# Steampunk for Beginners **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039 "2008-08-14T22:38:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/21 "2008-08-15T16:08:38Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] So, what’s with the [stuff falling out of the sky?](http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php) [/QUOTE] Yeah. Without any underlying explanation, it looks like magic, doesn’t it? I’m going to have to assume force fields or something. Because it has to be Science!. Although I suspect that Mechanicsburg Science is a little different from our science, what with the living constructs and all. I also couldn’t explain how the Torchmen fly. (shrug) It’s SCIENCE! ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/22 "2008-08-15T16:10:42Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] Any non-fiction? People who live the life? [/QUOTE] Well, [this guy](http://flickr.com/groups/veritas_league/) dresses up, takes photos on location and writes the fiction (great story, btw). [For all your steampunk decorating needs](http://thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-05-17T08%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7) and [this](http://www.wired.com/gadgets/mods/multimedia/2007/06/gallery_steampunk?currentPage=2&slideView=4) is just unparalleled. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/23 "2008-08-15T16:20:05Z")
I’ve seen the Steampunk Home before. Alas, I fear I lack the credentials to join the Veritas League, but I shall be a voyeur. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/24 "2008-08-15T16:40:06Z")
[QUOTE=Yllaria] Yeah. Without any underlying explanation, it looks like magic, doesn’t it? I’m going to have to assume force fields or something. Because it has to be Science!. Although I suspect that Mechanicsburg Science is a little different from our science, what with the living constructs and all. I also couldn’t explain how the Torchmen fly. (shrug) It’s SCIENCE! [/QUOTE] **Mad** Science. ---
**Author:** ![pingnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@pingnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pingnak)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/25 "2008-08-15T17:17:50Z")
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson (Quicksilver, Confusion) are really good. Cryptonomicon isn’t ‘steam punk’, but set in WWII and a great read, too. Actually any book by Neal Stephenson will be a good read, and even educational if you have the right mindset. If you’re in the mood for video, I have a few anime recommendations. Several Hayao Miyazaki cartoons fall into this category. ALL of them are great to watch. Generally they have a strong fantasy story usually (but not always) set in an alternate historical reality. They’re largely kid friendly videos as well, and many of them are obviously made for kids. Downright hypnotic. If you have a couple of hours, getting your hands on these DVDs is worth every second and every penny. ‘Last Exile’ is a mini series that also falls broadly into this category. It’s very pretty, and sets the bar fairly high for engrossing story and very high for art and animation technology. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/26 "2008-08-15T20:50:32Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] Any non-fiction? People who live the life? [/QUOTE] Check out the Brass Goggles blog - it links to a forum as well, with some of the best fabricators and modders posting quite regularly.Lifestylers too. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/27 "2008-08-15T20:52:11Z")
Oh, and anime-wise, there’s\* Steamboy\* as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/28 "2008-08-16T04:03:24Z")
[QUOTE=pingnak] The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson (Quicksilver, Confusion) are really good. Cryptonomicon isn’t ‘steam punk’, but set in WWII and a great read, too. Actually any book by Neal Stephenson will be a good read, and even educational if you have the right mindset. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure that the Baroque Cycle qualifies. Alchemy aside, Stephenson mostly tries to remain realistic in his fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/29 "2008-08-16T11:55:35Z")
[QUOTE=photopat] Obligatory Girl Genius Shout out. [/QUOTE] Not only will she be able to enjoy _Girl Genius_, she’ll be able to share it with the kid whe he/sh/it gets a little older. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/30 "2008-08-16T17:40:44Z")
If she’s into video-games, there’s also the excellent _Thief_ series as well as the superiour RTS Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039/31 "2008-08-16T18:55:19Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] Warren Ellis’ [FreakAngels](http://www.freakangels.com/) webcomic [/QUOTE] Thanks for this link! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steampunk-for-beginners/460039.md?page=1)