Steampunk challenge
| The Steampunk Challenge is over, but feel free to add links to steampunk book reviews. For a recap go here. |
What is Steampunk? According to the New Oxford American Dictionary the sub-genre Steampunk is
a genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.
I have been wanting to try out steampunk for a while now and recently read one story which I quite liked. So now I’m on to explore a bit more and it seems there are more people out there who want to get to know this genre better.
You want to read steampunk, share your opinion and reviews with like minded people? You want to get recommendations from others because you have no idea where to begin? Join the steampunk challenge and share the experience!
The challenge runs from October to October and there are no obligations other than to have fun discovering a genre and let other participants know about what you find.
You can sign up here with Mr. Linky. Once the challenge has started I will create another page for review links or other blog posts related to Steampunk. Also, your reading recommendations are more than welcome.
I’m looking forward to this challenge and to a fun and “steamy” twelve months!
It seems I killed my Mister Linky. Please sign up in the comments and leave your name and blog URL.
Hooray! I can’t wait to start this. My first book is going to be The Windup Girl in October! *does a little jig*
Absolutely! I’m signing up too! I still am not quite sure what exactly it is, so I need recommendations. Carin’s book sounds good, but my library doesn’t have it (yet), so I need some older recommendations too.
OK, I did say I wasn’t going to do any more challenges, so I will am for just 3 books. If I do get enamored by the genre, I can always up my goal.
Steampunk can be hard to identify without looking at a list before hand, they don’t scream off the shelves the way some other types of books do.
I am reading Boneshaker this month so I won’t be able to use it for the challenge.
Westerfeld’s Leviathan series is steampunk.
Philip Reeve has two steampunk series Larklight and Mortal Engines.
William Gibson is best known for his cyberpunk works but quite a few of his books are steampunk as well. I believe The Difference Engine is.
There are other great books out there too. I will get back to you if no one else has great suggestions. Which I am sure they will.
Thanks Megan, these are great suggestions to get started with.
The Windup Girl is only $9.99 at The Book Depository!
Leviathan by Scott Westerfield is supposed to be good as is Soulless by Gail Carriger. Those are two I have on my list. Also, Boneshaker by Cherie Priest is on my list.
Here’s a list from Wikipedia.
Thanks, Carin. Wikipedia, of course! Always the first place to find an answer!
That Wikipedia list is a great help. I may have to check out Soulless too.
I am thinking about Kenneth Oppel’s Airborn because I have been eyeing it for a while too.
Thanks Carin for letting me know about this challenge. Oh? The Windup Girl is steampunk?? *Learn something new every day* I have only a handful of steampunk books on my to read list, but I could use reading a few more. I am not a huge fan of the subgenre so this will definitely be a challenge, but I am excited too.
On my amazon wishlist are already a few books.
I want to read that Parasol Protectorate series (or at least the first book) by Gail Carriger. I think Soulless is the first, if I’m not mistaken. But I think this is some mix between paranormal romance and steampunk.
Leviathan, yes, and then two Anthologies to give me an idea what is out there.
Also John tells me Michael Moorcock is the father of steampunk. I think we have quite a bit by him already on our shelves.
And then there is Stephen Hunt, I love the covers, but the reviews are so so.
Carin, I have The Windup Girl there, too.
@Judith: No obligations to do a certain number of books. We all read how many we want.
@Megan: I’m glad you joined. You seem to know quite a bit about it already.
I am thrilled a bunch of us will be reading The Windup Girl.
I’ve wondered this for a few years now: Would Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin be considered steampunk in a loose sense? It’s magical realism that spans across the 18oo’s, 1900′s and the current era, with a character that is transported magically from the late 1800′s to the 1980′s. He works on the giant old printing presses in a newspaper company in New York, because he is the only person that knows how to make them work.
I think Winter’s Tale is definitely a close cousin.
I’m in hon…
I just need to pop a post up over the weekend to make a link to…
Cool challenge…
E.H>
E.H., great you’re joining. Please, don’t forget to sign up with Mr. Linky, so we all know who to visit.
Got the post up hon…
Happy reading…
E.H>
I’m in! But I’m also going to need some suggestions. I do have one…Kenneth Oppel’s Airborn series. The first two books were AMAZING! The last one was a little strange but still a fun read.
Maybe this will help me get through my Steampunk TBR pile.
So far I’ve been storing:
Steampunk by Ann VanderMeer and Jeff VanderMeer
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Burton & Swinburne in) by Mark Hodder
The Affinity Bridge (Newbury & Hobbes Investigations) by George Mann
Steamed: A Steampunk Romance by Katie MacAlister
Blameless by Gail Carriger
So many titles coming up already! Can’t wait to see what we all read and expose each other to!!
