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Four days remaining until Asylum VI

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Film still from Asylum BlackoutIt will be my first time at Asylum and I’m there on behalf of Steampunk Journal, so please make sure you say hello. I like taking pictures of people, but sometimes feel a little shy to ask, so please feel free to offer as well.

I’m looking forward to seeing you there.

There may be still tickets available. Why not take a look here:

Asylum VI ticket website


Filed under: News - Events Tagged: Albuquerque New Mexico, Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Darth Vader, Duela Dent, England, H. G. Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Photography, Recreation, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Shopping, Steam engine, Steampunk, Steampunk Journal, United Kingdom, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts

Three days remain until Asylum – take pictures the right way

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Image by Lauren Davidson

Image by Lauren Davidson

With Asylum nearly here, the talk has already turned to the photographers that harrass and annoy everyone. The ones that see an event as a way for them to get some free photographs. While many steampunks are happy to have their photograph taken, not all are. ALWAYS ASK FIRST and you should respect their wishes if they say no.

I wrote an article for Whitby Goth Weekend as they have a terrible time with it. Have a read if you’re thinking of taking a camera and pass this round to anyone you know who may be doing the same:

Being a splendid photographer: The problem with photographers

Tony Bate from ToCan media and organiser of Steampunk Doncaster wrote a marvellous article on being asked to pose for photographers AFTER events. You can read that here: Tips on staying safe outside of events


Filed under: News - Events Tagged: Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Asylum, England, H. G. Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Photography, Recreation, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Steam engine, Steampunk, Steampunk Doncaster, Tony Bate, United States, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts, Whitby, Whitby Goth, Yorkshire

Article 1

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Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing- Steampunk is coming back with their anthology, Cogs in Time 2, the anticipated sequel to the Amazon international best selling boxed set, Cogs in Time.

Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing is unleashing the world of Steampunk on readers once more when the sequel releases October 8th, 2014. This will be another box set that follows the rule that anything goes in this fantastic genre, and takes readers on a journey through time, space and clockwork things into a realm of ever growing popularity; Steampunk.

“People that loved Cogs in Time will get a double dose of it in this one,” said editor and compiler, Catherine Stovall. “We’ve taken what was done with the first book and made this volume even stronger. We’re ready to take the Steampunk world by storm again.”

Edited by Stovall, Cogs in Time 2 offers readers twenty stories, poems and works of art in the world of steam. With veterans from the publishing house and outside authors that love the Steampunk world, the boxed set is prepped to take it  s place as an Amazon international best seller alongside volume one.

Releasing Oct 8th, 2014 on Amazon Kindle reading formats everywhere, people can check out the Facebook release party complete with costume contest here: Cogs In Time 2 Facebook Page


Filed under: News - Events Tagged: book, event, internet, release, sci-fi, steam, Steampunk, victorian science fiction, victoriana

Cogs in Time 2 – steampunk anthology

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Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing- Steampunk is coming back with their anthology, Cogs in Time 2, the anticipated sequel to the Amazon international best selling boxed set, Cogs in Time.

Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing is unleashing the world of Steampunk on readers once more when the sequel releases October 8th, 2014. This will be another box set that follows the rule that anything goes in this fantastic genre, and takes readers on a journey through time, space and clockwork things into a realm of ever growing popularity; Steampunk.

“People that loved Cogs in Time will get a double dose of it in this one,” said editor and compiler, Catherine Stovall. “We’ve taken what was done with the first book and made this volume even stronger. We’re ready to take the Steampunk world by storm again.”

Edited by Stovall, Cogs in Time 2 offers readers twenty stories, poems and works of art in the world of steam. With veterans from the publishing house and outside authors that love the Steampunk world, the boxed set is prepped to take it  s place as an Amazon international best seller alongside volume one.

Releasing Oct 8th, 2014 on Amazon Kindle reading formats everywhere, people can check out the Facebook release party complete with costume contest here: Cogs In Time 2 Facebook Page


Filed under: News - Events Tagged: book, event, internet, release, sci-fi, steam, Steampunk, victorian science fiction, victoriana

Two days until Asylum – the wait is nearly over

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Image by Erik Brede

Image by Erik Brede

The wait for Asylum is almost over and social media platforms are alight with questions, suggestions and sneak previews of costumes. It promises to be a spectacular display of splendid ladies and gentlemen in their finery. If this is your first time at Asylum, then check back tomorrow for a run down on the program.


Filed under: News - Events Tagged: Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Asylum, Aurora, Baltic states, Brede Hangeland, England, H. G. Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Photography, Recreation, Refugee, Royal Danish Air Force, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Steam engine, Steampunk, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts

ASYLUM! TOMORROW!

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There’s a lot to do this weekend at the Asylum. What will you do? Along with all other attendees, I’ve received a programme, but maybe you’re not going this year and want to know what’s happening or you may be planning to go next year and want to know what it’s like. Bookmark Steampunk Journal as I’ll be covering the Asylum after the event. I might even update you as it happens.

Friday

It all kicks off tomorrow with the “gates” opening at 10am. There are a number of markets open throughout the day and Friday really acts as a preamble for Saturday. There are some notable events taking place, such as the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at 4pm in the Main Ballroom. It’s a little like speed dating, except without the dating. You can enjoy tea and cakes and a chin wag until the Mad Hatter calls to change places and you meet a new person to talk to. If you’re here for the first time or looking for some new friends, it’s the perfect opportunity.

The interestingly titled Virgins Meet Up isn’t a place for those longing for the touch of a gentleman or lady, it in fact refers to newcomers to the event. It takes place in the Widow Cullens Well at 5pm until 5.30 and a few Asylum veterans will be there to give information and advice.

Leading us into the evening is Lady Elsie’s Fashion Gala. It starts with a cocktail at 7pm in the Oval Room before moving into the Main Ballroom  to view fashion items on the catwalk.

There are three options for evening entertainment: The most sought after evening is the Major’s Soiree. It seems to be a bizarre cabaret of acts including musicians, comedians and interesting performers. Tickets usually sell quickly, so unless you’re very lucky, you’ll have to go to either the Friday Night Bucket Gig at Westgate Academy from 8pm. This free gig (to wristband wearers) is headlined by Brass Zeppellin. Alternatively, if you’re viewing the aforementioned Fashion Show, Frenchy & The Punk will be performing there after it’s concluded.

copyright Laura Steele. Used here with permission.

copyright Laura Steele. Used here with permission.

