Steampunk Challenge

Steampunk Challenge

October 2010 – October 2011

What?!!! Another challenge you say? Yeah, exactly. I’m not exactly passing with flying colors on my current challenges, but this isn’t school and I can do what I want so here it is.

Rikki from The Bookkeeper is hosting a Steampunk Challenge that will run from October 2010 – October 2011. She has had a wonderful response in the comments from fans of the steampunk genre so I’m getting some good ideas of what to read for this challenge.

What exactly is steampunk? Well, Rikki used the New Oxford American Dictionary on her blog and defined it as,

“a genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.”

I keep seeing super cool steampunk cakes and even steampunk wheelchairs so you know what? I’m game!

This genre looks awesome so I can’t wait to start. My first book will be The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi which I’ll be reviewing in October. Please leave me a comment if you have any other recommendations for me. I’m going to start off with a goal of 5 steampunk books over the next year, but if I love the genre I might even read more!

If you are interested in signing up for the challenge, click HERE to go to Rikki’s blog and sign up! It’s going to be heaps fun!

Oh, and I can’t leave off without showing you this awesomeness which partially inspired Rikki and I to talk about doing a Steampunk Challenge!

Comments (24)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

0 Vote up Vote down

Sarah · 757 weeks ago

Do you follow ediFanoB's blog? He's REALLY into steampunk and would be a great person to follow if you are interested in suggestions, or previous reviews of his or anything. It's http://edisbooklighthouse.blogspot.com/ His reviews are kind of infrequent. He tries to get one up a week but anyway, he's worth following for steampunk. He also has a great index of reviews you can browse through for some suggestions or insights.
My recent post Ship Breaker - Paolo Bacigalupi

2 replies · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

Thanks! I just became a follower on his blog. Rikki also had a bunch of hardcore steampunk people post suggestions on her blog so I'll get some there. Are you going to do this challenge?

0 Vote up Vote down

Sarah · 757 weeks ago

I don't know. I might. I haven't really done a challenge before and I have a feeling I'll be reading steampunk with or without the challenge. I'll have to look into it. :)

0 Vote up Vote down

Sarah · 757 weeks ago

Okay, sorry to comment again but I decided to do some research for you (because this is a genere I fully plan on exploring as well). Here are some books I'm looking into reading:

Boneshaker - Cherie Priest (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1137215.Boneshaker)
The Affinity Bridge - George Mann (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3472340.The_Affinity_Bridge)
The Dream of Perpetual Motion - Dexter Palmer (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7938742-the-dream-of-perpetual-motion)
Leviathan - Scott Westerfield, Keith Thompson (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6050678-leviathan)

Also, some "hybrids" that are often lumped in with steampunk and VERY VERY enjoyable are:

Empire in Black and Gold (probably one of the most unique worlds I've ever read in a fantasy book with a really cool steampunk element. The start of a series) - Adrian Tchaikovsky - (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3437309.Empire_in_Black_and_Gold)

And many would clump China Mieville with steampunk in his New Crobuzum novels. I've only read "The Scar" but it fits. I really enjoyed it and reviewed it (and the one I just mentioned) on my blog.

There are tons more but I think I've flooded your comments enough for now.
My recent post Ship Breaker - Paolo Bacigalupi

3 replies · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

Thanks! Boneshaker and Leviathan are definitely on my list. I also would like to read some China Mieville as well. We'll see. Someone said they also thought that Howl's Moving Castle could be considered steampunk, but since it's a magical castle, I'm not so sure. I'm planning on reading that too, but I think I won't consider it steampunk.

+1 Vote up Vote down

lrpresley 92p · 757 weeks ago

Check out the Soulless books by Gail Carriger too!

Leviathan has a sequel out soon, and so Dreadnought by Cherie Priest (Boneshaker writer) is also out soon.
My recent post North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell Read-Along – Part 4

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

I'm getting Leviathan and Behemoth for sure because Scott Westerfield is going to be at the Texas Book Festival. I want him to sign my books. Boneshaker and The Windup Girl are my other two for sure on my list.

But yes, the Gail Carriger books will most likely make it on my list as well.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Rikki 49p · 757 weeks ago

Thanks for spreading the word, Carin. I'm pretty overwhelmed by the response I got. But in a good way. Totally made up.

