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The Difference Engine (Spectra special editions) - William Gibson
The Difference Engine (Spectra special editions)
by: (author)
2.84 185
1855: The Industrial Revolution is in full and inexorable swing, powered by steam-driven cybernetic Engines.  Charles Babbage perfects his Analytical Engine and the computer age arrives a century ahead of its time.  And three extraordinary characters race toward a rendezvous with history—and the... show more
1855: The Industrial Revolution is in full and inexorable swing, powered by steam-driven cybernetic Engines.  Charles Babbage perfects his Analytical Engine and the computer age arrives a century ahead of its time.  And three extraordinary characters race toward a rendezvous with history—and the future:   Sybil Gerard—a fallen woman, politician’s tart, daughter of a Luddite agitator   Edward “Leviathan” Mallory—explorer and paleontologist   Laurence Oliphant—diplomat, mystic, and spy.   Their adventure begins with the discovery of a box of punched Engine cards of unknown origin and purpose.  Cards someone wants badly enough to kill for….   Part detective story, part historical thriller, The Difference Engine is the collaborative masterpiece by two of the most acclaimed science fiction authors writing today.  Provocative, compelling, intensely imagined, it is a startling extension of Gibson’s and Sterling’s unique visions—and the beginning of movement we know today as “steampunk!”
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Format: mass market paperback
ISBN: 9780553294613 (055329461X)
ASIN: 055329461X
Publisher: Spectra
Pages no: 429
Edition language: English
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Community Reviews
Reading Adler's List
Reading Adler's List rated it
3.0
Surprisingly, I was left indifferent after finishing The Difference Engine. It’s co-authored by the iconic Gibson (and Sterling is no slouch either). That’s not to say it’s impressive in many ways. The Victorian-era alt history is fully realized. The authors stuff pages with 19th century slang, d...
Book Trauma
Book Trauma rated it
3.0
While I found a lot of this book good, I was still pretty disappointed in it. The basis for it was fabulous, an alternate steam-punk world reminiscent of Tim Powers style. Unfortunately at was not near as well thought out as his plots. I could jump through some of the holes they were so large and I ...
target acquired
target acquired rated it
2.0
STEAMPUNK SALAD3 (5-ounce) cans solid Victorian Era packed in water1/2 cup minced Bruce Sterling1/2 cup minced William Gibson1/4 cup Technological Speculation1 hard-boiled Spy Thriller, chopped in large pieces1 soft-boiled Detective Tale, finely minced3 Major Characters, lukewarm1 Mysterious Box of ...
mayhap
mayhap rated it
In spite of glorious world-building and a number of things happening, this book ultimately fails to have a single coherent plot. Still, it fails spectacularly, and I wish somebody would buy the kinotrope rights.
markgilchrist
markgilchrist rated it
2.0 The Difference Engine (Spectra special editions)
Parts of this book I really loved. Other parts I skipped! The basic idea of the story was fine, and certain aspects were fantastic. There was a surprise in the middle of the narrative that I was not sure of the relevance ... and makes it definitely an "adult" book.The ending was the real let down fo...
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