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.
1 |
Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1)
by
Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 111,165 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
2 |
Leviathan (Leviathan, #1)
by
Scott Westerfeld (Goodreads Author)
3.92 avg rating — 92,722 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
3 |
Boneshaker (The Clockwork Century, #1)
by
Cherie Priest (Goodreads Author)
3.52 avg rating — 33,670 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
4 |
Perdido Street Station (New Crobuzon, #1)
by
China Miéville (Goodreads Author)
3.98 avg rating — 70,818 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
5 |
The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1)
by
4.02 avg rating — 1,539,302 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
6 |
The Time Machine
by
3.89 avg rating — 525,452 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
7 |
Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)
by
Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)
4.31 avg rating — 837,842 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
8 |
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Captain Nemo, #2)
by
3.89 avg rating — 256,615 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
9 |
Changeless (Parasol Protectorate, #2)
by
Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)
3.99 avg rating — 47,022 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
10 |
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1
by
Alan Moore (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 54,695 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
11 |
The Iron Duke (Iron Seas, #1)
by
3.85 avg rating — 17,038 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
12 |
Behemoth (Leviathan, #2)
by
Scott Westerfeld (Goodreads Author)
4.17 avg rating — 40,264 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
13 |
The Difference Engine
by
3.46 avg rating — 22,218 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
14 |
Blameless (Parasol Protectorate, #3)
by
Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 41,221 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
15 |
Goliath (Leviathan, #3)
by
Scott Westerfeld (Goodreads Author)
4.23 avg rating — 32,851 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
16 |
Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, #1)
by
Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)
3.83 avg rating — 49,860 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
17 |
Mortal Engines (Mortal Engines, #1)
by
Philip Reeve (Goodreads Author)
3.76 avg rating — 66,021 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
18 |
The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles, #1)
by
Kady Cross (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 21,665 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
19 |
Airborn (Matt Cruse, #1)
by
Kenneth Oppel (Goodreads Author)
4.18 avg rating — 25,688 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
20 |
Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)
by
3.65 avg rating — 61,360 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
21 |
Heartless (Parasol Protectorate, #4)
by
Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)
4.06 avg rating — 35,385 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
22 |
Agatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank (Girl Genius, #1)
by
4.14 avg rating — 4,454 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
23 |
Timeless (Parasol Protectorate, #5)
by
Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)
4.12 avg rating — 31,725 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
24 |
Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)
by
Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)
4.42 avg rating — 557,698 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
25 |
Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, #1)
by
3.70 avg rating — 7,705 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
26 |
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by
4.22 avg rating — 184,272 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
27 |
Airman
by
4.15 avg rating — 20,300 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
28 |
Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)
by
Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)
4.56 avg rating — 450,106 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
29 |
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Burton & Swinburne, #1)
by
Mark Hodder (Goodreads Author)
3.70 avg rating — 7,280 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
30 |
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1
by
4.53 avg rating — 169,443 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
31 |
The Affinity Bridge (Newbury and Hobbes, #1)
by
3.56 avg rating — 6,219 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
32 |
Retribution Falls (Tales of the Ketty Jay, #1)
by
3.96 avg rating — 10,170 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
33 |
The Anubis Gates
by
3.90 avg rating — 16,842 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
34 |
The Looking Glass Wars (The Looking Glass Wars, #1)
by
Frank Beddor (Goodreads Author)
3.93 avg rating — 45,674 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
35 |
The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge, #1)
by
Lindsay Buroker (Goodreads Author)
4.05 avg rating — 15,198 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
36 |
The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, #2)
by
4.15 avg rating — 439,058 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
37 |
The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer
by
Neal Stephenson (Goodreads Author)
4.16 avg rating — 90,456 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
38 |
Lady of Devices (Magnificent Devices, #1)
by
Shelley Adina (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 8,331 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
39 |
Larklight (Larklight, #1)
by
Philip Reeve (Goodreads Author)
3.85 avg rating — 5,648 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
40 |
The Aeronaut's Windlass (The Cinder Spires, #1)
by
Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author)
4.18 avg rating — 45,314 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
41 |
Un Lun Dun
by
China Miéville (Goodreads Author)
3.83 avg rating — 19,101 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
42 |
Stardust
by
Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 461,868 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
43 |
Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School, #2)
by
Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)
4.13 avg rating — 27,069 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
44 |
Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, #1)
by
Bec McMaster (Goodreads Author)
3.87 avg rating — 13,073 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
45 |
The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, #1)
by
Clay Griffith (Goodreads Author)
3.81 avg rating — 5,564 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
46 |
Dreadnought (The Clockwork Century, #2)
by
Cherie Priest (Goodreads Author)
3.86 avg rating — 7,994 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
47 |
Clockwork Heart (Clockwork Heart, #1)
by
Dru Pagliassotti (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 1,882 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
48 |
Johannes Cabal the Necromancer (Johannes Cabal, #1)
by
Jonathan L. Howard (Goodreads Author)
3.93 avg rating — 20,782 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
49 |
Steampunk
by
Ann VanderMeer (Editor)
3.53 avg rating — 2,299 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
50 |
