Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book
Best Steampunk Books
Wikipedia defines steampunk as:
"A subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate h*story-style presentations [the asterisk is here so Goodreads doesn't miscategorize this list] of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles or analog computers; these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or a presumption of functionality."
Please only add books that fit the steampunk definition and have "steampunk" listed on the book's main genre page.
"A subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate h*story-style presentations [the asterisk is here so Goodreads doesn't miscategorize this list] of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles or analog computers; these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or a presumption of functionality."
Please only add books that fit the steampunk definition and have "steampunk" listed on the book's main genre page.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
301 |
Candle Man: The Society of Dread (Candle Man, #2)
by
3.89 avg rating — 142 ratings
score: 359,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
301 |
Shadows of Asphodel (Shadows of Asphodel, #1)
by
Karen Kincy (Goodreads Author)
3.58 avg rating — 678 ratings
score: 359,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
301 |
Skybreaker (Matt Cruse, #2)
by
Kenneth Oppel (Goodreads Author)
4.26 avg rating — 12,730 ratings
score: 359,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
304 |
Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Book 1
by
Balogun (Goodreads Author)
4.61 avg rating — 18 ratings
score: 358,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
304 |
Ticker
by
3.44 avg rating — 6,144 ratings
score: 358,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
306 |
The Vile Village (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #7)
by
Lemony Snicket (Goodreads Author)
3.97 avg rating — 144,744 ratings
score: 355,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
307 |
The Girl and the Clockwork Cat (Clockwork Enterprises, #1)
by
Nikki McCormack (Goodreads Author)
3.97 avg rating — 417 ratings
score: 354,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
308 |
Silver and Stone
by
4.44 avg rating — 16 ratings
score: 352,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
309 |
Calamity Jack (Rapunzel's Revenge, #2)
by
Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author)
3.91 avg rating — 5,951 ratings
score: 351,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
310 |
The Constantine Affliction
by
3.75 avg rating — 773 ratings
score: 350,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
311 |
Competence (The Custard Protocol, #3)
by
Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)
4.08 avg rating — 6,397 ratings
score: 349,
and
5 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
312 |
The City, Not Long After
by
Pat Murphy (Goodreads Author)
3.92 avg rating — 1,126 ratings
score: 344,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
313 |
Cold Copper (Age of Steam, #3)
by
Devon Monk (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 674 ratings
score: 343,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
314 |
Agatha Heterodyne and the Hammerless Bell (Girl Genius, #11)
by
4.45 avg rating — 879 ratings
score: 342,
and
5 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
315 |
Prince Albert and the Doomsday Device
by
4.04 avg rating — 25 ratings
score: 341,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
315 |
Alice's Adventures in Steamland: The Clockwork Goddess
by
Wol-vriey (Goodreads Author)
3.33 avg rating — 222 ratings
score: 341,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
317 |
Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse (Girl Genius, #10)
by
4.43 avg rating — 1,199 ratings
score: 339,
and
5 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
318 |
The Unnaturalists (The Unnaturalists, #1)
by
Tiffany Trent (Goodreads Author)
3.47 avg rating — 1,987 ratings
score: 338,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
319 |
Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1)
by
Lauren DeStefano (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 100,248 ratings
score: 337,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
320 |
The Immersion Book of Steampunk
by
4.27 avg rating — 88 ratings
score: 336,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
321 |
First Flight (The Magnificent Steam Carnival of Professor Pelusian Minus, #1)
by
Sean Hayden (Goodreads Author)
4.93 avg rating — 15 ratings
score: 335,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
322 |
Van Helsing
by
4.04 avg rating — 1,987 ratings
score: 334,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
323 |
Brilliant Devices (Magnificent Devices, #4)
by
Shelley Adina (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 2,287 ratings
score: 333,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
324 |
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk Adventures
by
Sean Wallace (Editor)
3.35 avg rating — 122 ratings
score: 331,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
325 |
The Explosionist (Sophie Hunter, Book 1)
by
3.49 avg rating — 702 ratings
score: 330,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
325 |
The Clockwork Scarab (Stoker & Holmes, #1)
by
Colleen Gleason (Goodreads Author)
3.67 avg rating — 7,201 ratings
score: 330,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
327 |
Steampunk Darcy
by
Monica Fairview (Goodreads Author)
3.54 avg rating — 146 ratings
score: 328,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
328 |
Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1)
by
3.97 avg rating — 30,209 ratings
score: 327,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
329 |
The Secret of Abdu El-Yezdi (Burton & Swinburne, #4)
by
Mark Hodder (Goodreads Author)
