The Art of Steampunk: Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contraptions from the Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement

The Art of Steampunk: Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contraptions from the Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement

by
4.18 of 5 stars 4.18  ·  rating details  ·  169 ratings  ·  41 reviews
The Art of Steampunk seeks to celebrate the world of Steampunk: a world filled with beauty and innovation. A world in which steam power and technology intertwine to create machines that are not only functional and practical, but unique and striking.

Inside, you will find the fantastical and stunning artwork of Steampunk artists from around the world. The 17 artists featur...more
Paperback, 128 pages
Published August 1st 2011 by Fox Chapel Publishing

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
Soulless by Gail CarrigerLeviathan by Scott WesterfeldBoneshaker by Cherie PriestPerdido Street Station by China MiévilleThe Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Best Steampunk Books
139th out of 471 books — 2,481 voters
Soulless by Gail CarrigerPhoenix Rising by Philippa BallantineThe Last Adventure of Dr. Yngve Hogalum by D.L. MackenzieSpring-heeled Jack and the President's Ring by D.L. MackenzieChangeless by Gail Carriger
Steampunk
60th out of 211 books — 475 voters


More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 603)
filter  |  sort: default (?)  |  rating details
Rae
Over the years, I’ve noticed that being an artist myself has tended to make me a bit more of a picky reader when it comes to art books. I hold these books to a much higher standard, and not all of them rise to those expectations, so when I say that “The Art of Steampunk” is an excellent art book, I mean fantastic!

“The Art of Steampunk” is a way for those that couldn’t see the steampunk exhibit at the Museum of History of Science in Oxford, England to experience the amazing collection of steam...more
Jodi
This book is gorgeous. I love just about everything in it, all the work is of such a high quality. My favourites hands down are the beautiful laptop computers though...I want one so so much. True genius!

You can see it here too:

http://www.datamancer.net/steampunkla...

Steven Brown
"If upon viewing a piece one does not ask, 'Does that actually work?' then Williford considers the piece a failure"

This clear, crisp, and colorful catalog of an exhibit at the Oxford University's Museum of Science offers items from the quirky "does that actually work" end of the spectrum to that of the expensive art object. I find too much of the latter in the exhibit, but they're all worth a look. I suppose I associate the steampunk movement too much with homemade assemblages, rather than obvi...more
Steven R. McEvoy
This book grew out of the exhibit that ran at the Museum of the History of Science at the University of Oxford, UK. It features the art and creations from 17 different artists. This book celebrates the variety, creativity and uniqueness of Steampunk. It brings to life creations from moves like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and from books by authors like Cassandra Clare, Arthur Slade and many more.

Artists Featured:
Tom Banwell
Art Donovan
Molly "Prokshanks" Friedrich
Kris Kuksi
Rich Nagy "Data...more
Deborah
Pages: 128
Genre: Art Exhibit

The Dame's Review:

Steampunk by its very conception was meant to be quirky and odd-placed, not-of-this timeframe; actually, quite disarranged. In this collection of museum-exhibited pieces of steampunkery (if that's even a word)we find a daunting group of work from artists of all minds and capabilities. I found this book both charming and awe-inspiring. I could look at it over and over for ages.

Art Donovan, the man who coordinated the exhibit and compiled the works in...more
Charla Wilson
The Art of Steampunk is rooted in the Aesthetics of Victorian Technology. Steampunk can be described as Victorian Sci fi because authors such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells opened peoples imaginations like no one else had ever done before. But, it was not until the late 1980's that it got the name, "Steampunk". The term was used by K.W. Jeter during the Cyberpunk era to describe the stories written during the Victorian period, and it has stuck ever since.


This Victorian period and the writing tha...more
Jasmine
(I am classifying this as british because the exhibition was at oxford and lets give props where they are due)

being the traitor I am I bought this at st. marks books last night and the guy at the cashier actually started talking to me about his nerdiness, I assume based on my nerdiness.

Well this book is about the importance of the prominence of the object. in a modern time everything is sleek and streamlined and the same (except apple which has suddenly decided to make things bigger, weird I kn...more
Alex
Review is based on an electronic viewing
Overall
A beautiful introduction to the world of steampunk, with nice art, limited text and good, basic information. While not ideal for someone already deeply in the world of steampunk, this book will definitely give some ideas to the beginning dabbler, as well as explain some of the history and concepts behind streampunk. A visually appealing work, this definitely would be worth having sitting on the coffee table. If nothing else, it will strike up conver...more
Katja
http://netgalleybookaddict.blogspot.c...

This was the first book I received through netGalley, and this review is a bit overdue.

