[vchynarov]

Fiction:

"The Lies of Locke Lamora"

I found this book because I just finished playing Dishonored 2 and I wanted to read a book with a dystopian steampunk alternative-Victorian vibe.

The events take place in a gritty, corrupt city of waterways and canals controlled by different factions. The factions represent either the legitimate nobility or the extensive underground criminal empire. A charismatic leader of a small young group of thieves and pickpockets comes up with an epic, layered con that will break sacred agreements and make him enemies with everyone - and pulls it off.

[fsloth]

If you dig victorian steampunk I warmly recommend Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.

[Thersites]

Seconded, this is one of the best fiction books I have ever read

[lmm]

I found this disappointing - the moral position made no sense and that disconnected me from the characters. I enjoyed Low Town: The Straight Razor Cure a lot more in the same vein.

[ryanar]

I enjoyed this book as well, but wasn't as enthralled by the subsequent books in the series. I think it just sort of lost me after a bit.

[vchynarov]

@ryanar - Good to hear but disappointing. I was planning to start the second book next year.

[43920]

I just read this recently also, and I agree it’s a great book. “dystopian steampunk alternative-Victorian vibe” describes it well - it’s a society with advanced chemistry and materials (“elderglass”), but no gasoline, electricity, computers, etc.