drillpunk

Drillpunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction that blends the aesthetic and themes of steampunk with elements of military science fiction, particularly focusing on the grimy realities and relentless nature of large-scale warfare. The "drill" in drillpunk refers to the disciplined, often brutal, training and combat environments found in military settings, contrasting with the more adventurous or romanticized portrayals sometimes associated with steampunk.

Visually, drillpunk often retains the brass, gears, steam power, and Victorian or Edwardian-era fashion of steampunk, but imbues it with a more utilitarian and weathered feel. Imagine clunky, smoke-belching war machines, soldiers in reinforced leather and canvas uniforms, and gritty trench warfare conducted with mechanical augmentations and steam-powered weaponry. The technology is functional and often unreliable, reflecting a world pushed to its limits by conflict.

Thematically, drillpunk explores the human cost of industrial warfare, the dehumanizing effects of combat, and the relentless march of military progress. It often delves into themes of duty, sacrifice, and survival in a world where technological advancement is primarily channeled into destruction. While steampunk might focus on inventors and explorers, drillpunk centers on the soldiers, engineers, and civilians caught in the machinery of war. The settings are typically grim, war-torn landscapes, industrial cities under siege, or the desolate battlefields of a mechanized conflict. The genre can also incorporate elements of horror and dark fantasy, further emphasizing the bleakness of its imagined worlds.