Saturday

Saturday is where it starts. Depending on what type of steampunk you are will depend on where you want to be. The markets will be still happening throughout the day as well as workshops and games. From caring for your steampunk items to learning how to make them, there’s something for everyone. The Ballroom hosts a number of events including Tea Duelling at 1pm and Formal Dance classes at 3pm. Tinkerers will prefer the Tennyson Suite as that is host to the Taming Metal workshop as well as It Works! Form and Function in Steampunk Gadgets.

Bookworms will prefer the Westgate Academy which has a Book Fair including a writing workshop with Sam Stone and Fiction for Younger Steampunks. The Castle is host to a more light hearted approach to the day with the Teddy Bear’s Picnic at 11am, Steam Western at 12 (High Noon) and Nerf Vaders at 1pm. The latter is a type of live action Space Invaders with everyone’s favourite plastic dart gun.

While all this is happening, the Widow Cullen’s Well will be holding Steampunk Table Top Gaming all day. One of the most amusing happenings I want to see is the Gangs of New Lincoln UN-RUMBLE. It’s styled like the Gangs of New York film where they all charge and start fighting. Of course, we’re all jolly nice fellows and will instead shake hands and tip our hats. Turn up at Castle Square, 5pm, and pick a gang.

The evening gives way to the esteemed Empire Ball – another strictly ticket only event. Tickets fly faster than a steam powered Humming Bird, so you’ll be very lucky if you’re attending this year. If you’re on the other side of the door, and you have tickets, Oh Dear, What Would the Major Say? is at Bishop Grossetest University from 8pm. The evening’s entertainment has been dressed up to the Major as a round of folk singing, but is in fact a burlesque and boylesque show!

Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be any free entertainment on Saturday night, so if you’ve not managed to get tickets, it will be off to the pub with you.

copyright Laura Steele. Used here with permission.

copyright Laura Steele. Used here with permission.

Sunday

The final day sees more Tea Duelling in the Ballroom as well as an introduction to Bartitsu. I must say, I’ve been to a class of Bartitsu and it’s great fun, so please go along if you have the chance. If fighting isn’t your scene, then at the same time in the Tennyson Suite, Gary Nicholls is giving a talk about his behemoth photography project The Imaginarium.

There’s more writing fun in the Westgate Academy starting with a writing competition at 11am, Weapons in Steampunk Fiction at 12, Confessions of a Writer at 1pm and concluding with The Supernatural in Steampunk Fiction at 2pm.

Also at 2pm over at the Castle, there’s the Wacky Races – a little like the Soapbox Races and that promises to be lots of fun. At 11am in the Castle there’s The Queen’s Parade which is open to anyone wanting to take part as long as you have a flag. The parade is overlooked by Queen Victoria and will finish with a minute’s silence.

Arguably the most interesting thing to happen on Sunday is The Illicit Market. Here small time sellers get to peddle their wares in a market that doesn’t exist. Audible markers signify the start and end before the authorities arrive. Sellers must pay £2 to enter and discretely hide their goods about their person. Buyers are allowed in at around 3.10pm. There are no stalls, tables or furniture, sellers must sell while stood with a customer. Once the closing bell has been sounded, you have 5 minutes to leave. If you take even one second more, you get fined £1. If you leave after 4.10pm then you have to pay £5. There’s no change from the “Piemen” so have the right money.

To add some excitement, there may be a random sound to warn of approaching authorities. In which case, you must remains still and silent until the all clear sounds.

I will most definitely be attending the Illicit Market, if it exists. Which it doesn’t. Certainly not at 3pm in the Assembly Rooms, Bailgate. No.

I will be attempting to update the Journal on Saturday with some photographs of the day, so bookmark the site, like me on Facebook by clicking the button to the left.

If you’re going to be there, look out for me and be sure to say hello.

 


Filed under: News - Events Tagged: Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Asylum, Bartitsu, Books, Clothing, England, Facebook, Friday, Gangs of New York, Goggle, H. G. Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Literature, Performing arts, Photography, Queen Victoria, Recreation, Sam Stone, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Steam engine, Steampunk, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts, Wacky Races

The S.A.I.N.T.S series: The Captain and the Alchemist by E.M. Moon

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I’ve been sent an excerpt of a book from a new author called E.M. Moon. It looks quite interesting and I’ll be reviewing the full novel in due course.

Have a read and let me know what you think.

In a neo-Victorian world where Zeppelins rule the sky, steam is the power of choice, and the night life is lit up with magic, chaos, and an underground civilization of the Supernatural; comes an alliance of five women who all share one thing: to hunt down and destroy the Order of Infallible Sanguine Sovereignty.

Captain Colette St. Claire and the Alchemist Madge Alexander have their fates intertwined as they are cast into the world of the Supernatural in hopes of finding out who is behind the destruction of their seemingly normal lives. Together they encounter a manner of seemingly unfathomable characters in the seedy underbelly of Whitechapel London and come face to face with the most unsavory of them all: Jack the Ripper. Can the two unravel the mystery behind the city and it’s rejected inhabitants and hopefully come one step closer to discovering who the O.I.S.S is? Or will they succumb to the evil that breeds on the streets of Whitechapel?

Excerpt from Chapter 2: Lazarus Rising

“Lenora,” The doctor’s eyes were wide and bulging as if he had seen some sort of horrific sight, “How long have you been standing here?”

“Oh, not long. I just came back for my journal and was just about to knock when I lost my footing. Silly me, always a klutz.” Lenora tried to keep her wits about her as she slowly backed away from the deranged looking doctor.

“You mean this one?” He pulled Lenora’s leather journal out of his apron pocket.

“Yes, sir. Thank you so much.” Lenora stretched her arm towards the doctor without thinking. He quickly tossed her journal behind him and roughly gripped her wrist, yanking her to him in one swift motion.

“You’re lying, Lenora dear. I know you heard that whole conversation, didn’t you? DIDN’T YOU?” Gunther raged, shaking Lenora so hard she swore she heard her skull rattle.

“No, no sir.” Lenora stuttered, trying to stay calm.

“Since you wanted to be such a nosy little thing, I will just demonstrate for you my findings, maybe let you participate in a few tests?” Gunther yanked Lenora through his office door and dragged her over to the wooden platform where the corpse lay strapped to it.

“This is Mr. Monroe, but we will not need his assistance any longer. I have a live participant now; I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. This may explain everything.”  Dr. Faust quickly unbuckled the leather straps binding Mr. Monroe and shoved his rotting corpse off the table, letting it crumple in a heap on the floor. He tossed Lenora onto the platform, and although she protested strongly, he was able to secure her in position.

