Steam and Trenches

SteamPunk Review: The Difference Engine

2012-01-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

The Difference Engine
by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling (1990)
Published by Gollancz in 2003 – ISBN 978-0-575-60029-4
After rereading 'The Difference Engine' all be it a bit at a time (after starting it mid November), I found that the depth of this early SteamPunk World still full of detail, and you can delight in it's fantasy of an alliterative historical England and the Empire, when calculating engines of brass and steel started the information age over a hundred years before the microchip and the industrial might that sparks the British conflict with the new Luddites has its moments!

It's now over 20 years after its first printing and this imagined World is now familiar, as well as fiction of alliterative histories and SteamPunk as a sub-genre of science fiction has had many enthusiasts and imitators, even the emergence of writers who's settings are solely in the Victorian era are well liked.
I feel that The Difference Engine's brass has lost a little of its shine, but it has its place in fiction and should always have a place on your bookshelf.

Film review: THE MAGIC BOX

2011-12-15T10:12:00.000-08:00

THE MAGIC BOX
Staring Robert Donat; Made in 1951 for the Festival of Britian.

With Martin Scorsese's film 'HUGO' the adaption of Brian Selznick's novel 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' still fresh in my mind I found, as sometimes we do on the the internet an absolute gem of a film (DVD) by sheer chance, in a bargain classic section (part of the Boulting Brother's collection)!

After just seeing the end of this film I just had to type, so rare to be educated and entertained these days.

From a side-show attraction to the modern cinematic technology of the 1920's, this enthralling and sometimes tragic film recounts the life history of the British inventor of the moving pictures on celluloid Mr. William Freise-Greene! A man driven to strive to perfection of the moving image and a pioneer of colour film for motion pictures. Robert Donat plays Mr. Freise-Greene superbly and is supported by over 50 of the cream of British cinema, far to many to list (if you wish to comment and list them after viewing the film please do so).

What better way to spend a cold wet Sunday afternoon than to sit down and be drawn in to a World of an inventor, a Tinkerer if you will that saw that people would want to see moving pictures not just photographs projected from a magic lantern, and had the vision that this was a new Art-form. Now that movies are made in High Definition digitally we should not forget who’s shoulders we have stood on to get where we are today.

We as a nation should be very proud of this pioneer - Mr. William Freise-Greene 1855 - 1921

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

Santa and his helper ride in Victorian splendour. Photograph taken on the spur of the moment..!

SteamPunk review: Captain Swing & the Electrical Pirates of Cindery Island

2011-12-11T05:46:00.000-08:00

'Captain Swing & the Electrical Pirates of Cindery Island' By Warren Ellis, Illustated by Raulo Cacers. Published by Avatar (2011). ISBN 1-59291-136-6

Warren Ellis an English author of comic-books, who has written 'Excalibur' for marvel, 'The Authority' for Wildstorm (DC), and 'Ministry of Space' for Image Comics among others, has put pen to paper, and finally finished this four part mini-series after much anticipation, and now the Trade paperback is out too!

This neo-Victorian fantasy rides on the waves of the popularity of the SteamPunk genre. Set in 1830 the title character taking the immortal alias of the Luddite saboteur 'Captain Swing' who sounds more like a modern Advocate of Internet Freedom – with a rallying cry of “Knowledge should be free”, and the use of a technology possibly inspired from the film 'Stardust' makes an interesting figure.

You will follow Constable Charles Gravel an honest peeler, and see his character grow as he is swept up in a storm of political high adventure.
The woodcut style of the illustrations by Raulo Caceres are a welcomed sight throughout this comic-book and offset the artwork in the panels.

One for your collection I think.

Film review: Dean Spanley

2011-12-04T15:59:00.000-08:00

Dean Spanley
A film given to me as a gift, and a surprise.
A drama of high whimsy, set in England after the second Boar War. Adapted from Lord Dunsany's novel 'My Talks With Dean Spanley', a most charming and well acted film, featuring the talents of Bryan Brown, Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill and Peter O'Toole. Released in 2008 and easily accessible on DVD.
Sam Neil as the Dean is one of his best performances you really do believe what his character is telling you after he has had his favourite tipple. With Bryan Brown playing the unlikely colonial purveyor of wine or any contents of a box (not cocktails, or F/Xs this time) brings a Victorian style all to his own, and with Peter O'Toole giving gravitas to this unfolding tale, as the father who morns the lost of his eldest son, as well as other losses.

It will make you think about Man's relationship with dogs (our best friend), and may I say some of the tale reminded me the animation 'Watership Down'!
A film not for the weak minded, but a film that you will warm to, now that the days get shorter and the nights grow cold. Like a good book you go back to again and again.

Victoriana: An Englishman's home is his.....

2011-11-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

A fine day out walking with an old friend, I stumbled across this fine Des res, another Water company's Victorian building, no doubt full of machinery.
But the thought that popped in to my head was, what a nice private home for a bachelor!
As they say “ An Englishman's home is his Castle”
Just needs a trap door in the middle of the bridge to keep the Chavs out!
Oh dear I forgot about the waterline being so low, oh well.

Victoriana review: STONE'S FALL

2011-11-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

STONE'S FALL by Iain Pears
Publisher: Vintage (2010)
ISBN-10: 0099516179
ISBN-13: 978-0099516170
First Edition;Publisher: Jonathan Cape; (2009) Hardback

On the cover of the book you can see the words Love, Murder, Espionage these are a poor approximation of the themes within this unravelling historical enigma.
Firstly set in 1909's London of the Edwardian era, then the second part in Paris in 1890, and the final part in Venice in 1876

As your knowledge of the main characters traverses forward in much in the same way as a viewer's interpretation of the film 'Rashomon', as the journalist Braddock is privately engaged to investigate the death of the capitalist weapons manufacturer John W. Stone and the mystery of his wealth, we are then moved on to intelligence officers discovering a plot to attack England and the Empire by a most modern notion. Interwoven into this tale is the mysterious Countess! What follows is an English inventor's meeting a businessman and that the World needs battleships and torpedoes.

