Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic Steampunk, Asian Steampunk and Audio Book Serials!

Salutations my dear Steamies!

Craving adventure among merciless lands torn asunder by the fallacies of a failed industrial age?

Or how about a fantastically curious journey through the secret world of the Far East, where airships and steam is as sacred as its people's enigmatic and alluring culture and traditions?

I present to you, for your generous considerations, two Free-To-Read steampunk novels, both penned by me and presented with you, the steampunk enthusiast in mind!

With one novel COMPLETE and the other ALMOST COMPLETE, a new chapter for both books will be posted on wattpad.com every week so stay tuned!

Additionally, I will be turning one of the novels into a simple Audio Book and record voices for the characcters! If you are interested in voice acting the characters from these stories, you are more then welcome to announce your intentions here or email me at levelcomic@hotmail.com .

Below is the synopsis for both books. ENJOY! :)

THE STEAMCHILD CHRONICLES PRESENTS: ELLA MARSHALL AND THE TATTERED LANDS

Genre: Young Adult Post Apocalyptic Steampunk

Synopsis:

    Ella Marshall never saw the cities fall to ruin, nor the life torn from the once lush and vibrant land. However, what she saw now probably wasn't much better; because hundreds of years after the Great War, all that remained for her and the remnants of humanity, were the unforgiving wastes.

     For her, it was her passion for the rusted clockworks of steam and metal that became the only hints of a once industrious age of prosperity. . . that and the constant rumors of mysterious cities coursing through the air.

     After all, how else do you explain all that debris falling periodically from the sky?

     But little did she know, that amongst the Merciless Bandits, the caravans of intrepid survivors and the greedy machinations of Imperialistic Royalists still clinging to the old traditions, there exists the lingering clues of a discovery left behind by her missing father, one which she would fight to uncover, and bring to light the truth of not just her own future, but of all those living upon the wastes.

Can be Read Here:

http://www.wattpad.com/story/2145959-the-steamchild-chronicles-pres...

SKY OF PAPER: AN ASIAN STEAMPUNK FANTASY

Genre: Asian Steampunk Fantasy

Turn the silk veil on a forbidden, Asian world, where children sail airships across the sky, a young emperor faces the tattered remains of his empire, a warlord stands on the brink of total conquest, and a gifted young boy embarks on a remarkable odyssey of triumph and sacrifice.

Terr hardly knew the incredible future that awaited him when, for the first time, he laid his eyes upon the ether, a mysterious force visible only to a special group of children who are endowed with the divine ability to levitate airships and change the very will of the sky itself. Like all those who shared in his supernatural talents, he would be thrust into a secret world steeped in oriental traditions, be revered by monks and priests, sold by eager merchants, and abused by a rebellious military, lead by an ambitious warlord that would seek to unite all under heaven.

In his sadly fallible, yet all-too-human journey, he would face the corruption of the Imperial Courts, be thrown into banishment as the servant of an exiled son of the Imperial Family, and eventually suffer the terrible horrors of a world war, which threatens to end all he holds dear.

But as Terr and his dying country careen into the depths of a world torn by vengeance and prejudice, he would come to discover that even a humble child of the sky can still change the course of fate.

Can be Read Here:

http://www.wattpad.com/story/2219170-sky-of-paper-an-oriental-steam...

Tags: Adult, Apocalyptic, Asian, Literature, Novel, Post, Steampunk, Writing, Young

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Permalink Reply by Jha Goh on October 1, 2012 at 8:14am

Tell me something: do you understand the weight of the word "Oriental"? I'm assuming you're US American; are you aware that this term has been struck from the law books due to its history of dehumanizing Asian-American citizens?

And why the hell would you take a leaf from Golden's racist-a** appropriative-as-f*** book? Really? That book is not to be emulated; there're other books that offer first-person perspectives and are better done, like Tariq Ali's SALADIN and STONE WOMAN. If it's because Golden's book is purportedly about Japanese people or some ~Oriental styling~, stop writing.

