*SFN* | A Book Showcase [focused on] Steampunk!

Posted Sunday, 3 November, 2013 by jorielov , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

SFN Feature badge created by Jorie in Canva

IF I were to be completely honest, I have been intrigued with the world of Steampunk for many, many moons as I simply adore the style of dress, the artwork of illustrators & indie visual artists, the motion pictures that bring a bit of Steampunkiness to the story-lines (especially the last Three Musketeers & The Invention of Hugo Cabret!), and of course, the idea of having the technology of Steampunk fused and fixed in the Victorian age whilst the regular time continuum shifts forward through the centuries! Now, that is something that I think most can appreciate because Steam Energy and Technology is a cleaner resource than those that were utilized in the Industrial Revolution. I have never known honestly how to jump-dash into the Steam-side of Literature, as I even was so bold and daring as to contact the largest SteamCon over on the West Coast about how one would go about digging into Steam novels — only to be returned a short notice that due to the vastness of the genre, it’s up to each reader to decide! Aye! How then, did I sort it out!? Let me tell you!

Prior to a fortuitous evening at my local library, I took part in The Clockwork Carnival which served as my Introduction to the literary side of Steampunk! Whereupon I read my first-ever novel set in a Steampunk world that revolved around automation! Prior to this contribution piece where I read the novel “The Clockwork Man”, I hadn’t realised that the genre of Steam was as far-fetching as the SteamCon had led me to believe! For instance, when you first start to research books & authors to read, you’re going to run into a few hurdles, especially if you’re at your local library as the card catalogue can only give you certain cross-reference word searches! Of which, limitations pursue, because you’re not always given the direct line of results you’re looking for as I would search for: cogs, clocks, clockwork, steam, steampunk, Victorian London, etc. Some of the best Steam books do not even come up cross-referenced as you think they would be listed but rather are listed as something else entirely! Such as the main subjects that are contained in the book rather than the genre by which the book is attached! A bit frustrating but I must be making progress because for this SFN Reading Challenge I harnessed for myself, I found quite a few new selections that I hadn’t discovered back during “The Clockwork Carnival!”

I do hope you will take the time to click-through to read my piece on The Clockwork Man, because its such a humbling story that emotes such a level of humanity through its wholly unusual lead character! I was taken by his willingness to learn how to adapt to our society, but also, how to love, how to feel, and how to properly live! I wonder if anyone else has read this novel by the indie author William Jablonsky!?

After I read it, I had it in mind to pick up the other alternates I had selected to read during that time, but alas! Time and life tend to run into our blogging affairs every so often, and I was detained! I decided to hold off until another moment arrived where Steampunk could be the main focus again! (hmm, did I have to wait long? winks!) Whilst I tabled reading those selections, I had the pleasure of being given the opportunity to read another indie author’s novel set in a post-apocalypse Steampunk world, where I would imagine it would be considered part Dsytopian as well!? I am referring to “The Boxcar Baby” by J.L. Mulihill, in which the main character is taking a quest to find her long-lost Papa!? As you will read in that review, I was left with mixed feelings when I came to the conclusion of the story. However, what it did for me was open up my eyes further to the wide expanse this genre affords us to read! Each time I find a new book that is of Steampunk nature, I get a bit giddy inside for where I will be led next! Reading is a learning curve, as each book and author you stumble across as your seeking what you’re looking for will be a step closer to where you hope to arrive!

I was originally intending to start off my Steampunk Book Showcase with the selection of “The Iron Wyrm Affair” as its been one of those books that starts to vex you because you keep having to return it and re-check it out again!? I was thinking this would have been perfect timing for me to consume it, only I was not alone in this thinking, as it is quite high in the hold que! Either that, or perhaps a sequel is due out and everyone is trying to re-read the beginning! I do notice that that can happen as well! Instead I am thinking that my first selection could be “The Dark Unwinding” by Sharon Cameron, as I speculate this based on what I read of the author’s website just the other day! I haven’t yet opened the book because I must confess, I am running a bit behind on my SFN writings & readings due to the fact I get a bit addicted to visiting all your lovely SFN blogs!! I get caught up in the social aspects of the event, to where I burnt so much midnight oil on the first three days of SFN, I had to crash a bit earlier today in order to make up the deficient in sleep! Don’t misunderstand me – I am not complaining, but my posts are being drawn out a bit longer to post due to this! Plus, too, let’s face it during lunch I decided to see a new Hallmark Thanksgiving movie entitled: “The Thanksgiving House” which was a lovely addition to the holiday film season!

I am only in the beginnings of my journey into this wicked genre, which is why I do not have too much to disclose in this opening post, as I find that each book brings me a bit closer to understanding it overall! I would love to open up a discussion thread though right now, and encourage anyone who has had history with Steampunk in Literature to post a link back to a post on your own blog that delves into how you came to start reading Steampunk &/or of whom your favourite authors, stand-alone novels, and Steam serial books would be!? Be sure to come back to this post to attach the link of your post in the comments! ONLY link directly to the post you created on this topic, DO NOT link to the main page of your blog! I will be checking! Thank you! I cannot wait to see what everyone’s post!! :)

In the interim, these are the books I pulled from my local library to explore this month:

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron – A most excellent choice! Started to read on 17 November!
The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi
Steamed: A Steampunk Romance by Kate MacAlister
Not Less For Gods by Kage Baker
Steampunk: An Anthology by
Ann Vandermeer
The Clockwork Universe by Edward Dolnick
Mainspring by Jay Lake
Airborn by Kenneth Opel

I selected each of them for different reasons, as I wanted to see how far I could push myself into the realms of the genre itself. I am not even sure if the settings, plot, and characters will be ones that I can warm myself up too properly, as that is all part of the discovery process, but those that I do warm too are going to be reviewed during SFN! Again, I am running a bit behind in this, as my first Steampunk review might post on the 10th rather than the 3rd as I am just this shy of falling asleep on my keyboard!

