Recently the Steampunks of Brisbane were interviewed by Michael Lund of the Courier Mail regarding, well, Steampunk. Entitled “Letting off steam“, the article paints quite a good picture of the Steampunk subculture’s life in the city and has a number of stop-off points to find out more. One of them is this very site, so to further your Steampunkian education I’ve collated as much as I can of my Steampunk-related bookmarks into this post. There may be a test.
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Archive for the ‘Fiction’ Category
Welcome, Courier Mail readers
Saturday, March 17th, 2012Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Reanimated
Monday, December 5th, 2011There was a call for submissions to a Steampunk Shakespeare anthology in 2010, I made a comment on Twitter about “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Reanimated”. There was enough amused responses that I wrote something up. I spoke to one of the editors of the anthology and they said they were only taking Real Shakespeare plays and sonnets, so my parody wasn’t going to make it in. Still, I was amused enough to finish it, ask some friends for feedback, and finally here it is. Please let me know what you think.
Phrases and thoughts
Monday, October 26th, 2009“If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of Giants.” –Isaac Newton
“Just be sure and face the right way.” — Professor von Explaino
ROSEA vs. Baseball
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009Pushing their way through the thronging masses, Professor von Explaino and young Christoph force their way as politely as possible to the wings of the auditorium. The general hubbub shows no sign of abating but, as Christoph well knows, it takes an act of extreme interruption to silence a group of scientists at an exposition. Worse, this was the culmination of the Professor’s latest achievement – a Paradox Proof Polytemporal Person Procurer. As the innaugral cross-time science symposium, it had taken Captain Adventure’s timely detonating of a variety of experiments (one after another until the desired effect was achieved) for Baron von Borg’s opening keynote to be heard over the competing discussions. Still, it was all in good fun as the Cerulean had the foresight to create experiments for just that purpose so nobody’s feelings were hurt.
During his musing(1), Christoph saw the Professor grabbing the recently adjusted running sheet and make a few adjustments, when he tried to peer over the Professor’s shoulder to see what the program was he quickly pulled his head back as von Explaino snatched the program away and gave him a look. The new program brought von Explaino some great delight; the first presentation was on competitive virology from the World Health Organisation (WHO), James Watt was going to expound on some of Nikola Tesla’s theories and a late scratching saw Ms Lovelace, or Ada, now up third in a free-form programming event. The maths section held two panels, one on yocto-scale maths (10^-24, symbolised by ‘y’) and a discussion of base 12 trigonometry (with B as the highest single digit). After lunch was Sune Bergström discussing the importance of peace-promoting research and a German aeronaut discussing their new supercharger for which the Professor had used the appropriate German description of ‘Lader’.
[1) And by 'musing' read 'oggling the science dancing girls troupe who were getting changed into brass outfits for the opening number' ] (more…)
ROSEA and the Duplimorphs, part five
Sunday, July 12th, 2009Again the group ran through the darkened alleyways of London. This time they were blessed with an interruption free journey, the unearthly glow of the Professor’s detection device lit the concentration in his features to a degree that even the faithless, forgotten masses crossed themselves fervently as they passed. However, the Baron soon noticed they were being avoided by a better class of underprivileged and called a halt to the headlong chase. Then grabbed Adventure by the collar to actually stop him.
The Baron motioned the group to quiet, their current location bereft of any soul but theirs. Utilising his arm-ament case, he swapped the gripper for the illuminator and proceeded to check their passage.
Just as he suspected, their rush had taken them to the governmental district. What foul horrors could this beast wreak if given unchecked access to the humble lords and other lords of London? He made his way back to the group, relayed the message, then asked where von Explaino was. The unanswered question was resolved a short while later when the Professor returned, claiming he had been using a map and his device to tetrangulate the precise location of the readings. A plan was drawn up and hastily enacted, for the target was none other than the registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Records of everyone in London (well, ignoring the unregistered, of course) – in the hands (or equivalent) of these creatures think of the horrors!
They did. And regretted it. So thought of tea. This was a better option.
Not taking no for an answer, Lady Alex lead the way – hungry for a story. Adventure came next, having primed the M.A.P.C.A.S.E he was prepared for the worst. von Explaino was third, having experience in such matters he was putting on his sturdiest and most replacable gloves. Baron von Borg kept the illuminator low but ready for immediate activation.
So intent on the assault were they, that they didn’t hear the Cerulean’s calls for attention – whoever was in the back of any assault always called out for what was going on. It was tradition, so much so that she had to physically haul Christoph to turn around, too late as at that instant the group had their numbers halved by a sudden burst of light and sound.
Baron von Borg checks the location
ROSEA assault
ROSEA and the Duplimorphs, part four
Sunday, July 5th, 2009Ignorning the casino’s glitzy and glamourous (according to their flyers) exterior, the Cerulean led the way into the first of many darkened and seedy alleyways that nested behind the safe, shiny front. People looked up at the group as they ran past, the scream not having any to do with them some complained about the intrusion, others quickly put away items of negotiable legality. ROSEA paid no attention, soon ammassing as a group on the grass of a forgotten garden, highwalled tenemants surrounding it having been built with scant regard for the greenery. With the others acclimatising to the sudden re-amergence of light, the Cerulean stood waiting by a hedge-rimmed bed. When finally the others came over she walked off to continue the investigation while the Professor retuned his device to examine what was most likely a corpse.
Only most likely due to the fact the garden was awash with gore and bone. A grim discovery. The Professor was quickly joined by the Baron, Captain Adventure and – after some prodding by Lady Alex – Christoph. Oddly, the remains had pooled in patterns and shapes, meaning they wouldn’t need new boots in the not too distant future.
<von Explaino> Yes, it is human. Only one. Male. Liked his coffee straight and turkish.
<Baron> A gut man, zen.
<Christoph> How can you tell?
<von Explaino> Science!
<Christoph> Ah.
Experience had taught Christoph that when he received that answer, that was the only one he would receive until the investigation was over. So saying, he walked over to join Lady Alex who was writing exactly the right sort of scandal that would possibly net her further… money of mutual benefit. With the Baron’s help, and Adventure’s prodding, Professor von Explaino soon had his device adjusted to trace readings he had found on the remains. Almost immediately it lit up with a glow, carefully swinging the concave collection contraption end the destination was soon discovered. Adventure immediately started propelling the Professor in that direction – the hint was quickly picked up by all and the race continued!
Discovery of a crime
The Life-o-meter detects a source to follow
