We are very happy to welcome author Tee Morris here at Book Lovers Inc today. He co-authored the new Steampunk work “Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel” with Pip Ballentine and today he is here to tell us a bit about the genre his new novel is set in. Please give him a warm welcome and be sure to check out what a great prize-pack he brought along. Enjoy!
We Need the Punk, Gotta Have That Punk
Soon came a day under skies that were gray
When I knew I couldn’t stay in this ghost town full of
Clones and clowns and carbon copy towns, with
Kine and swine and nothing that was mine,
And this town’s decline with my hatred intertwined,
So I gather all I find and I bolted it to me,
Fueled my fires and I grabbed my pliers, and I’m lit!
I made my own machine
Yes, we’re building steam
I hate the same routine.
—“Building Steam” from the album Æther Shanties, Abney Park
While steampunk appears to be all the current rage (one author in my Facebook account extended to me a somewhat backhanded congratulations for breaking into this “fad” of modern literature), this sub-genre of Science Fiction and Fantasy has actually been lurking in the shadows and grime of bookstores for over two decades. The recent release of Jeff Vandermeer’s Steampunk Biblepromises to be a wonderful primer for people curious about this clockwork movement dedicated to a quirky, clever, and complex Future that Never Was. I know this as my dad who doesn’t read anything outside of political thrillers flipped through the pages of The Steampunk Bible with great fascination. He was finally getting, through the artwork and costumes he found with Vandermeer’s work, an answer (albeit, a visually overwhelming one) to the question “What is steampunk?” If you believe that is simple to answer, go surfing online and you will find that answer varies from steampunk site to steampunk site. If it were so simple to answer, we would not need to explain exactly what it is time and again.
What my dad, and many others both in the online æther and in the waking world of The Real, have yet to discover is a reoccurring question that strikes up (polite and mannered) debate amongst artisits, writers and costumers alike — has steampunk, in its emergence into mainstream over the past few years, been reduced to nothing more than a veneer of gadgets, gizmos, and gaudy displays of extravagance? What exactly is the “punk” in steampunk?
The “punk” of steampunk tends to have the same effect as “pod” does with people when they are introduced to “podcasting.” The minute you say “punk” images of Sid Vicious, the Violent Femmes, guys and girls in mowhawks, extreme tattoos and piercings, and a complete and total disregard for the rules are conjured up, and it can be a little off-putting. I’ve seen this with my parents, my boss, and my friends not verse in the ways of my power geekdom.
It’s a hazard in writing Science Fiction and Fantasy. I’ve learned to live with it.
Some artists perpetuate this stereotype in shooting models that fit these descriptions, only donning them in stovepipe hats, bustles, and monocles. Some even joke that steampunk is, as writer Jess Nevins takes claim for first saying, “what happens when Goths discover brown.” While there are aspects of both these subcultures in steampunk, to say that this is what puts the “punk” in steampunk is not only limiting, it’s simply incorrect.
Steampunk, if you wish it to be, can be a commentary of the real Victorian Era, certainly, or a reflection of today’s modern problems told via 19th Century allegory. But the “punk” is also a commentary in itself. A deeper look into the punk culture is not all about going against convention and “polite” society, but about accomplishing things that are deemed impossible by the standards imposed around us. Perhaps some of the earliest punks that embody this discipline are Wilbur and Orville Wright.
Yes, you didn’t misread that — the Wright Brothers.
How are the Wright Brothers punks? (And considering the make of the 1903 Wright flyer, they would fall under dieselpunks, but that is a column for another time.) These two guys running a bicycle shop in the Midwest with no formal training in engineering (or any college degree for that matter) wanted to build a machine out of spare parts and achieve flight. Had they attended a university, they would have been told “Don’t waste your time. It can’t be done.” These two, however, believed they could make it work. Their own research led to constructing what no engineer had conceived at that time, a controlled chamber where aerodynamics could truly be studied.
Yeah, a wind tunnel. One of the fundamentals of modern day aerospace.
And what did these punks discover with their tunnel of scrap metal and spare parts? They discovered that previous wind resistance formulas of Otto Liliethal, a renowned German mathematician and engineer, were wrong. This led to a completely new set of numbers concerning wind resistance, wing design, and flight controls; and with bicycle parts Wilber and Orville, armed with their own calculations and computations, launched the age of aviation one day in December at a place called Kitty Hawk. To this day, the world is continuously schooled…by a pair of punks from Ohio.
