1. Steam punk’s genre and influences
Steam punk is a genre of science fiction that features the use of
steam-powered mechanics. There influence in this genre comes
from the 19th century scientific romances of Jules Verne and H.G.
Wells.
This genre is steampunk clothing and is based off of the Victorian
era style mixed with the steam powered mechanics
The term steampunk was first coined in 1987 by author K.W. Jeter
and was used to describe a genre of speculative fiction in which
steam, not electricity, drove technological advancements.
Steampunk, however, draws on history, first appearing in the
1800s in the scientific romances of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells.
This style is based off of the steampunk weaponry which is seen
on games such as bioshock infinite and uses steam to power the
mechanisms which make it fire
Take place in the Victorian era but include advanced
machines based on 19th century technology (e.g. The
Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce
Sterling);

2. Include the supernatural as well (e.g. The Parasol
Protectorate by Gail Carriger);
Include the supernatural and forego the technology
(e.g. The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers, one of the
works that inspired the term ‘steampunk’);
Include the advanced machines, but
take place later than the Victorian period, thereby
assuming that the predomination by electricity
and petroleum never happens (e.g. The Peshawar
Lancers by S. M. Sterling); or
Take place in an another world
altogether, but featuring Victorian-like technology
(e.g. Mainspring by Jay Lake).
And it isn’t just written fiction anymore. There
are steampunk games (e.g. Bioshock II),
steampunk graphic novels (e.g. League of Extraordinary
Gentlemen), and even steampunk movies (e.g. Sherlock
Holmes) and TV shows (e.g. Warehouse 13). There is even
steampunk music and steampunk performance art.