This is an interesting article about a forthcoming anthology, the place of steampunk in YA and has some author suggestions (most of which have been suggested).
http://io9.com/5272114/our-love-for-steampunk-is-a-longing-for-machines-that-dont-suck
Just wanted to pass this along. enjoy.
Hey! I’d love to join your challenge. I like to feature buttons on the sidebar of my blog of the different challenges I’ve entered, is it possible to have a smaller button for this challenge?
I will come up with another smaller button tonight. No problem! Thanks for joining! Please don’t forget to sign up with Mr. Linky, so we all know who to visit and where.
This is going to be a good reading year. Thanks to everybody who joined so far.
I will create a special page where we can link to our reviews and another one with reading suggestions, so we have all recommendations in one spot we can always come back to.
I’m so excited about this!
Great! The more the merrier!
Just offering my reading list from my research on steampunk. It contains most of the steampunk books published before this summer. I haven’t updated it recently enough to include books like Dreadnought by Cherie Priest or Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld. You’ll also find my top ten steampunk works listed there as well.
http://steampunkscholar.blogspot.com/p/brief-reviews-of-steampunk-books.html
http://steampunkscholar.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-steampunk-books.html
http://steampunkscholar.blogspot.com/2009/07/steampunk-scholars-reading-list-primary.html
Mike, thanks for showing up here. I had a look at your blog and will add it to the recom. page. Seems you know what there is to know about steampunk, whereas a lot of us (or at least I am) a total newbie.
So your help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Rikki
Thanks Rikki. I haven’t read it all, but I’m at around forty books read and still many to go. I like to think of myself as the librarian or archivist as opposed to expert, but thanks for the kudo.
I have just finished Soulless (Gail Carriger) and am now reading Boneshaker (C M Priest)
I have the rest of the Parasol Protectorate to go! Also read Extroardinary Engines this summer (Steampunk anthology)
I started reading William Gibson’s Difference Engine, but the font was too small!
Do audiobooks count? I enjoyed George Mann’s Affinity Bridge, but I wasn’t over enamoured with Windup Girl – I thought it was OK, but maybe not suited to listening too
Audio books count, of course. I’m not a big fan of them, but I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t be allowed. Besides, I don’t like challenges to be restrictive anyway.
Everybody read or listen to their hearts content.
I’m excited! Count me in!
What a fun challenge! I’m in…looking forward to all the wonderful reading
I’ll be blogging about it at http://texastypos.blogspot.com/ starting October…Yay!
Woohoo for more people reading Steampunk!
I see Mike Perschon’s already posted here — he reads more Steampunk than anyone else I know, and his suggestions are always spot-on.
For the YA folks, you can’t go wrong with Oppel’s Airborn or Arthur Slade’s Hunchback Assignments; and I highly suggest The Alchemy of Stone and Whitechapel Gods for the folks who want to go on the darker side of the genre.
I wouldn’t call Michael Moorcock the father of Steampunk, but only because his alternate history story series (A Nomad of the Time Streams is the collection) came roughly at the same time as Harry Harrison’s “A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!” and both are written in the sci-fi traditions of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.
If you want a direct ancestor of the genre, I’d go with the Verne/Wells one-two punch more than anything. And then add the Tim Powers/James Blaylock/K.W. Jeter trifecta from the 1980s into the mix.
But that’s me.
Hey Matthew, thanks for coming here. I’m glad some steampunk lovers are showing up here. I will add your blog and your recommendations to the link list on the recom. page. I@m sure it will be a great ressource.
The more we learn about the genre, the better.
I would like to join the Steampunk Challenge. I placed the button on my blog already.
Heather
Thanks, Heather, for joining and spreading the word by placing the button on your blog.
Count me in on this! I’m just starting to discover Steampunk and am LOVING it so far!
I’m looking forward to:
Dreadnought by Cherie Priest, sequel to Boneshaker
Sapphique (YA) by Catherine Fisher, sequel to Incarceron.
Behemoth (YA) by Scott Westerfeld, sequel to Leviathan.
Like MisterG, I wasn’t wholly enamoured with Bacigalupi’s Windup Girl, although I thoroughly enjoyed his YA novel Shipbreaker.
Others on the list:
Affinity Bridge, George Mann
Soulless, Gail Carriger
I just finished a review copy of Behemoth Nicole, and can tell you that your anticipation is well warranted.
That’s funny MrG – I totally had the inverse experience of those audiobooks. The narrator of Affinity Bridge grated on me, but I loved the Windup Girl. Different strokes!
