Category Archives: steampunk

rambles, rants, steampunk, thoughts, Uncategorized

Pike’s Anti-Anti-Steampunk Rant

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Hating on steampunk seems to be the cool thing to do lately. It seems like I can’t turn around without my invisible fluffy bunny tail brushing up against some author or blogger somewhere who found a cogwheel in his or her soup and isn’t happy with the waiter, and wants the entire Interwebs to know about it.

Art by http://thatoddowl.deviantart.com/

So obviously I’m going to step in here and address a few of the issues that seem to be cropping up the most. As a disclaimer before I begin: I obviously do not speak for all steampunks, just the clockwork rabbit variety.

1.) Steampunk is Overdone

I’ll actually concede the point on this one although I also don’t think it’s the end of the world. Steampunk is getting a lot of press and attention right now and I think it’s primarily because of a few reasons: One, it’s attractive to a lot of different pre-existing groups and subcultures (goths, punks, geeks, makers, etc.), two, it’s so different than traditional fantasy or sci-fi, and three, it just plain looks cool if you need a spiffy wedding or Halloween party in a pinch.

There seems to be a concern that a lot of people are jumping onto the steampunk bandwagon, and a lot of non-steampunks are ranting about it. Guess what, though, a lot of bona fide steampunks are ranting about it as well. (Trust me, “Steampunk is going mainstream, everyone run for cover” is basically the most repeated thread subject on the steampunk forums I frequent.)

My overall opinion is that the exposure is good because yeah, you’re going to get the bandwagoners, but you’re also going to get the people who finally realize “This is it! This is the term for what I have loved all this time!” and in the end the wheat will separate itself from the chaff and it’s not a huge deal. I’ve seen it happen in other fandoms and it’ll happen again here.

2.) Steampunk is just a bunch of plastic gears glued onto nerf guns and top hats.

This stereotype is perpetuated by what you see so often on Regretsy and truthfully some steampunks themselves. To which, in response, I invite you to really dig into the culture and spend some time on the “maker” sections of steampunk websites. Not only will you figure out within five minutes that “glued-on gears” is largely (though not universally) frowned upon within the culture itself, but the steampunk subculture has an inordinately high percentage of members with backgrounds in engineering, mechanics, and other related fields. These are people who value items with function. Things that are beautiful and that work. “Post pictures of your workshop” threads are pages and pages long. These aren’t just people who are sticking old clock pieces on random items and calling it steampunk, these are people with garages filled with lathes and power tools.

You know, like this thing.

3.) Steampunk is silly and is about stuff that doesn’t work in the real world.

This is a criticism that is frequently leveled against steampunk literature by the serious hard sci-fi folks. While there is some truth in this generalization, that’s frequently the nature of the genre. It’s fun! That’s why we’re here.

That said, do refer to my previous answer. Most steampunks are well aware of the fact that their imaginary tech bends the rules of physics. Several of us, myself included, work hard to make sure that said fantastical objects are at least almost real. I have seen several multi-page forum threads that delve into the detailed minutiae of mechanics problems presented by various sorts of imaginary airships or automatons and said threads always impress me with the vast amount of knowledge in this area that many involved in steampunk possess.

4.) Steampunk fans want to bask in the glory days of upper-class Anglo-Saxon masculinity as embodied by the Victorian Era, or some such.

No, seriously, I see this a lot, and it always cracks me up. These people apparently don’t know that the possibilities offered by non-European steampunk are a frequent topic of discussion, enough that there are entire blogs and websites dedicated solely to said concept, oh, and that most steampunk is less about the upper-class and more about the middle and (especially) lower classes. That’s where the “punk” comes in to play. Sure, there are the dandies among us, and items such as top hats and monocles are fun to play with, but it’s not like we’re part of some vast steampunk conspiracy (although I like the sound of that) to return the world to 19th century imperialism. We are all aware of the fact that the 19th century had major problems. We think the 21st century has some pretty big problems, too, and that’s the connection and that’s the point.

Once we invent our time machine the Global Steampunk Conspiracy will travel to the Cretaceous period in the name of science.

5.) It’s not a “real” subculture/genre/etc., it’s just a fad, et al.

I’ll be the first to admit that the definition of steampunk as both a “subculture” and a “genre” still seems to be rather tenuous. Most steampunks, being a largely intelligent lot, will admit the same. “What is steampunk?” discussions inevitably derail into long, complicated, rambling essays and no one ever comes to a conclusion. Perhaps the one conclusion that most people make is that right now it’s a bit of a jumble. Art and literature that defines itself as steampunk or steampunk-inspired runs the gamut from retro-styled science fiction to relatively accurate historical fiction to pulpy action novels to fantasy/alternate universe stuff to post-apocalyptic stories, and that’s just the surface.

