Although the term “steampunk” has been around for more than 20 years, many people are mystified by this genre.
The style first appeared in the writings of Jules Verne, Mary Shelley and H. G. Wells. Prominent elements include a mix of Victoriana and fictional technological inventions. Stories may incorporate robots, steam-powered machines, airships, alternative histories and other planets. This sub-genre of scifi has influenced movies, television, comics and the internet as well as fashion, jewelry and art.
Here are a few titles that illustrate the amazing diversity of steampunk.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is a good place to start exploring steampunk fiction. The story is set in London and in the Arctic regions of a world that is somewhat like our own. Lyra, an orphan, lives among the scholars at Jordan College, Oxford. She becomes aware of a plot to steal children and transport them to the far north. As Lyra is drawn deeper and deeper into this mystery, she finds that the children are being made to suffer terribly. The story takes you on a journey through magical worlds with incredible objects and even better characters.
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder combines elements of Victorian-era fiction, steampunk, fantasy and science fiction. The story is based on an alternate history timeline where steampunk and eugenics rule the British world. Sir Richard Burton and his rather strange friend, the poet Algernon Swinburne, investigate assaults on young women committed by a weird apparition known as Spring Heeled Jack. There is also mystery surrounding the abduction of chimney sweeps and what seems to be a pack of werewolves that are terrorizing London’s East End. Hodder does a great job of creating a tale of havoc and adventure in the structured and stuffy Victorian realm.
Many steampunk novels provide thought-provoking political observations. The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis takes place in an alternate history set in the early 20th century. The Dutch have created Clakkers, mechanical servants and warriors that take care of all the tasks humans are unwilling to do. With clockwork robots to handle almost all physical work, society has no need to evolve unless, of course, the robots become independent. The mechanical Jax loses the device that compels him to follow orders. Thus, he is eager to protect his newfound free will and is no longer compelled to protect humans. This riveting story compels us to consider how robotics may impact our society in the future.
A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz is set in a world of vampires, fairies and other supernatural creatures. It is set in 1903 and science has exploited magical energies to create remarkable new technologies. But creatures of light and shadow have started a conflict between the Alchemists and Warlocks, and that could mean the end of this world. When an unusual cargo drops airship pilot Elle Chance into the affairs of the mysterious warlock Mr. Marsh, she is determined to do everything in her power to stop the Alchemists from unleashing a magical apocalypse. Readers who like a little paranormal romance with their steampunk will enjoy reading this.
Rod Duncan has created a tale of mystery and intrigue in a world known as “the Gas-lit Empire.” Everything is powered by steam, gas and animals. The Patent Office is the most powerful agency in this world and its purpose is to protect the empire from anything that might be of harm. The first of this series, The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter, introduces Elizabeth Barnabus. She’s a woman born in a traveling circus to a bullet catcher and living a double life. She disguises herself as her brother, the private detective, in order to obtain work. When Elizabeth takes on the case of an aristocrat looking to find her missing brother, she becomes tangled in a dangerous, action-packed adventure.
Today, steampunk extends well beyond a genre of fiction. Calista Taylor has created easy steampunk-inspired projects with her book, Steampunk Your Wardrobe. Many of the projects repurpose already made clothing items. Steampunk Style Jewelry by Jean Campbell features 13 project designs that show you how to make specific pieces through clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations.
--A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Susan Clark works at Terry Fox Library in Port Coquitlam.