I’m signing up to the steampunk challenge. Great idea. Hope I find a years worth to read, though, as I’ve been reading steampunk already for a couple of years!
Jean, I’m sure you will be able to give good recommendations since you’ve been reading steampunk already. A lot of us are fairly or altogether new to it. Thanks for joining.
Thanks to all the new participants for joining and for spreading the word. This is going to be fun!
Great challenge!
I have read all 3 of the Parasol Protectorate books (first two over summer vacation, third over Labor Day weekend)–they’re just delightful!
I agree w/ @Mike Perschon: The Affinity Bridge was OK, but a bit grating in spots (over-emphasis on action at the expense of character + coherent plot development IMO) and had the same problem with the Osiris Ritual. I’ll echo @Matthew Delman with the Tim Powers recommendation (The Anubis Gates).
Shipbreaker was AMAZING. Loved it. Looking forward to further adventures.
Can we get a discussion going on The Windup Girl?
I almost picked up The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack @ Borders in Chicago when I went for William Gibson’s signing of his new book Zero History but picked up a steampunk reader (whose title escapes me presently).
What a great challenge! Will add the button to my blog!
ONE NOTE: Would you please add Bruce Sterling’s name to your listing for The Difference Engine? He’s William Gibson’s co-author on the book.
Whitechapel Gods by S.M.Peters – Amazingly well done victorian England. I won’t give too much away, but read it!
I second that. Whitechapel Gods is a very good read. Not in my top ten, but worth checking out nonetheless. And yes, any description is a spoiler.
I will update the recom. list tonight and add all the books mentioned. I’m sure this will take some time, wow, I’m totally made up about how many people responded. Awesome!
@Mamalayne
I don’t see why we can’t get a discussion going about any book we like. Either on one of the blogs who post a review during the course of the challenge or we will figure out something else.
Thanks for spreading the word about the challenge.
I’ll add the co-author to The Difference engine to the book later today, too. Thanks for pointing this out.
I edit Exhibition Hall, a Steampunk fanzine, which does review of new and older Steampunk novels in just about every issue (October will feature Blameless, The Osiris Ritual and Steampunk Prime, along with Dreadnaught, if I can finish it fast enough).
http://efanzines.com/ExhibHall/index.htm is the link.
I also recommend three books to anyone who hasn’t read a lot of Steampunk: Perdido Street Station, The Anubis Gates and Souless.
Chris
Chris, thanks for coming here and linking us to the fanzine. I added the link and the books you mentioned to the recommendations page.
I’m looking forward to this!
Psyched. I read Perdido Street Station b4 all the Steampunk hoopla and have always and since considered China Mievelke to be THE seminal Steampunk writer par excellence. I really didn’t get as into Wind Up Girl before it’s duedate at my local library here. I thought I’d really like it based on the summaries everywhere and the excerpted segment on a new Thai cloned fruit/vegetable. I started getting drifty after that with book in hand. I am, however, recently notoriously shy of an attention span lately. Im sure others will be alluding to Perdido Street and I’d like some new reads but I’m not a Coghead in terms of being overwhelmed by exemplars of this au-courant genre-fiction (etc.) I like good strong literature first, genre is secondary to me. Perdido Street stood on it’s own. In general, excepting late work by Margaret Atwood (post-apocalyptic stuff) and Jeanette Winterson (Post-Apocalyptic stuff) and Jules Verne ALWAYS I’m not much of a Fantasist really. It should be a Steampunk Challenge 4 me indeed
Liz, thanks for joining. Perdidi Street Station seems to get very good reviews indeed. I think I will definitely put this on my reading llist.
I’m in!
http://vampiresandtofu.blogspot.com/2010/09/steampunk-challenge.html
Thanks for joining, Angelique, and for spreading the word.
I recommend the short story anthology, The Shadow Conspiracy:
http://www.bookviewcafe.com/index.php/BVP-The-Shadow-Conspiracy
The first story is a retelling of Mary Shelley’s summer of Frankenstein, only the “monster” is real. Each story builds on that in unexpected ways involving automatons, zombies, etc., and explore the ideas of creation and “soul.”
The book is only available as electronic download (in all formats) but is written by published, award-winning science fiction authors.
pooks, I will add the anthology to the recom. page. Thanks!
I’m definitely in! I’ve already read 3 or 4 steampunk books this year & I’m planning to read a lot more! I was just wondering will there be goals in the challenge or we can read as many as we like! I already know what my first book will be: “Thomas Riley” by Nick Valentino!