This newly written Victoriana was such an intelligent read it has inspired me to reread 'The Difference Engine'.

SteamPunk Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2011-10-19T00:40:00.000-07:00

The Invention of Hugo Cabret By Brian Selznick (2007) Published by Scholastic Press – ISBN 978-0-439-81378-5
A book, although set in the1930's has a air of wonder from the past, of a boy living off this wits in a railway station, you can almost smell the smoke from the steam engines, how he bumps in to a young girl who’s godfather runs a small toy kiosk. The boy's father – a watch maker, one day finds an old and abandoned automaton in a museum's attic and vows to fix it, and of memories that a father gives his son.
How motion pictures for the fist time brought people's dreams and imaginations to life. You will read of magicians long since forgotten, in this most delightful illustrated book.

Enjoyable for parents with young children (Coglings), and those of young at heart with a euphoria of innocence. With a cinematic style of its own. - Now made in to a Motion Picture.

SteamPunk Review: A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court (1889)

2011-10-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court (1889)
by Mark Twain and original Illustrator Dan Beard
Published in 2007 by Penguin Classics ISBN 9780141919928

A defining novel of a modern World, all be it the 1880's, and a fine example of what the 21st. Century's hopes to achieve with fictional alternate histories such as the Worlds that SteamPunk fiction resides in. The worlds of “what ifs” leading to a sideways take on past events, pushing ahead to new futures, not all of them turning out to be Utopias!

On a Literary note with Edgar Allen Poe being the Founder of Science Fiction (later to be nicknamed 'The sham technical' by other authors), I find that Mark Twain dipping his toe in to the domains of Scientific Romances, when his character (the Boss) imposes19th. Century's political, economic, and industrial might on the Old England of King Arthur's realm and his Knights, is by our definition SteamPunk without a doubt.

Has modernisation shockingly moved to fast for the 19th. Century's Mr. Twain, and who would oppose science in King Arthur's realm, you will just have to read and find out!

Steampunk Review:

2010-12-30T05:44:00.000-08:00

The Landships of Lincoln – The story of Lincoln's part in the creation of the Worlds first fighting tanks. (Sn Ed) By Richard Pullen Published in 2007 ISBN 9781873257791
With SteamPunkers looking to arm themselves with a pistol or rifle for personal protection or for piracy but oddly not war! This should inspire your imagination.
'The Landships of Lincoln' chronicling the William Foster & Co Ltd military vehicles, and the engineers behind them, with interviews from the factory workers and those that visited the works. This is not a book about those people that imagined in theory the invention of the Tank, like the predictions of H. G. Wells in the early 'Boar War' of the concept of 'Land Ironclads', no this is about engineers and designers of an armoured trench crosser(necessity being the mother of invention), a weapon that could end the war.

Steampunk Review: The Gangs of New York

2010-12-30T02:56:00.000-08:00

The Gangs of New York ( An informal history of the underworld) By Herbert Asbury,
First published in 1927. ISBN 0099436744

Showing the darker side of of New York's history, so much so that street names and places have been renamed, and corrupt Politicians and Police have been forgotten!
From 1838 up to 1925 with foot notes about the 1700's as well, full of colourful characters that New Yorkers have unnoticed for to long. Looking at the rise and fall of the district known as the 'Five Points' a dismal slum.

Charles Dickens who visited and chronicled his observations for publication in 'American Notes' wrote:-
“Let us go on again, and … plunge into the Five Points….We have seen no beggars in the streets by night or day, but of other kinds of strollers plenty. Poverty, wretchedness, and vice are rife enough where we are going now.

This is the place; these narrow ways, diverging to the right and left, and reeking everywhere with, dirt and filth. Such lives as are led here bear the same fruits here as elsewhere. The coarse and bloated faces at the doors have counterparts at home and all the wide world over. Debauchery has made the very houses prematurely old. See how the rotten beams are tumbling down, and how the patched and broken windows seem to scowl dimly, like eyes that have been hurt in drunken frays.”

White-chapel in London features in Charles Dickens's novels 'Oliver Twist' and 'Pickwick Papers' is upstaged by the 'Five Point' for its slum and villainy!

The Martin Scorsese film 'Gangs of New York' centres on only a small period of time around the American civil war Riots in New York, with a lot of characters based on real historical people.

The colourful history was by and large gained from the Newspapers of the time, and thus prone to sensationalism, but there is no getting away from the rottenness and vile depravity of New York's slums and their gangs with their political masters.

The Campaign to Bridge the Gap!

2010-07-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

Bridging the Gap! (part two and ¼)

Being a SteamPunk correspondent (sometimes undercover), it would be a good start to go to some Steam Rallies and working Steam engine open days..............more to follow..soon

Victorian Information Revolution

2010-07-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

A fellow SteamPunk had found this Clip The Victorian Information Revolution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHVKwXi9evU

The Campaign to Bridge the Gap!

2010-04-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

Bridging the Gap! (part two)

My am is to target real Steam events (for next Year 2011), Steam modeling magazines, Traction Engine owners clubs, Heritage railways, Steam Museums (like pumping stations), with Introductory Letters, and articles to bring the different groups together with SteamPunk.

I do not know what the average age of a SteamPunker is – maybe 17 to 23 ? But a lot of an older generation are the engineers and custodians of our Industrial Heritage, they in turn show to their Grandchildren the wonders of STEAM power.

