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quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
Welcome to Seampunk!
Imagine an alternate universe where romance and technology reign. A world of automatons, ornate clockworks and time travel, where scientists and dreamers, intrepid orphans and schoolgirls solve dastardly crimes, escape from monstrous predicaments and hover over volcanoes in steam-powered airships.
Fantastically strange stories from fourteen masters of speculative fiction:
M. T. Anderson, Holly, Black, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Cory Doctorow, Dylan Horrocks, Elizabeth Knox, Kelly Link, Garth Nix, Christopher Rowe, Delia Sherman, Ysabeau S. Wilce, and graphic novel artists Shawn Cheng and Kathleen Jennings.
Link and Grant have compiled a fascinating compendium of boundary-pushing stories that would be a great introduction to anyone new to the genre.
SOME FORTUNATE FUTURE DAY BY CASSANDRA CLARE is a sad story about time travel in a ruined world where a lonely inventor’s daughter falls in love and puts aside her clockwork dolls.
THE LAST RIDE OF THE GLORY GIRLS BY LIBBA BRAY is a steampunk Western with a Feminist twist and strong themes of loyalty.
CLOCKWORK FAGIN BY CORY DOCTOROW was one of my favourites - a group of disabled orphans turn the tables on the cruel orphanage master to take control of their lives – it’s well told and there’s some great characterisation.
SEVEN DAYS BESET BY DEMONS BY SHAWN CHENG is a sad graphic novel short story about an inventor whose love for a pretty girl results in him experiencing the deadly sins.
HAND IN GLOVE BY YSABEAU S. WILCE is a slick mystery about a young officer in a police department who’s logical detection is unappreciated by her colleagues in favour of a more flamboyant colleague.
THE CHOST OF CWMLECH MANOR BY DELIA SHERMAN is an entertaining if predictable romance with ghosts, automatons and long-buried treasure.
GETHSEMENE BY ELIZABETH KNOX is a story about love potions, volcanoes and flying dirigibles, which I found a little overlong.
THE SUMMER PEOPLE BY KELLY LINK marries clockwork marvels with faerie lore to inventive effect plus it’s got some great one-liners.
PEACE IN OUR TIME BY GARTH NIX is an intelligent, poignant story about the horrific consequences of weapons of mass destruction.
NOWHERE FAST BY CHRISTOPHER ROWE tells of a village that’s forsaken technology and the tensions that are exposed when an automobile arrives one day.
FINISHING SCHOOL BY KATHLEEN JENNINGS is another graphic novel short story that felt more like an extract from a longer work about two girls who become friends at a boarding school.
STEAM GIRL BY DYLAN HORROCKS was another favourite about an unlikely friendship between a boy and girl who create a story that may have its roots in an alternate reality.
EVERYTHING AMIABLE AND OBLIGING BY HOLLY BLACK is a well-executed comedy of manners that revolves around a well-to-do young lady falling for an automated valet.
THE ORACLE ENGINE BY M. T. ANDERSON is an excellent revenge tale about a young man who builds a machine that can foretell the future.
The Verdict:
Link and Grant have compiled a fascinating compendium of boundary-pushing stories that would be a great introduction to anyone new to the steampunk genre.
Imagine an alternate universe where romance and technology reign. A world of automatons, ornate clockworks and time travel, where scientists and dreamers, intrepid orphans and schoolgirls solve dastardly crimes, escape from monstrous predicaments and hover over volcanoes in steam-powered airships.
M. T. Anderson, Holly, Black, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Cory Doctorow, Dylan Horrocks, Elizabeth Knox, Kelly Link, Garth Nix, Christopher Rowe, Delia Sherman, Ysabeau S. Wilce, and graphic novel artists Shawn Cheng and Kathleen Jennings.
Link and Grant have compiled a fascinating compendium of boundary-pushing stories that would be a great introduction to anyone new to the genre.
SOME FORTUNATE FUTURE DAY BY CASSANDRA CLARE is a sad story about time travel in a ruined world where a lonely inventor’s daughter falls in love and puts aside her clockwork dolls.
THE LAST RIDE OF THE GLORY GIRLS BY LIBBA BRAY is a steampunk Western with a Feminist twist and strong themes of loyalty.
CLOCKWORK FAGIN BY CORY DOCTOROW was one of my favourites - a group of disabled orphans turn the tables on the cruel orphanage master to take control of their lives – it’s well told and there’s some great characterisation.
SEVEN DAYS BESET BY DEMONS BY SHAWN CHENG is a sad graphic novel short story about an inventor whose love for a pretty girl results in him experiencing the deadly sins.
HAND IN GLOVE BY YSABEAU S. WILCE is a slick mystery about a young officer in a police department who’s logical detection is unappreciated by her colleagues in favour of a more flamboyant colleague.
THE CHOST OF CWMLECH MANOR BY DELIA SHERMAN is an entertaining if predictable romance with ghosts, automatons and long-buried treasure.
GETHSEMENE BY ELIZABETH KNOX is a story about love potions, volcanoes and flying dirigibles, which I found a little overlong.
THE SUMMER PEOPLE BY KELLY LINK marries clockwork marvels with faerie lore to inventive effect plus it’s got some great one-liners.
PEACE IN OUR TIME BY GARTH NIX is an intelligent, poignant story about the horrific consequences of weapons of mass destruction.
NOWHERE FAST BY CHRISTOPHER ROWE tells of a village that’s forsaken technology and the tensions that are exposed when an automobile arrives one day.
FINISHING SCHOOL BY KATHLEEN JENNINGS is another graphic novel short story that felt more like an extract from a longer work about two girls who become friends at a boarding school.
STEAM GIRL BY DYLAN HORROCKS was another favourite about an unlikely friendship between a boy and girl who create a story that may have its roots in an alternate reality.
EVERYTHING AMIABLE AND OBLIGING BY HOLLY BLACK is a well-executed comedy of manners that revolves around a well-to-do young lady falling for an automated valet.
THE ORACLE ENGINE BY M. T. ANDERSON is an excellent revenge tale about a young man who builds a machine that can foretell the future.
The Verdict:
Link and Grant have compiled a fascinating compendium of boundary-pushing stories that would be a great introduction to anyone new to the steampunk genre.