Likewise, if you identify as a steampunk, you could be one of many people that fall under that umbrella: literature fans, art fans, writers, artists, musicians, people who dress up, people who don’t dress up, makers, people who view it as nothing more than a fashion style, and people who take it very seriously as a sort of political/social statement. When you throw all of those people into a room and they all choose to identify as one label, things get a little muddled, and you know what? That’s completely understandable.

Ultimately, I see the steampunk movement as one that is about camaraderie, imagination, beauty, science, and above all, optimism all mixed up in a blender and topped with a shiny pair of goggles that you modded yourself. It’s about figuring out why something works the way it does, making it better, and making it stylish while you’re at it. Some of us think we could to do that to society. Nothing wrong with that, right?

Plus, did I mention the airships? Because the airships are awesome.

Admit it: you wouldn't complain if this was the preferred transportation method of the future.
pictures, steampunk, supergeekery

Happy Halloween From Your Friendly Neighborhood Goggles Bunny

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I am supposed to be the White Rabbit from the Wonderland books (which I adored as a kid), but I couldn’t resist tossing in a pair of goggles on the hat. C’mon, can you blame me?

I’m disappointed that you can’t see the shiny golden watch chain in the picture, but trust me, that’s the best part! *geeks out*

Really though, since I have no money the costume was made from thrift shop items and various other things that I already had laying around so overall I’m satisfied.

music, steampunk

Three Awesome Steampunk Bands/Musicians

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Script Frenzy is complete. I’m still debating whether or not to make the PDF file available for download for those who want to read about anthropomorphic chemical elements for whatever reason– frankly, I haven’t put much thought into it because I’m already looking ahead. Specifically, I’m looking to jump into Hardcore Novel Editing Take Three on a book that first devoured my life over half a year ago:

Twitter: The new facility for historical research.

To get myself prepared for this occasion, I’ve done several things, including: changing my computer’s color scheme to polished bronze, briefly hijacking my parents’ high-volume printer in the name of Queen Victoria, and making goggles.

No, seriously, I made goggles.

I’m also setting up a music playlist similar to the one I used while writing the first draft. Said playlist consists of liberal amounts of the “American Tail” and “Dinosaur” soundtracks, oh, and a few “thematic” artists.

So if you’re like me and like a little steam in your punk and a little punk in your steam, here’s a list for you of three of my current faves:

The Clockwork Quartet: Anytime I talk about this band I wind up babbling superlatives and synonyms for the word “epic”. To make a very long ramble short, I hold this band responsible for the following:

  • Inspiring me to fill my book with things like clockwork automatons (I would also toss “airships” in there, but frankly, Final Fantasy is responsible for that more than anything.)
  • Firmly cementing my already-present but rather nascent love of all things steampunk
  • Much of the “art direction” and “theatrics” of my book (as much as a book can have those two things).
  • Somehow breaking onto my Last.fm Top 15 despite only having two released songs.

For the uninitiated, the Clockwork Quartet makes songs that tell stories. AWESOME stories. About things like rogue clockmakers or distraught mad scientists. They’re very theatrical in nature, and I am 99% sure that you will find them “pretty spiffy” at the very least, or more likely, “ZOMG THAT AWESOME’D MY FACE OFF”.

When I first found out about them I listened to their two songs on repeat for six hours straight or something like that. I still listen to them a lot. Twitter will explode with my fangirl on the day that they release another song– mark my words. (I’ve also officially christened myself “The Stowaway”– it matches the names of all their other characters, and seriously, I will stow away on their airship.)

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Vernian Process has been around forever. One of the great things about them is that they aren’t limited in style, or scope, really. I mean, they have an album of Castlevania remix songs. Is that win, or is that win? (Correct answer: It’s win.)

One of the things that I think they are best at is atmosphere music. I played a loooot of Vernian Process when writing “airship scenes” in my novel. They have an instrumental song called “The Maiden Flight” which is 13 minutes of sheer aether-soaring goodness. I’m pretty sure I could guess what it was about even if it wasn’t called “The Maiden Flight”, just because the imagery in the music is that evocative.

“Her Clockwork Heart” is another one of my faves of theirs– a wistful, bittersweet melody about a robot girl. Side note: this is another reason why I love steampunk music: you know how people toss around stereotypes about music genres? Country is gonna be about your wife leaving you and your dog dying, rap is about… well. You know. Okay, so, steampunk is about robot girls. And you know what, THAT’S FREAKING AWESOME.

