Who has never been fascinated by post-apocalyptic science fiction stories, where humanity is facing its own destruction? In this article, we explore the different facets of this captivating subgenre , discussing the types of post-apocalypse, the impact on society, famous works but also its interesting mix with Steampunk. The marriage of these two genres in science fiction works creates captivating stories, full of adventure, survival and extraordinary inventions.
Key points
🔧 Definition of post-apocalyptic : Fictional universe where the Earth is devastated by a catastrophe, featuring survivors fighting for their lives.
⚙️ Origins : Post-apocalyptic has ancient roots, while steampunk draws its inspiration from the Victorian era and the work of Jules Verne.
🛠️ Convergences : The two genres come together by reinventing reality, addressing moral and political issues.
🌍 Ecopunk : Addresses natural disasters and their consequences, highlighting the fragility of our planet.
⚛️ Atompunk : Mixing nostalgia and the dark reality of a post-nuclear war world.
🧬 Biopunk : Concerns pandemics and genetic manipulation, exploring ethical dilemmas.
👽 Astropunk : Alien invasions and their impacts, confronting humanity with threats from elsewhere.
📚 Literary works : "Mortal Engines", "The Windward Horde", "The City of Saints and Madmen", "The Last Bastion".
🎬 Movies : "The City of Lost Children", "9".
🎮 Video games : "Dishonored", "BioShock Infinite", "Frostpunk".
Read on to learn more.
The post-apocalyptic science fiction universe
Definition of post apocalyptic
The term "post-apocalyptic" refers to a fictional universe in which Earth has been devastated by chaos or catastrophe, whether it be another nuclear war, a pandemic, a natural disaster, or an alien invasion. These stories often feature survivors struggling to survive in a ruined world.
The Origins of Post-Apocalyptic and Steampunk
The idea of the post-apocalyptic dates back to ancient times, with tales of disasters
such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, which describes a devastating flood. However, the genre really developed in the 20th century, with the growing awareness of the dangers associated with nuclear war, technology and other disasters: falling or colliding meteorites, epidemics, climate crisis...
For its part, steampunk draws its inspiration from the Victorian era and the work of visionaries such as Jules Verne, offering a universe where steam technology rubs shoulders with the imagination.
The convergences between post-apocalyptic and steampunk
The post-apocalyptic and steampunk genres overlap in several ways. Their alternative universes reinvent certain aspects of our reality, for example featuring characters faced with survival in a hostile world. Moral and political issues are also at the heart of these stories, questioning our relationship with technology and our responsibility towards the future.
Post-apocalyptic and punk science fiction types
Natural disasters and science fiction close to Ecopunk.
Ecopunk, a poignant fiction subgenre, depicts natural disasters and their dramatic consequences on our civilization . Addressing themes such as resilience, solidarity and innovation, these stories remind us of the fragility of our planet and encourage us to rethink our way of life and our relationship with the environment.
The iconic works of ecopunk,
Let us mention "The Road" and "The Day After", which have left a mark on our culture and continue to inspire us to work towards a more sustainable and harmonious future.
Nuclear war and science fiction close to Atompunk .
Atompunk, a fascinating subgenre of fiction (like cyberpunk and steampunk), transports us to post-nuclear war worlds, mixing nostalgia for the 1940s and 1960s with the dark realities of a ravaged universe, the extinction of civilization. In these captivating stories, the characters are confronted with the dramatic consequences of atomic technology, political and social issues, and moral and ethical dilemmas.
The most notable works of Atompunk.
Notable works include Pierre Boulle's "Planet of the Apes", Stanley Kubrick's film "Dr. Strangelove" and the video game "Fallout".
Pandemics and science fiction close to Biopunk.
Biopunk, a captivating subgenre of fiction, depicts pandemics and their devastating consequences on civilization . By exploring issues related to biotechnology, genetic manipulation, and epidemics, these stories confront us with the ethical, social, and political dilemmas that arise.
The most important works of biopunk
"The Stand" and "28 Days Later" remind us of our vulnerable situation in the face of these invisible threats and invite us to rethink our way of life and our relationship with science and medicine for a healthier and more balanced future.