Here’s my blog so you can sign me up – http://my-book-obsession.blogspot.com/ I’ll do a post later 
Thanks for hosting 
Thanks for joining, Aleksandra.
No there are no goals other than exploring the genre and sharing our reviews with the others. I want this challenge to be low-key without pressure.
Great idea!
I’m a steampunk author and have had one novella published, The Devil in Chains, by the online magazine Pantechnicon a couple of years ago. It’s a slightly different take on steampunk, a mix of a present-day setting and the occult.
Anyway, you can grab it for free from my site. Being a novella, it’s also a fast read
http://www.adamchristopher.co.uk/?page_id=123
Thanks, Adam, for pointing us to your website. I will add the link to the recom. page. I’m sure we all appreciate a free read…Thanks!
Hi, Rikki! Here’s my challenge post: http://my-book-obsession.blogspot.com/2010/09/steampunk-challenge.html I’ll list the books I read there
Thanks again for hosting 
Thanks for the link and for spreading the word. Please, don’t forget to also link us up to your reviews on the challenge reviews page so we can all go and have a look.
Found out about your steampunk challenge from, A Little Bookish…
I haven’t read any steampunk yet, but I’ve been considering The Parasol Protectorate series for awhile now.
Here’s my blog URL:
http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/
I’m make a post about the challenge early next week and add your button….
Great idea for a challenge… I’m psyched, especially with all the great recommendations.
I went ahead and put up my post about the challenge… Here’s a link:
http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/2010/09/steampunk-challenge.html
Debbie, thanks for joining. Yes, the Parasol Protectorate series in also on my TBR list. I went and ordered Soulless today, as well as an anthology to get a little overview.
This is perfect! Please add me to your list! I am rewarding myself for getting my graduate assignments done on time by interspersing Steampunk literature
Strange, I know, but it makes sense for an English major that loves this genre!
I already have my review up for Boneshaker (loved it!) on my blog:
http://o-apostrophe.livejournal.com/
I can’t wait to add more reviews! And if I can figure out how to add the button, I will add that as well (still new to blogging….babysteps!)
Maria, thanks for joining. The challenge as a reward, that is a good reason to do it.
Please leave the link to your review on the reviews page, so everybody can find it easily.
I noticed that you have Thomas Riley next on your list. Somebody else mentioned that book here as well.
For the button, all you need to do is copy the code underneath the button and paste it into your sidebar where you would like to have it. However, I am not familiar with LJ at all, so I’m not sure if it is that easy.
I have been wanting to read me some Steampunk! LOL! This is a good reason for me to get started. Soulless was the book recommended most to me by my steampunk-reading friends, so The Parasol Protectorate series will be a must for me. I also have Westerfield’s Leviathan (although the heft of it is rather intimidating!) on my to-buy/to-read/wishlist. I like the fact that it stretches over a year, so that I can read them at my leisure. I think I will also re-read The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Thanks for the challenge!
Julie, thanks for joining.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is lying on my bedside table. After two pages I stopped reading. Graphic novels are just not for me even though I would really like to like them.
I always thought that Boneshaker would make a great graphic novel!
On the downside I managed to splash tea on my copy of Blameless. Ho hum; I’m sure Gail Carriger will forgive me as it was tea, and not coffee
Never mind a few tea stains. There are worse things for sure.
Reading this thread has convinced me to finally try Leviathan. I’ve read the Carriger series and liked it a lot so far. I’d love to have titles for some more “fun” steampunk rather than dark/serious.
So please, make suggestions!
I am wondering about this. Is steampunk mostly the dark stuff or is there some fun as well. I agree with you, I’m hoping to get some fun recommendations as well.
This sounds like a blast! I am a newbie at Steampunk too! I have read the first two Gail Carriger’s and have Blameless in my TBR! I can’t wait to get started! Please add me to the list of participants! Thanks.
Beverly @ The Wormhole
I’m in! I love this ever expanding genre. Here’s my link.
Sign me up I am ready to explore the genre.
http://eatingyabooks.blogspot.com
I am going to start with Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. I have been wanting to read this for awhile. I am an avid world war history buff, so this is right up my alley!
I think I’d like to give it a shot!!
Just need a library card now …
http://www.sarahreck.com/blog
Thanks!
Ooooo…count me in. I really like the Old West version of steampunk, so I’ll try my best to locate some of those as well.
Great, our little group is growing! I am going to post a list of participants with links to their blogs soon, just waiting a few more days until end of September.
I’m in. I’ve already started my reading but haven’t published my first review. Will wait until after Oct. 1.
Here’s my list. http://aetheric.teleopticator.net/?p=497
I’ve split my reading into what I consider to be the three main periods of Steampunk(-ish) literature. Scientific Romance (written before 1917) | Formative Steampunk (1972-2003) | Self-Conscious Steampunk (2000 – Present) If anyone knows if there is any Steampulp (1918 – 1971) out there, I would love to know.
Seems like your steampunk reading plans fit well with the challenge. You have already planned your reading list, that’s great. I will just go with the flow and see what sounds like something I might like.
Hey, if you have some reviews ready to post, just go ahead. Some people have already started linking to theirs.
So, how rigid is this? Okay to start reading the October book early?
(Leviathan is calling my name!)
pooks, not rigid at all. I’m no stickler for any kind of rules.
Go ahead and read!
We would like to participate. I have Boneshaker, Incarceron and a bunch of others so I’ll pull something from there.
Great challenge! This is one genre we’ve been meaning to get in to!
Laurie, Meg & Caity
Thanks for joining. It is going to be fun to explore the genre together.
Woohoo!
Dreadnought by Cherie Priest is out! Still reading Boneshaker, but I can’t wait. In fact, I don’t need to … it’s on Audible and I haven’t used up this month’s credit yet!
Go for it!
Sign me up for the challenge!
Thanks,
Marcie from
To Read or Not To Read
http://2readornot2read-loves2read.blogspot.com
Hi Marcie, glad you decided to join.
I’m thinking of this — If I can put together a nice list, I’ll be back to sign up.
Okay, I announced that I’m joining the challenge! I going to commit to two books. I don’t know yet what they’ll be but I’m excited about exploring this new to me genre.
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/2010/11/looking-to-2011-four-reading-challenges.html
Hi Beth, great to see you join us. 2 books or 20, it doesn’t matter, like I said. No pressure!
Sounds like a great idea. Have read Boneshaker and have enjoyed alot! Many ideas floating around in my head regarding Steampunk. Have no website.
Please sign me up for the challenge!
Beth, yes, let me know if you decide to sign up. That would be great.
David, I will add your name to the list. Are you on Goodreads or Shelfari maybe? That way you could still review and let us know about it.
BijouxIce, thanks for joining up.
Hi Rikki. I’ve just blogged about the challenge on my site, and put up the button linking back to this page. Looking forward to starting next month!
I am looking forward to participating in this challenge. Please count me in!
Dana, thanks for joining. I added you to the participants’ list.
*raises hand*
Pick me, please!
Definitely want to read Incarceron and Johannes Cabal the Detective
Hi Birdie, glad you joined…
Hello, I’d love to join the challenge!
Oooh, I want to sign up! Me me me! I have a bunch of Steampunk on my TBR list… Thanks!
Audelia and Maggie, welcome to the challenge!
I’d like to sign up! I’ve read Leviathan and the Soulless series, and I’m looking forward to reading more steampunk. Boneshaker is next on my list but I’d like to find others.
Sign me up!
I love Steampunk, but just don’t read enough of it.
http://www.ashleycrosby.com
Welcome curlygeek04 and Ashley!
Try the second book in Cherie Priest’s Clockwork Century – Boneshaker was good, but Dreadnought’s great:
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/09/review-cherie-priests-dreadnought
I have got to read the Cherie Priest books in this challenge. I’ve had Boneshaker on my virtual TBR list for a year. I’m glad that her second book is supposed to be awesome.
I loved Soulless by Gail Carriger, and have been wanting to read more steampunk ever since.
Sign me up for the challenge!
Lisa/BookChick @ http://bookchicksbookblog.blogspot.com/
I definitely want to sign up for this challenge! I have a lot of steampunk on my TBR list, especially for 2011.
Count me in! My post will be up in a few days. =)
http://wordforteens.com
Thanks for joining, Lisa, Christina and Nicole.
Count me in, as well, please.
R.
I would love to participate in this challenge. While I don’t have a blog site, I am on Goodreads.
Thanks for joining the challenge.
LibraryKatz, since you are on GR, do you want to give us your GR username?
My GR name is LibraryKatz.
I’m going to sign up-Steampunk sounds really interesting!
Welcome to the challenge, MJ.
Hi, I’d like to join!
But I don’t have a blog..
Welcome Sarah. Have you got a goodreads os shelfari account maybe?
I don’t have neither, but I can make one.. which one is better?
Well, it is not really necessary to have either, it would just be nice to see what participants are reading and you can leave reviews there etc.
It all depends on what you like better. Opinions are divided, I personally have both but prefer Goodreads, others like the look and the groups of Shelfari better. I’d have a look around and see which speaks more to you.
