Steampunk

Love steampunk? Love making things yourself? Check out these great DIY steampunk books.

Needles and Artifice : a refined adventure story with ingenious knitting patterns edited by Shannon Okey.

I love the idea of this book. Not only does it teach you some great patterns but you get a story too!

"Gentle ladies and kind sirs: welcome to the world of Needles and Artifice, where corseted Victorian fashion gets an energized infusion of punk. In this fantastically playful take on steampunk knitwear design, the Ladies of Mischief offer not only 23 original patterns, but also a high-flying, busk-snapping adventure that plays out across each chapter. Pull on your goggles and spats, knitters: you're in for a wild ride" back cover.

Steampunk Accessories : 20 projects to help you nail the style, from goggles to cell phone cases, pocket gauntlets, and jewelry by Nicola Tedman

This book is a great starting place for that perfect steampunk outfit. My favorite project in this book is “the adventurer’s belt” which looks and sounds fabulous.

“Steampunk enthusiasts are imaginative dressers. But when it comes to accessorizing the perfect steampunk costume, it can be hard to find what you’re looking for in stores or online. So here’s a complete guide to making your own distinct accessories with ease!”  back cover

Steampunk Softies : scientifically minded dolls from a past that never was by Sarah Skeate

This book will teach you how to make some truly unique dolls. I like that they all have a small backstory and fantastical names.

“Meet the Steampunk Softies, a charmingly raffish cast of characters for you to make, each with his or her own unique personality. From Charity Storm, the aviatrix who sports a set of built-in wings, to Tompion Zeitgeist, the sinister illusionist with mesmerizing eyes, each of the eight softies has a story to tell and all are firmly rooted in a past that never quite existed.”  back cover

Steampunk Tea Party: from cakes & toffees to jams & teas : 30 Neo-Victorian steampunk recipes from far-flung galaxies, underwater worlds & airborne excursions by Jema Emilly Ladybird Hewitt.

Yum is all I can say about this book. I love the idea of a tea party, especially the sweets! This book will help you throw the perfect steampunk tea party. It teaches you to make everything from “Gingerbread Woppits” to “Lunar Regimental Chutney”.

"Join Miss Emilly Ladybird on a delicious adventure as she travels to fascinating destinations--just in time for tea! Whether enjoying a relaxing tea ceremony in Shangri-La or protecting Her Majesty's tea and cake against Martians, her exploits will be both tantalizing and tasty!"--From publisher.

New Year = New Series

Why not start off the new year with a brand new series? Listed below are but a few of the new series from 2013. There is something here for almost every reader: something funny, something heart wrenching, something disturbing, something out of this world....

The Bone Season (Scion series)
by Samantha Shannon (M)

*Starred Review* We are the minority the world does not accept, Paige Mahoney tells us, referring to the struggles of clairvoyants, from soothsayers and mediums to her own high standing as a dreamwalker. In Shannon's galvanic debut, the first in a series of seven novels, she brings us to Scion, a totalitarian state in England circa 2059, where voyants are designated unnatural and clairvoyance is outlawed. Torn from her beloved home in Ireland as a misfit girl, Paige, whose exceptional psychic powers are matched by nearly superhero physical prowess, found sanctuary in London's criminal underworld, working for Jaxon Hall, a gang leader in the clairvoyant syndicate, until her arrest.... The result is a dazzlingly brainy, witty, and bewitching tale of outrageous courage, heroic compassion, transcendent love, and the quest for freedom" - Booklist

Vanished: a novel (Private Justice series)
by Irene Hannon (M)

"Late one dark, rainy night, newspaper reporter Moira Harrison hits a woman frantically waving at her from the middle of an unlit rural road. Moira does her best to stop her car, but it spins out of control. Moira desperately informs the Good Samaritan who stops a few minutes later about the struck woman, and, after helping Moira, he assures her he will take care of matters. When Moira wakes up in her car an hour later, there is absolutely no evidence of either the woman or the man. The police believe Moira may have been imagining things due to the concussion she received, but Moira knows she saw a woman in the road. The only one willing to help Moira is private detective Cal Burke. Double-RITA winner Hannon begins a new romantic-suspense series, and this novel's fast-paced plot and compelling characters (including a surprisingly complex villain) make it an excellent suggestion for inspirational-fiction fans as well as readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark's subtly chilling brand of suspense." - Booklist

