If the retro futuristic literary genre has become abundant with its unique codes and universes over time, it is for the simple reason that Steampunk Novels offer unique sensations to those who read them. Precisely, if you are looking to discover or dive a little deeper into this universe, here is the list of Steampunk Books completely subjective and according to our tastes.
Introduction to Steampunk
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that combines Victorian aesthetics with steam technology. It draws inspiration from the works of 19th-century writers such as Jules Verne and HG Wells. In this universe, steam engines are the dominant driving force, creating an alternative world filled with airships, mechanical devices and fantastical gadgets. Great Britain is therefore the birthplace of this science fiction called retrofuturism. Novels of the time are also used or diverted, such as Bram Stoker's Dracula or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
The Literary Origins of Steampunk Novels
Steampunk has its roots in 19th-century literature. Several works from this era can be considered precursors to the genre, including Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea", H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine", and Jules Verne's "The Carpathian Castle".
The term "Steampunk" was coined by author K.W. Jeter in 1987 to describe the retro-futuristic novels he wrote with his friends Tim Powers and James Blaylock. Since then, the genre has flourished and grown in popularity, spawning a multitude of literary works, films, video games, and art objects.
| Title | Author | Pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Twenty thousand leagues under sea | Jules Verne | The underwater adventures of Captain Nemo aboard the Nautilus. |
| The Time Machine | HG Wells | The story of time travel and the futuristic discoveries of the Time Explorer. |
| The Difference Machine | William Gibson & Bruce Sterling | An alternate Victorian England with the emergence of computer technology. |
| The Umbrella Protectorate (Saga) | Gail Carriger | A series mixing humor, paranormal and Victorian society with Alexia Tarabotti. |
| Leviathan (Trilogy) | Scott Westerfeld | A captivating alternate history opposing genetic manipulation and mechanical civilization. |
| Boneshaker (The Mechanical Century, Book 1) | Cherie Priest | A mix of zombies, combat airships and steampunk technology during the American Civil War. |
| Infernal Devices | KW Jeter | One of the founders of the genre, delving into a Victorian world dominated by steam technology. |
| The Anubis Gates | Tim Powers | A combination of time travel, magic and adventure in an alternative 19th century London. |
| Perdido Street Station | China Mieville | A rich and complex universe, mixing fantasy and steampunk elements in a strange industrial metropolis. |
| The Difference Engine | William Gibson & Bruce Sterling | A vision of a 19th century where Charles Babbage's mechanical computer revolutionized society. |
| Mortal Engines (Predator Cities, Volume 1) | Philip Reeve | A post-apocalyptic world where cities are mobile and fight for resources. |
| Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate, Book 1) | Gail Carriger | Alexia Tarabotti, a woman without a soul, navigates a world of vampires and werewolves. |
| Leviathan | Scott Westerfeld | A mix of alternate history and steampunk during the First World War. |
| Homunculus | James P. Blaylock | A cutting-edge tale of zombies and quests set in a glorious era of the Industrial Revolution. |
| The Iron Duke (Iron Seas, Book 1) | Meljean Brook | A mix of romance and steampunk in a world where steam technology dominates. |
| The Affinity Bridge | George Mann | A steampunk investigation in an alternative Victorian London with zombies and automatons. |
| The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack | Mark Hodder | A story of adventure and mystery set in an alternate Victorian London. |
| Whitechapel Gods | SM Peters | A world dominated by mechanical gods in the Whitechapel district of London. |
| The Alchemy of Stone | Ekaterina Sedia | A touching story of a female automaton in a steampunk world. |
| The Aeronaut's Windlass (The Cinder Spiers, Book 1) | Jim Butcher | Aerial adventures in a steampunk world with airships and fantastic creatures. |
| The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen | Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill | A team of Victorian literary characters battling extraordinary threats. |
| Airman | Eoin Colfer | The aerial adventures of Conor Broekhart, exploring themes of courage and sensitivity. |
| Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1) | Cassandra Clare | The adventures of Tessa Gray in a Victorian London filled with steampunk magic and mysteries. |
| Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, Book 1) | Gail Carriger | The adventures of a young girl in a finishing school for spies, with a light and humorous steampunk tone. |
| The Clockwork Dynasty | Daniel H. Wilson | A story of ancient robots hiding among humans, blending past and present. |
| Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine | Arabella's adventures on Mars in a space steampunk world. |
| From the Earth to the Moon | Jules Verne | The daring journey of three men into space, a classic of steampunk literature. |
| Journey to the Center of the Earth | Jules Verne | A scientific expedition to the center of the Earth, mixing science and steampunk adventure. |
| The Windup Girl | Paolo Bacigalupi | A dystopian future where biotechnology and political intrigue collide in a steampunk setting. |