What is Steampunk anyhow?
Many different people will give you many different answers. Ours is mostly summed up on the front page, but you can find many different (equally valid) ideas. Try, of course, wikipedia
Can I order without a credit card?
Unfortunately, our US-based distributor, Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness, is not able to accept cheques/cash/money orders at this time. However, our UK-based publishers, Vagrants Among Ruins may well be able to work something out with you. If you would like to contact them about this, then you can get in touch via email at vagrants[at]amongruins[dot]org. Alternatively, you can download and print the magazine yourself, get a friend with a credit card to purchase the magazine for you, or to convince a local store to carry the magazine.
Is this a printed magazine, an online fan-zine, or both?
We produce a printed magazine, believing as we do in the beauty of the physical world [this is steampunk, not cyberpunk!], but owing to our belief in gift-economics we offer it for download from the computerverse as well, free of charge.
Why are you printing a dead-tree magazine when the internet exists?
First of all, we print on recycled paper. But more importantly, we believe in a world of weight and substance, a world where metal and mountains, forests and paper can co-exist.
Who is involved with this project so far?
At the moment, SteamPunk Magazine is published by the retro-futurist publishing collective Vagrants Among Ruins. However, it is also printed and distributed in the US by Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness. Finally, our writers, artists and contributors all have a voice in how the magazine is produced.
Are you all anarchists? Can you direct me to more information?
Not everyone involved in the magazine identifies as an anarchist, but a large number are. Strangers, our US distributors, is an anarchist-run project, and Vagrants (who publish the magazine), are a collective composed of activists, anarchists and non-anarchists alike. There are, however, a diversity of political opinions in our ranks.
For more information about anarchism, we suggest crimethInc and infoshop news
What is Creative Commons, and why do you reject traditional copyright?
Creative Commons is an alternative to traditional copyright that gives the creator of intellectual property a chance to allow more freedom with her work. We chose a license that allows people to make copies of our work as well as derivative works, providing that they do not use it for commercial purposes and that they apply the same license to any derivative works. Personally, we are against copyright because we believe that intellectual property stifles creative output and fosters commercial output. We feel that this deadens culture (as well as the planet).
How is the magazine printed?
In the UK, the magazine is printed by Fallen Angel Media, a small-press comic, magazine and book printer in Bristol. They print on paper that is recycled or from carefully managed sources.
In the US, printing is done through Accurate Copy, a locally-owned small business in Portland. Our printer there plays in a punk band and encourages his customers to use 100% recycled paper; these things are very important to us. The interior was printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper that is manufactured by a paper company that only uses green energy. The cover is, unfortunately, on 30% recycled paper.
Whatever happened to Steamypunk?
Steamypunk has moved onto its own site,steamypunk.net.
please contact
collective [at] steampunkmagazine.com