The Dance: a novel (the Restoration series)
by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley (M)

"Renowned relationship-expert Smalley joins with award-winning novelist Walsh to create a heart-wrenching portrait of a painful marriage. The story of Jim and Marilyn Anderson feels as true as any real couple's, thanks to Smalley's years as a counselor and Walsh's excellent attention to detail. Like many women, Marilyn, decades into her marriage, finds herself feeling unloved and disconnected from her husband. Jim prides himself on being the head of his home in a biblical manner, and he's shocked and furious when he discovers that Marilyn has decided to leave him. What will their grown children think? How will their community accept it? Jim's world has crumbled, while Marilyn has rebuilt hers. Then, on separate paths, Marilyn and Jim both begin to find healing through ballroom dancing. Jim hopes to win Marilyn back, but her heart may be far too hardened after years of neglect. Readers will be totally drawn into their emotional journey as the wounds, large and small, continue to reveal themselves in the Andersons' marriage." - Booklist

A Conspiracy of Alchemists (Chronicles of Light and Shadow)
by Liesel Schwarz (M)

"The first book of the Chronicles of Light and Shadow series, starring the spunky dirigible pilot Elle Chance and the handsome warlock Marsh. Set during the Belle Epoque, Conspiracy is a thrilling and inventive historical fantasy, where the myths and legends of Old Europe live side by side with the wondrous creations of modern scientists and aviators. It's also set in a world haunted by vampires, fairies, and other supernatural creatures. And it mixes a thrill-a-minute page-turning plot with a genuinely moving love story. In Conspiracy, Elle and Marsh face off against a shadowy band of alchemists intent on sundering the veil between the world of the supernatural and our own--and learn that Elle has a mysterious part to play in this magical conspiracy." - publisher

An Affair to Dismember (Matchmaker series)
by Elise Sax (M)

"A madcap plot and zany characters propel Sax's debut, which launches her Matchmaker series. Gladie Burger, fresh from Los Angeles, is apprenticing for her grandmother Zelda's matchmaking business in tiny Cannes, California, when the man across the street dies. After meeting his abused wife and sleazy children, Gladie is convinced he was murdered, but handsome police chief Spencer Bolton disagrees since the coroner pronounced natural causes. When she learns the man was a bumbling thief with only one successful heist and his estranged gang members may have been looking for him, Gladie is even more convinced she's right. She is somewhat distracted, however, by her grandmother's next-door neighbor, Arthur Holden, who says he's happy to help her detect. Even when two of the dead man's gang members turn up slain, Gladie isn't deterred. She's convinced the missing money from the successful heist is the key to the neighbor's death. Fans of laugh-out-loud romantic suspense will enjoy this new author as she joins the ranks of Janet Evanovich, Katie MacAllister, and Jennifer Crusie" - Booklist

The Icecutter's Daughter (Land of Shining Water series)
by Tracie Peterson (M)

"As the lone female in a houseful of men, Merrill Krause dedicates her life to caring for her family and their business, as her dying mother asked. Besides, it suits her; she's never felt like she fits what most people expect in a girl. She'd rather work with her father's horses and assist with the ice harvest. And though she's been mostly content up to this point, a part of her wonders if there will ever be anyone who will notice her amid the bevy of brothers determined to protect her from any possible suitors. When Rurik Jorgenson arrives in their small Minnesota town to join his uncle's carpentry business, he soon crosses paths with Merrill. But unlike other men, Rurik isn't intimidated by Merrill's brothers or by her strength and lack of femininity. The attraction between them begins to build, until Rurik's former fiancée shows up with wild claims that bring serious consequences to Rurik." - publisher

In the Time of Queen Victoria

Happy Victoria Day.

In the spirit of the day, I offer up as reading suggestions, novels published this year that are set in the time of Queen Victoria.

