Pick-a-Shelf discussion

I have a really selfish reason for wanting quotes this month. Steampunk is a genre that I am not that familiar with at all, so I am really looking forward to the quotes that are left here. I am hoping that they will help me and others decided what to read and put on my list from this genre.

At the beginning of the book, I wouldn't say Clockwork Angel is a very good example of steampunk. Yes, it takes place in the appropriate time period, but there's so much fantasy going on that the fact that there are horses and buggies in the streets rather than cars is barely noticeable. I hadn't realized that it takes place in the same world Clare uses for her Mortal Instruments series.

Anyway, here's a quote from p. 46:

"Such a fuss over a few mundanes." Mrs. Dark chuckled and moved to stand beside her sister, so that Will, with his blazing sword, was between Tessa and both ladies. "We have no quarrel with you, Shadowhunter, unless you choose to pick one. You have invaded our territory and broken Covenant Law in doing so. We could report you to the Clave -- "

From The Well of Lost Plots, p. 46:

"What's it like?" I asked.
"How do you mean?"
"Being fictional."
"Ah!" replied Snell slowly. "Yes--fictional."
I realized too late that I had gone too far -- it was how I imagined a dog would feel if you brought up the question of distemper in polite conversation.

from The Windup Girl, p. 46:

She holds the bills between her fingers. Her training tells her to be polite, but his self-satisfied largesse irritates her.

"What does the gentleman think I will do with his extra baht?" she asks. "Buy a pretty piece of jewelry? Take myself out to dinner? I am property, yes? I am Raleigh's." She tosses the money at his feet. "It makes no difference if I am rich or poor. I am owned."

The man pauses, one hand on the sliding door. "Why not run away, then?"

"To where? My import permits have expired." She smiles bitterly. "Without Raleigh-san's patronage and connections, the white shirts would mulch me."