Back in the Stacks

Even more than Victorian history, the world of BRASS is inspired by the fiction of the 19th and early 20th century. Literary creations like the Phantom of the Opera and Sherlock Holmes rub shoulders with Tesla and Oscar Wilde in our story, creating a mash-up of fiction, history and alternative history which samples from each. This period was the flowering … Read More

BRASS Episode 19: War On All Fronts

Ponder and Cyril have a conversation, unwanted guests are rather insistent, and Lord Whitestone performs an aeronautical feat. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

Steampunk Primer: Why Dirigibles, Anyway?

One of the iconic images of Steampunk is the dirigible airship, either rigid (a zeppelin), rounded (a blimp) or some imaginative variant. Along with top hats and corsets, these inflatable aircraft are part of the basic vocabulary of alternative 19th centuries—and that includes in BRASS, where the family returns to London in Episode 1 aboard such a ship, and are … Read More

Costermongers or Costermob?

Is there a word more redolent of the bustle and hustle of a Victorian London street than “costermonger?” In the popular imagination, these barrow-sellers of fruits and vegetables (among other items) are “cheery chirpy Cockney chappie” figures, best known for singing and dancing about in colorful rags and scenic grime in films like Mary Poppins and Oliver. But the truth … Read More

BRASS Episode 17: Unwanted Callers

The enemies are at the door, and Gwendolyn and Cyril make a trip across the street as things get stickier. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

BRASS Episode 16: Inside Voices

Lord Brass sends a distress call out through unconventional means, and Ponder Wright hears it. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

BRASS Episode 15: The First Wave

The assault on the Brass home begins, and Mrs. Drake handles a difficult situation adroitly. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

BRASS Episode 13: Upstairs and Downstairs

Over breakfast, the family discusses politics, philosophy and wardrobe, while downstairs, talk among the servants hints at a gathering storm. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

BRASS Episode 10: Grave Matters

Gwendolyn faces a problem head-on, while her parents prepare to visit the Graveyard King. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

BRASS Episode 8: Untimely Discoveries

Cyril witnesses an unusual audition and Gwendolyn gets a tour of the back rooms of the Blackfire Club. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS