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A review by daveversace
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk by Sean Wallace
5.0
As the name implies, this is a massive volume showcasing the broad possibilities encompassed by the term 'steampunk'. There are dirigibles as far as the eye can see, certainly, as well as mad inventors, clockwork animals and steam-powered limbs, as you might expect. There are also supernatural horrors, gear-filled monsters, spring-driven thieves and a couple of surprise castrations. There's derring-do, whimsy, and drama; there's alternate history, historical fantasy, provocative science fiction and angry political thrillers. I doubt it would qualify as a particularly accessible introduction to the core conceits of steampunk, but it certainly serves as an excellent overview of a popular subgenre.
Of particular note are N.K. Jemisin's outstanding "The Effluent Engine", about the machinations of a Haitian spy trying to preserve her country's newfound freedom; Aliette de Bodard's "Prayers of Forges and Furnaces", depicting an advanced Aztec empire; Caitlin R. Kiernan's "The Steam Dancer (1896)", a drama concerning a unique performance artist; and Nick Mamatas' "Arbeitskraft", in which a wealthy revolutionary builds an artificial Karl Marx with which to inspire the proletariat. That last one's a bit horrific, by the way.
As with most large anthologies, there are a few stories here which are not to my tastes. But considering the size of it - thirty stories in all - that's an impressive hit rate.
Of particular note are N.K. Jemisin's outstanding "The Effluent Engine", about the machinations of a Haitian spy trying to preserve her country's newfound freedom; Aliette de Bodard's "Prayers of Forges and Furnaces", depicting an advanced Aztec empire; Caitlin R. Kiernan's "The Steam Dancer (1896)", a drama concerning a unique performance artist; and Nick Mamatas' "Arbeitskraft", in which a wealthy revolutionary builds an artificial Karl Marx with which to inspire the proletariat. That last one's a bit horrific, by the way.
As with most large anthologies, there are a few stories here which are not to my tastes. But considering the size of it - thirty stories in all - that's an impressive hit rate.