Steampunk News

admin | May 29, 2012

Hello all,

A little update on the exciting things that are occurring. Firstly, A new website on which will be sold my books, prints, sculptures, curios and all manner of wonderments!

Go to http://www.brajjs.com to browse!

Alternatively Join our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/brajjs

Secondly The Air Kraken book is selling well and we are getting good feedback, people are enjoying my little tale and the wonderful illustrations of Arfon Jones (for more Arfon go to the site above or his personal site at http://www.arfon.net )

Thirdly, In the next few days I will be announcing my next big project. It will be simply epic. You have been warned.

Keep your eyes on the skies!

JRB

Category: Sydeian Creations | No Comments »
Tags: Air Kraken, Alternatively Join, Arfon Jones, JRB

admin | May 6, 2012

My pleasure to announce I now have pieces in two galleries on the Gloucester road in Bristol.

One at the Gallimaufry bar (more to follow soon!) and one at “The Deep End” at what used to be the north Bristol Swimming Baths, Victorian swimming baths now being used as an art gallery. Both are amazing places, well worth a look.

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Tags: Bristol Swimming Baths, Deep End, Victorian

admin | April 5, 2012

http://www.sydeiancreations.com/SCnew/Brajjs/

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Tags: Air Kraken

admin | April 4, 2012

You may have noticed my absence from the site for awhile. This has been due to the sheer amount that needed doing in part but also due to the very exciting news I am to unveil today.

On the 18th of May this year I will be releasing the first in a new series of books featuring writing by me and wonderful illustrations by the very talented Arfon Jones. A set of guides for steampunks, anachronists, adventurers et al.

The Brajj’s Guides series will begin with Brajj’s Guides Present The Life of the Air Kraken

The book will begin with man’s historic struggle against this fearsome beast before working its way to the present and the science, physiology and social effect of the Krake Volanti.

The book is 31 pages long, A5 in size and features 11 full page illustrations.

The book will sell for £3 in paperback and £1.50 in electronic and aetherweb forms.

However, if you pre-order the paperback before the end of April, the price will be just £2.50

As a further note we will also be running two competitions.

Anyone pre-ordering the book will be sent on a quest to discover a dark secret about the Air Kraken. On the 18th of April one randomly selected person who found the secret will receive their copy of the book free signed by Arfon and myself, along with a goody bag of assorted artifacts.

The second competition will be open to all who buy the book. The will then be asked to complete the sentence “I think the next Brajj’s guide should be ______ because_____.” Whoever wins this competition will win a very special prize, the chance to be immortalised, in text and illustration, as a character in the next guide.

Without further ado please see below for a sample of some pages from the new book.

Category: Sydeian Creations | No Comments »
Tags: Air Kraken, Arfon Jones, Krake Volanti

admin | June 25, 2011

I have started a new and exciting project.

As many of you no doubt know I love to write. In my new project I am going to write ten million words.

Here’s where you all come in, I am taking suggestions for what to write. A poem for a loved one, a letter to your best friend, a story. Whatever you want.

Head over to http://www.tenmillionwords.com
Facebook group: htttp://www.facebook.com/tenmillionwords
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/10000000words

I truly hope you all come and join me on this journey.

Yours,

James Richardson-Brown

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Tags: James Richardson Brown

admin | May 20, 2011

Dear Governors,

I now present to you the second item that the “doctors” of the Miskatonic university are outfitted with by their patron, Captain J. B. Sydeian. The Apollo Mask. This mask has been based on the plague doctor masks of the 16th century. Whereas in those dark times the beak of the doctors mask was stuffed with herbs, flowers and vinegar to dispel the “miasmatic airs”. Sydeians mask instead uses an advanced filtration unit in order to protect his doctors from both chemical and biological dangers.

The meanings behind the strange markings adorning the mask in the form of paintings and religious seals are of uncertain origin and usage.

What dangers Sydeian believed his doctors faced is not yet known from my researches. I have no doubt that further investigation will yield more in depth findings.

I know there have been some words of doubt from some parties regarding my reports but I leave you with words from Sydeian’s own writings though quoting Shakespeare.

