As a cross-genre writer, I'm often most comfortable whenever I can mix things up a bit, adding elements of science fiction to fantasy (and vice versa), horror to historical fiction, and comedy to all of the above. The weird western genre is one of my favorites, bringing the uncanny to the American frontier with monsters of all kinds. Overlapping that time period but set mainly in Victorian England are two genres I haven't dabbled in until now: steampunk science fiction and gaslamp fantasy. Trappings of both can be found in my novel Madame Antic's Hotel Grotesque, but what's the difference between these two subgenres?
While both steampunk and gaslamp stories can take place in the same alternate-historical era, steampunk tends to be more scientific with its gadgets, technology, and anachronistic vehicles, whereas gaslamp fantasy includes sorcery, magical creatures, and an acceptance of the supernatural existing alongside its characters. So which direction does
Madame Antic's lean? While there is plenty of gadgetry, nothing in the story is steam-powered. The world I've created prefers
electrik power instead. And while there are portals and mention of
magik, there's no sorcery involved or unnatural beasts (besides the villains). That's why I'm selecting Alternate History, Steampunk, Gaslamp Fantasy, and Horror as the primary categories when I list it for sale. I reckon that just about covers everything leading up to the big reveal at the end. No spoilers!
