2. “I think Victorian fantasies are going to be
the next big thing, as long as we can come
up with a fitting co"ective term...like
‘Steampunk,’ perhaps.”
~ KW Jeter, Locus Magazine, 1987
4. What is Steampunk?
STEAMPUNK = Mad Scientist Inventor [invention
(steam x airship or metal man/baroque stylings) x
(pseudo) Victorian setting] + progressive or reactionary
politics x adventure plot
~ John Coulthart
5. What is Steampunk?
Steampunk has always been first and foremost a
literary genre, or [at] least a sub-genre of science
fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological
aspects of the 19th century (the steam) usually with
some deconstruction of, reimagining of, rebellion
against part of it (the punk).
~ John Leavitt? of steampunk.com
6. What is Steampunk?
Steampunk is...a mood (fog-laden streets lined with
cobblestones); a theme (a world standing on the edge
between one age and the next), a tech level (horses and
automobiles, clockwork creations, goggles and steam
engines, and air craft rising toward the stars), and
more than a bit of madness.
~ Beth Bernobich, author of Passion Play and Ars
Memoriae
7. What is Steampunk?
Steampunk is...the love child of Hot Topic and a BBC
costume drama.
~Gail Carriger, author of The Parasol Protectorate series
Steampunk is what happens when goths discover
brown.
~ Jess Nevins, author of Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana
8. What is Steampunk?
First, it’s simultaneously retro and forward-looking in
nature. Second, it evokes a sense of adventure and
discovery. Third, it embraces divergent and extinct
technologies as a way of talking about the future.
~ Jeff VanderMeer and SJ Chambers, The Steampunk Bible
10. Edisonade Novels
Edward E"is, The Huge
Hunter of the Steam Man of
the Prairies (1865)
Henry Enton, Frank Reade
and his Steam Man of the
Plain (1876)
Luis Senarens, Frank Reade,
Jr. and His Steam Wonder
(1879)
12. First Generation
Tim Powers, The Anubis
Gates (1983)
KW Jeter, Infernal
Devices (1987)
Peter J Blaylock, Lord
Kelvin’s Machine (1992)
Wi"iam Gibson and
Bruce Sterling, The
Difference Engine (1990)
13. Quiet Years: 1991-2007
Neal Stephenson, The
Diamond Age: Or, a Lady’s
I"ustrated Primer (1995)
Philip Pu"man, The
Golden Compass (1995)
Paul di Filippo, The
Steampunk Trilogy (1995)
14. Supernatural
Gail Carriger, The Parasol
Protectorate
Cherie Priest, Boneshaker
Kim Newman, Anno Dracula
Clay Griffith. The Grey*iar
15. Mysteries & Detectives
Lilith Saintcrow, The T. Aaron Payton. The
Iron Wyrm Affair Constantine Affair
China Mievi"e. Perdido
Street Station
Mark Hodder. The
Strange Affair of Spring
Heeled Jack
PC Martin. Steampunk
Holmes: Legacy of the
Nautilus
17. Airships & Pirates
Chris Wooding, Retribution
Fa"s
Michel R Vai"ancourt, By Any
Other Name
George Mann. The Affinity
Bridge
Scott Westerfeld. The Manual of
Aeronautics
20. Anthologies
Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, eds.
Steampunk
Nick Geves, ed. Extraordinary
Engines
Mike Ashley. Steampunk
Prime: A Vintage Steampunk
Reader
21. Graphic Novels
Phil and Kaja Folio, Girl Genius
Sydney Padua, The Thri"ing
Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage
Brian Selznick, The Adventures of
Hugo Cabret
Ian Edginton and D’Israeli, Scarlet
Traces
Alan Moore, The League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen
22. Reference Books
Jeff VanderMeer with SJ
Chambers. The
Steampunk Bible
Jess Nevins and Michael
Moorcock. The
Encyclopedia of Fantastic
Victoriana
23. References
“The Future of Steampunk,” Paul Jessup. The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf and Book Review.
http://booktionary.blogspot.com/2010/10/future-of-steampunk-by-paul-jessup.html
“Steampunk Is,” The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf and Book Review.
http://booktionary.blogspot.com/2010/10/steampunk-is.html
“What is Steampunk?” John Leavitt.
http://www.steampunk.com/what-is-steampunk/
Steampunk. Ann VanderMeer and Jeff Vandermeer, eds.
“Introduction: The 19th-Century Roots of Steampunk.” Jeff Nevins. In Steampunk.
Steampunk Scholar.
