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The Steampunk Bible
by
Patrick Douglas is a Library Technician at the University of Central Oklahoma.
The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature
by Jeff VanderMeer
What is Steampunk? This book spends the introductory chapter attempting to define and explain the term, ending up with a very unrefined, all-inclusive definition. In short, Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that overlaps historical fiction. More precisely, it is a version of retro-futurism (the view of the future through the eyes of the recent past) that uses technology available to the Victorian and Edwardian eras (1837-1910), particularly with regard to scientific discovery (such as steam engines, electrical current, and magnetism), as well as clockwork mechanical devices, in order to anachronistically re-create the important inventions of the more recent past, the present, or the future. It is based on wild adventures, replete with mad scientists, steam-powered robots, dirigibles, and heroes in leather jackets and goggles saving corset-wearing damsels in distress. Steampunk is a genre of fiction—whose stories are articulated in books, comics, and movies—and also includes the art, fashion, and subculture they inspire.
The Steampunk Bible begins in the beginning, of course, with Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, the so-called paterfamilias of the genre that lived through the latter part of the era. Chapters address the various aspects of Steampunk, such as mechanical men (and beasts), rocketships, rayguns, airships, fashion, music, aesthetics, and the Steampunk subculture. The impact of the movement on Hollywood can be seen in such films as Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), 9 (2009), Sherlock Holmes (2000), and The Wild, Wild, West (1999, from the television series, 1965-69).
This title is rich in information, as the author has written several books and edited two fiction anthologies in the genre. On nearly every page there are illustrations – photographic and print reproduction – of Steampunk sculpture and fashion, movie stills, comic books, concept art, fine art prints, and book interior and cover illustrations. The Steampunk Bible also contains many “asides,” two-to-five-page, textbook-like bits of encapsulated information apart from the rest of the text, such as “Edgar Allen Poe: Perpetrator of the First Steampunk Hoax,” “A Young Steampunk’s Guide to Subgenres,” and “Eight Ways to Raise Your Steampunk Fashion Game.”
The Steampunk Bible is a handsomely produced, informative, and wildly creative piece of work, an obvious labor of love and something for any fan of the genre or subculture enthusiast to explore. Whether delving deep into the study of Steampunk or just getting an idea of what it is, anyone can enjoy this wonderful book.
Reviewed November 2012
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