Thursday, July 25, 2013

Steampunk 101

The Difference Engine by William GibsonSteampunk 101: From Sci-Fi Sub-genre to Cultural Phenomenon on AbeBooks: From humble beginnings as a loosely defined sub-genre of science fiction, steampunk has evolved into a cultural phenomenon that combines ‘a Victorian aesthetic and a punk-rock attitude’; one that has come to influence more than just literature. 

The creation of the ‘steampunk’ term is usually attributed to the science fiction author K.W. Jeter, who used it in a letter to Locus Magazine. He was trying to find a way to describe Victorian fantasy novels like those written by himself (Morlock Night and Infernal Devices), Tim Powers (The Anubis Gates) and James Blaylock (Homunculus).

1 comment:

Toby O'B said...

I realize the article was focused on literature, but some of the credit for the sub-genre's popularity should be given to the TV series "The Wild, Wild West".....