This is what the punk is all about in steampunk. It is a “do-it-yourself” mentality on achieving what should not be achieved because “you didn’t study music” or “you aren’t a physicist.” Steampunk gets its “punk” not in its dystopian view of the world or even in its gritty edge, but from going against convention that, through creativity and declaration of one’s individuality be it through style, gadgets, or attitude, sets one apart.
For myself, I think my own punk can be found in the Phoenix Rising book trailer. I am a self-taught video editor. With only one class in linear video editing under my belt, I invested in some video equipment, a stronger Mac, and taught myself Apple’s Final Cut Pro with the help of a book. I have edited all manners of projects since teaching myself how to edit video, but nothing prepared me for a day in Staunton, Virginia, when — with a group of friends — I directed this:
What you see here is the punk approach to filmmaking with my friend Linc Williams employing a home-made steady cam and a crew of four grabbing open spaces and watching for lulls in traffic to create what convinced many I had green screened the entire trailer. The end result has been viewed over 1500 times in three weeks. I discovered that yes, I am doing a lot more than writing steampunk but living it, at least when it comes to being a filmmaker.
In our own work, Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, the “punk” is embodied in Eliza D. Braun, an agent from New Zealand. Coming from the farthest reaches of the Empire where women have the right to vote and “natives” co-exist with the “savages,” Eliza goes against the standard norms at the home office in London, England, liberally applying ordinance in place of protocol. In light of this, she is paired up with Wellington Thornhill Books, Esquire, an archivist more content with the scent of his Earl Grey than with the smell of gunpowder. She is everything he is not, and vice versa; and it is their chemistry and unorthodox approach to peculiar occurrences that make them unique within a society based on conformity. And while Wellington might not wish to admit it, together they become a pair of punks set on righting wrongs with cases that the Ministry have deemed as unsolvable.
What a pair of punks.
So don’t let the “punk” in “steampunk” throw you off. If you think its men in bowlers and ladies in hoop skirts slam dancing, you may need to broaden your perspective. (Besides, have you ever ties to slam dance in trusses? Yowsa!) The punk in this Future-Past is a D.I.Y. of the fantastic, and believing that anything is impossible if you apply brass tacks determination and sheer will. This is where the punk comes from, and is part of the appeal of the genre.
And do yourself a favor — set aside your fears of the punk and pay a steampunk convention a visit. This community is incredibly polite. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if these people donned bowlers, bonnets, and bloomers, and sipped tea while they blogged. Nice people, these steampunks; and both Pip and I are proud to be offering a light-hearted romp for their pleasure. And yours.
About the Book:
Evil is most assuredly afoot—and Britain’s fate rests in the hands of an alluring renegade . . . and a librarian.
These are dark days indeed in Victoria’s England. Londoners are vanishing, then reappearing, washing up as corpses on the banks of the Thames, drained of blood and bone. Yet the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences—the Crown’s clandestine organization whose bailiwick is the strange and unsettling—will not allow its agents to investigate. Fearless and exceedingly lovely Eliza D. Braun, however, with her bulletproof corset and a disturbing fondness for dynamite, refuses to let the matter rest . . . and she’s prepared to drag her timorous new partner, Wellington Books, along with her into the perilous fray.
For a malevolent brotherhood is operating in the deepening London shadows, intent upon the enslavement of all Britons. And Books and Braun—he with his encyclopedic brain and she with her remarkable devices—must get to the twisted roots of a most nefarious plot . . . or see England fall to the Phoenix!
About the Author:
Tee Morris began his writing career with his 2002 historical epic fantasy, MOREVI The Chronicles of Rafe & Askana. In 2005 Tee took MOREVI into the then-unknown podosphere, making his novel the first book podcast in its entirety. That experience led to the founding of Podiobooks.com and collaborating with Evo Terra and Chuck Tomasi on Podcasting for Dummies. He won acclaim and accolades for his cross-genre fantasy-detective Billibub Baddings Mysteries, the podcast of The Case of the Singing Sword winning him the 2008 Parsec Award for Best Audio Drama. Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, co-written with Pip Ballantine, is his first steampunk offering.When he is not writing, Tee enjoys life in Virginia alongside Pip, his daughter, and five cats (3 female, 2 males). Considering the male-to-female ratio in his house, Tee understands how General Custer felt near his end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Tee has generously offered a copy of Phoenix Rinsing AND a wonderful Catherinette ring to 1 lucky commenter! (you can click on the pic to get a better look at it)
All you have to do is tell us what you like about steampunk or just ask Tee a question.
