This is a rather beautiful map of book recommendations in the fantasy and scifi fields, based on personal preferences.
It’s such a good idea I plan to make one just for steampunk – make your recommendations now or forever hold your peace 🙂
This is a rather beautiful map of book recommendations in the fantasy and scifi fields, based on personal preferences.
It’s such a good idea I plan to make one just for steampunk – make your recommendations now or forever hold your peace 🙂
I write books (mainly adventure fantasy for kids and young adults), real-time twittertales, and a blog of Daily Awesomeness. @Louise_Curtis_ and http://twittertales.wordpress.com. My fantasy ebook is on sale at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/278981. View more posts
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I’ma go with Jeff VanderMeer’s Ambergris stuff – it falls under the wide definition of steampunk, although it’s probably better described as fungusnoir.
Joe: He’s best known for the steampunk Bible, so he certainly deserves to be represented. Which title would you say is his first in the Ambergris stuff?
(Also, I note that by following that chart, it’s poissible to end up at A Canticle For Leibowitz without knowing what you’re getting into. You really ought to put some kind of warning on this entry that that can happen.)
Joe: What’s A Canticle for Leibowitz?
I’m obsessed with protecting readers from traumatic triggers in fiction, so it’ll be clear on my chart if it’s kids, YA, adult – and dark or light.
It’s adult, and it’s not triggery so much as bleak – like, it’s one of those books about how we’re all going to die in nuclear fire. It’s one of the most depressing things I’ve ever read. As far as the VanderMeer stuff goes, my understanding is that the series goes City of Saints & Madmen – Shriek – Finch.
Joe: I’ll see if I can get City of Saints from the library.
What a brilliant flow chart, thanks for the link!!
Stace: I know! I give it a week until it starts popping up on the major writerly blogs.
N.K. Jemisin’s The Effluent Engine is my current favorite. Warning for language, but all told an absolutely wonderful story!
jaqbuncad: I can handle a bit of language. Thanks for the recommendation.
Unfortunately, The Effluent Engine isn’t available from my local library. Oh well – I mostly read YA fantasy that isn’t too epic or magic-focused.
Oh bother, didn’t I link it? You’ll have to scroll down, but you can read it online, for free! It’s also in the anthology Steam-Powered: Lesbian Steampunk Stories.
jaqbuncad: Oh! It’s a short story. No wonder I didn’t find it at the library. Thank you.
I just finished reading the story – it was excellent. Too bad I’ve decided not to include short stories on the steampunk map, or I’d include it.