I had the pleasure of meeting members of The Ministry of Steampunk (MoS) and the British Steampunk Community at the Belmont Hotel in Leicester on 30/12/23 (New years eve, eve!)
I was only able to stay a few hours (due to the birth of my 3 week old daughter, Evie), but I met some brilliant people, attended a craft workshop, and I was able to answer some interesting questions regarding SABRE. So much so, I forgot to hand out the cake until the end!
So, I thought I’d answer some of those questions below for the diehard steampunk fans amongst us!
Q) When is SABRE set?
A) SABRE begins in 1803 and the trilogy ends in 1811. It is set in a completely fictional world. The map included shows the Kingdom of Cape Cadbey, the Kingdom of Merithia and the territories of Sundrithia.
Q) What weapons are featured?
A) Muskets, cannons and swords with a few exceptions. Royal Skua marines and Oborian officers are armed with elegant, floral patterned revolvers patented by Tait and Matheison in 1803. Gatling guns are also featured on Royal Skua prototype skimmer boats at the bow and stern.
Q) Are there airships?
A) Headmaster Jonathan Ackerley hints they are being invented. They may feature in Part III!
Q) Are there submarines?
A) I'm looking to include these in Part III following the invention of frigates thanks to hycinthium-lapis.
Q) How is this technology made available in 1803!?
A) Steam of course! However, many of these inventions have also come about due to the recent discovery of hycinthium-lapis, also known as hythe or red rock. This ore holds a charge, but it is only located in one location: the perilous chasms of Terra province, far to the North - the remnants of a fallen star.
Q) What other modern innovations are featured?
A) Many weird and wonderful inventions have been produced by Professor Langley Stewart, the brains behind hycinthium-lapis. Some of which the world is not ready for.
Brass arachnid machines, known as carrier drones, have been invented to transport heavy goods. They are insentient and calibrated to navigate Cadbey’s streets, meaning they often collide with all manner of things.
The Royal Skuas command assault boats known as skimmers. These are powered by super heated steam and hycinthium-lapis rendering their sails obsolete. They are carried and deployed by the mothership, a super galleon named HMS Oborus (after the king) stretching 100m.
Todd’s living room features a crude radiator, which has replaced their fireplace, but it often kicks and buzzes causing his father to beat it.
Hycinthium-lapis lamps have also been invented, which shed a crimson glow, not due to the colour of their rock, but due to the low colour temperature of the element ( aprox 1100K).
There are prosthetics: brass eye patches, false hands, and one of the main characters gains a prosthetic leg below the knee.
Q) Is there a Kraken?
A) There is a creature known as the insulor consumptor (island consumer), though it is only ever witnessed from the horizon.
There is the horned scolopendra, a horse sized centipede, which lays its eggs in dying prey.
There are cinder wolves and barbed thistles, which dwell amongst the blackened plains of Svart Eld in Scavana.
Further nasty creatures await...
Q) What is the supernatural element of this book?
A) Without giving away too much, our villains are clearly tainted, and our protagonist crosses an ancient witch known as a Veleth - dictators of fate.
Q) Are there top hats?
A) Of course, but the Royal Skuas wear bicorn hats designed to resemble harrowing beaks and frayed wings like the skua seabird. Our main villain, Rias wears a crooked top hat unique to him.
Q) Where have I gained inspiration?
A) I would say I have put my own spin on the Steampunk genre, but I have gained inspiration from all kinds of places. When it comes to steampunk, I've mainly gained inspiration from games such as Bloodbourne, Dishonoured, Fallout, Bioshock. I studied Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, which I found fascinating. In terms of gothic inspiration, I thought the Taboo series featuring Tom Hardy was brilliant! It’s cliché to say but Tolkien has been a big inspiration. I have fond memories of my mum reading me The Hobbit. I’ve read several survival novels such as the SAS series by Damien Lewis, I am Legend by Richard Matheson, Dracula by Bram Stoker and I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cole. Plus, good old Sharpe.
I think that covers everything! I’d like to say thank you to John Naylor, Paul Adams, everyone for being so welcoming and a special thank you to all those who bought a copy and provided feedback.
SABRE can be purchased direct via my website www.cswood.online , on Amazon as linked on my website or through Good Reads, Barnes and Noble, etc.
Steampunk links below:
Yours sincerely
C.S.Wood
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