So after reading this week's blog posts, it seems that everyone enjoyed both Boneshaker and Dreadnought more than some of the past assigned books. I think there must be something about the steampunk genre that has a universal appeal. Whenever I see something on the internet about steampunk, it is usually highly praised whether it is a story, game, or cosplay photo. Is it because this is how people wish the late 1800s were or something? It seems like such a specific niche of science fiction wouldn't have that big of a following, but everyone I know who is into any sort of fantasy or sci-fi is also a fan of steampunk.
So what is it about the steampunk world that you guys enjoy the most? Is it the brass machinery and goggles and clothing styles or the alternate 1800s setting? I enjoy steampunk too, but I am just trying to figure out why this genre appeals to such a broad audience.
Maybe since steampunk has multiple elements, it can appeal to a broad range of people who are initially interested by a certain aspect like the clothing, setting, or technology. Personally, I like the history, especially when an author can incorporate real people or events and reimagine them.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I like the mix of technology. My sister dabbled a bit in fiction writing a couple of years ago and the story I enjoyed the most was in a world where the Roman Empire never collapsed. The story had an incredibly diverse technology spread ranging from cell phones to the primary mode of transport being horseback! Likewise I think what draws me to steampunk is the fact that we can have a story where to giant humanoid machines are fighting it out while a train shoots down a hot air balloon.... in the Civil War.
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