Steampunk Media
Everyone probably has slightly different ideas of what is and isn't steampunk when it comes to literature, music, and movies. This is a brief list of sources of steampunk inspiration. Be they visual or narrative, a consensus of local steampunks has decided on the following entries as officially "inspiring" with regards to the genre. However, we'd love to hear what you find inspiring, too. Please feel free to email or otherwise contact us with your suggestions. If you feel something is left off the list, kindly let us know! Email: SDsteampunk@gmail.com
Novels, Graphic Novels, and Literature
While the term "steampunk" was devised by author K. W. Jeter in 1987, original 19th century works are often also lumped into the genre because they inspire and embody the spirit of the movement we so enjoy today. So while H.G. Wells or Jules Verne were merely entertaining their own flights of fancy, we take their speculative fiction and include it within a whole modern sub-genre of books known as Steampunk. There are also many books about steampunk and also short story collections - we could never name them all. Below are some good starter books to get you interested and inspired. Keep reading!
1800s
War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells
The Time Machine - H.G. Wells
Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne
A Princess of Mars series - Edgar Rice Burroughs
Tarzan of the Apes - Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
A Traveler from Altruria - William Dean Howells
Paris in the 20th Century - Jules Verne
The Mysterious Island - Jules Verne
1900s
The Wizard of Oz series - L. Frank Baum
The Lost World - Arthur Conan Doyle
The Big Time - Fritz Lieber
The Anubis Gates - Tim Powers
Tales from the Cthulhu Mythos - H.P. Lovecraft
The Warlord of the Air - Michael Moorcock
Morlock Night - K.W. Jeter
Infernal Devices - K.W. Jeter
The Prophecy Machine - Neal Barrett Jr.
Aldair Series - Neal Barrett Jr.
Narbondo Series - James Blaylock
His Dark Materials series - Philip Pullman
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
2000s
Leviathan series - Scott Westerfeld
Girl Genius series - Kaja and Phil Foglio
Parasol Protectorate series - Gail Carriger
Custard Protocol series - Gail Carriger
Finishing School series - Gail Carriger
Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel - Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett
The Difference Engine - William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
Mortal Engines series - Philip Reeve
Clockwork Century series - Cherie Priest
The Half-Made World - Felix Gilman
Worldshaker - Richard Harland
Terminal World - Alistair Reynolds
Gotham by Gaslight - Brian Augustyn, Mike Mignola
The Five Fists of Science - Matt Fraction, Steven Sanders
Magnificent Devices - Shelley Adina (8 books!)
Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences - Phillippa Ballentine
Bartleby and James: Edwardian Steampunk Chronicle - Michael Coorlim
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A huge book selection for Steampunks is managed by Airship Ambassador, on their website.
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Terrific reading lists of Victorian Science Fiction are found on the Wondermark site
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Another excellent reading list for Steampunks to explore can be found at the Ranting Dragon
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Multicultural contributions to Steampunk are explored in the blog, Beyond Victoriana, and also in the book, Steampunk World.
Steamwrecked, directed by SD Steampunk member Christopher Matista, takes place in the barren desert between the two sides of civilization, through which few dare travel. Humanoid creatures called scavengers mercilessly scrap anything – or anyone – they can get their claws into. They will easily go as far as to kill for lightning, which they can use to bring down airships that pass by. It is a well-known fact among civilized people and especially lightning catchers that you avoid the desert and its dangers at all costs.
Music
Some might say that steampunk music is like art: we can't define it, but we know it when we hear it. Some music groups court the be-goggled audiences with impunity. Some bands are beloved by steampunks without having a targeted "steampunk" theme/vibe/sound, but we've listed them here because their aesthetic fits our hobby.
New Orleans Steamcog Orchestra
Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys
Scott Bradlee and Postmodern Jukebox
Steam-friendly Internet Radio Stations
Krypton Radio (Saturdays 7-9PST steampunk show)
Radio Riel (other non-steam genres available)
Other great places to explore and find more variations of Steampunk music are:
Movies
In steampunk communities around the world friendly debates have occurred over the question "what makes a film 'steampunk'? Does it need to feature goggles, gears and steam-powered gadgets? Should it be set in the late 1800's, or will any era do? What about time-travel or alternate history? Must the characters don top hats, corsets, and spats? One thing upon which all steampunks seem to agree is that the answers to these questions reside in the personal preference of the viewer. If it inspires you to steampunk then, for you, it is a steampunk film. Here are some suggested titles which have been offered by members of San Diego Steampunk for consideration...
Mortal Engines
Steamboy
The Prestige
Hugo
Golden Comapss
Hellboy
Jumanji
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Howl’s Moving Castle
Metropolis
A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Illusionist
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Time Machine
Van Helsing
Time After Time
Sherlock Holmes
Westworld
Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow
The Amazing Screw-On Head
9 (Nine)
The Fabulous Adventures of Jules Verne
Captain Nemo
Wild Wild West
Master of the World
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Brothers Grimm
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
City of Ember
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
The First Men in the Moon
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Stardust
