What if the world ran on clockwork?

Clockpunk is a genre of speculative fiction that explores the concept of technology based on clockwork and Renaissance-era science rather than on steam power, the internal combustion engine or digital computers. It can take the form of alternate history, fantasy or simply an aesthetic.

A clockpunker’s home period is the Renaissance. Thus, he or she must be a Renaissance man or woman, able to spend the day building a flying clockwork battleship, the evening dancing the pavane, and still have the dexterity of hand to slip arsenic into a neighbor’s wine. Creativity, genius, charisma and ambition are all essential qualities for success. Nothing is impossible to the talented and the determined, but beware: the road to greatness is treacherous.

Related terms: NeoRenaissance, gearpunk, springpunk.

Similar genres: steampunk, sandalpunk, dieselpunk, cyberpunk, biopunk.

About this site:

The Mainspring aims to be a comprehensive resource for all things clockpunk. We collect original fiction and reviews of clockpunk books, movies and other media. Submissions of content are always welcome, and we are always pleased to link to relevant sites or products.

The site is run by Caterina Rhode. Contact her at carnadine at gmail dot com.