# I have a new obsession and I don't care who knows it: Steampunk. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2011, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354 "2011-04-14T11:42:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/41 "2011-04-16T09:43:59Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > I’ve been dabbling in steampunk models; here are pictures of my [Land Ironclad](http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Land%20ironclad/), [Vickers Gomphothere](http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Vickers%20Gomphothere/), and [Aerial Dreadnought](http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z256/hilbyf/Aerial%20Dreadnought/). Werent you the one asking about a name for a land ironclad a few months ago? (I wont bother doing a research, the board’s search engine drives me nuts) ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/42 "2011-04-16T09:50:15Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > There was an steampunk on Mars RPG called Space: 1889, but I don’t think it really took hold. > > Too bad. I blame it on the cluncky system they used. Cause they really pumped out some products in their initial release run. There was an RPG, there were two different wargames IIRC (tactical ether-space fight), and a video game (wonder if there wasnt some novels too). I still think that the niche they went for was too restricted to cover expenses, let alone make a real profit. But, I really wonder what would have happened to that concept if it had a playable system, and a more business-savy like company behind it (like Games Workshop). ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/43 "2011-04-17T03:13:25Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > If you are on Second Life, there are a number of Steampunk-related sims you can visit and, well, play at being a steampunker in a virtual environment. Here is the SLURL for one of the oldest and biggest steampunk sims: Caledonia: > > [Second Life Maps | Caledon](http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon/225/143/24) > > If you are unfamiliar with Second Life, you will have to go get an avatar and the Second Life browser, it’s free: > > [http://www.secondlife.com](http://www.secondlife.com) > > If you want to spend some time rolling around in steampunk, you can do that in Second Life. Heh. If you never hear from me again, it is because of this place. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/44 "2011-04-17T03:20:02Z")
I wonder if Jim West, the original TV series, was the first Steampunk story. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/45 "2011-04-17T15:18:04Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > If you never hear from me again, it is because of this place. Gotcha! Bwahahahahahahahahaha! Er, I mean … I have no idea what you are talking about … ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/46 "2011-04-17T15:19:05Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > I wonder if Jim West, the original TV series, was the first Steampunk story. Most people would say that Jules Verne is the Original Gangsta of Steampunk, and he predates television, much less Jim West. Still, Wild, Wild West was incredibly good steampunk. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/47 "2011-04-17T15:37:25Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Most people would say that Jules Verne is the Original Gangsta of Steampunk, and he predates television. Is it Steampunk if the writer is an actual Victorian? I think the essential part of genre is being “retro-scifi”, that is, science fiction that takes place in the past (or atleast, is inspired by the past). Jules Verne’s stuff took place in the, for him, present. In that sense, I think Wild Wild West has a pretty good claim to be the first work in the genre, or at least I can’t think of an earlier entry. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/48 "2011-04-17T15:37:55Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > I just love this [site](http://steampunkworkshop.com/lcd.shtml), I’ve linked to the piece that makes me drool. I’m pretty much a minimalist guy, design-wise, but that monitor/keyboard is a lovely thing. Thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/49 "2011-04-17T16:05:21Z")
Was there something writen on which Wild Wild West was based on? I mean, was there a novel or anything before it? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/50 "2011-04-17T16:10:11Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > Was there something writen on which Wild Wild West was based on? I mean, was there a novel or anything before it? I think it was just a case of TV producers taking two things that were trendy at the time and sticking them togeather. People liked James Bond, and they liked Cowboy shows, so they made a TV show about secret agents with a lot of gadgets that took place in the old west. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/51 "2011-04-17T16:11:10Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > Was there something writen on which Wild Wild West was based on? I mean, was there a novel or anything before it? It was actually inspired by the James Bond films. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/52 "2011-04-18T05:24:13Z")
Thank you for this thread; because of it, I found out there’s a steampunk convention-thingy going on in San Diego in just a couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to go and people-watch! And it’s right after payday, too…mmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/53 "2011-04-18T07:14:55Z")
I can make for you a trashy tutu? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/54 "2011-04-18T07:36:01Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Thank you for this thread; because of it, I found out there’s a steampunk convention-thingy going on in San Diego in just a couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to go and people-watch! > > And it’s right after payday, too…mmmmm… Gaslight Gathering? My art and I will be there :). ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/55 "2011-04-18T11:30:12Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Is it Steampunk if the writer is an actual Victorian? I think the essential part of genre is being “retro-scifi”, that is, science fiction that takes place in the past (or atleast, is inspired by the past). Jules Verne’s stuff took place in the, for him, present. > > In that sense, I think Wild Wild West has a pretty good claim to be the first work in the genre, or at least I can’t think of an earlier entry. I agree here. Victorian science fiction is the inspiration for Steampunk, but the current genre requires a modern viewpoint or sensibility combined with pseudo-Victorian style and theme. ( I use “Victorian” very loosely, as Edgar Rice Burroughs and H. P. Lovecraft are also strong influences, and they didn’t start publishing until well after the dear old queen’s passing.) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/56 "2011-04-18T12:27:06Z")
I would have to agree that _Wild Wild West_ was the first. God, that was a good show. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/57 "2011-04-18T13:44:23Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > I would have to agree that _Wild Wild West_ was the first. > > God, that was a good show. \*The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr \*also had elements of steam punk. There were future artifacts & weird science–in the world that was actually powered by steam! Plus it was really excellent; I’ll always award points for excellence even if a work wasn’t part of The Steampunk Movement. Thus Mark Frost’s _The List of 7_ is worth reading; in fact, it’s worth reading even if you don’t give a crap about “stempunk.” I also like [Beyond Victoriana](http://beyondvictoriana.com/) for its “multicultural perspective on Steampunk.” ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/58 "2011-04-18T15:32:30Z")
> [@jellyblue](#): > > Gaslight Gathering? My art and I will be there :). And I will be looking 😃 I have to ask…is your Etsy name Win on a Cookie, or Winona Cookie? I assumed the latter, then realized the first was soooooo internet cool. 😛 Either way, nice artwork 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/59 "2011-04-18T15:34:51Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Werent you the one asking about a name for a land ironclad a few months ago? > (I wont bother doing a research, the board’s search engine drives me nuts) Yeah, that was me. I finally settled on “Tarasque” but the guy making the nameplate made a whoopsie and now I’m thinking about having a new nameplate made, and so I’m thinking about renaming it a “Tortue”. The pleasures of being indecisive… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354/60 "2011-04-18T16:47:00Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > Yeah, that was me. I finally settled on “Tarasque” but the guy making the nameplate made a whoopsie Prussian sabotage I expect. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-new-obsession-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it-steampunk/578354.md?page=4)