Lady of Ashes (M)
by Christine Trent

"In 1861 London, Violet Morgan is struggling to establish a good reputation for the undertaking business that her husband has largely abandoned. She provides comfort for the grieving, advises them on funeral fashion and etiquette, and arranges funerals. Unbeknownst to his wife, Graham, who has nursed a hatred of America since his grandfather soldiered for Great Britain in the War of 1812, becomes involved in a scheme to sell arms to the South. Meanwhile, Violet receives the commission of a lifetime: undertaking the funeral for a friend of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. But her position remains precarious, especially when Graham disappears and she begins investigating a series of deaths among the poor. And the closer she gets to the truth, the greater the danger for them both..." - Publisher

Queen Victoria's Book of Spells (M)
edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling

"Gaslamp Fantasy," or historical fantasy set in a magical version of the nineteenth century, has long been popular with readers and writers alike. A number of wonderful fantasy novels, including Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and The Prestige by Christopher Priest, owe their inspiration to works by nineteenth-century writers ranging from Jane Austen, the Bronte and George Meredith to Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and William Morris. And, of course, the entire steampunk genre and subculture owes more than a little to literature inspired by this period. Queen Victoria's Book of Spells is an anthology for everyone who loves these works of neo-Victorian fiction, and wishes to explore the wide variety of ways that modern fantasists are using nineteenth-century settings, characters, and themes. These approaches stretch from steampunk fiction to the Austen-and-Trollope inspired works that some critics call Fantasy of Manners, all of which fit under the larger umbrella of Gaslamp Fantasy." - Publisher

Graphic Novel
Agent Gates and the secret adventures of Devonton Abbey : (a parody) (M)
written by Camaren Subhiyah ; illustrated by Kyle Hilton

"Presenting a parody spin on the characters we know and love from the hit show Downton Abbey, this story is told through the eyes of the downstairs staff--especially one secretly badass valet John Gates, who turns out to be an undercover spy for Her Royal Majesty's British Secret Intelligence Agency (the SIS). Gates and several other Devonton staffers are part of a nationwide top-secret division of operatives scattered throughout country estates, all supervised by (who else?) the Dowager Countess, a close personal friend of Queen Victoria herself. Armed with his own superpower--his limp disguises a steampunk titanium leg perfect for dispatching enemies of the crown--Gates's mission is to protect Devonton Abbey from foreign spies, assassination attempts, and traitorous household staff, all while posing as the valet to the utterly clueless Lord Samson. Action-packed antics ensue, romance blossons, and, as usual, the downstairs crew continues to run the show...and always saves the day" - Publisher

Doktor Glass (M)
by Thomas Brennan

"In an age of zeppelins and gyroplanes, atomics and horseless carriages, the Transatlantic Span is the industrial marvel of the nineteenth century. A monumental feat of engineering, the steel suspension bridge stretches across the Atlantic from Liverpool to the distant harbor of New York City, supported by no less than seven hundred towers. But in the shadows of its massive struts, on the docks of the River Mersey, lies a faceless corpse... Inspector Matthew Langton is still seized with grief when he thinks of Sarah, his late wife. Tortured by nightmares and afflicted by breathless attacks of despair and terror, he forces himself to focus on the investigation of the faceless man. The victim wears the uniform of the Transatlantic Span Company but bears the tattoos of the Boers--could there be a Boer conspiracy to assassinate Queen Victoria on the upcoming inauguration day of the Span? But the truth, as it begins to emerge, is far more bizarre than a political coup. As additional victims turn up--all with strange twin burn marks on their necks--Langton draws a connection between the dead man beneath the bridge and chilling rumors of the Jar Boys, soul snatchers who come under cover of night. Most frightening of all is the mythic and elusive Doktor Glass, who not only may be behind the illicit trade in souls...but may hold the key to what happened to the inspector's own beloved wife on her deathbed.." - Publisher

3 Steampunk Romances

Here for your consideration are two brand new steampunk romances, plus a "classic" from 2010. Enjoy.