3.91 avg rating — 1,057 ratings
score: 323,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
330 |
The Arctic Marauder
by
3.56 avg rating — 814 ratings
score: 322,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
331 |
The Red Plague Affair (Bannon & Clare, #2)
by
Lilith Saintcrow (Goodreads Author)
3.79 avg rating — 1,744 ratings
score: 311,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
332 |
Girl Genius Omnibus Volume 1: Agatha Awakens (Girl Genius, #1-3)
by
Phil Foglio (Scriptwriter/Illustrator)
4.16 avg rating — 963 ratings
score: 305,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
333 |
The Science Fiction Stories of Rudyard Kipling
by
3.79 avg rating — 43 ratings
score: 304,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
334 |
Ghosts of Engines Past
by
Sean McMullen (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 29 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
334 |
Airship Shape & Bristol Fashion
by
3.96 avg rating — 57 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
334 |
Kisses by Clockwork
by
4.18 avg rating — 17 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
334 |
The Inexplicables (The Clockwork Century, #4)
by
Cherie Priest (Goodreads Author)
3.71 avg rating — 2,431 ratings
score: 300,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
334 |
Sunstone
by
Holly Barbo (Goodreads Author)
4.18 avg rating — 39 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
334 |
Horn-Horn (Horn-Horn, #1)
by
A.D.T. McLellan (Goodreads Author)
4.60 avg rating — 135 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
334 |
The Seclusion (The Seclusion series, 1)
by
Jacqui Castle (Goodreads Author)
3.94 avg rating — 685 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
334 |
Clockwork Magpies
by
4.37 avg rating — 76 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
342 |
Paradox Child (Paradox Child, #1)
by
Jane Yates (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 60 ratings
score: 299,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
342 |
The Falconer (The Falconer, #1)
by
Elizabeth May (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 19,915 ratings
score: 299,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
342 |
First Light (Dawn of Steam, #1)
by
Jeffrey Cook (Goodreads Author)
4.13 avg rating — 68 ratings
score: 299,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
342 |
The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter (Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire, #1)
by
Rod Duncan (Goodreads Author)
3.74 avg rating — 3,302 ratings
score: 299,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
346 |
The Rebels of Gold (Loom Saga, #3)
by
Elise Kova (Goodreads Author)
4.09 avg rating — 2,328 ratings
score: 297,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
347 |
Automatic Woman
by
Nathan Yocum (Goodreads Author)
3.63 avg rating — 122 ratings
score: 295,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
347 |
PARADOX: Super Indy
by
4.81 avg rating — 64 ratings
score: 295,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
347 |
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.3)
by
P. Djèlí Clark (Goodreads Author)
3.98 avg rating — 16,091 ratings
score: 295,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
347 |
Laevium (The Cerulean Airship #1)
by
Ruxandra Tarca (Goodreads Author)
4.26 avg rating — 108 ratings
score: 295,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
351 |
A Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe, #1)
by
P. Djèlí Clark (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 29,260 ratings
score: 294,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
352 |
The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes
by
3.78 avg rating — 509 ratings
score: 292,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
352 |
Free-Wrench (Free-Wrench, #1)
by
Joseph R. Lallo (Goodreads Author)
4.12 avg rating — 1,591 ratings
score: 292,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
352 |
The Techno Witch (Super Indy, #1)
by
4.74 avg rating — 62 ratings
score: 292,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
352 |
The Fairway (Super Indy, #2)
by
4.77 avg rating — 48 ratings
score: 292,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
356 |
Chenda and the Airship Brofman (Brofman, #1)
by
3.64 avg rating — 56 ratings
score: 291,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
356 |
A Cats Steampunk Alphabet
by
G.D. Falksen (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 80 ratings
score: 291,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
358 |
Fire & Frost (Iron Seas, #3.4; Code of Shadows, #0.5; Midnight Liaisons #2.3)
by
3.86 avg rating — 914 ratings
score: 290,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
359 |
Into the Ether
by
Vanessa Barger (Goodreads Author)
4.08 avg rating — 13 ratings
score: 289,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
359 |
Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Airship Adventure Chronicles #1)
by
Lara Nance (Goodreads Author)
3.54 avg rating — 153 ratings
score: 289,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
361 |
Lady Dorn
by
Sean Hayden (Goodreads Author)
4.11 avg rating — 36 ratings
score: 288,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
361 |
FIRST HALF: Super Indy
by
4.75 avg rating — 71 ratings
score: 288,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
363 |
Mechanical Rose
by
3.38 avg rating — 26 ratings
score: 287,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
364 |
The Great Action (Super Indy, #4)
by
4.83 avg rating — 92 ratings
score: 286,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
364 |
Liberators: Super Indy
by
4.70 avg rating — 47 ratings
score: 286,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
366 |
Lust Plague (Steamwork Chronicles, #2)
by
Cari Silverwood (Goodreads Author)
4.11 avg rating — 158 ratings
score: 284,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
