2.16.2010
The Difference Engine
by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling, 429 pgs, paperback
Overall Grade: B-
And it fumbles at the 10-yard-line! Seriously, this book was excellent once it got on to the story of Edward Mallory, his paleontology, his family, his political enemies. But the first part with Sybil Gerard is all confusing, like 'why are they telling me this?' and then they introduce Mallory, and 'oh so it all has to do with him'. But then his story ends and there's still 50 pages of loosely connected material. I'm very confused Misters Gibson & Sterling!
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: steampunk, media: book
2.01.2010
Leviathan
by Scott Westerfeld, 440pgs, hardcover
Overall Grade: A-
Steampunk! For the kiddies! That's basically what this book is about. Prince Alek is the son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and is on the run with a few loyal retainers after the assassination of his parents. Deryn is a girl disguising herself as a boy in order to serve as a airman. The two represent opposing military/scientific ways of life, mechanistic Clankers vs. bioengineering Darwinists, and this first book tells how their two paths become intertwined at the start of the Great War.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: steampunk, genre: YA, media: book, series: Leviathan