And because it is such a wonderful giveaway you can earn an extra entry if you spread the word about it (twitter, facebook etc.). Just leave us a link in an extra comment!
Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email in blogger profile or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is open worldwide!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, May 7th and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
About Susi
Susi is a geeky vegetarian from Gemany. She just finished university and now works as a civil engineer in steel construction. Besides her reading addiction she also knits like a maniac while listening to audiobooks. Susi also blogs at the Secret HEA Society.
Admittedly I haven't read any Steampunk either, but I'm glad that you explained the genre a bit better, because the "punk" did throw me off (a little)!
I haven't tried reading a steam punk story as of yet though I have seen that they were growing in popularity. I so enjoyed the humor in your video trailer. Am intrigued to find a father and daughter pairing up to write a series. How did that come about?
I love the detail and description that is in steampunk. Sometimes I feel I could id some parts of strange aircraft from all the cool words for parts inherent in the genre.
I am fairly new to steampunk – but I love to read and I love gadgets, so it's the perfect genre for me!!! Thanks for hosting – hope I win, this looks like a great read!!! bevsharp@desch.org
I love steampunk. The resemblance to real history, with lots of fantastic inventions and the fantastical added make for wonderful reading. Every steampunk story I've read so far has been fantastic and I can't wait to read more. Phoenix Rising sounds wonderful and I've added it to my wish list.
Thank you for your explanation of what steampunk is & isn't. I have been trying to grasp & fully understand & you have made it a lot clearer. It's fascinating.
I have never read steampunk before but I find this book very interesting and good. I would love to read it. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I love the feeling of a time in the past, that never happened. The spirit of grand adventure! And all of the gadgets and gear-based scientific ideas are fun and interesting. My email address is crystalknits (at) gmail (dot) com.
@ Tee – Heh. Feeling your daughter's pain right now. Just last summer at the lake I was mistaken for my dad's girlfriend. While my mother was standing there. Awkward.
As for Stempunk, I originally got into it because of the jewelry – it's so much fun to create it! Which is the main reason I got into the books…cyperpunk requires the characters to be ultra hacker geniuses with crazy body modifications. But Steampunk is very DIY and kick-ass at the same time. Lovelovelove.
I've been waiting for this book to be released for awhile now and it is NOT at my bookstore yet. Scowl.
I discovered Steampunk a while ago, with a special interest in MG/YA Steampunk. When I have a spare moment, I work on my Wild West Steampunk YA WIP. I do hope to attend a convention sometime soon!
I'd love to read Phoenix Rising AND wear a fabulous ring from Catherinette Rings!
I love everything about Steampunk! I love dressing up in gorgeous yet intriguing clothes and creating the back story and asking my brother to craft some of the accessories. I love reading steampunk fiction (I grew up on HG Wells and Jules Verne and love Gail Carriger). I love bands like Abney Park for their music and their style. I love attending events. I love meeting other steampunkers and I love creating. I just love Steampunk in all its facets. I love the mystery, the history and steam.
I only discovered Steampunk a couple of months ago but I'm loving the innventiveness and innovation in the handful of books i've read so far. I love the difference between the world we know and the world the author has created!
So my question for Tee – what steampunk invention do you wish really existed? Personally I'd love a dirgible ride! 🙂
I read a couple of steampunk novels over the past months and loved it. When i first heard of this genre I didn't think I would ever like it. I love the world building in this genre, it's so different than what I usually read.
