Alternative Romance discussion
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Sub-punk genres
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dieselpunk - This term, coined by game designers Lewis Pollak and Dan Ross for the roleplaying game Children of the Sun, denotes an Industrial Age civilization with futuristic petroleum-based technology. Dieselpunk has also been called “Teslapunk” when describing futuristic electrical technology in an Industrial Age civilization.
atomicpunk - An Atomic Age civilization where the Great Depression never occurred, and World War II remained a prolonged cold war.
transistorpunk - Denotes an exaggerated and glamorized Cold War era society. The ideals and fads of the 1960s prevail, while a countercultural movement moves forward governmental advancement. Transistorpunk has also been called “Psychedelipunk” or “Weedpunk” when describing the psychedelic drug-ridden elements of the society or hemp-based technologies.
squidpunk - Squidpunk is almost exclusively set at sea and must contain some reference to either cephalopods or to anything that thematically relates to squid, in terms of world iconography and tropes. Squidpunk is never escapist or whimsical. It is always serious and edgy. This combination of a hard punk aesthetic with the fluid propulsion system common to the squid has produced a unique literary hybrid beloved by Mundanes and Surrealists alike
spacepunk - In Spacepunk, the tools of the punk genre are combined with the themes of a Swords and Space tale. Here, a seemingly older civilization with advanced Space Age technology. These stories have also been referred to simply as “Sword and Space” fantasy when dealing with an ancient civilization with advanced technology or “Retrofuturism” when the society is a modern society with advanced technology.
mythpunk - In Mythpunk--a term coined by Catherynne M. Valente--themes, symbols, and archetypes of folklore and myths are combined with postmodern fantasy techniques. “For me,” Valente claims, “mythpunk describes a writer who uses myth and folklore as a launch-point and then warps it with their own voice. Someone for whom language is more than a simple tool, whose use of it is sometimes jangling, sometimes melodious, often musical, always passionate. Someone who uses the basic set of authorial instruments: character, plot, setting, and the fabulous orchestra of human language in a way that challenges and innovates, changes the reader's perception of mythology, both traditional narrative and new worlds combined and recombined. It's more fun to write than anything I know, and more profound to read than most things I find.”
mannerpunk - Elabororate social hierarchies and complex traditions are presented in a fantasy setting. Etiquette is then critically examined through the lens of a fantastical comedy of manners--a sort of Jane Austin meets C.S. Lewis. Mannerspunk has also been called a “fantasy of manners,” a term coined by science fiction critic Donald G. Keller. The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells (read an excerpt here) and Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner (read an excerpt here) are examples of mannerspunk.
biopunk -Uses elements of noir fiction to examine the social effects of genetic engineering. Biopunk has also been called "ribofunk" by Paul Di Filippo, a lead author in the genre, after ribonucleic acid.
nanopunk- Uses elements of noir fiction to examine the social effects of nanotechnology.
cyberprep - Attempts to reflect the themes of Cyberpunk by examining technology in a beneficial near-future, often utopian in nature. Cyberprep has also been called “Cybertopia.”
cybertopia - Cyberprep
splatterpunk - In Splatterpunk Horror, the author attempts to disturb the audience by use of a variety of grotesque and gory images. The term "Splatterpunk," coined by David J. Schow at the World Fantasy Convention in Providence in the mid-80s, is used less often since the original inception of this type of horror. Now used mainly to refer to the originators of this style, Extreme Horror is the more current term. Splatterpunk has also been called "Gross-out" or "Gore" Horror.
Mod
Soulless was awesome. I'm loving the different punks, although I'm squeamish about gore, so splatterpunk is not my favorite.
Mod
Please let us know when you do!
There was a splatterpunk anthology that contained romantic stories. I read it back in the late 90s. I'll have to see if I can find it.
I think steampunk, elfpunk, sandalpunk, candlepunk, plaguepunk, clockpunk, mythpunk, and splatterpunk all sound absolutely fascinating. I will definitely try some of these.
Who knew there were so many different punks?
Mythpunk is phenomenal; I have yet to come across a book in the genre I haven't at least enjoyed. Everyone who's writing in it is desperately talented, and I've never, ever come across that in an entire genre before. Can't think of a mythpunk romance novel, though Valente's The Grass-Cutting Sword comes kinda close if you squint right, and there are some short stories that definitely qualify (Sonya Taaffe's "The Dybbuk in Love" springs to mind).
Mod
I read her A Companion to Wolves and hated it. Are these books anything like that?
