Steampunk

I learned a new word recently, and then didn't the word start popping up all over the place? "Steampunk" is a sub-genre of fantasy fiction that depicts an alternate world where everything runs on steam power. It's like the 1980s mashed up with a Jules Verne novel. But, you know, awesome. In these alternate worlds, we all get around in airships not unlike the Hindenburg (but safer), do our work on analog computers, and wear cool Queen Victoria-meets-Cyndi Lauper fashions. Well, I think they're cool. Now what kind of librarian would I be if I got you hooked on the idea of steampunk novels and left you hanging with nary a recommendation? Meet The Affinity Bridge by George Mann.
In this novel, it's 1901 and Queen Victoria is being kept alive by means of a complex, mechanical life-support system (steam-powered, I'm guessing?). Which means that it's still Victorian England and everyone had better dress the part. Meanwhile, Detective Maurice Newbury and his assistant, Veronica Hobbes, investigate a crashed airship, search for a glowing police officer suspected of serial stranglings, and deal with the plague of zombies infesting London's slums. Oh yeah, and the airships, also known as dirigibles or Zeppelins (now I'm just showing off) are piloted by automatons. Affinity Bridge is so going on the Amazon.com wish list!