who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

Weekend round-up post. Spoilers ahoy.

No, I have not yet bought my fifty gazillion more icons yet, but it will happen soon, I am sure. I've wanted a la carte icons since FOREVER as you all known from my very vocal opinions on the fact.

Yes, my attempts to learn to play "Life on Mars?" are going quite well, despite the fact I have little rhythm and my piano badly needs tuning. Whatever, it's fun. I shall probably not be recording it to share with you anytime soon as I sound bloody awful, however.

( Ashes to Ashes 3.03. )

( Doctor Who 5.03 "Victory of the Daleks" )

I know a lot of you are into steampunk, and it's probably obvious that I am, too. It provides that nineteenth-century asthetic without the entanglements of rigid sexism, the cultural devestation of imperialism, the lack of human rights, and the hypocrisy of bad social relations masked by excessive cant and insincerity. Not only that, but it just looks fucking cool and provides an interesting concept to set a book in.

That said, what is YOUR conception of steampunk? We all probably felt that urge in the beginning: the juxtaposition of old and new things, wtihout knowing what to call it, until someone came along and told us it was Steampunk. If you were like me, you then went somewhat wild trying to write stories, find modifiable skirts at the thrift store, and not go broke buying a custom-made corset. (I highly recommend Rebecca over at Steel and Silk for this last purpose.) And then, with an overstuffed closet of badly-fitting blouses on your hands, you sat down and wondered what steampunk actually WAS, in your own definition.

I think my definition and conception of steampunk comes out of my understanding ideas through stories. It's not just a look for me- there has to be a reason that there is a nineteenth century computer, or why somebody's wearing their corset on the outside and goggles on their top hat. It isn't just putting on some Victorian clothes, or tacking a monocle on with your club gear. I think I have two scenarios in mind that create steampunk for me-

1. That this is some sort of post-apocalyptic society, that in the rebuilding of the world people have, for some reason, adopted the Victorian asthetic. Perhaps it is because the massive class shift after the bomb/plague/zombies/whatever that creates industrialization and a rising middle class all over again, but in the sooty, seamy streets of the devastated cities of yore. This time, however, they have the benefit of whatever history has been recovered, the development of clockwork but also the old-fashioned technology of computers, but everything is, in short, recovered junk, turned to new and useable purposes. Therefore this sort of fashion will be very eclectic and individualized, but at the same time, very functional and necessary for survival.
2. That this is an alternate version of the nineteenth century, one where Charles Babbage really did build his analytical engine, ushering in the industrialization of computers at the same time of that of steam. This world still imperializes, and the sun never sets on this British empire, but because of this turn in history, there is also the potential for greater exploration, Vernian style, and more room for social revolution at home. The fashion that rises out of this world would be more traditionally Victorian, but possibly more daring and liberal, such as Turkish trousers for women, belts with pockets and tools attached to them (to carry iPods and mobile phones, of course) and more exotic influences, indicating the extent to which the known world has been conquered and colonized.

My own stories tend to reflect the first option; less research is necessary to make them plausible, so it is the lazy way, but there is also a great deal of room for invention (and nineteenth-century-realism-style exposition, if that's your particular kink.) In this genre, I've read several good short stories in Steampunk Magazine (which is quite a worthy publication, and I encourage anyone that has not known of it will hence go explore its wonders.) Some of these have been the stories by the Castrophone Orchestra in a few issues of Steampunk magazine.

Of the latter scenario, I would have to say my first real introduction to steampunk and my understanding of the concept was from Robert Rankin's hilarious The Witches of Chiswick. This novel features time traveling and computers and Victorians and the Elephant Man, and is best experienced in the audio book, with Mr. Rankin himself reads, in an assortment of voices. Past that, the stories "The Fabulous Junkyard" by David X. Wiggin in Steampunk Magazine #4.

So tell me, those of you who read or wear or live steampunkishly, what are your stories? And how do they define or inspire you?

(also, should I cross-post this to steamfashion or have they really had enough of these posts by now?)

I have many new cool things! I got my Rose tshirt from Cafepress yesterday:



The new issue of Steampunk Magazine:



And I also got a job at the Daily Grind Coffeeshop! I'm going to be a team leader, I start this week. Things are looking up! Plus, I have a cool tshirt that I want to run around and show people. Like Billie Piper.