![]() To learn more about her published work, visit When she’s not reading, she’s watching cult films and enjoying time with her husband and daughter. Her latest release is “Steambot Rampage,” a steampunk romance short story. She’s also the author of Once Upon a Time in Space, an erotic sci-fi romance. She searches for sci-fi romance adventures aboard The Galaxy Express. Heather Massey is a lifelong fan of science fiction romance. Number.) along with your comments so Heather has a way to contact the Information (blog address or email address or automaton serial To make it more fun, here’s a question for you: If you could design an automaton to do anything you desire, what would that be? Winner chooses format (PDF, Mobi, or ePub). (Hint: three of the stories feature automatons!). 1, a steampunk anthology from L&L Dreamspell. Now for a giveaway! Leave a comment for this post and be entered for a chance to win DREAMSPELL STEAMPUNK, Vol. The Narrows (Alexander Irvine) (Actually, this story features golems, but who’s counting?) The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Mark Hodder) Lansdale)īoilerplate: History’s Mechanical Marvel (Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett) The Steam Man of the Prairie and the Dark Rider Get Down: A Dime Novel (Joe R. A few notable books featuring automatons include: I hope you’ll acquaint yourself with an automaton or two if you haven’t already. Conversely, hope for an exciting future or the triumph of science. We can project so much of our feelings onto them because they make wonderful blank slates. In that sense, they are a great way to process our fear of the unknown and/or to explore the Other. They leave a person wondering how much they actually know about the world around them. Seeing but not seeing, if you see what I mean. Often, they have an eerie, vacant stare that is deliciously unnerving. Let’s face it-automatons made in the human likeness are creepy. As long as they don’t run out of power, they’ll just keep coming at you if so ordered. ![]() Unlike zombies, automatons are hard to punch, since they’re usually made of metal. They are the steampunk cousins of zombies, only without the dripping blood and guts. ![]() But even an automaton that has a patchwork appearance and/or is a downright mess of cogs and oversized rivets possesses a unique type of beauty.īecause automatons are so primitive, they often move slowly, in a clunky sort of fashion. Despite their rough-hewn nature, they’re larger-than-life and pretty to look at-well, some of the time. That, of course, is where the Victorian aesthetic comes into play. Unpredictable.įor one thing, they don’t always have a streamlined appearance like modern robots. Not all automatons are deadly, but I’d keep a close eye on them all the same.Ī huge part of the appeal is that automatons are just so…primitive. They are often controlled by a nefarious villain intent on taking over something or someone. While often simple in design and purpose, it’s dangerous to underestimate them. In some stories, they are part of the backdrop in others, they play more key roles. Automatons play a variety of roles in steampunk, from servants to soldiers to laborers. The idea of Victorian-era robots driven by steam or clockwork power (or other sources, depending on the story) is one of steampunk’s most powerful and riveting manifestations.
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