Comments on: The Steampunk Bible and Steampunk Slideshow http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/ Jeff VanderMeer Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:35:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Steampunk in San Jose – Writing the World http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/comment-page-1/#comment-30883 Steampunk in San Jose – Writing the World Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:36:58 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=5452#comment-30883 [...] world and a better approach to technology. I am looking forward to Jeff VanderMeer’s upcoming The Steampunk Bible for more erudition–and [...] [...] world and a better approach to technology. I am looking forward to Jeff VanderMeer’s upcoming The Steampunk Bible for more erudition–and [...]

]]> By: S.J. Chambers http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/comment-page-1/#comment-25414 S.J. Chambers Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:21:38 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=5452#comment-25414 Wonderful slideshow! Wonderful slideshow!

]]> By: James http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/comment-page-1/#comment-25387 James Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:03:33 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=5452#comment-25387 Oh, you're right, Jeff. It's all cool stuff, and I'm keen to see a comprehensive look at the whole subculture. And you're right, you more than touched the subject--I chose the wrong word there. I was just expressing that it's interesting that the word "steampunk" still doesn't feel quite right to me as a catch-all, whereas the word "punk" no longer generates the same discontent. Probably a function of the differing ages of the terms (and my relative distance from each subculture). Oh, you’re right, Jeff. It’s all cool stuff, and I’m keen to see a comprehensive look at the whole subculture. And you’re right, you more than touched the subject–I chose the wrong word there. I was just expressing that it’s interesting that the word “steampunk” still doesn’t feel quite right to me as a catch-all, whereas the word “punk” no longer generates the same discontent. Probably a function of the differing ages of the terms (and my relative distance from each subculture).

]]> By: The other James http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/comment-page-1/#comment-25383 The other James Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:05:43 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=5452#comment-25383 Jeff - that's awesome news. Abrams is an excellent imprint, and the book is going to be gorgeous. Jeff – that’s awesome news. Abrams is an excellent imprint, and the book is going to be gorgeous.

]]> By: Jeff VanderMeer http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/comment-page-1/#comment-25382 Jeff VanderMeer Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:50:21 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=5452#comment-25382 James: I think I do more than just touch on it. Also, I explain that there's no real movement now. Instead, it's an "aesthetic"--a kind of toolbox--and it's actually more powerful that way. In any event, all of this will be dealt with in the book, so your discomfort level will be very low. I think that's the advantage of having someone like me do it--I'm familiar with the subculture and the sub-genre, but not part of it. So I can provide good perspective. The bottom line is, though, there's all this really cool stuff being done, and regardless of how you categorize it, the creation of this stuff is being driven by people's belief in "Steampunk" as an idea. James: I think I do more than just touch on it. Also, I explain that there’s no real movement now. Instead, it’s an “aesthetic”–a kind of toolbox–and it’s actually more powerful that way. In any event, all of this will be dealt with in the book, so your discomfort level will be very low. I think that’s the advantage of having someone like me do it–I’m familiar with the subculture and the sub-genre, but not part of it. So I can provide good perspective. The bottom line is, though, there’s all this really cool stuff being done, and regardless of how you categorize it, the creation of this stuff is being driven by people’s belief in “Steampunk” as an idea.

]]> By: James http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/comment-page-1/#comment-25381 James Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:31:06 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=5452#comment-25381 What a spectacular project! I can't wait to see the results. I can't help experiencing a twinge of discomfort about "Steampunk" being the catch-all term for all the different movements you describe in the slideshow. It seems to me that true steampunk requires an element of anxiety and even dread about technology that isn't present in much of the nostalgic work that's followed the original novels and stories that inspired the moniker. You touched on this a few times in your slideshow, of course. Maybe I'm just trying to close the barn door long after the mechanical horses have fled. The punk aesthetic started out with a strong strain of nihilism, but today it also features a forward-thinking DIY element, and I don't have a problem using the same word for the whole shebang. What a spectacular project! I can’t wait to see the results.

I can’t help experiencing a twinge of discomfort about “Steampunk” being the catch-all term for all the different movements you describe in the slideshow. It seems to me that true steampunk requires an element of anxiety and even dread about technology that isn’t present in much of the nostalgic work that’s followed the original novels and stories that inspired the moniker. You touched on this a few times in your slideshow, of course.

Maybe I’m just trying to close the barn door long after the mechanical horses have fled. The punk aesthetic started out with a strong strain of nihilism, but today it also features a forward-thinking DIY element, and I don’t have a problem using the same word for the whole shebang.

]]> By: KimBoo York http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/comment-page-1/#comment-25379 KimBoo York Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:51:07 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=5452#comment-25379 That is fantastic! Congratulations! That is fantastic! Congratulations!

]]> By: Brian http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2009/08/27/the-steampunk-bible-and-steampunk-slideshow/comment-page-1/#comment-25378 Brian Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:14:47 +0000 http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/?p=5452#comment-25378 Very very incredibly cool! Congratulations! Very very incredibly cool! Congratulations!

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