10 Best Steampunk Books

10 Best Steampunk Books To Read Now

Steampunk is a futuristic subgenre of sci-fi or science fantasies that combines innovation and stylish structures stimulated by nineteenth-century mechanical steam-controlled machinery.

Steampunk is a difficult subgenre to assess because the decision to categorize a novel as a steampunk sometimes identifies with aesthetics and can be unrelated to the general plot or theme of the novel. Therefore, various steampunk books conform to different genres also, for example, steampunk-romantic, steampunk-adventurous, steampunk-suspense, dark-steampunk, etc.

Thus, when picking novels for this listing, we tried to examine every side of the steampunk by displaying a variety of novels with fluctuating styles, unique plots, and distinct themes. So we hope you like the listing and find it useful. Let’s start reading to see what steampunk stories you like!

The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson – Best Post-cyberpunk

The Diamond Age is actually a futuristic novel and hence, likely to be categorized as post-cyberpunk, but it occurs in the neo-Victorian culture and comprises numerous components related to steampunk. In the Diamond Age, the “Primer” is an amazing novel planned to teach highborn girls only. But, what will happen if the “Primer” (which is only to be revealed to its focused audience) discovers its way to a corner boy living in the city’s slum?

The winner of the Hugo along with the Locus award, The Diamond Age is truly recommended reading for science fiction fans and a must for the individuals looking for a comprehensive steampunk “knowledge.”

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson – Best Psychological Thriller

You might feel that this story is predictable, yet while it was being published, the novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was a unique and new storyline for that era. It utilizes the dreadful wrongdoings by Jack the Ripper novel (which was really taking place at that point) successfully, making the solid case of the analogy of a typical, virtuoso man who changes into a beast at midnight. Woah, how amazing it would be to read about a normal guy changing into a wild creature at night!

The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger – Best Paranormal Romance

In spite of the fact that it appears that the steampunk is typically dominated by males, Gail Carriger slays this myth with her sequential novel named The Parasol Protectorate. This novel is a parody introduced in Victorian London, however, among werewolves and vampires. The hero, who is a girl in this series does not have a soul, and she shatters social etiquettes by taking revenge on a vampire’s discourteous assault on her… causing an imbalance into everything around her.

Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich And Strange Stories edited by Kelly Pink – Best Fantasy Fiction

This series incorporates 14 YA steampunk brief stories set far and wide and in different chronicled settings. It comprises everything, such as vampires, polar bears, along with the “fundamental stuff that no prideful steampunk collection can be without” similar to gaslit lanes and steam-fueled machinery. It likewise highlights such compelling writers like Philip Pullman, Cherie Priest, and Jeff & Ann Vandermeer. Now, who would miss this power-packed fantasy fiction? We know, we won’t and you shouldn’t either.

Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa – Best Adventure Fiction

Set through the European Industrial Revolution, this realistic novel accompanies 2 alchemist brothers. They don’t, in any case, comprehend the full depth of alchemy, and they cannot breathe new life into their mom. In truth, they cut off numerous limbs throughout the procedure, which they supplant with alloy prosthetics, hence, turning out to be Fullmetal alchemists since they look for the philosopher’s stone to attempt once more. This book is all about fighting to protect the ones you love, even when you are hopeless. Fullmetal Alchemist is a novel filled with adrenaline-fueled scenes with exciting links and creative use of unique skills.

The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark – Best Alternate History

This tale happens in a Civil War–time New Orleans, and there, the hero of the book hears the sounds of Oya, an African deity of wind and rain. She yearns to take to the skies, and she, in the end, embarks on an airplane to experience Haitian pirates. (If this doesn’t excite you, we do not know what will).

The Steampunk Bible by Jeff Vandermeer – Best Contemporary Fantasy

This novel is a manual following the whole story of the steampunk — for more knowledge on the originators, growth, and in general, steampunk’s aesthetic, this novel is the only one. Also, it’s pictorial, and the aesthetic of the steampunk is a huge part of its attraction! You will fall in love with this book’s captions and illustrated art that truly depicts the Steampunk in the right manner.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman – Best Graphic Novel

A famous fantasy story, The Golden Compass has gotten loads of critical appraisal. This book is viewed as a contemporary fantasy classic, just as Lord of the Rings plus the Chronicles of Narnia. The Golden Compass has many components of steampunk: fanciful mechanical gadgets operated by marveling energy, excellent aircraft, and the nineteenth-century British context. You will also find enchanted animals, parallel universes, and talking creatures to this combination. If you have not still read this novel, it’s a disgrace because you are missing onto one of the best things ever!

I also strongly recommend here to watch the movie, it is very beautifully made.

Bone Song by John Meaney – Best Horror/Urban Fantasy

All praise to the writer for his extraordinary creative mind behind this book. There is a great deal of Blade-Runner-esque noir biopunk features to this plot with a ton of gothic included. Interweaved in the story are werewolves, vampires, and a city run by the dead; you have the background for a fascinating story. Think crime novel addresses Blade Runner addresses The Dresden Files. The bone song has got everything you need: horror, cops, sci-fi, crime, fantasy, and a love story with a bit of dark. It’s the story you won’t forget for a long time!

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers – Best Time Travel Fiction

The Anubis Gates is the steampunk classic that seems more fantasy compared to science fiction, yet it contains time travel and acquired the Philip K. Dick award in the year 1984, and this reason is enough for you to get to reading this novel.

The book includes an old Egyptian magician, a new millionaire, a body-transforming werewolf, an awfully disfigured clown, a youthful lady impersonated as a guy, an indoctrinated Lord Byron, and lastly, the hero Professor Brendan Doyle, who did not need any of this nonsense. But after reading this novel, you will realize this totally is a cracking read.

The novels mentioned-above are in no way, shape, or form a comprehensive rundown of one of a kind steampunk books as the list goes on and on, however, they’re a decent beginning to something creative.

A Steamy Steampunk Cruise by Marina Peters – Out of competition

By request of a good friend of mine (Marina Peters), I do a bit of advertising for her short novel here. It is a short entertaining story about Monica Jackson, an Audit Manager, assigned to an audit engagement on a Steampunk Cruise! And, ah, well, it is a somewhat hot cruise as the book falls into the category of erotic romance … But there is also a (mild) crime story thread in there. Hope, you enjoy it. It is free with Kindle Unlimited.

Now that you have got the list from me at Steampunkit.net, start reading to become a member of the Steampunk Book readers community!