Geekdom Review: Steampunk; Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos

It is time for another wonderous Geekdom Review. Today we will be looking at Steampunk; Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos, by Thomas Willeford aka Lord Archibald "Feathers" Featherstone.

Thomas Willeford, known to many by his alterego Lord Archibald "Feathers" Featherstone, one of the foremost creators of Steampunk accessories and gadgets recently released a DIY instruction book through our friends at McGraw Hill. Steampunk; Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos  provides instruction on how to create both basic and complex pieces of Steampunk.

Willeford provides a wonderful analysis of the entire process of DIY costuming within the Steampunk genre (what he calls subculture). Beginning with a definition of exactly what Steampunk is, how it functions, and ways to jump start your own imagination. He provides a wonderful breakdown of where to find pieces, what you might need and how to begin the process of re purposing items. Willeford does a fantastic job of differentiating what tools are required for a project and which are time savers. All of the projects in the book are designed to be completed with tools that most people would already have available. The projects themselves range from the most basic flight goggles to the most complex "Replacement Arm with Gatling Gun." But each project is well explained with step by step instructions each accompanied by detailed photographs. Interspersed among these are tips, notes and cautions. All of this is tied together with Willeford's wonderfully engaging prose and slightly dark/sarcastic humor.

Final Thought: Definitely a great book. Even if you are not interested in the actually making these projects, Willeford's writing style and passion for his subject is engaging and wonderfully entertaining.

Steampunk: Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos  is available through Amazon and Barnes and Nobel as both a paperback and ebook. It is also available from Willeford's site www.bruteforcestudios.com