Choose Your Futureism - Pre-Order Your Hardcover Copy of Thrilling Tales of the Downright Unusual

Choose the path to the future in Retropolis, created by Bradley W. Schenck.

This author offers free online serialized and interactive stories, such as The Lair of the Clockwork Book and Trapped in the Tower of the Brain Thieves: The Toaster with Two Brains. Readers may bookmark their place and return at a future time.

About the free online stories, described by the author:

"Thrilling Tales of the Downright Unusual is a lot like an idea I had back in 1996 when I was first experimenting with web design: a site full of illustrated stories, written so that you could choose one character or another, and then make choices as they move through the tale. And the project's given me a chance to combine free web content - which, incredibly, people like - with a way to promote my work for sale - which, for some reason, I like. The advertising banners you see lead to other sites of mine where I hope I'll be able to shake all of the change out of your pockets. And if you like the Tales on the web site, I certainly hope that you'll consider buying them as books. They're nifty. They really are."

The illustrated hardcover of Bradley W. Schenck's The Lair of the Clockwork Book

On that subject, the beautiful hardcover of The Lair of the Clockwork Book is available for pre-order.

In fact, a certain number of copies must be paid for before the printing will even take place, so if you or someone you know would be interested in helping an author (and owning a copy of the book!), please order soon.  At the time of this writing, they have only received 37% of the total required, and there are only 14 days left.  Not enough pre-orders equals no hardcover book!

Mr. Schenck has created an incredible volume of retro-futuristic artwork for his books, and you may purchase said artwork on more items than the imagination can comprehend in the Retropoilis shop, here. There is truly something for everyone.

Have a story which needs a title, but it just will not name itself? Or just need a laugh? Try Cornelius Zappencackler's Derange-O-Tron Random Pulp Science Fiction Title Generator.  Or don't, and stare gloomily at your blank title page. Either way, enjoy!

If you feel up to blogging/Tweeting/otherwise sharing this post/plea for orders, that would be lovely, and I am sure Mr. Schenck would appreciate it. Thank you!

DreamSteam's Steampunk Holiday 2010 Gift Guide

Egads! The holiday gift-giving season is again upon us, bringing trepidation to those who must ask themselves, "what am I going to buy for my steampunk friends/family?!"  Never fear, for I have found some ideas for you to peruse and consider!

Brute Force Studios has several choices for the hard-to-buy-for steampunk.  Handmade corsets, book covers, and leather and brass fans abound on their site.  (Clockwork brassiere, anyone?)

 In case you have not seen these yet, Harbor Freight carries charming, working brass transits and sundials/compasses almost all year long.  They cost between $10 and $26.  (I own both and have also given them as gifts.)

The steampunk handy-person might enjoy using a tool made in a different era.  Vintage tools are apparently becoming a big deal in a niche market catering to those who want the right tool for the job and to look stylish while doing it!  Vintage Tools has a wide selection of hand tools.

To use those hand tools, why not give the handyperson the plans to build their own wooden clock?  Clayton Boyer has created dozens of beautiful clocks from wood, and is selling the plans for many of them.  He recommends starting with the one simply called Number Six, but here is a link to all of the available plans.

Clayton Boyer's "Swoopy Clock"

For the steamy fashionista,  Pyramid Collection has skirts, shirts, jackets, and hats with buckles and style galore at fairly reasonable prices.

Alternatively, if you wish to support individuals who make their own steampunk items by hand, do look to ArtFire or Etsy.  Both have thriving steampunk categories, and if you buy there, you will make an artist very happy! (Links are suggestions, do a 'steampunk' search to find other wonderful artists on the sites.)  Jewelry, journals, goggles, clothing, toys, gadgets, you name it -- all can be found there in a twinkle.  

Steampunk Dangle Gear Earrings with 24k Gold Plated Ear Wires, by DreamSteam

These are just a few gift guide ideas.  I will add more as I find them.  Also check out the tag cloud on the right hand edge of this blog page for specific shopping topics that you may desire to see; many tags contain posts regarding and links to more excellent merchants that I have mentioned in the past (parasols, brooches, toys, jewelry, collectibles, clothing, and more).   Happy shopping!

Steampunk-Inspired Print Shoes

Typewriter Keds Slip-Ons.  Can you QWERTY with your toes?

     I enjoy looking at shoes.  I spend more time browsing than buying, but browse I do.  Out of curiosity, I decided to see what a search on 'steampunk shoes' revealed.

     Victorian era styles are a given.  Classic, sleek, stylish.

     Then we find others -- those that bring steampunk to the masses commercially.  Not handmade, not vintage, but still a slight reflection of that which NeverWas.  Did not know such items existed?   Neither did I!  Behold a few examples of such steam-inspired wizardry.

     For between $60 and $80, you can have your very own pair of steampunk Keds.

     They have sixteen pages of steampunk, goth, pagan, noir, etc. styles on the  Zazzle.com site, which is from where the above photos hailed. 
(I have never ordered from them, nor am I affiliated with them, so I cannot speak to their customer service.  Just thought these shoes were a cute way to show one's enthusiasm for steampunk, casually.)   Enjoy!

Holiday Steampunk Gift Ideas! Part One

Welcome to December!  Don't panic.  There are 24 shopping days left until Christmas, so you still have plenty of time to shop.  If you are into that sort of thing.  (*grin*)

I thought it would be helpful to compile a collection of things which would make good gifts for your Steampunk friends, family, etc.

1) Steampunk Jewelry!!!  (hint hint) ;-)  As for my shop, I include sturdy, pretty cord necklaces with silver lobster clasps with my pendants, or many of them come with brass or copper chains.

2) Steampunk Books -  One book that I, myself, have purchased and read is called (surprise) Steampunk by Ann & Jeff Vandermeer.  This collection of short stories of the genre is sure to please the sp reader.  Alist of more sp books can be found on Steampunkopedia.

Books by Jules Verne also make a wonderful literary gift; his novels opened up the world to imagine great accomplishments even beyone the steam-driven technology of the time.

Or, for the writer, you might choose a handmade book.  Here is a link to the ones I liked, and you can also check ArtFire and Etsy for more.

I will post more ideas soon!  You will also find many relevant topics and items in this blog as well.  Try using the Topic Cloud to find ones of interest to you.  I reccomend "toys," "journal," and "clothing" to start; each has links to unusual gifts.

~ DS