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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
As with any anthology, different readers will find their own favorites in this one. I think the variety is such that everyone is likely to find something they like, though. My personal favorites were Steam Girl and The Ghost of Cwmlech Manor. One warning note - if you read the ebook version, make sure it's on a large enough screen that you can see the two graphic novel-style stories.
4
It was pretty good. The anthology introduced me to quite a few new authors that I think I'll really like. They ended on the worst story in the anthology which is unfortunate.
It was pretty good. The anthology introduced me to quite a few new authors that I think I'll really like. They ended on the worst story in the anthology which is unfortunate.
Like most anthologies, this one has some good stories and some not so good stories. All in all, it's well worth reading though, especially, if you're looking for steampunk(ish) stories that are a bit outside of the box that is Victorian London.
I need to start this by saying I REALLY enjoyed it- there's great stories (not all of them in straight prose on the page) in this book, excellent writing, and I'm terribly impressed to see two Aussie authors and a New Zealand writer in here (and I've even published one of the Aussies!).
Having said that I thought the stories were excellent, I do need to say two things: 1. The definition of steampunk here is not, in many stories, anything even CLOSE to any definition of steampunk I've ever come across before, and 2. Although this has been advertised as a young adult anthology, it's not a lot like any YA I've seen either.
Don't get me wrong - some stories have a definite steampunk flavour, utilising elements we've come to know and identify with the genre. But many pay only passing lip service to the idea. And as for YA, well… Few stories contain the "coming of age" or "journey to adulthood" themes I'd expect, or even have a teen protagonist that many publishers think is the indicator of a YA story. I don't think anything in the book actually *precludes* it from being YA, but at the same time, I wouldn't identify most of the stories in this way.
Of course, such classifications are often problematic anyway, and of course publishers/editors need to push boundaries for fresh, exciting work. But for me, I wondered if the publishers were riding the steampunk wave as a marketing tool, rather than giving the book a less, hmm, felicitous title and promoting it differently.
To be honest, it doesn't matter - the book is a good one, and you should read it - just don't go into it expecting a lot of steam in your punk!
Having said that I thought the stories were excellent, I do need to say two things: 1. The definition of steampunk here is not, in many stories, anything even CLOSE to any definition of steampunk I've ever come across before, and 2. Although this has been advertised as a young adult anthology, it's not a lot like any YA I've seen either.
Don't get me wrong - some stories have a definite steampunk flavour, utilising elements we've come to know and identify with the genre. But many pay only passing lip service to the idea. And as for YA, well… Few stories contain the "coming of age" or "journey to adulthood" themes I'd expect, or even have a teen protagonist that many publishers think is the indicator of a YA story. I don't think anything in the book actually *precludes* it from being YA, but at the same time, I wouldn't identify most of the stories in this way.
Of course, such classifications are often problematic anyway, and of course publishers/editors need to push boundaries for fresh, exciting work. But for me, I wondered if the publishers were riding the steampunk wave as a marketing tool, rather than giving the book a less, hmm, felicitous title and promoting it differently.
To be honest, it doesn't matter - the book is a good one, and you should read it - just don't go into it expecting a lot of steam in your punk!
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this. I generally don't like short story collections,but steampunk is always a winner as far as I'm concerned.
Steampunk! an Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories is full of very creative, steampunky, well-written short stories.
I liked it well enough, my favourite story is Clockwork Fagin by Cory Doctorow. Also for those who are curious about “that whole steampunk thing.” It may convince you!
Overall, a solid compilation.
I liked it well enough, my favourite story is Clockwork Fagin by Cory Doctorow. Also for those who are curious about “that whole steampunk thing.” It may convince you!
Overall, a solid compilation.
Favorites:
Some Fortunate Future Day by Cassandra Clare
Everything Amiable and Obliging by Holly Black
Some Fortunate Future Day by Cassandra Clare
Everything Amiable and Obliging by Holly Black
The book walked away from me I think that another reader in my house has absconded with it.
I only had a preview, but the story was good. Hopefully I can get the whole book and the rest of the stories are as good.