Steam-powered machines, anachronistic technology, clockwork automatons, gas-filled airships, tentacled monsters, fob watches, and top hats–these are all elements of steampunk.

Steampunk is both speculative fiction that imagines technology evolved from steam-powered cogs and gears–instead of from electricity and computers–and a movement that fosters a do-it-yourself attitude and a love of beautifully crafted, yet functional, objects.

Although K.W. Jeter coined the term in the late 1980s, the concept is much older: Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Mary Shelley, and other 19th-century authors are primary influences. These writers inspired a dark, melancholy genre typically set in Victorian England. There are academic purists who adhere to the original style, but as the steampunk audience expands, the field now includes books set in other countries, fantastical universes, and even far-distant futures that have re-adopted Victorian dress and behavior. There are also books that are not strictly steampunk but incorporate select elements, such as steam-powered villains or clockwork automatons. These undefined boundaries complement the rebellious ethos of steampunk.

For librarians and teachers, steampunk offers multifaceted approaches to reach diverse students. For talented artists, emphasize the DIY philosophy. For Victorian history or Industrial Revolution lesson plans, highlight the historical anachronisms and what-ifs of steampunk. For classic literature discussions, illustrate how steampunk has embraced Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Steampunk has many attractors for students: the Victorian aesthetic, promotion of upcycling (making “junk” into something both functional and lovely), and anachronistic role-playing. Many current steampunks are former Goths or anime cosplayers who have adopted a pseudo-antiquated aesthetic while in good “punk” fashion reject the more restrictive Victorian attitudes.

Steampunk is all about bravely breaking the rules. Don your mad-scientist hat, button up your waistcoat, and dust off your brass goggles–you’re in for an exciting adventure!

Fiction Elementary School

DAKIN, Glen. Candle Man: The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance. Egmont USA. 2009. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-015-3; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-047-4.

Gr 4-6–Theo’s uninteresting life takes an exciting turn on the night burglars break into his house, and Theo inadvertently melts one of his attackers. He soon learns that nothing is as it seems; his guardian, Mr. Saint, is not so saintly, and Theo’s not an invalid. But is he a victim, pawn, or hero?

HUGHES, Carol. Jack Black and the Ship of Thieves. Random. 2001. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-375-80472-4; PLB $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-90472-1.

Gr 3-6–During the maiden voyage of the airship Bellerophon, Jack Black, the pilot’s son, falls overboard after he overhears a plot to blow up the ship. He lands on the pirate vessel Hyperion and is miraculously spared. Then he must rely on cunning and bravery to save his father. Available for the Kindle.

REEVE, Philip. Larklight: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space. illus. by David Wyatt. Bloomsbury. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59990-020-9.

Gr 4-6–In this first book of an alternate-history trilogy that continues in Starcross (2007) and Mothstorm (2008), Arthur Mumby’s family is set upon by spiders from Saturn. He and his sister evacuate their home in an escape pod and encounter space-pirates and villainous automatons. Whimsical black-and-white line drawings enhance this delightfully anachronistic vision of a Victorian family in space. Audiobook available from Recorded Books.

TAN, Shaun. The Lost Thing. illus. by author. Simply Read Books. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-894965-10-1.

Gr 3 Up–Collages made from math and physics textbooks are combined with quirky paintings to depict an unusual industrial city in which a boy searching for bottle caps on the beach discovers a “thing.” He sets out across a landscape of steam-powered machines, gears, and pipes to find a place for it to belong. Audiobook available from Bolinda Audio.

WARD, Helen. The Tin Forest. illus. by Wayne Anderson. Dutton. 2001. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-525-46787-8.

Gr 1-3–In a desolate place rendered in monochromatic images, a man dreams of beautiful flowers, birds, and creatures. When he finds an intricate broken light bulb, he’s inspired to turn garbage into a tin forest inhabited by clockwork animals. As the man creates, the illustrations gradually change from gray to joyful bright colors.

WIESNER, David. Flotsam. illus. by author. Clarion. 2006. RTE $17. ISBN 978-0-618-19457-5.

K-Gr 3­­–In this wordless picture book illustrated with richly detailed watercolor paintings, a camera bearing the image of a tentacled creature washes up on the beach. When the pictures are developed, the images reveal a fantastic underwater world that includes a wind-up clockwork fish, a family of octopi, and a hot-air pufferfish balloon.

Fiction Middle School

COLFER, Eoin. Airman. Hyperion. 2008. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0750-7.

