Monday, November 19, 2012

Literature! Aether Salon (Edited)

(The slides can be viewed here.)

Good afternoon, gentle beings.

Today I am inviting you join me in  a conversation about our favorite steampunk books. (In other words, I expect you to be your usually witty selves and speak up when you have something to add.) In the past decade the genre has exploded into numerous sub genres, and I suspect we all have our favorite novels and stories. I'll give you a little history into the genre and then offer up several suggestions for your to-be-read lists.

But before I get to the book lists, let's talk about what steampunk literature is. How do you define steampunk literature?

From artist John Coulthart, we get this explanation:

STEAMPUNK = Mad Scientist Inventor [invention (steam x airship or metal man/baroque stylings) x (pseudo) Victorian setting] + progressive or reactionary politics x adventure plot

Looks pretty impressive doesn't it (and I'm glad I didn't have to deliver that one in voice). Kind of like steampunk itself. Lots of parts and pieces but not necessarily as clear as it could be.

Over at steampunk.com they have this explanation of steampunk literature:

Steampunk has always been first and foremost a literary genre, or [at] least a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological aspects of the 19th century (the steam) usually with some deconstruction of, reimagining of, rebellion against part of it (the punk).

Okay so here we getting a little bit into the name. We have some "steam," and we have some "punk."
Here is perhaps one of my favorites from author Beth Bernobich:

Steampunk is...a mood (fog-laden streets lined with cobblestones); a theme (a world standing on the edge between one age and the next), a tech level (horses and automobiles, clockwork creations, goggles and steam engines, and aircraft rising toward the stars), and more than a bit of madness.

I think I like this version because it aligns best the steampunk that I like to read. It combines in the aesthetic and the escapism and the whimsy.

Here are a couple more the humorous explanations of steampunk.

Steampunk is...the love child of Hot Topic and a BBC costume drama.
~Gail Carriger, author of The Parasol Protectorate series

Steampunk is what happens when goths discover brown.
~ Jess Nevins, author of Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana

In case you haven't figured it out yet, there isn't a clear explanation of this genre. And that's all right. Why should a genre that is still growing -- still expanding -- be bound by a definition?

That said, I think Jeff VanderMeer and SJ Chambers has given us perhaps the most workable framework for steampunk literature today. And if you are trying to decide of a work falls into this category, this definition may help.

First, it’s simultaneously retro and forward-looking in nature. Second, it evokes a sense of adventure and discovery. Third, it embraces divergent and extinct technologies as a way of talking about the future.

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Now that we know what steampunk literature is (ha ha), we can talk about its origin.

Steampunk literature wedges its foot in the door in the 19th century. Jules Verne, HG Wells and Mary Shelly were among authors exploring the role of technology and man's relationship with it. The rapid changes ignited by the Industrial Revolution lead authors to look at technology with a critical eye.

Shelly, for example, asks how technology affects morality in Frankenstein - what are our responsibilities for what we create?

Verne was a hard science man, caring more about the scientific veracity than the fantastical possibilities of the genre. As the power of science and technology became more evident to the public, so they realized the role of mad scientist was a real possibility.

Although Wells used science in his literature he was much more concerned with its political implications. As a socialist, he was more concerned with the misuse of science than its accurate depiction.

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While we most often associate Steampunk literature with Victorian England, American dime novels were also influential. Edisonade novels, targeted at boys and young men, grew out of a fascination with science combined with American expansionism. The Edisonade novels had a formula: "a young American male invents a form of transportation and uses it to travel to uncivilized parts of the American frontier or the world, enrich himself, and punish the enemies of the United States."  Unlike the works mentioned earlier, technology is embraced. It will improve the character's life with no repercussions. Edward Ellis introduces readers to The Huge Hunter, or The Steam Man of the Prairies, a work that inspires additional series and hundreds of novels. The Edisonade genre was successful for twenty years before the closing of the frontier and changing tastes killed the genre.

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So having seen how people of the time approached Victorian and Edwardian science, let’s look at how more contemporary generations adopted, and adapted, it. Steampunk literature becomes a full-fledged genre in the late 1970s/early 1980s. There were a couple of 20th-century precursors that helped set the stage. Ronald Clark’s Queen Victoria’s Bomb is an alternative history that speculates on what would have happened if England had a nuclear bomb during the Crimean War.

Michael Moorcock’s Oswald Bastable series, starting with The Warlord of the Air, is probably the best recognized steampunk precursor. Another alternative history, this one set in India in a world in which World War I never occured. Airships and the Victorian/Edwardian style of writing set the stage for future steampunk novels. According to Moorcock, these novels were "intended as an intervention, if you like, into certain Edwardian views of Empire. They were intended to show that there was no such thing as a benign Empire, and that even if it seemed benign, it wasn't. The stories were as much addressed to an emergent American Empire as to a declining British."

Novels such as these harken back to our proto-steampunk novels that warned against the misuse of technology and implications for the control of society.

---------------------------------

The first generation steampunk novels were actually alternate histories based on Victorian times. Three authors - Tim Powers, KW Jeter, and James P Blaylock - would met regularly at a bar and critique each others work. From this group came the original steampunk novels, and from KW Jeter, the term "steampunk" to define the genre.

“I think Victorian fantasies are going to be the next big thing, as long as we can come up with a fitting collective term...like ‘Steampunk,’ perhaps.”
~ KW Jeter, Locus Magazine, 1987

So what were these original novels about?

The Anubis Gates, by Tim Powers, is a time travel fantasy taking place in Egypt and features kidnapping, Romantic poets such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and werewolves. (Does this remind anyone else of Gail Carriger's latest?)

KW Jeter's Infernal Devices gives us clockwork creatures, a mystery and a mad chase, but be warned, this novel has a reputation for being difficult to get into.

James Blaylock takes us into a world of volcanos throwing the earth into the path of a comet, and scientists determine to reverse the earth’s magnetic poles to deflect the comet. Oh, and there is a mystery to be solved.

During this same era, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling published The Difference Engine. Another alternate history, this novel speculates on a world in which Charles Babbage successfully creates the first computer. Like many of their predecessors, Gibson and Sterling explore the corrupting influence of technology. It contains mystery, poets (Lord Byron is the leader of a radical group and Keats gives up poetry to program computers), and a gritty realism.

While steampunk may have been off to a great start, it quickly disappeared. As Jeff VanderMeer explains in The Steampunk Bible, “From 1991-2007, anything that might have been classified as Steampunk was described as science fiction, science fantasy, or alternative history. There were a few books and short stories that implemented steampunk elements. 1995 gave us Paul Di Filippo's Steampunk Trilogy, Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, and Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass.“

The Renaissance for steampunk literature occurred in the late 2000’s. Steampunk itself was redefined for this resurgence. It became more an aesthetic and foundation than a term to describe a movement. Now, steampunk literature is hot, HOT, HOT!!! Readers love it, publishers love it, and there are lots of opportunities for steampunk authors.

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Now we can get to the reading list! You may be familiar with some of these titles, and some may be new. Please feel free to share some of your favorites in the chat as well because my list will not be exhaustive. (My apologies to the transcriptionists.)

