Whatinspired you to make this type of deck?
"Nearly 20 yearsago, during my role-playing game days, I discovered the concept ofsteampunk (does anyone remember Castle Falkenstein?), although Idon’t think most of us regular folk called it that; literary typesmost certainly were, though. For anyone who loves sci fi, from StarTrek to Firefly to Dr. Who and anything in Victorian period clothing,steampunk is a very happy world, indeed.
"Sometime in2005, during a discussion about man and machine, the past and thefuture, nature and technology, and, of course, fashion, a colleaguesuggested that I make a steampunk-themed tarot. Knowing it was a veryniche, sub-genre, I filed the idea away, thinking I had plenty oftime before developing the idea and presenting it to my publisher.
"Shortlythereafter, in 2006, I started collecting links to websites andportfolios of artists that might be a good match for the deck.
"And then, in2009, a great publisher of fantasy and science fiction, Tor, proclaimed October to be Steampunk Month. That’s the day I beganwriting the card descriptions that had been taking shape in my mindfor nearly four years. They must have been ready to manifest, becauseonce I began, they flowed almost effortlessly, as if channeled fromsomewhere other than myself, as if from another time and place thatnever was.
"In January 2010,after two months of intense searching for an artist, I found AlyFell’s website…in particular, his image called Judith(which later was modified and is now our Queen of Cups). I knew themoment I saw that picture that I wanted Aly on this project. What didI do? I wrote a long email to a perfect stranger asking him if hewould be interested in taking on the task of giving line, color, andcomposition to my words, bringing them to life. As luck would haveit, he was interested. In addition, he did know a little somethingabout tarot.
"Prior to illustrating, UK-based Aly wasan animator on TV shows such as Dangermouse and Count Duckula,eventually working for a spell in computer games. He now illustrates, particularlyenjoying creating strong female characters, and his work has beenpublished in Spectrum, Exotique, and Expose. He is also the co-editorof two fantasy art collections, and his art has been featured on thecover of magazines such as ImagineFX. He and his wife like to travelto as many places as they can and enjoy the dark side of culture,being fairly active on the Goth scene.
"Aly is a bit shy, but do visit hiswesite, Dark http://www.darkrising.co.uk/and his blog, Port Out Starboard Home http://alyfell.blogspot.com/
Didyou submit detailed briefs to the artist for the Court images youwanted?
"Isubmitted detailed briefs on every card except the courts. For thecourts, I had a more like schema…I wanted certain cards to becertain genders and certain suits to be in certain locations. It asall beautifully worked out and perfectly balanced. Then Aly kind ofthrew all my beautiful organization out the window and sent meindividuals rather than representations of the stiff the flow chartof whatever that I sent him.
"Soour courts were, out of all the cards, more of a journey togetherthan the others. He would send ideas, I would say “yes, but” or“no, but this…” In the end, we have peopled our deck with somefascinating and unforgettable characters."
Is The Steampunk Tarot an RWS style deck?
"Yes,deliberately so".
Iluff this Page of Swords, there'san air balloon behind her - is that common to all the Pages or to theSwords as a symbol?
"I’mglad you like her. I think she is incredibly adorable and sassy. Onething I’ve learned doing this deck is that the very nature ofsteampunk is that of individuality rather than consistency.Consequently, except for the suit designators, there are noconsistent symbols in the courts. The Knight of Swords has dirigiblesin the background (and if I remember correctly, I had to beg Aly toput them in, but I cannot remember why he didn’t want them)."
Ilove her sharp haircut - very Swords! - was that deliberate?
"Notin that I had the cleverness to say “give her a sharp haircut” (Iwish!), but in that the description, the type of person we wanted toshow would be sharp and clear in every way. So,let’s say that it is deliberate although it may not have beenconscious."
What'sthe story with this Page? Why is she on the seashore for example?
"Of all the Pages, the Page of Swords is the leastpatient and the most prepared, at least in her own opinion, to faceher new adventure, whatever it is. She reminds me of the young menfrom landed families who went to WWI as officers. They were raised onthe ideals of Britain and completely certain of their own immortalityand destiny. They were smart (I imagine most of them were welleducated). They believed in themselves and were believed in byothers. So much was placed on them. But as it turns out, they werenot really prepared for what they had to face and afterwards returneddamaged and no one knew how to help them. If this Page reaches out toyou, try to scratch below the bravado and see if she really is readyfor what she is about to take on. Maybe stick close to her and lend ahand whenever she lands.
"In terms of symbolism here, themilitary outfit represents a logical and regimented attitude. It isfreshly pressed, clean, and shiny. It is still theoretical and shehas not been able to apply it “in real life” yet. The hot airballoon…well, obviously it represents air. And being a balloonrather than a plane or even a dirigible, it seems younger, morechildish in a way. Also, something that I think someone with lessexperience would start with. Plus, there would be less people in it,so less responsibility, which is only right at this stage in hercareer. Why is she on the shore? It’s a good way to representstarting out on a long journey to new places. Plus water, especiallylarge bodies of water, represent the soul, so it is a nod to the ideathat she’ll be learning about herself as she learns about theworld. That in fact, what she know about life, herself, and her ideasof how life is supposed to work will all be affected by herexperiences “out there.”
Haveyou joogled around the Court sexes a little?!
"Notsure. In some ways, but not as much as you’d think. The pages areall female except on looks androgynous (I call her female, but hecould be a pretty male). The knights are also all female save theKnight of Pentacles. The queens are all female and kings are all male(how dull of me, right?)."
Doyou have the LWB definition for the Page of Swords that you couldshare with me for the blog?
"Well,nothing so pithy as that. I see the courts a bit different than otherpeople, but without explaining the whole system, I see the pages ashaving the least sphere of influence but being the easiest to manage.If you need a warm body or an assistant, look for a page. For thispage in particular, I say:
"When the Page of Swords is involved inyour situation, you may either have your hands full or have a helpfulally…or both! She will bring clarity and insight that you may notexpect from one with her lack of experience. Of course, she willquestion everything and demand clear and complete explanations andthen explain to you all the weaknesses therein. If you are lookingfor someone to help you analyze a plan of any sort, proof read anycommunication, or test an organizational system, this Page will beinvaluable. She is ready to see how she can apply her natural talentsto world at large."
Many thanks to Barbara for talking with me about this new and beautiful deck!
Many thanks to Barbara for talking with me about this new and beautiful deck!
The Steampunk Tarot will be available in May 2012, but you can pre-book on Amazon here: