Steampunk! (Revisited)

[DeVorn]

There's another thread out there called 'Steampunk!', but it's over two years old and doesn't fit my Machiavellian designs. Hence this thread.

For those unaware, the basic premise of steampunk is revisiting history--usually, the Victorian Age--and rearranging it in interesting new ways, centering upon technological innovations surrounding steam-engines and other obsolete technologies. The 'punk' part comes from the fact that the genre often has strong leanings towards 'punkish' viewpoints--rejection of authority, anarchy, communism, laissez faire capitalism, so on. That isn't to stay steampunk is ultimately political, but it has a lot to do with smashing the past with a sledgehammer and rearranging the resulting debris into interesting new shapes for the sake of making a point or telling an entertaining yarn. There's also a lot in it about self-reliance, doing things yourself, breaking away from a culture of sterilized uniformity--so on, so on. But that's all just a hodge-podge of debatable details.

I'm currently in the process of writing a novel in this vein (posted a snippet for critique here (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103093); yes, this is part of my insidious ploy to merely get more exposure to it for more feedback; yes, I am a villainous dog) and I'm very interested in talking about it. I'm not here to convince you to love the genre if it's not your cup of tea, but I'm very interested in hearing why it's not your cup of tea. I'm also totally open for someone telling me my general definition above is completely wrong.

In addition, if you've got any books you can recommend for a clueless amateur writer pushing his way into the genre (that'd be me, by the way), feel free to list them. I personally recommend both The Victorian Internet and The Victorian Underworld--two books I've found to be invaluable for understanding the spirit of the age as well as entertaining reads that stand on their own.

[Shweta]

I'm really interested in not-quite-steampunk, myself. Steam and clockwork in, say, the colonies rather than Victorian England. Or in continental Europe. Or in a post-oil future. Or in a magical world. Things like that.

But you might be starting this at a somewhat bad time, since a bunch of us who like steampunk are waiting on (rather late) responses from Shimmer's Clockwork Jungle issue :) Personally I'll be much more up on critting a steampunk piece after I hear back on mine. It's just eating my brain too much just now.

But, hm. I guess The Difference Engine is the founder of Steampunk. I haven't read it. I've ordered the Steampunk anthology (edited by Jeff and Ann Vandermeer), and I'm looking forward to that rather a lot. But so far, most of my sense of the feel comes from visual media -- art and comics and laptop modification pictures and such. (Speaking of which, have you read Girl Genius (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021104)? It's got a strong steampunk aesthetic and is hugely fun.)

[DeVorn]

But you might be starting this at a somewhat bad time, since a bunch of us who like steampunk are waiting on (rather late) responses from Shimmer's Clockwork Jungle issue :) Personally I'll be much more up on critting a steampunk piece after I hear back on mine. It's just eating my brain too much just now.

Shimmer's Clockwork Jungle Issue?

But, hm. I guess The Difference Engine is the founder of Steampunk. I haven't read it. I've ordered the Steampunk anthology (edited by Jeff and Ann Vandermeer), and I'm looking forward to that rather a lot. But so far, most of my sense of the feel comes from visual media -- art and comics and laptop modification pictures and such. (Speaking of which, have you read Girl Genius (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021104)? It's got a strong steampunk aesthetic and is hugely fun.)

I've read through it a few times; it's not precisely my cup of tea, but I'd certainly agree that it's a lot of fun. Also, I'm pretty sure that steampunk predates The Difference Engine (the story just really solidifies the genre).

As for steampunk outside of a standard Victorian England mold--I actually prefer that myself, too. Since the spirit of steampunk seems to be smashing things apart and reassembling them into new, much more interesting things (aka, cannibalizing the past and rearranging it to create a more vivid one), I see absolutely no reason to differentiate between Victorian-England steampunk, and, say, steampunk that takes place on the high seas of a flooded world, contained along the length of an archipelago currently under the colonial control of a single (super) power. Or steampunk that incorporates some aspect of high magic and fantasy.

[Shweta]

Shimmer's Clockwork Jungle Issue?
http://bethwodzinski.blogspot.com/2007/12/clockwork-jungle-book.html
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2359366

I've read through it a few times; it's not precisely my cup of tea, but I'd certainly agree that it's a lot of fun. Also, I'm pretty sure that steampunk predates The Difference Engine (the story just really solidifies the genre).
Can you give me examples? I thought that the first time those elements came together was in that book.