366 |
Seeing Redd
by
Frank Beddor (Goodreads Author)
3.85 avg rating — 18,480 ratings
score: 284,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
368 |
Agatha Heterodyne and the Siege of Mechanicsburg (Girl Genius, #12)
by
4.43 avg rating — 669 ratings
score: 283,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
368 |
The Wake of the Dragon
by
4.03 avg rating — 63 ratings
score: 283,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
368 |
Steamboy (Novel), Volume 1 (Steam Boy Ani-manga)
by
3.92 avg rating — 24 ratings
score: 283,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
371 |
Les Enchantements d'Ambremer (Le Paris des Merveilles, #1)
by
3.92 avg rating — 1,464 ratings
score: 282,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
371 |
Empire in Black and Gold (Shadows of the Apt, #1)
by
Adrian Tchaikovsky (Goodreads Author)
3.75 avg rating — 11,966 ratings
score: 282,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
371 |
Tales from the Archives, Volume 1: The Official Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Anthology
by
3.93 avg rating — 263 ratings
score: 282,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
371 |
Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders (Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, #1)
by
Richard Ellis Preston Jr. (Goodreads Author)
3.63 avg rating — 1,222 ratings
score: 282,
and
4 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
371 |
Chasing the Green Fairy (The Airship Racing Chronicles, #2)
by
Melanie Karsak (Goodreads Author)
4.27 avg rating — 408 ratings
score: 282,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
376 |
Tanglewreck
by
3.47 avg rating — 2,547 ratings
score: 281,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
376 |
Inne Pieśni
by
4.35 avg rating — 2,485 ratings
score: 281,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
376 |
Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly, #1)
by
Susan Dennard (Goodreads Author)
3.73 avg rating — 13,831 ratings
score: 281,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
379 |
Kultus
by
Richard S. Ford (Goodreads Author)
3.27 avg rating — 59 ratings
score: 280,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
379 |
Unseemly Science (The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire #2)
by
Rod Duncan (Goodreads Author)
3.88 avg rating — 1,510 ratings
score: 280,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
379 |
The Black God's Drums
by
P. Djèlí Clark (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 10,400 ratings
score: 280,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
382 |
THE YOGA WITH NO PANTS: Super Indy-The Last Half
by
4.75 avg rating — 56 ratings
score: 279,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
383 |
Steaming
by
Vanessa Barger (Goodreads Author)
4.21 avg rating — 14 ratings
score: 278,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
384 |
The Alchemy of Desire
by
Crista McHugh (Goodreads Author)
3.57 avg rating — 21 ratings
score: 277,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
385 |
The Switch II: Clockwork
by
Valjeanne Jeffers (Goodreads Author)
4.62 avg rating — 21 ratings
score: 274,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
385 |
A Steampunk Guide to Tea Dueling
by
Khurt Khave (Goodreads Author)
4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings
score: 274,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
385 |
The Bedlam Stacks
by
4.01 avg rating — 11,217 ratings
score: 274,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
388 |
The Master Magician (The Paper Magician, #3)
by
Charlie N. Holmberg (Goodreads Author)
3.91 avg rating — 39,328 ratings
score: 273,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
389 |
Scoundrel (The Blades of the Rose, #2)
by
Zoe Archer (Goodreads Author)
3.79 avg rating — 1,198 ratings
score: 271,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
389 |
A Natural History of Dragons (The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #1)
by
Marie Brennan (Goodreads Author)
3.84 avg rating — 38,922 ratings
score: 271,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
391 |
The Inventor's Companion
by
Ariel Tachna (Goodreads Author)
3.72 avg rating — 408 ratings
score: 269,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
392 |
The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices: Manga, #1)
by
Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)
4.22 avg rating — 15,489 ratings
score: 268,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
393 |
The Grand Ellipse
by
3.75 avg rating — 472 ratings
score: 266,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
394 |
Mechanica (Mechanica, #1)
by
Betsy Cornwell (Goodreads Author)
3.61 avg rating — 4,774 ratings
score: 265,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
395 |
The Digging Leviathan (Narbondo, #1)
by
3.60 avg rating — 559 ratings
score: 262,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
395 |
In An Iron Cage: The Magic of Steampunk
by
3.84 avg rating — 31 ratings
score: 262,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
395 |
Planesrunner (Everness #1)
by
3.69 avg rating — 1,171 ratings
score: 262,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
398 |
The Women of Nell Gwynne's
by
3.68 avg rating — 591 ratings
score: 261,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
398 |
Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War (Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, #2)
by
Richard Ellis Preston Jr. (Goodreads Author)
4.06 avg rating — 630 ratings
score: 261,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
400 |
Secrets of the Fire Sea (Jackelian, #4)
by
Stephen Hunt (Goodreads Author)
3.86 avg rating — 811 ratings
score: 260,
and
3 people voted
![]() |
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
1,220 books ·
4,475 voters ·
list created August 12th, 2008
by Keely Hyslop (votes) .
