The following is an ongoing document
and will be expanded and updated as and when we frequently get
asked the same question which requires an answer...
Is Space: 1889 'steampunk'?
Yes and no. Space: 1889 certainly shares the Victorian
setting common to many so called 'steampunk' works of literature.
However, steampunk (which derived its name from that other science
fiction sub-genre, 'cyberpunk') stories often focus very much
on an imagined technology - such as a super-weapon or a submarine.
While Space: 1889 makes great use of technology, such as
the ether drive that propels spaceships, it often remains the
backdrop for the stories. The focus of Space: 1889 is on
the characters and the exciting adventures that they have.
Wasn't Space: 1889 a game?
Yes, Space: 1889 was primarily a role-playing game
along the lines of Dungeons and Dragons. It was devised
and written by Frank Chadwick who wholly owns the property and
from whom Noise Monster have licensed the game to turn
in to an audio series. Space: 1889 was also a tabletop
wargame (that could be used in conjunction with the role-playing
game), and an early computer game.
What do Noise Monster have the
rights to do?
Under the terms of our license with Frank Chadwick, Noise
Monster can make use of any elements of the Space: 1889
universe as described in the original game rule-book and the
many official supplements that were originally published by GDW.
The Space: 1889 role-playing game has been republished
by Heliograph Incorporated Further information and purchasing
details for the game books can be found in The Game section of
this site.
Will it be necessary to listen
to the Space: 1889 audio dramas in order from the first one onwards?
No. Each Space: 1889 audio will be a complete adventure
in itself and you will be given enough information in each play
to understand the story and the Universe in which it takes place.
Having said that, some of the stories will be connected - one
leading naturally in to the next - giving a greater depth of enjoyment
to those who have listened to the previous installment.
Will their be a regular cast
of characters that appear in every story?
Not exactly. The first two Space: 1889 adventures introduce
a diverse set of characters who will return, on an occasional
basis, in the future. By not stipulating a fixed, regular cast
for each and every story, the writers have been given a greater
freedom to tell the stories they want to tell. If appropriate
they may use a character that has previously been introduced or
they may create new characters of their own who, in turn, may
return again in the future. This approach gives us a far broader
range of 'regular' characters who we can return to and develop
in the future.
Will there be adventures set
on planets other than Mars?
Eventually, yes. For the first three stories at least, the
main focus of Space: 1889 will be Mars. The reason for
this is that it was felt that a degree of continuity would help
establish the series. However, it is certainly the intention that
future stories will be set on the Moon, Venus, Mercury and even
the Earth!
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