He then pumped a petal that lay on the floor and the wooden table lifted itself from a horizontal position to a vertical.

“Since you decided to stick your nose where it didn’t belong, I will be more than delighted to let you in on my little secret.” Dr. Faust hissed, fiddling with a syringe that sat on a metal tray next to the platform.

Lenora took note at the size of the needle that the doctor held and averted her eyes, trying not to panic.

“There is a lot you don’t know about me, dear Lenora. Just as you answer to me as my apprentice, I too answer to a higher power. Ever heard of the O.I.S.S.?” The doctor inserted the syringe into a vile of indigo liquid.

Lenora screwed up her face at the doctor, partially confused and partially infuriated.

“Oh, no, of course you haven’t. The Order of Infallible Sanguine Sovereignty. They are destined to purify this world through the blood, or bloodshed, whichever way you want to look at it.” The doctor extracted the liquid and held up the syringe to study the quantity.

“Any way, I won’t go into too much detail. They have hired me to create a serum that will resurrect the dead, permanently. No real magic involved.” The doctor waved his hands in a demonstration of arcane magic, not scientific alchemy.

“I have been working on this since we met. I hoped that your expertise would help further my studies, but you seem to not remember how you do the things you do. I kept you on, hoping that you’d give me some formula, some inkling that I could use to perfect my craft.

Alas, you haven’t proved yourself to really be anything more than a bumbling idiot savant who just happens to stumble across great feats of alchemy.” Dr. Faust flicked the syringe and gently pushed on the plunger, liquid squirting from the needle as he did so.

The doctor leaned into Lenora, dangling the hand holding the syringe down by his side.

“Such a pity too. Maybe I should have utilized you more than I did.” Dr. Faust reached out and stroked Lenora’s curly tresses, tracing his finger down her neck, over her collar bone, and stopped as he reached her right breast. He deviously narrowed his eyes at her for a moment.

“Go to hell.” Lenora hissed, spitting in the doctor’s face.

Gunther screwed his face up in repulsion, reared back and slapped Lenora harshly. Her jaw stung as the doctor laughed deeply at her pain.

“Eventually, my dear, eventually. But for now I need to find a way to create an army of the undead. The serum has thus far failed on the dead, but I wonder if it would thrive in a living body. My theory is that where it made the deceased a bit unruly and overly strong, I feel that with a live subject the act of insentience will be null. Hopefully this will leave you brain dead, yet fully moldable. Like a revenant, but with direction.” Dr. Faust backed away for a moment, grabbed a thick leather strap from his work bench and came back to Lenora, securing it tightly over her mouth.

“I don’t want you waking the neighbors.” He grinned, making sure that all sound would be cut off.

Lenora began to struggle, attempting to buck herself out of the bindings, but her efforts were futile and exhausting.

“As amusing as this is, I don’t have time. Sit pretty, darling. This shouldn’t hurt much.” Gunther reared back, and with one swift movement thrust the syringe into Lenora’s sternum, pressed the plunger, and waited.

Lenora could feel all of the muscles in her body tense and lock as the serum flowed through the valves in her heart and were quickly pumped through every vein.  Soon, her chest went numb, then her torso, and finally ending in her limbs and face.

She tried to call out, whether it was in agony or defeat, but her lungs wouldn’t fill with air and her vocal chords wouldn’t vibrate.

Lenora was dying and no could save her.

“Guten nacht, my little apprentice. When you wake, well, you won’t ever wake again.” Lenora could hear the doctor, but his voice sounded so far off. She wanted to curse his name before her demise, but she knew it would do no good.

She just slipped into oblivion as she felt her soul escape through her glassy eyes.

The Captain and The Alchemist is already available at Amazon for Kindle at £2.99 here: The S.A.I.N.T.S. Series: The Captain and the Alchemist on Kindle


Filed under: Articles - Books Tagged: alchemist, book, captain, hg Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Literature, Neo-Victorian, new book, Steampunk, victorian science fiction, victoriana

Images from Weekend at the Asylum


Steampunker game available to download

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Press Release
Steampunker – a new point-and-click adventure game for iPads was released on September 9. The game has unique hand-drawn steampunk graphics and original music. The adventures of Vincent, our hero, begin when evil robots attack the Earth. We meet Vincent in a harbor, then he boards a submarine, travels to an island, flies to the Moon in a rocket and finally fights the robots in their spaceship. In order to complete the mission Vincent has to explore the world and find objects needed to fix the vehicles and move in his unique steampunk-style world. The game contains a series of puzzles linked together into a traditional “point-and-click” adventure story.

Antyweb.pl on Steampunker: “Graphics are Steampunker’s strongest point. The
backdrops of locations traversed by our hero, as well as the graphics
accompanying the subsequent puzzles and brain-teasers, all create a unique
alluring atmosphere. The game is simply stunning. Also noteworthy are the
intuitive navigation model and the wide variety of original puzzles and
brain-teasers.”

The game has been developed by Telehorse, a company established by Mariusz
Szypura – a graphic designer and musician. Steampunker, which was made in
Unity 3D, is his first game to be released. It should be noted that Szypura
created the game entirely on his own, also composing and producing the
soundtrack.

Steampunker has been selected for the Indie Prize. The game will participate
in the Indie Prize Showcase at Casual Connect in Belgrade in November 2014.
It will also be presented at Tokyo Game Show and Poznan Game Arena.

The iOS version was released on September 9, 2014. It will be followed by
the Android version towards the end of the year. Telehorse has scheduled PC
and Mac versions for 2015

Features: 
• Five chapters including more than 30 puzzles and brain teasers
• Unique hand-drawn steampunk graphics
• Original music recorded by Silver Rocket

Device Requirements: 
* iPad 2 or newer 
* iOS 6.0 or higher 

Pricing and Availability: $3.99, no in-app purchases, available from 
September 9, 2014.

App Store: http://bit.ly/steampunkeritunes
WWW: www.steampunkergame.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/steampunkergame
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/steampunkergame
Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlNKj7bmWI0
Screenshots: http://steampunkergame.com/pictures/gamescreenshots/
Soundtrack: https://soundcloud.com/steampunkergame


Filed under: News - Video Games Tagged: android, app, apple, computer, console, hg Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, phone, robot, sci-fi, Steampunk, victorian, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Video Games

The Weekend at Asylum VI report

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Lincoln Cathedral viewed from Bailgate

Lincoln Cathedral viewed from Bailgate

This year was the first time I’ve attended Asylum and I didn’t quite know what to expect. After I published the rundown of the programme, it gave me a clearer indication of what to expect, but only getting there would unveil the true scale of the spectacular.