If we all have a conman interest then should we not help each other out?!

More thinking to follow....

The Campaign to Bridge the Gap!

2010-04-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

Bridging the Gap! (part one)

SteamPunk: like an explosion on the verge of happening.

From the generation of 'The Young Controller' with his real passion for trains and steam engines (like any little boy of that age), all the way to the fond memories of steam from our Grandparents, and Great-Grandparents - the nostalgic past of our engineering greatness spanning over one-hundred years, from giant beam engines powering our industry to steam locomotives on roads and rails.

What of the youth of today, the teenagers and the twenty somethings, rebelling against authority and consumerism, and not just standing on street corners intimidating passersby, will they bridge the generational gap?

With the arrival of the myriad of SteamPunks consisting of Literary fans, Artisans, Contraptors, Idealists in decorum, Fashion enthusiasts of both neo-Victorian and SteamPunk apparel and steam devotees, there is hope to bridge the gap.
Combining Jules Verne's imagination of the1800's (much like the late Walt Disney's imagineers) and Victorian engineering you can create artwork and contraptions, and even Life-styles.
This misplaced generation are finding out for themselves, the skills and crafts of an older generation, the cut of a suit and the allure of the corset, the appreciation of physical machines and mechanical apparatus by reinventing the past, and recycling a future that never was.

With this mixture of sensibilities and ideologies a new sub-culture has been forming, linked by the virtual communities on the internet, now like an explosion on the verge of happening, SteamPunks can be spotted out in the open with their telltale artful Victorian clothes and good manners. Look for them among the traction engines and steam-rollers, among great beam-engines and steam locomotives, on omnibuses and trams, in the grand halls and botanical gardens keeping alive a very different age of Steam!

For the uninitiated, - SteamPunk is the amalgamation of two branches of the same fictional genealogical tree, Scientific Romances the proto-Science Fiction from the 1800's to the early 1900's, and modern authors of a type of Science Fiction using the setting of an altered historical past, usually the Victorian era, SteamPunk has become a sub-culture of craftsmen working in brass and copper and recycled materials; engineers and inventors taking our present technology back in to the past, for instance a computer keyboard that has been re-engineered and remodeled using brass and steel and now its keys are those resembling the round keys of an Victorian typewriter; taking the modern Japanese sub-culture for young adults of CosPlay - the fun of dressing-up to show what type of devotee you are, has grown in to an exhibition of photographic celebrity, (even the now accepted video-gaming culture, has online avatars with SteamPunk fashion accessories).

I hereby invite you to Join the Campaign to Bridge the Gap!

Campaign details to follow.....

Signed

The SteamPunk Empire's devoted servant and protector

The Steam Brigadier

A proper SteamPunk Tale!

2010-03-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

While doing some background research on the British Empire, and the planed endeavor of the 'Cape to Cairo Railway ' (I think the Great War got in the way of that being finished), and its visionary Cecil Rhodes. His first draft of his Will & testament, asked of certain fellows to start a Secret Society to keep the British Empire going on in to the future, and for it to be the sole power and peacekeeper in the World!

This all lead to a novella by John Crowley first printed in 1989 called 'Great Work of Time' (based on what the Will & testament called for), that now can be found in a collection entitled 'Novelties and Souvenirs'. And should arrive by post in under a weeks time!

Time travel, and the British Empire written in the 1980's, that sounds like proper SteamPunk to me!!

SteamPunk for the young at heart

2010-02-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

A DVD review for those little SteamPunkers out there, and those who are still young at heart.

The UK release of the childrens' cartoon series 'Sherlock Hound' DVD box set.
Following a second viewing of all 26 episodes that rekindled my delight with this childrens' animated TV series from 1984 Japan.

The charming characters are depicted as anthropomorphic dogs, save Sherlock Hound who is Fox-like, and Professor Moriarty who is most definitely a Wolf. Being Japanese animation (know as Anime) this series also has a pedigree of one the finest Animators and animation directors the world has ever known 'Hayao Miyazaki' who had full control over the following episodes:

Ep. 3. Martha's Small Case ( Eng. title A Small Client ),
Ep. 4. Mrs. Hudson's Hostage Incident ( Eng. title Mrs. Hudson is Taken Hostage ),
Ep. 5. The Blue Ruby ( Eng. title The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle ),
Ep. 9. Treasures of the Seabed ( Eng. title Treasure Under the Sea ),
Ep. 10. The Major Dogfight of Dover Strait ( Eng. title The White Cliffs of Dover ),
Ep. 11. The Enormous Saving Box ( Eng. title The Sovereign Gold Coins ).

There are umpteen examples of turn of the Century vehicles, ranging form early motorcars to roadsters, blimps to airships to biplanes, steam locomotives, traction engines, and dreadnoughts, but this is the age of invention, and in the series Sherlock Hound's nemesis is Professor Moriarty a thief and an inventor of marvels that convey him and his henchmen, in the air, on land and above and beneath the sea.
These ingenious SteamPunk vehicles are mostly coloured in bright pink. I would speculate that this could have been to catch young childrens' attention, but I like to think it is that this garish colour 'Pink' that was considered by the Victorian's to be only suitable for men (that' right Boys had pink and Girls had blue, in that era) shocking that it was, and would be another way Professor Moriarty would be able to terrorize polite and genteel Victorian society.

It was good to see many seances at his residence depicting Sherlock using chemistry to aid his deductions, and the occasional violin playing too! Foggy London also featured in episodes, but I found the change of atmosphere to the countryside of just one episode to a bleak industrial town called 'Gillmore's valley', with its ankle-deep muddy roads and Armaments factories with the wealthy owner's large house over looking the town from the hill-top. The workers children being given medical attention by Dr. Watson, add to that, that the Factories owner's son is more concerned with the health and welfare of the workers and their families than inheriting his father's fortune. ( in the 11th. Episode 'The Enormous Saving Box' ( Eng. title The Sovereign Gold Coins ).

