Steampunk books
Steampunk books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
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New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
The Difference Engine
Bruce SterlingA seminal alternate history where Charles Babbage successfully built mechanical computers, accelerating the information age into Victorian Britain.
Leviathan
Scott WesterfeldAn alternate World War I novel contrasting mechanized steam walkers against genetically fabricated airship beasts.
Boneshaker
Cherie PriestA Civil War-era Seattle story featuring drilling machines, toxic gas, airships, and early American steampunk conventions.
Perdido Street Station
China MiévilleA dense urban fantasy utilizing industrial steam power and thaumaturgical science in the city of New Crobuzon.
Soulless
Gail CarrigerA comedy of manners that integrates steampunk engineering with vampires, werewolves, and Victorian social etiquette.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
More steampunk books
- The Anubis Gates
The Anubis GatesTim Powers - Morlock Night
Morlock NightK. W. Jeter - Homunculus
HomunculusJames P. Blaylock - The Warlord of the Air
The Warlord of the AirMichael Moorcock - Mortal Engines
Mortal EnginesPhilip Reeve - Everfair
EverfairNisi Shawl - The Black God's Drums
The Black God's DrumsP. Djèlí Clark - The Diamond Age
The Diamond AgeNeal Stephenson - Lady Mechanika Volume 2
Lady Mechanika Volume 2M. M. Chen2016 - The Austere Academy
The Austere AcademyLemony Snicket2000 - The Slippery Slope
The Slippery SlopeLemony Snicket2003 - The Goblin Emperor
The Goblin EmperorSarah Monette2014