Keely
1035 books
314 friends
314 friends
Greyweather
2661 books
66 friends
66 friends
Maria
331 books
2 friends
2 friends
Chris
269 books
14 friends
14 friends
Chris
474 books
26 friends
26 friends
Sandi
1739 books
476 friends
476 friends
bsc
581 books
54 friends
54 friends
VanHalen
787 books
46 friends
46 friends
More voters…
Comments Showing 1-50 of 54 (54 new)
message 1:
by
Greyweather
(new)
Aug 12, 2008 04:55PM
![Greyweather](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1254660107p1/1154130.jpg)
reply
|
flag
Travis wrote: "I don't see 'Neverwhere' as steampunk. It's just fantasy."
agreed.
agreed.
![Patricia](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1223602168p1/1607272.jpg)
![Ashlee](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1581096378p1/4003276.jpg)
![Nicol Legakis](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1290258446p1/4326837.jpg)
Why doesnt anybody now about this book!people these day cant reconise a good book when they see it!
![Vicky N.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1486249479p1/2665859.jpg)
![Travis](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_25x33-8a3530ed95c3dbef8bf215b080559b09.png)
Besides, at the time the British Empire was about a quarter of the globe, so plenty of room there.
![Britt](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1628140117p1/4710260.jpg)
I second that.
Snow Crash doesn't belong up there either, it's futuristic sci-fi or cyber-punk or whatever, but there is nothing remotely steam punk about it. I think there should be a button that allows you to vote to remove a book if it doesn't belong.
![Michele Brenton](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1608250793p1/3149325.jpg)
![Cyrus Darian and the Technomicron by Raven Dane](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380763211i/3120873.jpg)
Goodreads Giveaway - ends October 1st
Released earlier this month at The Weekend at the Asylum Steampunk Event at Lincoln - this is true steampunk at its finest.
The Technomicron; ancient, deadly, powerful and in 1860s London every seeker of power - natural or supernatural - wants to wield it. And they are prepared to stop at nothing to get it. Enter Cyrus Darian; hedonist, philanderer, alchemist and necromancer, hired by wealthy American Zachariah P. Dedman to find it. Dedman's life, the honour of his beautiful, haughty daughter Athena and the future of the world itself rest in the hands of Cyrus Darian. What could possibly go wrong? Steampunk, sex and magic in a heady mix that will make your head spin.
Search on Google for "Raven Dane" Cyrus Darian The Asylum and then click images - for some great pictures from the event & the book launch.
![Sarah](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/images/nophoto/user/c_111x148.png)
![Djinnie](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_25x33-ccd24e68f4773d33a41ce08c3a34892e.png)
![Phil Berdecio](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1569790458p1/5954279.jpg)
![Artjom Rjabov](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1345413899p1/6030885.jpg)
![Ducky Dame](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1300818251p1/5160663.jpg)
![Tarot](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1677211017p1/8305697.jpg)
![Ducky Dame](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1300818251p1/5160663.jpg)
steampunk
cyberpunk
dieselpunk
weird west
girl genius
yeadie yadie yadie
but do you think that readers who arent as familiar with the who steam cogs gears and clockwork worlds might get a little confused?
![Esmë](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1373907029p1/5678890.jpg)
![Kim](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1458609397p1/4026072.jpg)
I'd say Howl's Moving Castle isn't either. Yes his castle moves via steam but it's magical, not mechanical. Otherwise the Harry Potter series could qualify as steampunk.
![Julie](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1231853109p1/1458811.jpg)
![Kari](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1345433559p1/12032532.jpg)
Most people agree that the Steampunk era ends at the First World War.
Also, there is no steam based technology anywhere in the book.
It's excellent, but not Steampunk.
