Tuesday, December 25, 2012

5 books somebody needs to turn into steampunk films

"Steampunk is nothing more than what happens when Goths discover brown."
- Charles Stross

Not so secretly, and miserable brown-coloured everything aside, I adore steampunk: the fashion, the gadgetry, the clothes, the dirigibles, the mix of science and fantasy and, most especially, the endless possibility of what can be achieved when technology beyond its time is suddenly made normal. I'm not about to debate what I think steampunk is in this post. That's a discussion we can have for another time. (I've found that it means quite different things to different people, and I think there's room for all of us in the melting pot). One of my most favourite steampunk novels is not a classic such as The Time Machine by HG Wells, nor is it Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne or Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It is, strangely, a relatively recent-ish novel; A Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliasotti and, for me, it captures everything that I think steampunk is: adventure, fantasy, romance and hope. That could be my fanciful thinking, though. A little while back - early this year? Late last year? - a friend and I were having a conversation about books that we absolutely think would be fantastic as steampunk films. I've left the odd bits of conversation in so you can truly see how crazy we are - and yes, we really do think and talk like that - and a little bit of a story refresher for those who may not remember/know the storyline. My only wish now? That someone actually *would* movie-ise them. (And yes, I know that's not a word, but I'm writing this post not you).

It's Christmas day, people, and officially this marks the end of our 12 Posts of Christmas series. I'll be back at least once more this week with one last post before 2013. I'd like to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas!

Honourable mention



  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer
  • Anne of Green Gables
  • The Bible - or at least parts of it (although this could be considered sacreligious)
  • Heidi
  • The Hobbit - iron dragon
  • Little Women - the little women are NANOTECH!
  • Mansfield Park
  • Pollyanna
  • Swiss Family Robinson
  • A Tale of Two Cities - more desperation and darkness. Could you imagine Madame Defarge in this setting?


  • Monday, December 24, 2012

    Top 5 most requested autobiographies for November 2012

    "When my journal appears, many statues must come down."
    - Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

    Greetings from the far north! I'm currently visiting the parental unit in Tai Tokerau where, I'd like to briefly brag, the scenery is as total amazeballs as you might think it would be. Also where, oddly enough, I can't get coverage at mum's place in Waipapakauri, but can get full bars while standing on Ninety Mile Beach. That made me LOL in the loudest way.

    Today's list is the simplest ever: our Top 5 most requested autobiographies for November 2012. Happy Christmas Eve, people!