Welcome to Steampunk Day here at the Coffee Time Romance & More “Book Brew w/ Coffee Crew! I am your hostess for the day and look forward to chatting with all of you. Thank you for taking the time to visit and I hope you find plenty of wonderful titles to add to your ‘want to read’ list! Let’s start with the basics:
Steampunk refers to a subgenre of science fiction and, sometimes fantasy, that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th century industrial steam-powered machinery. (Wikipedia)
The elements I associate with the steampunk genre include: gears, inventions, blend of science and magic, steam, clocks, dirigibles, historical England””especially the Industrial Revolution, the struggle between horse and carriage and steam-powered conveyances, and the struggle to keep up with the way the world is changing.
Some of the things I like about stories in this genre include the blend of magic and science which is used to make devices that are useful. I enjoy reading about the effects on society, the inventions that allow the imagination to soar, and the speculation on how they alter the progress of society. I love the way magic can animate such things as an artfully crafted bird and mouse used to spy, the amazing dirigibles that change the course of a power struggle, even a special device that confers power to the side that has it. The things that creep me out”¦evil animated automatons, clicking/scratching/squeaking sounds made by the sentient mechanical devices, even missing limbs or eyes that have been replaced by inimical mechanical devices.
What makes you think of steampunk? What have been some of your favorite inventions? Some of the things that you found most chill-inducing?
11 COMMENTS
Rae
9 years agoI have not yet read steampunk. I am intrigued by the magic aspect though. I may have to start trying the genre. Thanks for the info!! —Rae
ELF
9 years agoHi, Rae! Happy to see you here! I think you are going to have lots of great excerpts to read and whet your appetite…and we may hijack you from your neighborhood for a day trip filled with wondrous sights and adventures!
Crystal
9 years agoThis sounds like a great genre! I really must read one of these books soon. Maybe I will find a few here today that I just have to have 🙂
Thanks for the great intro. I understand the theory more now.
Colleen
9 years agoHi ELF… looking forward to your posts today!
ELF
9 years ago AUTHORThanks so much everyone, for coming to visit! I will be in and out and look forward to reading more excerpts! In case you can’t tell, I love this genre, it always inspires me to see the ‘what-if’s’ that authors come up with.
Jess1
9 years agoI’m a fan of steampunk, but I’m a fan of other genres, so my time & reading is spread out. I still have books in some of my favorite Steampunk series still waiting to be read on my Kindle.
One really fascinating creation is the mechanized flesh by the Blacksmith in Meljean Brook’s Iron Seas series. I would love to see a visual of it.
Mary M.
9 years agoAnything with flying ships powered by steam, or intricate clockwork mechanisms.
Shadow
9 years agoHi Elf! Great post! Like you, i enjoy steampunk for the same reasons. Tho, i especially love the inventions! The imaginations the authors give there characters, the awesome effects, how things work, the magic put into the people and devices, so exciting! I loe how every book is different. Each one is refreshing! 🙂
ELF
9 years agoHi again, Jess! I know what you mean, I have multiple books in multiple genres awaiting my attention! Mary, that’s one of my favorite things about this genre, which is why I’m bummed that I can’t think of the one series that I followed for quite a few years that featured battles on airships. I keep thinking of the Naomi Novik books because I thought they were such an interesting switch on the idea of dragons but the series I am trying to remember was strictly set on various airships!
And…hi, Shadow, thanks for the compliment and great to see you!
Cynthia Sax
9 years agoMany of my buddies have written Steampunk erotic romances.
ELF
9 years ago AUTHORYum, love erotic romances, and I think Steampunk would be a great twist!