard of SteamPunk before, but I am in. I haven't gotten to far into Soulless, but what I have read I have liked.

I'm In!!

I'm glad to see someone else enjoying Soulless! I'm really looking forward to the sequel.

Drats .. I received The Anubis Gates the day before I left for my trip, and forgot to pack it in my suitcase. Grr.....

I hope to pick this up tomorrow, but I may be a little behind the rest of you. I can't say as I've ever tried SteamPunk before, but I'm willing to read any genre at least once!

I ordered a copy of the book, but it is coming by supersaver shipping, so I will start a little late.
--BJ

I'm starting The Anubis Gates this evening and I'm looking forward to it after spending a couple of weeks on a stodgy YA fantasy.

I'm heading for Denver on a business trip today, and The Anubis Gates is all packed up and ready to go with me...

My copy was shipped last Wednesday - even with Super Saver shipping it should be here soon, I hope!

My copy arrived today, so I'm hoping to start it this weekend.

My bookstore called and Anubis is in!! Running out the door to get it. :)

I have a report to write tonight (and last night, and before that had to finish HaveMercy for my discussion group), but plan to pull it off my shelf Friday night and get started.

I got stuck on a plane *much* longer than I planned today, so I'm done! See you on the spoiler thread!

My copy came in from another library, so I'll be picking it up when I go to work tomorrow.

Mine came yesterday...I think I managed three pages before I fell asleep last night.

I'm heading to Chicago tonight, so I'll be reading it on the train.

Have a safe trip, David.

Thanks, Stasia.

Whoopee.. I'm home and can now begin our group read book.

Hey! I wanna get in on this read. I found out about Soulless from this site and I loved it! I have Changeless on order at my local bookstore. I've never heard of Tim Powers, but I'm game to try it. It sounds like a good read.

I've never done a group read before. I hope I do it right.

Cheers,
Linda

It's hard not to do it right. When you finish the book, join us on the spoiler thread to tell us what you thought of it!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/83718

Hi Dr. Neutron,

Thanks for writing back. I picked up the book this afternoon and I'm about to get started. It comes highly recommended. Steampunk before it had a name?

Well, it was actually one of the novels that the term "steampunk" was invented to describe. Others in the late 70's and early 80's were Morlock Night by K. W. Jeter and Homonculus by James P. Blaylock. I'm hoping to reread them as part of th esteampunk group read this year.

Morlock? Wasn't there a movie in the 60s where the Morlocks were the monsters? I can't recall the name just now...

World of Warcraft has murlocks.....that's the first thing I thought of when I read the word.

H.G. Wells The Time Machine has the Morlocks and Eloi.

Jeter uses a Morlock from The Time Machine in his book. That's one of the characteristics of the early steampunk books - evoking the spirit of the scientific thrillers from the late 19th and early 20th century like Verne and Wells.

Steampunk Librarian blog says Tesla, too. I wonder if that person is on LT?

Just finished The Anubis Gates tonight--every bit as enjoyable as I remembered it. Can't wait until the first--but I guess I have to.

I'm on page 68 and really enjoying it so far.

Re Morlocks: For some strange reason my parents took me to see the 1960 movie of The Time Machine. I was 7 and had nightmares for months about the Morlocks. It didn't help that my Dad took Maalox at dinner every night..... just set me up for the nightmares to come.

I watched the excellent animated feature "9" this weekend. I highly recommend this wonderful movie.

Hmmm. I tried to read this. I really did. Found I couldn't give a fig what happened to the protagonist. Didn't like him, didn't care. Otherwise, I enjoyed what I read.

Yeah, I dunno. I got to page 56 with great effort and haven't picked it up since. I don't know if I'll bother to finish it. So many books, so little time.

I'm just over 100 pages in and am enjoying it. Hope to read most of it over the weekend.

I finished it at work at lunch today. Can't wait to talk about it!

I'm just starting today (school made it impossible to start earlier). Can't make any comments right now as I'm only to page 5. There's something about the prose though that I'm not really into. I'll keep going and hope the story kind of overrides whatever it is about the prose I don't like (I can't quite put my finger on it right now).