Please be aware that I have not read all of these works. Many are new additions to my “to be read” list. Many of the books I am about to mention can fall into multiple categories.

First up is steampunk with a supernatural element.
Gail Carriger, The Parasol Protectorate
Cherie Priest, Boneshaker
Kim Newman, Anno Dracula
Clay Griffith. The Greyfriar

I love to see the way authors apply steampunk gadgets and deductive reasoning in mysteries with a steampunk flavor.
Lilith Saintcrow, The Iron Wyrm Affair
China Mieville. Perdido Street Station
Mark Hodder. The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack
PC Martin. Steampunk Holmes: Legacy of the Nautilus
T. Aaron Payton. The Constantine Affair

With the steampunk westerns, you might expect to see a return to the Edisonade novels, but that is far from the case.
Cherie Priest, Dreadnought
Devon Monk, Dead Iron
MK Hobson, The Native Star

Airships, pirates - swash and buckle.
Chris Wooding, Retribution Falls
Michel R Vaillancourt, By Any Other Name
George Mann. The Affinity Bridge
Scott Westerfeld. The Manual of Aeronautics

As these novels show, it isn’t always easy to be a clockwork girl. Or boy. Or other.
Ekaterina Sedia, The Alchemy of Stone
Jay Lake, Mainspring
Cory Doctorow, Clockwork Fagin (YA)
Kady Cross, The Girl in the Steel Corset

Colonial - this is an area I haven’t done any reading in...yet, but considering the alternate history element of many of steampunk novels, I bet we will see more works appearing within this category.
SM Stirling. The Peshawar Lancers

The best way to sample steampunk (and the place I started) … Anthologies
Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, eds. Steampunk
Nick Geves, ed. Extraordinary Engines
Mike Ashley. Steampunk Prime: A Vintage Steampunk Reader

One of the areas with the largest fan base, graphic novels (and web comics)
 Phil and Kaja Folio, Girl Genius
Sydney Padua, The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage
Brian Selznick, The Adventures of Hugo Cabret
Ian Edginton and D’Israeli, Scarlet Traces
Alan Moore, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Here are a couple of reference books I would recommend to any steampunk aficionado.
Jeff VanderMeer with SJ Chambers. The Steampunk Bible
Jess Nevins and Michael Moorcock. The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana

And finally, the references I used when researching today’s talk.
“The Future of Steampunk,” Paul Jessup. The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf and Book Review.
http://booktionary.blogspot.com/2010/10/future-of-steampunk-by-paul-jessup.html
“Steampunk Is,” The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf and Book Review.
http://booktionary.blogspot.com/2010/10/steampunk-is.html
“What is Steampunk?” John Leavitt.
http://www.steampunk.com/what-is-steampunk/
Steampunk. Ann VanderMeer and Jeff Vandermeer, eds.
“Introduction: The 19th-Century Roots of Steampunk.” Jeff Nevins. In Steampunk.
Steampunk Scholar.

Thank you for your time, attention, and willingness to share.
Kghia Gherardi: Any other works you would recommend?
Garnet Psaltery: I recommend new reading glasses
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Heh.
Bookworm Hienrichs chuckles.
Kghia Gherardi: I doubled my to-be-read list doing working on this project
Darlingmonster Ember: :D
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): My thanks and sympathies, Ritterin.
Kghia Gherardi: and I need to go back and re-read
Simeon Beresford: YA is strong in this area.
Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Did you mention The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi?
Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Which is more of environmentalist-punk. *grin*
Kghia Gherardi: Oh, I forgot Windup Girl.
Stew Macpherson: a wonderful job of pulling it all together Kghia.
Stereo Nacht: I must admit that, beside the Golden compass, my first Steampunk novel was Dalhquist's "The Glass Book of the Dream Eaters"; slow to start, but wonderfully complex.
Darlingmonster Ember: I would recommend, for those with interest in bloody-minded adventure and social comment, The Court of the Air , by Stephen Hunt
Kghia Gherardi: Caledon exposed me to Steampunk, and I haven't been the same. :)
Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): I do believe New Babbage should toot it's own literary horn too.
Stew Macpherson: Definately Stephen Hunt...
Polly Ellsmere: I think Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series verges on Steampunk
Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia) wonders if early fantastic horror as Pier Alderson Bierce fits the bill,..
JJ Drinkwater see's Dame Kghia's to-read list becmming tot ally unmanageable
Garnet Psaltery: Entries for Tales of New Babbage vol 2 need to be in by 25th!
Kghia Gherardi: I didn't even get into steampunk horror or steampunk romance.
Bookworm Hienrichs: Yes, indeed--Tales from New Babbage, Volume 1 is now available as an e-book.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Ah, good idea, that.
Kghia Gherardi: An excellent inclusion!
Bookworm Hienrichs: I also discovered a rather intersting Steampunk web series currently being written, called 'Railroad.'
Bookworm Hienrichs: It's at http://steampunktrain.blogspot.com/
Garnet Psaltery claps the mention of trains
Simeon Beresford: Or Steampunk Lesbian Or steampunk BSDM.
Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): or the distopian novels of Dino Buzatti, those may be more Dieselpunk,.
Linus Lacombe: hmmm..."Quest for the Golden Prim?"
Bookworm Hienrichs looks at Mr. Lacombe. "If it would get started again..."
Linus Lacombe smiles knowlingly to ms Hienrichs
Bookworm Hienrichs: Does anyone have any other questions for our speaker?
Kghia Gherardi: I will share slides and reading lists, so check the Aether Salon website for any you may have missed
Bookworm Hienrichs: If there are no questions, then I thank you for coming, and invite you to come next month, December 16th, at 2:00 SLT. Our guest speaker will be Victor Mornington, who will tell us about the Dr. Who community in SL.
Bookworm Hienrichs: Thank you all again, and safe travels!

Literature! Aether Salon (Unedited)