Permalink Reply by Air Engineer Matse Gasan on October 1, 2012 at 9:07am

I am certainly Asian/American, and thanks for the update. An honest mistake and good catch by the way, and thankfully, the term is fairly easy to strike and update.

On another note, please consider that this is a creative and positively reinforcing community of artists and genre enthusiasts. The assumption is that the members are here to support and inspire one another in the passions we have. (In this case, steampunk).

The art that we create, whether it be literature, drawings, crafts, etc. should not be a source for denouncing or belittling others, especially with such terse language.

I will remove Mr. Arthur Golden's name from my novel description, but know that writing styles, just like any other art are completely subjective and though we writers derive inspiration from other people's writing styles, our narratives are still our own.

I invite you to take fictional literature (And all literature for that matter) with a grain of salt, especially with genre writing as fantastically engrossing as steampunk.

Please keep in mind, that since we are all friends in this community, there are more polite and certainly more positively engaging ways to express our opinions about our art.

Permalink Reply by Aloysia on October 1, 2012 at 1:35pm

I have been meaning to write something about this post for a while. I find the word Oriental to describe someone as of Asian descent insulting and offensive. Putting Oriental/Asian does not mark it any better. It's up to us to educate the future generation not to perpetuate old stereotypes.

I am not a rug.

I will never read nor recommend your book to anyone.

Permalink Reply by Air Engineer Matse Gasan on October 1, 2012 at 3:40pm

Thanks for the update. The manuscript has been fixed accordingly.

With that in mind, do you feel there was malicious intent involved with the determination of being racist to my own people, or was it just an honest mistake?

I can tell you this: as an Asian-American, I was not aware that the word was quite the taboo, and in learning this, I've made it my decision to strike it from all of my future projects.

Of course I do apologize, and just like I stated with the previous person, I do invite you to take fictional literature with a grain of salt.

The life of a writer is one of constant learning, and when mistakes are discovered, we endeavor to correct and learn from them, then move on.

Just as the Irish Writer, Oscar Wilde once said, "Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes."

Try not to assume the worst of others by the mistakes they make, especially when it comes to art and literature. There are too many other professions out there that people are all-too-willing to do just that. ;)

Permalink Reply by Major Girth on October 3, 2012 at 7:24am

Hey Matse,

Yes the word "oriental" is no longer an acceptable adjective in describing a person...any more than "colored" is though both were the normal accepted adjective at the beginning of the century. Both words are also examples that the mistreatment of a group of people has become synonymous with what was the acceptable word at the time...of the mistreatment.

The thing is ladies...the word oriental is still a perfectly acceptable word. It is NOT the "N" word some want it to be, and it was obvious to me... a simple gwylo...that the author was trying to use appropriate language and his use of the term oriental while requiring an education and correction was not malicious and should not have required a vicious response.

If in MY writings I use the term as an in-character, in-history term rest assured I AM fully aware of it's contemporary inappropriateness, nor would I try to create historical (based) characters that followed contemporary sensitivities.
I agree with the point in informing this person that his use of the term might be considered offensive as well as the reference he cited...but the attack?

Keep writing Matse...I'll give it a read and a chance before I condemn it.

Permalink Reply by James Murray on October 3, 2012 at 8:06am

I mean anything I write here to be unoffending and taken just as I say them.

I am Australian. I have Asian friends, and teach junior primary students Asian studies every year, as it is part of our Curriculum, and part of our life, living in Oceania. While much of Asian history is shocking and full of down trodden citizens, I have much more respect for the Asian cultures than other countries who trod upon the poor and lower social classes.

I have never, ever heard of the word Oriental being a derogatory term. Here in this discussion is the first time ever. To me, the term oriental brings up images of cherry blossoms, and rich cultural traditions, and warriors, and finepoint calligraphy, and artist drama.

It also brings to mind great hardships, having studied Asian History at University, and knowing something of the social system that has happened over the thousands of year of Asian culture.

