First of all, I want to thank Coffee Time Romance for hosting me today. I’m excited to be here. When I was asked to participate in this Steampunk event I had no idea what to talk about! Then, I saw an ad for an upcoming ‘Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman’ that is all about intelligent machines, and I knew I had my topic. After all, the idea/fear of sentient ‘metal’ (as they’re called in The Steampunk Chronicles) has been around even before the Victorians. In the 1700s there were quite a few ‘writing dolls’ that sat at a little desk and wrote out passages of text. People were astounded and fearful of these inventions, and that changed very little by the Victorian period. Today we’d look at 19th century automatons and not find them very life-like at all, but many people found the machines, such as Louis Phillip Perew’s ‘Electric Man’ to be eerily human-appearing, despite its extreme height. These inventions were just as awesome to people of the day as some of the freaky A.I. we see today. Just as we joke about the inevitability of SkyNet, people of the 18th and 19th centuries had similar thoughts and fears. Let’s face it, thinking robots are cool until they try to rip off your face.
Perew’s automaton.
One of the things I love most about the Victorian era is that sense of fear and wonder, horror and anticipation. It was an incredible age for technological advancement, for science and knowledge. Religious belief was challenged, and while I have no desire to discuss morals or theology, people had a hard time reconciling their church with the advancements of the age. It was a scary time for many, and these life-like machines much have seemed like a blasphemy against their God.
That sense of horror and wonder is what I consider to be the defining trait of Steampunk, taking its cue from the Science Fiction of the 19th century. Jekyll and Hyde and Frankenstein, to name but two texts of the century, are as relevant in our minds today as they were when they were first published. When first planning out The Steampunk Chronicles (written as Kady Cross) I knew I had to have a Jekyll and Hyde character. In fact, Finley was the first character to emerge. I knew I also wanted someone like Frankenstein’s monster – and that’s Sam. Emily is something like the good doctor herself.
And I knew that I had to have evolution in the books because Charles Darwin left a huge mark on the century. I also knew that I needed sentient automatons, because there’s nothing scarier than something that could crush you like a bug, unless it’s something way smarter than you that can also crush you like a bug. These machines make their first appearance in The Girl in the Steel Corset, and while they don’t play a part in The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, the metal is back in The Girl with the Iron Touch. Back with a vengeance, as it were. And now they’re smarter than they were before. They’ve evolved, developing something of a hive mentality as well. If that’s not scary enough for you, I’ve made them pretty creepy as well. Except for one, but that would be a spoiler, so I’ll say no more!
So, are my characters afraid of SkyNet? You know it. But, like us, they’ll keep building and tinkering. They’ve attempted nothing to halt the progress of technology. In fact, they keep adding to it with the use of Organites – tiny organisms from which life first sprang. The Organites put them far ahead of us in the race to build thinking machines. Do they succeed, you ask? Indeed. You see a bit of it in The Girl with the Iron Touch, but to find out what can happen when you cross the line from metal to human you’re going to have to wait for the final book in the series. The Girl With the Windup Heart will be out in June 2014 from Harlequin Teen.
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July 1, 2013
Steampunk Chronicles: 2.5
A teaser ebook novella will give you a glimpse into events before The Girl with the Iron Touch from the perspective of everyone’s favorite underworld criminal, Jack Dandy. The story will conclude in The Girl with the Iron Touch.
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May 21, 2013
Steampunk Chronicles: Book 3
Finley Jayne, Griffin and their crew are stunned when one of their own is kidnapped. Emily has a way with machines—she can literally talk to them. But the automatons who abducted her aren’t ordinary machines. They’re almost human—and they want Emily to do something as horrifying as it seems possible.
To save Emily, Finley must contact the highly unsettling Jack Dandy and face her feelings for two vastly different men, even as Griffin’s nightmares threaten to turn into a reality that might just end them all.
Amazon
| Barnes & Noble | Powell’s
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PRIZE ALERT: I’d love to hear about your favorite automatons, fears for the future and anything Steampunk! Also, one lucky poster will get a sweet little Victorian hat and father fascinator just for being chatty.
Automatons in the form of robots who work and perform surgery in hospitals. Future is changing as we speak and most of it is unfortunate. Illiteracy abounds due to technology introduced very young ans less capability in speaking, reading and writing. Zombies who text, have their ears filled with a constant barrage of noise and behave like animals.
The Cybermen of Doctor,Another World War, Machines taking over the world.
HI KADY! I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED WHAT STEAMPUNK IS! THANKS FOR COMING!
