Oct 18

BOTNS Podcast #151 – Steampunk!

By Michael Kindness Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:29 — 11.8MB)

Michael sits down with Kelly Link and Gavin Grant who edited a newly-released anthology of steampunk stories for young adults.

[Note: We are amazed and grateful that so many of you called our voicemail line with your Literary Mount Rushmore. The response was so overwhelming that I need more time to put the show together, so watch for that next week!]

 

"Steampunk" "Kelly Link" "Gavin Grant"

So many of you have asked for a show on Steampunk and we are thrilled to oblige. When we heard about Steampunk!, the anthology edited by Kelly Link and Gavin Grant (founders of Small Beer Press), we knew they would be the perfect people to educate us on this genre. They welcomed me into their amazing, book-filled home for a short interview.

Some of the topics we discussed included what steampunk means to them, the history of steampunk, and what it was like to put this anthology together, pulling in authors who pushed the boundaries of what was previously thought of as steampunk. They recommend Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce as a perfect entry point, especially for adult reluctant readers of sci-fi or steampunk. There was also much discussion of the aesthetic of steampunk; the costumes, the constructions and the modified technology, all of which is wonderfully illustrated in 1,000 Steampunk Creations by Dr. Grymm. They had a copy of the book and I was blown away by so many of the things that fans have made.

For further reading in this genre, Kelly and Gavin recommend anything written or edited by Jeff VanderMeer, including The Steampunk Bible and the anthologies Steampunk and Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded.

     

We ended the interview with Two Books Kelly and Gavin can’t wait for you to read. Kelly recommends Mr. Fox, by Helen Oyeyemi, which is the story of a novelist who meets his muse in the flesh, and has conversations and arguments with her about his fiction. Gavin just finished reading Beautiful and Dark by Rosa Montero, which is about Baba, an orphaned girl sent to live with relatives in a crime-ridden neighborhood, but who finds hope in an unexpected place.

 

 

  • William Lexner

    The first Steampunk novel was Morlock Night by K.W. Jeter in 1979 (who also coined the term), and the best one, by far in my opinion, is The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers, published in 1983. Their mutual friend James Blaylock also wrote some amazing Steampunk.

    Interestingly enough, these three were sort of disciples of Philip K. Dick, who was a close friend and neighbor of theirs.

    As for newer stuff, Cherie Priest’s novels are tremendous. China Mieville is mentioned, and while his work isn’t quite Steampunk, it certainly has a number of similarities. (And Perdido Street Station, for instance, would be of great interest to fans of Steampunk.)

    Kelly Link is one of the finest short story writers in fantasy today, as an aside. She and Gavin also do amazing work at Small Beer Press. For instance, they reprinted Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison, which I firmly believe to be one of the best children’s books ever written. It’s incredible. Life-changing, even.

  • Jessica

    This was a great podcast. I had the privilege of seeing Kelly and Gavin at the Boston Book Festival this past weekend and I loved everything they had to say. I’m so thankful that I’ve finally discovered this genre.

  • Marie

    Great podcast, Ann and Michael. Kelly Link is amazing and her work as both a writer and publisher has been so influential. A great steampunkish book I love is THE PRESTIGE by Christopher Priest (yes, the basis for the movie). It’s Victorian fantasy and magic wrapped in a puzzle of a book.

  • Marie

    William, China Mieville is usually classified (when he can be!) as “New Weird,”a kind of subgenre of sff. He’s great!

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