Introduction: What Is Steampunk?

Alternative Victorian or Quasi-Victorian dystopian stories heavily laden withthe theme of Scientific genius marriedtobig mechanical machines, the Steam-Punk sub-genre of SF is in some ways very similar to the cyberpunk stories of the early 1980s only with an anachronistic 1880s twist.

Strongly influenced by the scientific romances of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, steampunk sensibilities have taken on a life of their own in recent books, films and graphic novels.

SteampunkWikipedia Article

Another Definition

Steampunk & Steampunk-Friendly RPGs

GURPS Steampunk (very good survey, useful for any RPG including GURPS)
Space 1889 (Thomas Edison and his Ether Flyer!)
Victoriana (steampunk crossed with magic)
Castle Falkenstein (ditto)
Forgotton Futures (Marcus Rowland's heroic solo effort)

Literary References:

The Difference Engine- William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (graphic novel, much better than the movie)
Infernal Devices - J.W. Jeter
Lord Kelvin's Machine - James Blaylock
The Peshawar Lancers - SM Stirling
A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah - Harry Harrison
Anno Dracula - Kim Newman

Other Resources:

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (movie)
Transactions of the Royal Martian Geographical Society
Great fanzine for Space 1889 that covered all things quasi-Victoriana.
Convienently collected now into four compilation volumes. Highly recommended.

Links

Steampunk2
Steam Trek- Victorian Star Trek with a Steam Pulp aesthetic
Boilerplate- "Mechanical Marvel of the Nineteenth Century"
The Difference Dictionary - A Steampunk Glossary
Steampunk Compendium
STEAMPUNKOPEDIA KrzysztofJanicz's Steampunk Resources
Brass Goggles "The lighter side of Steampunk" -- A wonderful daily blog of images and ideas