Thomas Willeford - Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos: A Maker’s Guide to Creating Modern Artifacts

I have to operate under the assumption that if you are reading this book, you are at least somewhat familiar with the whole genre of Steampunk. But in my experience, even Steampunk experts frequently fall short when it comes to the practicalities of design. To that end, I wanted to include here a list of recommended reading and/or viewing to help you get a better sense of the fantastical aesthetic, but I quickly came to realize that to do so would require an entire book unto itself.

I have decided to include, therefore, only a very, very select list of suggested readings and viewings. This is not to indicate in any way that these are the very best that the genre has to offer, but rather that these titles include design elements or inspirations that have been formative in my own development as an artist, designer, and mad scientist. I hope you find them all as useful and as enjoyable as I have. Ive thrown in a few obscure references you are welcome to toss about to impress your friends and baffle your foes.

Appleton, Victor. 19102007. Tom Swift Series. Various publishers.

Foglio, Phil and Kaja. 20012011. Girl Genius , comic series. Seattle: Studio Foglio.

Gibson, William, and Bruce Sterling. 1991. The Difference Engine. New York: Bantam Spectra.

Guinan, Paul, and Anina Bennett. 2000. Boilerplate: Historys Mechanical Marvel. New York: Abrams Image.

Leopold, Allison Kyle. 1986. Victorian Splendor: Re-creating Americas 19th-Century Interiors. New York: Stewart Tabori & Chang.

Moore, Alan. 19992007. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen , comic series. La Jolla, California: Americas Best Comics.

Nevins, Jess. 2005. The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana. Austin, Texas: MonkeyBrain Books.

Pullman, Philip. 1995. The Golden Compass. New York: Random House.

Ruhling, Nancy, and John Crosby Freeman. 1994. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Victoriana: A Comprehensive Guide to the Designs, Customs, and Inventions of the Victorian Era. Philadelphia: Running Press.

Sears Roebuck & Co. 2007. 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalog. New York: Skyhorse Publishing.

Stephenson, Neal. 1995. The Diamond Age. New York: Bantam Spectra.

Although you really should read books by H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and Mark Twain, you should also keep a sharp eye on a few contemporary authors (in alphabetical order):

Pip Ballantine

Anina Bennett

James Blaylock

Greg Broadmore

Mark P. Donnelly

G.D. Falksen

Phil & Kaja Foglio

William Gibson

George Chetwynd Griffith

Paul Guinan

Jay Lake

Tee Morris

Tim Powers

Cherie Priest

Neal Stephenson

Bruce Sterling

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (TV series; Carlton Cuse, Jefrey Boam, 27 ep. 19931994)

Back to the Future, (1990)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

City of Lost Children (1995)

The Golden Compass (2007)

The Great Race (1965)

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965)

Oblivion & Oblivion 2: Backlash (1996)

Perfect Creature (2006)

Rayguns Promotional Transmission (commercial: www.wetanz.com/rayguns)

Robot Carnival (animation, 1991)

Sherlock Holmes (2010)

Steamboy (animation, 2004)

Time After Time (1979)

The Wild Wild West (TV series, 19651969)

Wild Wild West (feature movie, 1999)

Chadwick, Frank. 1988. Space: 1889 RPG series. Heliograph, Inc., Untreed Reads Publishing LLC.

Hensely, Shane Lacy. 1996. Deadlands: The Weird West Roleplaying Game series. Pinnacle Entertainment Group.

Pondsmith, Mike. 1994. Castle Falkenstein RPG series. R. Talsorian Games, Steve Jackson Games.

Stoddard, William. 2000. GURPS Steampunk RPG. Steve Jackson Games.

Witt, Sam. 1993. Wooden Suits & Iron Men RPG. Nightshift Games.

Here is a list of characters who may or may not exist from books that may or may not have been written:

Lord Archibald Feathers Featherstone

Great game hunter and adventurer extraordinaire (just ask him). Brave, foolhardy, and frequently intoxicated.

Lady Clankington

Headmistress of Lady Clankingtons Dueling Academy and Home for Wayward Girls and Young Offenders.

Professor Isadora Maelstromme

Genius inventor most noted for the helium expander. Resident inventor, building 5, Grimmelore Manor. Likes tea and has a wicked right hook.

Capt. Magnus Maelstromme

Brother-in-law to Isadora Maelstromme. Shady dealings of an unknown disposition. Frequently spotted at mysterious crash sites.

Dr. Adrian Grimmelore

Super genius. Reclusive millionaire. Mad, mad, mad scientist.

Ms. Adelaide Grayson

Major, Her Majestys Aero-Forces, Ret. Spectacular pilot. Known to take her tea without cream and her scones unbuttered. She is well suited to survival in hostile foreign climes.

Espionagent Virgil J. Knockov

Spy and saboteur. An unsavory chap about whom little is known except that he always cheats at cricket.

Busty von Schluttentrappen

Spy and femme fatale works as an independent agent, yet has been known to be on the payroll from time to time of Herr Knockov.

Mr. Cecile F. Butterknuckles

Toady and henchman. Truly epitomized by the term toady because it describes him in both aspect and mannerisms. A ghastly chap, even in good light.

Captain Seamus Harper

B.O.R.G. 709th, veteran of the Colonial Wars and recipient of the Distinguished Imperial Cross for conspicuous acts of blind courage.

Colonel I.M. Havelleft

Britannic Officers Reconnaissance Group, Command Corps.

Sergeant Armstrong

Aeronautical boarding crew instructor and part-time motivational speaker.

Major Smythe

Hapless unwilling and unwitting time traveler often seen wearing a red shirt.

Ensign Ernest Lloyd

H.M. Geographical Positioning Service (air pirate and skywayman).

Air Admiral Horatio Lord Nimitz

Well, whats to sayhes an admiral.

Chief Inspector General

Sir Cockburn Taylor-Warres Primarily responsible for defending the British Isles against marauding skywaymen.

Remy-Martin Courvoisier

Infamous French skywayman plaguing the British coastline, who somehow speaks with an English accent.

Col. S.J. Waiselthorpe

Reviled author of Aero-Naval Boarding Actions Handbook.

Old Lord Floggenhall

Is dead.

1 millimeter = 0.03937 inch

1 centimeter = 0.3937 inch

1 meter = 39.37 inches

1 meter = 3.281 feet

1 meter = 1.0936 yards

1 inch = 25.4 millimeters

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters

1 foot = 304.8 millimeters

1 foot = 30.48 centimeters

1 yard = 914.4 millimeters

1 yard = 91.44 centimeters