I was excited to enter this thread, and read the introductions, and became more excited still, they sounded like a fantastic premise. I was then shocked to read the comments. As mentioned, oriental to me means rich traditions and culture. to hear it was regaled to a dirty word was quite surprising adn to be put in such as direct way. I believe in trying before doing, not branding something as obscene just because of a word in its title or introduction. If i read the stories, and found the writer was using the term in a derogatory way, then I would have seen my way to stop reading the book, and making a comment as invited to by the author, who was seeking feedback. I would put my point calmly and with direction at certain points from the narrative.

When I get a bit of time I shall peruse your titles Mr. Gasan, and then make comment as warranted. Also, I shall be interested to lend a voice to an audio book, as I dislike how some of them are done, with monotone reading over the punctuation, and a general lack of expression, and think the idea of voiced characters is a brilliant one. Let me read them first of course...

Permalink Reply by Lady Ye Hua Chen on October 3, 2012 at 10:19am

I am also Asian-American. I take issue witb the use of "oriental" *precisely* because it connoted samurai, cherry blossoms, exoticism, etc. not all Asians are Japanese, we are only exotic when and to use "oriental" when it stereotypes a rather large population in the world is inaccurate and derogatory.

Permalink Reply by James Murray on October 4, 2012 at 4:33am

Fair enough, I can understand that. I do not think of just Japan, although yes my thoughts are probably heavy in that area, but I know alot more about Chinese History.

But, is Oriental a historical term more than a recent one? Are you saying Oriental is a Japanese word only? And what is the appropriate term? Asian? Does this not also blend people of many backgrounds under one banner. Just wondering about the accepted terminology, now I know there offense taken to teh word I have always used.

Permalink Reply by Major Girth on October 4, 2012 at 7:07am

Here's the thing-"oriental" is an English language word used to describe an overall Asian influence. The word was created in the English language to describe "things" from that part of the world in a broad stroke-other words were created to describe specific cultures, places and influences.

What we hear (at least here in the states) is the reasonable umbrage the "people" are not "things" and that terms that broadly describe things should not be used to broadly define people.

Just as Asia is a continent that is home to multiple cultures so oriental is a term that was used to broadly refer to those people and cultures.

The fact that the term also was spoken out of the side of the mouth to infer inferiority, a dismissal of any differences in cultures and at a time when the "Orient" was a place to be exploited, conquered and dismissed by other powers and peoples...you can see why some people would be touchy about the use of the word at all, and especially in describing them as people.

Now, I still USE the word -in context and in character for characters and stories where this kind of thinking has not been changed by contemporary sensitivity, enlightenment or cultural education. I DO NOT APOLOGIZE when using the word that way...but I think it's very important that writers understand the tools they are using and that they are responsible for HOW they use those tools (words). I also DO NOT believe that steampunk should by definition be responsible for presenting contemporary enlightenment...but it should know when it is presenting old ideas that will p*** some people off.

Permalink Reply by Lady Ye Hua Chen on October 3, 2012 at 10:40am

Aargh, sorry for the slight incoherency, writing on my tablet is still a challenge.

Permalink Reply by Air Engineer Matse Gasan on October 3, 2012 at 9:10am

Thank you everyone. I appreciate the feedback. And even more so, I appreciate all the emails and requests to be a part of the Serial Audiobook Project.

I look forward, with marked enthusiasm, in hearing what you all think about the books.

In the coming days, as I get things in order, I'll be replying to emails and requests on this forum for those who'd like to participate in the audio book project.

The book I plan to use for the project, is the Steamchild Chronicles, Ella Marshall and the Tattered Lands. Mainly because I wrote the book to be intentionally dialogue heavy, which would allow for quite a bit of fanciful voice acting. There are many characters with many personalities and quirks that will be presented in the story, which will lend to a wide array of voice acting pallets.

A new chapter will be posted to the book this week and be sure to keep an eye on your email boxes. Thanks again for helping me with this project. ;)

I assume you are trolling,

But if not I'm sure you there are some racial stenotypes that even you might find offensive

Or perhaps you are confortable with that stereotype of white southern male that we see in the movies. And if not why are you doing so much to reinforce it ?

N.B,