I would be curious to hear from you, dear hearts, if you have perhaps read one of these books yourself, what your lasting impression was of them, and if you have a few book selections to provide me for future Steampunky readings!?

This feature is brought to you by:

Sci-Fi November | Hosted by Rinn Reads{SOURCES: Sci-Fi November Badge provided by Rinn Reads for participants to advert the month long event and to encourage people to follow along with those of us who are contributing! SFN badge used with permission. SFN Feature badge created by Jorie in Canva.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2013.

About jorielov

I am self-educated through local libraries and alternative education opportunities. I am a writer by trade and I cured a ten-year writer’s block by the discovery of Nanowrimo in November 2008. The event changed my life by re-establishing my muse and solidifying my path. Five years later whilst exploring the bookish blogosphere I decided to become a book blogger. I am a champion of wordsmiths who evoke a visceral experience in narrative. I write comprehensive book showcases electing to get into the heart of my reading observations. I dance through genres seeking literary enlightenment and enchantment. Starting in Autumn 2013 I became a blog book tour hostess featuring books and authors. I joined The Classics Club in January 2014 to seek out appreciators of the timeless works of literature whose breadth of scope and voice resonate with us all.

"I write my heart out and own my writing after it has spilt out of the pen." - self quote (Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story)

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Posted Sunday, 3 November, 2013 by jorielov in Alternative History, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Bookish Discussions, Dystopian, Horror, Indie Author, Library Find, Library Love, Sci-Fi November, Science Fiction, SFN Bingo, Speculative Fiction, Steampunk, Tomorrow Comes Media, Young Adult Fiction




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6 responses to “*SFN* | A Book Showcase [focused on] Steampunk!

  1. Although it has more horror elements than steampunk, I have to recommend Incarnation by Emma Cornwall – a wonderfully surprising retelling of Stoker’s Dracula. I’m currently reading Leviathan and LOVING it =)

    I shall have to look into your selection of books, and will be taking some recommendations from this feature as steampunk is definitely something I’d like to read more of.

    • Hallo Rinn,

      Yes, as I was telling William, I know of Leviathan but I am not sure if I can handle *that world!* due to the level of violence and intensity of the story! I deeply appreciate the artwork and illustrations though! :) Maybe you both could ease my worriment over reading it OR confirm I am right!? Now, the book you suggested to me is interesting because I haven’t read Dracula in its original incantation! When you say ‘horror’ does it cross the barrier out of psychological suspense and dives into grisly and gruesome!? IF so, I might have to forestall reading it! I have trouble when my stomach turns queasy on certain things like that, which is generally why I avoid ‘horror’ completely!

  2. Ah, The Iron Wyrm Affair… I read that and its sequel The Red Plague Affair in August, and I have to say I did not like either of them as much as some of my other steampunk reads. I also felt like there was too much of a time gap story-wise between the two books. There was talk of Bannon and Clare having had a few more adventures together, but I’d have much preferred to see them as at times in Bannon’s narration she’d go on about how old Clare had gotten and I was just like ‘huh?’ Both are still good reads, but there are better ones out there in my opinion. I will say, too, that The Red Plague Affair got to me at times. But then, it is about a plague and death so…. Yeah.

    Alas I haven’t read any of the books on your list so I can’t be of any help with those, but I am looking forward to reading what you think about them!

    • Hallo Christine!

      You always light up my blog with a lot of joy! :) Its interesting that your mentioning this about Iron Wyrm, as a few other bookish friends of mine who are familiar with the book & the series were lamenting the same! I wasn’t sure exactly as to why, as they were going to let me read it and find out for myself, but you gave me a bit of a further clue into what could be causing the fissure amongst readers,… maybe it was a good thing the book is forever on hold!?

      Eek! I’m as excited as everyone else to read these books!! I only had to delay the first one from posting yesterday to posting next weekend, as I literally overspent my midnight hours!! Its always fun to be on the brink of diving into new stories!! I look forward to seeing you alight as the reviews take shape (&/or in December whilst recovering from Nano!)!!

  3. I love the whole idea of Steampunk, but haven’t really read much of it yet. I really enjoyed Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series and now I’ll need to check out some of the books you mentioned.

    • Hallo William!

      Nice to see you! Actually, if you click over to my fortuitous library experience you will find that I was speaking about the art & illustrations of the Leviathan series as being some of the best that I have come across, yet it is plausible that I may not read the series! I’m a bit worried on how far the envelope is pushed,.. like you, I have been so enthralled with the concept of Steampunk and with the lifestyle-esque of Steampunk culture, that the one aspect I had forgotten to give more focus on is the literature! I even have sought out a few Steam gatherings which are in my sidebar!

      I am thankful that I selected a few books that drew your eye!

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