Steampunk has been referred to as "the Future Trend of Science Fiction" but is the subgenre started by Jeter and Powers (and Gibson and Sterling) merely a return to the classics as spun by Verne and Wells? Join our panelists as they look at recent works of Steampunk, share their opinions of what makes Steampunk different from the work of the founding fathers of Science Fiction, and why the genre is so appealing.

At the time of this panel, Stephan Moffat will have completed one full season and the first part of his second season of Doctor Who. How have he, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvill done? How does the latest series compare with those of Russell Davies and to even earlier series?

Science Fiction never blinks at incorporating events and icons of history...but when it comes to Steampunk, an argument is bubbling in boilers about what makes something "Steampunk" and what makes a work "Alternative History." What sets the two apart? Why can't Steampunk be considered part of the Alternative History genre? Why are authors hesitant to combine history with their fantasy? Where is the line (if any) between "Steampunk" and "Alternative History"? Authors discuss challenges, spirited debates, and fun in dancing between genres.