>42 mamzel:: re "9": I really didn't like that movie. I actually gave up when there was about 20 minutes left of it. There was no room for character development because the plot moved too quickly. Said plot was way too formulaic for my tastes. Just not a good movie (IMHO, of course :P )

I wasn't going to join in with this but there was a copy of Anubis Gates in Waterstones this afternoon that called to me (In fact there were two copies on the shelf: maybe I can claim I was outnumbered?) so I'll be joining in after all.

Just a reminder, discussion on the spoiler thread begins today!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/83718

I'll be there after work!

I'm onto the last 60 pages so hope to join in later today.

Frantically trying to finish book right now so that I can join in on the discussion tonight!!!

Heh, I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't finish until today!

Well, I didn't beat you by much - noon yesterday, as I recall!

New meds are making me way too tired to read. I think I'm going to have to pass on the group read this time around, but will definitely want to join in on the next one. =(

There's no time limit for joining in. You can do it next week as well as tonight! We'd love to hear your thoughts whenever you do finish it.

#55: What Roni said, David!

So I've got a little dilemma - I'd like to propose The Digging Leviathan as our next read, but it's probably not as readily available as The Anubis Gates My second choices would either be The Difference Engine, one of the defining steampunk classics (but not as well received as I'd like) or The Affinity Bridge, which is much more recent. What do you think we should do next? I'm open to suggestions, of course...

I'll go with whatever you choose, but I admit that when you first mentioned The Difference Engine a while ago I was a bit concerned to see that its average rating is only 3.28. The Affinity Bridge is a bit better at 3.39, but my personal preference would be The Digging Leviathan, which at 3.93 has a significantly better rating than either of the others.

I plan to purchase the book, though, so availability isn't so much an issue for me.

The Digging Leviathan does have better reviews. Given that it is only available on Amazon as a trade paperback, I was surprised to find it was written in 1984. None of the local library systems have it, but half.com does have copies for $7. Still a lot for a book that old.

I found a site called Steampunkopedia. Was surprised to find that in addition to the His Dark Materials trilogy, they had Tobias Buckell's Crystal Rain, the new Alice in Wonderland retell series The Looking Glass Wars, and Ekaterina Sedia's The Alchemy of Stone, all of which are in my TBR shelves in my office. Also Temeraire and The Invention of Hugo Cabret, both of which I have read.

That's a pretty broad definition of steampunk.... there are 2999 copies of Temeraire on LT, and only one single steampunk tag.

Though I should add that five or six people are already planning to read Temeraire for TIOLI this very month....

Hmm. The Invention of Hugo Cabret surprises me. I'd have never considered that one steampunk. The others they list, yeah, definitely.

Some others I'd like to propose during the year: Leviathan, Mainspring (ok, maybe more clockpunk than steam, but hey, close enough...), Boneshaker for those who haven't read it, Perdido Street Station, Stephen Baxter's Anti-Ice (really interesting connections with Verne's From the Earth to the Moon there), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

Edited to fix the touchstone to Leviathan...

really interesting connections with Verne's From the Earth to the Moon there

Would it be useful to actually read one of Verne's own works for comparison purposes?

Also: do you mean Leviathan?

Ooops, fixed touchstone. Thanks for the catch!

I think you'd get more enjoyment out of Anti-Ice if you've read Verne, but it's not necessary. It's quite a good book on its own!

I just read Affinity Bridge not too long ago and really liked it, so I am somewhat surprised at the low rating for it.

Whatever we decide to read next, I will need to purchase it I am sure since my local library has very few steampunk books. I just need enough advance warning to be able to get it in house.

My library also doesn't have many steampunk books but I will probably be able to get hold of things from abebooks or amazon. I'll be happy with whatever we choose.

Just checking in to say that I am almost through with the book and will check out the spoiler thread soon. What is the timeframe for the next book? I kind of got on board late with this one.
--BJ

I'm in the same boat with billiejean. I had some extenuating circumstances that has kept me from finishing, but I will this weekend. I'd like to keep up with the next read a little better.

