Literature
Steampunk literature commonly takes place in a world where steam power is still widely used. A prime example would be Victorian England, but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. This might include such elements as fictional technological inventions, or real technological developments occurring at an earlier date than in reality. The Steampunk genre was influenced by and often adopts the style of the 19th-century science fiction of authors Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Mark Twain, and Mary Shelley.
The 1990 historical fiction novel, “The Difference Engine” written by Bruce Sterling, is often noted as being a pillar of the modern Steampunk genre.
Some other more modern Steampunk novels include the Mortal Engines Quartet, also known as the Predator Cities Book Series, by British author Philip Reeve. This set of four novels takes the reader through twenty years of post-apocalyptic adventures. In December of 2018, a major motion picture release is scheduled for Mortal Engines, a movie based upon the novel. This is a must-see for fans of the novels or just of the Steampunk genre in general.
Steampunk was particularly influenced by, and often adopts the style of the scientific romances and fantasies of the 19th century. Hopefully, the list below can get you started in the Steampunk genre through books, movies, or TV series. If you know of any that we missed on this list, contact us and we will add them.
Notably influential authors are:
- G. K. Chesterton
- Charles Dickens
- Arthur Conan Doyle
- Robert Louis Stevenson
- Bram Stoker
- Jules Verne
- H.G. Wells
- Mark Twain
- Mary Shelley
Steampunk Books
- 2011-Adina, Shelley Magnificent Devices
- 2017-Anderson, Angelique The Dracosinum Tales
- 2015-Asher, Eric Steamborn
- 1993-Baxter, Stephen Anti-ice
- 2009-Berry, Jedediah The Manual of Detection: A Novel
- 1986-Blaylock, James Homunculus
- 1992-Blaylock, James Lord Kelvin’s Machine: A Novel
- 2014-Buroker, Lindsay Dragon Blood
- 2015-Butcher, Jim Cinder Spires
- 2020-Chant, T.Q. The Northumberland Codex
- 2018-Chopchinski, Zachary The Hall of Doors
- 1995-Di Filippo, Paul The Steampunk Trilogy
- 2008-Gevers, Nick Extraordinary Engines: The Definitive Steampunk Anthology
- 1990-Gibson, William The Difference Engine
- 2007-Green, Jonathan Pax Britannia
- 1979-Jeter, K. W. Morlock Night
- 1987-Jeter, K. W. Infernal Devices
- 2004-Judson, Theodore Fitzpatrick’s War
- 2018-Karsak, Melanie Steampunk Fairy Tales
- 2019-Karsak, Melanie Steampunk Red Riding Hood
- 2007-Lake, Jay Mainspring
- 2001-Lansdale, Joe R Zeppelins West
- 2006-Lansdale, Joe R Flaming London
- 2008-Mann, George The Affinity Bridge
- 2000-Miéville, China Perdido Street Station
- 1971-Moorcock, Michael The Warlord of the Air
- 1974-Moorcock, Michael The Land Leviathan
- 1981-Moorcock, Michael The Steel Tsar
- 1992-Newman, Kim Anno Dracula
- 2008-Pagliassotti, Dru Clockwork Heart
- 2013-Preston, Richard Ellis Jr. The Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin
- 1995-Pullman, Philip Northern Lights
- 2001-Reeve, Philip Mortal Engines
- 2016-Renwick, Anne The Golden Spider
Steampunk in the Movies
- 1958 The Fabulous World of Jules Verne
- 1974 Island at the Top of the World
- 1979 Time After Time
- 1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
- 1986 Castle in the Sky
- 1994 The City of Lost Children
- 1999 Wild Wild West
- 2001 Atlantis: The Lost Empire
- 2001 Metropolis (anime)
- 2001 Vidocq
- 2003 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
- 2004 Howl’s Moving Castle
- 2004 Steamboy
- 2004 Van Helsing
- 2005 The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello
- 2007 The Golden Compass
- 2009 Sherlock Holmes
- 2010 The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec
- 2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
- 2011 Hugo
- 2013 Frankenstein’s Army
- 2013 Strega Unbound
- 2013 Gentlemen Explorers
- 2014 The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box
- 2019 Mortal Engines
- 2020 Abigail
Steampunk TV Shows
- 1965 The Wild Wild West
- 1978 Future Boy Conan
- 1982 Voyagers!
- 1990 Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
- 1993 The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
- 2000 The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
- 2003 Last Exile
- 2006 D. Gray Man
- 2014 Dynamo