In episode 21 'Singing! Growing Mechanic Maneuvers' ( Eng. title The Disappearance of the Splendid Royal Horse ) has the introduction of a Arthur J. Raffles like thief in London, and puts Moriarty in disgrace. With flash-backs done as sketches in sepia, a delightful and charming tale.

I found episode 22 'The Chaotic Large Airplane Race' ( Eng. title Disturbance, The World Flight Championship! ), so reminded me of the 1965 film 'Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines' Terry-Thomas could have easily been Moriarty intending to sabotage his way to first place in this esteemed airplane race, of a story.

In 'The London Sky Battle' ( Eng. title The Rosetta Stone ) episode 19 set in the British Museum when the Rosetta Stone is levitated away by a theft, many countries' who lay claim to the stone are under suspicion. It pokes fun at British Imperialism and how many nations' treasures are in British museums.
I will leave you with episode 1 'His Name: Detective of Rumor' ( Eng. title The Four Signatures ) in which Sherlock is a passenger on a ship that is attacked by Pirates, and with the aid of a fellow passenger a Dr. John Watson tries to foil their plans. What more could a child ask for!

We shall not forget them

2009-11-08T02:37:00.000-08:00

With No survivors now living who witnessed the Great War, all I can do is witness that this generation will not forget them! I am proud to English, and I am proud of our British Forces, and deeply sadden for all our losses from that Great War to this day.

It is no longer that “War starts at midnight”, or that it stops for tea, nor is it a Grand Adventure to go off to fight! For the Internet and Video Game generation, there is NO medi-pack to bring you instantly back to life, there is NO Re-spawn after a fatal wound, War is a horrid thing and we all have a dept of gratitude to our country's Armed Forces.

In to a parallel distant future, that could have been dreampt by, Hans Pfaall.

2009-06-03T14:39:00.001-07:00

Upon reading the collection short stories (Kipling's Science Fiction ISBN 1-84677-128-5) from the master storyteller Rudyard Kipling, best known for the works of the Jungle Books and Kim. In witch by the year 2000, submersibles carry freight, and Aeroplanes are still just a bit of a reckless fad! Entitled 'With the Night Mail '(1905) and 'As Easy As A. B. C' (1912), Aeroplanes are the heaver than air coffins that only the most courageous of adventures would use to mount the stratosphere in a world governed by the 'Aerial Board of Control' and AirShips are the lords of the skies. Among other delightful tales are, 'The ship that found Herself' (1898) and '.007 - The Story of an American Locomotive ' (1897), giving a soul to an Iron ship, and a voice to an Iron-Horse, while 'Wireless' (1902 ) explores the new scientific apparatus of wireless telegraphy,. These are some of my best-loved stories.

This is not intended as a book review, more of a nod to the enlightened reader.

Seek out this book!

Regards
The Steam Brigaider

The evaluation and manipulation of SteamPunk!

2009-04-09T03:17:00.000-07:00

SteamPunk is the 'Age of Invention', with the absence of electronics.
That 'Age of Invention' also known as the Victorian era, saw industrialization and mechanization, on a grand scale, which has inspired Authors from the 19th., 20th. And 21st. Century to create some subtle or delicate and more portable gizmo's, others to envisage more grandiose machines to convey people. These machines have become Iconic focal-points, and have gone through several transformations over the years, interpreted via different media.

From the written word (which fires the imagination), from the accompanying prospective of the engraved illustrations, depicting an art-Deco feel and style, to many of Verne's wonderus machines far away from a future of steam and rivets. With the advent of the motion picture, and visual effects pioneered by the directors of the silent films, helped to give a mass audience a group memory of what the machines looked like.

This group memory has again entered in to modern society, in the mid 1950's, and the prolific 1960's, and up until end of the 1970's, Jules Verne and H.G. Wells inspired family films (the lighter side of SteamPunk) solidified people's imaginations.

The Iconic Balloon from 'Michael Todd's Around the World in 80 Days' was never in Verne's original novel, and so far (as I write this) I have yet to see on celluloid the Steam powered mechanical elephant (a play on the nickname for the Standard gauge six wheeled Locomotive, with its chimney coming out from the front) that was also in the novel, and Walt Disney's '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' interpretation of the 'Nautilus', with its Victorian retro look has survived as the modern Iconic submarine, in which all Vernesque submersibles are now taken from, you could say “it's a true SteamPunk marvel”. Even one of Jules Verne's most revered characters 'Captain Nemo' was not always portrayed as the Indian Prince of Dakkar!

So popular was this 'Age of Invention' to the Hollywood movie makers that, films like ‘The Assassination Bureau’ (1969), and 'The Island at the Top of the World' (1974 ), with its beautiful Airship were taken from the novel 'The Lost Ones', Written in 1970 by Ian Cameron, and set in the 1960's and ‘The Assassination Bureau Limited’ was started in 1910 I am told, by Jack London, and then finished by Robert L. Fish in 1963 were made to fit the era, and thus show how a good story can be given a SteamPunk makeover and survive in people's memories to this day. Now these things all SteamPunkers can see.

Looking at the wealth of 19th. And 20th. Century Science Fiction to be portrayed on film, what about the mediums of today, Television (and its press) and the Internet communities, and Forums, how have they changed the vision populous have of Steampunk?

