Name: The Difference Engine
ISBN: 9780553294613

William Gibson

Bruce Sterling

In London of 1855, celebrated paleontologist Edward Mallory gets mixed up with Charles Babbage, the inventor of an advanced calculating machine run by his elite group of clackers

The Difference Engine

The computer age has arrived a century ahead of time with Charles Babbage's perfection of his Analytical Engine. The Industrial Revolution, supercharged by the development of steam-driven cybernetic Engines, is in full and drastic swing. Great Britain, with her calculating-cannons, steam dreamnoughts, machine-guns and information technology, prepares to better the world's lot . . .

Well, I finally read it. But I must say it wasn’t something I enjoyed. It’s well crafted, for sure, and full of words. But something of a Boy’s Own adventure to the latter parts of the book. So many exclamation marks. It’s message was obscure - or maybe I’m not savvy enough to pick it up. An alternate history, certainly, and a seminal one at that. 

Jan Jackson

Forgot to add this as DNF from several months ago. Started really great but around the time of a too-long sex scene, it turned into a totally different book and I just couldn't continue.

Vastly entertaining. Slightly sketchy at the end. 

Lee Schneider

Shea Newton

Wasn't terrible, it just bored me and I returned it without finishing.
Interesting environment though.

Stephan Happe

Sherry

John Manoogian III

Rebecca C Wright

Greg Copeland

Sang Park

In London of 1855, celebrated paleontologist Edward Mallory gets mixed up with Charles Babbage, the inventor of an advanced calculating machine run by his elite group of clackers.

Scordatura

Cal Desmond‐Pearson

Daniel Lauzon

Jon Noronha

Kristina

Nat Welch

Scott Vandehey

Alexandru Badiu

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!” From the Paperback edition.

The Difference Engine

Reviews

Highlights