Ever heard the phrase, “When Goths go brown”? That’s one of the fun ways people describe steampunk, a subculture where the brooding blacks of goth fashion give way to warm, sepia-toned hues of Victorian-era adventure. Another common phrase? "Brown is the new black." 😆
Steampunk is one of those delightful, hard-to-pin-down things. Is it a genre? A fashion movement? A creative aesthetic? A full-on lifestyle? The answer is... all of the above! 💨⚙️🎩
With the underwater breathing apparatus used by Lydia Brackwater while patrolling the polluted Thames in Book 1 of The Gryphon Chronicles, we have our first example of steampunk elements appearing in the series. But what exactly is steampunk, and where did it come from?
Steampunk is a blend of Victorian-era sensibility, fashion, and style with old-fashioned mechanical technology, but often supercharged in fantastical, fictional ways.
Think futuristic gadgets as imagined by a 19th-century inventor. It’s sci-fi, but instead of shiny spaceships and sleek computers, it’s full of clunky, elaborate contraptions powered by steam, gears, and clockwork. Think of it as science fiction’s eccentric British cousin or its 1800s ancestor, lol.
🔹 The "Steam" refers to 19th-century steam-powered machinery—locomotives, airships, mechanical prosthetics, and grandiose inventions inspired by real-life technologies from the Industrial Revolution.
🔹 The "Punk" comes from the rebellious, nonconformist spirit of the genre—bold inventors, daring adventurers, and often, a fight against an oppressive system.
Steampunk worlds tend to be scientific (or at least pseudo-scientific) rather than magical. But even when it’s not straight-up science fiction, the science-y vibe is a big part of the aesthetic. 🤓⚙️
If you love gears, goggles, dirigibles, and mechanical marvels with a dash of Victorian class, congratulations—you might be a steampunk fan! 😎🎩
The genre’s literary roots go all the way back to Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth) and H.G. Wells (The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds). These pioneering writers imagined futuristic technologies, but within a Victorian framework, often predicting real-world innovations long before they existed!
Other key inspirations? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (arguably the first science fiction novel ever) and even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, which often featured cutting-edge (for the time) forensic science.
Although these books were not originally called "steampunk," they laid the foundation for the genre’s themes: mad scientists, clockwork contraptions, and high-tech visions of the past.
The actual term “steampunk” wasn’t coined until the 1980s, when writers like K.W. Jeter, Tim Powers, and James P. Blaylock used it to describe their retro-futuristic stories inspired by the great 19th-century sci-fi authors.
Steampunk has grown far beyond books—it’s now a full-fledged movement with a massive following across movies, TV, video games, fashion, music, and conventions. 🕰️🔧🎩
📽️ Movies with Steampunk Elements:
🏛️ The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (perhaps the best example!)
🏰 The Golden Compass
🏜️ Wild, Wild West
🏙️ City of Ember
🔥 Hugo (Scorsese’s love letter to early film & automaton tech)
🕶️ Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr. version)
🎪 The Prestige (Tesla coils & mechanical wonders!)
🔩 Howl’s Moving Castle (Studio Ghibli’s breathtaking steampunk world)
🚂 Mortal Engines (massive walking cities!)
📺 TV Shows with a Steampunk Vibe:
🏠 Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (fantastical & gadgety!)
🕵️ A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix’s version leans very steampunk)
🎭 Carnival Row (Victorian fantasy meets clockwork inventions)
🔍 Doctor Who (Steampunk aesthetics pop up often, especially in TARDIS tech)
📚 Steampunk in Books:
🏴☠️ Airborn by Kenneth Oppel (dirigible pirates & sky-high adventure!)
🏭 The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare (shadowhunters + clockwork magic!)
🎩 Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (WWI with bio-engineered creatures & steampunk tech)
🦾 Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve (steampunk dystopia with moving cities!)
🚂 The Difference Engine by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling (what if Charles Babbage’s real-life mechanical computer had worked?)
🎮 Video Games with Steampunk Elements:
Bioshock Infinite (floating cities, skyhooks, & advanced steam-age tech)
Dishonored (Victorian dystopia meets magic & machines)
Final Fantasy VI (Magitek armor & industrial revolution themes!)
The Order: 1886 (alternate-history London with steampunk weaponry)
Beyond books & films, steampunk has evolved into an entire subculture with conventions, cosplay, and DIY creations. It’s a playful mix of history, imagination, and hands-on creativity—you’ll often see:
🔹 Goggles & gears 🏗️
🔹 Pocket watches & top hats ⏳🎩
🔹 Mechanical prosthetic arms 🤖
🔹 Corsets & lace mixed with leather & brass 👗⚙️
🔹 Airships & elaborate Victorian weaponry 🚀
Steampunk conventions take place worldwide, where fans gather to show off elaborate costumes, design intricate gadgets, and celebrate retro-futuristic creativity. You might even find steampunk music, with bands like Abney Park or The Clockwork Dolls, embracing the aesthetic with storytelling lyrics & Victorian-meets-industrial sounds.
We thought a touch of steampunk would be the perfect counterbalance to all the magic in The Gryphon Chronicles! A little grounding in Victorian-era science, but still fantastical enough to fit our world.
And who better to deliver the gadgets than boy genius Archie? 🛠️
Our hope is that The Gryphon Chronicles captures the spirit of adventure, invention, and wonder that makes steampunk so exciting!
Are you a fan of steampunk books, movies, or games? Can you think of any other stories where Victorian tech meets futuristic imagination?
Drop your thoughts in the comments! 🔽📖
Comments
I knew steampunk had something in do with Victorian culture meeting semi-modern technology, but I’m so happy to read this full explanation and see the list of books and video media which include it. I’d been avoiding books advertised as steampunk thinking they might be more “gangsterish” so I’m glad to know they are not. Thank you. Great article.
I like Steam punk some. I don’t like it so much hat there is no green grass, trees, etc. The inventions are great. Movie “Hugo” seems kids steam punk too.