Gr 7 Up–Born in a dirigible, Conor Broekhart lives on the Saltee Islands off the Irish coast. When the father of the girl he loves is murdered, Conor is framed for the crime. While imprisoned, he pursues his passion for flight in order to escape and enact revenge. This swashbuckling coming-of-age story features adventure, romance, and–of course–flying machines. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

HARLAND, Richard. Worldshaker. S & S. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9552-4.

Gr 6-9–During the reign of Victoria, Colbert Porpentine is in line to be the next commander of the Worldshaker, a British juggernaut. Col has never questioned the role of the Filthies, the lower deck citizens who work and live in the bowels of the ship. Then he meets Riff, a Filthy girl, and soon his life is irreversibly intertwined with hers.

OPPEL, Kenneth. Airborn. HarperCollins. 2004. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-053180-5; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-053181-2.

Gr 6-9–Cabin boy Matt Cruse is on the airship Aurora when he sights a drifting hot-air balloon with a dying passenger who speaks of fantastical flying creatures. A year later, the balloonist’s plucky granddaughter enlists Matt’s help to find these creatures. The story continues in Skybreaker (2005) and Starclimber (2009). Audiobook available from from Full Cast Audio.

PULLMAN, Philip. Clockwork: or All Wound Up. illus. by Leonid Gore. Scholastic. 1996. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-590-12999-2.

Gr 5-8–In a German town, a clockmaker’s apprentice must create a figure for the clock of Glockenheim. Meanwhile, a novelist begins a story that becomes frighteningly true. Enhanced by moody black-and-white illustrations, these eerie intertwined stories ultimately reveal the power of love. Audiobook available from BBC/Cover to Cover.

PULLMAN, Philip. The Golden Compass. Knopf. 1995. pap. $20. ISBN 978-0-679-87924-4.

Gr 7 Up–When wild-child Lyra Belaqua’s best friend, Roger, disappears, Lyra travels to the icy North to find him. Armed with a mysterious alethiometer that can reveal the future, Lyra sets out to fulfill her destiny. Lyra’s journey will take her to the edge of her world and beyond in a story that continues in The Subtle Knife (1997) and The Amber Spyglass (2000). Audiobook available from Listening Library.

REEVE, Philip. Fever Crumb. Scholastic. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-20719-5.

Gr 6 Up–In this stand-alone prequel to the “Hungry Cities Chronicles,” 14-year-old Fever has been raised to eschew emotion. But unexplainable memories stir when she is asked to help an archaeologist study ancient artifacts. Meanwhile, Municipal Darwinism is gathering steam, and a city on wheels is on its way to consume London.

RICHARDS, Justin. The Death Collector. Bloomsbury. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58234-721-9.

Gr 6-9–When pickpocket Eddie Hopkins steals a wallet belonging to a horologist from the British Museum, he is launched on an adventure that may cost him his life. The wallet contains a valuable scrap of paper, and the mad scientist who wants it sends steam-powered monsters after Eddie and his friends. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

SLADE, Arthur. The Hunchback Assignments. Delacorte / Wendy Lamb Books. 2009. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73784-5; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90694-4.

Gr 6-9–Modo’s hideously deformed face and body hides his remarkable gift: for short periods of time, Modo can mold his face and body into that of someone else. While he is working as a secret agent for the enigmatic Mr. Socrates, he discovers a nefarious plot by an organization called the Clockwork Guild. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

WESTERFELD, Scott. Leviathan. illus. by Keith Thompson. Simon Pulse. 2009. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-7173-3.

Gr 7 Up–This is World War I with a steampunk twist. The global conflict is between Clankers, who build machines, and Darwinists, whose technology is based upon development of new species. But when Austria’s Prince Aleksandar and British airman trainee Deryn Sharp cross paths, the line between enemy and ally is no longer clearly defined. Audio book available from S & S Audio.

WOODING, Chris. The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray. Scholastic. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-439-54656-0.

Gr 7 Up–In an alternate London where horrifying monsters abound and frightening serial killers reign, 17-year-old Thanial Fox is hunting an infant-eating monster when he encounters a girl who collapses in his arms. Thanial discovers that an evil society is seeking her as the key piece in a violent, mystical rite that will destroy England.

High School

ASHLEY, Mike, ed. Steampunk Prime: A Vintage Steampunk Reader. Nonstop Press. 2010. pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-1933065-18-2.