My recent post The Parasol Protectorate series

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

I think it's VERY cool. I'm glad it's brought more traffic to your blog. I think it's going to be a really fun challenge. :)

0 Vote up Vote down

Aleksandra · 757 weeks ago

Thanks for the heads-up :) I'll probably join :)
My recent post Fall Catch-Up Read-a-Thon- Update 2

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

Yay! So glad you are going to join. Rikki even made a super cool steampunk "Grab My Button" that you can just copy the code and put it on your blog. I LOVE the button! Love it! She did such a nice job!

+1 Vote up Vote down

irisonbooks 59p · 757 weeks ago

Rikki just convinced me to join as well!
My recent post The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

2 replies · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

Yay! So glad you're joining. Do you have any idea what you are going to read?

+1 Vote up Vote down

irisonbooks 59p · 757 weeks ago

Not at all, although Soulless has been on my list for a while..
My recent post The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

+1 Vote up Vote down

winstonsdad 43p · 757 weeks ago

sounds like a fun challenge ,I ve not read any steampunk ,have a copy of boneshaker thou ,like the whole imagery connected with steampunk ,all the best with your challenge ,stu

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

I'm excited about reading Boneshaker which I plan to get to in the challenge. I'll look for your review once you post it. :)

+1 Vote up Vote down

amymckie 73p · 757 weeks ago

Hmmm I really had no idea what steampunk was. Interesting though. I'll be watching to see what you think of the books :)

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

What?!!! You mean the awesome cake and the STEAMPUNK WHEELCHAIR video didn't convince you? I think it was the steampunk wheelchair that sent me over the edge. I was like, "Wow...that's a lot of work to put into it and you know what?!!! It's awesome! I'm in!" LOL!

There's no set number of books so you can always just say that you'll read one book for the challenge. hehe...I'm going to convince you! ;)

0 Vote up Vote down

Justpeachy36 · 757 weeks ago

I've been thinking about reading some steampunk for quit awhile now... what better way to get started... I'm heading over to sign up now....

Thanks for the great heads up on this one!

+1 Vote up Vote down

lrpresley 92p · 757 weeks ago

Awesome! Thanks for the heads-up! Totally going to participate in this.

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 757 weeks ago

Yay! You are one of the people that really got me interested in doing a challenge!

0 Vote up Vote down

Trish · 757 weeks ago

That steampunk cake is awesome! (though is it really a cake?). I first heard this term several months ago and admit I'm still not very familiar with it. I think they used the term in correlation to Victorian lit--like the whole industrial era. I can't watch videos at work (they're blocked), but maybe I'll have to see if I can watch when at home to be more enlightened!
My recent post The Sunday Salon - Writing when you have Bloggers Block

+1 Vote up Vote down

curlygeek04 58p · 756 weeks ago

This sounds like a fun challenge! I really enjoyed the Soulless series (review on its way for Blameless) and Leviathan (but I love almost everything by Scott Westerfeld. I have a review of Ship Breaker by Paulo Bacigalupi, and expect to start Windup Girl soon. I'm not sure what other books are considered steampunk though.
My recent post Review- Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

1 reply · active 756 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

A Little Bookish 83p · 756 weeks ago

Rikki (the host of the challenge) has a really great list of steampunk novels on her blog. Here's the URL: http://www.rikkidonovan.com/index.php/steampunk-c...

I am really excited that you love Scott Westerfield. He's coming to the Texas Book Festival next month so I'm planning on buying both his books to see if I can get into his talk to have him sign them. Very excited about reading them. :) I also plan on reading the Gail Carriger series. :)

Post a new comment

Comment as a Guest, or login:

Tweet this comment

Connected as (Logout)

Email (optional)

Not displayed publicly.

Submit Comment

Subscribe to

Comments by IntenseDebate

Home | Gallery | Tutorials | Freebies | About Us | Contact Us

Copyright © 2009 A Little Bookish |Designed by Templatemo |Converted to blogger by BloggerThemes.Net

Usage Rights

DesignBlog BloggerTheme comes under a Creative Commons License.This template is free of charge to create a personal blog.You can make changes to the templates to suit your needs.But You must keep the footer links Intact.