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I didn’t arrive until around 2pm on Saturday, due to family commitments, so I sadly missed out on a few of the attractions that I would have liked to have seen both on Friday and Saturday morning.

There was still plenty to do though. I met with my partner who had travelled there on the Friday. I went to registration in Bailgate to collect my wristband and then we had a stroll down to the Westgate Academy for a look around the stalls. But not before I’d picked up a copy of The Secret of Abdu El Yezdi by Mark Hodder. You could choose between that and A Conspiracy of Achemists by Liesel Schwarz as a free book when purchasing a wristband.

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8066Upon arriving at Westgate, I discovered there were some wonderful stalls with the types of creations that I’ve not seen at other steampunk markets or events. Certainly not in such a large quantity. Treasures on sale included clothing such as corsets and dresses for the ladies with waistcoats, trousers and jackets for the gentlemen. There were divine handmade hats, pocket watches, braces and brooches. There were, horns, daggers and pistols. To the rear of the room there were a couple of authors selling their scribings including Sam Stone (who also ran a few writing workshops over the weekend) and Liesel Schwarz who gave away copies of her book to wristband holders.

8104At 4pm, we attended the Costume Competition which was held in the Ball Room of the Bailgate Assembly Rooms. There were three judges including the esteemed and elusive Herr Doktor. Several contestants took part including a Fencer, Steam Powered Giraffe character and Steampunk Judge Dredd. The latter being the ultimate victor. At 5pm, the competition concluded and that was it for the day’s events as they gave way to The Empire Ball at 7pm and “Oh Dear, What Would the Major Say?” at Bishop Grosseteste University which began at 8pm. Those of us unlucky enough to not obtain tickets enjoyed the local entertainment of restaurants and pubs.

Gary Nichols talking about The Imaginarium

Gary Nichols talking about The Imaginarium

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On Sunday, we began the day by listening to The Imaginarium by Gary Nichols. I’ve written a few articles about this mammoth photography project and I’m still really excited to see the end result of 4,000 steampunks marching to battle. I chatted to Gary and observed the interesting effects that printing images onto Aluminium can achieve.

8240After lunch, we walked around the market place in the square at the top of Steep Hill. Well known purveyors of steampunk contraptions and art included Emma Brackenbury and Doctor Geof. Wandering into the Castle grounds, there’s a long straight path that leads past the Castle to the Crown Court buildings. It ends in a circle and, by all accounts, is nick-named “The Banjo”. We were delighted to find out we were just in time for the Wacky Races. Dozens of people lined the street to watch the racers as they flew past on rickety Penny Farthings and home-made cycles. There was also a little chap in a go-kart being pushed along by an adult. The idea was to race to the end of the straight, complete one full circle, then race back. The first back being declared the winner. As the race started, the grown-ups raced away leaving the go-kart and the boy trailing behind. As he got to the circle, the men were just completing a full circuit. To our delight, instead of returning to the finish line, the men continued to circle until the young boy had completed his circuit and began down the straight to the finish line. Once he was comfortably in the lead, they began to make their way back. The look of joy on his face as he realised he was going to win was marvellous.

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What trading at the Illicit Market may have looked like if it had happened.

What trading at the Illicit Market may have looked like if it had happened.

After a look around the tents in the Castle grounds, we made our way back to Bailgate for a so-called “Illicit Market” – which never happened – in the Assembly Rooms Ballroom. We weren’t allowed in at around 3pm and didn’t queue round to the rear entrance of the Ballroom where we never entered. There were most certainly not a great deal of traders all peddling their wares in a more traditional “hard sell” fashion that may or may not have been prevalent in the Victorian era. There weren’t any books or strange potions for sale, we didn’t see any steampunk inspired brooches or miniature ray guns. It wasn’t crowded as there was nothing going on and that’s a real shame because we would have loved to have seen a secretive market taking place if there had been one. Which there wasn’t.

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There were a lot of photographers with cameras that had no mahogany or brass. Unusual.

I had to make my escape after the Market that never was and I headed for home. I felt like I only had a short stay, but felt like I’d done so much. I’ve never seen so many steampunks – or photographers – in one place and it really made me happy to know that it’s an ever growing culture that is increasing pace every day.

I’m thinking of approaching the organisers with regards to maybe setting something up at next year’s event, so watch this space.

More images:

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Filed under: Articles - Events Tagged: Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Bishop Grosseteste University, Books, Business, Clothing, England, Friday, Gary Nichols, Goggle, H. G. Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Liesel Schwarz, Lincoln Cathedral, Literature, Mark Hodder, Performing arts, Photography, Recreation, Sam Stone, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Shopping, Steam engine, Steam Powered Giraffe, Steampunk, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts

Steampunk spy gets six years prison in North Korea

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Reuters posted an interesting story yesterday about an American living in South Korea who had been posing as a British man called Preston Somerset.
He’d apparently spent some time trying to get an Anime series of Alice in Wonderland published before he suddenly decided to swim up river to North Korea where he was arrested.

Press release
SEOUL (Reuters) – Matthew Miller, the U.S. citizen imprisoned in North Korea on espionage charges, spent months in South Korea pretending to be an Englishman named “Preston Somerset”, acquaintances who met or worked with him said.

The 25-year-old native of Bakersfield, California, did not seem to have close friends, a regular job or means of support during the months he spent in Seoul over a period of at least two years, they said. He gave no inkling of any interest in nuclear-capable and unpredictable North Korea.

Instead, he spent time and money hiring artists to help create his own anime adaption of Alice in Wonderland, the Lewis Carroll fantasy with which he seemed fascinated. At one point he joined a debating class that helped Koreans converse in English, but rarely spoke.

“He was just a mysterious character. He said nothing unless I asked questions,” said Hur Sung-doh, who organised the weekly group debate.

Miller was arrested in North Korea in April this year for tearing up his tourist visa after entering the isolated country with a tour group. He was sentenced to six years hard labour last week.

The reclusive, Stalinist state of North Korea is a magnet for adventurous foreigners, whether Christian missionaries, curious tourists or individuals drawn to the world’s most isolated nation.

One of the last outposts of the Cold War, North Korea is open to but suspicious of Western visitors and any out-of-the-ordinary behaviour by tourists is quickly investigated.

The U.S. government advises its citizens against travel to North Korea.

U.S. missionary Kenneth Bae is serving a hard labour sentence in North Korea after being convicted of crimes against the state. Another American, Jeffrey Fowle, was arrested for leaving a Bible in the toilet of a sailor’s club in Pyongyang, and is currently awaiting trial.