Adult/High School–To truly appreciate steampunk, go back to the time when the technology in the stories was more visionary than anachronistic. These short stories, written around the beginning of the 19th century, share a Victorian sensibility and an idea of the possibilities of technology–possibilities either dangerous or beneficial to mankind.

CLARE, Cassandra. Clockwork Angel. S&S/Margaret K. McElderry. 2010. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-7586-1.

Gr 9 Up–When 16-year-old Tessa Gray arrives in Victorian London, she is kidnapped and forced to develop her previously unrealized ability to change shape. Tessa is rescued by demon hunters who are unsure whether her nature is one of good or evil. Regardless, together they must thwart an evil plot that threatens the city. Audiobook available fromm S & S Audio.

CORNISH, D. M. Foundling. illus. by author. (Monster Blood Tattoo Series). Putnam. 2006. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24638-8.

Gr 8 Up–In this first installment of a trilogy that continues with Lamplighter (2008) and Factotum (2010), Rossamünd Bookchild begins his life abandoned on the doorstep of an orphanage. On the day he is to begin his apprentice as a lamplighter, he is waylaid by criminals and launched on a monstrous adventure set in the intricately constructed world of the Half-Continent. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

DOLAMORE, Jaclyn. Magic Under Glass. Bloomsbury. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-430-6.

Gr 9 Up–Nimira traveled to a distant land expecting to make her fortune by singing, but instead she’s a member of a novelty act, barely making enough to get by. When she’s noticed by a gentleman magician who wishes her to sing accompanied by a piano-playing clockwork man, Nimira discovers a secret beneath the automaton’s crafted exterior.

PAGLIASSOTTI, Dru. Clockwork Heart. Juno Books. 2008. pap. $6.99 ISBN 978-0-8095-7256-4.

Adult/ High School–In the city of Ondinium, a council of Exalteds who receive prophetic data from a giant steam-powered computer governs a caste-led society. Taya is an icarus, a courier for the city who travels on metal wings. When Taya rescues an Exalted from a sabotaged cable car, she finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy regarding terrorists and foreign governments. Audiobook available from Brilliance Audio (3/11 release).

PRIEST, Cherie. Boneshaker. Tor. 2009. pap. $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-1841-1.

Adult/High School–When inventor Leviticus Blue took his mining machine, the Boneshaker, for a test drive, the drill released a poisonous gas, turning anyone who breathed it into the walking dead. Fifteen years later, Dr. Blue’s son, Ezekiel, ventures into the ruined city of Seattle, WA, to find proof of his father’s innocence. Audiobook available from Recorded Books (1/11 release).

Graphic Novels

ARAKAWA, Hiromu. Fullmetal Alchemist. Vol. 1. illus. by author. Viz. 2005. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-59116-920-8; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-1-4352-1555-9.

Gr 8 Up–Brothers Alphonse and Edward are alchemists in search of the fabled Philosopher’s Stone in order to fix a mistake they made in their past. During their journey they face a corrupt priest, help the oppressed inhabitants of a mining town, and fight villains on a hijacked steam train.

EDGINTON, Ian. Scarlet Traces. illus. by D’Israeli. Dark Horse Comics. 2003. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-59307-717-4.

Gr 11 Up–After the failed Martian invasion recorded by H. G. Wells in The War of the Worlds, the British Empire adopted the aliens’ abandoned technology, becoming the most powerful nation in the world. But this technology comes with a price, which begins to be revealed when the exsanguinated bodies of young women are discovered on the banks of the Thames.

FOGLIO, Kaja & Phil Foglio. Agatha Heterodyne and The Beetleburg Clank. Bk. 1. illus. by Phil Foglio. (Girl Genius Series). Airship Entertainment. 2010. pap. $10. ISBN 978-1-890856-19-9.

Gr 11 Up–Agatha Clay, a student and a lab assistant at Transylvania Polygnostic University, is completely inept: she’s never able to create anything that works. Then the locket her uncle gave her is stolen, and she awakens in her underwear in her guardians’ workshop having created a monstrous mechanical creature.

FRACTION, Matt. The Five Fists of Science. illus. by Steven Sanders. Image Comics. 2006. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-58240-605-3.

Gr 10 Up–Mark Twain joins forces with Nicholas Tesla, the idiosyncratic scientific mastermind behind a giant automaton intended to bring about an end to global conflict through intimidation. The Five Fists of Science–Twain, Tesla, and the fictional one-armed Timothy Boone–wage battle against an evil society led by the occultist Thomas Edison.

