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Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories by Gavin J. Grant, Kelly Link
ir_sharp2's review against another edition
4.0
Huh. Didn't think I'd like steampunk. Don't usually like short stories either. Liked this one a lot, though. Made my husband mad cuz I wouldn't turn off my phone (where I was reading it ebook style) and go to bed. Interesting.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
3.0
I love steampunk because of its endless creativity, though I'm not sure about this anthology. Oh, the stories were great and the imagination was there, but I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would. It's not a bad book by any means, but I didn't find a lot of the stories to be memorable once I finished them. The best ones in my opinion were at the end, "Everything Amiable and Obliging," and "The Oracle Engine." They were deep and surprising, especially the end of "The Oracle Engine." Still, I would recommend this anthology to all steampunk lovers, just as a fun way to pass the time.
prathaaaaaaaaaaa_'s review against another edition
why was everyone marrying their cousins in the 18th century
rgyger's review against another edition
DNF
I only listened to three stories in this. The first was really short, but the character was just enough off her rocker to be engaging. And the second story started off well. However, by the end of the second story, I was bored by a character whose motivations were undefined and climax that left me confused by what actually happened. I skipped over the third story after about five minutes (I was listening on audiobook), and I didn't finish the fourth story either. That story had a repetitive writing style, but was actually fun up to the point when the world building started to contradict itself.
While I know that there are a lot more stories in this, and that any of them could be really amazing, I didn't feel like listening for another ten or so hours to find out. As for the narrators, I liked that they had different readers for each story. And I actually really liked a few couple of the readers I heard. I just wish the narratives were as engaging.
I only listened to three stories in this. The first was really short, but the character was just enough off her rocker to be engaging. And the second story started off well. However, by the end of the second story, I was bored by a character whose motivations were undefined and climax that left me confused by what actually happened. I skipped over the third story after about five minutes (I was listening on audiobook), and I didn't finish the fourth story either. That story had a repetitive writing style, but was actually fun up to the point when the world building started to contradict itself.
While I know that there are a lot more stories in this, and that any of them could be really amazing, I didn't feel like listening for another ten or so hours to find out. As for the narrators, I liked that they had different readers for each story. And I actually really liked a few couple of the readers I heard. I just wish the narratives were as engaging.
em_reads_romancex's review against another edition
4.0
The first story, by Cassandra Clare, was amazing, but the rest were only ok.
blairconrad's review against another edition
5.0
A really nice teen-oriented anthology. Of course there's some variation in story quality and appeal, but I enjoyed nearly every one of them, with a few really standing out. (If you're pressed for time, I'd recommend hitting "The Last Ride of the Glory Girls", "Clockwork Fagin", "Seven Days Beset by Demons", "The Summer People", "The Oracle Engine", and "Steam Girl" in no particular order.)
The settings for the stories range far from Victorian England, hitting ancient Rome, present day pick-your-country, far off planets, and points in between. It was nice seeing the genre adapted to unusual settings. One thing detracted from the collection - a couple stories were only tangentially steampunky, but by and large they were good stories, and there's nothing wrong with refraining from smothering what could be a new genre reader.
A great book for teens that are curious about steampunk, or anyone looking for a collection of entertaining stories.
The settings for the stories range far from Victorian England, hitting ancient Rome, present day pick-your-country, far off planets, and points in between. It was nice seeing the genre adapted to unusual settings. One thing detracted from the collection - a couple stories were only tangentially steampunky, but by and large they were good stories, and there's nothing wrong with refraining from smothering what could be a new genre reader.
A great book for teens that are curious about steampunk, or anyone looking for a collection of entertaining stories.
mwgerard's review against another edition
3.0
I made some great discoveries of interesting writers. Read my review here: http://cineastesbookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/10/great-reads-for-halloween.html
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
"Some Unfortunate Future Day" by Cassandra Clare
I liked this one, in a way it felt kind of horror-ish cos the girl turns a creepy in the end.
"The Last Ride of the Glory Girls" by Libba Bray
This one was good too, but for me it did not really work as a short story, I had too many questions about the world. Where were they?
"Clockwork Fagin" by Cory Doctorow
Oliver Twist and steampunk..eh, no this was kind of boring.
"Seven Days Beset by Demons" by Shawn Cheng
A graphic short, was not that fun either but it was over fast.
"Hand in Glove" by Ysabeau S. Wilce
I was not that into this story, it just did not pull me in.
"Ghost of Cwmlech Manor" by Delia Sherman
This one was kind of nice
"Gethsemane" by Elizabeth Knox
I got all confused by this one, it had potential but it just ost me along the way
"The Summer People" by Kelly Link
I liked this one but at the same time I was disappointed cos it certainly was not steampunk
"Peace in Our Time" by Garth Nix
I was a bit what? It had promise...but needed more
"Nowhere Fast" by Christopher Rowe
Post-apocalyptic...what does that has to do with steampunk?
"Finishing School" by Kathleen Jennings
Graphic short, did not like it
"Steam Girl" by Dylan Horrocks
Ok the only steamunk here was in a story a girl told, does not work for me either.
"Everything Amiable and Obliging" by Holly Black
This one was the best one of the bunch.
"The Oracle Engine" by M.T. Anderson.
....I skimmed and skimmed. Boring
I liked this one, in a way it felt kind of horror-ish cos the girl turns a creepy in the end.
"The Last Ride of the Glory Girls" by Libba Bray
This one was good too, but for me it did not really work as a short story, I had too many questions about the world. Where were they?
"Clockwork Fagin" by Cory Doctorow
Oliver Twist and steampunk..eh, no this was kind of boring.
"Seven Days Beset by Demons" by Shawn Cheng
A graphic short, was not that fun either but it was over fast.
"Hand in Glove" by Ysabeau S. Wilce
I was not that into this story, it just did not pull me in.
"Ghost of Cwmlech Manor" by Delia Sherman
This one was kind of nice
"Gethsemane" by Elizabeth Knox
I got all confused by this one, it had potential but it just ost me along the way
"The Summer People" by Kelly Link
I liked this one but at the same time I was disappointed cos it certainly was not steampunk
"Peace in Our Time" by Garth Nix
I was a bit what? It had promise...but needed more
"Nowhere Fast" by Christopher Rowe
Post-apocalyptic...what does that has to do with steampunk?
"Finishing School" by Kathleen Jennings
Graphic short, did not like it
"Steam Girl" by Dylan Horrocks
Ok the only steamunk here was in a story a girl told, does not work for me either.
"Everything Amiable and Obliging" by Holly Black
This one was the best one of the bunch.
"The Oracle Engine" by M.T. Anderson.
....I skimmed and skimmed. Boring
bookhoarding's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of short stories by talented writers, Steampunk! really shows the depth and breadth of the genre. The settings are not limited to the sooty streets of Victorian London, which allows readers familiar with that setting to get a fresh perspective on what constitutes a steampunk story. From rough-riding women of the futuristic West to a modern day duo of teens, looking for an escape from bullies, each story takes on a different aspect of steampunk culture and weaves it in to a science-fiction tale worthy of a mini-series. Luckily, the authors are gifted enough that readers don't have to see the tales on screen in order to get an idea of the fantastical worlds created within a few pages.
Check it out if you're ready to venture beyond the standard setting and aren't one of those people who has a narrow definition of steampunk.
Check it out if you're ready to venture beyond the standard setting and aren't one of those people who has a narrow definition of steampunk.
simkern's review against another edition
4.0
The Kelly Link and Cory Doctorow stories get 5 stars, really transcendent genre-busting stuff. The rest are all solid. Great collection if you're a fan of this aesthetic.