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

Your Obedient Servant,

Mr. Oswald Varner

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Tags: Apollo Mask, Black Laboratory, Dear Governors, Obedient Servant

admin | May 17, 2011

I have just returned from Waltz on the Wye, Wales’ first Steampunk festival (http://wyewaltz.org)

There was a creations exhibit for which I created a new version of my steampunk K-9.

Introducing K-1909

I’m also honoured to say that he was voted favourite creation of the festival by festival attendees and public viewers.

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Tags: Wales

admin | May 7, 2011

(I have written this article in response to requests for information on steamgoth. It is subject to a Creative Commons licence which means it can be used anywhere you wish as long as it is not changed and I am recognised as the author and this site is linked to i.e. “Article by James Richardson-Brown http://www.sydeiancreations.com” If you could also let me know you’ve used it via a comment or e-mail that would be very appreciated.)

Steamgoth – An introduction by James Richardson-Brown http://www.sydeiancreations.com

Four years ago in 2007 I was asked by a magazine to write an article on steampunk, a then little known subculture. As part of that article they asked me if it was likely there would be any offshoots of steampunk and I responded I felt it was likely that we would see a darker form of steampunk emerge, which I called Steamgoth. Since that time more and more people have become interested by the idea of steamgoth. Back in 2007, the question most asked of people like myself, Thomas Willeford, Datamancer, et al was “what is steampunk?”. Now the question I am starting to be asked has become “what is Steamgoth?” A question I’ll endeavor to answer in this article.

Steamgoth is a far darker view of the steampunk world. Whereas steampunk can often be said to be science fiction set in an alternative Victorian-era world, Steamgoth would be horror set in that same world. Steampunk of course has authors contemporary to the Victorian era those that revel in science and adventure: Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, etc. Steamgoth has it’s own prototypes in the likes of Mary Shelley and H. P. Lovecraft those that delight in the darkness of man and all that is hidden.

Read more...

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Tags: Black Laboratory, Creative Commons, James Richardson Brown, Victorian

admin | March 22, 2011

Dear Governors,

I have managed to find what limited records remain of the Apollo mask and the hand of Asclepius. It would appear that these devices are medical instruments provided to the medics in order to allow them to treat, in Sydeian’s own words, “The numerous afflictions of body and mind at the touch of the glove” While at the same time “Remaining free of noxious materials yourselves by reason of Apollo’s mask.

The hand of Asclepius

As you can see the hand allows the user to perform a number of medical procedures, whilst keeping the hands mostly free and remaining enclosed in the safety of the protective suit.

In my next letter I shall introduce the Apollo mask.

Yours,

Oswald Varner

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Tags: Dear Governors, Oswald Varner

admin | March 16, 2011

My next discovery comes alongside a somewhat tragic tale. During my investigations into the box of records I purchased at auction I came across an old leather-bound notebook. The front cover was marked “First Gateway”

The newspaper cuttings inside detailed a series of occurrences over the course of three months which I shall summarise here for your consideration.

The first set of cuttings are numerous small bylines. Mentioning strange events occurring in the small town of Leftfield just a few miles outside Arkham. Small objects were seen to fly around, a few cases of ball lightning, etc. Nothing to raise any real speculation. Just the usual mildly interesting happenings that can be found in many small town newspapers.

Over the next few weeks these occurrences increased along with some more disturbing happenings. A Mrs. Gratton reported being startled from her bed by the sound of breaking crockery. On investigating the noise, she reported hearing voices and gentle laughter from the kitchen cupboards. Suspecting her children and ready to tell them off she tore open the cupboard doors to find nothing there. Only a moment later she was pushed head first into the cupboards and found the doors slammed shut while raucous laughter sounded from all around her. She would later swear that the source of the laughter was in the cupboard with her. She was released by her husband next morning in a catatonic state and was only able to tell her story with a heavy application of morphine.

Entering the second month the articles had gone from byline curiosities to front page news. The local police department was at a loss to explain the reports of disappearances and attacks along with warnings not to enter the forests surrounding the town.

Read more...

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Tags: Gateway Theory, Mr Merrit, Oswald Varner, STOP