We're kicking off 2012 at Just Another Paranormal Monday with a roaring start - right into the
mechanical, manical and other-wordly realm of gizmos, gadgets and the probability of bending time.
Some of our readers might ask themselves - What is Steampunk? Well, according to Webster it is --
a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam
power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world.
So, being the consumate seekers of knowledge we've dug up some dirt and asked fiction author, Joe Vadalma to assist us with a bit of research - here's what he found:
Steampunk
by Joe Vadalma
Because this is Steampunk week on Just Another Paranormal Monday, I've been asked to do a piece on this subgenre of science fiction and fantasy. Actually, the only Steampunk novel I've ever read was The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. This novel is an archetype of the subgenre.
For you who do not what Steampunk is, it is closely related to Alternate History and may even be considered a subgenre of a subgenre. To quote Wikipedia, "Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used – usually Victorian era Britain or the 'Wild West' era of the United States – that incorporates elements of science fiction or fantasy. Works of Steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic inovations as Victorians may have envisioned them ... This technology includes fictional machines as those found in the works of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne ..." The term Steampunk was coined by a Science Fiction writer, K.W. Jeter, in a letter that accompanied to a submission of his novel Morlock Night.