On Tuesday, South Korean marines arrested an American man who had been swimming in a river that flows towards North Korea and said he had been trying to go to the North to meet its leader, Kim Jong Un, Korean media reported.

Miller exhibited some unusual behaviour in Seoul, but nothing linked to North Korea, his acquaintances said.

To Hur, the English-language teacher, he wrote in 2012 in response to an advertisement: “My name is Preston and I have been in Seoul for about 6 months. I am a student from London and saw (your) post.”

Hur said of Miller: “He said he studied journalism and was engaged in newspaper publishing, although I am not sure if he really did that job.”

“READY TO BOLT”

In a televised interview with CNN last month, Miller spoke with a slight British accent and refused to answer questions on his motivations to travel to North Korea.
Miller’s family has not spoken publicly about him and neither have any neighbours or friends he may have had in the United States. Those who met him in South Korea only recalled a slightly odd, quiet young man who gave little away.

“It was very curt and very awkward, speaking to him,” said Mike Stewart, a Seoul-based artist’s studio director who met Miller last year, when he received an e-mail from “Preston Somerset”, which Miller later said was a pen name.

“He seemed very birdy, like ready to bolt at any minute, like he didn’t know what to say and things like that.”

Miller inspected space Stewart was leasing to local artists and paid hundreds of dollars to rent a studio, but never returned.

“He gave me a good chunk of change – and then I never saw him again,” said Stewart, who runs the Jankura Art Space in which Miller had planned to exhibit work from an artist he had commissioned to help create his own spin-off of Alice in Wonderland.

Francis Cole – an American who produces Japanese-style erotic art – said on a freelancing website that he was one of several artists, writers and musicians Miller commissioned to help produce his own Alice in Wonderland-inspired fantasy tale in the style of a Japanese anime.

Miller, under his Preston Somerset alias, and Cole, with the username ‘Eirhjien’, were members of the deviantArt.com community where people can post and share user-made artwork.

He recruited a gaming programmer to produce music for him, artists to draw men dressed as Cheshire Cats, and a ghostwriter to help piece the whole thing, named “Alice in Red”, together, according to posts on the deviantArt website.

“I vividly remember that he wanted it to have an Alice in Wonderland-like feel,” one of the ghostwriters, who was paid $200 to write for Miller, told Reuters via e-mail.

Miller identifies himself as Preston Somerset on several social media websites and cites steampunk, a genre of science fiction, and the Japanese vocal synthesised “humanoid” Hatsune Miku as some of his interests. He lists British writer George Orwell and Irish poet Oscar Wilde as two of his favourite writers.

It is still not clear what happened in the months between Miller’s quest to self-publish his own version of Alice in Wonderland, and his decision to go to North Korea.

Photographs from Miller’s trial in Pyongyang showed a page from his notebook that said he had been “involved” in WikiLeaks and had attempted to access files from U.S. military bases in South Korea. Another page appeared to show a list of places in which Miller had spent time over the years – including London.

The Japan-based Choson Sinbo newspaper, which is loyal to Pyongyang and attended Miller’s trial, said he told the court he lived in Seoul, and that he was unemployed.

The paper said Miller had promised North Korean authorities he could reveal U.S. state secrets “as if he was Edward Snowden”.


Filed under: News - General Steampunk News Tagged: Invention, north Korea, Preston somerset, sci-fi, science fiction, Steampunk, victorian, victorian science fiction, victoriana, wikileaks

New episode from The League of S.T.E.A.M.

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Press release:
After a successful season premiere, the 3rd season of The Adventures of the League of S.T.E.A.M. web series continues with “All Dolled Up” – the second of the season’s ten installments.

In this hilarious adventure, Crackitus Potts attempts to gain the approval of his reproachful in-laws over afternoon tea- but things soon go awry as he becomes controlled by a mysterious voodoo doll!

“All Dolled Up” features guest stars William Knight (Ghost in the Shell, Naruto), Judy Durning (Video Game High School), and Orpheus Black.

The episode was written by Emmy award-winning screenwriter Rich Fogel (Justice League, Batman Beyond)!


Filed under: News - Web series Tagged: America, hg Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, league of steam, sci-fi, Steampunk, victorian science fiction, victoriana

Monster Hunter: The Adventures of Benjamin Gaul

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Press release:
The Monster Hunter: The Adventures of Benjamin Gaul is the first in the steampunk inspired trilogy following a teenage monster hunter, written by Kit Cox (aka Major Jack Union) and published on 30th October 2014.

What’s it about?
In this, the first of a series of tales about junior monster hunter extraordinaire Benjamin Gaul, Kit Cox – author of How to Bag a Jabberwock: A Practical Guide to Monster Hunting (2012) – once again takes us into his weird, wonderful and occasionally terrifying world.

When Benjamin Gaul, the 13-year-old son of an English officer and his Sinhalese wife, is suddenly and mysteriously orphaned, he is sent back to live in Victorian England, in an orphanage deep in the Kentish countryside.

However, everything is not quite so cosy and safe as it at first appears: a strange illness breaks out among the orphanage children and weird creatures haunt the orchards and fields…

Nothing daunted, Benjamin Gaul, together with plucky Gypsy girl Rosalie, is determined to unravel the mystery…


Filed under: News - Books Tagged: Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Benjamin Gaul, Books, Capcom, Election, England, Gaul, H. G. Wells, HunterMonster, Invention, Jabberwocky, Jules Verne, Literature, Nintendo, Pennsylvania, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Steampunk, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana

Author Spotlight: Warren Ellis

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by Warren Ellis

Captain Swing and the Electrical Pirates of Cindery Island

Though he’s probably best known for his work on superhero stories such as Astonishing X-men, writer Warren Ellis has dipped his comic-scripting toe in a wide range of genres, from history to crime to science fiction. So it’s hardly surprising to find that he’s written some steampunk, and that it’s really rather good.

Captain Swing and the Electrical Pirates of Cindery Island
Captain Swing is the most completely steampunk of Ellis’s books. Illustrated by Raulo Caceres, it tells the story of Charlie Gravel, a policeman in 1830 London who finds himself on the trail of a criminal with baffling and powerful technology.

This is steampunk living up to punk’s anti-authoritarian roots. Though the protagonist is a policeman so are the antagonists, and power structures are shown as dangerous and corrupt. The electrical pirates of the title are freedom-loving technologists on the side of right.

