tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post1034569164955144034..comments2024-03-28T08:02:30.691-04:00Comments on The League of Extraordinary Writers: Can Steampunk be Dystopian?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-84848414141066801262018-04-28T00:02:13.651-04:002018-04-28T00:02:13.651-04:00I wrote a steampunk dystopian premised on a post a...I wrote a steampunk dystopian premised on a post apocalyptic scenario due to irresponsible use of technology. The powers that eventually arose after the collapse and subsequent dark age made it at as far as steam tech, but had absolute control over technological enterprise. It's dystopic in that it's a future age that is definitely not where we want to end up (tech and it's creation is strictly controlled, even generally feared). I would posit that enterprise like technological advancement can only come after there's been a sufficient period of economic stability, i.e. reaching a new normal. <br /><br />But it's also steampunk in that the central authority is a despot using steam technology toward perverse ends and the hero stands against that authority. www.pagezaplendam.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12041658745807464510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-2074483596038871702016-12-18T14:38:02.714-05:002016-12-18T14:38:02.714-05:00I was surfing net and fortunately came across this...I was surfing net and fortunately came across this site and found very interesting stuff here. <br /><a href="http://mytakesontech.blogspot.com/2016/12/top-skills-to-learn-from-amazon-alexa.html" title="check this out" rel="nofollow">check this out</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00248296275628982891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-13685561658320879732014-07-18T13:31:01.274-04:002014-07-18T13:31:01.274-04:00While I don't disagree with this summation, I ...While I don't disagree with this summation, I have to disagree on what appears to be a general/vague conclusion; that the past can't be dystopic. As you've said, Steampunk deals with a kind of accelerated industrial revolution -- and the revolution as we know it was a period of tremendous human suffering and exploitation. By extension, one even more extensive might have produced an even greater concentration of people in "proto-Soviet blocks buildings". Computation might've taken concepts such as social engineering and even eugenics (quite popular pre-WW2) to their terrible extremes, creating oppressive regimes of surveillance or complex urban architecture meant to control the proletariate. Exploitation of colonies would have been a necessary factor to all of this, making racism and perhaps even slavery possible elements to play with. Pollution and the eradication of nature is another. Would it still be steampunk? Possibly.Ben Noddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08934119909688179914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-24708887322065097802010-06-17T21:55:14.239-04:002010-06-17T21:55:14.239-04:00Thanks for the tip, Angelmcc. I'll check it ou...Thanks for the tip, Angelmcc. I'll check it out.Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16587645299751603897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-64723771451809830002010-06-17T21:36:53.912-04:002010-06-17T21:36:53.912-04:00There's a book out this year by Cherie Priest ...There's a book out this year by Cherie Priest called BONESHAKER that's a dystopian twist on Steampunk world. It's quite entertaining. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-61968576539960410732010-06-17T20:19:26.995-04:002010-06-17T20:19:26.995-04:00Great explanation! I'm currently writing a YA ...Great explanation! I'm currently writing a YA steampunk mystery. A lot of people don't know what it is yet. Thanks for help in clearing it up :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-73274758792947453562010-06-17T17:37:54.513-04:002010-06-17T17:37:54.513-04:00Lots to think about, Angie! *cogs in brain engage*...Lots to think about, Angie! *cogs in brain engage*Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10783105022383640157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-55160443743234150132010-06-17T15:17:42.122-04:002010-06-17T15:17:42.122-04:00Susan, you're right. The Steampunk world suppo...Susan, you're right. The Steampunk world supports the characters, and they revel in it. If you extrapolate that world--as Gibson and Sterling did in Difference Engine--the you end up with in the future may not be Steampunk anymore. Just a dystopia.Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16587645299751603897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-57365587958926141042010-06-17T14:51:51.647-04:002010-06-17T14:51:51.647-04:00Excellent post. I'm toe-ing the waters of Stea...Excellent post. I'm toe-ing the waters of Steampunk with my WIP. It's fascinating, exciting and down right frightening to write! I've got Leviathan on order. Can't wait to read it!<br /><br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683486631901017529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-25411317447515134762010-06-17T14:29:09.011-04:002010-06-17T14:29:09.011-04:00Great post- love that book trailer!
I think a pos...Great post- love that book trailer!<br /><br />I think a post-apocalytpic story set in the future can be called a steampunk dystopia where everyone's reduced to having to cobble together gadgets and engines from whatever they find.Amanda Borenstadthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03061109442550378113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-38404623788980457292010-06-17T13:15:13.619-04:002010-06-17T13:15:13.619-04:00I've always loved dystopias and have a recent ...I've always loved dystopias and have a recent affection for Steampunk - put the two together? Hmm...I'm not actually sure about that. I think one of the attractions of steampunk, as you say, is a certain brash optimism. And while dystopia's have a world in opposition, I think the in the steampunk realm, the world is in support of that optimism. <br /><br />But then again, someone will write it and it will just turn everything I just said on its head. :)Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-29850403983219170332010-06-17T11:11:23.145-04:002010-06-17T11:11:23.145-04:00You know, I've never really thought of this. I...You know, I've never really thought of this. I tend to group all the sci fi subgenres in my head, but of course you're right--steampunk *can't* be dystopian as steampunk deals with the past, and dystopian deals with the future. At the same time, though, I'm now totally intrigued by the idea of a steampunk dystopian that shows a past steampunk world evolving into a modern dystopian....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-66979082068061368562010-06-17T10:49:31.027-04:002010-06-17T10:49:31.027-04:00Keep going, Bittersweet. I think you're onto s...Keep going, Bittersweet. I think you're onto some cool world building possibilities.Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16587645299751603897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-18472516614879145632010-06-17T10:23:42.731-04:002010-06-17T10:23:42.731-04:00If Victorian Britain had really had the sort of te...If Victorian Britain had really had the sort of technology imagined in steampunk - the future could be extremely different. Though if the technology was leaking to the other nations, things might not change too drastically. But let's assume that Britain is the only country with advanced technology at the turn of the last century. <br /><br />WWI may never have happened - Britain could have dominated the world with their computers, advanced flying machines, etc. Then again, if WWI never happened, Britain might have imploded from the pressure put on by the suffragettes, the Irish Home Rule group, and the labor unions. In fact advanced technology might create a smarter populace, which might have led women to want to vote earlier. The technology probably wouldn't reduce the amount of labor needed - since Victorian machines often need laborers - so that might create even more labor unions. However, with the technology, Britain could have smashed Ireland and simply not bothered to deal with Home Rule.<br /><br />Hmm....so many possibilities. Would Britain implode and create a future world without its influence? Or would it grow into a superpower - stoppable by no one?<br /><br />The possible dystopias that could be created from this are mind boggling.Mandy P.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02453249544598951624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-29646590285121230762010-06-17T09:01:19.287-04:002010-06-17T09:01:19.287-04:00LOL. Do you OIL your machines or FEED them? That&...LOL. Do you OIL your machines or FEED them? That's good!!!! <br /><br />Thanks for this post. I'm still wrapping my brain around steampunk. :-) Loved those trailers, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-40095641301820570462010-06-17T08:19:32.184-04:002010-06-17T08:19:32.184-04:00I love this! This is probably the best explanation...I love this! This is probably the best explanation of Steampunk/Dystopian differences I've read. You really get the root of each of them. <br /><br />I'd never thought of Steampunk/Dystopian as subgenres that could compliment each other, but the way you describe it makes it totally possible. Alternate past and alternate future. It'd be interesting to play around with and see what fun stories/series could pop up...Sara Raaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01196505323463444186noreply@blogger.com