What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Steampunk Trilogy
Paul Di Filippo · Book · 2014
If you loved The Steampunk Trilogy, start with The Time Machine (George Pal, 1960) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Steampunk Trilogy across media.
You loved The Steampunk Trilogy for how it uses bizarre, reconfigured history to deliver sharp, biting satire about our own society.
Films on the same thread
The Time Machine
George Pal · Film · 1960
Shares 2 threads with The Steampunk Trilogy: Steampunk, Victorian Science Fiction.
If The Steampunk Trilogy captured your imagination with its Victorian-era subversions, this film offers a foundational look at how those same settings expose deep-seated class conflict and social evolution.
Back to the Future Part III
Robert Zemeckis · Film · 1990
Explores: Romantic Subplot, Fish Out of Water, Preventing Historical Inaccuracy.
Just as The Steampunk Trilogy enjoys playing with the aesthetics of the past, this adventure brings a playful, inventive spirit to the mechanics of time travel and historical displacement.
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos · Film · 2023
Shares a thread with The Steampunk Trilogy: Steampunk.
This film mirrors the bold, satirical energy found in The Steampunk Trilogy by using an unorthodox scientific premise to dismantle the rigid societal expectations of the Victorian era.
A Clockwork Orange
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1971
Explores: Free Will vs. Determinism, Societal Control, Violence and Redemption.
The Steampunk Trilogy uses its weird science to comment on human nature, much like this film employs a dystopian lens to dissect the struggle between individual will and control.
Series on the same thread
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling · Series · 1959
Shares a thread with The Steampunk Trilogy: Social Commentary.
Much like the novellas in The Steampunk Trilogy, this series relies on unexpected twists and speculative settings to deliver pointed social commentary on the darker side of human existence.
Penny Dreadful
John Logan · Series · 2014
Explores: Monsters, Moral Ambiguity, Loss of Innocence.
Fans of the atmospheric, Victorian-inspired world-building in The Steampunk Trilogy will appreciate how this show weaves iconic literary figures into a gritty, morally ambiguous portrait of nineteenth-century London.
Fringe
Alex Kurtzman · Series · 2008
Explores: Parallel Universes, Government Conspiracy, Mad Scientist.
The Steampunk Trilogy thrives on the intersection of mad science and conspiracy, a dynamic this show mirrors through its exploration of parallel universes and the consequences of unethical research.
Futurama
Matt Groening · Series · 1999
Explores: Fish Out of Water, Dystopian Society, Corporate Satire.
If you enjoyed the satirical edge of The Steampunk Trilogy, this show offers a comedic yet biting look at how technological advancements and corporate greed shape a dystopian future.
Podcasts on the same thread
Grumpy Old Geeks
Jason DeFillippo & Brian Schulmeister with Dave Bittner · Podcast · 2026
Explores: cynicism, digital culture, corporate skepticism.
This podcast shares the cynical, sharp-tongued spirit of The Steampunk Trilogy, dissecting the failures of modern industry with the same rebellious energy that defines Di Filippo's literary work.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
Like the anthology structure of The Steampunk Trilogy, these cinematic stories use speculative scenarios to explore the human condition, delivering a fresh, experimental perspective in every single episode.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Steampunk Trilogy a single novel or a collection?
The Steampunk Trilogy is an outrageous trio of novellas written by Paul Di Filippo. The book presents three distinct stories that reconfigure the Victorian era through the lens of weird science and alternate history, showcasing the unique elements of the steampunk subgenre.
What is the primary theme of The Steampunk Trilogy?
The primary theme of The Steampunk Trilogy is the reconfiguration of the nineteenth century through weird science. Paul Di Filippo uses these three novellas to explore alternate history, creating a haunting and hilarious world that exemplifies the steampunk subgenre of science fiction.
Who is the author of The Steampunk Trilogy?
The Steampunk Trilogy was written by Paul Di Filippo, an acclaimed author known for his work in alternate history. Published in 2014, the book is recognized by figures such as William Gibson for being a spooky, haunting, and hilarious take on the steampunk subgenre.
How does The Steampunk Trilogy approach the Victorian era?
The Steampunk Trilogy approaches the Victorian era by twisting it out of shape. Through the use of weird science, the author reconfigures the nineteenth century to demonstrate how the steampunk subgenre is done to perfection, resulting in an outrageous collection of three novellas.