When you have decided what you want to do, let me know so I can add your user to the list of participants, ok?
Is it too late to sign up? I must admit that I know next to nothing about steampunkery but was perusing the internet looking for a suggested reading list when I stumbled upon this. I’d really really love to participate, I’m trying to write a kids story which I want to be steam-punkishly inspired and wanted to do some due diligence before I really got into the illustrations.
I hope I’m not too late!
No, it’s not too late at all. We are not that strict here. I’ll add you to the participants’ list, Michelle. Welcome!
I would like to sign up please. I have an idea for a steampunk story which would differ from the norm, in that instead of being Victorian, I would set in the time and place which invented the first steam engine, Ancient Greece, who invented the “aeolipile”, the first steam engine, although they saw it just as a toy – not in my story they don’t.
Also, I’d like to recommend some stories to the list. Bryan Talbot has created a series of graphic novels set in a steampunk world. The first was “Grandville”. The second, coming out in December, is “Grandville Mon Amour”.
Welcome, Ian, I added you to the list with your twitter handle. Steampunk in Ancient Greece, that seems to be unusual. I had to google the aeolipile, you are right, the first steam engine in its broadest sense was invented by an Ancient Greek. I suppose the geographical setting would be Egypt then?
I added your reading recommendation to the list as well. Thank you!
I was thinking of maybe creating a story where it is the Greeks that built a huge empire rather than the Romans and it is they who are invading Britain. However, I could start it in Eygpt and then build the story up.
I like the idea of a Greek empire and invasion of Britain. Very different.
Why thank you. ^_^
Can I join the contest too?
Hi! I would love to enter this challenge! I have been interested in this genre for a while, but now have the timespace to actively learn more, and do more research, and hopefully come up with some kick- ass illustrations! Thanks.
Sara, welcome to the challenge. Have you got a blog URL for us? Are you a Shelfari or Goodreads member?
No blog, at least for now, and any chance you could post a link w/ info. onb how to subscribe to become a member of either of the said groups? I am new to this site, and would like to dive in head first. Thanks.
I am now a Goodreads member, Than k you rikki, and as soon as I have something to blog about, I’ll post a link to my writing.com acct.
Ah, good, so you figured it out, Sara. Do you want to give me your GR username, so I can add you to my friends list?
Great reading challenge! Please count me in.
http://barbariancooks.blogspot.com
http://www.barbarianlibrarians.com
Thanks,
NK
Welcome, Narissa. I’m glad you joined.
this sounds like sooo much fun!! can i still sign up????
Of course, Mely. Welcome to the challenge.
I’m doing Steampunkery in November on my blog and will be reading/ reviewing/ giving away/ featuring (the list goes on) all things Steampunk! So I plan to read several! I have at least 10 sitting here waiting for me!
That sounds great, Candace. Maybe you could let me know when your Steampunk activities start so I can add you to the link list then.
I’d also love to see the list compiled! I haven’t had a chance to get into Steampunk literature, but spend a lot of time making steampunk jewelry, so it would be great to read more fiction about it!
Kristi, I had a look at your Etsy shop and love your jewelry, it looks awesome.
You can find the reading list that I have compiled so far on the “Reading Recommendations” page here:
http://www.rikkidonovan.com/index.php/steampunk-challenge-2/steampunk-reading-recommendations/
Thanks a lot, Rikki! I’m glad you like my work, if anyone would like my offbeat pieces, I would hope it was this community!
I look forward to reading my way through the list you’ve provided. Have you ever heard of the Ning network, the Steampunk Emporium? It’s here: http://www.thesteampunkempire.com and I know there are a lot of people on there who talk books all the time. I’m on there as well, you can find me if you search for “Faulkes.”
Well, cheers, and thanks again!
Hi there, I’d like to participate. Actually my first book for the challenge is already in the works. I’m currently listening to Leviathan.
Great idea, thanks for organizing.
Hi Alex, welcome to the challenge.
Hi there I’d really like to participate. I want to read Clockwork Angel by Clarisse Clare. And I want to finish reading Angel of the Revolution byt George Griffith written in 1893. It seems very much like steampunk so I want to compare it to what we have today.
Hi Ziza, welcome to the Steampunk challenge.
Hi, I’d love to join the challenge. I just found out about it through another blog (Huff’s Much Madness is Divinest Sense) and I’m really excited to read some Steampunk lit. I am a high school English teacher and I am always on the lookout for books to bring into my classroom. I am even toying with the idea of a Steampunk unit or elective class…
Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Kristin, welcome.