[13:53]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Does anyone perchance have a tip jar I could borrow?
[13:53]  Garnet Psaltery: Hello MIss Solace
[13:53]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Good day, Sir JJ, Miss Fairlady.
[13:53]  Garnet Psaltery: I'll look
[13:53]  JJ Drinkwater: Hello all...going AFK for a few, now that I'm here
[13:53]  Solace Fairlady: Hello M Psaltery, Miss Book, Sir JJ, M lacombe, Dame Kghia, M beresford
[13:54]  Kghia Gherardi waves to all
[13:54]  Garnet Psaltery: I have one - can you amend it to pay the right person?
[13:54]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): i do have a tipjar script,.
[13:54]  Solace Fairlady: and m Hysshia
[13:54]  Linus Lacombe: Hello M Fairlady
[13:54]  Garnet Psaltery: Sent jar and script
[13:55]  Solace Fairlady: Thank you for the timely notice Miss Book, with Steamlander down I had no idea Salon was this week!
[13:58]  Solace Fairlady: You are more right than you are wrong Miss Book, I have noticed:)
[13:58]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Not when it comes to building, or anything touching that topic.
[13:58]  Bookworm Hienrichs chuckles.
[13:59]  Rhianon Jameson: A good afternoon to all!
[13:59]  Solace Fairlady: then you and I have that in common:)
[13:59]  Solace Fairlady: Hello Miss jameson, M Neverwas
[13:59]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Hello!
[13:59]  Garnet Psaltery: ack wrong message
[13:59]  Garnet Psaltery: sorry
[13:59]  Bookworm Hienrichs: No, that was me, I think.
[13:59]  Bookworm Hienrichs chuckles.
[14:00]  Robin Ishmene: hi n_n
[14:00]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Slip of the hand.
[14:00]  Garnet Psaltery: No it still has the Where Eyre message
[14:00]  Simeon Beresford: ah greating newcombers
[14:00]  Simeon Beresford: hello Sir JJ
[14:00]  Solace Fairlady: Hello Miss Ishmene, Satu!
[14:00]  Garnet Psaltery: Greetings everyone I missed!
[14:00]  Robin Ishmene: n_n
[14:00]  Satu Moreau: ^_^ Hallo
[14:00]  Bookworm Hienrichs: I just changed the script, I think, Ms. Psaltery. Should be fine now.
[14:00]  Linus Lacombe: Good afternoon, everyone!
[14:00]  Robin Ishmene: hi all
[14:00]  Garnet Psaltery: I'll test again
[14:01]  Garnet Psaltery: Yay!
[14:01]  Garnet Psaltery: :o)
[14:01]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Yay! One step better than last month!
[14:01]  Bookworm Hienrichs grins.
[14:01]  Kghia Gherardi discreetly wipes her palms
[14:02]  Bookworm Hienrichs will *so* have her act together for next month. Which will mean that the Baron attend then.
[14:02]  Bookworm Hienrichs smiles wryly.
[14:02]  JJ Drinkwater: Where does one get a chair?
[14:02]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Unfortunately, that's the step I *don't* have. No transferrable chair.
[14:02]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): i fond one in the library of common objects.
[14:02]  Solace Fairlady: have you lost the one you were given last month already Sir JJ? ㋡
[14:02]  Garnet Psaltery: These are wearables - let me see if the Marketplace has a freebie
[14:02]  Simeon Beresford: Alas Sir JJ unless you have one in your Inventory...
[14:02]  JJ Drinkwater: Ah...I don't believe I got one last month...
[14:03]  Solace Fairlady: I can give you one with a femal sit in?
[14:03]  Linus Lacombe: You might look under "aether salon (wear me!)"
[14:03]  JJ Drinkwater: What are they called?
[14:03]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Check in your inventory for "Aether Salon (wear me)" - you might have one from a previous Salon.
[14:03]  Solace Fairlady: unless one opf the gentlemen here have a transferrable?
[14:03]  Solace Fairlady: Hello Captain Stereo!
[14:03]  Simeon Beresford: I wish Ma'am I wish
[14:03]  Bookworm Hienrichs will wait a few more minutes for people to gather.
[14:03]  Stereo Nacht: Good evening Ms. Solace!
[14:03]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): i would love one of those female sit salon chairs,
[14:04]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Am afraid I have very little in the way of furniture!
[14:04]  Linus Lacombe: I think these came from Ms Capalini (spelling)
[14:04]  Garnet Psaltery: Who needs a chair?
[14:04]  Garnet Psaltery: I'll send you one
[14:04]  Bookworm Hienrichs nods at Mr. Lacombe.
[14:05]  Garnet Psaltery: IM me if you need a chair
[14:05]  Stereo Nacht: Ang good evening Mr. Moreau, Ms. Ishmene, Mr. Drinkwater, Ms. Hysshio, Ms. Psaltery, Ms. Jameson, mr. Lacombe, Mr. Beresford, Ms. Neverwas, Ms. Hienrichs and everyone!
[14:05]  Linus Lacombe: Good afternoon, Ms Stereo!
[14:05]  Garnet Psaltery: Hello Miss Nacht :o)
[14:05]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Good evening! Impressive roll call.
[14:05]  Garnet Psaltery: and all in one breath
[14:05]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Good lungs on her.
[14:05]  Rhianon Jameson grins
[14:05]  Rhianon Jameson: Indeed
[14:06]  Satu Moreau: ^_^ Hello, Ms. Nacht
[14:06]  violet Solano: good afternoon all
[14:06]  Linus Lacombe: Good afernoon, M Solano
[14:06]  Bookworm Hienrichs: We'll wait another 5 minutes for stragglers.
[14:06]  Robin Ishmene: n_n
[14:07]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer): hello everyones :)
[14:07]  Garnet Psaltery: Greetings
[14:07]  Linus Lacombe: Hello M Eldemar
[14:07]  Polly Ellsmere: afternoon Miss Eldemar
[14:07]  Garnet Psaltery: Last call for wearable chairs - IM me if you need one
[14:07]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Greetings to all who have come in while I've been distracted.
[14:08]  Solace Fairlady waves to the Admiral:)
[14:08]  Linus Lacombe: Hello Admiral
[14:08]  Solace Fairlady: Hello Miss Elsemere, Miss cashew
[14:09]  Wildstar Beaumont: good evening !
[14:09]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer): hello :)
[14:09]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Good evening, Admiral!
[14:09]  Emerson Lighthouse nods
[14:09]  Kelso Uxlay: Hello
[14:09]  Sidonie Ancelin (ancelin): Hello there, everyone
[14:09]  Solace Fairlady: M Lighthouse, m Uxlay, Miss Sid!
[14:09]  Tephi Zepp: hello :))
[14:09]  Linus Lacombe: Hello, M Ancelin
[14:09]  Emerson Lighthouse: Miss Fairlady
[14:09]  Emerson Lighthouse smiles
[14:09]  Solace Fairlady: and M Zepp
[14:10]  Solace Fairlady: and Miss magz!
[14:10]  Linus Lacombe: Hello M Haiku
[14:10]  Garnet Psaltery: Hello Miss Polly and everyone I missed
[14:10]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev) blinks.
[14:10]  Bookworm Hienrichs chuckels to herself. Waiting was a good thing.
[14:11]  Bookworm Hienrichs chastises the typist for the typo.
[14:11]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer) smiles
[14:11]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Well, I think we'll get started.
[14:11]  Simeon Beresford: Hello Miss ElseMere Miss Cashew Indeed Greetings to All newcomers
[14:11]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas) is admiring what looks to be an impressive visual machine.
[14:11]  Garnet Psaltery: Chuckels n. A species of mouse
[14:11]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev) waves to all.
[14:12]  Bookworm Hienrichs: I'm afraid our usual host, Baron Wulfenbach, is AWOL again. At least this time, I've been able to bring some stuffing for fitting my feet into his shoes.
[14:12]  Satu Moreau chuckles
[14:12]  Bookworm Hienrichs: (Translation, I remembered to cage a tip jar from someone. Thank you, Ms Psaltery!)
[14:12]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas) scopes out shoes.
[14:12]  Garnet Psaltery: (My pleasure)
[14:12]  Bookworm Hienrichs smiles wryly.
[14:13]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Thank you, everyone, for coming to this Aether Salon. If you've not yet joined the group, please click on one of the large group join signs.
