In Defense of Entertainment

I’ve been writing Steampunk lately, in both the fantasy and western genres, and I’ve noticed something. In the chats and in various things I’ve seen and read online there appears to be an argument over just what makes a book Steampunk. What do you have to have in your story to qualify as real Steampunk? One faction says as long as there is some form of anachronistic steam tech and your story is set in an alternate Victorian historical era you’re good to go. Another faction has decreed the writer must address a some sort of ideology along with the clockwork critters or steam engines in the story all you have is a plain story with a little Steampunk window dressing. For this group the authors of these window dressing stories are jumping on a bandwagon and don’t really understand Steampunk. Then there’s yet another side who just want a cracking good story that lets them indulge in their passion for a fantasy world of steam technology, Victorian style and manners, and above all adventure. They want to escape the dreary everyday world for a few hours or an afternoon.

Now in all fairness I have to say there’s a lot of the same faction friction in the mainstream Science Fiction genre. There are authors who write stories with SF window dressing, tossing in a few terms they’ve picked up from watching Star Trek or Star Wars. There are other authors who are totally immersed in the genre and have a wider experience gained by reading. The third group, just like the corresponding one in the Steampunk genre, wants adventure and escapism. They want to be entertained. Compared to the Science Fiction genre, Steampunk as a genre is relatively new, they don’t have the equivalent to a Space Opera subgenre. At least not that I’ve seen yet.
What attracted me to Steampunk in the first place was the art and design I was seeing. I’ve been reading books that could be called Steampunk for years, since the late 70’s at least. They were simply called alternative history back then, usually an alternate Victorian or Edwardian era. What got me thinking about this were statements made during the #steampunkchat last Friday night. The topic was Romance in Steampunk. Quite a few of the writers seemed to think Steampunk books have to be “Message” books. They must have an Ideology. I say no. Not only no, but hell no. Because when you come right down to it a “message” book is, most of the time, saying, “This is how you need to live because I think its right.” Uh-huh. Sure. Next book please. Very few “message” book authors manage to get past this. Even fewer fiction authors manage it. A reader can always tell when an author is on a soapbox about something. Don’t believe me? Look at the definition of Ideology, particularly definition #2 since a vanishingly small number manage to pull off #1. Look at the synonyms.

Webster’s Definition of IDEOLOGY
1: visionary theorizing
2 a : a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture
b : a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture
c : the integrated assertions, theories and aims that constitute a sociopolitical program
Synonyms: CREDO, DOCTRINE, DOGMA, GOSPEL, CREED, PHILOSOPHY, TESTAMENT

I write Romance, usually Science Fiction or Fantasy Romance, and now Steampunk Romance. I also write some Erotic Romance and Erotica. None of it has a deep, meaningful, social message. I’m not pushing an Ideology. My goal is to tell a fun story, to entertain. I don’t think, “How can I make a great social statement.” I think, “How do I give my readers their money’s worth and make them forget their worries for a bit.” Any message there is whatever the reader gets out of the story. I think this is really all you can expect. Because “message” books tend to be boring, preachy books, no matter what genre they’re dressed up in.

As a writer, I say do your research into the genre you want to write. Know the genre and know the readers. Learn your craft and keep learning. Read what others have written. If you absolutely have to put an ideological message in your story, learn to be subtle.

As a reader, I say don’t preach at me. Give me characters I care about, an interesting plot, a great story (very different things but that’s yet another rant) and above all entertain me. These are unbreakable laws because if your book doesn’t do these things I won’t buy anything else you write.