This is a great adventure story about heroism and the fight for a better future, while playing with the abandoned technological possibilities of the past. There’s mystery, gunfights and glowing goggles, as imaginary and real elements of London’s divided Victorian society collide. And who doesn’t want an electricity-firing flying pirate ship?

by Warren Ellis

Aetheric Mechanics

Aetheric Mechanics
Aetheric Mechanics, with art by Gianluca Pagliarani, is a shorter story that plays meta-fictional games with existing literature. Again set in London, this time in 1907, it stands at the boundary between steampunk and dieselpunk, revelling in the joy of technology. Early on a character says of a flying ship ‘The whole ship sings quietly, like a gently struck tuning fork’ – a poetic view of what could be an ugly machine.
This story again celebrates off-beat technology and challenges the society within which it sits. From the start the dark militaristic tendencies of 19th and early 20th century Europe are on display. As Britain fights a long war with Ruritania, dead and crippled servicemen pay the price.

Once again detective work drives the story, with Dr Watcham and Saxmundham Raker standing in for Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes. But there is more to this fictional London than just a Sherlock Holmes story, and there thrilling investigation delves into the very nature of their world.

Into other punks
Aside from these two stories, Ellis has written others that might appeal to steampunk fans. Ignition City is a slice of retro-futurist science fiction in which a post-war generation of space adventurers find themselves stuck in a muddy, run-down city amidst the ruins of their ships. Frankenstein’s Womb plays with the origins of one of the great characters of Victorian science fiction. And Planetary, Ellis’s tribute to all that is best in genre fiction, delves back into various parts of the modern past.
There’s a lot for anyone to enjoy in Warren Ellis’s comics, and that includes steampunk fans.

Riding the Mainspring by Andrew Knighton

Riding the Mainspring by Andrew Knighton

About the Author:
Andrew is a freelance writer based in Stockport, England, where the grey skies provide a good motive to stay inside at the word processor. His collection of steampunk stories, Riding the Mainspring, is available through Amazon and Smashwords and he is planning a science fiction collection for later this year. He blogs about science fiction, fantasy and writing at andrewknighton.com and can be found on Twitter as @gibbondemon.


Filed under: Articles - Author Spotlight Tagged: Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Books, England, H. G. Wells, Ignition City, Invention, Jules Verne, Literature, london, Recreation, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Sherlock Holmes, Smashwords, Steam engine, Steam Powered Giraffe, Steampunk, Stockport, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts, Warren Ellis, Watson

Nightmare in Steam

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by Lexi Ostrow

Nightmare in Steam

You can’t expect to live in a dream if all you’ve ever done is walk in nightmares.

Eliza Kempe Dorley is always left in the background. As a female, being top inventor for the Alliance of Silver and Steam has as many draw backs as perks. She’s in charge of the creation of the many tools the Guild uses in pursuit of the demons that run lose in the London Underground, which means without her the demons would be harder to put down. It also means she misses all of the action and has never had the chance to really use any of her inventions. Lucius Cooley Willan is a Nightmare Demon with a penchant for gambling and sleeping with women he shouldn’t and it’s landed him in hot water.

Now he spends his nights slinking in humans dreams, unleashing terrors so strong it kills them and he can capture their soul for his boss. But when he’s ordered to attack the Guild that hunts his kind he’s enthralled by the feisty inventor he comes upon. Eliza’s victim to Lucius in a way no others have been, a sensual dream that she can’t shake when wakes up. When he bumps into her at the trains she’s an addiction he can’t shake. When he out-right disobeys the demon who controls him for some out of dreams interactions with the Eliza, it will be up to him to save her from the nightmare he’s put her in.

The prequel to Nightmare in Steam was released in a collection of rather saucy stories called Les Vaporistes: A Hot Ink Anthology (Steampunk Erotique Book1)


Filed under: News - Books Tagged: apple, Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Eliza, H. G. Wells, InvenSense, Invention, iPhone, IPod, Jules Verne, Limited liability company, Literature, London Underground, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Steam engine, Steampunk, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana

Clockwork Universe: Steampunks vs Aliens

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Clockwork Universe: Steampunks vs Aliens

Clockwork Universe: Steampunks vs Aliens

The local small press Zombies Need Brains LLC, founded by fantasy writer Joshua Palmatier, has returned with the release of its first anthology project, CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE: STEAMPUNK vs ALIENS, and the start of its second anthology project Kickstarter, TEMPORALLY OUT OF ORDER.

After completing a successful kickstarter last summer for the anthology CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE: STEAMPUNK vs ALIENS, we have since produced the anthology and it is now available in trade paperback from Amazon.com and ebook on the Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.

CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE:  When aliens reach Earth, they encounter the clockwork mechanisms and Victorian sensibilities of a full-blown steampunk civilization.  Inspired by the classic science fiction adventure tales of the nineteenth century, leading fantasy and science fiction authors bring us tales of first contact with a twist, as steam power meets laser cannons . . . and dirigibles face off against flying saucers.
CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE contains fourteen stories from some of the genre’s top authors, including:  Ian Tregillis, Leah Cutter, Bradley P. Beaulieu, J.R. Hargenrader, Gini Koch, Jason Palmatier, C.B. Pratt, Jean Marie Ward, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin, David J. Fortier, Brad Hafford, S.C. Butler, and Seanan McGuire.  So pour yourself that cup of tea, settle on those spectacles, sit back, and get ready to have your gaskets blown!

 

CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE: STEAMPUNK vs ALIENS achieved 150% of their initial funding goal, bringing in over $15,000. The CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE anthology has since been produced and released to the general public with reviews that include “kudos to the genius of action-packed prose,” “awesome collection by some old favorites as well as some wonderful new voices,” and “this book has something for everyone.” CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE is available in trade paperback at Amazon.com, and ebook formats on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.

Zombies Need Brains LLC’s second Kickstarter—for an anthology titled TEMPORALLY OUT OF ORDER – launched on Monday, September 15th and runs through October 15th. In its first 24 hours online, it raised over $3,800 of its goal of $10,000 and has been selected as a Kickstarter Staff Pick. TEMPORALLY OUT OF ORDER will feature short stories by some of today’s hottest science fiction/fantasy authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Faith Hunter and Seanan McGuire, along with Gini Koch, Laura Resnick, Laura Anne Gilman, Stephen Leigh, and David B. Coe. Each story will explore how common, everyday objects and gadgets such as cell phones, iPads, microwaves, and refrigerators can go “temporally out of order” (as opposed to “temporarily out of order”). Additional authors will be added to the anthology if the Kickstarter reaches $20,000, including Juliet E. McKenna, Jean Marie Ward, and New York Times bestselling author Jack Campbell (aka John Hemry). It will be edited by local Binghamton author Joshua Palmatier and Patricia Bray.

