Printer-friendly versionI am a hopeless romantic; I’ll freely admit to it. As far as I’m concerned the only way a story should end is hero defeats villain, beds heroine (as applicable) and all is right with the world, however briefly. Of course I must also admit to being more than a bit of a traditionalist so villain should have either friends to bust him out of jail for the next story or his Final Reward should be suitably off camera so that it can be plausibly explained away that he cheated Death to once more foil our Hero(ine).
People don’t write stories like that anymore, which is a darned shame. Perhaps I’m jaded as that’s what I grew up, learning at the feet of masters like Vern, Wells and Doyle. Which brings up a fascinating sub-genre of Sci-Fi which is generally referred to as Steam Punk.
Now, the basic assumption of Steam Punk is to assume that all the goofy stuff the aforementioned masters wrote about, along with some weird science from the likes of Tesla and Marconi could actually work. That space could be reached with boiler driven rivet plated starships and the British Empire would be the chief explorers thereof.
Of course it goes without saying that the Moon and Mars have (breathable) atmospheres and are suitably populated with savages for our intrepid mutton-chopped explorers to battle.
I must admit to having dabbled a bit on a story of such caliber, not much as yet, but I had a rather vivid dream about it and sufficient notes to fill out the story as the muses will allow. But I can’t help but wonder if I’m the only person who has a weakness for this stuff?
PS: For those who care about such things, the story is tentatively entitled The Temples of Mars.
E
Sounds great
I sounds like a cross of quite a few things: the Girl Genius comic strip, Jules Verne, and a little H. Rider Haggard. I love exploring new worlds and historical times, romance, and feats of daring-do. I can see explorers sipping Earl Gray in the early afternoon on the way to Mars in search of adventure.
Aardvark
Fantastic Mars
I've worked on a Steam Punk campaign setting off and on for years called, "Fantastic Mars". I've even run a few games and other DMs have used my notes to do likewise. Unfortunately, most of these notes were not on computer. :(
So, no, you're not the only one to use such a setting or desire too. :)
The original FM campaign gre out of a previous campaign called "Elves of the Old West" but my players quickly jumped on the idea of mining (or raiding) for floatstone and crossing swords with the fierce, four-armed (and forewarned, they all have precognition, another Phil Foglio joke) creature known as the aypenahaff.
I remember that one of the gags I had in the early games was a Martian plant that the old "sandeaters" called "boob fruit" which.... But that would be telling. :)
Of course, we had some furry fans in the group and eventually we ended up also playing in a campaign known as "Otterspace," originally because that DM had a Chicago accent. LOL.
- Erin
Space 1889
A bit like the old game Space 1889. The sun never sets on the British empire on any planet! Edgar Rice Burroughs's John Carter guiding Allen Quartermain on Mars. Heterodyne Spacecraft from Mechanicsburg shipyards with a life time warranty! Steam powered Babbage machines and aether blasters! oh be still my beating heart!
grover
Plan? Ain't got no Plan!
"Beyond Thunder Dome"
Plan? Ain't got no Plan!
"Beyond Thunder Dome"
Have you seen. . .?
Have you seen the video "Steam Trek"? A hilarious send-off with a chiseled jawed captain and his companions. Just remember: In an emergency, use the Captain's Logs.
SteamPunk
Actually, one of my non-TG serials that I do one every month (or so) is a SteamPunk serial. It's a blast to write. I took my inspiration for the original story from Tom Smith's lyrics for the song, "Rocket Ride" about the falling of standards from traditional stories to what passes for movies and stories of today... it's more about pulp sci-fi than steampunk, but it's what inspired me, nonetheless!
Rocket Ride
© 1994 by Tom Smith ( World's Fastest Filker )
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide,
Nothing worth doing that I haven't tried.
There ain't no living on planet-side,
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
How many cities crumble into dust
At the first atomic attack?
How many self-aware, wise, and just
Computers will we have to hack?
How many supercars will turn to rust
'Cause we don't have a spare or a jack?
Give me technology we can trust,
And give it fins like a Cadillac.
I want a shining tower of glass and steel,
A rubber jumpsuit and a freeze-dried meal,
The will to survive, the need to explore,
The love of adventure, who could ask for more?
I want you, baby, right by my side,
Help me get out before my brain is fried.
The stars are waiting, so big and wide,
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
How many demons out in cyberspace
Will possess every hacker's will?
How many members of a master race
Will come closing in for the kill?
How many xenomorphs will change their face,
And then hunt us down for a thrill?
Give me a villain with style and grace,
And a little bit of fencing skill.
They used to be angular, sneering and bald,
If someone got killed even they were appalled,
They tried to marry the heroine, no thought of rape,
And they sure as hell knew how to wear a cape.
They never tortured, they never lied,
They'd honor a promise if it meant they died.
Let's find a villain with professional pride,
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
Terminators, Life Force, Robot Jox, Predators,
Lots of things that know how to flense,
Defenestrate 'em out the doors, gimme gimme Star Wars,
Bring back the Children of the Lens.
Puppet Master, Child's Play, Fright Night, Judgment Day,
Jason, Freddy, Michael, and Stripe,
Let Frankenstein, Ardeth Bey, and Kong chase them all away,
The Movie Snatchers' pods are overripe.
I want more than action and special effects,
To think about what might happen next,
A hero, not a weapons shop with pecs,
A heroine, not an excuse for sex.
I want a bubble helmet matting down my hair,
The ground giving way to the open air,
The joy and wonder as I head out there,
And I know I can have it, if I only dare.
How many bodybuilding macho jerks
Will blow everything full of holes?
How many imitation Captain Kirks
Will spill beer on the ship's controls?
How many stupid personality quirks
Will we see instead of souls?
Give me my baby and a ship that works,
And give us the starring roles.
I want to cruise the galaxy at FTL,
Pursuing Heaven and defying Hell,
I want to do everything that a man can do,
And I want to do it all out there with you.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide,
Nothing worth doing that I haven't tried.
There ain't no living on planet-side,
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide,
Nothing worth doing that I haven't tried.
There ain't no living on planet-side,
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
Come on with me, baby, on a rocket ride.
Edeyn Hannah Blackeney
Wasn't it Jim Henson that said, "Without faith, I am nothing," after all? Wait, no, that was God. Sorry, common mistake...
Edeyn Hannah Blackeney
Wasn't it Jim Henson that said, "Without faith, I am nothing," after all? Wait, no, that was God. Sorry, common mistake...