A Multicultural Perspective on Steampunk

Twenty Must Read Steampunk Books – An Introduction to the Genre This list is the first in a projected series of genre introduction lists intended to provide extensive overviews of various speculative subgenres. They aim to provide a resource for anyone who is interested in a particular subgenre but doesn’t quite know where to start. While this list is by no means all-encompassing, we believe that if you read some of these books you will have a working knowledge of what steampunk is all about. Steampunk is a hard subgenre to evaluate since the decision to classify a novel as steampunk often relates to aesthetics and may have little to do with the overall plot or feel of the novel. Therefore, when choosing books for this list, I have endeavored to explore all sides of steampunk by presenting a selection of books with varying styles, vastly different plots and different themes. For simplicity’s sake, I did not included works that anticipated aspects of steampunk, such as H. Many of the books on the list are installments in longer series.

Aliette de Bodard » Blog Archive » Aztec steampunk So, I’ve recently noticed I started writing Aztec steampunk (“Memories in Bronze, Feathers and Blood”, up at Beneath Ceaseless Skies, “Age of Miracles, Age of Wonders” forthcoming in Interzone, and “Prayers of Forges and Furnaces”, which I haven’t sold yet). I’ve had several people mentioning how it’s a bit odd to be mixing Aztecs with the steampunk aesthetic, and that set me wondering about where I was coming from when I was writing that kind of stuff. Insofar as I can express it, it goes like this. Those steampunk stories I’ve read (and I’ll say right here and now that I haven’t read that many of them and don’t consider myself a steampunk expert, not by a large margin) derive a strong appeal as sensaofwunda stories with a retro feel: you have goggles and all sort of tech from dirigibles to odd-shaped machines involving steam and brass; there are explorers and archaelogists, wealthy spinsters and anarchists, mechanical men and proto-computers. I’m not criticising.

steampunk defended In my opinion, Stross has at least one valid point, one that doesn't go away by just declaring steampunk to be "cool", like Westerfeld did, or stressing the utopian qualities of the 19th century, like Valtat: It is easily forgotten today that the genre's origins, at least when seen in direct relation to cyberpunk, are dystopian, not utopian, in nature. Steampunk shows a 19th century spun out of control, full of dangerous, unbound technological possibilities and sociological changes that indeed had lots in common with the postmodern worlds of William Gibson, Bruce Sterling and the like. Just like the cyberpunks, authors like Oscar Wilde and Joris-Karl Huysmans turned the old values upside down, declaring technology superior to nature, the illusion preferable to the real. However, the heroes of cyberpunk didn't stop there. Sometimes, steampunk still remembers this. But sometimes, there's just too much coolness.

Historical Accuracy in Steampunk: A Guide For Steaming Up Traditional Victorian Wear - Doctor Fantastique's Show of Wonders What makes historical clothing steampunk? As a clothing historian, my main focus is to help steampunk enthusiasts understand historical clothing so they can make their steampunk attire feel more authentic. Another aspect that should be considered is how to make historical clothing work in steampunk. There are many living history reenactors that have trouble adapting into the steampunk world. Just like with a newbie steampunk, these individuals often struggle with crossing the barrier between authentic clothing and steampunk clothing. The basic rule is that the more Victorian/historical you are, the better, but even I suffer from not making my own attire have that steampunk feel. First, let’s discuss fabric. Wearing your corset on the outside is another punk adaptation. Capt. Lazuli Delacru & Guest at Skybourne Masquerade Ball Nebraska Steampunk Society Using steampunk symbols in your attire is another way to take your outfit from authentic to steampunk. Finally- weapons!

Brass Goggles:The lighter side of Steampunk Posted by proteus on December 23rd,2013 Two things I love in one photo: [via Brian Kesinger’s Tea Girls] Posted by proteus on October 17th,2013 A Steampunk Badminton tournament sounds like a fantastic idea. Posted by proteus on October 11th,2013 Our Forum User “Bolt Face” brings this lovely coverage of a Steampunk Coffee House from The Chive: Image from The Chive Many more images in the original article, and a discussion here on our forums. This clock may not be exactly “steampunk”, but it certainly tickles the dials-and-knobs delight! [Via Boing Boing] Posted by proteus on October 8th,2013 Described as inspired by Steampunk and Warhammer-like games, Diesel Tactics looks like an interesting project that’s still in development. Posted by proteus on February 28th,2013 Hand made from savaged Arbutus, Western Red Cedar, and Black Walnut, these articulated Steamy Icarus wings are a beautiful handmade addition to any dirigible captain’s safety gear: And they’re not just static decoration, either: (more…)

