Ruby in the Smoke

[edit] Apparently this is not Steampunk – I apologise. A kind poster informed me that it’s Victorian, with a strong female character, but not actually Steampunk. I may watch it anyway though.

So, in other BBC related news (I really must pay more attention to these televisual goings on) on the 27th of December, BBC 1 are showing their television adaption of the novel “Ruby in the Smoke” by Philip Pullman – the author of the His Dark Materials series. Ruby in the Smoke features a Victorian heroine who’s education leans more to pistol shooting and military tactics, than French and embroidery – and there’s a terrible mystery with murders a plenty that threaten her and hers.

Sounds like fun to me – how Steampunk it will be is yet to be established, but the basics are certainly there, and as a character, the heroine certainly seems to be non-Victorian standard. I shall be tuning in most certainly.

Mortal Engines – BBC Radio 7

Posted by on December 19th,2006

Mortal Engines

Alack! I’ve only just noticed that BBC 7 are doing readings of the post-apocalyptic/Steampunk childrens novel “Mortal Engines” by Philip Reeve! So far I have missed several of the episodes, and we’re currently up to episode 11 of 14, so it’s almost the very end – but with the Listen Again system, we can listen back to episodes from a week ago. Alas, that means only to episode 7/8 but it’s better than nothing. It will require Real Player, or Real Alternative. Having read Mortal Engines, I’m hoping that they’ll move right along and start on the next book in the series and I’ll be able to start with that – but I’m kicking myself for missing the first few episodes of that. Bah.

Etherscope – Pen and Paper RPG

Posted by on December 19th,2006

Etherscope Hardback

Curiously, there seems to be quite a few Steampunk pen and paper RPGs – perhaps Steampunk fans have that curious combination of literary interest and world building mania that can lend itself so well to roleplaying settings. But anyway, the above is called Etherscope, and breaks with history back in 1876 with the discovery of Etherspace – a new and untapped resource for Victorian industry. The game itself sets itself in an alternative 1984 and is possibly the closest to Steam’Punk’ that I’ve heard of – in that it is the Steam equivalent to Cyberpunk. Scope Riders, System Agents and Etherspace demons – it’s like Cyberpunk reskinned. Definitely worth a look if it’s to your taste – a mix of steam, ether, occult and punk. (Some nice pictures there too – I like the one with the mechancial arm.)

The Time Machine – Just the Machines

Posted by on December 19th,2006

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I was reminded once again of all things Time Machine related recently by a very pleasant email from reader Jean Guittet, and so the clip above is from the 2002 Time Machine film, which wasn’t really all that marvelous.  However – the clip does show the most interesting part for us – the machine itself.  Gleaming brass and glowing crystal, engraved dials and a big cranky lever topped with quartz.  Again though – barring the extreme end of the film, I coughs found it tolerable. And because it’s always nice to see what the Time Machine is up to lately – a clip also found on YouTube – ever so brief – of the Time Machine taking a trundle down the Traquir Fair.  Well done those intrepid travellers.

Rail of War – Game

Posted by on December 17th,2006

Rail of War

Mr Duppi informed me about a little free web game called Rail of War – a game where you drive your customisable train around a landscape filled with enemies in tanks, trucks and planes. But worry not – for you are armed with cannons and can upgrade to rockets at a later date. Reminding me much of those old school scrolling shoot-em-ups that were more popular a while ago, I found the game to be interesting enough, though possibly a little slow for my tastes. I do like the idea of upgrading your train with new weapons and different bodies (for pulling strength and high speed), though the setting seems a little skewed – train combat with rockets? Still, an amusing distraction for a little while, and it seems that it will allow player customisable levels too (though that may be in the ‘full’ version, I do not know).

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Sky Boys – Manga Concept

Posted by on December 17th,2006

Skyboys

I was having a look at that new comic community site (a little like MySpace, but for comic people) and found that there’s a gentleman who creates concepts (complete with marketing considerations for the people with money to enjoy) for various cartoons, comics and books – one of which is pleasantly Steampunk. The Sky Boys is hoped to be a Steampunk manga for the 12-20 year old market featuring a girl who pretends to be a boy, running a street gang in a steam and airship version of Britain. Sounds like fun, especially when there’s the pirate Princess causing trouble, and a war in the background threatening the British Empire. Who knows – maybe it’ll get picked up, and we’ll be swimming in Sky Boys merchandise before long! (I for one would like to open a cereal box and find some goggles there, or a miniature airship).

Radio Guy – Collector of Oddities

Posted by on December 17th,2006

Radio Guy

I cannot believe that I hadn’t posted about Radio Guy before – I’m amazed in fact. Mr Erenberg (Radio Guy) is a collector of many things, some of which include miniature steam engines, secret society masks, quack medical equipment, nautical paraphanalia, and many other odd looking items. He has a beautiful site, which if I would mention any niggle would be that so many of the photographs are un-captioned.

Still – beautiful items, so much Steampunk in one site is a joy to behold. I’m sure just a cursory browse would spark enough inspiration to fuel a hundred mad scientist films and books!

Intermittent Access

Posted by on December 16th,2006

A brief note to apologise for the intermittent posting as of this week – my home phone line is mysteriously broken and I have been posting from other locations, every other day.  Hopefully this will be fixed very soon, and I’ll be able to satisfy my daily Steampunk posting needs.  My sincerest apologies in the meantime.

1894 Roper Steamer – Steam Bicycle

Posted by on December 16th,2006

Roper Steamer Cycle

The above cycle, the 1894 Roper Steamer Bicycle, was the last bicycle created by a Mr Sylvester Roper, and the bicycle that he eventually perished apon. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has an excellent article about the bike and its creator, as well as more photographs of the workings of this most handsome of steam powered biwheeled contrivances. Mr Columbus Jones, who pointed it out to me, described the additional images as quite tasty – and I certainly find them agreeable myself!

A beautiful vehicle, capable of 40mph and 7 miles on a single stoking of the boiler – and what sounds like quite an inventor to go with it. I’m sure he went out where he was happiest – on the saddle of his favourite invention, racing youngsters and winning, at the very respectable age of 73. My hat would have been off to him.

Full Light, Full Steam – Paper RPG

Posted by on December 16th,2006

Full Light, Full Steam

Reader Meghann Ahern sent word of a pen and paper roleplaying game called Full Light, Full Steam, released at this years GenCon SoCal. (Such a fondness for abbreviations, these convention naming types). From the description:

“Portray vibrant characters in a fantastic world of daring heroics, tasteful British culture, and incredible steam engineering in Full Light, Full Steam.”

Once again, the British Empire extends its reach out into space in this Steampunk roleplaying game, and the above image shows some of those hard working sailors taking time out to have a nice cup of tea. Any comments about the tea not staying in the cups in microgravity or free fall will be looked apon dimly – teacup based forcefields would have been one of the first things required! Available as hardback or pdf, it looks to be like lighthearted fun, with previews to download and wallpapers such as the image above.