I'm going to Durham in a couple of days (YAY!) mainly because, for once, my mum wants to look at the same Uni I do.

Anyway, while there, apparently, they have these shops there that sell books. Now as a poor deprived urchin from Liverpool this concept is alien to me. I may get confused.  I might buy some books while in Durham. However, I have enough tradition fantasy fare to keep me going until next year (40 books last count), so I want something a bit different to look for. Steampunk. I've not really tried anything from this genre (unless Mieville's Bas-lag novels count?). So reccys would be much appreciated. Preferably books with strong female characters, I get rather bored with all male casts.

Thanks in advance.

BTW Dentists are the handmaids of Satan. My mouth has been dead now for 3 hours. Eating a chocolate digestive? Not fun.