All the newcomers without a blog. Have you got a GR or Shelfari account where you post your reviews? If so, please let me know so I can add them to the list.
I would love to join in the fun!
I’ve been out of the steampunk loop for about a year now and can’t wait to jump back in with this challenge! I’m hoping this will inspire me to get my prolepsis project restarted.
^_^
Hi December, welcome.
Glad you are getting back into it again. Oh, btw. this challenge doesn’t give a number of books, everybody reads as many or as few as they want. Read one or read a hundred. It’s totally up to you.
I’ll shoot for 100. I’m a big reader (you’ll never find me without at least one book…or three…in my purse) so this shouldn’t be a problem.
I’m looking forward to it with my first review posted on my blog for The Court of the Air…however, I kinda suck with reviews unless I don’t like the book then I suddenly have the ability to rip it apart…verbally I mean.
How do you keep track of what we read? I honbestly am not a blogger and I don’t read blogs; can I just post the books here when I’m done?
Well, originally I thought we’d all link to our reviews on the reviews page, but there seem to be some people who either post their reviews on Goodreads or Shelfari (that’s why I added the username where necessary) or they don’t post reviews at all.
In that case I suggest you just post a comment on the reviews page that you read a book and maybe your thoughts on it.
Is it too late to sign up? I’d love to participate!
Hi Christine, welcome. Quite a coincidence to meet you here. I saw your novella available on netgalley just a couple of days ago and thought that it might be something for me, I read a lot of m/m and it is Steampunk as well.
I think I will have to get it.
Oh, btw, not at all too late to sign up, of course.
Time to get a GoodReads account and give you the user name!
“misterg”
I’ve put a couple of short reviews up (Soulless et al, Boneshaker, Difference Engine) and rated a few others. I will update the rated ones with proper reviews later
Thanks for the update. I will have a look today. I read Soulless only recently and liked it quite a bit.
I’ve been looking for a good excuse to work a pen.
Go ahead. Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Hi, I’d like to sign up if I still can please!
Jen @ http://magicfaeriesparanormalreview.blogspot.com/
Of course you can, Jen. Welcome!
If it’s not too late to sign up, I like to give this a try.
Sure you can. Welcome!
I’m glad it’s not too late. I just created a Steampunk bookshelf over at Goodreads so I could get organized to dive into this genre.
Charlie
http://www.bitsyblingbooks.com
I will add to my 2011 challenge list even though I get to start right away! Yay!
Thanks for adding me to the challenge list.
Hi Charlie, welcome to the challenge!
ARGH! I’ve experienced my very own e-nightmare. On Thanksgiving my domain name (Bitsy Bling Books) was hijacked and sold. I didn’t even know this was possible. Records at Go Daddy were ‘compromised.’ I’m currently scrambling to retrieve and move Bitsy to a new URL. I’m so sorry about the hassle. Could you please admin. my url link for this challenge? BIG thanks.
New challenge page: http://bitsybling.blogspot.com/p/2011-reading-challenges.html
NEW main website: http://bitsybling.blogspot.com
What a nightmare that must be, Charlie. Hope everything will get sorted out soon.
I changed your URL, no problem.
I managed to lose the contents of my blog’s sidebars and no longer have the code to put this avatar/link in. Where is it, please?
Never mind, I found it!
I will be participating in the Steampunk challenge. My website is http://www.duskyliterati.com. Should be fun.
Welcome to the challenge.
Sounds awesome! Sign me up.
Hi Jupiter, and welcome!
I tried to resist…
I really did.
Still signed up though!
Hi Darren, welcome!
this is amazing!!! sign me up! *bounces about*
Hey there…^^
I just stumbled upon your challenge and I’m, to say the least, thrthrthr…thrilled and pretty eager to get going xD
So could you please add me to the list of participants?
xoxo
Hi Rikki,
Please add me to the list of participants. I have one or two Steampunk novels on my book shelf, plus a few I’ve had my eye on at the library, so hopefully this challenge will motivate me to read them! Thanks!
Christine @ the happily ever after… (http://theromanticlife.blogspot.com)
Hi Rikki,
I am little late to the party but I would like to join in too! I recently read my first steam punk novel and would love to try out some more.
Shannon from Books Devoured
http://www.BooksDevoured.blogspot.com
Welcome, BlackEyedDog, Shannon and Christine. A little late doesn’t matter at all. And the more the merrier.
Hi. I’m not sure I signed up for this challenge or not but I would love to participate. What a great idea!
Laurie (ReaderGirls)
Hi Laurie, I don’t think you have signed up yet, but I will add you to the list of participants now. Welcome!
