Books like The Difference Engine
23 science fiction books to read after The Difference Engine, by Sterling, William Gibson, Bruce, the closest match first.
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1. 11/22/63
by King, Stephen
- On the same lists
The best Stephen King in a decade, and even a coin toss for his best work yet. King takes a well-known historical event, the Assassination of JFK, and does something...
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Thursday Next book 1 Start here
2. The Eyre Affair
by Fforde, Jasper
- On the same lists
Imagine an alternate world where the world of books and people collide. It does in this delightful series by Jasper Fforde. I could spend the next 10,000 words trying to...
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3. The Years Of Rice And Salt
by Robinson, Kim Stanley
- On the same lists
Ever wondered what the world would have been like if the Black Death killed 99% of Europe's population instead of a third? No? Really? Okay. I must admit I hadn't...
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4. Gate Of Time
by Silverberg, Robert
- On the same lists
When I imagine Two Hawks, I visualize him as a Cherokee Indiana Jones (the Raiders/Temple/Last Crusade Indy, not that Crystal Skull tripe, thank you very much.) At other times, I...
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5. Lest Darkness Fall
by Camp, L. Sprague De
- On the same lists
Throw away your hallucinogens (or don't, but I'm not going to suggest you do anything illegal here), because Lest Darkness Fall is one of those science fiction novels that begins...
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6. The Coming Of The Quantum Cats
by Pohl, Frederik
- On the same lists
A fun take on the multiverse theme—a great scientist invents a machine to travel between universes, only to have it stolen by another version of herself who wishes to use it to become a multiversal conqueror.
Imagine Stargate if it was set in the 80s sans MacGyver Richard Dean Anderson, and you've got The Coming of the Quantum Cats. Originally an Analog Sccience Fiction magazine series,...
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7. Transition
by Iain M. Banks
- On the same lists
I wonder if inserting an M in between my first name and surname will magically turn me into a top science-fiction writer like Iain Banks. (Really, he writes non science...
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Small Change book 1 Start here
8. Farthing
by Walton, Jo
- On the same lists
What happens when the great United States fails to provide assistance? Disputes are negotiated peacefully, and everyone kisses and makes up, with a nice cup 'o tea, as is the...
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9. The Alteration
by Kingsley Amis
- On the same lists
Holy Shit. That was my first thought, and rather apt thought, when I read this novel and realized what "the alteration" referred to. I sure as hell wasn't expecting that....
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10. Ada Or Ardor
by Vladimir Nabokov
- On the same lists
A Family Chronicle. History is altered as well as science--similar technology to ours, but water based rather than electricity based.
Do you ever wonder, sometimes, if Vladimir Nabokov had problems with women? I mean, not that Lolita or this piece about sibling incest necessarily reflects on his own relationships... but...
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11. The Iron Dream
by Norman Spinrad
- On the same lists
In an alternate history, Hitler becomes a Sci Fi writer in the US.
I thought I was all out of Hitler jokes, until The Iron Dream came along, and offered up an alternate history Hitler who, instead of being the Fuhrer as we...
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Wild Cards book 1 Start here
12. Wild Cards
by Martin, George R. R.
- On the same lists
If you're a fantasy, Game of Thrones, or superhero fan, this George R Martin series science fiction/super hero anthology should be on your reading list. Actually, I would go so...
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13. The Redemption Of Christopher Columbus
by Card, Orson Scott
- On the same lists
Why is it that fundamentalists Christians who don't believe in things like caffeine and alcohol always have the most fantastic imaginations? Orson Scott Card, everyone's favorite Mormon (and trust me,...
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The Axis Of Time book 1 Start here
14. Weapons Of Choice
by John Birmingham
- On the same lists
Crikey mate, Stephen Irwin got killed by a sting ray, Crocodile Dundee, alternate history science-fiction. Ever heard of a top science fiction Australian author? *Crickets chirping* No, me either. Australians...
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15. Pasquale's Angel
by Paul Mcauley
- On the same lists
The cool thing about McAuley's hard science fiction, spanning biotechnology, alternate history and time travel, is that he's actually a posh botanist with a lovely accent, not a Sheldon Cooper...
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16. Making History
by Stephen Fry
- On the same lists
We all know Stephen Fry is the amusing, articulate comedian. But inside that tart wit is a spectacular speculative fiction. In 1998's Sidewise Award Winner, this story of Michael "Puppy"...
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17. The Separation
by Priest, Christopher
- On the same lists
As if alternate histories weren't confusing enough, The Separation wants to further test its readers' intelligence by giving the readers a story about twin brothers during World War 2 who...
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18. Atlas Shrugged
by Ayn Rand
- On the same lists
Personally, I think Ayn Rand's novels always deserve a top 25 listing because of their progressive thinking and liberally sexual attitudes. Don't agree with me? Have fun with your Sunday...
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Assiti Shards book 1 Start here
19. 1632
by Eric Flint
- On the same lists
So, this is what happened in another universe. 2000 A.D. A town called Grantville, West Virginia, isn't there anymore. Some whimsical aliens drew a circle around it, about six miles...
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20. Fatherland: A Novel
by Robert Harris
- On the same lists
As we've seen with Philip Roth, alternate history is a popular form with authors who would not normally be interested in writing science fiction, think, for instance, of MacKinlay Kantor's...
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21. The Plot Against America
by Philip Roth
- On the same lists
Philip Roth is one of the two or three leading American novelists from the second half of the twentieth century, whose work consistently explored the Jewish experience in modern America....
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22. The Yiddish Policemen's Union
by Chabon, Michael
- On the same lists
What if the State of Israel was destroyed? They would live in Alaska.
In this book, Chabon created a world where Israel had never been founded after World War II. Instead the state of displaced Jews is located in Sitka, Alaska. Chabon used...
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23. The Man In The High Castle
by Dick, Philip K.
- On the same lists
A novel where Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan win WWII.
Philip K. Dick was one of the most idiosyncratic and successful writers in science fiction. Okay, he's probably better known these days for all the films that have been based...
Matches come from series and authors, from the lists the books share, and from the books readers open together. They are rebuilt every night. Back to The Difference Engine.
The shortlist
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