IRWIN, Jane. Vögelein: Clockwork Faerie. illus. by the author. Fiery Studios. 2003. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-0-9743110-0-5.

Gr 6 Up–In a dismal modern city, a clockwork faerie who was intricately constructed by a watchmaker in Heidelberg is searching for a new guardian. If she can’t find someone to care for her, she will wind down and forget everything she has experienced in her past, beginning with her most recent memories.

Nonfiction

CAMPBELL, Jean. Steampunk Style Jewelry. Creative Publishing International. 2009. pap. $24.99. ISBN 978-1-58923-475-8.

Adult/High School–Thirteen artists provide step-by-step directions for 20 steampunk-inspired pieces of jewelry. In addition to the information provided for each of the specific projects, the book includes basics on jewelry-making and offers valuable insight into the steampunk movement.

FRIESEN, Christi. Steampunkery: Polymer Clay and Mixed Media Projects. Don’t Eat Any Bugs Productions. 2009. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-0-9802314-6-5.

Gr 8 Up–This book presents multi-step polymer clay projects that incorporate clockwork mechanisms, brass hinges, and intricate Victorian designs. Additionally, the author offers basic information about polymer clay so even beginners can attempt these pieces. Intrepid steampunks will use Friesen’s instructions to learn how to create original artwork.

HAWKINS, Emily & A.J. Wood. Oceanology: The True Account of the Voyage of the Nautilus . illus. by Wayne Anderson. (Ologies Series). Candlewick. 2009. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0763642907.

Gr 4-6–Supposedly written by a crewmember aboard Captain Nemo’s Nautilus, this fictional notebook teaches readers about the ocean. The content includes information about diving equipment, flora and fauna, ocean currents, and shipwrecks. This sumptuous interactive book allows for flights of fancy in line with Jules Verne’s classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea without sacrificing scientific truth.

JOHNSTON, Lucy. Nineteenth-Century Fashion in Detail. photos. by Richard Davis. illus. by Leonie Davis. V&A Publications. 2005. pap. $39.95. ISBN 978-1-85177-572-9.

Adult/High School–This gorgeously photographed book will provide fashion inspiration for steampunks seeking authenticity in their clothing. Although a few men’s fashions are featured, this volume focuses mainly on women, addressing such interesting facts as historical or cultural inspirations as well as some construction details for these primarily British garments. DIY enthusiasts will love this resource.

STANDAGE, Tom. The Victorian Internet: The Remarkable Story of the Telegraph and the Nineteenth Century’s On-Line Pioneers . Walker. 2007. pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-0-8027-1604-0.

Gr 10 Up–Modern steampunks will appreciate this accessible account of the invention and development of a true piece of Victorian technology: the electric telegraph. Before there was the “information superhighway,” there was the “highway of thought.” The telegraph worked in many of the same ways as our modern Internet, cutting-edge technology that allowed people to communicate quickly, commit crimes, and even fall in love.

On the Web

Airships: The Hindenburg and Other Zeppelins. www.airships.net. Dan Grossman. (Accessed 10/23/10).

Gr 6 Up–Meticulously researched and full of detailed information about airship history and technology, this is a treasure trove of information about the real-life basis for the iconic dirigible found in steampunk fiction.

How Stuff Works. www.howstuffworks.com. Discovery Communications. (Accessed 10/23/10).

Gr 3 Up–While not ad-free, this extensive site includes videos, podcasts, and games for students. Among the material is information on the Industrial Revolution, including a video demonstrating the operation of a steam engine.

Invent Now. inventnow.org. Ad Council, The National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. (Accessed 10/23/10).

Gr 3-6–Young mad-scientists can be encouraged to develop their DIY mindset via this website. They can learn about the process of inventing and patenting their ideas, play games to spark creativity, and see what other kids have invented. Free registration required.

The Victorian Web. victorianweb.org. George P. Landow. (Accessed 10/23/10).

Adult/High School–Assembled and edited by a professor of English and the History of Art at Brown University, this is an online version of the university’s resource for courses on Victorian literature, a valuable mine of information on politics, literature, and technology for steampunks.

Wired Science: The Steampunk Workshop. www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/video/336-the_steampunk_workshop.html. PBS/Wired Magazine. (Accessed 10/23/10).

Gr 9 Up–In this video podcast, Jake von Slatt of the Steampunk Workshop (steampunkworkshop.com) talks about the history of steampunk, shows a few of his anachronistic creations, and demonstrates some of the steps he took to create a steampunk computer.

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