Steampunk is an expanding subculture that blends science fiction and fantasy with 19th century industrial trends. While it originated in the mid-19th century as a reaction to what was seen as the sanitized, rationalist world of the Victorian era, this subculture has evolved rapidly in recent years. Fans of Steampunk dress up in clothing and accessories inspired by this period. They use machinery from the past which is blended with steam-powered technology of today to create an interesting alternate reality. The culture has influenced other genres like cyberpunk and biopunk, giving rise to new ones such as neo-Victorianism and dieselpunk. However, some people believe that it may be just a passing fad or a visual representation of cyberpunk without any real substance behind it. Read on to know more about what is Steampunk genre, its components and examples of Steampunk literature.
What is Steampunk Genre?
Steampunk is a genre of speculative fiction that typically features steam-powered technology, usually set in an alternative history or a fictionalized past, often during the Victorian era. Steampunk works are often set in an alternative history in which 19th century industrialization has continued into the modern day, with improvements such as more efficient trains and personal computer systems.
Steampunk Components
Steampunk is a subculture that blends science fiction and fantasy with the 19th-century industrial trends. It’s an expanding genre that has influenced other genres like cyberpunk and biopunk. It was first coined in 1985 by Michael Moorcock, who used it as a description for what he called “fantasy set in a future time”. The name “steampunk” comes from a combination of the words ‘steam’ and ‘Victorian’, which denotes the alternate reality created by this genre. In more recent years, Steampunk went mainstream, being featured on TV shows such as James May’s Man Lab (2013) and Doctor Who (2005).
But of course, there are many elements to this genre which include the fashion and technology used by its fans. Here are some of those components:
A steampunk world is set in Victorian era or near-Victorian era London but moved into a post-apocalyptic setting where steam power is still used.
Characters are often shown with goggles or goggles similar to those worn during this period because they allow them to see through obstacles using infrared light or other technologies.
The Victorians were known for their social hypocrisy, so characters in Steampunk tend to be morally ambiguous and may have different motivations for their actions than those seen in contemporary literature.
Some examples of notable literary works that fall under this category are A Clockwork Orange (1971), Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Frankenstein (1818)
Examples of Steampunk Literature
One of the biggest examples of Steampunk literature is by author Michael Moorcock. His novel, The Warlord of the Air, is about a Victorian era protagonist who becomes involved in a war between the Qys and a race known as the Ghargars. This novel explores many societal issues such as sexism and racism.
Another example is by author B.J. MacDebbie, who wrote The Devil’s Larder, which tells the story of an orphan girl growing up in a secret society that hunts down rare magical ingredients and collects them to feed society’s most powerful sorcerers in order to maintain their power. In this book, magic is intertwined with science fiction and steampunk.
Neo-Victorianism
Neo-Victorianism is a subgenre of steampunk that adds historical realism to the genre. This type of Steampunk tends to show a true representation of what life was like in the Victorian era. Many neo-Victorian authors focus on the exploitation, oppression, and struggles that occurred during this time period. A common theme in these stories is the idea that technology should be used to improve the human condition and make it more humane even if it has negative effects on human nature. The genre also focuses on how society handles their gender, sexuality, social class, and ethnicity issues during this time in history.
Examples of Neo-Victorianism:
The Difference Engine by William Gibson
All Tomorrow’s Parties by William Gibson
Wool by Hugh Howey
Biopunk
The term biopunk has evolved from its conventional definition to a more general concept. Biopunk is the combination of the two genres cyberpunk and steampunk, which results in a dystopian society with environmental factors playing a dominant role.
Steampunk’s emphasis on technology and science is replaced with biopunk’s focus on nature. This can lead to radical changes in society where it adopts certain technologies for the betterment of mankind or rejects them completely if they are considered dangerous to the environment or other living organisms. The idea of biopunk as a genre is that humanity has been capable of using technology to improve its quality of life, but not without consequences.
Dieselpunk
: an example of a new genre created by Steampunk
Dieselpunk is a new genre that combines Steampunk with dieselpunk- this means that the story takes place in an alternate world where steam power and technology combine to create a new style. Unlike steampunk, which is based on 19th century industrial technology, dieselpunk is influenced by 20th-century modern technology such as gas-powered engines. Dieselpunk literature uses themes like dieselpunk to explore the role of technology in society and how it affects people’s lives. For example, one famous work set in a dieselpunk world is “Ender’s Game.”
Why Is There a Need for Steampunk?
The steampunk genre has gained tremendous popularity in recent years and it’s not hard to see why. Steampunk is a great way to escape from the ordinariness of everyday life. It offers the reader a new perspective on a world that’s often too similar for comfort. They are able to escape into a fantasy world with all the rich culture, history, and adventures that come along with it. Steampunk is an escape that many people believe makes them feel more hopeful about the future.
Steampunk also allows readers to explore their own creativity by thinking outside of the box, something that inspires readers of any genre or medium. There is no right or wrong way to create steampunk art, just take your time and experiment with different styles and techniques until you find one that reflects your personality while working well with your aesthetic taste.
The Final Word
Steampunk has been around for a long time and has evolved rapidly in recent years. It is a subculture that blends science fiction and fantasy with the 19th century industrial trends. Steampunk fans dress up in clothing and accessories inspired by this period to create an alternate reality. The culture has influenced other genres like cyberpunk, biopunk, and dieselpunk which have created new ones such as neo-Victorianism and dieselpunk. However, some people believe that it may be just a passing fad or a visual representation of cyberpunk without any real substance behind it. Read on to know more about what is Steampunk genre, its components, examples of Steampunk literature, and the final word.
What is steampunk?
Steampunk is an expanding subculture that blends science fiction and fantasy with 19th century industrial trends. While it originated in the mid-19th century as a reaction to what was seen as the sanitized, rationalist world of the Victorian era, this
subculture has evolved rapidly in recent years. Fans of Steampunk dress up in clothing and accessories inspired by this period while they use machinery from the past which is blended with steam-powered technology of today to create an interesting alternate reality. The culture has influenced other genres like cyberpunk and biopunk which have given rise to new ones such as neo-Victorianism and dieselpunk but some people believe that it may be just a passing fad or a visual representation of cyberpunk