While I am not a great supporter of Mr. Verne nor of Mr. Wells (I prefer the less travelled roads of Mr. E. A. Poe (the father of Science Fiction), Mr. Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Mr. M Moorcock), but I can see now, in this age of communication so rapped and ever changing that George Owell's 'Newspeak' (am reading 1984) will, in its way change how people see and remember SteamPunk, and that the pioneers will be a forgotten thing of the past and lost to us all.

Looking back to the past, and the future.

Signed

The Steam Brigadier

2009-03-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Back in December 2008, I tried my best cybersleuthing to find out what the hell had happened to the next instalment of 'Jasper Morello', finding only old leads that lead to dead-ends, I took to posting to groups and forums with the cry of "Where the Hell is Jasper!"

You can see, an example bellow, from 'Dreams of Gears and Steam'. Thank to all who replied, and thank you so much Anthony Lucas.

Look, I may as well go off on a rant now.... With thousands SteamPunkers out there, someone must know somebody, who knows what's up!
Jasper Morello and the return of Claude Belgon ( The second voyage)
Jasper Morello and the Ghost of ALTO MEA ( The third voyage)
Jasper Morello and the Ebeneza of Gothia ( The forth voyage)

Melbourne-based director and co-writer of The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello - Anthony Lucas, back in 2005 was later reported to be working on two more shorts in January 2007, and the possibility of a feature film (Animated or live action), but all I can find is his latest little film 'My Rabit Hoppy' in May 2008 – Anyone with any more news!?

Dear Steam Brigadier,

Mark Shirrefs wrote two more scripts for the sequels to Jasper Morello, which went down well with SBS, BBC and other investors.
But regardless of the scripts, SBS has decided that they wont get behind the project, as it "wasn't a priority for the station".

To give you a snapshot of what you missed out on... willian Claude Belgon comes back a changed man, Jasper's wife Amelia has passed over, succumbed to plague, but her presence lingers and Claude's sister Wilhemnia Belgon has plans for her bother.

My animated feature film though, "The Aeronaut" is still in development with a script poised to be finished shortly.

stay tuned!

Anthony Lucas

More reconnoitring.

2008-12-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

Once or twice a year I will head off to one of my favourite haunts the 'Abbey Pumping Station' now a museum on the out-skirts of Leicester (Leicestershire, England), usually on one of its special event days, to soak-up the smell of coal smoke and steam, and to see the massive beam engines in motion. On this occasion is was the Christmas toys & steam day, and I was hoping to see something inspirational, to get my old steam hart pumping again.
When you enter the grounds from the car-park side (over looked by the National Space Centre) you can see immediately on your right a sleeping Iron Dinosaur, its caterpillar feet being overtaken by weeds and grass now, this once long ago tamed beast, would have work as hard as any, its familiar sound known to all. What a SteamPunker's restoration project it would make bringing this Steam-shovel back to life, sitting in the cab with levers at your command!

SteamPunk Review: First men In the Moon. Pt.1

2008-12-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

H G Wells' First men In the Moon

Synopsis: In 1964 a United Nations lunar mission comes across a union jack and note claiming the moon in name of Queen Victoria and dated 1899. The U.N. Traces this back to Dimchurch, England and an elderly man called Arnold Bedford. Bedford recounts his tale to the investigators of how he and his fiancée Kate encountered the eccentric Joseph Cavor. Cavor has created an anti gravity substance. He intends to use this to take a trip to the moon whist Bedford is chiefly interested in in its mineral resources. Kate is accidentally brought along and the three encounter a subterranean and technologically advanced civilisation that Cavor names Selenites. The trio are captured and studied before escaping back to earth. In the present day Bedford is told by the U.N. That all traces of life on the moon are now extinct, wiped out by the earth men's germs.

Critique: First men in the moon is one of producer Charles Schneer and animator Ray Harryhausen's collaborations together. Clearly the producers and writers (including Quatermass creator Nigel Kneale) had a more optimistic view of the world than many at the time. Filmed during the cold war and two years after the Cuban missile crisis it is a United Nations space expedition that lands on the moon including an American a Russian and an Englishmen. Interestingly it is the American who actually gets to step foot on the surface first, although if he makes any speech about the betterment of mankind we don't get to hear it the film immediately cuts to a montage of worldwide news broadcasts.

This is merely the prologue before we are taken back to 1899 and Bedford's story. Here we are introduced to the protagonists. Bedford is a down on on his luck playwright and some thing of a prevaricator. He tells Kate he inherited his cottage from an aunt, that all his money is tied up in Boer war surplus army boots (the war had barely started in 1899) and later, whilst trying to raise finances for Cavor, persuades her to sign her name to the deeds of the cottage. Edward Judd is affable enough to make Bedford likeable through all this. Kate is American and it seems that early drafts of the script might have tried to portray her as a modern type of gal. After all she drives a motor car, or “infernal contraption” as the postman refers to it, but, and not helped by a fairly bland Martha Hyer in the role, has very little to do other than be captured and rescued. Finally we have the great Lionel Jeffries and his superb comedy talents as the wonderfully eccentric and chicken hating (but goose loving) Cavor. Cavor is largely a comic figure in the early sequences and quite similar to the role Jeffries played in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but later his obsession with the moon proves to be almost as dangerous to Bedford and Kate as the Selenites.

Guest review by Sir Guy

SteamPunk Review: First men In the Moon. Pt.2

2008-12-22T17:53:00.000-08:00

Perhaps not one of the best known of Schneer and Harryhausen's works together first men has a sense of humour not always to be found in their movies. This is probably due to Kneale and co writer Jan Reads script and their extensive background in British television and radio. The comedy is not just kept to Jeffries' buffoon, Cavor, but Bedford's attempts to keep Kate in the dark about his finances. They also have a U.N. Investigators say: “ Don't forget, England is a land of eccentrics” when they sceptically seek out the story. The mood is also enhanced by composer Laurie Johnson;s score which is decidedly whimsical, especially for its early scenes in period England. Johnson also had an extensive television background including the Avengers theme tune.

