Today is the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence from Russia. Just weeks after the Bolshevik Revolution, Finland broke free and thus avoided all the carnage that most of the former Russian Empire suffered. Finland may be a small country, but it’s got moxie. In the Winter War of 1939-1940, it fought back the mighty USSR […]
Good day to all! I am writing this during my journey to the American West. I always enjoy my quests here. The people are friendly and the homemade food is a divine pleasure. One of the main characters in Vaughn Treude’s latest book Fidelio’s Automata, is Tallulah Hightower, a Choctaw Indian opera singer. This inspired […]
This charming 2009 book by Gail Carriger (pen name of Tofa Borregaard, a more interesting name in my opinion) has an intriguing premise. Its protagonist is a woman with no soul. Unlike Bart’s nightmarish experience on The Simpsons , her lack of a soul doesn’t seem to be a problem. The main effect of her […]
I can guess what you’re thinking – what? That’s not steampunk! I’ll admit there’s no steam in it, but this beloved children’s book has all the other elements: adventure, fantastic gadgetry, and a setting in the more genteel days of the early 20th Century. As a plus, it’s also set in England. This book was […]
One of the most enjoyable aspects of writing steampunk is the opportunity to use real historical people as characters. Among those featured in my novel Fidelio’s Automata are Antoine and Medora Vallambrosa, a.k.a. the Marquis and Marquise de Mores. They were a “power couple” of the 19th Century, notable figures in the history of my […]
When I was growing up in North Dakota, we had long, harsh winters, lasting at least five months. On Halloween night, we often wore our parkas as we went trick or treating on snow-packed sidewalks. By Christmas, the snow drifts would be high and sparkle in the moonlight, as the days get really short when […]
The great American writer and humorist Samuel Clemens was born today in 1835. Though the classics as written by “dead white males” have fallen into disfavor in academic circles, he remains one of our nation’s outstanding talents. He’s definitely a favorite of mine, because he was irreverent and cynical but also somewhat idealistic. That’s […]
