CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Sorry mods if this is the wrong place to post this.

Hey guys! I really want to get into the steampunk genre, but I have no idea where to start. Are there any titles that fit this genre you would recommend to me?

Content wise: Well, I'm basically open to anything so long as there are no graphic depictions of gore/blood, sex, explicit language, or anything bashing Christianity (though most religious themes don't bother me). I should also mention that I'm able to read more violence than see more violence if you get my meaning. I just don't want to read anything that just get's.....gross or too sensual.

So yeah, I'm basically trying out a new genre. OH! And feel free to talk about your favorite titles of this genre here. I know there has got to be a few steampunk fans here. :3!

Check out the Wikipedia article on steampunk works.

I personally have read The Boneshaker by Cherie Priest which is a great steampunk book that I highly recommend. It's part of a trilogy called The Clockwork Century that's all steampunk.

Steampunk edited by Jeff VanderMeer and Ann VanderMeer is also pretty highly regarded. It's a collection of short stories that are steampunk.

The Difference Engine is considered a steampunk classic

The Somnambulist is one that I'm looking into, myself- it looks simply fanscinating!

Once again, I have to bring up is the Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve (who has also written a steampunk space opera series called Larklight - I haven't read it yet).

It's set in the far future, but it definitely fits in the genre: semi-Victorian adventurers and attitudes, lost technology, airships and a post-apocalyptic setting. Also, it's got cities that drive around and eat each other. Currently, there are six books in the series (five of which that have been released in the US), split into the now-concluded main series (Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Infernal Devices, and A Darkling Plain) and the Fever Crumb prequels [Fever Crumb, A Web of Air (not in the US)].

In the main series, the first and last books are the best (especially the last), and Predator's Gold is the weakest, but they're all enjoyable, and you have to read all of them to understand the last one.

I personally really like Stephen Hunter, he's a really good writer, but I don't know about the content thing, but He's a good writer very Steampunk.

Thank you guys so much! This is very helpful. !

I don't think The Difference Engine is a good suggestion. Sure it's considered by many to be the book that started the genre but I couldn't get past the first 50 pages (lots of sex and some of it quite grapic). I don't know if the rest of the book is different, you'd hope so.

Warrior 4 Jesus (post: 1444702) wrote:I don't think The Difference Engine is a good suggestion. Sure it's considered by many to be the book that started the genre but I couldn't get past the first 50 pages (lots of sex and some of it quite grapic). I don't know if the rest of the book is different, you'd hope so.

You know, I only got about 10 pages in- I was in the middle of reading a whole ton of books, so it got pushed aside. So if it's that bad, then yeah, I'd recommend skipping it. THere are other genre-setting steamunk books with better content.

Airman by Eoin Colfer

Pretty much totally clean (a little violence and swearing) with a plot that is best described as Steampunk Batman in Ireland. Very well written, adventurous, and certainly not as obnoxious as most young adult novels (even though it is marketed as such). Check it out.

ich1990 (post: 1444787) wrote:Airman by Eoin Colfer

Pretty much totally clean (a little violence and swearing) with a plot that is best described as Steampunk Batman in Ireland. Very well written, adventurous, and certainly not as obnoxious as most young adult novels (even though it is marketed as such). Check it out.

Oh! I love that author! He worte Artemis Fowl, right? I have a feeling I'll like that book. :3!

steenajack (post: 1444898) wrote:Oh! I love that author! He worte Artemis Fowl, right? I have a feeling I'll like that book. :3!

Yes, it is the same author. For comparison's sake, I liked Airman as well as, if not better than the first four Artemis Fowl books. It was certainly better than the later installments in the series.

I just thought of one: The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix.

BTW, thank you guys so much for all these titles, I really appreciate it.

Belated, I know, but I just finished an awesome steampunk calledLeviathan by Scott Weterfeld. It definitely is the first book in a series, and I will be watching for when the next one comes out!

Atria35 (post: 1462954) wrote:Belated, I know, but I just finished an awesome steampunk calledLeviathan by Scott Weterfeld. It definitely is the first book in a series, and I will be watching for when the next one comes out!

Well, at least you liked it. I thought the concept was excellent (World War 1, only with dieselpunk vs. biopunk!) but the execution was lacking. Things like reliance on catchphrases and slang grated on me, and it just felt like it lacked a real spark. I dunno; I guess I'll have to read it again, but it didn't really endear itself to me.

Also, the second one (Behemoth) appears to be out - maybe that'll change my mind about the series.

Not every book is for everyone- I thought it was great, but I can get caught up in world-building, and genuinely liked the characters- enough that I may be riding the high off of that and not able to notice many flaws.

But I will definitely be checking out the second book!

ich1990 (post: 1444787) wrote:Airman by Eoin Colfer

Pretty much totally clean (a little violence and swearing) with a plot that is best described as Steampunk Batman in Ireland. Very well written, adventurous, and certainly not as obnoxious as most young adult novels (even though it is marketed as such). Check it out.

I double recommend this book. I first heard it on audiobook, and I'd recommend that as well. (The somewhat Irish accent is great!)

Atria35 (post: 1462954) wrote:Belated, I know, but I just finished an awesome steampunk calledLeviathan by Scott Weterfeld. It definitely is the first book in a series, and I will be watching for when the next one comes out!

I'll also double recommend this book. I like it quite a bit. Behemoth, the second book in the series, is also quite good. The major content issue is that Darwinism and evolution are very important parts of the story. There are a couple other issues that I can't remember right now, but I don't think those are anything major.

Tamachan319 (post: 1463072) wrote:I'll also double recommend this book. I like it quite a bit. Behemoth, the second book in the series, is also quite good. The major content issue is that Darwinism and evolution are very important parts of the story. There are a couple other issues that I can't remember right now, but I don't think those are anything major.

The funny thing is, it's used incorrectly/referred to in the wrong way. 'Darwinists', in the book, are people who are for genetic modifications for animals. Evolution is mentioned in passing. And the author messes with history with it- Darwin didn't only theorize evolution, his main contribution was discovering DNA.

But the genetic modification of animals is very important to the story since, as Davidizer mentioned, WWI is being waged among people who are Darwinists (think the gen. modified animals are superior), and the Clankers (people who believe that machines are superior).

rocklobster (post: 1454930) wrote:I just thought of one: The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix.

I just finished the third book in that series, very good books.