Technically the film is superb with nicely rendered period detail a charming, cluttered mise en scene to Bedford's cottage and Cavor's lab, whilst their spacecraft's interior is all upholstery with mahogany fittings and brass instruments. The cinematography is bright and colourful for the scenes on earth whilst the lunar landscape is beautifully lit in both its sound stage and miniature realisations.
What really stands out, however, is the production design of the Selenite's caverns. Chrystal caverns, a mushroom forest and the awesome, psychedelic oxygen generator this is all lit in garish, primary colours that give the caverns the look of a Mario Bava movie. Bava's classic Blood and black lace was released the same year.

What any review really comes down to is of one of these movies though are Harryhausen's creations. Although we don't see any until over an hour in. The Selenite design's are interesting with their insectoid bodies and hive system of warriors, engineers and best of all the Mekon like overmind we see towards the end. Unfortunately apart from the gigantic moon cow (and bull) this is all we see of lunar life. Admittedly this comes from the screenplay itself and no lack of imagination on Harryhausen's part, the stand out effect is Kate's skeleton in the Selenite's X ray device. The miniature work for the moon itself and the contemporary and period landings are also terrific.

Technically the DVD is presented in 2.35.1 and is a wonderfully crisp transfer with quite muted colours for the rustic scenes in Victorian England and is amazingly crisp for the lunar scenes with solid blacks and the Bava-esque lighting of the interiors shown off in its full glory.
Extras wise we get a neat from the time this is dynamation feature and a Harryhausen documentary which uses many of his fantastic production sketches. Unfortunately other than a photo gallery and trailer there are no extras specific to the movie itself.

Overall first men is a great movie although I doubt its on anyone's favourites list of Schneer and Harryhausen's work together. Nathan Juran ( a workmanlike director with a background in American genre TV and a number of giant monster movies to his credit) handles the direction competently enough although I suspect his experience with effects got him the job.
The movie's real achievements and successes lie with Kneale and Read's script, the likeable cast and, of course, the incredible work of Ray, brought to you in “Dynamation”.

Guest Review by Sir Guy

'The Searchers - The shape of things to come'

2008-11-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

While hunting for SteamPunk ephemera (I am always on a Victoriana Safari looking for rare game) in the Ether, I fell upon an intrigueing cover of a forgotten Comic Book, and instantly wanted to know more. The comic books in question are 'The Searchers - The shape of things to come' Issues 1 to 4, and 'The Searchers - Apostle of Mercy' Issues 1 to 2, Written by Colin Clayton and Chirs Dows, and printed in 1996 to 1997 by Caliber comics.

Just a peek to set the scene!

The authors :- H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Sit Arthur Conan Doyle, H. Ryder Haggard and Edgar Rice Burroughs, minds where exposed to a powerful artefact, which brought there imaginative creations to life, back in 1896.
The events are then catapulted forward one hundred years, and real-life descendants of their greatest
characters are thrown in to a dangerous undertaking...

Later a comic book series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill, was launched in 1999 as part of the America's Best Comics an imprint of Wildstorm Comics, which has gained some noterity.

Excerpts from facebook, and my cognitive adventures in the Ether! Part. II

2008-11-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

In answering the topic on ones Steampunk Alter ego

How the 'the Steam Brigadier' came into being, and what he stands for!

The Steam Brigadier represents the mechanized arm of the New British Empire, in a future that may have been. His rank was inspired by the British cultural Hero (not a side-kick or a companion) 'The Brigadier' from the television Science Fiction series 'Dr. Who', who's ancestors (all of whom where military men) can be found in the novel 'The Dying Days' by Lance Parkin (1997).

Sbrigadier (for short) and SteamBrigadier have been nom de plumes floating around modern military exercises gathering strategies from the likes of 'Gear of War', and 'Halo 3', as well as on-line forums, on SteamPunk, and table-top strategy games for some time now, he is also the protagonist in the SteamPunk folly ' The unexpected undertakings of one of her Majesty's Steam-Troopers' which is found @ http://www.steam-trooper.info . The Steam Brigadier has also found himself as the custodian of 'Steam and Trenches' a Blog of sorts, located @ http://steam-trooper.blogspot.com/ and unwittingly the Icon for the 'steampunk-depot' .

My Alter ego does not possess the characteristics of Sir harry Flashman, nor is he a devotee of Colonel Blimp's philosophy “War starts at Midnight!”, if an Analytical Engine can help the trajectory of an artillery shell, and a steam engine can be fitted with 'chain track' to go over obstacles on land, then all the better, and he is an avid reader of the works of General F. von Bernhardi - solely on logistics and modern military sense, of course! He is well travelled, and speaks with authority, his manners hide his frustration with foolish little upstarts, he has the tenacity of a Bulldog when looking for the truth, and thinks himself quite the Amateur sleuth.

In essence he is a defender of the realm (of SteamPunk), a soldier, and a gentleman.

Excerpts from facebook, and my cognitive adventures in the Ether! Part I

2008-11-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

Q. So how'd you get into Steampunk

A. Well I remember when I was seven or eight living in Emerald (Vic. Australia) riding on a steam train called 'Puffing Billy' and it stopping at a lakeside station where you could buy a plastic bag full of black smoke, so those sounds and smells from that journey have stayed with me.

Now having lived in Loughborough (East Midlands), England for many years, I can now recall those Sunday afternoon films on the TV, for instance '20,000 Leagues under the sea' and 'First men in the moon', and in those 90's Anime (Japanese Animation) shows like 'Sherlock Hound' and 'Nadia – The secret of blue water', and I think it was one Christmas that 'Laputa – Castle in the sky' was on TV.

