# Steampunk for Beginners **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039 "2008-08-14T22:38:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/1 "2008-08-14T22:38:55Z")
A friend recently discovered steampunk and would like recommendations. Bear in mind that she has just birthed a baby so her free time may be somewhat limited, so epics and series are probably not the best choices. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/2 "2008-08-14T22:45:22Z")
_The Difference Engine_ by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling is probably the first place to start: it’s set in an alternate Victorian England which gets its computer power from Babbage’s Difference Engine: it’s atmospheric, well-written and convincing, though the plot does go a bit Harry Harrison in the last third of the novel. ---
**Author:** ![Drakkar\_Sauna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@Drakkar\_Sauna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drakkar_Sauna)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/3 "2008-08-14T22:45:53Z")
Probably the [Steampunk](http://www.amazon.com/Steampunk-Ann-VanderMeer/dp/1892391759/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218753846&sr=8-1) anthology edited by Jeff Vandermeer China Mieville - _Perdido Street Station_ \*Homunculus \*- James Blaylock _Mainspring_ - Jay Lake \*The Difference Engine \* - William Gibson ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/4 "2008-08-14T22:49:56Z")
One of my all time favorite books that I did not know was Steampunk until well after I read it-- Anubis Gates. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/5 "2008-08-14T23:18:26Z")
Obligatory Girl Genius Shout out. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/6 "2008-08-14T23:37:51Z")
It might be worth trying the godfather of steampunk Jules Verne, too. “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” is probably the best of that lot. “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” is supposed to be excellent as well, but the movie was abysmal. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/7 "2008-08-14T23:39:40Z")
While a television program, _The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne_ was pretty cool. I second \*Girl Genius. \* ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/8 "2008-08-15T00:30:07Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] It might be worth trying the godfather of steampunk Jules Verne, too. “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” is probably the best of that lot. [/QUOTE] I suggested Verne as well. Steampunk before it was steampunk. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > While a television program, The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne was pretty cool. I suggested this as well. Is it out on DVD? I’d love to see it again. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/9 "2008-08-15T00:48:21Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I suggested this as well. Is it out on DVD? I’d love to see it again. [/QUOTE] I recorded all of them save for _The Victorian Candidate._ I don’t know if it’s on DVD or not. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/10 "2008-08-15T01:23:19Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I second \*Girl Genius. \* [/QUOTE] Thirded; I opened the thread to mention that. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/11 "2008-08-15T01:48:13Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] Thirded; I opened the thread to mention that. [/QUOTE] So, what’s with the [stuff falling out of the sky?](http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php) ---
**Author:** ![gnome42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@gnome42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnome42)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/12 "2008-08-15T04:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] So, what’s with the [stuff falling out of the sky?](http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php) [/QUOTE] Cobble stones. The bridge is re-assembling itself. Much easier to see on Fridays strip. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/13 "2008-08-15T05:33:23Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” is supposed to be excellent as well, but the movie was abysmal. [/QUOTE] It is and it was. If you can track it down in trade paperback, early books of the early 80’s 2000AD strip [Nemesis the Warlock](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemesis_the_Warlock) is pure steampunk gold before the term was even coined, particularly Book One {which is almost medievalpunk} and Book Four, which is set on an alien world which has modelled itself on Victorian England: some very tasty art from Kevin O’Neill in both. ---
**Author:** ![Walpurgis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Walpurgis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walpurgis)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/14 "2008-08-15T06:45:47Z")
A couple of new ones: _Whitechapel Gods_ by S.M. Peters (A lot of steam, a bit of punk and some magic) _The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters_ by G.W. Dahlquist (Less steam, more brass gadgets and mystical orgies) _The Etched City_ by K.J. Bishop (Borderline case, more of weird fantasy but dabbling in the area) Huh. It seems initials are all the rage. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/15 "2008-08-15T07:01:13Z")
“Diamond Age” by Neal Stephenson is the one that got me 🙂 . I just finished reading it again. ---
**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 15, 2008, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/16 "2008-08-15T09:11:39Z")
Some elements of Neil Gaiman’s _Neverwhere_ and _Stardust_, both short reads. _Wild, Wild West_ Warren Ellis’ [FreakAngels](http://www.freakangels.com/) webcomic The [Brass Goggles](http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/brassgoggles/) blog is a good resource. Echoing reccomends for LEG and GG. ---
**Author:** ![Walpurgis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Walpurgis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walpurgis)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/17 "2008-08-15T09:29:29Z")
Actually… where would you guys place Philip Pullman’s _The Golden Compass_ on the steampunk-o-meter? Granted, it’s more of an urban fantasy, but it still has the retro gadgets and the science thing going on. On second thought, it’s not Victorian. Ah, I’ll just fling it out there and see what you think. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/18 "2008-08-15T09:49:12Z")
I’d also recommend _Anti-Ice_ by Stephen Baxter. And for more stuff actually written during the 19th Century, I remember really liking the collection _Science Fiction by Gaslight_ (one of the many good anthologies edited by Sam Moskowitz). ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/19 "2008-08-15T15:27:29Z")
[QUOTE=Walpurgis] Actually… where would you guys place Philip Pullman’s _The Golden Compass_ on the steampunk-o-meter? Granted, it’s more of an urban fantasy, but it still has the retro gadgets and the science thing going on. On second thought, it’s not Victorian. Ah, I’ll just fling it out there and see what you think. [/QUOTE] I’d second _Golden Compass_. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/20 "2008-08-15T15:39:50Z")
Any non-fiction? People who live the life? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039.md?page=2)