A Beginner’s Guide to Steampunk Literature From humble beginnings as a loosely defined sub-genre of science fiction, steampunk has evolved into a cultural phenomenon that combines ‘a Victorian aesthetic and a punk-rock attitude’; one that has come to influence more than just literature. The creation of the ‘steampunk’ term is usually attributed to the science fiction author K.W. Jeter, who used it in a letter to Locus Magazine. He believed novels written in what he described as the ‘gonzo-historical manner’ would be the next big thing but only if there was a general term that described them as a genre. It’s still inadequate to explain steampunk as just ‘Victorian Fantasy.’ In 1990, steampunk was introduced to a wider audience with The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, in which the mechanical computer Charles Babbage theorized in 1822 was successfully built and led to the dawn of an Information Age in the late 19th century, rather than 100 years later. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest Soulless by Gail Carriger

Steam Garden: Tokyo, Japan steampunk party at Christon Cafe Shinjuku. Japanese cosplay fashion event. | LA CARMINA. Japanese Street Fashion The concept of Steampunk is only beginning to gain recognition in Japan, even though there have been many works that incorporate the aesthetic, such as Katsuhiro Otomo’s anime film Steamboy. My Tokyo-based friends Kenny Creation and Luke Chaos have been passionate about Steampunk for some time, and last year, they founded the event Steam Garden. (Photo above by Aki Saito) On March 10th, I went to their fourth event, themed “Celtic Fantasy.” Each event has a different theme, revolving around a past era. This time, the code word was Celtic Fantasy. Kenny Creation DJ-ed possibly the most original set I’ve ever heard… it was exclusively bagpipe music! In between sets, there were mesmerizing performances by motion capture and stunt performer Kaori Kawabuchi (Final Fantasy 13), live music on a variety of period instruments from medieval group Homonculus… … steamcore music and tribal fire dance from Chaos Royale VS Lyon. With the dapper “philosopher” of Steam Garden, Luke. And Japanese Lolitas.

23 Best Steampunk Books - The Best Sci Fi Books Steampunk is science fiction after a few LSD-laced absinthe jello shots; it can include alternate histories, vampires, time travel, magic, and romance. As long as you feature some technology suggestive of steam power, you can go as crazy as you want, and several writers on this list have done exactly that. For some reason, a large number of steampunk authors appear to live in Portland, Oregon. Unique among science fiction genres, steampunk is also a distinctive fashion, complete with old-timey suits, corsets, brass goggles, and dangerous electrical devices. by Thomas Pynchon – 2006 Against the Day is not a breezy read. It all begins in 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair, with an intrepid crew of young balloonists whose storybook adventures will bookend, interrupt, and sometimes even be read by, scores of somewhat more realistic characters over the next 30 years. Against the Day is convoluted, meandering, and comes in at over 1,000 pages long, so if you dive in, take it slow and steady. by H.

Dorian's Parlor @ the Double Tree in Center City Philadelphia With about 300 new to this group its time to post this once more. LiveJournal Forgot your password? Create an Account You are viewing the community Recent Entries Archive Friends User Info Memories Steampunk Fashion Welcome, one and all, to the Age of Steam Previous Entry | Next Entry With about 300 new to this group its time to post this once more. Jan. 8th, 2008 at 3:22 PM Small Your timeline so you know when Steampunk technology began and ended and where Pulp began and so forth. Other Steampunk LJ communities (If there are more feel free to Leave a comment) The few "Myspaces" that have been found are e zine zine ss ret Tags: Link

Steampunk: 20 Core Titles By John Klima Featuring H.G. Wells, Neal Barrett & Cherie Priest By John Klima — Library Journal, 03/04/2010 Steampunk is everywhere, from movies like Sherlock Holmes and Howl’s Moving Castle to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and an art exhibition at the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, England. A little background: The subgenre has its origins in the 1980s with writers such as Tim Powers, James Blaylock, and K.W. Here are ten classic steampunk works and ten more recent titles for a well-rounded collection. The Classics | Recent Works Barrett, Neal, Jr. Blaylock, James P. Summarizing the plot is difficult to impossible, but events begin with a corpse-piloted dirigible that has been orbiting London for years and has finally caught the interest of the Royal Society. Di Filippo, Paul. Gibson, William & Bruce Sterling. 29461-3. pap. $7.99. Jeter, K.W. Moorcock, Michael. Out of print. Powers, Tim. Steampunk. 9. pap. $14.95. Swanwick, Michael. Wells, H.G. Akers, Tim. Lake, Jay.