“you still awake!? Well read on”

Well I marvel at the working steam engines and contraptions made of iron, steel, copper, and brass, that though they did a very practical job, are beautiful to behold. I think that it was way back in 1997, that a friend and I sketched-out our thoughts of a Steampunk Strategy/RPG computer game, that still mite be! It might have been; the films, the cartoons, the books, the comic books, or the ghost of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, that got me hooked on Victoriana, it's just a part of me now.

“Oh! Mmm... I do ramble on a bit don't I”

I do not think you get into Steampunk, I know that you can stumble upon the word “Steampunk”, and that you can tumble into web sites, and see the cool fashion for the modern Neo-Victorian, but I think it's in your blood, hidden subconsciously some times.

Some times you feel a bit out of time, and your imagination revels in the possibilities of adventure, and invention that may have been, in Queen Victoria's reign. The “what if...” if you will.

“So Damn it, label me a Steampunker and be done with it!”

Steampunk Review: Men like Gods

2008-09-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Ever been driving for miles down a wonderful road, and then the landscape suddenly changes, and its like you are transported to an other World? Well that's what happens to Mr. Barnstaple, going on holiday, Not from Kansas to Oz, but a foggy London to the parallel world of Utopia.

Men like Gods by H. G. Wells

ISBN: 0-8495-5847-6

A socialist (state-controlled) garden paradise set far into the future, and after 'The age of confusion' gave birth to the five Utopian principles that are its foundation;

1. The Principle of Privacy
2. The Principle of Free Movement.
3. The Principle Unlimited Knowledge.
4. Lying is the blackest of crimes.
5. Free Discussion and Criticism.

Quite a shock, to the party of Victorians Wells portrays, the only favourable character being Mr. Barnstaple voicing Wells's own hopes and dreams. The Beautiful People of Utopia (with not a stitch on) meet the Ugly minded Earthlings, with their repressed Victorians values.

A dammed good view into the Victorian mind, and ones views on its society.

Reconnoitring

2008-09-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

In reconnoitring the 'Nottingham & Leicestershire Steam & Country Show' at Stanford Hall near Loughborough, way back in July on the 3rd. 2008, I was able to see a steam wagon, two traction engines, and a plethora of working scale steam engines. The gears, pistons, regulators, and steam whistles are all different in some way, whether its the scaled replicas, or the restored steam engines, it seems that every Victorian town had a workshop that made them their own way!

The other aspect of a show like this one, is that you can become a hunter (not a scavenger) of SteamPunk paraphernalia, a lot of stalls have what other people call junk, but we know better “what !”; cogs, gears, gagdes, brass doorknobs, and the like, and even Victorian lamps can be found. I myself bought a solid brass shoe-horn, very helpful when your servant is not to hand!

On the whole well worth the reconnoitre.

In the interim

2008-08-25T02:30:00.000-07:00

To you the reader, please forgive this tardy addition to my public journal, my absence has been unintentional, but my enthusiasm has kept me going when my occupation took president.

In the interim I have relaxed with many a good book, and had time to search for, and view motion pictures depicting the wonderus industrial marvels of the age, and those splendid adventurous chaps of the Empire.

Others have rallied to my banner, notably the enigmatic artist 'SteamTrooper', who's skill in portraying visions of riveted armour protecting the steam engines of the Empire's landships, has yet to be surpassed.

Steampunk Review: The Peshawar Lancers

2007-09-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

Some books pop out at you from the shelf, but other ones seem to find you when you are not looking. This book was loaned to a friend, who then loaned it to a friend, who then loaned it to an other friend, who then loaned it to me, each one of them gave it a first-rate recommendation (far better than any marketing), so you know you will not be disappointed.

The Peshawar Lancers by S.M. Stirling Published by RoC 2002/2003. ISBN 0451458737

Blast this writing contraption, will type more soon....

Steampunk Reviews: Shikari in Galveston.

2007-09-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are familiar with, and crave more of, the adventures of the dashing young cavalry officer Athelstane King and his man Ranjit of the Peshawar Lancers, - look no farther than the novella Shikari in Galveston by S.M. Stirling, featured in Worlds That Weren't (Published by RoC 2002. ISBN 0451458869).

The coal smoke of the Empire's industrialized towns and cities, with their heaving throngs of people, is left far behind for the swamps and dense woodlands and jungles of Texas. A place full of diverting possibilities for our young hero's derring-do.

The locals are good clean folk, etching out a fledgeling civilization from this frontier land in the aftermath of their ancestors. They are noting the use of vulcanized rubber, binoculars, the latest rifles, Steamships and other modern marvels of the Empire.

On leave from his duties in India, King is free to hunt for big game, Man-eaters have been reported and he hopes to bag some trophies. Athelstane's character is one which suffers no fools, believes in fair play and sportsmanship and, as a representative of the British Empire, comports himself impeccably, - winning-over the natives with his innate confidence and charm.

The novella is set in the post Steampunk world and does not disappoint with its turn of events. The author's confessional at the end serves to re-enforce one's fervour for this genre, and the love of adventure.

A darn good yarn of the highest order !

A little jaunt to a Steampunk chapel. Pt. 1 of 3

2007-08-19T05:26:00.001-07:00

You've heard the saying “Half the fun is getting there!” - so it was loads of fun finding this little island of Victorian craftsmanship! Hidden from the main road and shrouded by farm and woodland, it is not far from the village of Papplewick which lies somewhere between Mansfield and the city of Nottingham. To find it you need your wits about you and a good navigator like my 14-year-old son Thomas who also thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

The main wrought-iron gates and path beyond give one the impression of a formal landscaped English garden. Entering the grounds through the Gate House, on your left is an ornamental pond of some length with a centre fountain, - not simply for show this was the Cooling Pond. For the young engineers among us, the cold water was sucked into the Engine House, condensed the steam, warm water then fed back into the pond. The fountain also had a more practical function, used to replenish the pond's water, maintaining the correct level.

