#261: Research
I am almost certainly going to write a young adult steampunk novel this year, set mainly in Australia. At the moment, I’m in the research stage – very carefully not writing the plot until I know the world. I’m reading up on convicts, bushrangers, crinolines, gold, shipwrecks, Victoria, Australia’s inland lake (which doesn’t exist), manners, steam trains, and so on.
Wikipedia is really useful for getting an overview, and showing up the areas of my greatest ignorance. TV tropes are good for getting more familiar with the genre (I am of course also reading steampunk fiction). Cracked is good for mad science. Here’s some of what I’ve discovered so far (much of it will need confirmation from more reliable sources):
Rollerskates were invented some time before 1743 and were mildly popular in Victorian times (inline ones, at that).
Approximately 20% of Australia’s transportees were women.
The “Welcome Stranger” was the name given to the largest alluvial gold nugget found in the world, which was too big for any scales.
In 1824, permission was granted to change the name of the continent from “New Holland” to “Australia”
Ned Kelly was hung in 1880, the same year as a major exhibition in Melbourne.
Before being officially named Melbourne, the town had several interim names — including Batmania, Bearbrass, Bareport, Bareheep, Barehurp and Bareberp (in June 1835).
Modern scientists are working on making:
a) Mice that travel (and breed) at super speeds.
b) Monkeys that glow in the dark.
And then there’s this story:
The Loch Ard departed England on 2 March 1878, bound for Melbourne, commanded by Captain Gibbs and with a crew of 17 men. It was carrying 37 passengers and assorted cargo. On 1 June, the ship was approaching Melbourne and expecting to sight land when it encountered heavy fog. Unable to see the Cape Otway lighthouse, the captain was unaware how close he was running to the coast. The fog lifted around 4am, revealing breakers and cliff faces. Captain Gibbs quickly ordered sail to be set to come about and get clear of the coast, but they were unable to do so in time, and ran aground on a reef. The masts and rigging came crashing down, killing some people on deck and preventing the lifeboats from being launched effectively. The ship sank within 10 or 15 minutes of striking the reef.
The only two survivors of the wreck were Eva Carmichael, who survived by clinging to a spar for five hours, and Thomas (Tom) R. Pearce, an apprentice who clung to the overturned hull of a lifeboat. Tom Pearce came ashore first, then heard Eva’s shouts and went back into the ocean to rescue her. They came ashore at what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge and sheltered there before seeking assistance. Ironically, Tom Pearce was the son of James Pearce, captain of the ill-fated SS Gothenburg.[1]
And here’s a pretty pretty picture taken from http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/ today.
YA steampunk trilogy *swoon*
As you can tell from the title, this trilogy is good. Really, really good.
Well, probably.
See, only two of the books are out so far. It’s theoretically possible that the final book in the series will RUIN EVERYTHING. But, to be honest, I don’t think so.
Before I get distracted: The books are stunningly illustrated by Keith Thompson, so make sure you don’t get gypped by a cheapo version – just check the inside cover for the maps, and you’ll know instantly if it’s sheer awesome or not. (CJ insisted we buy them in hardcover, and I have to admit it’s justified.)
Scott Westerfeld has written quite a few books – the “Uglies” series is excellent – but this series is something else.
Those who know me will know that I love Garth Nix’s “Old Kingdom” trilogy with a passion bordering on the pathological. So you’ll understand what I mean when I say that this trilogy might – might – be even better.
It all depends on the last book.
Also, it’s mildly annoying that you really need to read the whole trilogy (whereas Nix’s “Sabriel” can easily stand alone).
Sorry, what’s that? You’d like to actually hear something about the books?
Fine.
The books are YA steampunk (technically dieselpunk, since they’re set in the early 1900s during the leadup – and desperate attempts at the prevention of – World War 1). They have the feel of steampunk, with fantastical machines that are works of art and fantasy combined with functionality. But they go so much further than that.
The central conflict of the alternate world is “clankers” (those with mechanical machines) versus “Darwinists” (those with living ecosystems as their machines). The clankers have zeppelins. . . the Darwinists have “Leviathan”, which is sort of a giant flying whale, but it’s much more complicated (and brilliant) than that.
As far as world-building goes, this series is sublime. Breathtakingly original, fascinating, and it all makes sense too.
There are two main characters – one a high-class clanker boy, the other an ordinary Darwinist midshipman (except that she is secretly a midshipwoman, which is most certainly not allowed). Both are quite young, and very likeable. I liked them even more in the second book. There’s also a lady boffin, a Tasmanian tiger, a devious Count, and many more.
The action is fast and dramatic, and often funny.
Rating: PG for violence.
“Load the cannon!” Master Klopp cried to the men below.
Alek found himself deposited into the commander’s chair as the machine began to move. He struggled with the seat straps, but a terrible thought took hold of his mind, freezing his fingers.
If they’re trying to kill me. . . it’s all true.
Count Volger crouched beside him, yelling over the rumble of engines and gunfire.
“Take heart at this impoliteness, Alek. It proves that you are still a threat to the throne.”
PS Mark (who commented below) has a great steampunk/writing blog (and links) so I’m inserting it into this post because (a) it’s related and (b) more people should know about it. As far as I can tell, it’s G-rated.
http://brassbolts.blogspot.com/
PPS The third book is reviewed here.
Daylight Day 79: Steampunk
“Should I check on the school?” Pi asked.
I said, “Nah. Once they’re cured they’ll be strong enough to untie themselves. Almost definitely.”
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“Paranormal romance” is now its own genre – with plenty of shelf space. There’s such a lot of it that I hope the Western world overdoses and starts to hate it.
In my opinion, the next big thing is steampunk. These stories have a mechanical whimsy to them, and are often set in the late 1800s, especially in London – or in an alternate reality that is either set at the same time and society, but with far more mad science (eg Philip Reeve’s “Larklight” series – in my opinion, the funniest books ever written) or simply taking the idea of metal, cogs, and steam to a new and wonderful place (eg Richard Harland’s “Worldshaker” book – which takes the class-obsession of Victorian London and satirises it mercilessly). Movies with steampunk elements include “Sherlock Holmes”, and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”.
Here’s a site steampunkers may enjoy:
http://hivequeenandcountry.com/home/
And here’s an example (one of many) of precisely what mechanical whimsy looks like:
This particular ring is made by Catherinetterings. You can find a lot of beautiful steampunk jewellery and other items by searching through etsy.
Felicity Banks 