The Steampunk User's Manual: An Illustrated Practical and Whimsical Guide to Creating Retro-futurist Dreams

by Jeff VanderMeer, Desirina Boskovich

Overview

This comprehensive guide to Steampunk creations of all kinds offers inspiration and practical tips for bringing your own retro-futuristic visions to life.

Whether you’re a newbie to the world of Steampunk, or a long-time enthusiast of airships, goggles, and mad scientists, The Steampunk User’s Manual is essential reading. The popular subgenre of science fiction has grown into a cultural movement; one that invites fans to let their imaginations go wild.

In this volume, Jeff VanderMeer—the renowned expert in all things Steampunk—presents practical and inspirational guidance for finding your own path into this realm. Including sections on art, fashion, architecture, crafts, music, performance, and storytelling, The Steampunk User's Manual provides a conceptual how-to guide on everything from the utterly doable to the completely over-the-top.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419708985
Publisher:	Abrams Image
Publication date:	10/07/2014
Edition description:	Illustrate
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Jeff VanderMeer is the New York Times–bestselling author of more than 20 books including novels and fiction anthologies. He has won the Nebula Award, the British Fantasy Award, and, three times, the World Fantasy Award and has been a finalist for the Hugo Award. He is the cofounder and assistant director of Shared Worlds, a unique fantasy and science fiction writing camp for teenagers. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida.

Editorial Reviews

This is the follow-on companion volume to The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature. . . . Abrams is publishing this one, too, and it looks to be just as wonderfully produced and presented.

SF Signal

VanderMeer and co-editor Desirina Boskovich have packed their book with hands-on exercises and practical tips to help readers—steampunk fanatics and utter newbies alike—be more than passive consumers.

Entertainment Weekly

11/15/2014
Sf author VanderMeer's first comprehensive work on steampunk, The Steampunk Bible, focused on the subgenre's culture, from its history and technology to the art, fashion, and music that is associated with the category. This new volume, with coauthor Boskovich (contributor to The Steampunk Bible), covers the same variety but this time emphasizes the creative aspect of the field by providing ample information for the DIY crowd. Detailed plans for producing many of the artifacts identified with steampunk are generously illustrated with colorful, voluminous photos of resourceful art and paraphernalia. Five chapters offer directions and advice for the aspiring steampunk artist, fashion designer, musician and performer, and/or potential author. Each section provides examples of professional work and guidance on how to enhance your flair for the genus. VERDICT Though the covers and layout of both titles are very alike, this volume adds to the earlier one with its concentration on the DIY audience. With an easy-to-browse format and an index for handy reference, this title will work in either the circulating or the reference collection.—Deb West, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA

Library Journal