A actual review of my first published short story on Hebban.nl"...Het verdienstelijke De tandwielen van fortuin van steampunkblogger Dankaert Lexicon is als een-na-laatste verhaal de hekkensluiter in de reeks complete en ‘zuivere’ steampunkverhalen... De behandelde thema’s raken de kern van het genre: verlies van de menselijke maat bij technische vooruitgang. Hoewel er natuurlijk accentverschillen zijn, is de sfeer en wereldtekening consistent."
"...The laudible 'Gears of Fortune' by steampunkblogger Dankaert Lexicon is the last story in the series true Steampunkstories in this anthology. The theme's [in these stories] strike the core of the genre: lose of human dignity in the face of technological progress. Of course there are differences in style, but the atmosfere and depiction of the world are consistent [throughout these stories]..."
Well, alright it is a two word review, but at least I got noticed. What 's more interesting about this whole review is that Rieter makes a diffrence between
the dystopian 'Classic Steampunk' and stories that 'have taken a lot liberties with the definitions of the genre'.
"De andere verhalen vallen om uiteenlopende redenen een beetje uit de toon. Ze worden wel steeds geflankeerd door twee verhalen uit de bovenstaande reeks, waardoor er voor de bundel als geheel een solide steampunkachtig bouquet ontstaat, maar dat kan niet verhullen dat dat er soms erg vrij met de definities van het genre is omgesprongen."
This is not surprising as Jack Schmlimazlnik had difficulty finding this many dutch stories in a short amount of time. But would it have mattered. The fact is, there are not that many of us who take the time to sit down and write Steampunk. As far as I am aware I one of the few that writes Steampunk(ish) shortstories as often as I do.
My current lives work isn't even real Steampunk, but more a kind of Scifi-fantasy with steampunk-elements. And if readers wouldn't criticize over that, they probably would because I didn't use victorian aesthetics, but Dutch Golden Age once instead.
My current lives work isn't even real Steampunk, but more a kind of Scifi-fantasy with steampunk-elements. And if readers wouldn't criticize over that, they probably would because I didn't use victorian aesthetics, but Dutch Golden Age once instead.
"But Dankaert, it has airships and cogs and gentlemen and copper-thinga-ma-gics in a Victorian past? That's Steampunk right?"
As a genre, no. Steampunk is a play on Cyberpunk. Future Dystopia's in a nearby future were certain technology was taken to far. Steampunk became the name for stories like the 'Difference Engine' which are about a (dystopian) alternate past were technology was the main driving force for the change in the timeline as we know it. Steampunk as a genre is actually Cyberpunk in the past. All the neat gadgets and fashion are windowdressing. Very popular windowdressing, but dressing all the same.
I personally don't care rather a story takes place context a story takes place either. When I write Steampunk I only pay real attention to the theme's of the story and how it fits with the historical context, which ever era this might be.
As a genre, no. Steampunk is a play on Cyberpunk. Future Dystopia's in a nearby future were certain technology was taken to far. Steampunk became the name for stories like the 'Difference Engine' which are about a (dystopian) alternate past were technology was the main driving force for the change in the timeline as we know it. Steampunk as a genre is actually Cyberpunk in the past. All the neat gadgets and fashion are windowdressing. Very popular windowdressing, but dressing all the same.
I personally don't care rather a story takes place context a story takes place either. When I write Steampunk I only pay real attention to the theme's of the story and how it fits with the historical context, which ever era this might be.
To conclude, unlike the subculture, Steampunk as a genre is well defined. I however wonder that members of the subculture are aware of this and other intricacies that come along with writing Steampunk. This is the reason why I started organizing writing-workshops and presentations. To create awareness on this subject.
Would you like to more about these workshops or are in need for a presentation on this subject during events, you con contact me on dankaertlexicon@gmail.com
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