[14:13]  Bookworm Hienrichs: You can also support the group through tips to one of the small signs in the back of the Salon building.
[14:13]  Bookworm Hienrichs: For the sake of us all, please remove any lag-inducing HUDs and other objects.
[14:13]  Bookworm Hienrichs grins.
[14:14]  Bookworm Hienrichs: And now, I'd like to introduce this month's speaker.
[14:14]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Kghia Gherardi is a familiar presence in the Caledon Library, where she has co-hosted book discussions for a number of years. Today she is speaking about the origins of Steampunk Literature, and she hopes you come away with new entries for your to-be-read list.
[14:14]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Take it away, Dame Gherardi!
[14:14]  Linus Lacombe:  `*.¸.*´ APPLAUSE `*.¸.*´APPLAUSE `*.¸.*´
[14:14]  Bookworm Hienrichs applauds.
[14:14]  Kghia Gherardi takes a deep breath
[14:14]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas) smiles attentively.
[14:14]  Tephi Zepp: Applause :)))
[14:14]  Simeon Beresford: Hurrah
[14:14]  Kghia Gherardi: Good afternoon, gentle beings.
[14:14]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia) applauds respectfully.
[14:15]  Kghia Gherardi: Today I am inviting you join me in a conversation about our favorite steampunk books. (In other words, I expect you to be your usually witty selves and speak up when you have something to add.) In the past decade the genre has exploded into numerous sub genres, and I suspect we all have our favorite novels and stories. I'll give you a little history into the genre and then offer up several suggestions for your to-be-read lists.
[14:15]  Kghia Gherardi: But before I get to the book lists, let's talk about what steampunk literature is. How do you define steampunk literature?
[14:16]  JJ Drinkwater: Results of 21st c technology by 19th c means
[14:16]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev) watches Kghia start a war with that question.
[14:16]  Bhelanna Blaze (bhelanna) smiles
[14:16]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer): :)
[14:16]  Wildstar Beaumont: :)
[14:16]  Solace Fairlady: Anything set in an alternative 19th c? or thereabouts?
[14:17]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): books with clockwork computers run on Leiden jars and such,
[14:17]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): I suppose saying "The review called it Steampunk" isn't to be admitted, right?
[14:17]  Solace Fairlady: usually is defined by the tech used?
[14:17]  Kghia Gherardi chuckles
[14:17]  Wildstar Beaumont: a fork in time ?
[14:17]  Simeon Beresford: airships
[14:17]  Kghia Gherardi: Let me share some possible definitions with you.
[14:17]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): no WW 1
[14:18]  Stereo Nacht: Litterature about a parallel universe where steam power... well, never lost steam! ;-)
[14:18]  Kghia Gherardi: From artist John Coulthart, we get this explanation:
[14:18]  Kghia Gherardi: STEAMPUNK = Mad Scientist Inventor [invention (steam x airship or metal man/baroque stylings) x (pseudo) Victorian setting] + progressive or reactionary politics x adventure plot
[14:18]  Garnet Psaltery: A story that could have been imagined in the Victorian era, extrapolating from the science of the time
[14:18]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Seriously, I'd say containing enough of the known steampunk esthetics so as to feel comfortable.
[14:18]  Kghia Gherardi: Looks pretty impressive doesn't it (and I'm glad I didn't have to deliver that one in voice). Kind of like steampunk itself. Lots of parts and pieces but not necessarily as clear as it could be.
[14:19]  Kghia Gherardi: Over at steampunk.com they have this explanation of steampunk literature:
[14:19]  Kghia Gherardi: Steampunk has always been first and foremost a literary genre, or [at] least a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological aspects of the 19th century (the steam) usually with some deconstruction of, reimagining of, rebellion against part of it (the punk).
[14:19]  Kghia Gherardi: Okay so here we getting a little bit into the name. We have some "steam," and we have some "punk."
[14:19]  Kghia Gherardi: Here is perhaps one of my favorites from author Beth Bernobich:
[14:20]  Kghia Gherardi: Steampunk is...a mood (fog-laden streets lined with cobblestones); a theme (a world standing on the edge between one age and the next), a tech level (horses and automobiles, clockwork creations, goggles and steam engines, and aircraft rising toward the stars), and more than a bit of madness.
[14:20]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia) looks at her own hair and grins,
[14:20]  Kghia Gherardi: I think I like this version because it aligns best the steampunk that I like to read. It combines in the aesthetic and the escapism and the whimsy.
[14:20]  Garnet Psaltery: Madness *nods and approves*
[14:20]  Kghia Gherardi: Here are a couple more the humorous explanations of steampunk.
[14:21]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): I like that definition. Quite well spoken and imagined.
[14:21]  JJ Drinkwater applauds whimsy on principle
[14:21]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer): that is a delightful description
[14:21]  Kghia Gherardi: Steampunk is...the love child of Hot Topic and a BBC costume drama.
~Gail Carriger, author of The Parasol Protectorate series
Steampunk is what happens when goths discover brown.
~ Jess Nevins, author of Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana
[14:21]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev) snorts.
[14:21]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas) laughs too loudly.
[14:21]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer): lol
[14:21]  Kghia Gherardi: For those of you not in the US, Hot Topic is a clothing store aimed at young adults
[14:21]  Garnet Psaltery: Pfft fashionistas
[14:21]  Solace Fairlady: ah thank you Dame Kghia!
[14:22]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): love that remark, goths wearing brown, hilarious (giggles)
[14:22]  Rhianon Jameson: I'm in the US and never heard of it. :)
[14:22]  Stereo Nacht: (Good evening Herr Baron!)
[14:22]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev): A clothing store known for selling "Goth lite" and "punk lite" type clothing and accessories to those young adults.
[14:22]  Solace Fairlady: and here is our own favourite brown-cald Goth!
[14:22]  Solace Fairlady: Guten abend Herr Baron!
[14:22]  Solace Fairlady: *clad
[14:22]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Might anyone need a chair, bitte?
[14:22]  Rhianon Jameson: Thank you, ma'am. Now I feel very old.
[14:23]  Garnet Psaltery: Guten Abend, Herr Baron
[14:23]  Kghia Gherardi: In case you haven't figured it out yet, there isn't a clear explanation of this genre. And that's all right. Why should a genre that is still growing -- still expanding -- be bound by a definition?
[14:23]  Linus Lacombe: Hallo, Herr Baron
[14:23]  Sidonie Ancelin (ancelin): Good day, Herr Baron.
[14:23]  Kghia Gherardi: Good afternoon, Herr Baron.
[14:23]  Stereo Nacht: Besides... Something as mad as steampunk could not be contained in a single definition! ;-)
[14:23]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer): hello Herr Baron
[14:23]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): *nods respectfully at the Baron,.
[14:23]  Simeon Beresford: Indeed
[14:23]  Kghia Gherardi: I didn't do that!
[14:23]  Kghia Gherardi: honestly!
[14:23]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Is it drafty in here or is it me?
[14:24]  Bookworm Hienrichs nods at the Baron.
