Earlier this year, the great steampunk renaissance was simply a whisper in my subconscious – a few emails here and there from editorial directors and publicists heralding the upcoming releases of a couple of steampunk novels – but now, with literally dozens of critically acclaimed steampunk novels on the shelves and even more about to be released in the months to come, I feel like I’m standing in the middle of railroad tracks watching an enormous freight train (steam powered, of course) scream down the tracks seconds from turning me into vulture nuggets.
It’s coming. It’s coming in a big way. And I’m not just talking about a handful of interesting genre fiction releases. Steampunk is a cultural phenomenon encompassing literature, music, art, fashion – it’s a way of life.
Cherie Priest, author of the recently released Boneshaker, described steampunk thusly: “It's not as new, confusing, or weird as you may have heard. In fact, this sub-genre of science fiction is actually quite warm and welcoming – and it's loads of fun. So let's take a minute to talk about what it is, and where it came from. ‘Steampunk’ is a style (of books, video games, comic books, movies, and more) that hearkens back to the fantastic/adventure literature of the nineteenth century. Jules Verne's stories about exploration and mayhem, H.G. Wells and his tales of alien invasion and time travel, and Mary Shelley's tome about science gone awry ... in these famous works you'll find the seeds of the modern steampunk sensibility” and concludes: “And now its popularity is surging once more, with renewed interest from publishers, movie studios, and video game producers breathing new life into steampunk – and it's poised to become more popular than ever.”<
So, in an effort to help you understand and deal accordingly with this cultural juggernaut, here are a few tips:
1. Know your steampunk literature. Seek out and read at least a few steampunk novels or collections (there are dozens of noteworthy titles out there) – here are a few suggestions: William Gibson and Bruce Sterling’s The Difference Engine, Paul Di Filippo’s The Steampunk Trilogy, The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers, George Mann’s The Affinity Bridge, the Steampunk anthology edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, and Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker
.
2. Get “hip”to Neo-Victorianism – know your steampunk fashion. There really are no parameters for steampunk fashion but I’ve seen lots of common threads in the aesthetic – gowns, corsets, vests, handmade accessories, and, of course, the goggles.
3. Listen to at least some steampunk music (I’ll bet you love it!). Noteworthy artists include Abney Park, Rasputina, Dr. Steel, Johnny Hollow, etc.
4. Sell your car and purchase an airship. Forget Cash For Clunkers. How about Dollars for Dirigibles?
5. Convert your home from natural gas and/or electricity to steam technology.
6. Get tickets to Steamcon, the first ever steampunk convention, which will be held October 23rd – October 25th, 2009, at the Seattle Airport Marriott. Just check out this convention’s website (www.steam-con.com) – you will be blown away by the diversity of steampunk inspired art, fashion, and music (Abney Park will be performing!) out there.
So there. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ve got my corset already. How about you?
