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I know there are some big steampunk fans on this board, so I thought I'd send out a call for book suggestions.

I've always loved the idea of steampunk, and the aesthetic, and I've toyed with writing a little of it (and recently had a steampunk-style story published), but I haven't really read that much. A friend and I are looking to maybe collaborate on a steampunk novel next year and we're both looking for more examples to see what's been done with the genre.

I've read The Difference Engine, and seen a few of the films, such as Steam Boy. But if anyone knows of more novels or short story anthologies or anythng, let me know!

Steam Boy was borderline Steampunk/Dieselpunk. I'm actually not sure which genre to attribute it to.

Girl Genius, of course.

This may help you find what you need. (Though not everything really counts as steampunk, IMO)

You can take a look at the Privateer Press table top game Warmachine for some inspiration.

Steam Boy was awesome. Steampunk taken to its logical anime extreme. I LOVED seeing it on the big screen during (I think) the local 2004 animation festival.

China Miéville's series starting with Perdido Street Station could be called steampunk, though there's a little low-level magic and sci-fi thrown in. He's currently one of my favorite authors.

The Larklight series by Phillip Reeve is good, if you don't mind young adult books.

I second Girl Genius.

To piggyback: Are there any good Steampunk games?

I third Girl Genius.

Espy said:

To piggyback: Are there any good Steampunk games?

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Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura is a Magic/Steampunk mixed world. The Thief series has some steampunk as well, especially in the second game on. You could also try Steambot Chronicles on the PS2.

Espy said:

To piggyback: Are there any good Steampunk games?

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I'd say the Myst games are fairly steampunk.

Play Arcanum.


I love that game.

Its fantasy/steampunk.

Would Firefly/Serenity be considered steampunk?

ThatNickGuy said:

Would Firefly/Serenity be considered steampunk?

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I think the spaceships argue for a "no".

Espy said:

To piggyback: Are there any good Steampunk games?

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If you can ever find a copy of it anywhere, I'd say Chaos Engine.

ThatNickGuy said:

Would Firefly/Serenity be considered steampunk?

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No, that would be space western.

Gatheryn is in beta testing now. It's a steampunk MMO.

I haven't played it yet but I hear that Skies of Arcadia is supposed to be a very good Steampunk RPG.

hylian said:

I haven't played it yet but I hear that Skies of Arcadia is supposed to be a very good Steampunk RPG.

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Yeah, not even close. It's high fantasy with very few technological areas.

China Mieville's written three awesome books set in the same universe, and they definitely qualify as steampunk.
an entire underclass comprising of the victims of what is essentially mad science, normally for punishment, robots running on steam and punchcards, and a huge floating pirate city that moves around the ocean pillaging entire cities.

ZenMonkey said:

Gatheryn is in beta testing now. It's a steampunk MMO.

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Holy 2002 graphics batman!

(while that could potentially be an interesting game, that is not only the most uninspiring graphics, but also the least marketing I have ever seen on a webpage for a project like an MMO. Looks like North Koreas home page.)

Also, looking for steampunk?

Why not get a laptop



or two?



Unless you prefer a desktop?



Some run on the souls of orphans...



While others just require a good regulator



Just be careful not to overheat!



Eeek! A mouse!



On noes, more mices! Must be a colony





And now for something completely different....

Some Silent Hill Cosplay!

Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines quartet captures the essence of steampunk rather well, if not the precise details. It's a series of YA novels set in a post apocalyptic future that features mobile cities eating each other (no, really). An excellent read, and the ending actually made me tear up a little, which is very rare for me.

As for 'purer' steampunk, there's always Last Exile, which is an anime series I've only just gotten into and love to little bitsies. The visuals are just magnificent.

Oh, and thirding Girl Genius because it is made of awesome and win.