The utmost thought on my mind today
The London weather is not helping with our damp basement problem. A horrid thunder storm, then a long bout of hard rain? Gah.
An Awesome Prophet I Am Not: Steampunk Romance
Roughly two years ago on Twitter, I had a discussion with some readers, speculating what would be the next biggest trend for the Romance genre. I guessed Western romance. Of course, I was hoping Steampunk romance would take off, but I felt I was realistic enough to realise there would be some resistance.
Turned out I was right and wrong.
I was wrong to guess that Steampunk romance wouldn’t take off that much and I was also wrong about the return of Western romance. Western romance did return, but as Steampunk romance. That’s the only thing that made me right. Well, right-ish.
I totally didn’t see that coming. I didn’t even consider the possibility of combinging Western setting and steampunk, or that it’d make a strong breakthrough.
Steampunk western is actually part of the sci-fi western (think Westworld), a sub-genre of the Weird West. I like to think that’s the reason why I totally didn’t see Western steampunk romance coming. 
Yeah yeah, it came in at 180 degree from my sight of steampunk romance!
At the rate it’s going, it’s possible that Steampunk romance will become a sub-genre in its own right, which could mean more flexibility for authors and readers who might enjoy historical romance that aren’t tied to reality. Especially where racial, class (somewhat) and other social issues are concerned.
For example: While historical accuracy is still required, such as social mores, technology and historical details, there is a lot more flexibility with people of different ethnicities. I’m not sure why authors are still not taking advantage of this, though.
Anyroad, back to the idea of having it as a sub-genre. It could have its range of different types, such as:
- Victorian Gaslight fantasy romance (like what a wallpaper historical is to historical romance)
- Victorian (British Empire including other countries)
- American / Asian / African / South American / etc.
- Fantasy romance with magic instead of steam
It’s a revisionist’s wet dream, basically. It goes where historical fiction and science fiction can’t go. By that, I mean historical fiction authors can’t mess with technology and science fiction writers can’t mess with the past, or indeed vice versa. Of course, it’ll not be the dominant genre, but who knows? Vampire romance was, after all, one time a niche.
It does generate a new set of dilemmas, but first:
What caught my attention so far are these. The gun in the cowboy’s paws on the Hunter cover unnerves me a bit because it seems more futuristic than a retro take on 19th-century technology. The horse looks awesome, though. I don’t like the Journeyman cover. I was surprised when I discovered it’s a Carina Press cover.
Dorchester publishing
Samhain publishing
Carina Press
Agh. I was going to write some more about the current state of steampunk romance, but the youngest mite just woke up. Will post this now, anyhow.