The Art of Steampunk is a collection of detailed, sharp images of engrossing steampunk devices and trinkets. It's a great cavalcade to watch and I devoured the book rather quickly even though I only saw it on my computer screen. NetGalley won't do justice for this book – I really hoped I would have had a hardcover or paperback version of it. I also downloaded it into my...more
Joe Young
This is an interesting Art Book that catalogs the pieces that were on display and sketches their creators and their involvement in the movement. They were on exhibit at Oxford University's museum of the History of Science Oct. 2009 - Feb. 2010. The art in this book is tastefully displayed with care to highlight the unique qualities that elicited their inclusion in the exhibit. The artists are from the international scene and include a wide assortment of backgrounds and education. Their one commo...more
Margaret Mcgaffey
If you have any interest in the Steampunk movement, you will probably have heard of the London exhibit that brought together Steampunk artists from all over the world. Art Donovan was the curator of that exhibit, and this tabletop book is a glimpse into the artwork and the artists from that presentation.

Steampunk is an odd combination of literature and an esthetic. It’s the design and costuming that is demonstrated through these images. However, the influence of both the Victorian Age and Steamp...more
Heather
The Art of Steampunk by Art Donovan (August 2011, Fox Chapel Publishing) is a window into a wonderfully creative genre of art today—steampunk. This genre includes clocks and sculpture, costumes, jewelry and artifacts, technology and weaponry, sometimes for use, sometimes to decorate an imaginary landscape or character. Interest in steampunk is growing in the entertainment world and it’s not hard to see why when you view the output of the visionary minds focusing here.

The artist author curated an...more
Bibliotropic
I want to rate this book higher, I really do. There are so many things to like about this artbook, even once you move beyond the awesome idea that somebody did an artbook full of steampunk-inspired creations. The pictures are sharp and clear and quite beautiful, very inspirational. There's good information about what steampunk is, its origins, why it's gaining in popularity. The spotlights on various designers and their inspirations is really cool to see.

However (and there's always a however), t...more
Rachel
I got the book as an advanced copy from Netgalley.

This book is the result of a Steampunk exhibition at Oxford University's Museum of the History of Science, which ran from October 2009 - Feb 2010, and was curated by the author (who also designs Steampunk light fixtures). While the exhibit focused on the Steampunk art and the artists that created them, it also featured "original Victorian and Edwardian instruments and machines that exemplified the roots of Steampunk art" (pg 19). Despite the pop...more
Tahlia Newland
Steampunk novels are hitting our shelves in big numbers these days and many are wondering what Steampunk actually is and where it comes from. This book on the art of Steampunk will fill you in on such details and provide you with delightful visions to help flesh out your imagination when you read a Steampunk novel. From whimsical to elegant, I loved all the artworks in this book. It made me wish I’d never thrown away the old valve radio my parents had and inspired me to seek out any cog in my wo...more
Kathryn
This book records the steampunk exhibit at Oxford University's Museum of the History of Science from October 2009 to February 2010. The highlight for me was the mechanical womb, though there were pieces featured which were much more beautiful and fantastical to look at. The womb idea just gives me a dash of the heebie jeebies, which I like.

Do people still leave out coffee-table books? If so, this would be an ideal coffee-table book. I loved every photo. The steampunk genre has been gaining a bi...more
Anna B
Release Date: August 1, 2011
Publisher: Fox Chapel

I received a copy of this book as a courtesy from the team at Fox Chapel after running into them at BEA2011 this past month in my professional capacity. I’m not sure they knew I was also a book blogger, but this one was too exciting not to talk about.

A fan of steampunk literature, I was immediately intrigued by the content. So used to building the worlds in my head, coupled together from snippets I’ve seen of Victorian technology and fashion, tidb...more
Lydia
The Art of Steampunk  Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contraptions from the Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement

Ever want to learn more about Steampunk, or more directly about different Steampunk artists? Have you look no further "The Art of Steampunk" by Art Donovan. This book showcases some of the most talented and gifted artists in the Steampunk world.

For those who do not know of Steampunk, it is basically a sub-genre of science-fiction set in the Victorian age.




Read more here.
Mscout
This book is more of a museum catalog than an actual text. It covers the eponymous exhibit at the Oxford University Museum of the History of Science that was held October 2009-February 2010.
Calling it a catalog does do something of a disservice. There are no fewer than three introductory-type chapters that explain the phenomena and philosophy of Steampunk (in somewhat repetitive fashion, alas). After that there are individual chapters on each of the artists, along with some highlights of their...more
Audrey
The world’s first exhibition of Steampunk art was held at The Museum of History of Science at the University of Oxford from October 2009 to February 2010. It was a success and drew large crowds of visitors to the museum. This catalog is the result of that exhibition, now in a form where it can be owned, admired, and instructive to those who were not able to make it to the actual event.