A little jaunt to a Steampunk chapel. Pt. 2 of 3

2007-08-19T05:18:00.001-07:00

The Engine House, which I refer to as a 'Steampunk Chapel' stands out from the countryside panorama with its terracotta brickwork and slate roof, - you can even make out its many arched windows.

A little jaunt to a Steampunk chapel. Pt. 3 of 3

2007-08-10T02:31:00.000-07:00

Once inside, your gaze is first drawn to the large steel flywheels and then to the ornately decorated columns. The latter's job is to support the see-saw motion of the beam engines. One is struck by the brightness of the interior and look up at the stained glass windows, each depicting some form of nature emphasizing that water is the life blood for all.

I could only marvel at the Engineering and the Architecture with the loving thought that this place of such toil and labour was, and still is, of such beauty.

Papplewick Pumping Station is well worth finding and visiting as my few words can hardly do it justice.

Welcome to Papplewick Pumping Station

http://www.papplewickpumpingstation.co.uk/index.htm

Welcome to the Learning Zone for Papplewick Pumping Station

http://www.papplewickpumpingstation.org.uk/

Steampunk Reviews: The Science Fiction of Edgar Allen Poe

2007-07-10T16:07:00.000-07:00

'The Science Fiction of Edgar Allen Poe', Harold Beaver (Editor)

Paperback, Published: December 1976, by Penguin UK.

ISBN-13: 9780140431063, ISBN-10: 0140431063.

16 short stories:- MS. Found in a Bottle; The Unparelleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall; The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion; A Descent into the Maelstom; The Colloquy of Monos and Una; A Tale of the Ragged Mountains; The Balloon-Hoax; Mesmeric Revelation; The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scherazade; Some Words with a Mummy; The Power of Words; The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether; The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar; Eureka: An Essay on the Material and Spiritual Universe; Mellonta Tauta; Von Kempelen and His Discovery.

My enjoyment in discovering this little book and its collection of 16 short stories, even its very existence was enough for me to try and track it down, and find out more about the works of the Founder of Science Fiction.

Each of the tales has extensive notes, and an individual critique by the Editor, which only enhances the collection, and helps draw you in to the imagination of the Victorians.

A World with its details and its querks, its Amateur Scientist, and Hobby Mathematicians exploring the very Nature of the World – Physical and Spiritual and of the unknown...

I wholeheartedly recommend that you read the splendid story entitled “The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade”, as well as the lurid tale of “Some Words with a Mummy”, and beautifully crafted tale of “The Balloon-Hoax”, and the equally inspirational short story entitled “The Unparelleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall”.

Poe's work as a Science Fiction writer is largely overlooked, but once you the reader have succumbedto his influences, His rightful place in the Literary “Valhalla” will be assured.

I IMPLORE YOU, - SEEK OUT THIS BOOK!

Realms that are “SteamPunk”

2007-07-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

To immerse yourself in the Realms that are “SteamPunk”

The first step is: to imagine that you are back in the Victorian age of Invention, Adventure and Discovery, the days of the might of the British Empire, its Industrialisation spreading engineering marvels through out the World.
Iron and Rivets were used to make bridges and towers of wonder, Steam Engines power the factory's machines, the Railways with their Steam Locomotives conveying people and goods at great speeds, Steam Engines power Ocean going ships of enormous size, by “paddle wheel”, “screw”, and “propeller”.

The French pioneers made it possible for Adventurers to travel the air-ways in hot air balloons, and small Blimps. Later, the rise of German technology would see the Airships come of age.
The harnessing and understanding of the wonders of Electricity; the Telegraph, using Morse Code sending a Telegram down a copper wire, at unheard of speeds, heralding a new age of communication.

These are just a few images for your imagination to take hold of.

The second step is: to take on the outlook of the Authors of Speculative Fiction (Scientific Romance), the forerunners of today's Science Fiction writers, in looking forward from the Victorian age, and making the improbable possible!

All manner of Neo Victorian conveyances abound: Giant flying machines that are heavier than air; Ships that travel beneath the waves; Cannons now propel projectiles with Adventurers inside, to moons and other planets; Machines tunnel under foot, and much deeper; Other off worldly machines made for war stride over rooftops with ease; mechanical men and strange automaton like animals are commanded; to be able to travel to any-when, not just anywhere; even an individual can travel via their own one wheeled conveyance!

Imagine the effects of science on the animal kingdom, and our own human bodies: reanimated body parts; men of hideous strength; Animals walking upright on two legs instead of four; men who's bodies turn translucent; domestic animals bred so large, (so that they can feed the World)!

The Third step is: fictional alternate histories, the worlds of “what ifs” leading to a sideways take on past events, pushing ahead to new futures, not all of them turning out to be Utopias!
What if? Computers were mechanical, and the Information age had arrived in 1840's ! What future would see the “Great War” take place? What if we transpose our modern ideas onto a Victorian society? What Worlds would stand-in for our own?

Now to reach the “Punk” that is “Steampunk” turn back on yourself and Imagine a dystopian World of Coal mines, endless factories with smoking chimneys and foggy cities, men being enslaved to machines, so that others in that society can live the high life, oppressive tyrannical Empires holding the populous in their grasp. Now you have the Worlds of the haves and the have nots, the Gentleman and the street Urchin if you will.