![Sarah](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1442653226p1/642041.jpg)
![Florin Pitea](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1442600678p1/2880025.jpg)
![Paul](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1231670570p1/1890504.jpg)
![B.H. Alsop](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1403540160p1/27167312.jpg)
![The Captain and the Lady Fair Changing Times by Quinne Darkover](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.goodreads.com/assets/nocover/60x80.png)
![Joseph Remesar](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1374348660p1/18661474.jpg)
![Kara Rae Garland](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1320998724p1/1699766.jpg)
![Chris](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1604881279p1/28762353.jpg)
So, that's pretty wide. It doesn't require England, it doesn't require the gears and clockwork or the Victorian (or even Edwardian) era(s). That having been said however, there are still some books I see on this list that shouldn't be here.
Stardust catches my eye, that one is a Fantasy, pure and simple, no "steampunk" about it in my opinion. I loved the book, but I don't think it belongs on this list.
The Windup Girl is pure Hard Science Fiction. The technology of the setting is fairly low because it represents a world-after-the-oil-is-gone, but it's still a science fiction setting with extremely high levels of bio-tech and gene manipulation. It's a great book, it won the Nebula for its year and tied for the Hugo, but that doesn't make it steampunk.
There are a LOT of books out there, the whole goal of lists like this one and of library curation in general is to help potential readers make sense of it all. If I'm looking for more books like The Black Lung Captain, or The Horns of Ruin, or Boneshaker, then I'm not going to find this list too helpful.
I agree with Brittney, there should be a way to vote to remove books from a given list. Being inclusive is all well and good, but I'd prefer to see tighter curation on most of these lists.
![B.H. Alsop](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1403540160p1/27167312.jpg)
But it's a wonderful story nonetheless!
![Andrew Obrigewitsch](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1512627613p1/16087568.jpg)
steampunk
cyberpunk
dieselpunk
weird west
girl genius
yeadie yadie yadie
but do you think that readers who arent as familiar..."
Cyberpunk has nothing to do with Steampunk other than the word punk.
![Quinne Darkover](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1442958974p1/19241657.jpg)
![Cassandra](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1404450006p1/32761625.jpg)
So, that's pretty wide. It doesn't require England, it doesn't require the gears and clockwork or the Vi..."
librarians can remove books from a list if they don't fit. If you become a librarian to do so, remember only to take it off the list it you're sure it doesn't fit :)
![Cassandra](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1404450006p1/32761625.jpg)
![Michael Mccoy](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1671597362p1/29896072.jpg)
![Chris](https://cdn.statically.io/img/s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_25x33-ccd24e68f4773d33a41ce08c3a34892e.png)
![Alberta Ross](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1442528617p1/3823409.jpg)
please help this old lady:)
![Chris](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1604881279p1/28762353.jpg)
The definition of Steampunk is "Yesterday's Tomorrow".
Frequently Steampunk stories are set in a re-envisioned Victorian era, with fantastical, sometimes magical technology added in, but that's not a requirement.
The book which originally defined the sub-genre is William Gibson's The Difference Engine, which ponders what the world would have been like, had the Victorian empire mastered Charles Babbage's mechanical computational tool: The Difference Engine (of the story title). The sub-genre derives its name from the earlier literary movement Cyberpunk (also defined by William Gibson's works), which was an attempt to render more traditional Science Fiction with a more deconstructionist, "punk" approach.
Retroactively, it would be safe to include many (most) of the works of H. G. Wells in the Steampunk category, though of course the concept didn't exist at the time he was writing.
My own definition of Steampunk is much narrower than what's presented here. I tend to eschew the more romantically themed stories and to prefer more action oriented works.
Bearing my personal bias in mind, I'd personally recommend looking at Retribution Falls, The Aeronaut's Windlass, or perhaps Agatha Heterodyne & the Golden Trilobite: A Gaslamp Fantasy with Adventure, Romance & Mad Science.
Hope that helps.
![Ketutar Jensen](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1624699507p1/733492.jpg)
1) HISTORICAL fiction - not necessarily Victorian era, even though most of it is placed there, but it should be historical
2) the steam engines and clockwork machines should play a prominent role. It is after all a subgenre of Sci-Fi, and the science and technology should be a big part of the story.
Which means that
I don't think Perdido Street Station is Steampunk. It feels pretty modern or even futuristic to my taste.
Stardust is not Steampunk. Sure, there were air ship pirates, but the technology wasn't an important part of the story. It was more magical fantasy in my mind.
Winter's Tale is absolutely not Steampunk. I'd classify it Magical Realism.
Related News
At the beginning of each calendar month, Goodreads’ crack editorial squad assembles a list of the hottest and most popular new books...
Anyone can add books to this list.
How to Vote
To vote on existing books from the list, beside each book there is a link vote for this book clicking it will add that book to your votes.
To vote on books not in the list or books you couldn't find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or simply search.