I only just learned about steampunk, but I already love it that your female character is super powerful! Not to mention the guns!! *_* Enough of damsels in distress!!! LOL thanks for the awesome interview (great video!) and giveaway!! 😉
I keep hearing about 'steampunk' and I must admit I am intrigued by the sound of it. Admittedly, I have yet to buy any books in the genre but after reading your post and watching your wonderful video… I will definitely do so now! Thanks for insight! suzy.turner@hotmail.com http://suzyturner.blogspot.com
I read my first Steampunk book about a month ago and loved it. I had no idea what it was all about so I thought I'd give it a shot. Steampunk takes you to such a different world, set in a different time. I love the feel of it while your reading it. I'd love to win this book. Please count me in =) Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love Steampunk because it is high fantasy. The wild devices, the crazy situations, are just so much fun. And the costumes are super fun!!! Thanks for the contest. jepebATverizonDOTnet
Oh, thanks for this – great post! I love the gadgetry and quirky inventions in Steampunk, not to mention fabulous real-life Steampunk jewelry. What I really love though is the scope for brains and unlikely heroes (both male and female) to save the day. Not that I don't also appreciate a good fist-fight on a dirigible, of course… 😉
I haven't actually read much steampunk, though I'm meaning to. I like the clothing and all the brown/bronze metal style stuff. I like the quote "what happens when Goths discover brown.” Thanks heaps for the giveaway.
Part of what I love about Steampunk is the imagination that goes into the way the world could have been. Authors, artists, gamers–some things are fantastical, like clockwork automatons and somethings are practical, like replacing lost limbs. I love seeing how a creator envisions the interaction steampower could have had if it had flourished.
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I have not read any steampunk yet, but I cannot wait to. This book looks like a great start *winks*.
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
Tweeted as well!
http://twitter.com/#!/IntenseWhisper/statuses/63261293834022912
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
Admittedly I haven't read any Steampunk either, but I'm glad that you explained the genre a bit better, because the "punk" did throw me off (a little)!
danaan at gmx dot at
I haven't tried reading a steam punk story as of yet though I have seen that they were growing in popularity. I so enjoyed the humor in your video trailer. Am intrigued to find a father and daughter pairing up to write a series. How did that come about?
I love the detail and description that is in steampunk. Sometimes I feel I could id some parts of strange aircraft from all the cool words for parts inherent in the genre.
terilhack at yahoo dot com
i have never read it
vidishamun@gmail.com
Yes, I have tweeted about that little factoid/error already. Pip Ballantine isn't my daughter. She's my girlfriend.
I think the assumption was made in my bio. I say…
"When he is not writing, Tee enjoys life in Virginia alongside Pip, his daughter, and five cats."
Please note the use of commas. I live with…
1. Pip
2. My daughter
3. Five cats
Respect the comma. ;^)
Steampunk would be new for me, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com
Hi, Tee! I enjoyed reading your guest post! And I have yet to jump into the world of Steampunk– though I promise to soon! 🙂
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
What I love the most, hard one, it is just so awesome. I like alternative history, they way things could go so that is why 🙂
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
I am fairly new to steampunk – but I love to read and I love gadgets, so it's the perfect genre for me!!!
Thanks for hosting – hope I win, this looks like a great read!!!
bevsharp@desch.org
I love steampunk. The resemblance to real history, with lots of fantastic inventions and the fantastical added make for wonderful reading. Every steampunk story I've read so far has been fantastic and I can't wait to read more. Phoenix Rising sounds wonderful and I've added it to my wish list.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
I love the mix of Victorian and older technologies that were never fully realized.
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com
I haven't read many steampunk books yet (maybe not any!), but love the interest this genre sparks!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
It's awesome seeing all of these names I know from my favorite podcasts on the book blogs! Keep it up!
The thing about steampunk I love the most is how it's usually the smart and geeky one that ends up being the hero.
Thanks!
jason [at] jasonkivela [dot] com
Thank you for your explanation of what steampunk is & isn't. I have been trying to grasp & fully understand & you have made it a lot clearer. It's fascinating.
marypres@gmail.com
I have never read steampunk before but I find this book very interesting and good. I would love to read it. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I love the feeling of a time in the past, that never happened. The spirit of grand adventure! And all of the gadgets and gear-based scientific ideas are fun and interesting. My email address is crystalknits (at) gmail (dot) com.
@ Tee – Heh. Feeling your daughter's pain right now. Just last summer at the lake I was mistaken for my dad's girlfriend. While my mother was standing there. Awkward.
As for Stempunk, I originally got into it because of the jewelry – it's so much fun to create it! Which is the main reason I got into the books…cyperpunk requires the characters to be ultra hacker geniuses with crazy body modifications. But Steampunk is very DIY and kick-ass at the same time. Lovelovelove.