TEMPORALLY OUT OF ORDER:  While sitting at the airport waiting for a flight, I saw a phone booth with a note reading “Temporally Out of Order.” Obviously it was a typo, but the mistake takes on a whole new meaning when viewed from a science fiction/fantasy frame of mind. This anthology will take on the challenge of interpreting what “temporally out of order” could mean for modern day – or perhaps not so modern – gadgets, such as the cell phone, laptop, television, radio, iPod, or even that microwave or refrigerator! Edited by Joshua Palmatier and Patricia Bray, it will contain approximately 14 stories with an average length of 6000 words each.  The anthology will include short stories by:  David B. Coe, Laura Anne Gilman, Faith Hunter, Stephen Leigh, Gini Koch, Seanan McGuire, and Laura Resnick.  Additional authors will be added as stretch goals, including Jack Campbell, Jean Marie Ward, and Juliet E. McKenna. All other slots aside from the named authors will be filled by the open call for submissions following the successful completion of the kickstarter.
Also of note:  The first 400 backers of the kickstarter will receive a free ebook of short stories from Stephen Leigh called A RAIN OF PEBBLES, an awesome bonus for that that get in on the kickstarter early.

 

Patricia Bray & Joshua Palmatier have edited three other anthologies in the past – AFTER HOURS: TALES FROM THE UR-BAR, THE MODERN FAE’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING HUMANITY and CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE: STEAMPUNK vs ALIENS. Both are published authors in the science fiction and fantasy field, with over a dozen books on the shelves between them.

Check out the Kickstarter at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/543968884/temporally-out-of-order-anthology-sfandf

Check out the Zombies Need Brains webpage at www.zombiesneedbrains.com.


Filed under: News - Books Tagged: Books, David B. Coe, England, Gini Koch, H. G. Wells, Invention, Joshua Palmatier, Jules Verne, Juliet E. McKenna, Kickstarter, Literature, Recreation, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Seanan McGuire, Steam engine, Steampunk, Stephen Leigh, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana

Apothecarium alternative craft fair at The Civic, Barnsley

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Flyer

Flyer

Apothecarium
The Panorama
29 November 2014
10am – 4pm
Free Admission

Apothecarium @ The Civic is a delicious addition to the South Yorkshire craft scene. Featuring a variety of different makers, this fair will concentrate on the alternative side of craft, encompassing all things gothic, steampunk, rock, punk and geek.

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Our fairs are all free for the public to attend – we don’t believe in charging an entrance fee. Held on The Panorama on level 3 of The Civic, Apothecarium will take place on Saturday 29 November and is open to the public between 10am and 4pm.

For updates and more information, check out the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/apothecariumbarnsley

I say ladies and gentlemen, why not dress up in your most splendid garb and have a visit.

If you’re a trader and wish to trade at this event, please contact David Sinclair at davidsinclair@barnsleycivic.co.uk


Filed under: News - Events Tagged: apothecarium, Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Barnsley, Books, civic, Clothing, Craft, Cybergoth, England, Facebook, Fair, fayre, Gothic, H. G. Wells, hg Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, market, Recreation, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Shopping, South Yorkshire, Steam engine, Steampunk, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts, Whitby, Whitby Gothic Weekend

Antediluvian crowd funder aims to get YOU infront of the camera

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Antedivulian set in AtlantisThere’s just one month left to donate to Antediluvian – the steampunk web series that can get you on camera. I briefly mentioned this a few days ago on the Steampunk Journal Facebook page and now there’s only a month left.

It appears that Antediluvian is an island that can float through time and space. It is in fact Atlantis and sounds like a Dr Who/Lost mash. Because of the temporal basis of the plot, steampunks from around America can be involved with the project (it seems to be just open to the USA at the moment) and that’s where your donation will go along with buying new equipment, such as cameras, lighting, transportation etc.

Antedivulian web seriesThere are a lot of contributors already that are helping with the project that aren’t steampunks, so you don’t have to be a steampunk to get involved. As the crowd funding page states:

“Many people involved have nothing to do with steampunk but as animators, cgi artist, wardrobe designers, painters, visual effects artist, photographers, actors, makeup artist, and other pratical effects artist you can see the list goes on and on. They are all donating their time and hard work to make this series and promote themselves as artist.

“It’s a difficult thing in this day and age to promote your talents as an artist, but we are offering that to those who are able to get involved.”

It’s a shame that the project can’t expand outside America, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t help in some way. The web series will most likely benefit from global marketing and promotion, so if you’re interested in helping in some way, you can get in touch with the Director Dustin Hawkins on the Facebook page here:

Antedivulian Facebook page

You can donate via monetary means on the GoFundMe page here:

Antedivulian GoFundMe page


Filed under: News - Web series Tagged: Art, Artist, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Atlantis, Facebook, H. G. Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Kickstarter, LEGO, Performing arts, Recreation, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Star Wars, Steam engine, Steam Powered Giraffe, Steampunk, Tim Powers, United States, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts

Interview with Rabiah Al-Sibai of Datamancer Labs

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The Computational Engine

The Nagy Magical-Movable-Type Pixello-Dynamotronic Computational Engine

Last year the global steampunk community lost one of its most cherished and well known characters. Richard “Doc” Nagy was the main designer and founder of Datamancer – the steampunk computer redesign company. In this frank interview, I talk to Rabiah Al-Sibai who has taken over operations of Datamancer Labs in the wake of their terrible loss. Here he talks of an employer and friend who had incredible vision, took a risk on his passion and spent days playing computer games when he should really have been working.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and the company.
My name is Rabiah Al-Sibai, I worked under Richard (Doc) for close to 5 years before his tragic passing. Datamancer is and was about Doc’s dream to put the beauty of the past into new technology. The original idea for designs were to build a PC suite from every artistic era in human history, the first being the Victorian era, where “Steampunk” was born.

How is business going?
Datamancer as a company has never made huge amounts of money, that being said, business has steadily grown every year since the company started. We enjoy our work and that is why we do it.

Marquis keyboard in the steampunk range

The Marquis keyboard £691.53

If at all possible, could you take us briefly through a typical day?
We usually start at 10 am, at the beginning of the day we open up the workshop and put on some music. Since most of what we sell are keyboards, most of the Datamancer artisans are going through the process of making keyboards throughout the day. Each person has their own projects that they complete on a certain time frame. We usually close shop around 5 pm.

Do you get many private commissions?
Private commissions are approximately 30% of our sales. We love doing them because our customers are extremely creative and it usually leads to new products for us.