I'm thinking we'll decide on the next book sometime this week and then start the conversation on it in the beginning of April.

I just noticed that thebooksmugglers.com is having "Steampunk Week" right now--there are reviews of several steampunk books and discussion of what exactly steampunk is.

When did this genre become so popular, and why?

Ooh...thanks for the link, Zoe, I've been looking for more recommendations to explore the subgenre this year.

Another list that might interest folks is from LibraryJournal: http://bit.ly/agve4Q

Nice couple of posts! I've got to spend a little more time with the Steampunk Week posts. The LJ list has many of the books I want hit this year.

And thank you for that link! So many good books to check out. I think this group read may have to go on for two years or more!

That said, I'm still feeling a bit intimidated about The Difference Engine. It's definitely something that I want to read at some point because it's essential to the genre, but I think it might be better to have read several more enjoyable steampunk books first. After reading comments like "I will just be honest and admit that I was bored out of my mind for most part of novel and I had zero emotional connection with any of the characters" (in what was overall a fairly positive review, mind), I'm worried that it will turn people off, me included. I'm so excited about recently discovering this new genre, and I don't want reading it to become a chore.

Either way, though, I think we need to decide on a book soon if we want to start discussing at the beginning of April--that already seems like a bit of a stretch, if we're doing a two week reading period and at least one week for acquiring the book....

The Affinity Bridge was on my list, and even though it's got a fairly broad spread of ratings on LT, Stasia has read it and liked it. I trust her opinion, and as I said, I've been wanting to read it. So I propose we read The Affinity Bridge for our next book.

If we start reading in two weeks (around March 25), we can start discussion on April 10. Sound like a plan?

Sounds good to me!

Oh, one thought--The Affinity Bridge is apparently coming out in paperback next month. Does this make a difference to anyone else? I don't really mind buying the hardcover ($17.46 on Amazon), but I do try to avoid buying hardcovers so close to the paperback release date.

I'd be willing to push the date out so that we can get paperbacks.

I think it may be too late--Tor isn't showing a specific date (just April), and Amazon isn't showing it at all, but Book Depository says April 27.

Maybe the book is common enough that it doesn't matter, though--it seems that I can get it readily enough from the library, anyway (of course, I don't check this until after the bookstore....)

I'm with you steampunkers in spirit, but behind in my reading! I've got Moorcock's The Warlord of the Air and Power's Anubis Gates next in my tbr queue. I'll keep checking in...

I can get The Affinity Bridge from my library system fairly easily, so the dates are fine for me.

jadebird, I just finished Anubis Gates today, so you're not too far behind! :-)

Thanks, bell7! :)

#76: I really enjoyed the book and was surprised by some of the reviews about it, especially one that I read saying there was no depth to the characters. In this type of book I honestly do not look for a lot of character depth. If you are, then I suggest reading something else.

My library has a copy of The Affinity Bridge so the dates will be fine for me.

Is the next book definitely The Affinity Bridge? I will probably order with supersaver shipping so I need to order soon. Thanks!
--BJ

Definitely The Affinity Bridge, and we'll stick to my original schedule since it looks like many (including me) will be getting it from the library.

#87: Since I just read that one recently, I think I will bow out of this group read, although I will come and check the discussions. Too many other books demanding my attention right now!

I just finished The Anubis Gates. There was one copy in my two county library system and I didn't have to wait very long for it. I'll bring it back to the library tomorrow in case someone else needs it for this group read.
Fun, fun, fun!

A comment in another thread made me wonder: how many of you are planning to read more of Tim Powers' work in the future, if you weren't already familiar with him before this group read?

I ordered On Stranger Tides shortly after finishing The Anubis Gates, though it hasn't arrived yet (or at least, I'm out of town and haven't noticed if it has).

I am. Haven't decided which one yet, but definitely more.

I'll skip the next group read, my library hasn't got The Affinity Bridge and I have too many other books lined up to read at present.

