What is Steampunk?

Adult Program                                                                                         Story by Tyrion Perkins

Saturday 9 Sept 2017

I dressed in my costume that I had brought for the steampunk-themed dinner to introduce two experts on the topic: Avril Sabine and Clive Peterson.
Avril has been writing speculative fiction for children and YA from a young age.

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 She has published more than 50 of them since 2014. Her Rosie Ranger series is steampunk in a wild west setting. Her husband Clive likes to make things, and has made many of the creatures and gadgets found in Avril’s books.

Avril showed us a slide show of pictures that inspired her work and said how Steampunk is usually 1800s England, or Wild West U.S. It is Science fiction that uses the technology of that time. The genre began with books from that time such as “The Time Machine,” “Frankenstein,” and books by Jules Verne, but the term was first coined by science fiction author K. W. Jeter in the 1980s. There are many more recent titles, more famous ones include “Howl’s Moving Castle,” and “Northern Lights.” Similar books set in the future are termed cyberpunk, such as Lance Balchin’s “Mechanica.”

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They showed us the steam powered wings from book 1 of Rosie’s Rangers. The wings actually go in and out, though powered by battery rather than steam. The snake is from book 4, and Clive wore an outfit that resembled one of the character’s mech arms and leg. They began making these things to display at book events, and I’m sure every passing person will be impressed enough to stop and have a look. Clive also makes many of the little insect-like creatures out of metal and recycled materials. They have a scientist check all the sci fi aspects, to see if the technology is realistic. Their daughter, who accompanied them today, checks all their horse facts, as well as doing the graphic design for the book covers.

For more of Avril’s books: www.avrilsabine.com
See more of Clive’s creations: www.brokengatepublishing.com/rcw

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