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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/7819-Of-Steam-and-Clockworks.html
Fantasy: August 24, 2016 Issue [#7819]

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Fantasy


 This week: Of Steam and Clockworks
  Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter


"To invent you need a good imagination, and a pile of junk."
- Thomas Edison


         Welcome to this week's edition of the WDC Fantasy Newsletter. I am honored today to be your host in the exploration.

“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.”
Lord Kelvin, British mathematician and physicist 1895



Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

         Greetings, fellow inventors of tales and verse fantastic. Today I would like to explore fantastic tales in prose and verse 'crafted' *Tools* of fantasy, science real and imagined, mystery, history, adventure. Steampunk is defining itself (over the past few decades} from classic steampunk mysteries of the past (Jules Verne's, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes) to mysteries penned today by authors, like Michael Coorlim in his Bartleby and James detective stories (where the pair make reference to knowing 'Holmes' as an older gent, retired), which are set in Edwardian England. Each of these above are puzzled by - and solved by - means of devices mechanical, steam powered and some cool clockworks. *Gears*

         The classic (alternate Victorian era of steam, clockworks, airships) tales most often incorporate real science with science fiction and fantasy. The classics usually take place in the underside of society, with intrepid craftspersons, tinkers, airship pilots and mechanics building *Tools* tales that the reader can envision as past possibilities.

         Classic steampunk tales, like present-day urban fantasies, take place in the underside of urban society of the time; they're gritty and fast paced, built of fantasy, science, history and adventure.

         Some common tools used to build the classic steampunk fantasy =

         *Bullet* Airships - hot air balloon powered by steam. Boilers add weight, making liftoffs (and landings) in narrow city streets often a challenge. If not airships, or in addition to, steam-powered carriages (rather than horse-drawn).

         *Bulletr* Clockworks - mechanical robots with wind-up keys, machines, dolls, pets that run on metal gears with interlocking teeth (like the inner workings of a clock) - if you can imagine it, you can build it.

         *Bulleto* Tinkers - the craftspersons who create and tend both the steam and clockwork powered works. The tinker may ve a scientist, a mechanic, an artist, sculptor, sailor, or someone who just enjoys crafting things. They may work in their watch shop, attic, factory, or basement laboratory.*Tools*

         As you can see from the above, steampunk doesn’t always involve steam power. Everything can instead be run by clockwork. Instead of steam puffing robots, robots with wind-up keys or gears that look like the innards of a clock. Limbs, joints, that work by virtue of interlocking gears (picture metal tendon and bone setup in the knee).

         Steampunk of the classic (Victorian era) variety uses both steam power and clockworks. Like in other forms, I believe that 'hard' steampunk focuses on the science, the how of it; and 'soft' steampunk more on the story, the why of it. I see Jules Verne, as a master tinker *Tools2**Gears*

         Classic steampunk is distinct from classic fantasy or science fiction, as it requires knowledge of the period for the story's foundation. Not just the clothing, décor and language, but social classes, ideas, etiquette. Then, knowing the background, we take poetic license with some of the details while holding the integrity. Read Jules Verne, read tales of Sherlock Holmes, for some great leads into the era. Fun reading *Reading*

         The language of the times can be fresh while being true to the time. Using archaic terms today would take the reader out of the story, if only by making said reader have to stop and look up terms. Rather, use today's language, but avoid terms that didn't exist during the Victorian age. For example, you would wind a clock, a timepiece, not set a digital watch. Your character would say, good morning, not how ya' doin'. So we don't want to mimic the language itself, but want to use terms that existed at the time. So, write the story, then confirm the possibilities and remove the improbables for a fun, creative Steampunk story or poem *Tophat*

         For convenience, here's a link I found online with an alphabetical list of words that can help make the story real ~ I had to copy and paste - but it works
                    https://www.wordnik.com/lists/steampunk

Write On *Gears*
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading


Editor's Picks

          Peruse the following tales built of steam and clockworks; enter each author's otherworld of history and fantastical possibility. Let them know, if you will, how you've enjoyed the journey (with a review perchance *Smile*

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#2009615 by Not Available.


Sprocket  (E)
A steampunk tinker helps her employer win the big race--300 words
#2092537 by Schnujo is in the Falklands


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#2092527 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1999373 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#2012219 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1783882 by Not Available.


 Red Tide  (ASR)
Submariners in a post apocalyptic Victorian era take port in an abandoned facility.
#1284136 by EvilEgg


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1943883 by Not Available.


          Now, try your hand at tinkering ~ you know you want to *Gears**Tools*

 
CAMPFIRE
Steampunk World  (13+)
A Steampunk World, created by members of STaG. All are welcome to join!
#2091435 by Beck Firing back up!


 
CAMPFIRE
Steampunk Character  (13+)
A steampunk character, created by members of STaG. All are welcome to join in the fun!
#2091434 by Beck Firing back up!


 
INTERACTIVE
Steam  (13+)
An Exhilarating Narrative Featuring The Technological Wonders Of Our Modern Age Of Steam!
#1971954 by Eric the Fred


          Want to have more fun writing and reading Steampunk ~ stop by for a visit

The Steampunk Boiler Room  (E)
Discuss, learn, practice, promote, write and review Steampunk, Sci-fi & Fantasy with us.
#1776068 by Beck Firing back up!


 
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Ask & Answer

         {I hope you've enjoyed our exploration of classic steampunk. May your stories and verse run as smooth as a steam powered clockwork computer ~ why not *Gear* *Hammer* *Wink*

Kate *Tophat*
{susesr:manga_kate}

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