My biggest fear for the future is another world war. While I don’t fear loosing tech stuff or the modern way of life, bombs and war freak me out.
Hi! Great post! Like you, i find the victorian ear quite fascinating. All the changes, the way, their ways, were challenged. To sit back, and look at history, our failing, our achievements, and our discoveries. Is does scare me to think, whats in our future. Whats next? Our planet is huge, the world seems to get more scarier by the day. Worlds and people are always fighting. New species, “beings”, worlds are being discovered. I want to explore it all and at the same time, i want to duck my head in the sand and hide. Its amazing the technological advances were at. Makes me wonder how much further will go. What we’ll think of next. And when will we start exploring the galaxies out there and what will find. Its scary, yet…enchanting, fascinating, enthralling. And i love steampunk! Its so unique and different! Its so different and i find myself so drawn to it! Steampunk books have definitely caught on and i cant help but through them in my cart! I look forward to each one i snatch up! Cant wait to see whats gonna happen, how they’ll be dressed and what designs theyll have! Thank you for sharing! Loved your post! Very fun!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
You got me to wondering when the first Exposition happened. It was in 1756 as the First Exhibition sponsored by the Society of Arts. What a time of exploration and discovery. The movie, Hugo, had automatons which were pretty advanced for the time.
My fear for the world is another World War.
Enjoyed your post very much. I really enjoy your stories! In light of robotics and automatons taking over the world, I think it is important to remember how powerful human touch is both emotionally and physically. Thanks for the contest.
I wouldn’t mind a personal security automaton especially if everyone’s fear of another world war happens. I love steampunk cause it takes two of my favorite subjects, Victorian and technology and combines them. I don’t have fear for the future. To me the there’s excitement in what’s to come. With the advances in technology and imagination anything is possible. Maybe perhaps even going back to Victorian times.
Hey Kady!
I’m a big steampunk fan and have always loved reading about authors creations in this time and in other times. I remember when I was in school, my favorite teacher was my AP Chem instructor. We had a free day and were all sitting around talking about reality vrs probable. He was x-military and told us stories that to this day I will never forget. The most memorable of those being this: If you have seen it in a movie, the military created it about ten years ago. So do I fear for our future? Think about the movie chains that have come about recently….so yes. I do fear for our future…not so much as far as the technology advancements, but what humans will use them for. But everyone is correct!! The future is here already here! We able to recreate limbs, grow bones, attempt difficult surgeries all due to our advancement in technology. I’m so excited to watch…but fearful as well. We live in exciting times.
I have decided that I want to read your steampunk, even though I’ve never read it before! Thanks for being here and the great post!
Donna Wright
like the technology aspect
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
automatons are a scary thought for me cause the more technology grows the lazier people become. sure i love air conditioning and the like but i hate having to force my kids away from the tv and make them go outside, i know my kids would never talk to another person if the had a robot instead do my fear is the lack of human contact it would bring
meandi09@yahoo.com
I love the Victorian age. Steampunk is new to me, I do find it very interesting. My fear for the future is that everything becomes too machine like and we lose the personal touch.
I do agree with the other posters who fear a World War. The middle east is very unstable so it is a worry.
When I think about our fears, I remember back to when my grandfather talked about his fears. Fears of rockets and space travel, of machines and no work for the people. While I think it’s okay to be cautious of new things we don’t understand, I hope we also have a sense of hope and excitement about it.
That said, I guess my biggest caution is that of no more privacy, no secrecy. With all the cameras, surveillance and so on, our private lives aren’t so private anymore, and we make it worse by tweeting, posting and texting all the time.
I love the world of steampunk. Keep writing!
Oops! I didn’t realize I should have started The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy before I started reading The Girl with the Iron Touch. Oh well…
My biggest fear currently with “SkyNet” is actually more related to the wackos out there who would hack into the system and launch a nuke just because they can. The unpredictability combined with the absolute evil of some people terrifies me.
Ever since I discovered the Steampunk genre of books, I’ve read as many as I can and I’m always looking for new authors or books to read. Kady, do you have any recommendations?
My big fear is machines taking over places where doctors are right now. I know times are changing but I feel better knowing a human is operating or treating my illness and they are able to hear what you say. Can imagine a machine saying. “Sorry I am not programed to help you with that question”. Now that would be scary indeed. I did read the other comments and have to admit world war is a fear we all have but we must take one day at a time and enjoy it. sue Leech
i think a good invention would be a gun blade.
it shoots daggars
I just finished your Steampunk series. LOVED IT. I am So looking forward to read the Dandy tales. I adore Emily’s automaton cougar; very cool idea.
