Steampunk Magazine

Time 2021-11-04 14:09:57

Web Name: Steampunk Magazine

WebSite: http://www.steampunkmagazine.com

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AboutDeadlines SubmissionsDownloadPurchase Final Ever Issue! (and funding drive)

By now, most of you have probably noticed that theres not been a huge amount of activity for a while. That there hasnt been a new issue of the magazine for a long-ass time now. We wish it wasnt so, but the fact of the matter is that most of our editors and regular contributors are increasingly busy with other things. As such, were sad to say that the next issue, SteamPunk Magazine #10, will be our last.

That said, SPM has been immensely important to a lot of us, and we would have it make such an end, the likes of which have never been seen before. To do that, we need a bit of help from all of you. We pretty much have a full compliment of awesome fiction, articles, interviews, and other interesting bits and pieces all ready to go. What were still missing is some lovely artwork to go with it.

Are you an artist? Do you have a bit of time to help out and draw something to go with one of our articles? Then please do get in touch by adding a comment below. If you dont, but you have some spare pennies kicking around and you want to help us make this last issue truly awesome, use the donate button below and well put your cash to hard work by commissioning some truly awesome pieces of art.

Its been a hell of a ride, folks. And we dont intend to go out without a party!

Filed under Magazine by Allegra
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Best of Spanish Steampunk

Months ago, I was sent a copy of Best of Spanish Steampunk, an anthology edited by Marian Womack. There’s really nothing more awesome than waking up to find twelve hundred pages of steampunk sitting in your inbox.

It took me a long time to read, but that’s sort of the beauty of a broad-ranging anthology like this. Do you just have time for a few-page dose of steampunk on the bus? Try “Saturn’s Children” by Sergio Lifante: Short, spooky, and inspired by a Barcelona crime spree from the early 20th century. In it for the long haul? The collection closes with two novellas: I particularly recommend “Black Eagles” by Eduard Vaquerizo, which paints a detailed picture of a reimagined Spanish empire.

The sections are divided by typical steampunk tropes and themes – politics, robots, time travel, etc. – and collection is at its best where it takes those and mixes them up with Spanish settings and histories. “Shot to the Gut” by Jesús Cañadas which retells an anarchist revolt in Andalusia, is a particularly good alt history telling of a bit of Spanish history that I wouldn’t have known, but now want to read about. “Biochronography Of The Lateral Jump: Aub’s Theorem” by Guillermo Zapata also earns serious points in the use-of-Spanish-history category for featuring Salvador Dalí and other historical figures in a time-hopping murder mystery.

It’s not surprising that such a massive collection has some weak spots, but it’s a bit interesting to look at what they are: The stories that left me feeling meh were the ones that took an “add steam-tech and stir” approach, dropping in a factory or automata or dirigible, slapping London in the backdrop, and leaving it at that. For a genre that delights in its tropes (and oh, do I delight in a good automata,) it was a reminder that they can’t stand on their own without solid characters, conflicts, and, yeah, maybe traveling a bit away from London. (Though maybe not too far there were a few good stories that left the real world behind altogether and opted for building new steampunk worlds for their settings, but the strongest pieces in the anthology were without fail rooted at least a bit in history.)

If you’re looking for many hundreds of pages of steampunk that mix the tropes we know and love with settings and histories you might not have encountered before, Best of Spanish Steampunk is definitely worth a look. Thank you to Marian Womack for inviting me to review!

Filed under Reviews by Katie
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Fiction review: Day of the Dragons, episodes 1 2

BY P.S. CHAMBERS
Publisher: Penny Gaff Publishing
reviewed by Leanne Tough

Another triumph for Penny Gaff Publishing, this time delivered by author P.S. Chambers. Day of the Dragons: Girl in the Corner and Day of the Dragons: Ballroom Blitz are two novella-length stories in the Clockhaven Chronicles series produced by Penny Gaff but in a very different style to A Drop of the Venom by Andrew McCurdy that I reviewed earlier this year. They are the first two in a four-part serialisation. Once again, the reader is presented with beautiful illustrations and gorgeous antiqued pages, showing just how ebooks should be done, making up for the loss of that delightful paper book smell. (And at no more than $1.99 per epic tale, one cant argue.) Then theres the stories themselves: plenty of action, adventure, and twists in all the right places.

Both stories follow Stanislaus Pulaski, an American engineer whose success gets him more than he bargained for. Episode one sees him on the peaceful island of Curacao, transforming from indentured genius-engineer to unwitting hero caught up in a bitter conflict between the Empire and the rebels within. Episode two finds our hapless hero still caught up in situations beyond his ken, helped (or rather hindered) by his friends and still determined to continue his own work. Plus, the author throws a little romance and a lot of excitement into the bargain.

Id highly recommend that you download them, curl up with your tablet, and enjoy. Preferably with a strong cup of tea to steady your nervesthough I cant promise it wont go cold.

Filed under Reviews by Belle Cooper
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Madeline Foxtrot’s “No Torque Zone”: An interview with The Airship Ambassador, Kevin Steil, Part 2

Now that we have a fresh pot of tea we are once again entering Madeline Foxtrot’s No Torque Zone is The Airship Ambassador, Kevin Steil. Kevin was nice enough to tell me a little bit about what he does and his completely incorrect view of Steampunk. You can see the first part of my interview here. I figured since we know about what you do we should also ask a little bit more personal questions. So I must ask Kevin… is there a Misses Ambassador?