[14:24]  Garnet Psaltery: It's to let in the soot
[14:24]  Kghia Gherardi: That said, I think Jeff VanderMeer and SJ Chambers has given us perhaps the most workable framework for steampunk literature today. And if you are trying to decide of a work falls into this category, this definition may help
[14:24]  Simeon Beresford: pulls his coat closer
[14:24]  Kghia Gherardi: First, it’s simultaneously retro and forward-looking in nature. Second, it evokes a sense of adventure and discovery. Third, it embraces divergent and extinct technologies as a way of talking about the future.
[14:24]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev) raises her hand for a query (if you're taking questions right now).
[14:24]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia) is glad its not so hot in here, else she'd dry out to fast,..
[14:24]  Kghia Gherardi: ask away
[14:25]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev): How do those recent and humourous definitions comport with what's the considered the progenitors of the subgenre of steampunk lit: the works of Blaylock, Jeter and Powers, as well as Gibson's and Stirling's The Difference Engine?
[14:26]  Kghia Gherardi: I will talk a little about that, but I think it comes down to the genre changing to fit the needs of the authors and audience
[14:27]  Kghia Gherardi: it becomes more an aesthetic and style, and less a movement
[14:27]  Kghia Gherardi: at least in the realm of literature.
[14:28]  Garnet Psaltery: Welcome back
[14:28]  JJ Drinkwater: More the mood and setting, less the structure?
[14:28]  Kghia Gherardi: I think the current flavor of steampunk is best described by this last definition.
[14:29]  Kghia Gherardi: it isn't rebellion against something, as we normally think of punk doing.
[14:29]  Kghia Gherardi: It is embracing technology, studying it, criticizing it.
[14:29]  Kghia Gherardi nods at Mr Drinkwater
[14:30]  Kghia Gherardi: Now that we know what steampunk literature is (ha ha), we can talk about its origin.
[14:30]  Kghia Gherardi: Steampunk literature wedges its foot in the door in the 19th century. Jules Verne, HG Wells and Mary Shelly were among authors exploring the role of technology and man's relationship with it. The rapid changes ignited by the Industrial Revolution lead authors to look at technology with a critical eye.
[14:30]  Simeon Beresford: there is undoubted ly a strong rebelious elment in some steampunk still.
[14:30]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): Erm, punk started out as a fashiom movement, the rebellion aspect of it was added later, so estetics are also a base in punk.
[14:31]  Solace Fairlady smiles "hello my love:)"
[14:31]  Kghia Gherardi: good point. I tend to think of punk music first. :)
[14:31]  Kghia Gherardi: Shelly, for example, asks how technology affects morality in Frankenstein - what are our responsibilities for what we create?
[14:31]  Kghia Gherardi: This is a theme we return in contemporary steampunk
[14:32]  Darlingmonster Ember: thank you she whispers
[14:32]  Kghia Gherardi: Verne was a hard science man, caring more about the scientific veracity than the fantastical possibilities of the genre. As the power of science and technology became more evident to the public, so they realized the role of mad scientist was a real possibility.
[14:32]  Kghia Gherardi: Although Wells used science in his literature he was much more concerned with its political implications. As a socialist, he was more concerned with the misuse of science than its accurate depiction.
[14:33]  Kghia Gherardi: While we most often associate Steampunk literature with Victorian England, American dime novels were also influential. Edisonade novels, targeted at boys and young men, grew out of a fascination with science combined with American expansionism.
[14:33]  Deea (andra.carolina): Heii.
[14:33]  Kghia Gherardi: The Edisonade novels had a formula: "a young American male invents a form of transportation and uses it to travel to uncivilized parts of the American frontier or the world, enrich himself, and punish the enemies of the United States."
[14:33]  Kghia Gherardi: Unlike the works mentioned earlier, technology is embraced. It will improve the character's life with no repercussions.
[14:34]  Kghia Gherardi: Edward Ellis introduces readers to The Huge Hunter, or The Steam Man of the Prairies, a work that inspires additional series and hundreds of novels. The Edisonade genre was successful for twenty years before the closing of the frontier and changing tastes killed the genre.
[14:34]  Kghia Gherardi: So having seen how people of the time approached Victorian and Edwardian science, let’s look at how more contemporary generations adopted, and adapted, it.
[14:35]  Kghia Gherardi: Steampunk literature becomes a full-fledged genre in the late 1970s/early 1980s. There were a couple of 20th-century precursors that helped set the stage.
[14:35]  Kghia Gherardi: Ronald Clark’s Queen Victoria’s Bomb is an alternative history that speculates on what would have happened if England had a nuclear bomb during the Crimean War.
[14:35]  Kghia Gherardi: Michael Moorcock’s Oswald Bastable series, starting with The Warlord of the Air, is probably the best recognized steampunk precursor.
[14:35]  JJ Drinkwater turns pale
[14:36]  Solace Fairlady: yay
[14:36]  Solace Fairlady: at last someone else recognises that work!
[14:36]  Kghia Gherardi: Another alternative history, this one set in India in a world in which World War I never occured.
[14:36]  Kghia Gherardi: Airships and the Victorian/Edwardian style of writing set the stage for future steampunk novels.
[14:36]  Kghia Gherardi: According to Moorcock, these novels were "intended as an intervention, if you like, into certain Edwardian views of Empire. They were intended to show that there was no such thing as a benign Empire, and that even if it seemed benign, it wasn't. The stories were as much addressed to an emergent American Empire as to a declining British."
[14:36]  Kghia Gherardi: Novels such as these harken back to our proto-steampunk novels that warned against the misuse of technology and implications for the control of society.
[14:37]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander) doubletakes at Sir JJ
[14:37]  Simeon Beresford: nods the rebellion theme
[14:38]  Simeon Beresford: The bastable novels were the first in which the eternal champion sided with chaos.
[14:38]  Solace Fairlady: what about the Elric series?
[14:38]  Kghia Gherardi: The first generation steampunk novels were actually alternate histories based on Victorian times.
[14:38]  Simeon Beresford: He used chaos but fought against it,
[14:39]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia) notiches she still has much reading to do,..
[14:39]  Simeon Beresford: He was conflicted :^)
[14:39]  Darlingmonster Ember: snerks
[14:39]  Stereo Nacht: I as well, Ms!
[14:39]  Solace Fairlady: is debatle whether bastable sides with Chaos in those books too, at least the Choas pantheon of Moorcock, but thats a whole other discussion:)
[14:40]  Kghia Gherardi: Three authors - Tim Powers, KW Jeter, and James P Blaylock - would met regularly at a bar and critique each others work
[14:40]  Kghia Gherardi: From this group came the original steampunk novels, and from KW Jeter, the term "steampunk" to define the genre.
[14:40]  Stew Macpherson: ...interesting ,that.
[14:40]  Kghia Gherardi: “I think Victorian fantasies are going to be the next big thing, as long as we can come up with a fitting collective term...like ‘Steampunk,’ perhaps.”
~ KW Jeter, Locus Magazine, 1987
[14:40]  Simeon Beresford: Powers and blaycock were in school together.
[14:40]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Heh. I understand his motivation.