You’re best known for producing steampunk contraptions, but you’ve also produced some that would be closer to dieselpunk. Was this a conscious effort to widen the market appeal or do designs just “happen” from creativity?
Most of our designs were commissioned from customers who said they wanted a rough aesthetic and Doc came up with a design to match. This is true of our Dieselpunk and Art Deco designs.

The laptop that started it all

The first Datamancer steampunk laptop

Datamancer.net shows a wonderful steampunk laptop and in one of Richard’s last interviews, he mentioned making a cane with a miniature plasma globe fitted to the top. You seem to be focusing mainly on keyboards now, is that a business decision? Or was it always the case?
Yes the cane was an awesome idea. We focus on keyboards mainly because that is what sells, in order to keep the lights on we have to be a business as well as artists. Doc never knew that the keyboards would be the biggest seller and it was not always the plan to sell mostly keyboards, but that has been the focus for a very long time now. When we can, we will expand to more and more products. I want a to create Datamancer product for every computer peripheral between the user and the wall in front of them. Including the desk. Most of what limits us in creating new items is operating capitol.

Datamancer steampunk Laptop 2.0

Datamancer steampunk Laptop 2.0

The loss of Richard must have been emotional on all the staff. Was their a particular thing you all did to help one another through it?
It was very tough. As time passed we saw things and heard jokes that he would have loved, and talking to one another about how much he would have loved those things helped us come to terms with his passing.

The company has a large following and a lot of respect throughout the steampunk community. Have you had much feedback from customers after Richard’s tragic accident?
The community was amazing during that time. Everyone was extremely supportive and really just wanted to help. We probably had thousands of emails within the first few days and many of them wanted to donate for his funeral. Obviously it was difficult to respond to everyone during that time but we were very grateful to all of them for their support.

Datamancer Seafarer keyboard £1,372.69

Datamancer Seafarer keyboard £1,372.69

You obviously have an extremely talented workforce. Would it be right to say Richard was always the main “ideas man” and would you say it’s now a team effort?
Everyone who creates the pieces also comes up with ideas for them. Doc was always the “ideas man” but he always looked at our feedback and the response from the community when creating something. Now I do the same thing but with more input from others, so yes it is very much a team effort.

Which product is the most difficult to construct? Is it a case of “you get what you pay for” and the most expensive takes the most time?
The most difficult products we have ever made would probably be any of the brass displays. We have to engineer a way to suspend 20+ pounds of brass in the air with a delicate screen held inside. It’s not an easy task and the price does reflect that. A simple mistake can cost us hundreds of dollars.

The Baron of Cyprus keyboard

The Baron of Cyprus keyboard £829.84

What is the most outlandish item you’ve been requested to make?
Our most outlandish request would be the American flag keyboard. Someone wanted an American flag faceplate, red white and blue LEDs, and similarly colored parts of the keyboard all over. Ultimately we did not make this keyboard but it would have been an interesting build.

Can you tell us any amusing anecdote from working with Richard?
I don’t have a specific anecdote but he was the type of person who cared for his friends a lot. We spent a number of days sitting around playing video games with him all day because he didn’t want us to work too hard. He always created a fun environment to work in.

Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.

You can commission Datamancer Labs and see some of their work for sale on the main website here:

Datamancer Labs website

Go and like their Facebook page to keep up to date with their movements:

Datamancer Facebook page

Richard "Doc" Nagy

Richard “Doc” Nagy

 


Filed under: Articles - Interviews Tagged: Art, Art Deco, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Datamancer, Design, Doc, H. G. Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, Keyboard instrument, Light-emitting diode, Recreation, Richard, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Steampunk, United States, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Video Games, Visual Arts

Steampunks and servants

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Back in August, I wrote an article in response to a rant on iO9 about how steampunks and other historical re-enactors only concentrate on the lighter, shinier side of the past and ignore the grimy, pestilence ridden side of it. You can read the article here.

In this article, Andrew Knighton considers the use of servants in a steampunk universe and ponders why they might not be present in stories.

Words by Andrew Knighton

Steampunk and servants
Given the eras in which much steampunk is set, it’s surprising that servants don’t play a larger role in the genre. After all, the Victorian age was one in which personal service was widespread. The upper and even middle classes were saved from the grubby tasks of cooking, cleaning, tidying and gardening by armies of politely servile working women and men. Yet we seldom see this reflected in steampunk.
Which raises the question of why, and whether we could do more with servants in steampunk.

An absence
The presence or absence of servants often goes largely unmentioned in steampunk stories. Sometimes the adventurers aren’t well enough off to afford their own servants. Sometimes circumstances are such that they would hardly have a servant with them – after all, who brings the chamber maid on an Amazon expedition or fetches the butler for a rooftop chase? Sometimes the servants simply fade into the background.

Avoiding the awkward
So why aren’t servants shown more in steampunk?
One reason may be our discomfort at the social divisions involved. As steampunks we want to see the ideal of a past age reinvented, and that ideal is more egalitarian for us than it was for the people of the time. Dashing adventurer Sir Timothy Blaze-Simms can only run around being dashing because of the people forced by social and economic circumstances to cater to his whims, but that’s a lot less fun for us to think about.
There’s also an element of agency – the extent to which the characters determine their own fates. A servant’s life is largely dictated by someone else, and this makes it harder for them to be the active and exciting protagonist of a story, or even a prominent villain.

Making servants work
But there are ways to make this work. Cosplay and roleplay games often feature butlers and maids who are as active and exciting as their employers. This involves ignoring some of the reality of how class divisions worked, but if we can reinvent the technology of the past then why not the social practices too?
Gail Carriger makes good use of servants and manual labourers in her Finishing School novels. The soot-stained crew working in the flying school’s engine room provide a contrast with the upper class characters studying above, while the automata enforcing night-time curfews bring a fully steampunk solution to the issue of service.
There are plenty of different ways to make servants central characters in steampunk stories. Doing so adds more variety to the stories, and a more authentic reflection of society in the age of steam. So whatever your steampunk creation, whether it’s stories, costumes, crafts or songs, think about whether there’s a place in it for servants.

More information about the Author can be found on his webpage: Andrew Knighton

 


Filed under: Articles - Steampunk Tagged: Amazon, Andrew Knighton, Art, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, England, Gail Carriger, H. G. Wells, Invention, Jules Verne, london, Recreation, sci-fi, science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Snow White, Steam engine, Steampunk, United States, victorian, Victorian era, victorian science fiction, victoriana, Visual Arts
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