history lesson
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc.
-per wikipedia
Here's a list of most noted steampunk fiction of the past for you to sample...
please note: this only covers notables before y2k and is not a complete list
Influencers:
by Charles Dickens
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
by Mary Shelley
by H.G. Wells
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
by Jules Verne
Founders:
by Ronald W. Clark (1967)
by Michael Moorcock (1971)
by K. W. Jeter (1979)
by James Blaylock (1986)
by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling (1990)
by Kim Newman (1992)
by Stephen Baxter (1993)
by Paul Di Filippo (1995)
-the first use of the word, steampunk, in a title
Why not add some of these classics to your reading list and join in the Full Steampunk Ahead Challenge 2011, hosted by Book Soulmates (signup and details)
Read at least 10 Steampunk books this year.
HEY, join me!
I'm using the above as my reading list.
jan - feb
host ended this in February
* image source
* y2k and beyond book list will be presented in the next steampunk event next year
* thanks to Freda for the heads up on the steampunk challenge!
