7 Steampunk Books You Need To Read In 2026

Cogs whirring beneath brass panels. Steam hisses through copper pipes. Airships drifting over soot-darkened cities. Steampunk is more than a literary genre—it’s a vivid reimagining of history infused with speculative technology, social critique, and boundless imagination. Rooted in Victorian-era aesthetics and powered by alternate histories, steampunk asks a tantalizing question: What if the future had been invented in the past?

Below is a list of 7 steampunk books you need to read in 2026.

1. Mortal Engines – Philip Reeve

Mortal Engines presents a striking steampunk vision: entire cities mobilized on massive engines that consume smaller towns for survival. Philip Reeve uses this premise to explore resource exploitation, environmental collapse, and societal greed, making the narrative both thrilling and cautionary. The protagonist’s journey raises ethical questions about consumption, progress, and responsibility. Reeve’s imaginative world-building and inventive technology captivate readers while delivering lessons on sustainability and governance. Suitable for young adults and adults alike, Mortal Engines exemplifies how steampunk can combine action, allegory, and philosophical depth, making readers reflect on modern challenges through a fantastical lens.

2. Perdido Street Station – China Miéville

China Miéville’s Perdido Street Station is a dark, immersive exploration of steampunk’s potential to interrogate society and science. Set in the industrial city of New Crobuzon, it fuses mechanical inventions with bioengineering, magic, and political corruption. Miéville critiques authoritarian systems, labor exploitation, and scientific hubris while presenting morally complex characters navigating a richly textured world. The prose is dense and imaginative, challenging readers to confront discomfort and ambiguity. This novel demonstrates that steampunk can be intellectually and emotionally provocative, blending adventure with ethical inquiry. It’s a seminal work for those seeking innovative, boundary-pushing storytelling in the genre.

3. Boneshaker – Cherie Priest

Set in an alternate Civil War–era Seattle, Boneshaker revolves around a massive drilling machine that releases toxic gas, creating a quarantined city full of undead horrors. Cherie Priest combines thrilling adventure with emotional depth, focusing on family, survival, and moral courage in a collapsing society. The novel critiques technological recklessness and societal negligence, illustrating how industrial ambition can spiral into disaster. Priest’s accessible prose and vividly realized world make this a perfect entry point for readers new to steampunk. With fast-paced action, layered characters, and strong historical imagination, Boneshaker is both a gripping narrative and thoughtful social commentary.

4. The Aeronaut’s Windlass – Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher’s The Aeronaut’s Windlass launches readers into a vertical world of soaring spires and airship fleets powered by crystalline energy. The story blends high-stakes adventure with intricate political intrigue, following characters who must navigate class tensions, loyalty, and survival. Butcher’s meticulous world-building ensures the technology feels plausible while reflecting on cooperation and leadership. Steampunk machinery and skybound warfare serve as metaphors for ambition, innovation, and human resilience. Fast-paced, character-driven, and rich in detail, the novel appeals to both fans of epic fantasy and steampunk enthusiasts. It exemplifies how imaginative engineering enhances narrative tension and social exploration.

5. Soulless – Gail Carriger

Soulless offers a witty, stylish take on steampunk, blending supernatural creatures with Victorian London society. Protagonist Alexia Tarabotti is a preternatural “soulless” woman who challenges societal norms with intelligence and charm. Gail Carriger explores themes of gender, power, and etiquette, using steam-powered inventions and paranormal politics as both setting and metaphor. The novel balances humor, romance, and social critique, making complex ideas approachable without sacrificing depth. Its clever world-building, engaging protagonist, and sharp social commentary have made it a beloved work for readers seeking light-hearted yet meaningful steampunk fiction. Soulless demonstrates the genre’s versatility and cultural relevance.

6. Leviathan – Scott Westerfeld

In Leviathan, Scott Westerfeld reimagines World War I as a conflict between mechanical “Clanker” machines and genetically engineered “Darwinist” creatures. The story follows two young protagonists from opposing sides, highlighting issues of loyalty, prejudice, and technological ethics. Westerfeld’s vivid descriptions and inventive machinery make history feel alive while raising critical questions about human intervention in nature. The novel appeals to both young adult and adult audiences, combining fast-paced adventure with thought-provoking moral dilemmas. By blending educational elements with imaginative steampunk, Leviathan encourages readers to critically examine history, science, and innovation in an engaging, accessible way.

7. The Iron Duke – Meljean Brook

Meljean Brook’s The Iron Duke combines romance, alternate history, and steampunk action in a Victorian Britain occupied by the Mongol Horde. The story follows a notorious pirate and a determined detective entangled in political intrigue, espionage, and rebellion. Brook explores colonialism, resistance, and identity, using steam-powered technology and mechanized vehicles as extensions of societal power. The romance is woven seamlessly with world-building, adding emotional resonance without undermining political stakes. With intricate plotting, compelling characters, and imaginative gadgets, the novel demonstrates steampunk’s ability to interrogate history while delivering thrilling adventure and nuanced social commentary.

Conclusion

The 7 steampunk books you need to read, listed above, showcase the genre’s depth, diversity, and enduring relevance. Whether you’re drawn to airship adventures, political allegories, or sharp social commentary, steampunk offers stories that entertain while challenging how we think about history and the future.