My suggestion is Last Call, set in modern times. However, The Stress of Her Regard (which also features Romantic poets Shelley, Keats, and Byron) and On Stranger Tides are set in historical times and also good story-telling.

I still have Declare in my TBR pile, but I hear it is good as well.

I would like to read more by Tim Powers sometime.
--BJ

Question that just occurred to me as I was recommending the series to someone: Would Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy series be considered steampunk? Set in an alternative history in the 1960s, "technology and physical sciences have suffered somewhat with the emphasis on magic. Physics has not been codified as a science; the one example of an investigator into the discipline is an eccentric on a par with the members of our own Flat Earth Society. Most mechanical devices are approximately those of our Victorian era. Characters travel by horse-drawn carriage and steam train and employ revolving pistols and bolt action rifles; buildings are illuminated with gas lights." (from Wikipedia, Lord Darcy (character))

Sounds promising! Anybody read any of them?

Well, yes, I've read all of them, just never thought of them as steampunk before. So, anyone else? I was recommending the series over in justchris' thread, since she had just finished Garrett's Gandalara series.

So, copied from there--
Lord Darcy is set in an alternate universe where Richard the Lionhearted lived to establish a dynasty, and sympathetic magic works. He is basically Sherlock Holmes in that universe, these are whodunnits and it is very well done. There are two books of collected short stories and one novel written by Garrett before his death, then Michael Kurland wrote two more novels featuring Lord Darcy. Someone has created a Lord Darcy (character) entry on Wikipedia as a labor of love that gives background and traces the many allusions to other mystery writers that exist in the books without any story spoilers (they are mostly in character and place names). I do recommend the series.

Oh, I will look for the Lord Darcy books. Thanks, roni!

Just started Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (touchstones are being difficult).

Soulless was excellent and had me laughing out loud in public. And since I was working early voting, rather, er, inappropriate at times, lol.

I just searched for Affinity Bridge on my library website and they had it (yay!!), but I noticed something weird. Every other search result that came up was a Scientology book. Is "affinity bridge" a scientology term or something?

#100: What a curious result.

It looks like the reason is that (1) "affinity" is a Scientology buzzword (not being a Scientologist, I can offer no insight), and (2) a lot of Scientology books are published by a company called "Bridge Publishing."

So if you're doing a keyword search in your library catalog, a lot of the records containing both terms are for books on Scientology.

And since I was in the catalog anyway, I requested a copy of "Affinity bridge" so I can join the read.

swynn Thanks for the detective work!

By the way, there's an author chat with Dexter Palmer, author of Dream of Perpetual Motion going on right now. It's apparently a steampunk book, or at least a book with steampunk elements. Someone's already asked a question about what steampunk means to Dexter. No answer yet, but it's only Tuesday!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/87528

A copy of The Affinity Bridge is now waiting for me at the library. Has anyone started reading yet?

I'm picking mine up tomorrow.

Mine is also at the library and I'm getting it today!

It's been a while with no posts here! I'm looking forward to the start of the discussion tomorrow.

There is a sequel out for Affinity Bridge, but cannot find it in ebook format. Grrr... The Osiris Ritual

I'm a couple of days late, but The Affinity Bridge is now open for discussion on the spoiler page!

I'm a bit behind on finishing this one, but it is interesting so far. I'll catch up in a couple days once I get to the end.

I know I'm not in the groove with the group, but I picked up Blaylock's Lord Kelvin's Machine today; so I'm still doing my steampunking bit.

We've had a suggestion or two for Perdido Street Station as our next selection. I think it's an excellent choice and should be readily available. We could start discussion May 15-ish? My second choice is Boneshaker.

What's the consensus?

I've had Perdido Street Station sitting here in my TBR pile for several years now--that sounds like a winner to me! Especially since I wasn't able to get a copy of The Affinity Bridge.

Either one sounds good to me! :)
--BJ

I am voting for Perdido Street Station since I know I can get it from the local library (unless someone else has it checked out.)