Oh, I was wrong, you DID sign up together with Meg and Caity.
Started late but almost finished with my first!
Rikki, I’m not sure where this should go, and you may already know about it, but steampunk.com is taking nominations for best steampunk novel of 2010:
http://www.steampunk.com/pick-the-steampunk-book-of-the-year/
If nothing else, once the nominations are public, there may be new books to add to our list!
Thanks, pooks, for letting me know. I wrote a short blog post about it.
Technically, I’ve been participating, but I don’t think I ever formally signed up…. Time to play catch up.
Welcome Trisha
I’d love to join!
P.S. do comics count?
Welcome Orhedea.
Yes, graphic novels definitely count.
Is it too late to join the challenge? Are there any specific requirements, like # of books, etc? Thanks!
Sure you can still join, Emily. No, there are no requirements as to the number of books etc. Just have fun!
Yay! I’m new to steampunk, so I’m really excited about this
Seen the results of the book of the year at Steampunk.com? Boneshaker FTW!
MisterG, I wasn’t aware that they have already announced the winner. Thanks for the heads up.
If it’s not too late to join, I would definitely like to sign up!
http://poodlerat2.bellonae.com/
Welcome, poodlerat. Your link doesn’t seem to work. Would you check, please. I’d like to add it to the list of participants. Thanks!
Hi! I would like to join the challenge.
Greetings,
Tiina
Welcome, Tiina. Thanks for joining.
Rikki -
Not sure if I commented about this challenge or not. But here is the post which was posted some time ago. We have a few reviews – John has already completed that I will be adding to the list at the end of January.
Here is the challenge post url – http://www.layersofthought.net/2010/11/steampunk-challenge-october-2010-to.html
Posted November 3rd.
Apologies if I already commented. Thanks!
Sign me up please!
http://lostinagoodstory.blogspot.com/2010/12/steampunk-challenge.html
Thanks,
joanna
Hi Joanna, welcome and thank for joining.
I’ve joined some reading challenges already but I would love to join this one. I’m a big steampunk fan but haven’t read much books in the genre so this would be a good start. Did I get it right that there is no specific number of books I need to read, just as many as I want?
My link is:
http://mybookaddiction.blogspot.com/
Welcome bookgirl!
Yes, that’s right, there is NO requirement as to how many books to read. Just have fun!
I’m a little late, but I’d love to join. I’ve read Kenneth Oppel’s Airborn series and Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker. I’d love to read more steampunk.
Welcome, Amanda. It’s never too late to join.
as a school librarian in a middle school, i am wanting to learn move about this genre.
students in grades 6-8 have enjoyed scott westerfields’s books and i would like to
get more of the same for them.
Thanks for this challenge! I have just discovered this genre and I can’t wait to read more. Here is my post about this challenge:
http://libraryofcleanreads.blogspot.com/2011/01/steampunk-challenge.html
Mar, I am sure you will find lots of ideas for your students when you go to the reviews page.
Laura, thanks for joining. I saw you have both Westrfield books on your TBR list. They are also sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.
What a great challenge!
~Suzanne
Seeing as how I have a lot of steampunk on my to-read list, might as well join a challenge
http://www.read-all-over.net/reading-challenges/
Welcome Teresa!
Please add me to the list!
Alison DeLuca’s last post ..The Minnow Leads to Treasure- by A Philippa Pearce
Welcome Alison! Will do.
A great challenge, I know it is late but can I still join, would love to participate. I am reading a bit of steampunk this year anyway, my blog can be found here if interested; http://garlicandsapphires-sarah.blogspot.com/ Just going off to check everyones reviews and recomendations now.
A reader (Sarah)’s last post ..Wide Sargasso Sea, a novel that embodies the full range of post modern themes.
Welcome, Sarah! Better late than never,
.
I am interested in the concept of “steampunk” but is the challenge that we READ a lot of them or WRITE one?
Sincerely,
Connie (Corcoran) Wilson, M.S.
Authof of “Out of Time” (www.OutofTimetheNovel.com)
Hellfire & Damnation (www.HellfireandDamnationtheBook)
It Came from the Seventies (nonfiction) – http://www.ItCamefromtheSeventies.com
Ghostly Tales of Route 66 (www.GhostlyTales of Route 66)
and the forthcoming “The Color of Evil” (www.ConnieCWilson.com)
Connie, generally the challenge is for READERS who want to explore the genre, but we also have one or two people participating who WRITE, e.g. Ariel.
The flash fiction writing contest was in addition to the reading challenge. So feel free to either read or write. But, in any case, let us know about it!