Alien invasions and science fiction close to Astropunk
Astropunk, a gripping subgenre of fiction, depicts alien invasions and their consequences for our world. By exploring the stakes related to space conquest, encounters with extraterrestrial civilizations, and intergalactic conflicts, these stories confront us with the challenges and hopes of humanity in the face of these threats from elsewhere.
The most notable works of astropunk.
"War of the Worlds" and "Independence Day" remind us of our vulnerability to these threats and invite us to rethink our meaning and our place in the universe.
Welcome to a post-nuke science fiction between Mad-Max and Attack on Titan.
The survival of civilization
Post-apocalyptic stories often feature individuals or groups of survivors struggling to survive in a hostile world. They face challenges such as finding food, clean water, and safe shelter, while at the same time avoiding the dangers of the new world.
Steampunk is not really about a catastrophe but about a hypothesis: "what would happen if?" It is essentially based on the creation of uchronies, either speculative science fiction or what is called alternative history, which is inspired by the period of the second industrial revolution of the Victorian era.
This period is mainly concentrated in the British Empire during the sixty-four years of Queen Victoria's reign, with initial dominance in countries on five continents and not just the British Isles, as is often thought.
Computers, cell phones and other modern gadgets are irrefutable proof that steampunk perfectly mixes two eras, manifesting the creativity of individuals in an amalgam between the vision of the present moment and the historical period of the 19th century that inspires this retrofuturism, but then how to imagine a post-apocalyptic steampunk?
End of social structures after a disaster
In a post-apocalyptic world, old social and political structures are crumbling, giving way to new forms of organization. Survivors must adapt to these new systems, whether they are based on force, cooperation, religion, or other principles.
But could we establish a steampunk beyond the framework of the 19th century? For many, the answer leaves no room for doubt, because, as retro futuristic as it may be, steampunk presents a series of anachronisms necessary so that it does not become a simple historical parody and does not take on science fiction tones with a Victorian aesthetic.
The establishment of a cultural, social and technological progress that is faster and even very similar to the advances of today's society is largely what can be observed among professionals and enthusiasts of the movement, especially those who focus on the creation and modification of gadgets, these modern artisans who love and defend DIY or "Do it yourself".
Famous Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Works
Literature, subgenres and references.
The post-apocalyptic subgenre has given rise to many famous novels, for example "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood and "Ravage" by René Barjavel. These works address themes such as survival, isolation and redemption. Novels that mix the two subgenres are:
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"Mortal Engines" by Philip Reeve: This novel tells the story of a world where cities have become mobile, moving on giant caterpillars to devour other cities. The universe combines steampunk elements, such as retro-futuristic machines and technologies, with a post-apocalyptic setting of scarce resources and the struggle for survival.
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"La Horde du Contrevent" by Alain Damasio: In this work, a team of warriors and explorers advances against a furious and destructive wind to discover its origin. The universe created by Damasio is both post-apocalyptic, with extreme climatic conditions and a world in ruins, and steampunk, with wind-based technologies and elements of retro-futurism.
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"The City of Saints and Madmen" by Jeff VanderMeer: This novel immerses us in a city devastated by a cataclysm, where survivors coexist with strange creatures and steampunk technologies.
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"The Last Bastion" by Richard Morgan: This science fiction novel mixes post-apocalyptic and steampunk in a ruined world where steam technology rubs shoulders with the remains of an advanced civilization.
The science fiction and anticipation disaster film .
Cinema has also explored the post-apocalyptic with iconic films like "Mad Max", "The Book of Eli" or "I Am Legend". These films immerse us in dark and desolate universes, where the characters must fight for their survival and that of humanity. Here are two films in a version mixed with steampunk:
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"The City of Lost Children" by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro: This French film explores a dark and poetic universe, where the characters evolve in a post-apocalyptic world with steampunk accents.
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"9" by Shane Acker: This animated film presents a post-apocalyptic world devastated by war, where rag dolls animated by mysterious steampunk technology fight for survival.