Robert: Is The Grass-Cutting Sword sort of wuxia? I'm iffy on those.
Any non-romantic mythpunk you suggest?
Hey Vicki! Long time no see! (And little doubt I'll end up lurking here, as well, since it's what I do best.)@Christy: I wouldn't call it wuxia. There's a kind of unavoidable confrontation with a dragon that involves some necessary lizard-chopping, but it's not "omg this is the best fight evar". thank christ.
i'm going to have to look into all these different genres...edward lee had a book of short stories that were splatterpunk sort of love stories, i believe it was called Splatterspunk
cyberpunk - In Cyberpunk, the author presents a gritty near-future, often dystopian, setting to examine present issues through the malevolence of technology and the influence of corporations on society. High technology, ruined societies, and a tarnished global environment are often used settings in these stories. The term “Cyberpunk,” coined by author Bruce Bethke in his 1980 short story by the same name, is a portmanteau of “cybernetics” and “punk.” Authors William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, Rudy Rucker, John Shirley and Lewis Shiner helped to launch the movement, heavily influenced by Gibson’s Neromancer. Cyberpunk has also been called “Cybernoir” when using noir fiction tools, and “Cybergoth” when using Gothic fiction tools to accomplish the same goals.
postcyberpunk - Examines the social effects of a ubiquitous datasphere of computerized information, genetic engineering and body modification, and the continued impact of technological change.
steampunk - A Victorian, English Regency, Industrial Revolution, or Edwardian English setting is provided with a variety of steam-based technology and Victorian advances such as difference engines. Inspired by actual Victorian science fiction (Edisonades, Scientific Romances, and Voyages Extraordinaires), Steampunk was the first of the timepunk categories, and has inspired real-world anachrono-futuristic culture, technology, games, fashion, and art.
victorianpunk - Steampunk
elfpunk - Contemporary fantasy character types—elves, fairies, dragons, etc.—are placed in an urban setting. Elfpunk has also been called “modern faerie tale” by such authors as Holly Black, describing her novel Tithe (read an excerpt here) or “urban fantasy” by such authors as Emma Bull, describing her novel War for the Oaks.
chippunk (?)
timepunk - Steampunk was a term coined by K.W. Jeter in an attempt to find a general term for works by Tim Powers (The Anubis Gates), James Blaylock (Homunculus) and himself (Morlock Night), who all wrote Victorian speculative fiction. In a letter to "Locus" (April 1987) Since the development of steampunk, several terms have been created to specify the time period and divergent themes of “gonzo-historical” fiction. “Timepunk,” a term coined for the GURPS roleplaying game Steampunk, by William H. Stoddard, is arguably the most apt for describing the anachrono-futurist genre as a whole (although “Punkpunk” has also been used). In such tales, technologies stagnate around a specific technology--bronze, steam, diesel--which then becomes the major contributing factor to the advancement of humankind. Science advances, but only through the use of the specific technology, and the time period where the technology originated determines fashion, artistic styles, and religious belief.
stonepunk - This term, coined by the GURPS roleplaying game Steampunk, denotes a Stone Age civilization provided with technological advances. Edgar Rice Borroughs' The Land that Time Forgot (download a copy here) and Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear are early examples of this style of story.
bronzepunk - This term, coined by the GURPS roleplaying game Steampunk, denotes a Bronze Age civilization provided with steam-based technological advances. The novels of Mary Renault are often good examples of this type of timepunk.
sandalpunk - This term, coined by the GURPS roleplaying game Steampunk, denotes an ancient civilization, often the Romans or some other Iron Age civilization, never collapses—with scientific advancement (based on such technologies as the Antikythera mechanism) continuint at a rate relative to later modern civilizations. Sandalpunk has also been called “Classicpunk” or “Ironpunk.”
classicpunk - Sandalpunk
ironpunk - Sandalpunk
candlepunk - Denotes an late medieval civilization with futuristic technology. Candlepunk has also been called “Castlepunk”and “Middlepunk.” It can also be “Dungeonpunk” when adding magical elements, or “Plaguepunk” when describing a plague-ridden candlepunk society. Connie Willis' Doomsday Book is an example of this type of timepunk.
castlepunk - Candlepunk
middlepunk - Candlepunk
dungeonpunk - Candlepunk
plaugepunk - Candlepunk when describing a plague-ridden candlepunk society. Connie Willis' Doomsday Book is an example of this type of timepunk.
monkpunk (?)
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