5 books somebody needs to turn into steampunk films

"Steampunk is nothing more than what happens when Goths discover brown."
- Charles Stross

Not so secretly, and miserable brown-coloured everything aside, I adore steampunk: the fashion, the gadgetry, the clothes, the dirigibles, the mix of science and fantasy and, most especially, the endless possibility of what can be achieved when technology beyond its time is suddenly made normal. I'm not about to debate what I think steampunk is in this post. That's a discussion we can have for another time. (I've found that it means quite different things to different people, and I think there's room for all of us in the melting pot). One of my most favourite steampunk novels is not a classic such as The Time Machine by HG Wells, nor is it Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne or Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It is, strangely, a relatively recent-ish novel; A Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliasotti and, for me, it captures everything that I think steampunk is: adventure, fantasy, romance and hope. That could be my fanciful thinking, though. A little while back - early this year? Late last year? - a friend and I were having a conversation about books that we absolutely think would be fantastic as steampunk films. I've left the odd bits of conversation in so you can truly see how crazy we are - and yes, we really do think and talk like that - and a little bit of a story refresher for those who may not remember/know the storyline. My only wish now? That someone actually *would* movie-ise them. (And yes, I know that's not a word, but I'm writing this post not you).

It's Christmas day, people, and officially this marks the end of our 12 Posts of Christmas series. I'll be back at least once more this week with one last post before 2013. I'd like to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas!

Honourable mention

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer

Anne of Green Gables

The Bible - or at least parts of it (although this could be considered sacreligious)

Heidi

The Hobbit - iron dragon

Little Women - the little women are NANOTECH!

Mansfield Park

Pollyanna

Swiss Family Robinson

A Tale of Two Cities - more desperation and darkness. Could you imagine Madame Defarge in this setting?

Wuthering Heights
Story refresher: "Set against the stark and haunting Yorkshire Moors and Pennine Hills, this story recounts the saga of two Yorkshire families, focusing on the tragic love story of Heathcliff and Catherine."

Friend: Wuthering Heights
Me: Mmmm, if it doesn't it should omg
Friend: WUTHERING HEIGHTS
Me: Kathy as an automaton :P
Friend: Fantastic! In an industrial landscape rather than on the moor. Still bleak, just in different ways. Fassbender could be in it
Me: It could add to that whole desperation angle
Friend: Because REASONS
Me: And unrequited love
Friend: Yes!!
Me: And sadness and haunting
Friend: Yes!
Me: And Kate Bush's song would play
Friend: Perfect
Me: Heh
Friend: A techno version

Pride and Prejudice
Story refresher: "When Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr Darcy she finds him to be most arrogant. He, in turn, is determined not to be impressed by Elizabeth's beauty and wit. As events unfold their paths cross with more and more frequency, and their disdain for each other grows. Can they ever overcome their prejudices and realise that first impressions are not always reliable?"

Friend: Darcy is a little robotic, so he could be an automaton, and all he needs is a good woman to clean his cogs
Tosca: We so do NOT mean that as a euphemism so you can get *that* look off your face right now, people

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Story refresher: "A story of respectable Dr Jekyll's strange association with a 'damnable young man' Edward Hyde; the hunt through fog-bound London for a killer; and the final revelation of Hyde's true identity is an exploration of humanity's basest capacity for evil."

Me: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Friend: YES
Me: omg
Friend: Jekyll and Hyde, awesome
Me: Well it's kind of dark and desperate, and would play really well, I think, in those shades of brown, and dirty London


Midsummer Night's Dream
Story refresher: "When two pairs of star-crossed lovers, a feuding pair of supernatural sprites and a love potion gone awry all come together in an enchanted moonlit forest, the result is a delightful mix of merriment and magic."

Friend: Something with steampunk fairies FOR SURE. Steampunk Puck YES

Cat in the Hat
Story refresher: "Two children sitting at home on a rainy day are visited by the Cat in the Hat who shows them some tricks and games."

Friend: The Cat pilots an airship, with copilots Things One and Two. And descends on a small industrial enclave to bring change and confusion and the promise of redemption
Me: omg that is brilliant LOL