Weird Tales

Weird Tales editorial director Stephen H. Segal was recently privileged to be a guest at Dragon*Con, the nation’s largest fan-run fantasy/science-fiction/gaming/comics/etc convention. The entire event was spectacular, but Stephen particularly enjoyed taking part in a panel discussing how steampunk — science-fictiony stuff built on Victorian-era technology and aesthetics — has suddenly leapt from being a simple literary subgenre to an all-out alternative-style trend. Sure, there are great steampunk books (including a definitive new anthology coedited by WT’s own Ann VanderMeer), but now there are also steampunk fashion & jewelry designers, radio shows, and rock bands. Here, crossposted from Fantasy-Magazine.com, is Stephen’s take on what might be fueling the excitement: (more…)