As for steampunk outside of a standard Victorian England mold--I actually prefer that myself, too. Since the spirit of steampunk seems to be smashing things apart and reassembling them into new, much more interesting things (aka, cannibalizing the past and rearranging it to create a more vivid one), I see absolutely no reason to differentiate between Victorian-England steampunk, and, say, steampunk that takes place on the high seas of a flooded world, contained along the length of an archipelago currently under the colonial control of a single (super) power. Or steampunk that incorporates some aspect of high magic and fantasy.
Hm. I'd say that a fair amount of steampunk lies in the rigidness and hypocrisy of Victorian society threatened by industrialization and anarchy and all the punk values you mentioned earlier, so that any non-Victorian steampunk is quite a different animal and needs to be (somewhat) re-invented accordingly.
I tend to like overambitious worldbuilding in my work, though, so I lean this way :)

[DeVorn]

Can you give me examples? I thought that the first time those elements came together was in that book.

Two from wikipedia: Morlock Night (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morlock_Night) and Infernal Devices (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infernal_Devices_%28Jeter%29).

Hm. I'd say that a fair amount of steampunk lies in the rigidness and hypocrisy of Victorian society threatened by industrialization and anarchy and all the punk values you mentioned earlier, so that any non-Victorian steampunk is quite a different animal and needs to be (somewhat) re-invented accordingly.
I tend to like overambitious worldbuilding in my work, though, so I lean this way :)

I could see that angle. But I wouldn't say it's an entirely different animal; most 'steampunk' seems to be rebelling against something, just maybe not stuffy Victorian-age corsets. I don't think what you're rebelling against matters--it's just the act of rebelling that earns you the 'punk' moniker.

[dirtsider]

If you like steampunk and are in the NJ area in September, I recommend checking out the Salon Convention in Somerset, NJ. Here's the website: www.salonconvention.com. This will be its third year so it's still a fairly small convention. I plan on going.

[Zoombie]

A phenomenal steampunkish comic book is the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.


No, it has nothing to do with the movie. At all.

[Stormhawk]

I love Last Exile - it's steampunk, and it's beautiful (and it's Range Murata art *drool*).

I plan on adding in some steampunk elements to my 'verse, not in the main story, but in one of the stories that talks about the past. :)

[Straka]

I suppose Neal Stephenson's Diamond Age would be steam punk

[Hollan]

I like to watch steampunk, but I've never read any. Last Exile and Fullmetal Alchemist are both awesome. And I guess the game Bioshock is steampunk too (and crazy, but in a good way). Cool genre that I'd like to get into, I think. Any book recommendations?

[Shweta]

Just got the Steampunk anthology (http://www.tachyonpublications.com/book/Steampunk.html) in. It's a gorgeous book. I expect it to contain wonderful stories. Will report back :)

[Bartholomew]

Just got the Steampunk anthology (http://www.tachyonpublications.com/book/Steampunk.html) in. It's a gorgeous book. I expect it to contain wonderful stories. Will report back :)

Do let us know, dear.

[arkady]

I love Last Exile - it's steampunk, and it's beautiful (and it's Range Murata art *drool*).

Agreed about Last Exile, but if we're talking anime, Steamboy is as hard-core steampunk as you can get.

[dempsey]

A rarely-mentioned steampunk-esque comic (and the thing which introduced me to steampunk as a concept) is Five Fists of Science. Written by Matt Fraction, it's about Tesla and Twain working together to fight the demonic forces being brought to this world by the powers of Edison and Morgan.

Yeah, it's seriously that awesome.

A steampunk-esque videogame is Bioshock, and what influenced my novel to go from being set in modern-day to having me create my own world which is very steampunk-esque.

Movies along the lines are City of Lost Children and Brazil, or so I've heard. I'm not a movie buff. I've netflix'd both of them and will say something in my blog about it when the time comes. The Prestige, also.

But yes. I'm writing my novel in this fashion. So I'm doing my research right now. DeVorn, if you want to trade info with me, go ahead and send me a PM. Seems like we're both researching similar things and could possibly ramp off one another with resources and good details.

[Shweta]

A rarely-mentioned steampunk-esque comic (and the thing which introduced me to steampunk as a concept) is Five Fists of Science.
:Jaw:
Want! *wonders if the indy comic store in Berkeley has it*

[Stormhawk]

Oh, Five Fists is awesome!

I should probably read it again...

[Zoombie]

Bioshock is very steampunky...well...sorta. It's more geanpunk with some steam in there.

Oh! oh! Good thing...uh...

CRAP! I can't remember the name...

SUN OF SUNS! That was it! Giant spherical chamber holding a huge system of suns that are blown about on eddies and currents. It's got airships and rocket bikes and it's OMG AWESOME!

[dempsey]

:Jaw:
Want! *wonders if the indy comic store in Berkeley has it*

Easily. It's an Image comic.

http://heavyink.com/title/1265-Five-Fists-Of-Science-Gn

I recommend buying from this place. It's where I get my comics from, sent to me on lovely subscription so I don't even have to hit the comic book store anymore. The comics are always on time and in excellent condition.

You'll even see my review there :)

SHOWMANSHIP