[14:40]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Really? *is intrigued by that group's meetings*
[14:41]  Kghia Gherardi: the group meetings sound interesting, don't they?
[14:41]  Kghia Gherardi: If you read interviews with the group members, they still talk about what each brought to the table
[14:41]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): I would like to travel in time and talk them out of branding it with 'punk', but otherwise.... wonderful.
[14:41]  Stew Macpherson: Creative sausage grinder ^ ^
[14:41]  Simeon Beresford: Their characters show up in each others books
[14:41]  Kghia Gherardi agrees with Simeon
[14:42]  Kghia Gherardi: one of the authors, I forget which now, introduced the group to Matthew Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor‎:
[14:42]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev) has heard/read that Jeter's quote was a mocking take on the 'cyberpunk' trend rather than a serious attempt at nomenclature.
[14:42]  Kghia Gherardi: It was very influential with this group.
[14:43]  JJ Drinkwater: So THAT'S where early steampunk's grit came from!
[14:43]  Kghia Gherardi: I think it started as a bit of a joke.
[14:43]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia) sees Steam- and Cyberpunk asd timetorn apart twins.
[14:43]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Remember kids, don't joke!
[14:43]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev): Ooh! Terry Pratchett just cited that book in a recent interview.
[14:44]  Garnet Psaltery has ancestors in that book
[14:44]  Kghia Gherardi: So what were these original novels about?
[14:44]  Kghia Gherardi: The Anubis Gates, by Tim Powers, is a time travel fantasy taking place in Egypt and features kidnapping, Romantic poets such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and werewolves. (Does this remind anyone else of Gail Carriger's latest?)
[14:44]  Stew Macpherson: LOL
[14:44]  Kghia Gherardi: KW Jeter's Infernal Devices gives us clockwork creatures, a mystery and a mad chase, but be warned, this novel has a reputation for being difficult to get into.
[14:45]  Kghia Gherardi: James Blaylock takes us into a world of volcanos throwing the earth into the path of a comet, and scientists determine to reverse the earth’s magnetic poles to deflect the comet. Oh, and there is a mystery to be solved.
[14:45]  Simeon Beresford: Anubis gates is amazing
[14:45]  Kghia Gherardi: During this same era, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling published The Difference Engine.
[14:45]  Stew Macpherson: ....a misfit hero caught up in matters beyond his reckoning in Infernal Devices.
[14:45]  Solace Fairlady: an amazing read that one
[14:46]  Kghia Gherardi: Another alternate history, this novel speculates on a world in which Charles Babbage successfully creates the first computer.
[14:46]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): I honestly can;t remember if i read it, (facefins herself)
[14:46]  Kghia Gherardi: Like many of their predecessors, Gibson and Sterling explore the corrupting influence of technology
[14:46]  Kghia Gherardi: It contains mystery, poets (Lord Byron is the leader of a radical group and Keats gives up poetry to program computers), and a gritty realism.
[14:46]  Solace Fairlady: and no denouement either
[14:46]  Linus Lacombe: No mystery?
[14:46]  Kghia Gherardi: I'm a Keats fan-girl, so I'm mixed about his change in profession.
[14:47]  Stew Macpherson smiles
[14:47]  Stereo Nacht: Perhaps he wrote poetic code? ;-)
[14:47]  Kghia Gherardi: While steampunk may have been off to a great start, it quickly disappeared.
[14:47]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): some software is so elegantly written it superseeds some poetry in itself,.
[14:47]  Stew Macpherson: Keats as a programer is bad alt history....a great loss.
[14:47]  Kghia Gherardi: As Jeff VanderMeer explains in The Steampunk Bible,
[14:48]  Kghia Gherardi: “From 1991-2007, anything that might have been classified as Steampunk was described as science fiction, science fantasy, or alternative history. There were a few books and short stories that implemented steampunk elements. 1995 gave us Paul Di Filippo's Steampunk Trilogy, Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, and Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass.“
[14:48]  Kghia Gherardi: The Renaissance for steampunk literature occurred in the late 2000’s.
[14:48]  Kghia Gherardi: Steampunk itself was redefined for this resurgence. It became more an aesthetic and foundation than a term to describe a movement.
[14:49]  Kghia Gherardi: Now, steampunk literature is hot, HOT, HOT!!!
[14:49]  Kghia Gherardi: Readers love it, publishers love it, and there are lots of opportunities for steampunk authors.
[14:49]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): steaming hot?
[14:49]  Solace Fairlady: why are those books you mentioned not cons=idered Steampunk?
[14:49]  Stereo Nacht: (I would not have put the Golden Compass with steampunk, but I can see the relation.)
[14:49]  Kghia Gherardi: in some anthologies, you bet :)
[14:49]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): as is its clothing on fancyfairs, i do see it more and more,..
[14:49]  Simeon Beresford: Zombie hot?
[14:50]  Kghia Gherardi: I think they would be considered steampunk if they were published later.
[14:50]  Solace Fairlady: wb my love
[14:50]  Darlingmonster Ember: thank you
[14:50]  Kghia Gherardi: the labeling is as much marketing as true adherence to genre
[14:50]  Simeon Beresford: Now they are but they were not marketed as Steampunk at the time.
[14:50]  JJ Drinkwater hums "Just glue some gears on it....."
[14:50]  Solace Fairlady: they have the elements mentioned in the previous section?
[14:51]  Solace Fairlady: as does Light Age?
[14:51]  Stew Macpherson: .Recent publication of the Steampunk Gazette even has S/L and New Babbage specifically listed as an outlet for Steamers! ^ ^
[14:51]  Darlingmonster Ember: ah, nice!
[14:51]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Really!
[14:51]  Kghia Gherardi: sometimes I think people have to have the term to find the right fit. Steampunk wasn't popular enough to apply as the correct label.
[14:52]  Stew Macpherson: ..we,re on the last few pages LOL but what the heck.
[14:52]  Kghia Gherardi: Now we can get to the reading list!
[14:52]  Solace Fairlady: I guess Pavanne is "outside the box of Steampunk" too
[14:52]  Kghia Gherardi: You may be familiar with some of these titles, and some may be new
[14:52]  Kghia Gherardi: Please feel free to share some of your favorites in the chat as well because my list will not be exhaustive. (My apologies to the transcriptionists.)
[14:52]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander) chuckles
[14:52]  Kghia Gherardi: Please be aware that I have not read all of these works. Many are new additions to my “to be read” list.
[14:53]  Kghia Gherardi: (the pleasures of research )
[14:53]  Solace Fairlady: Put some goggles on a model and call it Steampunk
[14:53]  Kghia Gherardi: Many of the books I am about to mention can fall into multiple categories.
[14:53]  Kghia Gherardi: For the sake of time, I'm listing titles without descriptions
[14:53]  Kghia Gherardi: First up is steampunk with a supernatural element.
[14:53]  Kghia Gherardi: Gail Carriger, The Parasol Protectorate
Cherie Priest, Boneshaker
Kim Newman, Anno Dracula
Clay Griffith. The Greyfriar
[14:53]  Stew Macpherson: ...and humour.
[14:54]  Kghia Gherardi: This is, I admit, my favorite version of steampunk.
[14:54]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Boneshaker really worked well.
[14:54]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Carriger's stuff is great fun, even if I feel the urge to wrap it in a science book cover for show.
