This is the first steampunk novel I've read, and I see the appeal. It's always good to see SF that isn't set in the future, on rockets, and the 19th century is about as far from that as you can get while still retaining the potential for interesting technology. Such as, in this case, airships, subterranean digging machines, big guns (both with bullets and without), and more.

On top of which, I like Seattle, so a Seattle that's been topsy-turvied by the titular device is a fun setting.

I was less thrilled with the zombies. Never cared for them, for some reason. However, I'll say that Priest writes them effectively, and there were a number of appropriately sphincter-tightening moments in Boneshaker.

On the whole, though, I can't bring myself to give this book more than three stars. It's not bad by any means, but it's also not that good. Competent, certainly. If you're in the mood for a zombie steampunk adventure, definitely go for it. But I doubt I'll be reading the next book in the series (that's also largely due to the zombies).

Oh, and at times Priest seemed to be addressing the guy at Steve Jackson Games or wherever who'll be putting together the Boneshaker Roleplaying Game Expansion Module, or maybe the set and costume designers at whichever studio will be filming the movie, depending how high her ambitions go. Or maybe I was just imagining things.