History That Never Was

Home of Dawn Vogel: Writer, Historian, Geek

Steampunk Technology, Real and Imagined

Cover art for The Trouble with the Tick-Tock TabbyThe steampunk technology that I write into my novels and stories is often partially real and partially imagined. ForĀ The Trouble with the Tick-Tock Tabby, the idea of the clockwork animals was pulled primarily from my imagination–while it’s certainly possible to have mechanical or robotic animals with modern technology, I used a lot of hand waving regarding the technology in this steampunk setting.

Other items, however, are based in reality. “The Recondite Riddle of the Rose Rogue” (which you can read in the 2017 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide) includes a recording cylinder that is based on Victorian technology. And batteries, like the one used to power a Built Boy in The Trouble with the Tick-Tock Tabby are even older than that!

I wind up doing a considerable amount of research while I’m writing my Marsh Sisters adventures. Because of that, I can explain some of the technology that appears in the stories and books. But I think I have more fun making up the non-realistic bits of steampunk technology!

 


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