Steampunk Magazine issue 4

Issue Four of Steampunk Magazine is out -- free to download and print at home, or buy a handsomely printed object from the publishers for a mere $3. In this ish, steampunky stories and biographies, an interview with New Weird shakers Ann and Jeff VanderMeer and makers Donna Lynch and Steve Archer, DIY millinery, making a Jacob's Ladder, learning to plate stuff with brass, and the straight dope on Victorian hallucinogens. 82 pages!

Trance Devices were popular in Victorian times for their ability to unlock the imagination. Poets, artists, and thinkers of all fields dabbled in the varieties of trance. Trances were commonly induced by hypnotism, among other methods. One of the more inventive trance-inducing devices was called the “witch’s cradle”. It was a swing-like device in which a person hung from a series of ropes balanced in such a way that it was impossible for the person to reach equilibrium. The individual was put in the harness in a darkened room and left to sway, turn and spin about in complete darkness, never coming to rest. Soon the person was “freed of various psychological ailments. What is less known is that they orientation” and started to hallucinate like in a dream. Link (Thanks, Jake!)

[#1 posted by Takuan , February 26, 2008 10:30 PM]

a little sensory deprivation, a little axphixia, a little victorian sexual perversion... ah yass.. culture

[#2 posted by Foolster41 , February 27, 2008 12:29 AM]

I was happy to see the cover art is by Shoomlah, who I'm a fan of and watch on deviantart.

My favorite article in this issue is the one on making a Jacob's ladder (No, not the wood toy.) I almost want to try to make one, but I'm a bit afraid to try. (Understandibly, I think considering it involves quite a bit of electricity!)

[#3 posted by Vorple , February 27, 2008 1:41 PM]

The article on Victorian hallucinogens is the first time I've seen a modern work state that Wormwood and alcohol creates a narcotic. Is there a name and molecular model for this narcotic that is formed when wormwood is added to alcohol?

[#4 posted by Vorple , February 27, 2008 1:42 PM]

The article on Victorian hallucinogens is the first time I've seen a modern work state that Wormwood and alcohol creates a narcotic. Is there a name and molecular model for this narcotic that is formed when wormwood is added to alcohol?

[#5 posted by Antinous , February 27, 2008 1:44 PM]

Absinthium?

[#6 posted by Takuan , February 27, 2008 1:50 PM]

its jest thujone mon, gimme a anudeer sugarlump

[#7 posted by Vorple , February 27, 2008 1:53 PM]

Ah, ok. I disagree with the article, then. Haven't seen solid evidence that thujone is a narcotic.

[#8 posted by Takuan , February 27, 2008 1:53 PM]

funny that, absinthe over a sugar lump spoon, first LSD on a cube...

whoaaaa! flash-forward man!

[#9 posted by LightningCrash , February 28, 2008 5:16 AM]

>>ailments. What is less known is that they orientation”

a little editing, please?

[#10 posted by Foolster41 , March 17, 2008 5:48 PM]

So today I printed out the rest of volume 1 and all of volume 2 at the local library (for no cost to me). It just seemed so approperiate considering the topic of the magazine. :)

I used 11x17. I couldn't do double sided there, but I just folded the pages bakc and front alternitivly and it turned out very well.