As for eloquence. . . I have read your blog and I must insist that you are well written and eloquence exudes aplomb. Years ago (oh, it is sad to look back at just how many have passed), I took a college class. The instructor, upon being asked for the required word count for an essay replied with “As many as necessary, but no more.” One quality that marks eloquence is the ability to convey one’s intended thought in a clear and concise manner. That you do! I, on the other hand, often babble on.

The late 1800s had something in common with the late 1900s – they were both times of significant technological advancement and (therefore) possessed an intense optimism and Grand Vision of what the future would bring.

SteamPunk, to me, represents the Victorian Grand Vision of the future – involving high-tech imagined by folks who had never heard of a microchip or computer. This strikes a personal cord with me, as I am one of the late 1990’s (and current) futurists – who also spends his time envisioning a future that, thanks to events and technologies as yet unimagined, almost certainly won’t come to exist.

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Kheph777

With every genre, there are unwritten rules that writers tend to follow. Science fiction often tries to seem plausible with respect to the current state of physics speculation. As something is written which defies the current state, a new hypothesis is presented. Steampunk, to me, is even more loose. It almost falls into the realm of fantasy. I find that fun, both as a reader and a writer.

And, Mr Pearse, your last paragraph sums up the genre to me very well without placing constraints! Very well worded!

For me steampunk doesn’t necessarily require steam and “putting the punk back in steampunk” to me is an misnomer as it was never there to start with. Steampunk works on a starting point, not necessarily of what might have happened if the computer revolution had have happened side by side with the Industrial but starts from a mindset where science is still something revered rather than feared. Yes there will be setbacks but all experiments will ultimately serve the greater good. The Victorian age was rife with bizarre concepts and humanitarian societies. The cynicism of the modern age had not yet dawned. Science was still pushing out the boundaries of knowledge showing us more and more wonderful things.

The Victorian resurgence in the Legends of King Arthur lead to a reintroduction of a code of behaviour and chivalry that was to end with the Great War. One pointed comment I remember was that in Wells’ novel of The Time Machine, the traveller returned from his battle with the Morlocks and went upstairs and dressed for dinner before joining his guests.

So for me it’s a combination of good manners and the wonder of science. I’m happy to add a little fantasy to my science (like Castle Falkenstein) but that lack of cynicism is one of the focal points I think.

Not only is Steampunk where Science runs the world but that people are cordial to one another. They dress in creative and mad scientist looks. Gears are common. The individual is unique and more importantly, can contribute to society easily. The focus on success is what you can accomplish, not how much money you make. The quality of life is better. The science though is a bit more important than anything else and you run the risk of loosing your humanity in it.

You are correct sir in saying that everyone’s Steampunk is different. For me its a blend between the Victorian and the Diesel. It’s ‘what could have been’. Technology going along those lines could have been very different, not defying the laws of physics but there could have been black and white televisions in 1920 that are wall sized with vacuum tubes.

Why can’t a building be supported with balloons and steam-powered jets? “The Laws of Steampunk” hasn’t been written and if it ever is, it would contradict itself and the genre would no longer be fun or unique.

I am of the steampunk as it “could” be train of thought. …a retrotech futurist with a bit of fantasy if that makes sense.