I don’t know why but I always see Steampunk as an after the Apocalypse/World War III type of world. Where humans have just enough technology left for the types of steampunk inventions using the bits and pieces left to scavenge. Humans wouldn’t have lost the knowledge or know how just the ability and resources, which is why robots and such would still be possible.
Honestly, while the Cybermen in Doctor Who are a bit freaky, I’ve never been scared of the idea of automatons or anything steampunk. One of the first places (other than books) that exposed me to steampunk is the awesome blog EPBOT http://epbot.com The blogs name is a play on the name of EPCOT. Jen, the author, shared a link to the most amazing house http://www.onlinepropertyshowcase.com/showcase/10328/ …the inside is steampunk top to bottom. She also has a bunch of steampunk craft tutorials on her site. Between the steampunk world in books and the cool things on Jen’s site, I am hooked. If I ever win the lottery, my house will be redone in steampunk from top to bottom.
I love reading Steampunk genre because I am a huge Dr. Who fan. I love the concept of man vs. machine. I think the scariest thing in the future for man is losing their humanity. Everything would be robotic and functional.
I love the automation in limbs. My Brother had to lose his right arm to cancer and it really got me interested in the research of them. People back in the day were so fearful of prosthetics. Now it is a limitless word of technology. Love your writing. Can’t wait to read the new one!..
I love Brian Lee Benson’s suggestion of the gun blade (or blade gun). The biggest technology fear I have is that it will no longer be for the common person. It will become a tool for the elite only.
I think it is a bit scary that we rely so much on technology and robotics. All the medical robotics kind of creep me out. I know there is always human error, but I don’t want a thinking machine operating on me, I would rather have a companionate human. I don’t like the idea of my medical care being “hands” of something with no emotion, or will they learn that too??
Wow, I didn’t realize automatons went as far back as the 1700s!
There’s just something something equally fascinating and terrifying about automatons. I really like when steampunk explores this relationship. I suppose I like this dynamic because it’s a way to consider modern concerns about the role of machines in our society (robot nurses! teachers!), with some distance.
And I’m shallow, so I adore steampunk for the aesthetics. Corsets and cogs, what’s not to love?
I think my biggest fear is a dystopian future, something like Margaret Atwood’s “A Handmaid’s Tale”, which is not too outrageous. Another conceptual future that makes me feel anxious is tracking implants. I know they already exist, but in sci-fi and fantasy literature, they are much more insidious in their applications, bordering on control of the individual. I think the big fear people have of science is the idea that science might outgrow us, and without the tempering of a human morality, machines might develop their own sort of consciousness and overwhelm their creators. That extends into fear of “aliens”, “robots”, “artificial intelligence”, etc. When it comes down to it, most of these fears involve enslavement and lack of self-determination.
one of my biggest fears fir the future is how, it seems a lot of folks are all so hyped/excited for the *NEWEST* thing. That they either forget or push other things to the wayside. It’s sad to see it, and you know if ain’t broke don’t fix it. I think one of the things I like so much about steampunk is that it blends some of those considered ‘old fashion’ values and things with the whole ‘What if?” vibe.
I agree with Ro tracking devices freak me out. I have my dogs chipped in case they get out but I could never have my kids or my self chipped. I don’t want the government knowing where I am 24/7. Although they can track you by your smart phone.
I also look forward to the future with wonder at the possibilities. My largest fear is that my species will screw the future up as well by surrendering the possibilities of automatons & tech advances to big business. Steampunk addresses both thoughts within a lovely Victorian/Edwardian frame.
I’ve been enjoying steampunk so much. This series in particular is one of my faves. I am so going to have to pick up that novella! Love Jack Dandy!!!
I guess steampunk tends to hold the same worries as you do IRL. You wonder when things will be taken too far. Even so, you enjoy all the contraptions authors invent! 😀
One of my fears for the future came from a dystopian book I read. In it, technology totally fails us and basically disappears. No more internet, computers, electricity, gas is scarce, credit cards are useless…all too many scary and realistic things all because a computer virus was unleashed on a computer. So yeah, that’s one of my fears for the future because it seems so very possible!
My favorite automatons are the Cyberman from Doctor Who and the automatons created by Hephaestus in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series (I know, you don’t have to say it). Sorry I’m own or live by a library (depressing right) any steam punk but I’d like to read more.