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Tom Slatter – I just stumbled across this guy recently, and can I just say, I have no idea why he isn’t more widely listened to. It’s quirky, experimental acoustic about airships and clockwork devices and automatons. Now I don’t know about you, but that sentence would have sold ME already.

Of course nobody offered me that description so it was the first song, “Mechanism”, on his album that really sold me. (You can go listen to it on the website, by the way. Go. Now.) Yeah, the chords are bizarre and there are weird notes flying around in the background, but that’s why it sounds SO GOOD. I had to listen to this one over and over again because it was brilliant like that. It’s not too often you come across something that is harmonious by being disharmonious.

(Disclaimer: I know nothing about music, except what I learned in middle school orchestra and from messing around in FruityLoops.)

Pic related.

Ultimately though, the great thing is that Tom Slatter’s music ends up sounding nothing like the previous two bands I mentioned and still comes out as quintessentially “steampunk”, and not just because of the subject matter of the songs or how “period” the music is. He nails steampunk by capturing the essence of subtle subversion that it is. The music is weird, but you know what, so is dressing up in goggles and mechanical body parts. That’s the point.

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WELL! There you have it. Shoutouts to three artists that more people should listen to. As for me, I’m off to work, and then this will be followed tonight by leaping head first into novel editing! …or I might get sidetracked by a Back to the Future marathon. We’ll see.

steampunk, supergeekery, Uncategorized

In Which Pike Fangirls Like A… Rabid Fangirl

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I have been informed that today is unofficially Ada Lovelace Day. Clearly I have to blog about my fangirling for Lovelace.

Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (for that is her proper name), child of the rather infamous poet Lord Byron, was born in 1815 and is widely regarded as the world’s first computer programmer.

In the 1800s. Yes, you heard that right.

Cause around this time a brilliant guy named Charles Babbage (who I also fangirl over– his autobiography? Read it. Yeah. He had a hilarious childhood. But I digress) took a pile of draft paper and whipped up a bunch of sketches for mechanical computers. He had one called a Difference Engine, which was designed to calculate polynomial functions, and one called an Analytical Engine, which was much more complex and designed to be programmable via punch cards. Babbage’s ultimate plans called for it to be, essentially, a modern computer, except powered by gears and steam. Thus sayeth the Wikipedia:

There was to be a store (that is, a memory) capable of holding 1,000 numbers of 50 decimal digits each (ca. 20.7kB). An arithmetical unit (the “mill”) would be able to perform all four arithmetic operations, plus comparisons and optionally square roots. Initially it was conceived as a difference engine curved back upon itself, in a generally circular layout, with the long store exiting off to one side. (Later drawings depict a regularized grid layout.) Like the central processing unit (CPU) in a modern computer, the mill would rely upon its own internal procedures, to be stored in the form of pegs inserted into rotating drums called “barrels,” to carry out some of the more complex instructions the user’s program might specify. (See microcode for the modern equivalent.)

The programming language to be employed by users was akin to modern day assembly languages. Loops and conditional branching were possible, and so the language as conceived would have been Turing-complete long before Alan Turing’s concept.

First of all, does that not blow your mind? This guy was a century ahead of his time. Completed versions of these machines were never actually built in Babbage’s lifetime, due to a lack of funding, but some one hundred years later a group of people built one of his machines according to his plans. It worked. And to make things better, it was absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous in action. Look at this thing move.

So anyways, Ada Lovelace, who happened to be an amazing mathematician, was doing documentation for Babbage’s machines and just started coming up with examples for how one might “program” the analytical engine. You know what else she said? She wrote about the possibility that “the engine might compose elaborate and scientific pieces of music of any degree of complexity or extent”. She foresaw electronic music. In the mid 19th century. Ever sat down and dinked around with FruityLoops or a similar program? Yeah. Ada Lovelace totally called it 170 years ago. Just sayin’.

Now from what I can gather, the point of Ada Lovelace Day is to talk about women (or a specific woman) in computing/science/etc. Which is a pretty great idea, because I know from experience that contrary to the video-game-osphere (and WoW-o-sphere especially), where there are a lot of women involved, something like, say, the open source movement is considerably more guy-centric, and the idea of how one should approach this topic is actually something I’ve thought about a lot. So, I fully support the Ada Lovelace Day idea.

But honestly if you told me to pick a woman in computing/science to admire, I would’ve picked Ada Lovelace to begin with, anyway, because I am just That Much of a A Fangirl.

Plus, bonus points for anything involving Difference Engines/Analytical Engines.

P.S. Somebody built one out of Legos. It’s official. We will never be as cool as that guy.