June '11 / Steampunk Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

Please nominate the "science fiction" novel you would like to read in June in this thread.

Please remember that:

- Only those members with 50+ posts can nominate.

- One nomination per member.

- Only the first 10 nominations will be included in the poll.


The Book Club readings are for those who would like to read and discuss books together with other members.

If you are not able to take part or unwilling to (re)read your own nominations, please refrain from nominating book.

A list of steampunk works (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_steampunk_works)

[OrphanPip]

I'll nominate The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson, even though it's not on the list.

Maybe we could expand the category to contain cyberpunk, because it is a very narrow genre.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diamond_Age

[Dark Muse]

I do not know much about this genre, so hopefully this counts.

I nominate Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson

I found it listed here as American Steampunk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Steampunk_novels

And was excited becasue I acutally own this book, and I did not think I would be able to nominate anything.

[Paulclem]

Hmm -difficult to decide. I think I've said that before. I read Infernal Devices a few years ago, and it really is the maddest plot written in the Victorian idiom. In fact I couldn't remember the title, but recognised it from the steampunk list.

I'll have to have a think.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I have pretty much no knowledge of this genre. I'll leave the nominations up to others, I think.

[Calidore]

Keith Roberts' Pavane is wonderful, and I'd be happy to have an excuse to read that again, so consider this a nomination. I also haven't read much steampunk, but I like the genre conceptually, so I look forward to using other people's nominations as recommendations as well.

[JuniperWoolf]

Steampunk! What an odd catagory to have for our monthly book club. I'll nominate The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which comes in two small volumes rather than one large one but both should be available from any library.

[OrphanPip]

Steampunk! What an odd catagory to have for our monthly book club. I'll nominate The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which comes in two small volumes rather than one large one but both should be available from any library.

There may be some of us *cough* me *cough* who could provide an electronic version if it were so desired. Not that I would ever condone the distribution of copyrighted material.

Edit: And it was me who nominated Steam Punk as a genre last year, I didn't think it would get voted through.

[JuniperWoolf]

Steampunk is cool, especially the fashion. It freaked me out at first (I'm afraid of robots and machines, so using them as accessories is unnerving), but it just looks so snazzy:

http://www.mr-mojo-risin.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/steampunk-girls_01.jpg

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

So, what are the steampunk "classics" because it sounds like a very cool genre.

[JuniperWoolf]

Steampunk is basically when you put together machines that didn't exist back then with the Victorian era. A good example in recent film is Wild Wild West (you know, the western in which Will Smith was battling that guy in the giant mechanized taranchula?). Anything that you can think of that blends those two elements is considered steampunk. H. G. Wells has written a few that would fall under that catagory.

[Calidore]

Also, an alternate history future in which technology of the past is still used, a la Pavane above.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I hope most in the genre are better than Wild Wild West. That movie suuuuuuuucked.

[papayahed]

Oh gosh. I can't be the only one that remembers the TV series can I?

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Oh gosh. I can't be the only one that remembers the TV series can I?
It had a white guy in it, right? :lol:

[papayahed]

Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

[Paulclem]

I'll be happy to read anything. I like to nominate authors I know, and I know few of these.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

2. Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson

3. Pavane by Keith Roberts

4. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,

5. Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a graphic novel, no?

[JuniperWoolf]

Yeah, it's by Alan Moore and some other guy (Moore wrote it, the other guy drew it).

[Scheherazade]

You can now vote for the book you would like to read in June.

[Brock]

I voted for Pavane. Looks a corker! :smile5:

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I'll have to look these up, because I really have no idea which to vote for.

[Scheherazade]

I was expecting this to be more popular.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I'm still waiting to cast my vote, though I'm a little soured on the whole Litnet book club thing. I won't be reading Extraordinary Gentlemen in any case, though.

[Paulclem]

I'm still waiting to cast my vote, though I'm a little soured on the whole Litnet book club thing. I won't be reading Extraordinary Gentlemen in any case, though.

Why's that then?

I know you didn't like Wolf Hall, but there no compunction to read anything. I voted for The Turn of the Screw last year, and was very disappointed after the buildup it had - especially as it was a Christmas read. (I couldn't think of anything worse to read at christmas to be honest).

Once you get a good book and and a good discussion going, it's great fun.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Me not liking Wolf Hall isn't the reason I'm soured. But, I learned my lesson for future discussions. :nod:

I just have no desire to read a graphic novel. I went through a pretty heavy comic/graphic novel phase, and I don't really feel like going back. Maybe if it generates conversation, I'll check it out.

I still need to check out what the other books are about before I vote, though.

Edit: After perusing the other options, I think I'll throw in a vote for Pavane, just to make things interesting. :nod: All of the books seem interesting, and have all gone on my wishlist, actually.

[OrphanPip]

I'm almost willing to vote for League just because it would only take an hour to re-read, and I'm feeling kinda lazy about the other selections. Also, it might be a fun title to read with people who can enjoy the literary allusions throughout.

[Scheherazade]

I'm almost willing to vote for League just because it would only take an hour to re-read,I'm sold!

I wouldn't mind getting a copy of that one either.

[Paulclem]

Is it good then? I voted for Pavane, but I'll consider anything.

[Scheherazade]

Is it good then? We will find out when we read it!

:D

[Paulclem]

We will find out when we read it!

:D

:lol:

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

We will find out when we read it!

:D

It's rigged!

[Scheherazade]

Hey, I already got my books! All three volumes! :D

[OrphanPip]

Have we done graphic novels in the book club before?

[Scheherazade]

Have we done graphic novels in the book club before?No, this will be our first if League wins.

I am looking forward to it, though :)

[Paulclem]

I read a Joe Sacco Graphic novel about the Bosnian war a few years ago. I'd seen it in he Times, and thought I'd give it a go. It was very good.

At that time I was to teach a creative writing, and I though I could include this as an examplar of a graphic novel. When I took over the class, I realised that most of the ladies were 70+, and not interested in that form. I was disappointed.

[dfloyd]

that I have absolutely no interest in this genre.

[Scheherazade]

that I have absolutely no interest in this genre.Hey, it is never too late to try new things!

:D

[Calidore]

What does age have to do with liking the steampunk genre? Or are you talking about graphic novels? If so I'll point out that it's an art form, not a genre, and roughly halfway between prose and film, neither of which have inherent age targets. Don't get caught in the "comics are for children or the childlike" trap, because it ain't true.

[Paulclem]

I went into Waterstones yesterday to check out The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Is that the title of the first one? There seemed to be a few follow ons.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

According to Wikipedia, League was not initially written as a graphic novel, but a monthly comic series (which is what most "graphic novels" are). Volume I, collects vol 1 #1–6 and Volume 2, collects vol 2 #1–6, both of which are surely each their own story arcs. After that were published two stand lone graphic novels. I'm sure what's intended to be read is Volume 1, since that kicked the whole thing off.

[OrphanPip]

Volumes 1, 2 and 3 follow the same characters, the Black Dossier graphic novel follows different characters in the same world.

Part 3 was only published last month so I haven't had a chance to read it yet. (edit: I tend not to follow monthly, unless it's The Walking Dead...)

[Paulclem]

Thanks Gentlemen.:thumbsup:

[Scheherazade]

Volumes 1, 2 and 3 follow the same characters, the Black Dossier graphic novel follows different characters in the same world.

Part 3 was only published last month so I haven't had a chance to read it yet. (edit: I tend not to follow monthly, unless it's The Walking Dead...)I have got all three of them; will read them whether it wins the poll or not - as soon as I had in my assignment.


Going once...

[Scheherazade]

Going twice...