Cyberpunk and Steampunk crossover

[Renneeschoo]

Hello! I am currently writing a short story for a school project. I wanted to do something a bit different. I have always liked steam punk and cyberpunk stories so I decided to create one were the two crossover

I asked someone about it from another forum and they told me it was stupid because steampunk is derivative of cyberpunk, which is true.

I wanted to know your opinion about it. I also wanted to know would it be possible for both cyber and steam be mixed.

 

[BAYLOR]

Two very different concepts of science fiction. I don't see how it would be possible to combine them and their technologies. Of course, what you could consider doing is a cyberpunk story with the trappings, style and look Steampunk. It's just a thought.

 

[Nozzle Velocity]

Everything's possible if you can get away with it. Instead of combining, you might separate the two "punks" according to your characters. Maybe one character has secret cyperpunk knowledge while living in a steampunk world. Maybe there are two societies living separately. Maybe steampunkers live in a cyperpunk world but are "off the grid" somehow, using more primitive technology. Keep it short, keep it character based, don't get lost in world building.

Good luck!

 

[Nozzle Velocity]

Why am I typing "cyperpunk"? Is that a new genre? Weaponized cypress trees?

 

[HareBrain]

Steam and cyberstuff are usually represented as the current peak of that story-world's technology, so you'd be unlikely to get a world that combined them. But in our modern world, we have people who use the internet and yet have a hankering for steam-age tech. Some of them are called steampunk fans. You might get a cyber world where enough people have a longing for the past that many technologies have reverted to steam, not because they needed to, but just because people wanted them to.

Or you could have a situation where electricity is limited for some reason, and steam has been used for non-computer use. (I think The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi might use something like this combination, though I haven't read it.)

 

[Artoriarius]

I'm not quite sure that steampunk is derivative of cyberpunk - I was under the impression that it was inspired by Victorian science fiction and scientific ideas. Although the term itself is certainly derived from the word "cyberpunk".

Combining the two would be difficult, because both genres have a strong aesthetic component to them - that is, they have very distinct appearances that conflict with each other. However, it can be done. If I were doing it, I'd set it in a world where the Victorians have developed advanced computer technology, without modern energy production - maybe getting it from an outside source (the future, aliens, etc.). Add in cybernetic and steam-powered implants - or, both genres often deal with class issues. Maybe the advanced cybernetic technology is only available to the rich, nobles, celebrities, and other sorts of toffs, while the clunkier, less powerful steam technology is used by the lower classes. Something along those lines could work.

 

[The Big Peat]

I'd agree there's mileage to be had out of something that emulates aspects of both genres (particularly Baylor's idea of telling a CP-esque story using SP aesthetics), but I think you have to decide what exactly it is you're going to do with them together. Knowing what you want to create is better than knowing what you want to jam together.

And welcome to the forum

 

[Renneeschoo]

Thank you everybody ! I think i got a pretty good idea of what my story is going to be about thanks to you all. Im hoping to share it with you when it's done. Thanks again!

 

[HugoHeinzHung]

Don't listen to these guys they obviously know nothing! Yes you can crossover, you can do steampunk with lightsabers there you just did cyber-steampunk! Have fun!

 

[JJ Maier]

Maybe steampunkers live in a cyperpunk world but are "off the grid" somehow, using more primitive technology.

The Amish of the Cyberpunk universe! A Steampunk character transfering a trade skill into the larger cyberpunk world and having to cope. I would read that.

Im hoping to share it with you when it's done.

Just noticed the date on this post. Was the final story ever posted @Renneeschoo? I'm super curious to read the resulting story.

 

[Overread]

Whilst its an old post its interesting to read several thinking them not going together well, when they actually go together really well.

Steam Punk essentially has things run by steampower (and lots of exposed cogs); however the technology level doesn't really stop at real world limits. Often as not a Steam Punk setting can have technology all the way up to robotic life along with all the potential artificial life storylines that you might often see in a Cyberpunk setting. Artificial limbs, new war weapons, even going into space and such. All possible with the right application of magical steam power.

There's also a good few - like the movie Castle in the Sky - where there's a general population using essentially Steam Punk technology, and another social group using far more advanced (cyber/magic cyber) level technology. Sometimes one rules over the other; sometimes one is an old fallen empire/system etc... Essentially paving the way again for quite a lot of storyline and concept crossovers.
I forget its name but there's at least one airship based anime where, again, we see a majority population with steam powered and based technology and then another "higher" race of people with far more advanced toys and tricks.

Steam punk often makes heavy use of electricity, but its of the Tesla style. So instead of lots of pylons and cables it might be a huge tesla generator firing lightning out to power homes etc... Ergo a more visual "exposed" means of technological development. Much like how many depictions of steam punk technology have exposed gears and moving parts.


Cyberpunk tends to get its own niche when dealing with the fully digital aspects of its setting, ergo digital alternate realities and worlds. This tends to be a concept that remains quite steadfast in the cyberpunk setting. However as noted, you could easily create a Cyberpunk world with an artificial Steampunk one being run on a program within it and even being the foundation for the majority of the story.

 

[HareBrain]

I forget its name but there's at least one airship based anime where, again, we see a majority population with steam powered and based technology and then another "higher" race of people with far more advanced toys and tricks.

I think you might mean Last Exile, though that wasn't airship so much as anti-grav. I really enjoyed it.

 

[Overread]

I think you might mean Last Exile, though that wasn't airship so much as anti-grav. I really enjoyed it.

Ah yes that name does ring a bell! I just recall watching the first episode and the madness of organised war as two armies lined up almost like Ships of the Line in the air - and then made troops fight with steam enhanced guns on the decks against each other - all as some kind of grand wargame.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Couldn't you have one steampunk universe and one cyberpunk universe, maybe with some sort of portal in between?

 

[Finch]

I like to believe anything in writing is possible . Cyberpunk is about an technologically advanced dystopian future. Steampunk is about an alternative history. The present has developed a different less advanced technology and the stories more optimistic and adventurous than cyberpunk. It is great that some seem be so encouraging and positive about writing such a project .I personally would be really interested in their suggestions on how it could be done.

 

[Toby Frost]

It's just occurred to me that Firefly gets quite close to this, at least in look.