worldbuilding: steampunk edition. the past with a sprinkle of futurism.

I've always found Steampunk to be one of the coolest aesthetics, even before I found the subgenre itself in amongst the hundreds of books I hoarded as a child. The concept of golden and rusted machinery somehow seeping its way into every aspect of life, and more specifically the fashion, was enthralling. Though, it seems rather redundant, because fashion doesn't need to be infused with any kind of energy. But it's definitely just a cool style. I think it's possibly one of my main influences when I eventually found my way onto the gothic scene, literature and all aspects otherwise. But, I am beside the point.

Steampunk is undeniably cool. Originally, it did start off as a response, or arguably a teasing mockery, to Cyberpunk. The 80s was full of Cyberpunk influences, what with the deepening paranoia around technology and an ever more self-aware society. We were just beginning to grasp the idea that maybe it isn't just 'life' being unfair - maybe the reason lies in people and the those we give power. But, it was a pretty saturating genre at the time, and the name 'Steampunk' was simply mentioned as a response and ended up sticking, hence the 'punk', despite the genre's significantly more redundant use of 'punk' societies. It's more just 'Steam', but you can't really shorten it now because you'd lose track of it amongst all the PC games. Goth cultures have happily adopted it into their own radical movements, though, so it's nice to see the whole name is becoming more fitting as time flies by.

Its first influences lie in Mary Shelly, you'll be surprised to learn - mostly in the whole futuristic monster with gothic notes, set in the past of our future. She fit the genre quite well, even if she didn't know it at the time. And then came K. W. Jeter to actually coin the name and officiate it as a valid subgenre. And the widely accepted quote to really dig into the depths of what Steampunk represents: "how different the past might've been had the future come sooner." Essentially, the basis of this aesthetic is a world powered by primarily steam power, and somewhere that gas and electric hadn't become mainstream. The results being more air travel (bless the hot-air balloons) and more retro machinery. But, steam power doesn't hold the world back - no, it's more like what would happen if Victorians or American Cowboys looked a little bit more mechanical and also had access to technology as advanced as our own. I think the concept is unique, and it's incredibly interesting how quickly creatives picked up what it offered to infuse into their works.

I think it's one of my favourite genres, but I won't lie that it does make my eye twitch a little when a creative piece within this genre doesn't include exactly how the planet hasn't crippled itself yet. Resources aren't exactly long-lasting for this type of energy, so even if it's unrealistic, a nice reason to add a little bow on top of the cake would be much appreciated. Add alternate universes or other planets for resource harvesting if need be. Just a fun reason, you know?

Anyway, I like this genre enough that I occasionally dabble in a little bit of worldbuilding for various short stories. And, over time, I've altered my foundation worldbuilding questions to include references, or additional questions, directed at the specifics of the genre that are easy to overlook. Such as a reason why the world hasn't cracked under the pressure of excessive steam power. Or what the fashion differences between classes would look like. Or if gas and electric were even invented! Maybe they just didn't manage to make it to mainstream use. Or maybe most members of society are too poor to afford the use of more effective and (mildly) more planetary friendly energy sources. Okay, I'm going on a tangent.

I'm giving these resources to you! Use them well. As I said last week, these questions are quite within the boundaries of Steampunk, so any crossing of those boundaries is down to you. Play around with it! That's what writing is for.

Come back next week if you're curious about the next feature in my worldbuilding series: Solarpunk.

steampunk questions

energy & tech

1. An identifier of this genre is the mainstream use of steam power. Can you think of the major impacts it’s had on technology and inventions? E.g. flying machines, analog computing systems, rayguns (all stereotypical technology found in the steampunk genre).

2. We’re used to gas and electric in our homes. Can you detail a whole day in the life of someone living in a common household in your world. For example, if they cook breakfast, what are the steps they’d take with steam power?

3. Steam power is a mainstream and prevalent source of power. However, is there use of other power sources despite this?

4. How has the widespread use of steam power impacted the world (e.g. environmental issues)?

5. How has technology impacted people?

6. What are the ten most common buildings in your world? Machine shops, laboratories, etc.

7. How technologically advanced in your world? Can you think of any good examples to demonstrate it?

healthcare & children

8. How are children born? Are they made organically?

9. If made organically, what’s the severity of the risk that carrying a child brings?

10. Is raising children common?

11. What do people do if they need healthcare?

12. What healthcare system is in place? Does it benefit anyone? Does it disadvantage anyone?

13. Are there any prevalent health issues?

14. What are the more common illnesses?

15. Are fatal illnesses easily cured?

16. Are there any illnesses that come as a result of the world you have created? E.g., new, or more prevalent, cancers.

17. Victorian elements are a defining trope in steampunk. One of these big tropes in laboratories and whatever could be done within them. Do they have a place in your world?

18. If so, how would this impact health services?

environment & travel

19. Are there any weird environmental occurrences?

20. What is the weather like?

21. Are people impacted by the weather? How much of your cities or public areas outdoors?

22. How do people use the environment to their benefit? If there are rich soils, do people grow their own food?

23. If people grow/make their own food, how much of it belongs to the one who made it?

24. Any accessible natural resources?

25. What about animals?

26. What are the most common animals?

27. Has the environmental impact of steam power impacted animals in any way? E.g., mutations, extinctions leading to meat scarcity.

28. What do people eat?

29. Is water accessible?

30. Is animal meat a common part of meals? If so, where does it come from?

31. What is the most accessible type of food?

32. How do people travel? What systems and forms of travel are in place? What are some of the more accessible forms of travel?

33. Is air travel prominent? E.g., air balloons and airships.

34. How does this impact the environment?

35. Due to the high level of resources required to run a world on steam power for an extended period of time, resources would run out quite quickly. How does your world deal with this? Do they?

36. What about the damage it would cause to the planet? Is there a system in place to rejuvenate it?

society & economics

37. Traditionally, Victorian or American Wild West tropes are pulled heavily into this genre, yet futurism is a contradictory, but essential element of this genre. How does that life meet futurism in your world? For example, the Victorian conspiracist and superstitious mindset of the past with the knowledge of the future? Or the Wild West relevancy of 'cowboy' types over time?

38. What is the most common form of currency?

39. What kind of society is your world defined by? Capitalism? Socialism?

40. What are the most valuable resources?

41. What’s the easiest way for someone to make money?

42. Is education accessible?

43. Does education bring any promise of wealth?

44. Are the arts valued equally to labour and sciences?

45. Is fashion highly valued? How does clothing range from class-to-class.

46. Is fashion a typical symbol of status?

47. How practical is clothing?

48. Does it differentiate between genders?

49. What’s the day-to-day life of an average low-class citizen look like? Walk through, hour by hour.

50. What’s the day-to-day life of an average high-class citizen look like? Walk through, hour by hour.

51. Are there any prominent benefits that come with being a specific class? E.g., better healthcare, access to certain areas….

52. What about the gender divide?

53. Is gender able to be a fluid factor in identity, or socially static?

54. How prominent is the class divide?

55. How do these classes interact within shared spaces?

56. Is it easy to float between classes?

57. Are there any phrases/actions that would be considered rude/endearing to different people?

58. Who are the most important people to society?

59. What are the most notable forms of systemic inequality? Race? Class?

60. Is the most common form of travel accessible to lower classes? What class dominates it?

61. Are there any common forms of religion?

62. Are there any common conspiracies? Do they impact society in any way?

63. Are holidays celebrated?

64. Is there anything unusual that people are prohibited from doing until a certain age?

< 94% baked >