The Steampunk User’s Manual is a beautifully-designed and well-written book, and it’s got so much eye-candy that you’ll be forgiven for ignoring the text initially and just thumbing through all 250+ pages to stare at all the wonder. While there are actual hands-on projects you can follow, I believe what you’ll find most useful are the six sections that are consistent across all chapters, with headers such as “Past and Future: Steering Clear of Clichés,” “Finding Inspiration: Where Do You Get Your Ideas?” and “Seven Pieces of Advice.” If you’re like me, you’ll quickly find your favorite section - mine is “The Working Process” that offers up very personal looks at steampunk makers, writers, and artisans and how they make stuff happen. If you’re looking for instructions on making a pair of goggles and where to buy a suitable vest, this isn’t that book. The book is broken into five chapters:Ĭhapter 2: Steampunk Design: Fashion, Architecture, and InteriorsĬhapter 4: Steampunk Music and PerformanceĬhapter 5: Retro-Future Fantasies and Steampunk DreamsĮach chapter focuses on its title concept(s) and with discussions focusing on the actual hands-on activities and planning involved. There are interviews with all sorts of individuals who not only work and play in a steam-driven world, but who also continue to push the genre in new and unique directions. Whether you’re considering writing a novel, painting a landscape, sewing up a vest, or casting some jewelry, the book opens by suggesting a four-part creative process to keep in mind as you explore the rest of the book. Whereas The Steampunk Bible attempted to explore as many aspects of steampunk as possible, The Steampunk User’s Guide is all about offering advice to artists, writers, musicians, and anyone else desiring to live and/or create (re-create?) in this fictional Victorian-esque world. As with its predecessor, this full-color hardback reference provides dozens and dozens of essays, photos, interviews, and more… but this time around with a slightly different intention.

Jump forward three years, and Jeff VanderMeer has returned along with Desirina Boskovich (a fellow Atlanta resident!) to offer up a sequel of sorts - The Steampunk User’s Manual.

Chambers, it’s one of those reference books that all steampunk fans should have on a shelf. Back in 2011, The Steampunk Bible provided an “illustrated guide to the world of imaginary airships, corsets and goggles, mad scientists, and strange literature.” It was one of the more comprehensive books that tried to tackle the larger definition of the steampunk movement, and I’ve actually loaned it out to a few folks who responded that it really helped them understand the lifestyle, music, art, and literature associated with the word steampunk.

Steampunk users manual