[14:54]  Kghia Gherardi: zombies, werewolves, vampires, oh my
[14:55]  Stew Macpherson: lol
[14:55]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev): And mummies!
[14:55]  Darlingmonster Ember: :D
[14:55]  JJ Drinkwater: Fashionista Vampires, no less
[14:55]  Kghia Gherardi: lol
[14:55]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): or mers ^^.
[14:55]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev): And women with strange tastes in hats!
[14:55]  Darlingmonster Ember: snerks
[14:55]  Kghia Gherardi: I love to see the way authors apply steampunk gadgets and deductive reasoning in mysteries with a steampunk flavor.
[14:55]  Linus Lacombe: You mean they eat their hats?
[14:55]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev): Which no one in this room would know nothing about, no no no ...
[14:55]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): See? You all found her universe very memorable
[14:55]  Kghia Gherardi: Lilith Saintcrow, The Iron Wyrm Affair
China Mieville. Perdido Street Station
Mark Hodder. The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack
PC Martin. Steampunk Holmes: Legacy of the Nautilus
T. Aaron Payton. The Constantine Affair
[14:56]  Simeon Beresford: groans
[14:56]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Hm?
[14:56]  Simeon Beresford: I eat no hats
[14:56]  Magda Haiku (magdalena.kamenev) has to run off for Holmesian madness in RL. "Thank you so much!"
[14:56]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas) adds new titles to his list
[14:56]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Gute Nacht, Frau Magdalena.
[14:56]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): the book of China Mieville i got, read it ages ago, ^^, i really should re-read it,.
[14:56]  Stereo Nacht: Well, there is that sandwich... ;-)
[14:57]  Stereo Nacht: Good night Ms. Haiku!
[14:57]  Kghia Gherardi: With the steampunk westerns, you might expect to see a return to the Edisonade novels, but that is far from the case.
[14:57]  JJ Drinkwater: "Steampunk Holmes"? Now that's really shameless
[14:57]  Kghia Gherardi: Cherie Priest, Dreadnought
Devon Monk, Dead Iron
MK Hobson, The Native Star
[14:57]  Wildstar Beaumont: today's salon is going to cost me a fortune in ebooks :)
[14:57]  Kghia Gherardi grins
[14:57]  Kghia Gherardi: I love the world Devon Monk is creating in her steampunk westerns
[14:58]  Kghia Gherardi: werewolf cowboys, a hint of old world mythology, and steam-powered machines!
[14:58]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Oh, that's western themed? Going higher up the list
[14:58]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): hm, the only mix of western and Steampunk i know of is the movie Shanhai Noon,
[14:58]  Simeon Beresford: which of her series is westertn themed?
[14:59]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Wild Wild West went there, and I feel Firefly qualifies.
[14:59]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): But those are not books
[14:59]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): * Shanghai Noon
[14:59]  Kghia Gherardi: Dead Iron, Simeon
[14:59]  Kghia Gherardi: and she just released the follow-up, Tin Swift
[15:00]  Simeon Beresford: Territory by Emma bull is western but straight fantay for the most part .
[15:00]  Kghia Gherardi: Airships, pirates - swash and buckle.
[15:00]  Kghia Gherardi: Chris Wooding, Retribution Falls
Michel R Vaillancourt, By Any Other Name
George Mann. The Affinity Bridge
Scott Westerfeld. The Manual of Aeronautics
[15:00]  Stereo Nacht: Oh? Another steampunk book by Mr. Westerfeld?
[15:01]  Kghia Gherardi: just a couple more
[15:01]  Kghia Gherardi: As these novels show, it isn’t always easy to be a clockwork girl. Or boy. Or other.
[15:01]  Kghia Gherardi: Ekaterina Sedia, The Alchemy of Stone
Jay Lake, Mainspring
Cory Doctorow, Clockwork Fagin (YA)
Kady Cross, The Girl in the Steel Corset
[15:01]  JJ Drinkwater: Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Artist of the Beautiful" is a Clockpunk precursor
[15:01]  Kghia Gherardi: Colonial - this is an area I haven’t done any reading in...yet, but considering the alternate history element of many of steampunk novels, I bet we will see more works appearing within this category
[15:01]  Kghia Gherardi: Just one entry: SM Stirling. The Peshawar Lancers
[15:02]  Stew Macpherson: ...there may be a sub genre developing in the way of Carni-Punk, Circus and freak/side show stories...
[15:02]  Tephi Zepp: I missed the last slide cause it is rezzing slowly
[15:02]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): i also have difficulties regarding the slides,.
[15:02]  Kghia Gherardi: all give a copy of the slides and the reading list to Bookworm
[15:02]  Tephi Zepp: thanks ! :))
[15:02]  Kghia Gherardi: she can link to them if she likes, from the blog
[15:02]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): They are working well for me. Come look over my shoulder
[15:03]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander) nods
[15:03]  Tephi Zepp: grins
[15:03]  Kghia Gherardi: The best way to sample steampunk (and the place I started) … Anthologies
[15:03]  Kghia Gherardi: Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, eds. Steampunk
Nick Geves, ed. Extraordinary Engines
Mike Ashley. Steampunk Prime: A Vintage Steampunk Reader
[15:03]  Kghia Gherardi: One of the areas with the largest fan base, graphic novels (and web comics)
[15:03]  Kghia Gherardi: Phil and Kaja Folio, Girl Genius
Sydney Padua, The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage
Brian Selznick, The Adventures of Hugo Cabret
Ian Edginton and D’Israeli, Scarlet Traces
Alan Moore, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
[15:04]  Garnet Psaltery smiles
[15:04]  Kghia Gherardi: Here are a couple of reference books I would recommend to any steampunk aficionado.
[15:04]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander) nods in appreciation
[15:04]  Kghia Gherardi: Jeff VanderMeer with SJ Chambers. The Steampunk Bible
Jess Nevins and Michael Moorcock. The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana
[15:04]  Bookworm Hienrichs cheers for Jess Nevins.
[15:04]  Harriett Jenipe: hopefully some are on Kindle :)
[15:04]  Kghia Gherardi: And finally, the references I used when researching today’s talk.
“The Future of Steampunk,” Paul Jessup. The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf and Book Review.
http://booktionary.blogspot.com/2010/10/future-of-steampunk-by-paul-jessup.html
“Steampunk Is,” The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf and Book Review.
http://booktionary.blogspot.com/2010/10/steampunk-is.html
“What is Steampunk?” John Leavitt.
http://www.steampunk.com/what-is-steampunk/
Steampunk. Ann VanderMeer and Jeff Vandermeer, eds.
“Introduction: The 19th-Century Roots of Steampunk.” Jeff Nevins. In Steampunk.
Steampunk Scholar.
[15:05]  Kghia Gherardi: Any other works you would recommend?
[15:05]  Garnet Psaltery: I recommend new reading glasses
[15:05]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Heh.
[15:05]  Bookworm Hienrichs chuckles.
[15:05]  Kghia Gherardi: I doubled my to-be-read list doing working on this project
[15:06]  Darlingmonster Ember: :D
[15:06]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): My thanks and sympathies, Ritterin.
[15:06]  Kghia Gherardi: and I need to go back and re-read
[15:06]  Simeon Beresford: YA is strong in this area.
[15:06]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Did you mention The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi?
[15:06]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): Which is more of environmentalist-punk. *grin*
[15:06]  Kghia Gherardi: Oh, I forgot Windup Girl.
