Steampunk literature

[Stella_Omega]

For those who want to read the stuff-- a pretty decent article from Abe's Books on the topic. I think it's a decently comprehensive list of what characterises the genre, too-- for them that writes

It lists China Miéville's book "Iron Council," -- I really enjoyed his "Perdido Station."

 

[estragon]

The hard part is to get the language right. I've read pieces where 21st Century writers try to get their characters to speak 19th Century British English, and it just doesn't work. You've got to read the contemporary stuff by the yard, rinse and repeat a few times, before you get it right--if at all.

 

[squarejohn]

For those who want to read the stuff-- a pretty decent article from Abe's Books on the topic. I think it's a decently comprehensive list of what characterises the genre, too-- for them that writes

It lists China Miéville's book "Iron Council," -- I really enjoyed his "Perdido Station."

Steampunk is a new word for me Stella, so I had to click on the link. Interesting stuff. I remember reading, back in the seventies, a novel something like this. It was written in the first person. The hero of the story had a monumental ego that made it an hilarious read, yet it was technically correct. I think the title was "The Baloonist." and here is a quote: "It was one of those languages I didn't bother to learn." If I could lay my hands on a copy, I'd read it again.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Oh damn! Just look at that list of titles. Even if I discard all the ones involving the undead (sheesh!), angels or magicians there are still enough to happily waste several weeks of time, enthralled.

For those interested, I've written a couple myself under the pen name Mario Vacchi. They're online here. Mine, of course, are primarily erotic.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The hard part is to get the language right. I've read pieces where 21st Century writers try to get their characters to speak 19th Century British English, and it just doesn't work. You've got to read the contemporary stuff by the yard, rinse and repeat a few times, before you get it right--if at all.

Oh, yeah.

Although a lot of these are not set in the actual time period at all, but in a society that's similar. Neal Stephenson's "Diamond Age" is set in the future, in fact-- it's set about seventy years after "Snow Crash."

Steampunk is a new word for me Stella, so I had to click on the link. Interesting stuff. I remember reading, back in the seventies, a novel something like this. It was written in the first person. The hero of the story had a monumental ego that made it an hilarious read, yet it was technically correct. I think the title was "The Baloonist." and here is a quote: "It was one of those languages I didn't bother to learn." If I could lay my hands on a copy, I'd read it again.

There's a lovely children's book, "Twenty-One Balloons," is that it?

 

[stephen55]

http://www.deviantart.com/download/97579453/Steampunk_Abe_Lincoln_Costume_by_StudioCreations.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Steampunk-falksen.jpg/399px-Steampunk-falksen.jpg

Where and when is the next convention? I want to be there.

 

[stephen55]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mgyYTW2w19c/Ro-O7NwhnbI/AAAAAAAAATs/eW51uASV8fc/s1600/FrankLabMainPic.jpg

Steampunk medical experiment....

 

[Stella_Omega]

You just missed Nova Albion-- so did I, in fact.

Tuscon is hosting the Wild West con in march.

Seattle has one in October; http://www.steamcon.org/

More at TOR

ETA: Here's one in Victoria!
http://victoriasteamexpo.blogspot.com/

 

[squarejohn]

Oh, yeah.

Although a lot of these are not set in the actual time period at all, but in a society that's similar. Neal Stephenson's "Diamond Age" is set in the future, in fact-- it's set about seventy years after "Snow Crash."
There's a lovely children's book, "Twenty-One Balloons," is that it?

No, that's not it. It was what could be called a woman's romance novel, but it was a hell of a lot more entertaining than that.

 

[3113]

Steampunk Scholar

You also might want to check out this site which seems to take it's Steampunk (old and new) very seriously. I just discovered him the other day.

The Steampunk Scholar

 

[3113]

Tuscon is hosting the Wild West con in march.

Too late for the Wild West. That was March 4th.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Too late for the Wild West. That was March 4th.

why did I see "March" and think; "May?"

stupid subconcious and its wishful thinking...

 

[TE999]

I'll be darned, I was reading Steampunk before it was called that. Books by Welles, Verne, Moorcock, Moore, Laumer, Harrison, etc. in that genre' grace my shelf. 'A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!' by Harrison and 'Bring the Jubilee' by Moore are two of my favorites.

 

[oggbashan]

Abebooks.co.uk sent me this today.

Og

 

[Handley_Page]

Abebooks.co.uk sent me this today.

Og

" Steampunk is a relatively new style of writing, having only really existed as a true genre since the late 1980s, but the roots of steampunk can be traced back to the 19th century where Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Mary Shelley and other authors were using steampunkish themes and their writing paved the way for the modern genre. "

I'm not convinced by that at all. Verne, Welles, Shelley, etc., were writing in their time. To my mind 'Steampunk' is a modern re-creation of that time, both in the devices used and, particularly, the writing style.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

" Steampunk is a relatively new style of writing, having only really existed as a true genre since the late 1980s, but the roots of steampunk can be traced back to the 19th century where Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Mary Shelley and other authors were using steampunkish themes and their writing paved the way for the modern genre. "

I'm not convinced by that at all. Verne, Welles, Shelley, etc., were writing in their time. To my mind 'Steampunk' is a modern re-creation of that time, both in the devices used and, particularly, the writing style.

Correct. In the Victorian Era, Verne, et al. were writing cutting edge SF. Today, Steampunk is a delightful way for otherwise adult folk to indulge their taste for dress-up and fantasy. I'm fully in favor of dressing up and fantasizing. That's one of the reasons I'm here (and my being here is one of the reasons my Steampunk fantasies are perv!). The cub likes the Renaissance Faire, an old friend of mine likes SCI and I like Steampunk. Today it is but a style.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The article is talking about the roots of the genre right there-- not the genre itself.

Yanno, like the Seeds, the Troggs, Iggy Pop, were not punk rockers but are part of the roots of punk.

Desmond Decker was not a reggae musician but is part of the roots of reggae.

(You can tell what my research subject has been today, can't you!)

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The article is talking about the roots of the genre right there-- not the genre itself.

Yanno, like the Seeds, the Troggs, Iggy Pop, were not punk rockers but are part of the roots of punk.

Desmond Decker was not a reggae musician but is part of the roots of reggae.

(You can tell what my research subject has been today, can't you!)

Are you back in school?