Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Steampunk

I've just finished reading my first full-length steampunk novel and it was a hoot. I might actually have read steampunk books previously, but I can't remember them if I did, and I didn't know what they were, so I'm going to count this one as my first. (Barr some on Scribophile which have been wonderful, but not yet finished)
It was a hoot, a blast, a fantastical adventure. I loved it.
Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld is set in an alternate world circa the first world war. In the alternate Earth, Darwin, as well as working out evolution,  also worked out DNA and how to create amazing creatures, some of which are large enough to carry hundreds of people within them. In the first world war the war-creatures of the Brits battle the German death machines. The main characters are a girl-disguised-as-a-boy-who-runs-away-to-join-the-army, and the son of the archduke Ferdinand. The characters, dialogue, humour and thoughtfully and intricately created world combined to create such a densely rich story that I reached the end of the book and then just sat blinking for several minutes, feeling it most cruel to be thrown out so soon. Luckily, it's the first in the series. The second is at my library so I'll be able to read it tomorrow. (Or. Um. I would have ebooked it.)
So, a most pleasant day sitting in the Spring Sun reading while my Sprocket, spurning all clothes, ran naked around the garden cradling his 'babies'* in his hands and tenderly promising them chocolate, and the Poppet drove around in her little red car (with my iphone stashed in the back) and I read. Bliss.

How was your day?
And what are your thoughts on steampunk?  

*a slater and a worm. The worm, alas, despite my Sprocket's gentleness, is no more. The slater I am optomistic survived. Maybe.

2 comments:

  1. I have never read a Steampunk story. I actually had to google it :-) They do sound interesting.

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