In The Art of Steampunk, Donovan attempts to give a summary definition of Steampunk in this catalog, which is me...more
Juli
This book is a visual feast of steampunk! The focus is on the gadgets, of course, and the different artists' approaches give both a terrific sense of the scope and variety within the genre/movement/what have you and some gorgeous specific examples. There s enough text to give overall context and to introduce each artist, but I appreciate how the work is allowed to speak for itself, without some imposed narrative or structure. Highly recommended for research or pure appreciation on the part of an...more
Tracey
If you've ever read steampunk fiction and wondered what the world you are reading about would look like then you may find this a lovely reference and a refreshing introduction to the culture of steampunk art.

You will not find much text to read in this book but the visual display of photographs from this collection of steampunk art from all around the world certainly makes up for it as it is stunning and enlightening.

For those that may that artistic bent to give this a go then you will find that...more
Kristina
originally posted:http://newborrowedused.blogspo...

My Thoughts: I liked the layout of this art book. The opening was very informative. It gives the history of the steampunk movement; from written words to artwork and fashion inspired by them. My favorite was the artist section. From the clocks, jewelry, and modern technology to the less practical(my 6 yr old asked if Dali had created one of the pieces) each piece brought you further into the world of steampunk. There is a bio and examples of all...more
Reena Jacobs
Aug 05, 2011 Reena Jacobs added it Recommends it for: Folks who like gadgety things.
Shelves: netgalley, 2011-reads
Rich in pictures and didn't look well on the Kindle. Since it was a NetGalley copy, I was able to view it in Adobe Digital Edition which wasn't bad other than being stuck in one place staring at the computer. I actually didn't read much of it, but rather cruised through the photos.

I didn't like the layout so much. The book seemed a bit disorganized at the beginning. Later it was sectioned by steampunk artist.

My mechanical knowledge is as such, I don't feel comfortable reviewing or rating this w...more
Alessandra Kelley
This book is really a catalogue for an art exhibit, called simply "Steampunk," at Oxford University's Museum of the History of Science from October 2009 through February 2010. Seventeen artists and the curator, Art Donovan, exhibited various devices, contraptions, and works of art. The director of the museum charmingly talks of how the exhibit gave visitors new appreciation for actual Victorian scientific devices in the collections.

The catalogue lists the eighteen artists and gives each one seve...more
Scarlett
Originally posted on my blog here.

I love the steampunk genre. Books, movies, pictures, costumes, I avidly follow it all. It was nice that someone took this rapidly expanding genre and compiled a book showing some of the creative things that people have done with this idea. The creations in this book were elegant and worth looking at. I saw an earlier version of the manuscript and the final version is incomparable. The backgrounds really help tie things together and give an overall elegant feel t...more
Stacey O'Neale
The Art of Steampunk seeks to celebrate the world of Steampunk: a world filled with beauty and innovation. A world in which steam power and technology intertwine to create machines that are not only functional and practical, but unique and striking.

Inside, you will find the fantastical and stunning artwork of Steampunk artists from around the world. The 17 artists featured on these pages, among the frontrunners of the Steampunk genre, have had their work displayed at an exhibition at The Museum...more
Karen
Before reading this book, I didn't know there was such a thing as Steampunk. I have seen Steampunk work in many movies, but didn't know that was what I was looking at. The idea of Steampunk it to take the Victorian time and put it into modern workings. This book not only explains Steampunk, but introduces those people that are creating this art form. The pictures are dramatic and captivating. If you have an appreciation for art, inventions, or science you will enjoy this book.
Kay
This is a picture book that nicely displays and also highlights the artists in what appeared to be a wonderful exhibit in Oxford. The pictures are the stars of this display and I enjoyed reading them. There's probably not a good way to do this--but the narrative was a bit dry although short. Such original artists were hardly what made it a bit dry. Despite this, it's thoroughly enjoyable. One can always skip the reading but it's interesting to see the artists' background, what inspired them, and...more
PopcornReads
This review is a departure from my novel reviews:

Examples of Steampunk that you’ve undoubtedly run across in movies include The Wild, Wild West, Brazil, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to name just a few. In literature, think of authors like H.G. Wells, Jules Vern, and Mary Shelly. Who didn’t love 20,000 Leagues under the Sea or Frankenstein? Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=1388
« previous 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 20 21 next »
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
The Art of Steampunk, Revised Second Edition: Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contraptions from the Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement Johnny Unitas: America's Quarterback

Share This Book

Your website