Post-apocalyptic themed video games
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Video games are no exception, with popular post-apocalyptic titles such as "The Last of Us," "Fallout," and "Metro." These games offer an immersive and interactive experience, allowing players to confront the challenges of survival in a ruined world. The most steampunk of post-apocalyptic video games are:
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"Dishonored": In this action-adventure game, players evolve in a steampunk universe inspired by the Victorian era, where a mysterious plague has ravaged the city of Dunwall, giving way to a post-apocalyptic world.
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"BioShock Infinite": This first-person shooter takes us to the floating city of Columbia, where players must fight enemies and solve puzzles in a universe that mixes steampunk and post-apocalyptic.
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"Frostpunk": This disaster survival and management game plunges us into a frozen post-apocalyptic world, where the last English survivors have evacuated London. They must build and manage a city powered by steampunk technologies to withstand the harsh climate.
Why are we fascinated by the post-apocalyptic?
The fascination with catastrophes and the end of civilization can be explained by several factors. First, these science fiction stories allow us to explore fundamental questions about human nature, survival, and hope. Second, they confront us with our deepest fears and force us to imagine how we would react to such situations. Finally, the post-apocalyptic reminds us of our vulnerability and the importance of preserving our planet Earth.
The impact of post-apocalyptic and steampunk works on popular culture
Stories combining post-apocalyptic and steampunk have left an indelible mark on our popular culture. Their fascinating universes have influenced fashion, design and art, giving rise to movements such as "dieselpunk" or "cyberpunk". These works have also inspired other genres and media, testifying to their richness and creative potential.
Lessons from post-apocalyptic worlds
Post-apocalyptic stories can teach us valuable lessons about resilience, solidarity, and adaptability. In the face of adversity, the core characters in these stories are often forced to demonstrate ingenuity, courage, and empathy in order to survive. These lessons can inspire us in our own lives and encourage us to reflect on the values that are essential to our thriving and survival as a species.
Let's imagine a steampunk and post-apocalyptic science fiction universe
The remains of the disaster (natural or artificial) would clearly remain steampunk. Just as in Mad Max post-apocalyptic cars are contemporary cars, but modified with what they found in trash and dumps, a steampunk post-apocalyptic balloon can be a modern balloon, but the basket could be made of scrap metal or armed with clocks . The steam engine is still there, but it was not the only Victorian technology.
The retro-future could be made without steam engines. Like the dieselpunk style, derived from steampunk, which focuses more on combustible fuel, in the way of Mad Max where the post nuke is unbridled. We can easily imagine this universe filled with Bikers , punks and poor victims to keep them busy. In general, the latter are robbed and tortured by a crowd of horrible, smelly brutes, who are often massacred by the heroes of the story with great blows of chains or kicks.
What if, after a major alien invasion, humanity was almost wiped out and after years of war against the aliens, the human survivors developed Victorian-style technology? This would certainly give us a world very close to Turn A Gundam, a work to discover in the article of the ten Steampunk Mangas to see.
Of course, there would be many questions to answer and they usually give an infinite number of lines that would create more than one story arc to tell. Which undoubtedly leaves the way open to develop different manifestations of steampunk, not only at the literary level of fiction but at the level of DIY creation.
Ultimately, and like everything else in this retrofuturism, I'm sure that each individual will have their own opinion on whether or not steampunk can be post-apocalyptic and what characteristics it would have. And the arguments and reasons that others will have will basically be to tell you that if you move away from the Victorian era you might lose the steampunk essence. The question is to stop being puritanical and conservative, we need to demystify the concept of steampunk, stop seeing it as something immutable, as if there was only one right way to do it.
For me, this is where one of the wonders of this movement lies: the individuality with which each person understands and develops what he or she loves and is most attracted to.
And there is nothing more punk than that. See you soon vaporists for a new article on the captivating world of Steampunk
The marriage of post-apocalyptic and steampunk offers captivating stories and rich worlds where characters are faced with extraordinary challenges. Works that combine these two genres take us into imaginary worlds where the wonders of retro-futuristic technology rub shoulders with moral dilemmas and survival issues. The creative potential of these genres seems limitless, and we can only be impatient to discover the future works that will result from them.