Plot Summary

The Difference Engine

Bruce Sterling, William Gibson
Guide cover placeholder

The Difference Engine

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1990

Book Brief

Bruce Sterling, William Gibson

The Difference Engine

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1990
Book Details
Pages

512

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London, England • 1850s

Publication Year

1990

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Difference Engine by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson follows Sybil Gerard, the daughter of an executed radical, Edward Mallory, a paleontologist, and Laurence Oliphant, a spy masquerading as a travel writer, as they navigate an alternate 1855 where technology has advanced due to Charles Babbage’s successful development of mechanical computers, leading to political intrigue, conspiracies, and the pursuit of a mysterious box of Engine punch cards. The book contains themes of violence, betrayal, and societal degradation.

Mysterious

Gritty

Suspenseful

Challenging

Fantastical

Reviews & Readership

3.7

23,278 ratings

51%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

18%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Difference Engine by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson is praised for its imaginative alternate history and rich steampunk setting. Critics admire its detailed world-building and intricate plot but find the narrative occasionally convoluted and the pacing uneven. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read, blending historical speculation with cyberpunk elements.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Difference Engine?

A reader who would enjoy The Difference Engine by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson is likely a fan of speculative fiction and steampunk. They may also appreciate the intricate, alternate historical context and complex characters found in Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age and Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle.

3.7

23,278 ratings

51%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

18%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

512

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London, England • 1850s

Publication Year

1990

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!