I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

  • SoItBegins

    Wow.

  • Rich Keller

    1. Wow, that’s a spiff gadget and…
    2. This is weird, as I was just on a steampunk forum and listening to Amanda Palmer songs in another tab on the you tubes. 

    p.s. Where is the banana scabbard?

  • http://imcravingpresidency.tumblr.com/ SedanChair

    That can’t be steampunk. It does something.

  • http://profiles.google.com/genehatemp Gene Ha

    Bracer. A big wristband to protect the inner forearm of the bow hand from the bow string. The forearm protection for armor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracer

    Buckler. A tiny shield for dueling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckler

    A swashbuckler. A Renaissance yahoo trying to look badass by wearing a buckler and swashing and clanging it loudly as he struts down the street. They’re not called swashbracers because bracers are hard to clang and rattle about.

    • Inox

      Bucklers were often carried by putting their handle over the handle of the sheathed sword.  This explains the clattering, as they swing from side to side and hit the quillions (crossguard).

  • UberMitch

    I love the Powerglove. It’s so bad.

    • Andrew Singleton

      Except this one is theoretically useful.

  • http://lemoutan.blogspot.com/ Lemoutan

    Oh I say., Hook it up to a display onto one’s monocle, and one is so in.

    • Andrew Singleton

      Have both connect to a raspberry pi on your other wrist.

  • howaboutthisdangit
  • L_Mariachi

    Shouldn’t it have round manual-typewriter keys to be steampunk?

  • Sasha Sklar

    As the commenter above noted, the source hardware is very cheap. The problem is, tech crap dropped shipped from china for $20-40 doesn’t tend to last very long. It breaks and you buy another one. If any part of this fails, and it will within a couple years at best, you are out $1200.

    • C W

      As others have noted, “steampunk version of” stuff is mostly form, very little function. Sure, they technically may work, but they’re never meant to have a very long shelf life anyway.

      “you are out $1200″

      If you can afford 1200 bucks for one small part of a gears-slapped-on and with a few acrylic paint flourishes costume, you can afford to have it break after a few months of constant usage.

  • taserian

    This reminded me so much of the ElectraComs from the Krofft’s show “Electra-Woman and Dyna-Girl”.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Walsh/100001992361976 Michael Walsh

    Here is the Rocket suit control panel from 1940s serial hero Commando Cody.

  • http://northierthanthou.com/ northierthanthou

    But will it incinerate the liver of a bad driver in under 30 seconds? Cause that’s my standard!

  • http://dustindriver.com dustindriver

    Virgil Brigman back on the air.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=606886847 Dave C. Wallin