The Steampunk Librarian | April 30, 2013
It’s convention season! The Steampunk Empire Symposium just wrapped up, and the Steampunk World’s Fair is fast approaching.
Steampunk Art Supplies. Does what it says on the tin!
The Kickstarter project for A Study in Emerald has been funded, so keep an eye out for some spooky steampunk goodness.
Steampunk Tribune | January 27, 2013
One of the many changes I have planned this year involves becoming a tad more involved with Steampunk conventions (as in attendence). For a bit, the Tribune did have a side bar which listed Steampunk events and goings on, but I never considered it to be as informative as I had hoped. However, the oustsanding aethersite The Airship Ambassador has a quite comprehensive listing of information which would be useful to those seeking further involvment in the RL Steampunk realms. Specifically, their “Events” page provide a listing of upcoming Steampunk conventions and gatherings, groups, and Twitter updates, and much, much more! If seeking to plan your travelling schedule around Steampunk happenings, I would most heartedly recommend a healthy visit to the Airship Ambassador’s locale for comprehensive information, located at: http://airshipambassador.com/aa-Events.html
Additionally, I would like to state that the Steampunk Empire also has an excellent listing of upcoming Steampunk events – frequently updated, and exceptinally inclusive (as many intriguing events are listed here as well)! Do consider a visit to the Steampunk Empire’s Events page, at: http://www.thesteampunkempire.com/events
Steampunk Tribune | October 11, 2012
As I meandered about the Steampunk Empire the other day, I came across a Miss S. Fawkes, who is endeavoring to promote her brassiere in an effort to by the Bravo endeavor, to raise awareness for the importance of mammograms. Not quite sure how her entry is doing at the moment, but if one cares to assist in this competition, please turn to: http://daytondailynews.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=70709&s=24367117&i=1&sort=#SD, and cast your vote!
(and to see her entry at the Empire, please turn to: http://www.thesteampunkempire.com/forum/topics/please-vote-for-my-steampunk-bra-in-the-reid-bravo-fundraiser)
Steampunk Tribune | July 22, 2012
As those who have been following this blog have noticed over its existence, I have attempted to work on a centralized site to consolidated the many strands of Steampunk in one semi-central area. The Steampunk Empire does an excellent job to a point, but the focus of the Empire is as a forum for those involved in the genre, as opposed to a locale for merchants to display their wares. Thus, I was quite happy when I came across Steampunk Connections, which is part of SteampunkStores.net. It is a very nicely formatted location, with plenty of potential to be an excellent location to find that special something for one’s eye! To take a gander, please do visit their site, located at: http://steampunkstore.net/ (and do scroll down a bit – the splash page is a bit… well, the good information is just below “ad choices” box).
The Steampunk Librarian | April 17, 2012
Today’s post is brief, but the links are dense and worth perusing!
First of all, the Steampunk Empire Symposium is this weekend, right here in my home town, and there’s lots to do. There are tickets for the whole weekend and also one-day passes for Saturday, so anyone and everyone can come and see the fun!
Congratulations to the winners of the Steampunk Chronicle’s Readers Choice Awards!
And look, the past might become the future, with trans-oceanic tubes moving up to serious consideration for travel. Can you imagine?
The Steampunk Librarian | January 24, 2012
I start today off with something decidedly unVictorian, but bear with me. In 1964, the World’s Fair was held in New York City. Not only is the fair’s site now the host of the (annual?) New York Maker Faire , it was also the site for the 1939 World’s Fair. More than that, however, it showed Americans not only sights and sounds, but also tastes of the world, due to a set of circumstances which led Asian and African countries to hold a prominent spot in the culinary offerings and which led to an influx of wonderful cuisine in the United States.
And speaking of fairs and broadening’s one travel (and mind), it may be winter but that means it’s prime planning time for steampunk conventions! The Steampunk World’s Fair is preparing to knock one’s silk stockings off in May; if you’re near the East Coast this spring, try to visit it. (Thanks to Haley for the information!) If you’re impatient, the incomparable Shien Lee is putting on another extravaganza next month – live the life Parisienne without leaving New York.
Meanwhile, here in Ohio, of all places, plans are afoot for great stuff this year. The Steampunk Empire Symposium is taking over the city in April; if you’re part of the Steampunk Empire, you should attend (and if you’re not, you should join the fun anyway!). Later on in the year, PandoraCon lurks, full of geeky goodness for all.