[15:06]  Stew Macpherson: a wonderful job of pulling it all together Kghia.
[15:06]  Stereo Nacht: I must admit that, beside the Golden compass, my first Steampunk novel was Dalhquist's "The Glass Book of the Dream Eaters"; slow to start, but wonderfully complex.
[15:07]  Darlingmonster Ember: I would recommend, for those with interest in bloody-minded adventure and social comment, The Court of the Air , by Stephen Hunt
[15:07]  Kghia Gherardi: Caledon exposed me to Steampunk, and I haven't been the same. :)
[15:07]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): I do believe New Babbage should toot it's own literary horn too.
[15:07]  Stew Macpherson: Definately Stephen Hunt...
[15:07]  Polly Ellsmere: I think Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series verges on Steampunk
[15:07]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia) wonders if early fantastic horror as Pier Alderson Bierce fits the bill,..
[15:07]  JJ Drinkwater see's Dame Kghia's to-read list becmming tot ally unmanageable
[15:08]  Garnet Psaltery: Entries for Tales of New Babbage vol 2 need to be in by 25th!
[15:08]  Kghia Gherardi: I didn't even get into steampunk horror or steampunk romance.
[15:08]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Yes, indeed--Tales from New Babbage, Volume 1 is now available as an e-book.
[15:08]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Ah, good idea, that.
[15:08]  Kghia Gherardi: An excellent inclusion!
[15:09]  Bookworm Hienrichs: I also discovered a rather intersting Steampunk web series currently being written, called 'Railroad.'
[15:09]  Bookworm Hienrichs: It's at http://steampunktrain.blogspot.com/
[15:09]  Garnet Psaltery claps the mention of trains
[15:09]  Simeon Beresford: Or Steampunk Lesbian Or steampunk BSDM.
[15:09]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): or the distopian novels of Dino Buzatti, those may be more Dieselpunk,.
[15:09]  Wildstar Beaumont: must go to bed ... good night all !
[15:10]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Good night, Admiral!
[15:10]  Linus Lacombe: hmmm..."Quest for the Golden Prim?
[15:10]  Kghia Gherardi: night, Wildstar
[15:10]  Solace Fairlady: fair winds Admiral!
[15:10]  Garnet Psaltery: Goodnight, Commodore
[15:10]  Kghia Gherardi: Thank you for your time, attention, and willingness to share.
[15:10]  Stew Macpherson: Good night!
[15:10]  Sidonie Ancelin (ancelin): Good night, Admiral.
[15:10]  Garnet Psaltery: Admiral, etc :D
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Bookworm Hienrichs: /me looks at Mr. Lacombe. "If it would get started again..."
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Stereo Nacht: Good night those leaving!
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Bookworm Hienrichs: /me sniffles.
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Darlingmonster Ember: /me applauds
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Darlingmonster Ember: bravo
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer): thank you very much Miss Gherardi :)
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): /me applauds
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Stereo Nacht:  `*.¸.*´ APPLAUSE `*.¸.*´APPLAUSE `*.¸.*´
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Stew Macpherson: Well done Kghia!
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Polly Ellsmere: ♩♪♫♬  APPAWS! ♩♪♫♬
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Tephi Zepp: Thanks for an excellent presentation :))
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Linus Lacombe: /me smiles knowlingly to ms Hienrichs
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Does anyone have any other questions for our speaker?
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Cassie Eldemar (cashew.writer): merry paths
[2012/11/18 15:10]  Garnet Psaltery: Oh yes, bring back the Golden Prim I say!
[2012/11/18 15:10]  JJ Drinkwater: /me applauds wildly!
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Solace Fairlady: /me applauds enthusiastically
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Stereo Nacht: Wonderful talk, Ms. Gherardi! Thank you!
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Garnet Psaltery: ***** APPLAUSE *****
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Kghia Gherardi: I will share slides and reading lists, so check the Aether Salon website for any you may have missed
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): Yes, could i have the slides so i could read them slowlier myself?
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Bitte, do not forget to show your appreciation to our speaker, and support the Aether Salon itself if you might spare a few more lindens.
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Simeon Beresford: excelent lecture!
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Garnet Psaltery: Miss Bookworm, I'll have a transcript to you shortly
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Ah, ja - the Quest for the Golden Prim, I do remember that. Clever work.
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Ms. an Isala, a full transcript of this will be posted at aethersalon.blogspot.com in the next couple of days.
[2012/11/18 15:11]  Bookworm Hienrichs: /me smiles.
[2012/11/18 15:12]  Garnet Psaltery: They left me in an opium den!
[2012/11/18 15:12]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Shocking!
[2012/11/18 15:12]  Garnet Psaltery: Indeed
[2012/11/18 15:12]  Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (klauswulfenbach.outlander): Somebody must do something about that.
[2012/11/18 15:12]  Linus Lacombe: Oh dear...that's right!
[2012/11/18 15:12]  Bookworm Hienrichs: In fact, everyone--a transcript of this will be posted at aethersalon.blogspot.com in the next couple of days.
[2012/11/18 15:12]  Bookworm Hienrichs: /me chuckles.
[2012/11/18 15:12]  Hysshia ap Suolla an Isala (hysshia): Thank you for the link ms Bookworm,
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): This was wonderful. Truly wonderful. Thank you.
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Solace Fairlady: Thank you so much Dame Kghia and Miss Book for a fabulous Salon, one of the best!
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Garnet Psaltery: Miss Gherardi, my eyes will not thank me for your talk but my brain certainly will
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Bookworm Hienrichs: If there are no questions, then I thank you for coming, and invite you to come next month, December 16th, at 2:00 SLT. Our guest speaker will be Victor Mornington, who will tell us about the Dr. Who community in SL.
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Linus Lacombe: TIme for me to go in and consider on what the typist shall sup. Good evening, all!
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Kghia Gherardi: thanks. I hope there was some nugget in there you didn't have before
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Garnet Psaltery: Goodnight Mr L
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Bookworm Hienrichs: And he'll have special guests!
[2012/11/18 15:13]  Solace Fairlady: safe travels M lacombe
[2012/11/18 15:14]  Linus Lacombe: /me waves and vanishes
[2012/11/18 15:14]  Garnet Psaltery: Oh dear, Daleks?
[2012/11/18 15:14]  Sebastian Neverwas (sebastianneverwas): You have enlightened me MUCH more than I expected .I am humbled and excited to read more.
[2012/11/18 15:14]  Stereo Nacht: All right. I'd better go and take care of some more RL stuff... Good night Herr Baron, Ms. Hienrichs, Ms. Hysshia, Mr. Beresford, Ms. Gherardi, Ms. Ellsmere, Mr. Moreau, Ms. Solano, and eveyrone!
[2012/11/18 15:14]  Bookworm Hienrichs: Thank you all again, and safe travels!