My library has both books, but they seem to be popular. Should I reserve them both or just Perdido Street Station?
--BJ

Ok, Perdido Street Station it is. How about we start discussion on May 20? That'll give us 3 weeks.

I have put it on hold at the local library. Maybe this time I will actually get the book read - this makes the third time I have checked it out and I have not made it yet :)

Sounds good!
--BJ

I'll try to be there, but time has been wrapped up in other books lately. It sounds pretty good!

I will see if I can find it!

Well, I've so far made no progress in obtaining this book: two weeks later, I'm still last of three holds (with three copies in circulation). I'll mostly likely be joining the discussion late.

I have just got my copy from the library thinking I would have no problems reading it by the 20th but I had completely missed the fact that it's 867 pages! Better get reading I suppose :-)

I haven't started yet either, Heather, despite the book sitting here for several years. Had to re-read Second Stage Lensmen and The High King for group reads last week, and working on The Empress of Mars for a group on the 18th, and then Perdido Street Station is next. My copy is only 623 pages though. Whew!

#124 Wow, roni - sounds like you're going to be busy!

ETA: I've read two chapters and very excited about this one. Think it's unlikely I will finish by the 20th though (unless I spend all of my day off reading - hmm, that's quite tempting).

Well, we can drag things out a bit longer if need be. No need to rush ourselves!

Just popping in to mention that I am behind on the book, (but will keep on until I catch up) and that I am leaving town for 5 days to go to my daughter's graduation. I will check back in when I return. :) Will Boneshaker be the next book? Thanks for setting this all up! It is lots of fun!
--BJ

Yeah, I'm thinking Boneshaker would be a good one for the next read. Have fun with your daughter!

I am giving up on Perdido Street Station again. I just cannot get into this book. This is my third (and final) attempt. Sorry guys!

I'm sorry to hear you didn't like it, Stasia.

I've been considering buying a copy because I don't seem to be making any progress on the hold list, but I'm not quite convinced that I'll like it either.

I am not sure what my problem is - I just cannot seem to make it past chapter 2. I just do not like it. I tried!

I'm getting ready to start the book tonight.

Hope the next one suits you better, Stasia!

Thanks Jim!

I've started Perdido Street Station, interesting environs, interesting characters, after 4 chapters looks good !

Have read 17 chapters now, up to part 3, an interesting read so far.
I thought there was a group read, if so it's a quiet group or I'm in the wrong place, if so does anyone know where it is ? Cheers.

#136 There is a group read, I've finished the book but I'm not sure whether anyone else has yet.

I was going to post a few thoughts over on the spoiler thread here but I will try not to post any spoilers if everyone else is still reading!

Welcome to the group read!

#131 Sorry you didn't enjoy this one Stasia :-(

#137: Oh well, better luck with the next one, right?

Looks like some of the folks didn't get done by the 20th, so discussion may be delayed. I expect that the conversation will pick up this week over on the spoiler thread.

Yes, I've been meaning to get started all week, and RL kept getting in the way.

Just checking to say that I went ahead and read Boneshaker, because I checked it out at the library at the same time I checked out Perdido Street Station and ran out of renewals. Do we have a deadline for Boneshaker or are we still discussing Perdido Street Station? Thanks for all the great book suggestions!
--BJ

The spoiler thread has quieted down from the pss comments, so I think it's time to kick off the next book it'll be Boneshaker. I'll make a more formal announcement when I get back home from my vacation.

So, I've been avoiding the spoiler thread because I didn't join in on a book I thought I might read in the future. Any upcoming books currently being planned?

Hey jaded laddies and gentlewomen all...October 2010 to October 2011 has been declared The Steampunk Challenge! An entire year of steampunk reading! Go look at SteamPunk Magazine for details.

I just discovered Rikki's Challenge, as well, and was on my way here to post it. Richard, and his nimble posting skills, beat me to it!

David, have you enrolled in Steampunk University yet? It's where I learned to be nimble....

I have not enrolled. Yet.

I'm off to check it out. Thanks!