Steampunk Revolution
A title 'borrowed' from a song by Abney Park.
I've recently, off-and-on, done some research into steampunk clothing and accessories. I always just thought of steampunk's appeal to me as part of my rejection of 21st century culture...
But, with the abundance of steampunk-related material, it occurs to me that steampunk culture is popular with many more people than myself.
There are steampunk conventions, of course; steampunk blogs, steampunk online stores, Bar Rescue even created a steampunk-themed bar. I used to play a steampunk-themed MMORPG. There's even an entire category of fiction dedicated to steampunk.
Steampunk is a culture created around the postulate of an alternate history, where steam technology didn't die out, but flourished. Fashion, technology, and of particular note, ideas of the Victorian era, mid-19th to early 20th century, are distinctive of the culture.
I'm encountering more and more people who are embracing the culture to one degree or another. And I have to think that they, too, feel an urge to reject the 20th century.
It's obviously not a distaste for technology; but I do think it's a rejection of the current hypersensitive culture which embraces "soft" culture and "soft" (aka "green") technologies.
I wonder if the emergence of this sub-culture is a way for people trapped in the 21st century, Democratic People's United States to go on strike in small ways, to express their rejection of the current destructive drive toward socialism (by embracing the most antithetical era possible).
I've recently, off-and-on, done some research into steampunk clothing and accessories. I always just thought of steampunk's appeal to me as part of my rejection of 21st century culture...
But, with the abundance of steampunk-related material, it occurs to me that steampunk culture is popular with many more people than myself.
There are steampunk conventions, of course; steampunk blogs, steampunk online stores, Bar Rescue even created a steampunk-themed bar. I used to play a steampunk-themed MMORPG. There's even an entire category of fiction dedicated to steampunk.
Steampunk is a culture created around the postulate of an alternate history, where steam technology didn't die out, but flourished. Fashion, technology, and of particular note, ideas of the Victorian era, mid-19th to early 20th century, are distinctive of the culture.
I'm encountering more and more people who are embracing the culture to one degree or another. And I have to think that they, too, feel an urge to reject the 20th century.
It's obviously not a distaste for technology; but I do think it's a rejection of the current hypersensitive culture which embraces "soft" culture and "soft" (aka "green") technologies.
I wonder if the emergence of this sub-culture is a way for people trapped in the 21st century, Democratic People's United States to go on strike in small ways, to express their rejection of the current destructive drive toward socialism (by embracing the most antithetical era possible).
Years ago I came across Lindsay Technical Books, now gone, but the books are around from various sellers and are fascinating pieces written back in the day. Lindsay's genius was in rediscovering them!
http://www.lindsaybks.com/link1.html
http://www.youroldtimebookstore.com/
http://www.gingerybookstore.com/
http://nbbooks.com/
http://homebuiltedm.tripod.com/
http://www.hpfriedrichs.com/
Here's a western-steampunk oriented game:
http://www.gog.com/game/steamworld_dig
Here's where you can find some steampunk-themed clothing:
http://www.steampunkemporium.com/steam.p...
Here is some steampunked computer equipment:
http://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/th...
http://steampunkworkshop.com/
I typed "www.steamworks.com" trying to get to the Steam website, and this came up:
http://steamworks.com/
Steam is a popular competitor to GoG, and the parent company I believe is called "Valve".
http://store.steampowered.com/
The entire "Myst" franchise (six games, one of which became an MMO, 3 books, and a loyal fanbase) is essentially steampunk-themed. It takes place primarily in the early 19th century. Uru: Ages Beyond Myst takes the game between Myst III: Exile and Myst IV: Revelation and makes it a multiplayer game that takes place in contemporary time.
http://mystonline.com/en/
At one time, I thought it might become kind of a virtual gulch (interesting that the D'Ni civilization existed beneath the New Mexico desert...)
One Minecraft fan made a "Mystcraft" mod, which changed Minecraft into a more Myst-like game.
As for Steampunk books, not yet, although I'm tempted.
Here's a website with a section announcing upcoming Steampunk books. Some look interesting enough to read...
http://www.steampunk.com/c/books/
My story, "Roarke's Drift" is sort-of steampunk oriented: The Drift is an airship, something very popular in steampunk culture (I learned that after coming up with the story idea), part of Roarke's "anti-social" behavior is expressed in his affectation of Victorian habits, toys, and values.
The ship's engines are (allegedly...) a variation of the Stirling hot-air engine, at one point in the story series Roarke and Chief Pryce take a modern remake of an old steam-powered car and overawe a group of young car enthusiasts (read: late-night racers), before outrunning the cops...
But, as for writing a story that takes place in an actual steampunk world... nope. Not yet.
Let me correct it here...
"feel an urge to reject the 21st century. "