I've been waiting for this book to be released for awhile now and it is NOT at my bookstore yet. Scowl.
cass at feministdracona dot net
I love that steampunk combines rich history with grand fantasy. The potential is unlimited!
heidig@gmail.com
I discovered Steampunk a while ago, with a special interest in MG/YA Steampunk. When I have a spare moment, I work on my Wild West Steampunk YA WIP. I do hope to attend a convention sometime soon!
I'd love to read Phoenix Rising AND wear a fabulous ring from Catherinette Rings!
@kelvorhis
kvorhis@gmail.com
I like steampunk because it has the audacity to try the unknown.
uscwriter@hotmail.com
I definitely like gadgets they come up with and the plots are do different from the usually cliche vampire stories
thanks for the giveaway!
lgmorales18@gmail.com
i tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/laurabooknerd/status/63765468246327296
lgmorales18@gmail.com
I love everything about Steampunk! I love dressing up in gorgeous yet intriguing clothes and creating the back story and asking my brother to craft some of the accessories. I love reading steampunk fiction (I grew up on HG Wells and Jules Verne and love Gail Carriger). I love bands like Abney Park for their music and their style. I love attending events. I love meeting other steampunkers and I love creating. I just love Steampunk in all its facets. I love the mystery, the history and steam.
@obsidiantears83 on twitter
Not Ente…RING the contest but i want to say that i love steampunk . Steampunk is my occupation , the best one i ever had !
@Catherinette Rings
And we are very glad you did! Your creations are amazing!! ;D
Steampunk is the new and upcoming trend that is hitting books. I find it very cool myself.
LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com
I only discovered Steampunk a couple of months ago but I'm loving the innventiveness and innovation in the handful of books i've read so far. I love the difference between the world we know and the world the author has created!
So my question for Tee – what steampunk invention do you wish really existed? Personally I'd love a dirgible ride! 🙂
Mel S
notanotherbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk
I read a couple of steampunk novels over the past months and loved it. When i first heard of this genre I didn't think I would ever like it. I love the world building in this genre, it's so different than what I usually read.
Van
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite part of steampunk is all the cool gadgets and inventions. I'm such a geek, and I just eat that up.
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
I only just learned about steampunk, but I already love it that your female character is super powerful! Not to mention the guns!! *_* Enough of damsels in distress!!! LOL
thanks for the awesome interview (great video!) and giveaway!! 😉
kah_cherub at hotmail dot com
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/vollkopf/status/64129944120328193 🙂
I love the strong female characters in Steampunk. Restricted by bustles and corsets they still manage to save the day!
eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com
Tweet!!
http://twitter.com/#!/EVA_n_essence/status/64233956505169920
eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com
I keep hearing about 'steampunk' and I must admit I am intrigued by the sound of it. Admittedly, I have yet to buy any books in the genre but after reading your post and watching your wonderful video… I will definitely do so now!
Thanks for insight!
suzy.turner@hotmail.com
http://suzyturner.blogspot.com
I read my first Steampunk book about a month ago and loved it. I had no idea what it was all about so I thought I'd give it a shot. Steampunk takes you to such a different world, set in a different time. I love the feel of it while your reading it. I'd love to win this book. Please count me in =)
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com
I also tweeted at http://twitter.com/Tanya1224/statuses/6.434969101337E+16
Thanks again.
Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love Steampunk because it is high fantasy. The wild devices, the crazy situations, are just so much fun. And the costumes are super fun!!! Thanks for the contest.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
I love the style and gadgetry of Steampunk 😉
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Oh, thanks for this – great post!
I love the gadgetry and quirky inventions in Steampunk, not to mention fabulous real-life Steampunk jewelry. What I really love though is the scope for brains and unlikely heroes (both male and female) to save the day. Not that I don't also appreciate a good fist-fight on a dirigible, of course… 😉
@lianakay on twitter
I haven't actually read much steampunk, though I'm meaning to. I like the clothing and all the brown/bronze metal style stuff. I like the quote "what happens when Goths discover brown.” Thanks heaps for the giveaway.
jessicamariesutton(at)msn(dot)com
Part of what I love about Steampunk is the imagination that goes into the way the world could have been. Authors, artists, gamers–some things are fantastical, like clockwork automatons and somethings are practical, like replacing lost limbs. I love seeing how a creator envisions the interaction steampower could have had if it had flourished.
Lexie
Lexie.Cenni(@)gmail.com