# How many "---punk" genres are there?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-punk-genres-are-there/125713>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 27, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-punk-genres-are-there/125713 "2002-08-27T02:03:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-punk-genres-are-there/125713/1 "2002-08-27T02:03:17Z")

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Pardon me for posting, but I was wondering…I know of the “Cyberpunk” (Like _Neuromancer_) and “Steampunk” (Like _20,000 Leagus Under the Sea_ or _The secret adventures of Jules Verne_) genres of fiction, and I’ve even heard references to “Clock” or “Gear” punk to describe a lower-technology “medieval” varient of steampunk. My question is, as the title says; How many other “-punk” genres are there? Or are at least commonly known?

Well, thanks for your patience,  
Ranchpth

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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-punk-genres-are-there/125713/2 "2002-08-27T11:27:04Z")

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Nobody should ever apologise for posting when they have a valid question, but your politeness will be rewarded smartly:

A friend (Ph.D. student specialising in Fairy Tale and VicFic) uses “ **elfpunk** ” to describe things that are like “steampunk” but also incorporate magic, like _The Iron Dragon’s Daughter_ (Barbara Stanwick, IIRC).

I love the Utterly Excellent **China Mieville** (_Perdido Street Station_ & _The Scar_), but it’s not _quite_ “steampunk” to me. More “alchemypunk”.

I wouldn’t call Verne “steampunk”, BTW. For one thing, it lacks the “punk” edge that’s essential to the genre. For another, I don’t think it qualifies when you are writing about _future_ technologies, or steam is all you have. I’d call it “Victorian SF” (along with Welles) and leave it at that.