So, has everyone recovered from holiday madness? I hope whatever you desired was under the Christmas tree. The new year is approaching and there’s a lot of great things to look forward to.
The end of 2010 calls for a review of my favorite Steampunk books of 2010. However, this list only draws from the books I’ve personally read that came out in 2010. Books I read in 2010 that were released earlier were not included in this list as were books not specifically “Steampunk.” There’s some great Steampunk books released this year that I haven’t read yet. Also, this is just my own personal opinion.
Lolita Suzanne’s Best Steampunk Books of 2010
Best YA Steampunk of 2010
The Dark Deeps:
The Hunchback Assignments 2
by Arthur Slade
Summary: Modo is a fourteen-year-old shape-shifting British secret agent. Once again Modo and the unflappable Octavia Milkweed embark on a mission for Mr. Socrates in this tale of sea monsters, gadgets, French spies, and secrets.
Why I loved it: This year I discovered this series and I’m really enjoying it. Modo and Octavia are terrific characters. These books are very fun and adventurous and I love how Slade draws from all the classics. I hope to see more titles in 2011.
Best Steampunk Anthology of 2010
Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded
Edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
Summary: A followup of their 2008 anthology, the VanderMeers bring together an anthology of Steampunk fiction short stories and non-fiction articles suitable for both those new to the genre and avid Steampunkers.
Why I loved it: I love the eclectic nature of the collection and how the VanderMeers blended original stories, reprints, and non fiction. Everything is artful–even the cover. Gail Carriger’s essay is my personal favorite.
Best Steampunk Book of 2010
by Gail Carriger
Summary: Alexia is back and part of a scandal, having left her husband’s house and being in the family way. She’s dismissed from the Shadow Council, Lord Akeldama leaves town before he can help her make sense of everything, and attacked by mechanical ladybugs. In order to sold the mystery, Alexia embarks to Italy to consult the Templars.
Why I loved it: I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the cover model is simply extraordinary. ~grin~ I adore these books and am a major Gail Carriger fan-girl. Like the other books in the series, these books are fast-paced, cleaver, and make me laugh. What’s not to love about homicidal lady bugs, Ivy running a hat shop, and Alexia saving the world one cup of tea at a time?
So, these are my personal picks for 2010. What are yours?
I just finished Soulless and I can’t wait to start Changeless and Blameless. I finished the first book in a day it was that good!
I second all your choices, LOVE Art Slade’s Modo books, and the audio version of Gail Carriger’s novels are even more fun than the written ones, which is rare. I’m in the middle of reading Mark Hodder’s “Burton and Swinburne: The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack” and have to say it’s my favorite of the year so far. If the ending satisfies it will be right up there and I’ve already pre-ordered the second in the series, “The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man.”
I love Gail Carriger’s books. The Parasol Protectorate series is definitely one of my favorites of the year. I love how she mixes humor with the paranormal. Plus her writing is very vivid. Visualizing Alexia’s Steampunk world is easy