Thad Hartman and Lissa Staley host a roundtable discussion with our guests around an engaging and interesting topic — Steampunk! and the books and movies that define the anachronistic genre characterized by goggles, airships, clockwork and of course, steam powered machines.
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Steampunk – the books, the movies, the genre, the sub-culture
Our guest this episode is Susan Schafer, Public Services Specialist to talk about the genre of Steampunk. Susan also presented on this topic for the Celebrate the Book Reader’s Advisory Conference in November 2011.
As Cherie Priest says “steampunk is what the past would have looked like if the future had happened sooner.”
Books and Movies mentioned
Search for these books and place requests at http://catalog.tscpl.org
- Wild Wild West television series and movie
- H.G. Wells
- Jules Verne
- Back to the Future III
- Infernal Devices by KW Jeter
- Queen Victoria’s Bomb by Ronald Clark
- Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
- The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
- The Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld
- Clockwork Century series by Cherie Priest, first book is Boneshaker
- Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
- New Crobuzon series by China Mieville
- Aurorarama by Jean-Christophe Valtat
- Burton and Swinburne presents series by Mark Hodder, start with The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack
- The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman
- Steampunk and Steampunk II by Jeff and Ann VanderMeer
- Steampunk Bible by Jeff VanderMeer
- Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
- Steamed by Katie McAllister
- Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
- The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. the complete series
- The Prestige
- Three Musketeers (newest movie version)
- etsy.com for corsets, goggles, Victorian clothing, modified Steampunk things
- Steamcon
- Steampunk Scholar
- Steampunk Tribune
- Clockwork Dolls
- Abney Park
- Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
Your turn to talk
- Continue the conversation about books and movies featuring elements of Steampunk. Why do you like them? What can you recommend? Talk to us here on the blog, or on the library’s Goodreads group at our Steampunk discussion.
- Thad
- Lissa
If you have questions, comments or suggestions for future topics please comment on our blog post or send us an email at asktscpl@tscpl.org
4 Responses to HUSH: a podcast from your library – Episode 19 – Steampunk
David Lee King
March 9, 2012
Great list! I’d add James P. Blaylock to this list. We have The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs. Excellent victorian-era steampunk.
Terry
March 14, 2012
I really enjoyed Leviathan. I still need to read the next two in the trilogy. Also, Wild, Wild West was my favorite show as a young teen. And Briscoe County Jr. is one of the best shows never to “make it.” Probably before its time (like Steampunk…)
Terry
March 14, 2012
Susan, that one book with the Steampunk character who shows up in famous historical events is hilarious. Can’t remember the title.
Neferet
March 16, 2012
This is a WONDERFUL reading list for Steampunk references/culture! I don’t think it oculd be more complete. I don’t know why I didn’t think of “The Three Musketeers” before seeing it on this list; but, yes, that is a great inclusion. Makes me wonder about he new Sherlock Holmes movies…hmm. By the way, did you all know that Steampunk is such an atractive type of ‘fantasy’, that there are theatrical productions based in this style…and even the bellydance community has a well-developed Steampunk sub-culture as well?!?! There has been a big surge of Steampunk-style fusion bellydance. Tara’s Grace performs this type dance