Ay-leen the Peacemaker's Blog – January 2011 Archive (14)

Beyond Victoriana #61 Steam-Powered: Lesbian Steampunk Stories -- A Roundtable Interview, Part 2

Note: This is part 2 of our roundtable interview with several contributors to Steam-Powered.

Steam-Powered: Lesbian Steampunk Stories — A Roundtable Interview, Part 1

Steam-Powered: Lesbian Steampunk Stories is a very unique anthology for a variety of reasons. By unique, I'm not stating that this anthology is tailor-made for only a specific target audience (though it may scream "niche" to the average reader.) Still, upon first impression, a reader might wonder: would someone who isn't queer or female or a romance lover still… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 29, 2011 at 10:59pm — No Comments

Africans in Ancient China & Vice Versa, Part 4: A Final Word about Zheng He--Guest Blog by Eccentric Yoruba

Note: This is the final segment in a four-part series by Eccentric Yoruba about Ancient Africa & China, cross-posted with her permission. Also, check out parts 1,… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 28, 2011 at 12:00am — No Comments

QUAINT #4 Kala Persad from "The Divinations of Kala Persad" by Francis Edward Grainger

Kala Persad was created by “Headon Hill” and appeared in The Divinations of…

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Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 25, 2011 at 10:09pm — No Comments

Beyond Victoriana #59 Multipart Extensions II, ROBOTIKA: FOR A FEW RUBLES MORE-- by Noah Meernaum

Note: This week features Noah Meernaum, with a dual review of ROBOTIKA and its follow-up, ROBOTIKA: FOR A FEW RUBLES MORE.

Wherein the graphic series Robotika is seen to be mounting up and continuing into further outbound territory proclaimed to be steadily aided by an additional scribe (causing much trepidation upon the reviewer).

Robotika: For a Few Rubles More by Alex Sheikman… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 24, 2011 at 12:00am — No Comments

Beyond Victoriana #58 Multipart Extentions Round the Collected Graphic Series ROBOTIKA--Guest Blog by Noah Meernaum

Note: This week, Noah Meernaum (who previously wrote for Beyond Victoriana about racial representations in Weird West comics) returns with a dual review of ROBOTIKA and its follow-up, ROBOTIKA: FOR A FEW RUBLES MORE.… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 23, 2011 at 4:07pm — No Comments

Africans in Ancient China & Vice Versa, Part 3: Zheng He's Star Fleet--Guest Blog by Eccentric Yoruba

Note: This is the second in a four-part series by Eccentric Yoruba, cross-posted with her permission. Here are parts 1 and 2. Check out the rest of her… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 21, 2011 at 12:00am — No Comments

QUAINT #3 Hawkeye from The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

Hawkeye was created by James Fenimore Cooper and appeared in Cooper's five Leatherstocking novels, including The Last of the Mohicans (1826). Cooper (1789-1851) was one of the major early American writers, although he is known today primarily for Last of the Mohicans.

Set in 1757, The Last of the Mohicans is about Natty Bumppo, a.k.a. “Hawkeye,” and his adventures alongside his friends Chingachgook, a Delaware Mohican, and Uncas,… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 18, 2011 at 11:08pm — 3 Comments

Beyond Victoriana #57 On Writing: A History of Muslim Steampunk--Guest Blog by Yakoub Islam

Note: Cross-posted with permission from Yakoub Islam from his website The Muslim Age of Steam on The Steampunk Shariah.

Middle Eastern Astrolobe. 1291.

In Summer 2009, I made the bold decision to write a full-length novel. It seemed like the perfect solution to a troubled and difficult decade, which had largely centred… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 16, 2011 at 12:00am — No Comments

Africans in Ancient China & Vice Versa, Part 2: The Kunlun Servants & African Merchants--Guest Blog by Eccentric Yoruba

Note: This is the second in a four-part series by Eccentric Yoruba, cross-posted with her permission. Part 1 is here. Check out the rest of her Ancient Africa & China series appearing every Friday throughout this month.

Tao Xian purchasing Mo He." Ink sketch by Chen Xu…

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Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 14, 2011 at 12:00am — No Comments

QUAINT #2 Buena Rejon from "The Mexican Ranchero" by Charles E. Averill

ejon the Ranchero from The Mexican Ranchero. Image from "American Sensations." Click for link.

Buena Rejon was created by Charles E. Averill and appeared in The Mexican Ranchero; or, The Maid of the Chapparal (1847). Averill (?-?) was a popular dime novelist. He is… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 11, 2011 at 9:57pm — No Comments

Beyond Victoriana #56 Ten Reasons Why Steampunks (And Everyone Else) Should Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender

Some cool goggles, worn for a reason and not just on a hat.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (A:TLA) is easily one of the best US-created animated shows in the last ten years, and not just because I consider it a great example of Asian-inspired steampunk (though it helps). In terms of steam-worthiness, A:TLA not only creates what Asian steampunk could look like, but it places its steampunk technology within a cultural and political setting that speaks about… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 9, 2011 at 4:03am — 1 Comment

QUAINT #1 Raphael Aben-Ezra from Rev. Charles Kingsley's Hypatia

Illustration from Hypatia titled "Raphael and the Mob"

Raphael Aben-Ezra was created by the Reverend Charles Kingsley and appears in… Continue

Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 4, 2011 at 10:48pm — No Comments

#55 International Influences: The Rise of Fashion Designer Guo Pei

Steampunk fashion is seen as modern interpretation of fantastical ideas based on history. This trend of multicultural influence and inspiration seen in steampunk fashion is also reflective in fashion trends today. The rise of Chinese designer Guo Pei is one example of this; she has been well-known in Chinese fashion circles for many years, but her recent collections created buzz throughout the runways of the world, in particular her 1002nd Arabian Night collection.…

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Added by Ay-leen the Peacemaker on January 2, 2011 at 9:50am — 1 Comment