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles, #2)
by
Kady Cross (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 10,143 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
51 |
The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters (Miss Temple, Doctor Svenson, and Cardinal Chang, #1)
by
3.50 avg rating — 5,486 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
52 |
Fever Crumb (Fever Crumb, #1)
by
Philip Reeve (Goodreads Author)
3.74 avg rating — 9,292 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
53 |
The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, #3)
by
4.10 avg rating — 363,295 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
54 |
Agatha H and the Airship City (Girl Genius, #1)
by
4.02 avg rating — 3,526 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
55 |
The Court of the Air (Jackelian, #1)
by
Stephen Hunt (Goodreads Author)
3.30 avg rating — 4,164 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
56 |
The Alchemy of Stone
by
3.64 avg rating — 2,472 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
57 |
The Janus Affair (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, #2)
by
4.06 avg rating — 4,031 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
58 |
Foundling (Monster Blood Tattoo, #1)
by
D.M. Cornish (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 8,080 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
59 |
The Rithmatist (The Rithmatist #1)
by
Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)
4.25 avg rating — 69,034 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
60 |
The Native Star (Veneficas Americana, #1)
by
M.K. Hobson (Goodreads Author)
3.56 avg rating — 3,686 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
61 |
Infernal Devices (Infernal Devices, #1)
by
3.36 avg rating — 2,882 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
62 |
Cold Magic (Spiritwalker, #1)
by
Kate Elliott (Goodreads Author)
3.72 avg rating — 9,213 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
63 |
Mainspring (Clockwork Earth #1)
by
3.21 avg rating — 2,193 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
64 |
The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray
by
3.96 avg rating — 4,252 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
65 |
Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, #2)
by
3.94 avg rating — 6,023 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
66 |
Whitechapel Gods
by
3.29 avg rating — 1,835 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
67 |
The Hunchback Assignments (The Hunchback Assignments, #1)
by
Arthur Slade (Goodreads Author)
3.63 avg rating — 3,594 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
68 |
The Alloy of Law (Mistborn, #4)
by
Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)
4.20 avg rating — 228,900 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
69 |
The Map of Time
by
Félix J. Palma (Goodreads Author)
3.39 avg rating — 12,767 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
70 |
Scar Night (Deepgate Codex, #1)
by
Alan Campbell (Goodreads Author)
3.63 avg rating — 4,102 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
71 |
Riveted (Iron Seas, #3)
by
3.96 avg rating — 4,490 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
72 |
Winter's Tale
by
3.51 avg rating — 28,677 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
73 |
Flash Gold (Flash Gold Chronicles, #1)
by
Lindsay Buroker (Goodreads Author)
3.94 avg rating — 3,076 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
74 |
Dearly, Departed (Gone With the Respiration, #1)
by
Lia Habel (Goodreads Author)
3.83 avg rating — 10,568 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
75 |
The Warlord of the Air (Oswald Bastable, #1)
by
3.67 avg rating — 1,856 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
76 |
Wicked as They Come (Blud, #1)
by
Delilah S. Dawson (Goodreads Author)
3.64 avg rating — 4,369 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
77 |
The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man (Burton & Swinburne, #2)
by
Mark Hodder (Goodreads Author)
3.94 avg rating — 3,473 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
78 |
The Night Circus
by
Erin Morgenstern (Goodreads Author)
4.01 avg rating — 993,359 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
79 |
Dead Iron (Age of Steam, #1)
by
Devon Monk (Goodreads Author)
3.60 avg rating — 2,796 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
80 |
The Steampunk Trilogy
by
3.36 avg rating — 1,051 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
81 |
The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles, #0.5)
by
Kady Cross (Goodreads Author)
3.79 avg rating — 7,874 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
82 |
New Amsterdam (New Amsterdam, #1)
by
Elizabeth Bear (Goodreads Author)
3.57 avg rating — 1,746 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
83 |
Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories
by
Kelly Link (Editor, Contributor)
3.66 avg rating — 4,051 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
84 |
The Half-Made World (The Half-Made World, #1)
by
Felix Gilman (Goodreads Author)
3.75 avg rating — 3,988 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
85 |
Steamed
by
Katie MacAlister (Goodreads Author)
3.03 avg rating — 2,888 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
86 |
Anno Dracula (Anno Dracula, #1)
by
3.77 avg rating — 14,357 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
87 |
Extraordinary Engines: The Definitive Steampunk Anthology
by
Nick Gevers (Editor)
3.58 avg rating — 742 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
88 |
Ganymede (The Clockwork Century, #3)
by
Cherie Priest (Goodreads Author)
3.84 avg rating — 4,266 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
89 |
Clementine (The Clockwork Century, #1.1)
by
Cherie Priest (Goodreads Author)
3.71 avg rating — 4,221 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
90 |
The Bookman (The Bookman Histories, #1)
by
3.31 avg rating — 1,828 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
91 |
All Men of Genius
by
Lev A.C. Rosen (Goodreads Author)
3.72 avg rating — 1,682 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
92 |
The Scar (New Crobuzon, #2)
by
China Miéville (Goodreads Author)
4.18 avg rating — 32,867 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
93 |
Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time
by
4.28 avg rating — 12,519 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
94 |
God Save the Queen (The Immortal Empire, #1)
by
Kate Locke (Goodreads Author)
3.85 avg rating — 5,518 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
95 |
The Land Leviathan: A New Scientific Romance (Oswald Bastable, #2)
by
3.57 avg rating — 981 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
96 |
Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti
by
3.81 avg rating — 3,199 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
97 |
Conspiracy (The Emperor's Edge, #4)
by
Lindsay Buroker (Goodreads Author)
4.37 avg rating — 7,283 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
98 |
Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded (Steampunk, #2)
by
Ann VanderMeer (Editor)
3.65 avg rating — 732 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
99 |
Steam & Sorcery (Gaslight Chronicles, #1)
by
3.67 avg rating — 2,570 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
|
100 |
The Friday Society
by
Adrienne Kress (Goodreads Author)
3.47 avg rating — 3,057 ratings
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
1,219 books ·
4,471 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
This one is pretty straightforward: Below we’ve gathered recently released paperback editions of popular books from across all genres, fiction,...
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.