Steampunk fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction which commonly integrates science, fantasy, and historical fiction together to build an alternate timeline, set in the real world. (Think of it like an ‘AU’ piece of fanfiction). This fantastical, alternate reality usually depicts a place where industrial greed, the wanderlust for exploration, and steam-powered technology are firmly at the forefront of society.
As the name suggests, Steampunk fiction worlds heavily rely on steam! In contrast to our overreliance on electricity, their alternate history separates itself from our own and asks what if the industrial revolution hadn’t been replaced by the technological one?
This genre is heavily inspired by the aesthetics and dreams of the Victorian era with extreme industrialisation (occasionally bordering on climate fiction) and a rigid class system. Steampunk characters often struggle to make their voices heard, battling against a harsh regime to complete their own goals and carve out their place within society.
Works from authors such as Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells and Jules Verne are often cited as being the ‘original’ roots of the steampunk genre. But it wasn’t until the late 1980s that the term itself was coined by author K.W. Jeter as a response to the burgeoning term ‘Cyberpunk’.
You may already recognise some of these Steampunk tropes from other genres, but there are a few that are more original to this type of story. Although not an exhaustive list, it’s a good way for readers (or writers!) to dip their toes into the future the Victorians envisioned for us.
A common monomyth used across genres, we usually follow the protagonist as they travel (either their country or the world) to complete a grand goal. They receive a call to adventure, through their own will or coercion, and we are offered a front row seat as they battle to make this a reality.
This grand goal often (but not always – especially with the rise of the ‘cosy’ sub-sub genre!) has far reaching effects for the rest of society. It usually involves the oh so simple task of dismantling an entire authoritarian government or saving the world from complete destruction.
Along the way we watch our protagonist face their demons and transform themselves with the help of others. They later face a revelation, about themselves or society, that prepares them for the denouement of the ‘final battle’ to complete their objective.
A Hero’s Journey is often intertwined with the bildungsroman, a story which follows someone’s formative years and tracks the esoteric growth of their self-discovery. It’s a coming-of-age story which, for steampunk, aligns the protagonist’s moral and psychological development with their call to adventure. Through this trope, we are able to observe a character’s development and how they grow.
It’s an adventure narrative with a twist. Will our hero finally be the one to take down an oppressive regime and return unscathed, or will their fate befall them like countless other failed heroes and the world will remain yet unchanged?
Automatons are mechanical beings that imitate people, and are often written into a story as a way to question our idea of what it means ‘to be human’. These uncanny automatons run on steam and have an abundance of cogs (basically steampunk robots!). They’re inspired by the clockwork mechanisms and automatons which were built to entertain and show off the wealth of the 19th-century upper-class.
A good automaton is one that is fleshed out with a distinct purpose. Who do they serve within this society? Are they ‘one size fits all’, or are there different models for different tasks? What will their own journey be?
Serve us, or enslave us, they make for a good plot point as an analogy for ‘the other’ within the steampunk genre.
We return to a much-loved character trope from wider fiction, the stereotypical mad scientist character who appears unruly, remarkably eccentric, and conducts a vast array of experiments. Whether it be donning a lab coat or picking up a wench to tighten a cog, they can do it all – and more!
These characters often form the crux of the plotline by enabling the hero to adventure, or by forcing them to fix the scientist’s antagonistic act. The BBC published an insight into this trope and its connection to a hero’s journey, alongside their series on Jules Verne adaptations.
Good or evil? These characters can be aligned to any, or no, moral compass. They frequently exist on the fringes of society, experimenting for the greater good or a malicious evil. They usually bridge the world of alchemy and traditional science to investigate a new realm of advancement (looking at you Professor Loosetrife!).
In this alternate reality, cogs, machines, and steam power are the dominant technology over electricity/cyber tech. Their inner workings are often on show as the mechanical is seen as beautiful. Grand and intricate overdesigns are common place in even the most mundane of objects.
Steamships and airships (also called dirigibles, which is honestly just a fun word to say out loud) have become the norm as air travel becomes the main form of transport. Influenced by the Wild West and travel narratives, the sky is the final frontier where anything is possible for the right adventurer. They must take care and watch out as sky pirates, bandits, and thieves frequent these lawless altitudes.
This is a core trope of steampunk fiction that exemplifies the beauty of the genre. You can’t have a steampunk novel without some cogs and machines popping up somewhere. It forms a vital part of the aesthetic and reader recognition of the genre. Although you could technically write a steampunk novel without them, it would leave the story pretty lacklustre!
From The Golden Compass to an episode of Doctor Who, steampunk travel aesthetics are embedded into our psyche whether we know it or not. Speaking of cogs, it would criminal not to mention H. G. Wells whose unnamed Time Traveller builds a time machine which perfectly epitomises the beauty and overdesign of steampunk mechanics.
Wait, really?
Yes! Steampunk often overlaps into high fantasy, including characters with magical powers or psychic abilities.
What do magic and machines have in common? They both offer us an alternate version of reality, one where we can explore the world, our dreams, and fears outside the constraints of our modern society.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”
– Arthur C. Clarke
The necromancy of Teltö Phuul perfectly encapsulates this, showing the darkness of the Viiminian Empire and the machinations that lay beneath.
And of course, from an historical standpoint, the Victorians were absolutely enamoured with the occult – from trying to contact the dead, to… snorting mummy remains.
When it comes to world-building, magic can help to ‘round out’ a steampunk story. From enchanted machinery, co-existing magical races, and powerful mages; magic can add depth and nuance to cold contraptions and gadgets.
A potential drawback of magical tropes in this genre usually comes from its overreliance, which can reduce the wonder of the steampunk aesthetic.
The steampunk aesthetic is heavily inspired by the Victorian era, and its fiction usually takes place in an alternative version of this era (that is, one that’s not factually accurate and diverges from historical truth).
Their world can be summed up as consisting of flight goggles, brass metal cogs, and dark tones (big dark academia energy here). They are dressed to the nines but ready for adventure in the flick of a switch, or should I say cog.
We see the world as the Victorians may have imagined their future, as anachronistic technology and futuristic mechanisms are very much at the forefront of steampunk world-building.
However, there are important differences to note. The society within steampunk fiction is typically more inclusive and progressive than that of the Victorian era. Women, people of colour, and LGBTQIA+ folk are often portrayed as of equal standing to the typical patriarchal norms.
Steampunk protagonists are often part of a rags-to-riches story (or at least, a ‘rags-to-comfortable’ one). The protagonist is often from the lowest of the low, with a tragic backstory to boot. Within the confines of rigid class structures, brought over from the Victorian era, we follow their struggle in a world that does not care for the everyday folk.
This class structure is heavily intertwined with the economic structure. The rich are constantly getting richer and the poor, who often own nothing more than the clothes on their back, need to fight harder to simply keep what they have.
As a literary trope, class is something all folks can relate to as it permeates cultural boundaries. No matter where you’re from in the world, class will affect your life in some respect (thanks, capitalism).
Our very own Alan Shaw, a London street orphan, shows us this trope as he battles to find his place in an Empire that sees him as a resource to be exploited.
Literary tropes are the fundamental building-blocks for any genre. They provide familiar stepping stones for the author and help to ground reader expectations.
For writers, these tropes must be used sparingly and with intent. Ask yourself, ‘so what?’, ‘what does this achieve?’
Steampunk is meant to break the mould and explore the unexplored, so use these tropes, but don’t let them hold you back if you want to experiment.
This post was written by Tom Grover.
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