Kiss of Steel (M)
by Bec McMaster

"Left without resources and protection when her scientist father is murdered, research assistant Honoria Todd flees her respectable life among the highborn Echelon and the diabolical blue-blood villain Vickers and goes to ground with her younger sister and brother at the shadowy edges of White-chapel. But nothing in the rookery goes unnoticed by Blade, and when the rogue blue-blood "Devil of Whitechapel" learns his old enemy Vickers has put a price on Honoria's head, he wants to know why-and will stop at nothing to earn her trust and learn her dangerous, closely guarded secrets. VERDICT Dark, intense, and sexy, this mesmerizing debut takes readers into a grim, depraved, cleverly crafted Victorian steampunk world that is both familiar and strange and launches a stunning new series with an intriguing twist on the vampire theme.” Library Journal

A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious (M)
by Mary Wine

"Steamy sexual tension and secret societies fuse together in Wine's electrifying first steampunk romance. Janette Aston is fascinated by all things scientific, and couldn't care less that her thirst for knowledge is regarded as unladylike by Victorian society. Enthralled by the Illuminists, a group of individuals committed to scientific discovery, she sneaks into their headquarters and is caught by Darius Lawley, an Illuminist Guardian. The attraction between the two is instant and magnetic. When the Illuminists realize Janette is a rare Pure Spirit who can harness the power of crystals, she's targeted by a rival society, the Helikeians. It's up to Darius to protect her for the sake of science and love. The pages spark with manners and mayhem. Wine (Unexpected Pleasures) has created a world readers will want to return to, especially after a conclusion that leaves many questions unanswered.” Publisher's Weekly

Steamed: a steampunk romance (M)
by Katie MacAlister

*Starred Review* Captain Octavia Pye is surprised to find an unconscious, oddly-dressed man and an equally unusually clad woman aboard her airship. There's evil afoot in her world, and Octavia wonders if these two are pirates or secret agents. After an explosion in his lab, Dr. Jack Fletcher is shocked to wake up beside his sister in a Victorian airship, complete with a no-nonsense captain and crew, all of whom are outfitted in late nineteenth-century fashion. Jack thinks he has gone back in time; instead he's astounded to learn that it's the same day as the explosion. Caught in a parallel universe where technology is still at the steam engine stage, Jack finds himself pulled between a longing for home and an increasingly stronger desire for the intrepid Octavia. MacAlister hits it out of the park with this highly entertaining steampunk fantasy. There's danger, adventure, romance, and lots of humorous moments as Jack and Octavia discover that the laws of love always trump the laws of physics.” - Library Journal

Staff Pick: The Clockwork Century series, by Cherie Priest.

When Cherie Priest (M) discovered the sub-genre ‘steampunk’, she launched herself into an experimental novelette exploring this new world history. Titled Tanglefoot, she’s made this story freely available online.

(And purely by coincidence, this is the title to be discussed at the next meeting of the Jules Verne Phantastical Society’s book club. If you don’t already know, the next meeting is Sunday, April 1st, from 3:00 - 4:30 pm, at Alderney Gate Library.)

Steampunk typically hinges on the technology and vehicles; re-envisioned Victoriana meets the next century of invention. So in Boneshaker (M), the tale is about a coal-powered tunneling machine. Dreadnought (M) is the story of the Union army’s fastest train. Clementine (M) features airship chases and battles; Ganymede (M) is about a lost submersible.

These stories are set during a fictionalized and extended American Civil War, where the British continue to fund the Confederates. Dreadnought finds a Confederate widow immersed in the defence of a Union train and crew; Clementine is the collaboration between a retired Southern spy and an escaped-slave-turned-pirate. With a big gun.

While there are scientific and technological advances, there is lingering ignorance and innocence across the nation. The West is mostly undiscovered and unsettled territory, with ports cropping up more and more. But many causes continue to block the advancement of ‘America’. What is known is dwarfed by what is not known. Secret super-weapons. Political plots. Drug runners. Invading Mexicans. Invading zombies?

All life is a journey; this is made painfully clear as most of these plots involve the protagonists trying to get somewhere fast. Chasing pirates in an airship. Racing against Confederate skirmishes. Dodging cannibals, escaping madmen, or just trying to get home to Pa.

Women are not inferior. If anything, Priest’s books feature women who have or eventually develop strong convictions, no nonsense attitudes. A nurse with six shooters. A spy with sass and notoriety. A distraught mother. And in Tanglefoot, a psychiatric patient.

Interested? After Tanglefoot: read the grim horror Boneshaker, then the mystery Dreadnought, then the action-adventure Clementine. Round it all off with Ganymede (which is next on MY reading list…)