Harry Harrison’s mostly forgotten A Transatlantic Tunnel! Hurrah! predates most steampunk with its alternate history techno-Victorian setting, but it’s splendidly readable, and has a nice lightness of touch.
My favorite comics author, Grant Morrison, did a three-issue steampunk comic called Sebastian O about 10 or 12 years ago. The collection is vailable, and most bookstores and comics stores should be able to order it if they don’t have it on the shelf. It’s pretty good, but not great, and most of the steamtech stuff is pretty peripheral.
–Cliffy
Michael Swanwick, actually… yuppie elves overseeing Dickensian sweatshops!
Two of my favourites!
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
Want something “lighthearted,” but at the same time really deep and intellectually heavy?
I applaud your recommendation of The Adventures of Doctor Esterhazy & I share your admiration for the late Avram Davidson.
Had you heard that a new edition of Adventures in Unhistory: Conjectures on the Factual Foundations of Several Ancient Legends will be available in November? (Used copies run for $800 & up.)