Early this morning I woke up to a killer sinus headache, took a pill and while it was still not working looked at Daz's site and saw Darkworld's killer Carriages. Then I went back to sleep and dreamt a whole new line of characters: Victorian techno fantasy. Gordan: The middleaged scientist, wiry, long haired, good for inventing ray machines and exploring the King Solomon's Mines or the hollow Core of the Earth. Talon: No relation to Dave71's gorgeous Talyon, this is a half English, half native girl with transmutable talents-- various ones, electric, shapeshifting. Voluptous and mysterious, she is Gordan's assistant/nemesis. Damn, I was disappointed to find these guys not in Daz when I woke up!! It's a whole vein of fantasy we have not touched, and-- we could use Traveller's killer Gothic Balloon. Just me going nuts on anthistimines on a Saturday. Emily

I agree. We need more Steampunk.

Emily - can I have some of what you're having? LOL! Sounds like a HG Wells film directed by David Cronenburg! But imaging a whole range of products based around this theme - cooool! I also like Little Dragon's phrase "Steampunk" - we could start a whole new movement! :) Guarie

I can't take credit for coining the expression. I believe it was derived from "cyberpunk", only instead of being futuristic, it's retro-Victorian with exaggerated technology.

Examples of Steampunk in film include that giant mechanical spider from Wild Wild West, Nemo's submarine from 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, or Vincent Price's workshop in Edward Scissorhands.

... and not to forget the once and future - time machine! (darn, I saw a free model of it the other day! Will have to look for it) WIlly

The free time machine is no longer available...It was at Poserworld, but they took it down.

Other examples of "Steampunk" are "The Difference Engine" by Gibson and Sterling and the Luther Arkwright graphic novels by Bryan Talbot. Completely agree that there should be more of this kind of thing around.

There was a great Ltd Ed comic out putting all the legendary heros together -- Nemo, Alan Quartemain, Dr Jekyll-- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?? Also included Mina from Dracula and real people of the period such as Bram Stoker. I love Steam Punk. Emily

I used to read the comic 2000AD, the story Nemesis the Warlock was something like this, set in the future but regressed to the time of the spanish inquisition.

also check out Harry Harrisons 'A transatlantic tunnel - Hurrah!' also a lot of my own work for my setting the Nexus Chronicles... another good source, Space 1889 the game... does anyone know where I can get victorian / edwardian clothes for Dork and Mikey? been looking for ages.... Kai