The Steampunk Bible by Jeff VanderMeer

"Wonderful essays on everything steampunk, written by well-known names in the movement who are living steampunk every day" (Wired.com).
Steampunk-a grafting of Victorian aesthetic and punk rock attitude onto various forms of science-fiction culture-is a phenomenon that has come to influence film, literature, art, music, fashion, and more. The Steampunk Bible is the first compendium about the movement, tracing its roots in the works of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells through its most recent expression in movies such as Sherlock Holmes. Its adherents celebrate the inventor as an artist and hero, re-envisioning and crafting retro technologies including antiquated airships and robots. A burgeoning DIY community has brought a distinctive Victorian-fantasy style to their crafts and art. Steampunk evokes a sense of adventure and discovery, and embraces extinct technologies as a way of talking about the future. This ultimate manual will appeal to aficionados and novices alike as author Jeff VanderMeer takes the reader on a wild ride through the clockwork corridors of Steampunk history.
Praise for The Steampunk Bible
"An informed, informative and beautifully illustrated survey of the subject." -The Financial Times
"The Steampunk Bible is far and away the most intriguing catalog of all things steam yet written." -The Austin Chronicle