KS: Oh, Madeline! Why might you be enquiring about that? Personal or professional interest?

But to be quite open and honest, there is no Miss, Misses, or Ms. Ambassador. The only women in my life are my two girls, Tegan and Arianna.

MF: I had no idea you were a werewolf!

KS: Well I lovingly adopted them.

Tegan is named after one of my favorite characters on Doctor Who, Tegan Jovanka, the brash, outspoken Australian airline attendant who stumbles into the Doctors life and travels. Arianna is named after the music form, aria. Coincidentally, in the Harry Potter series, Dumbledores sisters name is Arianna.

However, there is an opportunity for a Mister Ambassador. I dont suppose you might know of any suitable candidates to join the Airship?

MF: Hmmmm. That’s a bit… Um. I wish you wouldn’t push this on me. You know your “Gay Agenda.”

KS: Well, Madeline if you dont know anyone, you can just say so. If your friends and acquaintances dont reflect your high standards and interesting nature, well, thats no crime against you. I wouldnt think any less of you.

But pushing an agenda to meet more people around the world? No, no, no.

MF: It’s not- It’s just that- See, but we’re still talking about it

KS: You havent denied knowing someone suitable, yet. In fact, do you know

MF: I think it might be best to move on.

KS: Oh. I understand, you minx! Well talk privately later.

MF: Refresh your tea?!?

KS: Yes, please. Ill pour. This is my new favorite teapot, from the 1880s, and my Russian tea glasses.

MF: Good! Especially in these times we must support Russian commerce!

KS: Nothing but the best for you, Madeline.

MF: What do you see as the future of Steampunk?

KS: The Aetheric Ball™ seems to indicate the current trends book sales are down although new stories are still being written and released. The number of conventions is down slightly but smaller local events are up. Attendance to the cons seems to be holding steady with some slight increases, and the smaller events are attracting more mainstream attendees and interest. Non-USA participation is way up, with each country and culture bringing their own unique perspective and creativity to the fore.

Music and artwork keeps growing, and fashions are exploding! Steampunks are definitely some of the most creative people of any interest and fan group. Accessories seems to be good business jewelry, hats, corsets, and full outfits. People just want to look absolutely smashing!

Overall, steampunk will see its own cycle of less and then more interest. Mainstream interest will eventually move on to the Next Big Thing, but I believe that interest in steampunk will remain and endure. It will always appeal to a certain group of people, and that group may grow and shrink, but it will always be there.

Some things that would help maintain that interest, though, would be increased book sales and online feedback, blog feedback, social media sharing, and a really good steampunk movie would be fantastic! Each of those things become a rallying point and are causes for celebration.

MF: There have been LOADS of good Steampunk Movies though. Van Hellsing, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Wild Wild West… They’re of a certain caliber that The Mainest of Main Stream Media just doesn’t undertstand.

KS: Well… They’re of a certain caliber I will give you that Madeline…

At the very least, we can support each other, in all our different ways, in all our different lives, and continue to share our interests.

(Oh, and dieselpunk will probably be the next thing to capture mainstream attention. 1920s and 30s fashion design, The Charleston, and art deco!)

MF: Trick question! Steampunk is the future of the past today, therefore it’s today, therefore Steampunk has no future only present.

KS: Then cheers to living in the moment!

MF: You interview a lot of people, many of them famous, some of them up and coming. Why bother with the up and comers? Why not just stick to famous people?

KS: I suppose the easy answer is that all of the famous people were once up and coming themselves. Everyone starts somewhere down the ladder, and even Cherie Priest remarked how some people called her an overnight success despite nearly a decade of struggling and trying.

Some people are common steampunk-household names, and they are great fun to chat with. I always enjoy hearing their stories, their perspectives, their journeys. When I see them in person at various events, they are just like anyone else and we laugh and joke as the friends we are.

Up and coming people may be catching their first break, just coming into the scene, or falling into it accidentally. They often have the benefit of those who have walked the path before them; they have grown up on steampunk, so to speak, and are now giving it their own stamp and expression.

The thing in common with both types of people I meet and talk with, is that they all DO something. They express their creativity in their own way, they make things happen from the writers and artists and musicians to the convention and event organizers to the seamstresses and tailors. Their energy and efforts, their visions and drive, create the spaces for us to revel and celebrate in. They create our playground.

Of course, none of it would happen at all without all of us as fans and attendees. If we didnt have the interest, the imagination, and the curiosity, there wouldnt even be a steampunk community.

MF: But no one knows them, they’re still up and coming. Isn’t that like saying “Here, let me shoot my web traffic in the foot,”?

KS: Well, it might seem that way to some people, Madeline, but often, those up and coming people already have some sort of following, steampunk or not, who stop by the Airship Ambassador blog and website to check things out, along with all of the other regulars.

Also, an inbox full of press releases and requests from publishers, entertainment companies, and TV stations would seem to be at odds with the premise of low web traffic and impact to the community and to mainstream interest.

MF: Now, you interview a lot of people, yet no one interviews you people DO actually care about you, yes?

KS: Well, when you put it that way yes, absolutely

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