The Steampunk Librarian | November 15, 2011
Congrats to the winners of the book giveaways! The winners for the Vampire Empire books will be posted soon.
If you’re looking for more contests, check out the Steampunk Empire’s countdown to its 10,000th (!!!) member.
In news which sounds like the beginning of a Jules Verne novel, a powerful x-ray beam will be aimed at the planet’s core.
Also Vernian, but unrelated: Look, airships!
Clockwork Watch, a multimedia project, is on the horizon. Go and see, and support it if you like.
The last link of the day is most definitely Not Safe For Work, so consider yourselves warned. It’s a photogallery of women from a New Orleans brothel in 1912, and is fascinating, but some women are clothing-deprived.
The Steampunk Librarian | June 14, 2011
Happy International Steampunk Day, everyone! You can celebrate via the Facebook group or by checking out various sites like steampunk.com and the Steampunk Tribune, or even by joining the Steampunk Empire to find out more about all the fun.
Some sources say that this day was chosen because it's the birthdate of H.G. Wells…except it isn't. H.G. was born in September. At any rate, it's a lovely spring/summer day to celebrate the future that might have been. I looked up the date and found that on this day in 1822, according to Wikipedia, Charles Babbage proposed the difference engine in a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society. So there's your tenuous connection, should you need one! (Incidentally, it's also the birthday of Che Guevara. Ha.)
The Steampunk Librarian | May 12, 2011
Yesterday's giveaway was a short break from steampunk. But hey, you want steampunk? You got steampunk!
The Falling Machine by Andrew P. Mayer (Pyr)
Andrew P. Mayer's debut novel, The Falling Machine, is the first in a series called the Society of Steam. Based in New York City, the book details the shenanigans and machinations of the Society of Paragons, a team of superheroes of sorts, who protect the city with the help of mysterious "fortified steam" energy. Like any self-respecting semi-secret cabal, however, the Society has its own internal issues and conflicts, which are kept away from the general public.
Sarah Stanton, the daughter of Paragon member "The Industrialist," wants to be part of the league but, unfortunately, has the bad luck to be a woman in 1880. (Fortified steam has arrived in New York, but feminism hasn't yet.) The Falling Machine begins with a bang atop the recently-constructed Brooklyn Bridge, with Sarah witnessing the death of a mentor at the hands of the "Sons of Eschaton," which appear to have aspirations of becoming the Legion of Doom to the Paragon's Justice League. Sarah investigates, with the help of a self-aware automaton named Tom who has his own secrets locked inside him, and finds she can trust no one but herself as the plot thickens.
If this sounds rollicking and a little confusing, it is — there are a lot of characters to introduce, a lot of intrigue to cover, and the plot moves fast. It's not giving anything away to say the book ends on a cliffhanger — a sequel, of course, is on the way — and the next book in the series may explain a lot that goes unsaid as we're introduced to Sarah and the world in which she lives. It's always great to have a spirited woman in the steampunk world, and Sarah has the makings of a heroine; it'll be interesting to see how things develop in this Society of Steam.
Steampunk Tribune | March 12, 2011
Steampunk Tribune | February 14, 2011
While researching an article for a bit later, I came across a unique kit which address a perennial issue vexing may a Steampunk enthusiast. Brass Goggle (the accoutrement, not the forum) are essentially iconic with the genre, but finding a good pair is a challenge. One sees beautiful sets in photo shoots, or perhaps even at a convention, but as far as having a unique set of your own…. that might be a bit expensive, to put it mildly. Finding a pair of welding goggles and applying a bit of paint has been the most common course of action – but perhaps not in the future….
Not sure exactly when they will be available for purchase, but I’m imagining that it will be sometime in the near future (based on what I’ve divined from their website). Still, if you have an image in your cranium of the perfect set of goggles, or simply need a few pieces to finish/fix your current set (they do sell parts as well), do pay the Borg Steam Factory, at: http://www.borgsteamfactory.com/index.html , or go directly to their goggles site, at: http://www.borgsteamfactory.com/goggles.html !
Steampunk Tribune | December 10, 2010
Two events on the docket this weekend in the RL Steamlands….
First, “An Evening of Extraordinary Proportions” will be taking place at the Santa Cruz Pacific Cultural Center, which is a costume benefit event, to include an elegant three course dinner, a semi-silent auction of Most Unusual Items, and an exhibition boxing match between Tesla (yay!) versus Edison (booo!). For more details, please visit the Steampunk Empire for more details!
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